No. 72 Their Wings of Freedom
Thirty years ago, Upper Capital City was a prosperous place, nestled against the mountains to the south and bordering the Yixian River to the west.
Throughout history, Upper Capital City, a city neither large nor small, lacking any defining characteristics, had often been overlooked.
I had no memories of the old city. As far as I knew, my family had always lived in the new city. Perhaps my father knew what had transpired, but for me, the current Upper Capital City was my birthplace, my home.
Just as I didn’t dwell on childish misdeeds or past mistakes, I saw no need to unearth the history of a place I barely knew. The present was all that mattered.
“The riots lasted for half a month. It started with a wrongful conviction, an innocent man’s death. His family, seeking revenge, formed a resistance group.”
“Their actions ignited the simmering discontent among the citizens. Social order collapsed. Families were torn apart. People lost everything.”
“And as you can see, most of the residents were forced to relocate to the new city, including the very leaders who had orchestrated their suffering.”
Hua She recounted the city’s history with a fervor that bordered on obsession, his gaze flickering across my face as we sat in a relatively intact room within the dilapidated building. The one-armed man and my captor were lounging on a nearby sofa, smoking cigarettes.
“Yi Yao, to be frank, the Gathering Hall is planning another attack on the new city. A reminder of their past sins.”
The air in the room was thick with tension.
Without electricity, even the moonlight struggled to penetrate the gloom. The only sources of light were the glowing embers of their cigarettes.
You’re talking about that useless virus that causes hallucinations and makes people look like zombies, right?
I wanted to ask, but considering my situation, I remained silent.
These people were no different from terrorists.
If not for my connection to Hua She, I would probably be tied up, or worse, already dead.
“Yi Yao, will you… trust me?”
He stood before me, his gaze intense.
“I know you’re disillusioned with this world. I can take you to a place of freedom, a place where you can have everything you ever wanted.”
I glanced at the two men on the sofa, then back at Hua She, his face now a mask of unfamiliar intensity. “A place of freedom?”
You accuse me of believing in fairy tales, yet you’re chasing one yourself.
How many truly free nations existed in this chaotic world?
True freedom wasn’t a place, but a state of mind.
“I’ve always wanted to ask you something,” I said, meeting his gaze. “Why did you join the Black Dragon Society?”
He glanced at the one-armed man, who was still puffing on his cigarette. “Dragon looked after me back in school.”
He added, “Yi Yao, I know bringing you here at this time might prevent you from seeing your mother. But I had no choice. Shadow is already on the move. I was worried about your safety. This is the only place where they can’t find you.”
“And once the dust settles, you’ll send me back? I can return to school, to my life, and we can pretend this never happened?” I asked, my voice steady.
He hesitated, avoiding my gaze. “I…”
“Hahaha! Excellent! Simply excellent!”
A burst of applause interrupted our conversation. The one-armed man stood up, his face beaming with amusement. “Yi Yao, I’ve never met a girl like you. Intelligent, courageous, and composed under pressure. No wonder I had to defy my own brothers to bring you here.”
His tone shifted, his voice hardening. “But don’t forget, no matter how exceptional you are, you’re still a woman.”
“This is a man’s world. Whether you like it or not, you need to understand your place.”
My place?
I was a pawn in a game I didn’t understand, betrayed by my own brother, not once, but twice.
I didn’t desire wealth or power, nor did I care about their grand schemes or their twisted sense of justice. I just wanted to live a simple life, to find peace as Yi Yao.
I met his gaze, my fear masked by a calm defiance, my mind racing, searching for a way out.
My bond with Hua She was genuine, but the others were strangers. If our alliance crumbled, I would be alone, vulnerable, in a hostile environment.
“So, what will it be? I understand you might not be comfortable with us rough men, but I can assure you, we’ll take care of you. Money, anything you desire, it’s yours.”
“Think about it, girl. Not every woman gets this opportunity. Some would kill to marry into wealth and power. And you know my nephew. He’s a good man.”
I narrowed my eyes, my gaze sweeping across the room.
The moonlight streamed through the dusty windows, illuminating the bare, dilapidated space.
They were keeping me in the dark, literally and figuratively. They wouldn’t reveal the location of their headquarters until they were sure of my loyalty.
We were on the eighth floor of an abandoned eleven-story building. Hua She had hinted at the presence of numerous guards downstairs, discouraging any thoughts of escape.
Their plan was clear. Stage a public spectacle at the train station, drawing Shadow’s attention and leading them astray. Then, bring me to this remote location, where Hua She could convince me to join their cause.
In their minds, I had two choices: join them and embrace their twisted vision of “freedom,” or refuse and be handed over to Shadow.
Such ruthless pragmatism.
“Boss, that girl packs a punch. I bet she could take down half our men,” the man who had captured me said, rolling up his sleeve. “Look at this, and this. All from her kicks. Still bruised.”
“Any news from Wang Qi?” the one-armed man asked.
“He wants an explanation.”
“That’s all?”
“Yeah. But ‘Shadow’ wants to meet with you, Boss. They said someone important is coming. A lot of our brothers have been arrested.”
“Those idiots are always causing trouble.”
He stood up, grinding his cigarette butt into the floor. “Keep an eye on her. I have a feeling she’s more than she seems. She reminds me of someone…”
He gave me a knowing look. “Xiao Hua, talk to her. But don’t force her. We can’t win her over against her will. And check her for weapons. Take her phone, just in case.”
“Are you going back, Uncle?” Hua She asked.
“I have some business to attend to.”
He had said “back,” not “out,” further confirming that this was just a temporary hideout.
This was my second kidnapping, wasn’t it?
The butterfly effect was a terrifying force. If I hadn’t intervened in Liang Zhenyi’s life, I would probably be a model student, living a quiet, unremarkable existence.
After the one-armed man left, silence descended upon the room.
“Yi Yao…” Hua She began, but I cut him off.
“Do you have anything to eat?”
He blinked, surprised, then his face brightened. “Yes, but it might be cold. It’s in my room. Should I get it for you?”
“It’s fine.” I placed my phone on the coffee table. “I’ll come with you.”
Like the living room, his room was devoid of any light. Perhaps they hadn’t had time to set up, or perhaps they preferred to operate in the shadows.
A desk, a bare mattress, a few stools. That was the extent of the furnishings.
“It’s just takeout,” he said, gesturing towards a bag on the desk.
The aroma of food wafted through the air, a welcome contrast to the lingering scent of smoke.
“Okay.”
I grabbed a box of food and a pair of chopsticks, opening the container without hesitation.
“You’re not… worried?” he asked, his voice hesitant, as I began to eat the cold food. “What if I…”
“Poisoned it?” I said, my tone casual. “If you wanted to poison me, wouldn’t it have been easier to just force-feed me back there?”
“That’s not what I meant. I just…”
“Just eat a box yourself if you want to prove your innocence.”
My mind was racing, but I had to maintain a facade of calm, to lull him into a false sense of security. For my family, for myself.
I was relying on the future I knew.
Ten years from now, Upper Capital City, while not a utopia, would be a relatively safe and just place. I trusted the authorities, despite their current flaws. I believed in the future.
I didn’t need to rely on anyone. I just had to survive.
The future me had no doubts.
“Yi Yao…”
He looked touched. “Have you made a decision? About us?”
“You…” I feigned anger. “Is this how you pressure a girl into making a decision?”
“Haha, my bad. I apologize. I’ll give you time.”
He picked up a box of food.
“Thank you for trusting me…”
Before he could finish, I struck him on the back of the neck with a swift chop. He collapsed, unconscious.
“…”
I gently lowered him to the floor, maintaining a facade of normalcy for the benefit of anyone listening outside. “Don’t mention it. Let’s eat. The food’s getting cold.”
I drew the two knives from my pants and walked towards the door.
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