This was a steep downward staircase and it was easy to fall. After walking down a slope of around 100 metres and turning a corner, it became slightly more spacious. The steam lamp on the wall emitted a faint white light. Looking in the distance, it was deep and there was the sound of footsteps inside, creating endless echoes.

Lu Feng inquired, “Did you dig this?”

“No, not me,” the boy replied. “It was a mine a long time ago. Many of us hid here.”

Lu Feng continued questioning the boy. “How many people are there? How long have you lived here?”

“I don’t know.” The boy lowered his head slightly. “I’ve been here since I was born. Many people later… all died. My uncle went out and now it is only me and my grandfather here.”

Before entering the place where the ‘grandpa’ that the boy called out to was located, An Zhe heard a heavy gasp that was like an animal on the verge of death.

He saw a 10 metre square hole containing a wire bed that was less than a metre wide. An old man with grey hair was lying on the bed. An Zhe approached and saw that the old man’s body was covered with grey-yellow blankets. His cheeks were sunken, his eyes were cloudy and his body was shaking as if he was enduring great pain. He didn’t respond even when they came to the bed.

“He’s sick,” the boy stated.

Then he sat on the bed, took his grandfather’s hand and called out loudly, “Grandpa! The people outside have come to us. They say they are from a base. There really is a base!”

The old man wasn’t awake and wasn’t affected by the euphoria in the words. Still, he frowned at the chaos and turned his head like he was trying to escape the noise.

“Let’s go to a place with a lot of people!” The boy seemed used to it and wasn’t affected by the old man’s negative attitude. Rather, his tone was even more excited. Just then, the old man’s dry mouth moved and he emitted a few vague syllables.

“What?” his grandson asked.

An Zhe also listened carefully. The old man’s lips moved and he repeated the syllables again.

“Time…” His throat was hoarse and his mouth was leaking air, his voice like broken wind. “The time… is coming.”

The boy turned apologetically to Lu Feng and An Zhe. “Grandpa always says this. He thinks he is seriously ill and will die.”

Then he turned to the old man again. “We are going to a place where there are humans. There must be medicine.”