Hu Li slowly push back the hoody and see him wearing a gold face mask that covers some parts of the face. She ring the bells to command him to remove it. His hands tremble as he remove it.
"Ahhh a young boy like you should be in school! Why are you on the rooftop!"
"You don't know who am i?"
"Should i know?"
"Then you shouldn't know."
"Why are you there? Who are you waiting for?"
"None of your business!"
"That is true but all rooftops are my area! I dont like it when i did not invite anyone to climb up there!"
"An officer like you should take care of the ground not the ..."
"Rooftops are my area of speciality!"
"I think you are .... crazy!"
"Am i? Fine, i am crazy but why are you there! Plus why are you wearing a hoody and a mask at the same time?!"
"I don't need to tell you!"
"Hmp you will tell me sooner or later."
"There is nothing i can say or tell you."
"At least tell me your name."
"can't"
"What a weird name.... surname."
"I said i can't."
"Never heard of that kind of family name. Not local."
That boy is boiling inside talking to Yu Bing. His legs is still lock with Yu Bing ringing the bells occasionally.
"What is your name?"
"Mine? Very common. Unlike your's"
"Tell me..."
"I won't tell it to anyone unless they are higher authority and now i am... going to take you back to the jail cell."
She stand up and dusty her clothes. She rings her bells and he push himself up. He stare angrily at this Yamen guard. He can't raise his arm and he wonder what kind of person is this who use spells to control other people. Hu Li rings her bells and he follow her with obedience. He stare at the back of the Yamen guard. Strange this young man have a fragrance like some women he knows. He look at the back neck it is smooth and slim. Even the shoulders are small and bony like a girl. They walk for awhile and Hu Li occasionally turn around to look at her captive. She have to look for a cart or a mode of transport to get him into the city fast. Before that she need to wipe out some part of his memory. Finally after a long time, a donkey appear out of no where. She ask the donkey nicely he ignore her. She whisper in his ears that she will bring him home and feed him forever. Hearing that his ears stand and he walk towards Hu Li's captive. She smile and ring the bell with obedience he get up on the donkey. She takes out her belt and tie his wrist.
"Look at me."
His slowly look at her. She blow a smoke on his face. He lay down on the donkey immediately. She lead the donkey on the path towards the city and keep talking to it. Officer Zhou is standing outside the city and he see Yu Bing coming back with a and a person laying on the donkey. Yu Bing smile and wave to him while he stay emotionless at the spot where is standing. He wait till they get nearer and order his men to take the donkey and the man.
"Also put Yu Bing in the cell."
Hu Li is surprise but did not question Officer Zhou. In Hu Li's mind, it's a chance to ask the rats what they find and she can watch the stranger in the cell as well.
In the cell, Hu Li look the sky through the small window. The two rats appear after a long time. However before they can say anything, officer Zhou appear. The door is unlock and he step in.
"Do you understand why are you inside here."
"No and i don't want to think about it."
"I thin it's better you think about it. Yu Bing, i have check through all the records of this country that boys of your age. You may be not recorded so i can't find anything. But when and where you start appearing, i can dig those out. You did not pass through the main check point of this city thus there is no record of you going and going out."
Officer Zhou squad down to face Hu Li. He did not the moustache now but his lips still twitch.
"I suspect you are one of the accomplice ..."
"You are crazy."
"Yes i can be crazy if i want to. I can't find anything about you. It's too strange. Even those finger print of your's match nothing on record. "
Hu Li decide to not talk to him while he keep blubbering on. after a long time, he sigh so did the rats.
"Master he is so talkative."
"Did i hear the sound of rats in here? Do Wei! Go get some rat poison!"
Officer Zhou walk out the cell and continue to nag at his men. Hu Li wait till he sound far away. She lay down on the hay on the ground.
"What did you both find out?"
"We have been watching the ones who stand guard inside the cell. There is a few rotations a day."
"Even though the stranger did not appear that few days. We walk around the entire cell. It seems like there is a strange wall."
Before she can say anything Officer Zhou appear again. He look at Yu Bing who is laying on the floor.
"Are you hungry?"
"Yes!"
The rat scream and Hu Li join in later to say 'yes!' loudly to cover the squeaking from the rats.
"Men! Open the door... In my last life i must have own you something."
"Must be food."
Hu Li hurry to get up with the rats in her shirt. They walk out of the cell and outside is dark.
"Walk faster, my mother must be hungry by now."
"Wait my donkey!"
Hu Li rush to the pole where they tie their horses at. Only a donkey is tie there so must be her donkey. Officer Zhou don't have the time to argue with Yu Bing about an animal thus he hurry to get home.