Chapter 10, Requiem

The closer Zhao Lingjun got to the bottom of the sewer, the less Zhang Changsheng could see Zhao Lingjun's condition

Zhang Chongxi was pleasantly surprised, probably never expecting that Zhao Lingjun would agree so readily

Zhao Lingjun knew that Wu Xiaoye would never deceive him

As the gazes of the two individuals met, Zhao Lingjun noticed that in Wu Xiaoye's eyes, besides a hint of concern, there was surprisingly a slight tremor of excitement and exhilaration.

"How could she have such insight?" As Zhao Lingjun grasped the edge of the sewer entrance and slowly extended her foot to the iron ladder on the sewer wall, she couldn't help but ponder this question. The more she thought about that requiem, the more she felt a tingling sensation on her scalp.

Fearing that the area below would be poorly ventilated and lacking in oxygen, Zhang Changsheng tied a rope around Zhao Lingjun's waist. If anything went wrong, Zhang Changsheng would pull Zhao Lingjun back up. However, even so, as he watched Zhao Lingjun descend slowly, Zhang Changsheng's hands gripping the rope were already sweating.

However, Zhao Lingjun clearly remembers Wuxiaoye's response

How is it? Should we drop the flashlight?" Upon realizing he could not see Zhao Lingjun, Zhang Changsheng suddenly felt a bit flustered, prompting him to involuntarily shout a phrase

In less than two minutes, a pair of gloves and a mask had already been placed in Zhao Lingjun's hands

However, when Zhao Lingjun saw Wu Xiaoye in the crowd, he recalled why he had stayed in this low-paying job, where he had to face several companies even more detestable than cockroaches every day. At that moment, Zhao Lingjun suddenly remembered that if he did not go down today, Wu Xiaoye would also have to endure the unpleasant smell for an entire night

Oh heavens, I have never done anything that would harm the heavens or the earth. I often help elderly ladies cross the street and frequently give up my seat for the elderly. You must not let me encounter any perverse and malevolent spirits here

Seeing that Zhao Lingjun's expression wavered slightly, Zhang Chong handed a flashlight and a shovel to Zhao Lingjun while saying: "Actually, it might just be that we've blocked a small object, perhaps a large nylon bag or something like that. It might not even require digging anything out. If luck is on your side, you could just dig a scoop down, and the water might instantly clear the path."

Zhao Lingjun thought for a moment and replied affirmatively. Indeed, there is often an unknown melody played in the community during the evening hours.

The cover of this sewer has likely not been lifted since it was placed. On the iron ladder attached to the wall of the sewer, a layer of dark, sludge-like substance has adhered, though its exact nature remains unknown. Even though Zhao Lingjun wore gloves, he could still feel the slimy texture, which made him feel as if he was grasping not a handrail, but rather some stiff, decayed, dead eels. Even though Zhao Lingjun wore gloves, he could still feel the slimy texture, which made him feel as if he was grasping not a handrail, but rather some stiff, decayed, dead eels

Zhao Lingjun cast a disdainful glance at the two individuals who were flattering him without a hint of embarrassment or breathlessness, and walked away towards the sewer entrance without looking back

I won't be able to go down all at once, or I won't be able to come back up

With a splash, Zhang Changsheng first heard a sound of water, as if something had suddenly fallen into it. Then, he heard a cry of surprise.

What truly made Zhao Lingjun's scalp tingle was that as she approached the dark, murky entrance of the sewer, she suddenly recalled what Zhang Changsheng had said to her when she had just arrived here last year

The light from the flashlight seemed to be completely absorbed by the dark, slime-covered walls of the unknown sewer

Although it is not yet midsummer, the weather has already become extremely hot. The entire sewer is now filled with the foul odor of decay. Before even reaching the sewer entrance, Zhao Lingjun seems to be able to see that smell rising like steam. Even wearing a mask cannot block the stench, which is a hundred times worse than that of stinky tofu

At this moment, Zhao Lingjun could not help but admire Zhang Chong's ability to kill without leaving a trace.

Zhao Lingjun would absolutely not care about the lives of Hao Meili and others. However, Zhao and the library Lingjun could not bear to let Wu Xiaoye stay in a room that reeked of a public restroom for an entire night

However, despite thinking this way, Zhao Lingjun ultimately walked to the sewer entrance with a shovel in hand

Thus, whenever Zhao Lingjun sees that dark and ominous sewer opening, she recalls many scenes from horror films. Zhao Lingjun suddenly feels that it is not merely a sewer opening, but rather an entrance to countless graves of wronged souls

Upon thinking of this, Zhao Lingjun could not help but glance at Wu Xiaoye.

Later, one day when Zhao Lingjun was with Wu Xiaoye, he inadvertently brought up this topic. At that time, Zhao Lingjun was still not entirely certain whether what Zhang Changsheng had said was true or not

MLGBD. Zhao Lingjun had not yet had the chance to refuse when a flashlight and a shovel were already thrust into his hands. At that moment, Zhao Lingjun truly wanted to pick up the shovel handed to him by Zhang Pangzi and knock him over with it, then grab his two chubby legs and drag him to the sewer entrance, shoving his pig-like head into the sewer, allowing him to get a good whiff of the sewer's odor, and then ask him, "Is it fragrant? Next time, will you still dare to call Zhao Ye to dig the sewer?" Zhao Lingjun at that moment truly wanted to pick up the shovel handed to him by Zhang Pangzi and knock him over with it, then grab his two chubby legs and drag him to the sewer entrance, shoving his pig-like head into the sewer, allowing him to get a good whiff of the sewer's odor, and then ask him, "Is it fragrant? Next time, will you still dare to call Zhao Ye to dig the sewer?"

* * *

The cry was extremely piercing. The faces of everyone present changed.

Wu Xiaoye did not tell Zhao Lingjun that below was indeed a mass grave specifically for executed prisoners and those convicted of literary offenses. Wu Xiaoye merely asked Zhao Lingjun if he had heard a melodious piece of music that was often played in the community.

Because the figure of Zhao Lingjun appeared quite hazy in the dim light of the flashlight, giving a sense of something that was both present and elusive

A thought suddenly arose in Zhao Lingjun's mind

As soon as Zhao Lingjun approached the sewer entrance, he nearly vomited the leftover rice porridge from the previous night.

So when Zhao Lingjun took over the shovel and flashlight from Zhang Pangzi, he simply took a deep breath and said to Zhang Pangzi, "Get me a mask and a pair of gloves"

The light from this ordinary flashlight is not very strong, and after Zhao Lingjun blocked most of the light himself, Zhang Changsheng could hardly see what was in the dark, murky sewer.

However, Zhao Lingjun suddenly noticed that there was a slight flush on Wu Xiaoye's somewhat pale face today. When Zhao Lingjun turned to look at Wu Xiaoye, he found that Wu Xiaoye was also looking at him.

As Zhao Lingjun held his breath as much as possible, he carefully grasped the climbing ladder with one hand and slowly descended with a shovel in the other hand, continuously murmuring to himself in his heart

As soon as Zhao Lingjun saw Wu Xiaoye, he suddenly felt that there was something unusual about her today

In fact, Zhao Lingjun is not someone who easily yields to power. Although it is impossible to simply knock down Zhang Pangzi with a single shovel, for a moment, Zhao Lingjun couldn't help but want to spit in front of Zhang Pangzi and Baoya Zhen, saying, "I have no time to play with you," and then turn around and close the door to go to sleep.

In her usual demeanor, Wu Xiaoye appears calm and quiet, exuding an air of indifference as if she is disengaged from the world. Zhao Lingjun has always felt that even if a bundle of money were to suddenly fall before Wu Xiaoye, she would not display any signs of excitement.

Upon hearing Zhao Lingjun's response, Wu Xiaoye simply remarked, "That is a requiem."

Zhang Changsheng was squatting at the mouth of the sewer, holding a flashlight to illuminate for Zhao Lingjun

This below is a mass grave. It is said to be specifically for burying those who were sentenced to death at that time. At that time, Zhang Changsheng said this to Zhao Lingjun.

From above, it seemed that the sewer was not very deep. However, when Zhao Lingjun descended and the rope in his hand kept getting longer, Zhang Changsheng realized that this sewer appeared to be much deeper than a typical one

Given Zhang Pangzi's physique, it is certainly impossible for him to possess such speed. The gloves and mask brought to Zhao Lingjun were delivered by Hao Meili's two subordinates, the Hēng and Hā generals.

Sometimes Zhao Lingjun feels that being a man is quite good, for instance, not having to stuff such a large object in his pants every month. However, when he sees the sewer entrance emitting a pungent, almost tangible odor, he thinks that being a woman might also be quite nice. At least, even a woman like Hao Meili can shake her ample hips and say, "You wouldn't want a woman to go down there and poke around, would you"