Chapter 107: The Correct Way to Open the Door
His brows furrowed slightly. "We believe that opening the main gate must require a switch or a key—at least some key item similar to a key. Without it, the gate cannot be opened."
"But this information was passed on by Lin Pei."
"What do you mean? Did he deliberately mislead us?" Gu Yu stopped her movements.
"That's not it. He himself might think he's looking for a 'key.' We thought he was looking for a 'key,' so we followed suit and looked for a 'key' as well. But leaving the instance doesn't necessarily mean we have to open the main gate."
"Are you saying there's another way to escape the instance?" Gu Yu pondered for a moment. "That doesn't add up. If there really was another way, why would Lin Pei go to the trouble of cooperating with us to lure the Xenomorph away from the gate?"
"He didn't seem to be putting on an act when he killed the Xenomorph," Shen Yi added.
Xu Huo said, "Lin Pei learned the method to leave the town through some unknown channel, but his method might not be correct."
Everyone present was stunned for a moment, then Shen Yi slapped his forehead. "Right! We've been going back and forth, assuming he definitely knew how to get out and trying to beat him to it, without considering whether he might be wrong!"
"How stupid of us! We completely believed that scumbag Lin Pei. If he really had that kind of ability, he wouldn't still be stuck here without finding a way out." Gu Yu laughed along, then added, "I think our original idea was solid. There are wires connected to the main gate, so there must be a control switch somewhere."
"That's not necessarily true," Xu Huo said. "If there were a switch, even if it wasn't in an obvious place, it should have been found by now."
"Although the town is sealed off, people do come and go. There's no need to make the gate switch extremely hidden."
"We can't find a key anywhere, probably because the main gate doesn't have a 'key' at all—just like the rooms here."
"You mean the door should actually be easy to open?" Ke Liang asked doubtfully. "But we tried everything just now, and we couldn't get it open."
"Clang! Clang!"
"Nine o'clock! Nine o'clock! It's the perfect time for learning. A child who learns a new knowledge every day is a good child."
"Today's question: Among the twelve hours, which one does Master Nicer love the most?"
An electronic voice sounded from next door. After hearing it, Xu Huo immediately walked out of Master Nicer's residence and entered the adjacent building.
Gu Yu and the others, confused, followed him.
"What's he doing?" Shen Xin asked instinctively, but Gu Yu stopped him with a gesture.
They arrived at the clock that had just chimed. Xu Huo stepped forward and tapped the glass door of the hanging clock. "I didn't catch the question. Say it again."
"Today's question: Among the twelve hours, which one does Master Nicer love the most?"
Xu Huo stared at the hands on the clock face, one hand in his trouser pocket. Gemstone arm, magnifying glass, candy, strawberry mirror...
"Twelve o'clock. Master Nicer loves midnight the most."
"Beep beep! Correct answer!"
"The puzzle solver has given the right answer. Master Nicer decides to reward you with a strawberry hair clip."
Xu Huo took the hair clip that the clock spat out, turned around, and said to Gu Yu and the others, "The big clock on the roof of the town mayor's office building glows on the second hand every midnight. At that time, light reflects off the main gate. I've noticed it doesn't happen at other times."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Shen Yi didn't understand.
"If the town's main gate doesn't need a key, then how is it opened and closed?" Xu Huo asked.
"The ground cage!" Shen Xin had a flash of inspiration. "It opens and closes automatically through a gate mechanism—no one needs to control it. It closes and opens at set times. The town's main gate works on the same principle!"
"That's right," Xu Huo nodded. "If the gate isn't controlled by people, it must have an automatic opening and closing time. Midnight is a special time. The gate might open then."
"So we just have to wait in front of the gate until midnight?" Gu Yu couldn't believe it was that easy.
"Try it once every interval. We'll have results within 24 hours. If the deduction is wrong, we'll think of another way," Xu Huo said.
His calm certainty was like a reassuring pill, giving Gu Yu, Ke Liang, and the others immense confidence.
"Then which gate should we pick?" Wang Chaoqing asked cheerfully. "How about drawing lots?"
"Logically, both gates should be the same," Xu Huo said. "But we've already tried the East Gate a few times, so we can rule out some times. Let's go to the East Gate first."
"Alright, East Gate it is!"
"Don't we need to worry about Lin Pei?" Shen Xin hesitated for a moment.
"The town is huge. Where are we supposed to find him? Instead of wasting energy searching for him, it's better to find a way out quickly," Shen Yi said. "We'll just stay alert."
The small truck hit the road again, but this time, unlike when they arrived, everyone's faces were much more relaxed. Gu Yu even started humming a tune.
"Aren't you a movie star? You can sing too?" Shen Yi asked with a laugh.
"A triple-threat star in film, TV, and music—no joke." Gu Yu cleared her throat and began singing a little tune she had written herself. Shen Yi and Ke Liang clapped along to the beat.
Xu Huo wiped his long sword with a pleased expression, as if infected by the joy.
They couldn't go a day without preparing food, so they picked up some supplies along the way and brought some water. By the time they reached the East Gate, it was almost midnight.
"When I get out, I'm going to eat hotpot for three days straight," Shen Yi said, chewing on chocolate. "Just thinking about the smell makes my mouth water."
"Me too, me too." Shen Xin nodded like a chick pecking rice. "I've never gone this long without food in my life. I could eat a whole cow!"
"Then you two come with me to Jing City. I'll treat you to all the authentic local cuisine," Gu Yu said with grand generosity.
The siblings laughed. "Isn't a big star busy?"
"No matter how busy I am, I have to make time for friends." Gu Yu glanced at Xu Huo. "If you come, I'll personally accompany you. I'll arrange accommodation and everything—don't worry about money."
Her intentions were clearly not just about them. Shen Xin nudged her brother's arm and snickered.
Shen Yi and Ke Liang envied Xu Huo's luck with women. The former asked, "Brother Xu, we're planning to head to Jing City after we get out. Aren't you coming?"
"Not planning to for now." Xu Huo ate his biscuit slowly. He noticed Gu Yu had squeezed the chocolate in her hand until it melted without eating it, so he reached out. "If you can't eat it, give it to me."
Gu Yu's fingertips slapped hard against his palm. She shifted her feet, turned her back to him, and shoved the chocolate into her own mouth.
"Blind to your blessings," Wang Chaoqing clicked his tongue beside them, then sidled up to Gu Yu. "Miss Gu, do you think I have any potential?"
Gu Yu turned back and looked him over. She thought he had some potential. His Shadow trait seemed weak now, but it had huge potential.
Just as she was about to speak, Xu Huo suddenly reached out and pressed Wang Chaoqing's shoulder, saying with a smile, "You're coming with me."
Wang Chaoqing's expression drooped. "Brother, small towns have no future. Little brother wants to make big money."
"Don't worry. I'll introduce you to a place where you can make big money later." Xu Huo patted him.
Wang Chaoqing dared not speak his anger, so he glanced at Gu Yu, only to find she had lost interest. His hope for a fresh start was dashed, and he shuffled back to his original spot without moving.
Soon, the sky darkened. They gathered some dry branches, lit a fire, and turned off their flashlights.
They waited until after eleven at night.
"Almost midnight." Ke Liang swallowed nervously.
Xu Huo's watch was synchronized with the clock. When the second hand hit twelve, he nodded to the others and, together with Ke Liang and Gu Yu, stepped forward to push the door.
They put all their strength into it, but to their surprise, the door was completely different from before. It yielded with a light push, sinking inward, then slowly began to rise upward:
"The door is open!"