There are different routes here, Chuzheng and two people from the Guard Team, along with that short-haired girl, headed for one path.
The gaps between these machines are really small. It’s easy to accidentally bump into the machinery.
"Be careful." A Guard Team mber front and back, letting her and the short-haired girl walk in the middle: "These machines are hot."
After walking a certain distance, they arrived at a crossroads.
"You two go to one side each." Said the Guard Team: "Once you find it, don’t touch anything, wait for instructions."
The short-haired girl was anxious: "Nothing’s going to happen, right?"
"It won’t, just don’t make any moves." Said the Guard Team: "Hurry up."
The short-haired girl glanced at Chuzheng: "Be careful."
The crossroads had numbers marked. Chuzheng went to the left side, and found it quickly, but...
The thing was at least five ters away from her.
To climb up such a gap, it’s really a killer.
If a tall guy tried, he’d probably be stuck right there.
Luckily, there’s no one else here. After climbing up, Chuzheng pressed the button in place.
Five minutes passed, and still no instructions...
Ten minutes passed, still no instructions...
Thirty minutes passed...
Can we hurry up? What’s the delay? Want to get evaporated here?
After fifty minutes, Chuzheng’s patience was running out, finally a voice ca over her ear.
"Everyone get ready. After counting to three, move together..."
"Three."
"Two."
"One."
Chuzheng found that rotating this thing required considerable strength, but it was still within the range a normal person could handle.
She quickly rotated a full circle, then pressed the button next to her.
Chuzheng released her hand, and around her, the machines’ operating sounds simultaneously stopped.
About ten seconds later, the machines restarted.
Beeep—
A piercing sound suddenly echoed through the entire space, nearly deafening Chuzheng.
"What’s going on?"
"What’s happening to 609?"
"Those near 609, go check it out."
The chaotic shouts of the Guard Team echoed in her ear.
609...
The direction that the short-haired girl went.
The voice of the Guard Team ca again: "Everyone, return the sa way!! Countdown five minutes, in five minutes the purification system’s door will close, hurry up!!"
Apparently, this condition wasn’t ntioned by the Guard Team.
They could only hear the Guard Team’s voice, unable to speak. If they could talk now, it would probably be a flurry of curses.
Those near the door were fine; five minutes was totally enough.
For those inside, five minutes was simply not enough!
They didn’t know what would happen after the door closed in five minutes, they could only run outward at escape speed.
However, the more frantic, the easier to make mistakes.
Amidst the clamor of machines, Chuzheng heard screams coming from afar...
Chuzheng steadied her arm, calmly jumped down, and walked toward the outside.
At the crossroads, she glanced towards 609, countless machines obstructed the view, nothing could be seen.
Chuzheng had intended to leave but, after thinking for a mont, turned around and headed over.
Doing a good deed.
Today, also striving to be a good person!
Huff!
By the ti Chuzheng arrived, the short-haired girl had already fainted. Chuzheng moved her aside and quickly finished the half-rotation, pressing the activation button next to her.
The piercing ’beep’ sound ceased.
"Three minutes left! Hurry and evacuate!"
The gap was too small, and with carrying another person, even harder to navigate.
Halfway through, she saw a guard approaching, upon seeing her carrying soone, urged imdiately: "Hurry up, the door’s closing soon."
Chuzheng: "..."
If I could do it quickly, I would!
Do you think this is a racetrack?
Am I not anxious?
I’m very anxious too!
The guard didn’t walk off alone, actively took over the short-haired girl, and proceeded to lead them outside.
"One minute!"
The urgent countdown echoed in her ear.
"Thirty seconds."
Chuzheng could already see the entrance door, though still sowhat distant.
"Hurry up!" The guard acted faster.
"Ten seconds..."
Ahead was a spacious passage. After exiting, the guard lifted the short-haired girl and ran.
"Three seconds..."
"Two seconds..."
"One second..."
Boom—
The door closed with a resounding shut.
"No!!"
The guard pounded on the door, people steadily erged behind him, they didn’t make it in ti.
Seeing the door already closed, the crowd burst into chaos.
"Open the door, let us out."
"We’re not going to die here, right?"
"Get them to open the door!" Soone grabbed the guard.
At this point, the guard’s face turned ashen, murmuring: "It’s useless, this door can only be opened in twelve hours."
After rebooting the purification system, there would be a twelve-hour containnt period.
Those outside couldn’t open it, nor could those inside.
Only waiting twelve hours later...
And during this ti, the temperature inside would rise continually, possibly dying from heat or suffocation due to lack of oxygen.
Having heard the guard’s explanation, the crowd appeared even more restless.
They hadn’t ntioned this fact when they entered.
This is deception!
"Damn it!"
"Open the door!!"
"Damn it, open the door for us!"
"Let us out."
"You’re sending us to die!!"
The guard was punched several tis, seemingly having given up resistance. Being picked to co here initially ant being ready not to get out.
"So hot..."
"What should we do, I don’t want to die here."
"Why send us to die, you executioners."
"Wuuu..."
Out of about twenty people who didn’t make it out, so punched the door in frustration, so covered their faces and sobbed, so cursed at the guard to vent.
Chuzheng pulled the guard out, her tone calm and steady: "Is there any other way?"
Compared to the panic of others, Chuzheng appeared too calm, causing others to quiet down involuntarily.
"No..." The guard shook his head.
"Think carefully."
The guard t Chuzheng’s gaze; his shaking head paused slightly and he recalled carefully.
"I rember... soone ntioned there’s a test room behind the purification system where residents stayed for system adjustnts and records when it was first put to use."
If it could accommodate residents, there must be a livable environnt in there.
"Take us there, quickly!"
"I don’t want to die."
Nearby people reacted imdiately with enthusiasm.
Chuzheng glanced at those people, the clamoring died down instantly.
The one standing up was a young girl, yet the feeling she gave was of a queen atop a peak of power, her glance emitted chilling severity.
Chuzheng coldly commanded: "Lead the way."
"I... I don’t know where it is." The guard hesitated: "I only heard about it."
Even if usable, that test room must have been unused for ages.
"..."
The guard added: "I’ll... I’ll ask the captain." Although the door shut, communication was still possible.
The guard got in touch with those outside, the captain listened to the guard’s report and took a while before telling him the directions.
"Even if you find it there... you might not get in, it hasn’t been used for a long ti." The captain’s voice sounded heavy: "Good luck."
The guard bitterly laughed, doing nothing would also an death now.
"Captain, if I don’t make it out, please take care of my family."
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