Touya Yaoyao

The rain in the sky seemed never to stop, continuing to pour down. Large raindrops pounded on the ground, splashing up tiny droplets. At that moment, three people were huddled together in a small storage box, tightly packed together, barely daring to breathe.

Yu Yaoyao was among the three. She already had a wound, and the relentless rain intensified the pain. Each drop of rain felt like a sharp knife cutting into her skin, making the pain unbearable. However, the strong-willed Yu Yaoyao bit her lip tightly, suppressing the urge to cry out. She knew that making a sound might attract unexpected danger. So, she could only silently endure the pain, her eyes tightly closed, waiting for the rain to stop or for something else to happen.

Shirato held her trembling body tightly in his strong arms, as if wanting to transfer all his warmth to her, offering her some comfort and solace. Held in his embrace, she curled up like a frightened fawn, her eyes tightly closed, not daring to relax for a moment.

Meanwhile, Ye was secretly peering through the narrow gap in the storage box, intently and cautiously observing every move outside. His eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, not missing a single subtle sound or rustling sound.

Time passed second by second, and after an unknown amount of time, the torrential rain gradually subsided. The pattering of raindrops on the ground became increasingly sparse, until it finally stopped completely. However, the surroundings were eerily quiet, so quiet that one could even hear each other's breathing. This deathly silence sent a chill down one's spine.

Finally, Ye lowered his voice and whispered to the person beside him:

"We can't just hide here and wait to die. We have to come up with a way to escape as soon as possible."

Although his tone was calm, it conveyed an undeniable sense of urgency.

Yu Yaoyao's face was as pale as paper, and her delicate body trembled slightly. She nodded with all her might, indicating that she could still hold on. Seeing this, Bai Taoshi quickly reached out to support her swaying body and then slowly helped her stand up.

The three men moved with extreme caution, like frightened birds. They scurried about, trying to make as little noise as possible, for none of them knew whether their vicious enemies might be lurking in the shadows, waiting for their chance to strike. And so, they cautiously and tentatively advanced, stopping frequently as they went.

After an unknown amount of time, they finally arrived at the gate of an abandoned factory. The factory appeared to have been abandoned for a long time, its gate tightly closed, as if telling a story of its former glory and present desolation. However, right next to the gate, there was a dilapidated window, its glass long since broken and its frame covered in rust.

Ye Qi took a deep breath and, without hesitation, squeezed into the narrow opening first. He was agile and nimble, quickly disappearing into the darkness. Next, he reached out, grabbed Yu Yaoyao's arm, and pulled her into the hole as well. Finally, it was Bai Taoshi's turn. Ye Qi and Yu Yaoyao worked together, and it took considerable effort to drag the tall and strong Bai Taoshi in as well.

Upon entering the factory, a strong, pungent odor assaulted the senses, a stench a mixture of various chemicals and decaying matter, utterly repulsive. The floor was in a terrible state, littered with a chaotic mess of debris: discarded machine parts, tattered cardboard boxes, and other unidentified trash. Furthermore, due to long-term neglect, the floor was covered in murky wastewater, which could easily soak shoes and socks if one wasn't careful.

The three carefully avoided the puddles and obstacles, making their way forward with difficulty. Finally, they found a relatively dry corner and sat down with a sigh of relief. Bai Taoshi, without taking a break, quickly tore a clean strip of cloth from his clothes and gently re-bandaged Yu Yaoyao's wound.

At this moment, Ye Qi, who had been silent all along, raised his head, his deep eyes flashing with a firm and composed light. He spoke in a serious tone:

"We must find a way out as soon as possible; we can't linger here any longer."

After he finished speaking, he stood up and began to carefully observe his surroundings.

Yu Yaoyao, enduring the waves of pain from her wound, gritted her teeth and echoed:

“That’s right. Maybe we should look around and see if we can find other exits or some tools that can help us escape this predicament.”

So the three of them began searching the factory. They found a dilapidated tricycle in a corner; although it was somewhat damaged, it might still be usable after some simple repairs.

Without a word, Ye Qishi and Bai Taoshi rolled up their sleeves and started repairing the dilapidated tricycle. Yu Yaoyao wasn't idle either; she deftly helped by passing various tools, handing over a wrench one moment and a screwdriver the next.

Time ticked by, and the three men worked together diligently, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads, but none of them bothered to wipe them away. Finally, after a difficult struggle, the tricycle, though still looking somewhat shaky, was at least able to move forward with difficulty.

They breathed a sigh of relief and then worked together to push the tricycle out of the factory. By then, the sun was already setting, a faint sunset glow appeared on the horizon, and the sky was gradually darkening.

"Let's head east. I think it might be safer over there."

Ye wiped his sweat with his hand and pointed to the east as he spoke.

Yu Yaoyao and Bai Taoshi exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement. And so, the three of them carefully pushed the tricycle, embarking on this uncertain journey. The cool night breeze whistled, as if telling some secret. It gently brushed against their slightly weary faces, bringing a touch of coolness.

They walked for an unknown amount of time before a small village came into view. The entire village was eerily quiet, as if under a spell; not a single light shone through, and the surroundings were pitch black.

"Everyone be careful, this place feels a bit off to me."

Shiratoya glanced around warily, then lowered his voice and spoke to the other two.

Just then, a figure suddenly walked out of a room...