"Ding—"
The elevator doors slowly opened, revealing a hall with corridors extending in different directions. However, the space on the lowest level was much narrower than above, creating a stronger sense of oppression.
The lead guard took him into a dim corridor, the overhead fluorescent lights flickering on with each step, casting a pale glow.
"Lock him in here," the guard said coldly.
The heavy metal door creaked open, the hinges making a harsh"clang" sound, then slowly closed, isolating him completely from the outside world. The echo lingered, as if chains were dragging something unseen, lurking in the darkness.
In the room, only Mo Wen and a silent guard remained.
The guard was burly, like a breathing wall, standing at the only exit, his gaze vacant but alert. His relaxed posture was still intimidating, with the holster on his wrist slightly exposed, like a cold-blooded warning.
Time in this cramped space became thick and slow, each second feeling like a long sentence. From the other side of the wall came a low mechanical hum, a sound that seemed to grip his nerves, preventing him from calming down.
Suddenly, the metal door opened again.
A tall figure in a white lab coat stood at the door, moving like a cold statue. His movements were precise, without a single unnecessary motion, his gaze sharp as a knife, making Mo Wen feel stripped bare.
"Bring him with me," the man in the lab coat said indifferently.
The guard nodded respectfully but didn't move,"Sir, I need..."
Before he could finish, the man pulled out a small stun gun from his pocket, and a close-range arc struck the guard's neck, rendering him unconscious.
Mo Wen had suspected this lab worker might be Sima's insider, so he followed without hesitation. They quickly turned into a corridor.
The corridor was narrow and dim, with exposed pipes crisscrossing overhead, occasionally dripping water with a crisp"drip" sound. Every few meters, there was a tightly closed iron door with a faintly glowing electronic lock.
"Don't touch those doors," the man warned without looking back, his voice cold as ice,"Trust me, you don't want to know what's inside."
As if to confirm his words, a low growl and sharp scraping sound came from behind one of the closed doors, sending chills down Mo Wen's spine. He instinctively shrank his neck, his ears echoing with bloody images. His gaze swept over a trash can, filled with blood-stained items, emitting a pungent stench.
Finally, they reached the end of the corridor. The man swiped a card, and the iron door opened with a dull"click." He stood at the door, looking back at Mo Wen.
Mo Wen hesitated for a moment, then followed him in.
He turned his head, and the man in the white lab coat stood there quietly, his gaze deep, a gentle smile on his face.
"Don't you recognize me?"
The man in the white lab coat smiled slightly,"We first met when you were three month old!"
The words thundered in Mo Wen's ears. His breathing became erratic, memories swirling like a vortex in his mind. He had once told his father he remembered events from when he was a month old, and his father had laughed, saying it was impossible to have such early memories.
He suddenly opened his eyes, finding himself at his hundred-day celebration. Bright sunlight streamed through the windows, gently illuminating the floor. The cooing of babies and the laughter of adults intertwined. In front of him were expectant faces, their eyes locked on him.
He saw various small objects on the ground, with people encouraging him to grab one, symbolizing his future career. Wooden combs, brushes, scrolls, abacuses, jade pendants, toys, traditional medicine... He felt a familiarity with these items, as if he had encountered them before, except for the toy.
He crawled over, grabbing the wooden mortise and tenon structure—crafted from fine wood, ingeniously constructed, full of craftsmanship. The people around him laughed happily, ready to offer blessings no matter what he chose.
He didn't remember the people present, their faces blurred.
But he was left with a lingering doubt—was this reality?
He squinted his eyes again, carefully examining the man. Fuzzy images began to emerge from the depths of his memory—a young man standing in his father's study, holding an ancient manuscript, his expression focused and his tone humble.
"It's you..." Mo Wen's voice trembled, as if realizing a deeply buried truth.
The man in the white lab coat nodded gently, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes."Yes, it's me. Back then, I was just your father's assistant. Later, we students were assigned to various research institutes."
"Research institutes?" Mo Wen's heart sank heavily, feeling as if an invisible force was pressing down on him. He blurted out,"Impossible! My father was a scholar of ancient scripts. How could he be involved with people like you... doing experiments?"
The man smiled faintly, a smile that was hard to decipher."It seems you don't know your father as well as you thought."
"What are you trying to say?" Mo Wen finally spoke, his voice hoarse and weak.
The man in the white lab coat had a complex look in his eyes as he spoke slowly,"I want you to know that your father wasn't just a scholar... he was a seeker of truth. And you, you've already started on this path, even if you don't realize it yet."
The intercom in the freight elevator suddenly crackled to life with Gin's playful voice,"Hey, our hero, don't waste your energy. You can't escape."
Dr Chan's heart sank, his face turning pale. He quickly checked the control panel, his fingers trembling slightly—the surveillance had been restored, and the ground footage was fully exposed."How could it be? The battle ended so quickly? His strength... has reached this level?"
He turned to Mo Wen, his voice low and urgent,"We have one minute to reach the exit from the elevator. Opening the door takes thirty seconds. We don't have much time."
Mo Wen suddenly chuckled.
"And then?" His tone was unexpectedly calm."Even if we break through the door, they'll still find me. With your help, I don't want to run anymore."
Dr Chan stared at him, a complicated emotion flashing in his eyes."Are you sure?"
Mo Wen's gaze was steady and determined."I'm sure."
After a brief silence, Dr Chan took a deep breath and nodded,"Alright, I'll help you."
---
The two exited the freight elevator, and while Dr Chan didn't understand why Mo Wen wanted to go there, he was familiar with the layout. Leading the son of his former teacher, they avoided the exit and ran into a sealed warehouse the size of half a football field.
The warehouse was filled with a faint smell of oil and metal, with a lingering scent of burnt residue from welding. The overhead industrial lights buzzed lowly, their cold white light casting deep shadows on the cluttered metal racks.
The large warehouse was filled with various equipment, with a few dusty old machines in the corners, like forgotten giants lying in the shadows. Along one wall, several large cryogenic tanks were covered in thick frost. The cold seemed to seep into the skin through the air, reflecting Dr Chan's heavy and uneasy mood.
Rows of metal cabinets were filled with screws, tape, glue, and common supplies, each drawer labeled with its contents. However, some labels were faded and peeling, as if they hadn't been organized in a long time. Near the center were several workbenches, scattered with welding guns, drills, saws, and even a half-disassembled drone, its exposed wires like still blood vessels. The surrounding tool racks were covered with wrenches, screwdrivers, and measuring instruments, as if still waiting for the craftsmen to return.
"Bingo, found you. Still want to play hide and seek?" A mocking voice echoed from the overhead intercom. Startled, Mr. Chan pulled out a stun gun and destroyed all the visible cameras and speakers.
He could hear the increasingly frequent footsteps outside the warehouse, indicating the place was surrounded.
Mo Wen kicked open a fire extinguisher in the corner and smashed open the valve of a liquid nitrogen tank. White cold mist instantly spread, covering the floor. The air felt frozen, the cold biting.
He quickly searched for tools, grabbing an iron pipe and a blowtorch... Behind him, Mr. Chan was also looking for makeshift weapons.
The warehouse filled with white mist, the cold coiling like snakes in the air. The floor became slippery, quickly frosting over, like a natural ice rink.
Mo Wen searched for tools, his fingers growing stiff from the cold. He finally grabbed an iron pipe and a blowtorch. Behind him, Mr. Chan hesitated, his gaze shifting between weapons and the exit.
"Hurry, help me activate the fire sprinkler system!" Mo Wen shouted softly.
The sprinklers activated, mixing water mist with liquid nitrogen, plunging the warehouse into a hazy white fog.
Footsteps echoed in the mist, leisurely and confident.
"Heh..." Gin's voice came through the fog, with a hint of amusement,"Want to play hide and seek? How childish."
"Bang—"
The door was closed from behind, followed by a"click" as the lock engaged.
Mr. Chan's heart sank. He knew they were completely trapped.