I was a rookie reporter in the 00s

Zhang Wanqing, Fu Siyuan, and Li Wei were taken back to the Black-clad base and imprisoned in a small, dark room. The walls were cold concrete, draped with heavy chains, and the air was filled with dampness and mildew. A single small window let in a faint light, barely illuminating the space. The three were bound to a chair with crude iron chains, their wrists and ankles bound with heavy chains, preventing them from moving.

"We have to find a way to escape." Zhang Wanqing's voice was low and helpless. Her wrists were tightly bound by iron chains, and the blood circulation in her fingers was poor, and they gradually became numb.

"We have no chance now," Li Wei's voice was calm and firm, his eyes flashing with alertness in the darkness. "The man in black could come back at any time. We must remain calm and look for opportunities."

Fu Siyuan sat aside, his expression grave. His eyes roamed every corner of the room, searching for any clues he could use. His heart was filled with worry, especially for Zhang Wanqing.

"Wanqing, are you okay?" There was a hint of concern in Fu Siyuan's voice.

Zhang Wanqing smiled slightly, trying to hide her inner fear: "I'm fine, just a little tired."

Zhang Wanqing felt a surge of anger and resentment. She knew they couldn't just give up. She scanned the room, searching for a possible escape opportunity.

Zhang Wanqing clutched the pocket watch tightly, knowing that it was their only hope. She had to protect the Lingzhu and not let it fall into the hands of the men in black.

Li Wei held his weapon tightly, his eyes revealing a hint of coldness. He knew that they had to act quickly, otherwise they would lose their freedom forever.

Just then, the door to the room opened, and the leader of the men in black walked in. A sinister look flashed in his eyes, and a sneer curled his lips. His men followed closely behind him, holding electric shock devices and iron rods, ready to torture the three men.

The leader of the men in black stood before them, his eyes gleaming with madness and greed. "Do you think you can escape from me so easily?" his voice was low and menacing. "Today, I will teach you the price of resistance."

Zhang Wanqing's heart tightened, knowing what was about to happen. She tried to remain calm, secretly thinking about how to deal with the upcoming torture.

The leader of the men in black stood before them, his eyes fixed greedily on Zhang Wanqing: "Hand over the spirit pearl, and I might consider letting you go."

Anger welled up in Zhang Wanqing's heart. She knew they couldn't yield to such threats. "Don't even think about getting the Spirit Pearl. Its power isn't something someone like you can control."

The leader's expression darkened, a hint of madness in his eyes. "Then don't blame me for being rude."

He waved his hand, and several men in black came forward with electric shock devices and iron rods in their hands, ready to torture Zhang Wanqing, Fu Siyuan and Li Wei.

The men in black began to electrocute the three. The harsh currents pierced Zhang Wanqing's body. She trembled uncontrollably, and pain washed over her like a tide, nearly drowning her consciousness. She clenched her teeth, trying not to make a sound.

Fu Siyuan and Li Wei were also suffering the same torture, their bodies tightly bound by iron chains, unable to move. Despite the pain, their eyes still revealed a firm belief.

The electric current from the defibrillator coursed through Zhang Wanqing's body, causing her to tremble uncontrollably. Pain washed over her like a tide, nearly drowning her consciousness. But she clenched her teeth, determined not to make a sound.

Fu Siyuan and Li Wei were also suffering the same torture, their bodies tightly bound by iron chains, unable to move. Fine beads of sweat oozed from their foreheads, but their eyes revealed a hint of determination.

"We can't give up," Zhang Wanqing said in a low but firm voice, "We must protect the Lingzhu and not let it fall into their hands."

They knew that this was their mission and they had to see it through.

As the torture continued, Zhang Wanqing's body began to react strangely. She felt a strange force surge through her, as if the energy of a spirit pearl were coursing through her blood. Her consciousness gradually blurred, and the scene before her became distorted.

"Wanqing!" Fu Siyuan's voice sounded in her ears, with a hint of anxiety.

Zhang Wanqing tried to concentrate, trying to get rid of this strange feeling. She knew that the power of the spirit pearl was her protection, but at this moment, it was like being swallowed by darkness and unable to control it.

"I...I'm fine." Her voice was weak and trembling, but she tried to sound firm.

At this moment, Zhang Wanqing's pocket watch suddenly emitted a faint light, as if sensing her pain. The light of the pocket watch gradually grew stronger, illuminating the entire room. Zhang Wanqing felt a warm power coming from the pocket watch, diluting the pain in her body.

"This is... the power of the Spirit Pearl!" Zhang Wanqing's heart trembled, realizing that the Spirit Pearl was closely linked to her fate. If she could control this power, she could strike back at the man in black.

She tried to concentrate, trying to guide the power of the spirit pearl to every corner of her body. As the light of the pocket watch grew stronger, her body gradually regained strength and the pain began to ease.

The leader of the men in black looked gloomy upon seeing this. He had obviously not expected Zhang Wanqing to react in this way. A flash of fear flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by anger.

"Catch her! Don't let her escape!" the leader roared.

A surge of courage surged in Zhang Wanqing's heart. She knew this was the time to strike back. Using all her strength, she broke free from the chains that bound her. Guided by the light, she quickly rushed towards the man in black.

Seeing this, Fu Siyuan and Li Wei also began to struggle, trying to break free. Li Wei twisted his wrist hard and finally broke free from the chains, quickly rushing towards the men in black.

"We must act together!" Li Wei's voice was low and firm, and the flame of battle flashed in his eyes.

As Zhang Wanqing counterattacked, the whole room instantly became chaotic. The men in black panicked and tried to fight back, but Zhang Wanqing's power, guided by the spirit bead, became extremely powerful.

Each of her attacks was filled with power, as if the energy of the spirit pearl flowed through her body. She used the light of her pocket watch to illuminate the entire room, dispelling the darkness. Fu Siyuan and Li Wei also fought back in the chaos.

Zhang Wanqing, Fu Siyuan, and Li Wei were bound in a small, dark room, their bodies locked in heavy chains, unable to move. Although they fought back with all their might, the black-clad men were too powerful and their resistance was eventually suppressed.

A suffocating atmosphere permeated the room. The only light source was the dim yellow bulb hanging from the ceiling, its shadow dancing on the wall, as if mocking their powerlessness. Sweat oozed from Zhang Wanqing's forehead, her breathing was rapid, and a glint of unwillingness glimmered in her eyes.

"We can't give up like this." Her voice was weak but full of determination.

Fu Siyuan held Zhang Wanqing's hand tightly, his eyes revealing deep worry. He knew that their current situation was extremely dangerous, but his heart was still full of hope.

Li Wei gritted his teeth, his eyes burning with anger. Although his body was bound, his will was as hard as steel.

"We must find a chance to escape." Li Wei's voice was low and powerful, and his eyes swept around the room, looking for any possible flaws.