After a thorough washing, I felt much better. My companion and I retraced our steps from memory.
Fortunately, the path was relatively smooth. Although the mountain was vast and the road rugged, it was easy to follow. Perhaps it was the main route for transporting poppies out of the mountains, with frequent foot traffic. We encountered few obstacles. The more dangerous sections seemed to have been repaired, with steps in places, making the journey less strenuous.
Just as we were nearing exhaustion, we suddenly heard voices ahead. I signaled Wen Siqiang, urging him to quickly duck aside. The footsteps indicated they were approaching.
We held our breath, waiting for the speakers to arrive.
Soon, two men in plain clothes, wearing the unique bamboo-slat coolie hats common here, and white shirts, emerged from the slope below. They didn't seem like people from the small town below; they looked more like officials.
I glanced at their waists and, sure enough, they were armed. This confirmed my suspicion: these two were likely Wu Guodong's men, and from a higher echelon.
I exchanged a look with Wen Siqiang. He nodded in understanding. We set down our rifles, bent low, and as the two men drew near, I launched myself forward like a wolf in prey, pinning them to the ground.
The area where we were was relatively flat, just right for holding them down.
Wen Siqiang and I disarmed them of the short pistols at their waists, then removed their belts and bound their hands behind their backs with them, leaving them prone on the ground.
It was then that one of them realized what was happening and shouted, "Are you traitors? Do you want to die? Don't you know how the General treats deserters?"
Perhaps he had seen our military trousers when we flipped him over. He must have mistaken us for Wu Guodong's soldiers.
I stood up and kicked him hard in the backside, cursing, "Open your dog eyes and see who we are!"
The man twisted his head, his eyes squinting sideways at me, and exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be? Are you from the other side?"
I kicked him again. "You've got some discernment. What, are you here to collect our corpses?"
I had already guessed that they were here concerning our situation. Ordinary matters could be handled by phone; they wouldn't send people specifically.
He said, astonished, "How did you know?"
I replied, "Let me guess, your name is Wang Dong?"
He scrambled to turn over and sat up straight, asking me, "Do you know me?"
I retorted, "Know you? Nonsense. You thought we were dead. I imagine the only people who would come to collect our corpses now would be people like you."
He asked, "How could you survive?"
His face was a picture of terror, as if we were ghosts.
It didn't make sense. People thrown into the bottom of a ravine were supposed to be reduced to bones. Those leopards and that den of pythons were like their private zoo, their duty to regularly supply food.
Unfortunately for them, we hadn't followed their script. What should have been a happy ending for them had been disrupted by our appearance, ruining their play.
I said, "Who told you that you'd certainly die there? Do you think because your methods have always worked, you assumed we were also just bones? That's too presumptuous. Let me tell you, if I went down there again today, I still wouldn't die. But I can't go down there again now. The one who needs to contemplate life is you. Can you live to see tomorrow's sun?"
He asked, "What do you want?"
I scoffed, "Have you watched too many Hong Kong dramas? 'What do you want?' Isn't that question ridiculous?"
He looked somewhat dejected, truly having never calculated that they would encounter us. We were supposed to be the ones lying at the bottom of the ravine, but unexpectedly, the tables had turned, and they were now facing life and death.
I said, "Why did you lie to me? And play with your cousin's life?"
He snorted, "Since they chose to be assassins, they should have understood the consequences of capture. They were greedy for life and afraid of death, thinking to use my backdoor. You think I'd put myself in danger for them? When I received your call, the General's secretary was right beside me. He instructed me to agree to your terms and then lure you here. You might not have realized it, but your life is very valuable. If they had killed you yesterday, they could have received a reward of fifty thousand of your currency. I came here today to verify their kill and confirm their bonus."
Fifty thousand. I never thought I was worth so much. Yesterday, I had even gambled that he had reported my intentions. It seemed I had overthought it. In the face of fifty thousand, my attempts to frighten them with a few suggestions were so pale and powerless.
I was certain that he hadn't relayed my words to Wu Guodong before we were taken away. Fortunately, we had prepared ourselves for an all-night battle. If we had just waited for them to change their minds, we might truly not have seen the sun this morning.
I said, "I've heard that in your territory, there's no such thing as murder? As long as there's a reason, one can take another's life, correct? You lured me here and threw us into the ravine to be torn apart by animals to die. Does that count as a valid reason?"
He drooped his head, knowing what I was implying. Now, with two rifles and two pistols in our hands, taking their lives was as easy as breathing. And in this dense primeval forest, if he was simply discarded, after a night, not even bones would likely remain.
I signaled Wen Siqiang to hand me a rifle. I took it, chambered a round, and pressed the muzzle to the other man's head, saying, "Let's send him off first. Let you taste the feeling of death happening right beside you."
That man had remained lying on his side. Now, with the gun pressed against him, he was told he was about to be killed, and he quickly pleaded, "Mercy, sir! I am merely a subordinate. Killing me is meaningless. However, I know many of General Wu's secrets. If you spare my life, I will definitely help you find General Wu."
I said, "It seems you're quite quick-witted. But I like that. Alright, you'll come back with us later, and we'll sit down and talk. However, the other man knows too much. He probably has no reason to live, so we'll have no worries."
The man immediately said, "Yes, I've disliked this fellow for a long time. He's always bullying and exploiting us, relying on his good relationship with the General. Many people want to deal with him but haven't had the chance. Killing him this time would be like removing a scourge for the people."
I said, "It's rare to see such righteous indignation. How about this, you handle today's matter. For your sake and ours, as long as you're willing to work for us, I guarantee you will live comfortably!"
As I spoke, I untied his belt, allowing him to move his wrists, and handed him a rifle.
Wen Siqiang held a pistol, keeping a close eye on him, afraid he might betray us with a shot.
He took the rifle, stepped back a pace, raised it, and aimed it at Wang Dong's head.
Wang Dong said sternly, "Qian Fugui, how dare you!"
Qian Fugui replied, "Wang, if you are unjust, I shall not be loyal. On behalf of all the brothers you've oppressed, I fire this shot of justice."