Travel through time, and then establish an anomaly management bureau!

Page 62

Terry, who was leading the way, also felt Zhang Su's aura suddenly become thinner behind him. If it weren't for the fact that he could still catch a glimpse of a blurry shadow out of the corner of his eye, he would have almost thought that Zhang Su had disappeared into thin air.

Just as he instinctively wanted to turn around to check, a hand wearing a cool black glove gently but steadily rested on his right shoulder.

Terry froze for a moment, then reacted, “You’re still here, sir. For a second, I thought you had disappeared.”

He muttered something under his breath, then turned and continued clearing the way without looking back.

That hand became the only coordinate that anchored Zhang Su's existence in reality.

And so, in a peculiar way—one struggling to hold back the flow of people in front, the other clinging close behind like a shadow, maintaining a delicate connection with a hand resting on their shoulder—the two moved slowly but steadily upstream with the surging crowd.

About three kilometers later, the clamor of the crowd and the course of the river both pointed to the same destination. The light ahead seemed to be swallowed up by something, and a huge shadow fell. A massive, grotesque mine entrance, resembling the gaping maw of a monster, abruptly appeared at the end of the river.

A chilling, bone-chilling cold gushed forth from the cave entrance, forming a visible layer of white mist that violently collided with the polluted but relatively warm air outside.

The clear river water, carrying some trash that had drifted down from upstream—broken pieces of wood, rotten fruit peels, and dirty strips of cloth—flowed resolutely into the bottomless, dark mine pit.

The floating objects were accelerated by the water flow as they approached the cave entrance, and then, like defective products precisely sent into a huge workshop by an invisible conveyor belt, they were instantly swallowed up by the thick darkness.

Zhang Su stopped more than ten meters from the cave entrance, his gaze fixed intently on the endless stream of garbage flowing into the darkness.

Seeing this, he couldn't help but think, "So much garbage keeps pouring in day after day... Is the bottom of that mine really not filled yet?" This all-consuming dark entrance itself exuded an abnormal aura that was stronger and more distorted than the river water, like a silent abyssal behemoth patiently waiting for him to approach.

Terry stopped in his tracks, looked at the mine, shivered, wrapped his thin clothes tighter around himself, and said in a voice filled with awe and fear, "Mr. Zhang, this is it. This hellhole... do you really want to go in?" His face clearly said, "Don't go and die."

Zhang Su did not answer immediately, but stared silently at the bottomless entrance of the mine, looking into the unfathomable darkness inside, as if reminding him of the strangeness and danger of his journey.

The entrance to the mine was already packed with people.

Most of them were poor people from Xiushuigou, dressed in thin, tattered clothes, their faces a mixture of greed, fear, and excitement at the spectacle.

They were like a flock of sheep enclosed by an invisible fence, pointing and whispering about the dark, gaping hole that constantly spewed out icy air, but no one dared to actually step into that frigid area.

"Hiss... This is fucking weird! It's not even winter yet, how come it's like an icebox inside?"

"Nonsense, otherwise why would it be called an 'ice cave'? I've heard that people who go in get their souls frozen away!"

"Look! Another one has come out!"

All eyes turned to the cave entrance. A man dressed in slightly thicker clothes and wrapped in a dirty blanket crawled out of the darkness, almost using both hands and feet.

His face was ashen, his lips were bluish-black, and his teeth chattered uncontrollably, making a series of sharp, clanging sounds.

He had only crawled a few steps out of the cave entrance when he collapsed onto the cold, muddy ground, his body curled up like a shrimp, trembling violently, unable to speak, only able to utter painful, intermittent "ho...ho..." sounds.

Someone nearby tried to help him up, but the moment their fingers touched his arm, they recoiled as if pricked by a needle: "My God! He's freezing cold!"

Soon, two or three more people, either skeptical or better equipped—nothing more than having wrapped themselves in several layers of tattered cloth—also retreated in a sorry state.

Without exception, they were all instantly overwhelmed by the extreme cold.

Some of them hugged their arms and stomped and jumped around frantically in place, trying to generate some heat, but their bodies trembled like leaves in the wind; others simply collapsed to the ground, their eyes somewhat unfocused, and were dragged by their companions to a rock in the distance where the sun was shining.

The warm sunlight shone on them, but they still shivered uncontrollably, their complexions showing no improvement for a long time, as if the chill that had penetrated to their very bones had taken root within them, and the sunlight could only bring them insignificant comfort.

Seeing the miserable state of those people, Terry's small face tightened. He instinctively pulled his obviously ill-fitting old coat tighter around himself. Pointing at them, he said to Zhang Su beside him with lingering fear, "Sir, look! See? This is what happens to those who go in! It's no place for humans to stay! Let's just look from the outside. Please don't even think about going in! It's too dangerous!"

Zhang Su's gaze swept over the unfortunate souls who were frozen to the point of near unconsciousness, then returned to the mine shaft that spewed out icy air like the throat of a giant beast. He nodded calmly: "Okay, Terry. Don't worry, I'll just keep an eye on things from the outside. I won't go in."

He spoke seriously, not like he was joking.

He wasn't lying—at least not literally.

I will definitely go in, but it will never be my main body that is in danger.

Using a double is the best option for exploring such unknown and dangerous places.

Moreover, with so many people around, it wasn't the time to act. He needed to familiarize himself with the route and observe his surroundings while waiting for nightfall.

With Zhang Su's assurance, Terry's tense nerves relaxed a little, but he still followed closely behind him, as if afraid that he would rush into the cave at any moment.

The two pushed through the crowd and cautiously approached the mine entrance.

The closer he got, the more pronounced the bone-chilling cold became. When Zhang Su finally stood at the edge of the cave entrance, a chilling current ten times stronger than before suddenly swept out from the deep darkness, instantly penetrating his thick clothing and piercing his skin!

"Hiss—!" Zhang Su couldn't help but gasp, and the hairs on his body stood on end instantly! This chill was not just a physical low temperature, but also carried a sinister feeling that penetrated to the bone and seemed to freeze the soul!

It was several times colder than the huge freezer at minus 25 degrees Celsius that he had entered when he worked at the supermarket before he transmigrated!

The cold in a cold storage room is dry and industrial, but the cold here is damp, rotten, and chilling, as if it came from the depths of the earth!

Just standing at the cave entrance, I felt as if my blood was about to freeze.

He suppressed his discomfort, squinted, and carefully surveyed the surroundings of the mine. The entrance was carved into a steep, bare rock wall, the rock a dark gray-black color from long-term erosion, devoid of any vegetation. Thick, opaque, grayish-white ice had formed around the edge of the entrance, reflecting a faint light in the dim light.

In front of the cave entrance was a relatively open, rocky slope, equally desolate, with only some extremely resilient moss clinging to life among the cracks in the rocks.

What caught Zhang Su's attention was that, a few dozen meters away from the cave entrance, near the bottom of the rock wall, there were several low, dilapidated stone houses scattered about.

These houses were clearly crudely built from quarried waste stone. Most of the roofs had collapsed, and the walls were full of cracks and crooked. They had been abandoned for many years and were remnants of the miners' temporary shelters.

Although dilapidated, it at least provides some shelter and blocks some of the cold wind.

"That's it," Zhang Su thought to himself.

When operating at night, the main body can hide in one of the relatively intact stone houses and send out clones to explore the dangerous mine. This is both safe and allows the main body to be aware of the clones' encounters in real time.

Having confirmed the terrain and his lodging for the night, Zhang Su did not linger.

He turned to Terry, who was rubbing his hands and stamping his feet to keep warm, and said, "Alright, Terry, we've seen this place, let's go back."

"That's wonderful, sir!" Terry exclaimed as if he had been granted a pardon, his face instantly breaking into a smile and his voice becoming cheerful. "This way, let's go back the way we came!"

He couldn't wait to leave this hellish place; the warm sunshine and familiar slum alleyways seemed incredibly tempting at that moment.

The two turned away from the unsettling chill and returned to the secluded path leading deep into the rusty ditch.

Having escaped the chill of the mine, Zhang Su felt much more comfortable. He quietly removed the 'Shadow-Stealing Glove' he had been wearing on his left hand and sent it back into the void.

The cool, smooth touch of the gloves disappeared, and my left hand, which had been damp from being covered by gloves, was exposed to the cool air. Instead, I felt a comfortable warmth, and the blood started flowing happily through my fingertips again.

On the way back, freed from the oppressive atmosphere of the mine, Terry was noticeably more relaxed and started talking more.

Perhaps it was because Zhang Su kept his promise and did not risk entering the mine that he felt that this "rich man," although mysterious, was still reasonable. Or perhaps it was because he had been suppressing his feelings for too long and needed someone to confide in.

“Sir,” Terry kicked away a small pebble at his feet, his voice carrying the energy unique to a young man, “you know what? Actually, our group used to be just like most people in this Rusty Ditch, just a bunch of headless flies, bumping around everywhere, not knowing where our next meal would come from, and always being bullied by other gangs in the slums.”

Zhang Su slowed his pace, matching the boy's rhythm, and asked with great interest, "Oh? And then what happened?"

"And then? What happened next?"

“Then,” Terry’s eyes lit up as he recalled the most important moment of his life, “we met Big Brother! The Big Brother we were talking about that day, Rick!”

His tone was full of undisguised admiration. "Back then, we were a few teenagers, starving. We were fighting with stray dogs in a garbage dump for half a piece of moldy bread. It was my older brother who happened to pass by and chased away those vicious dogs with just a few punches and kicks. He even shared his bread with us."

As Terry walked, he waved his arms, mimicking the scene: "The older brother asked us, 'Do you want to stop fighting with stray dogs for food? Do you want a place where you can sleep peacefully?' Of course we did! Then the older brother said, 'Follow me, use your fists and your brains, and carve out your own destiny in this muddy swamp!'"

"And then?" Zhang Su asked at the opportune moment, guiding the boy's story.

“Then we followed our boss!” Terry puffed out his thin chest, as if he himself was full of strength. “Our boss is amazing! He knows the rules and is reasonable. Other gangs only know how to seize territory, collect protection money, and bully the weak. Our boss is different! He led us and first taught those thugs who specialize in bullying the elderly and children and stealing relief food a lesson, and drove them out of the area where we lived.”

“Then, the eldest brother set the rules.” Terry counted on his fingers, his expression serious. “No stealing from the neighbors, no bullying the weak, go to him for judgment if there are any conflicts, and no fighting in private. He also marked out a few relatively ‘clean’ garbage dumps near the river and asked everyone to search them in order. Whoever found something useful could keep it, thus avoiding fighting and fighting every day.”

“Big Brother said that you can’t defend your territory with just your fists. You have to make everyone feel that there’s hope for the future if you follow us.” Terry’s tone carried a maturity beyond his years. “We collect a little ‘management fee,’ but all of that money goes to everyone! If someone in a family is sick, Big Brother will take out money to buy medicine; if a house collapses in the rain, Big Brother will take us to help repair it; if a big gang from outside tries to cause trouble, Big Brother will lead us to stand up to them! Gradually, although everyone in our area is still poor, they dare to go out at night, the children dare to play in the alleys, and the neighbors help each other out.”

As Terry spoke, his face beamed with a heartfelt anticipation for the future: "My brother said that the rusty ditch may be rotten, but people can't rot in the mud. As long as we all work together, follow the rules, and help each other, things will gradually get better. Once we've saved enough money, maybe we can send a few clever kids to learn a trade, so they won't have to spend their whole lives scavenging for food in the garbage dump!"

He looked at Zhang Su, his eyes clear and full of hope, "Sir, don't you think this makes sense? Following my elder brother, I feel hopeful! I like my elder brother the most, he's like... like someone who can turn stones in mud into gold!"

Zhang Su listened quietly to the boy's enthusiastic narration, looking into his eyes that still shone brightly in the gloom of the slums.

He could sense the genuine respect and reliance in Terry's words, as well as his almost blind worship of the older brother named "Rake".

This order and hope that grows tenaciously in a place of despair carries a rough yet resilient vitality.

“Hmm,” Zhang Su nodded, his voice gentle, “It sounds like your eldest brother is a thoughtful and responsible person. It’s not easy to establish such order in a place like this.”

He had another unspoken sentence: "If you had listened to your older brother and been a good boy, and hadn't gone out to rob me, I would have been even better..."

This recognition made Terry very happy, and his steps became lighter.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the messy shacks and winding paths of the rusty ditch in a warm golden light. The boy's hopeful words echoed on the way home, temporarily dispelling the chill of the mine and adding a rare touch of brightness to this gloomy world.

Zhang Su knew that this bright color might be fragile, but at this moment, it truly existed.

Once back in the slum area, Terry quickened his pace noticeably, a hint of anticipation on his face. He turned to Zhang Su and said, "Mr. Zhang Su, would you like to rest at our lodging? It's not far from here. Have a drink of water, so you don't get too tired... uh, I mean, have a seat."

Zhang Su had no other plans for the rest of the time, so he readily agreed: "Sure, then I'll trouble you."

“Okay! Follow me, this path is closer, but it’s a bit roundabout.” Terry said happily, and skillfully squeezed into a more hidden and narrower crevice, with crooked, dilapidated shack walls on both sides and slippery, oily mud underfoot.

Fortunately, Zhang Su's expensive leather shoes were already worn out, otherwise he might have slipped and fallen down the road.

The two wandered through the maze-like slum for about ten more minutes. The air became increasingly murky, but the noise of people gradually grew louder.

Suddenly, Terry, who was walking in front, stopped abruptly, his body visibly tense.

Following his gaze, Zhang Su saw a relatively open "open space" in front of him—actually an area enclosed by several large sheds—which was now occupied by two groups of people, and the atmosphere was tense.

There were about a dozen people on Terry's side, mostly teenagers and thin young men, dressed in tattered but still relatively neat old clothes.

They gripped wooden sticks, crowbars, rusty iron pipes tightly in their hands, and some even carried slingshots and socks filled with stones. Their faces were a mixture of anger, tension, and a desperate determination.

Opposite them stood a similar number of gangsters, all dressed in identical uniforms.

The uniform was made of coarse indigo cloth, similar in style to the short jackets worn by dockworkers, but the cuffs and collar were trimmed with red cloth strips, and a striking, dripping bloody index finger pattern—the symbol of the Bloodfinger Gang—was painted on the chest with rough white paint.

They were much better equipped: almost everyone carried a short, thick wooden stick covered with sheet metal or wrapped with wire (commonly known as a "wrapped iron stick"), with daggers on their belts, and the leaders even wore simple leather vests as armor.

They all had fierce expressions, filled with condescending contempt and...blatant threats.

Before Terry and Zhang Su could get completely close, the shouts and curses of a scarred, burly man who was the leader of the Blood Finger Gang came clearly over:

"Stop your fucking nonsense! This is your final warning: hand over those escaped 'goods'! Not a single one can be missing! You bunch of sewer bugs who dared to steal the Bloodfinger Gang's property are asking for trouble! If you don't spit them out today, I'll tear down your kennels and burn them for firewood!"

On Terry's side, a slightly taller boy with freckles on his face roared back without backing down, his voice trembling with excitement:

"Bullshit! Who stole your junk? Your embarrassment is none of our business! Look elsewhere, it's not here! Get out of here! Otherwise, if we really start fighting, nobody's going to get away with it!"

"That's right! Get out!"

"So what if you're part of the Blood Finger Gang? What kind of skill is it to bully the poor!"

"Try it yourself!"

The boys on Terry's side were furious, waving their makeshift weapons and hurling insults back. The war of words raged on, and the atmosphere was tense enough to ignite at any moment.

Upon seeing this, Terry's face instantly darkened, and his brows furrowed.

He quickly whispered to Zhang Su, "Mr. Zhang Su, I'm so sorry to have caused you such a distressing situation. Please go over there first," he pointed to the shadows behind a pile of abandoned wooden crates not far away, "find a place to hide, and whatever you do, don't show your face! I have to go check it out!"

His tone was urgent, and it was clear that he wanted to help his companions immediately.

Zhang Su nodded without saying much: "Okay, be careful." He flashed away, disappearing silently into the shadows as he retreated to the corner Terry pointed out. The view from there was just right, allowing him to see the situation clearly without attracting attention.

Terry took a deep breath, straightened his thin back, pushed aside the two companions blocking his way, and strode to the front of his own group.

"Shut up! What's all the noise about!" Terry's voice wasn't loud, it even had a youthful clarity, but it carried a strange penetrating power and an unquestionable authority.

Surprisingly, the noisy teenagers who had been arguing just moments before fell silent the moment they heard his voice, as if a pause button had been pressed. They all turned to him with eyes full of reliance and a sense of relief as if they had found their pillar of support.

Even the freckled boy who was leading the group immediately shut his mouth, only using his eyes to signal to the enemy opposite him.

Zhang Su, who was watching from the shadows, thought to himself: This kid really has a lot of prestige among this group of slum teenagers.

Ignoring his companions' gazes, Terry turned to the freckled boy first: "Eddie, what's going on? Explain yourself."

The boy named Eddie immediately explained in rapid succession: "Terry! The Bloodfinger Gang is unreasonable! They suddenly barged in, insisting that we hid their escaped 'goods,' the people they were planning to sell! We haven't even seen a hair on their heads! They wouldn't listen to our explanations, they just started cursing and even threatened to demolish our place! We couldn't stand it, so we fought back!"

Terry nodded, indicating that he understood.

He turned around, trying to maintain his composure, and looked sharply at the scarred leader of the Bloodfinger Gang: "Sir of the Bloodfinger Gang, my brother said that the person you are looking for is not here, and we have never seen him before. This is a misunderstanding. We don't want any trouble, please leave."

His tone was neither humble nor arrogant, attempting to ease the situation.

"Misunderstanding?" Scarface scoffed, spitting. "Bullshit! The information I received is crystal clear: it was you little cockroaches who harbored our goods! Don't want trouble? Too late! Hand over the people now, or else..."

He weighed the iron bar in his hand, his expression full of threat.

"We didn't! Your Bloodfinger Gang has lost face, why are you blaming us for it!"

"Exactly! Produce the evidence!"

"Get out! You're not welcome here!"

The boys behind Terry erupted again, arguing back and forth, their emotions running high.

"Shut up, all of you!" Terry hissed, silencing his companions' commotion. He then turned to Scarface, his tone turning cold. "We said we didn't, and we didn't. You've come here without any evidence, demanding someone cause trouble. Do you think we're easy to bully?"