Chapter 72: Life in a Humble Abode

When Shao Gang, having been unexpectedly rescued from the arena by the Falcon Brothers, managed to survive, the first thing he did was go to see his old classmate Yan Ze—of course, he went in secret.

When Yan Ze saw Shao Gang again, he was both delighted and afraid: glad that his old friend had escaped a hellish fate, but fearful that this could be a trap. After all, he hadn’t done anything reckless lately—he was just a nobody, hardly worth notice—so perhaps there was nothing to worry about.

The reunion was warm and genuine. This time, unlike before, they didn’t have to pretend not to know each other; they could finally reminisce freely.

But when the conversation turned to their future plans, reality quickly set in. What plans could they have? What Shao Gang wanted most was to leave—to escape this cursed place. True, the outside world was no paradise either, still unsettled from the earthquake two years ago, still living in terror under the shadow of strange, unknown creatures. But at least outside, there was freedom—no one to lord over you, no one to trample you underfoot.

Yet, it was far easier to get in than to get out. It was said that anyone who had ever tried to escape from here was inevitably caught and suffered a fate as cruel as those who’d once entered the secret police headquarters centuries ago—caught between life and death, with no hope of either.

Freedom, oh freedom—where could it be found?

There was, in fact, a relatively free place within Golden Rooster Ridge itself, though Shao Gang didn’t know about it at first, since he’d been thrown straight into the arena. Yan Ze, however, had been here longer and had paid attention. He told Shao Gang about this place, comparing it to the slums outside the city where the so-called “Sanhe Masters” lived—a haven for the fallen, people working one day and idling for three, with no ambitions and no desires. Ordinary folk looked down on such places and the people living there.

Shao Gang was wary that the “no-man’s-land” Yan Ze described would be much the same, but after some thought, he decided to have a look. Unless it was truly unbearable, he’d consider staying.

Under Yan Ze’s guidance, Shao Gang soon found the place. It lay deep within Golden Rooster Ridge, far from the territories of the city’s elite—at the very bottom of Future City, where the first wave of workers who’d built the city had once lived, along with now-deserted quarters once inhabited by slaves.

The city’s overlords knew of its existence, and had fenced it off with wire and barricades, leaving only a few hidden passages that wound through the mountains to reach it.

The passages, cave-like and treacherous, were always bustling with people: locals going out to gather supplies, and petty tyrants from the outside coming in to recruit free labor. Yan Ze had learned of the place from someone who regularly ventured out for provisions.

Shao Gang’s first impression was favorable. The people here seemed kind and harmless—no malice in their eyes. It made sense: fellow exiles in a strange land, what need was there for enmity? He finally understood a saying from their school days: “When fate has cast us both adrift, why dwell on the past?”

Though sunlight never reached this place, it wasn’t as grim as one might expect. The streets—if you could call the twisting alleys that—were clean, unlike the filth and chaos elsewhere, as if someone swept them regularly.

Some people lived in natural caves, others in makeshift shelters—neat, if not exactly homes. Newcomers could take any vacant spot, though they’d have to furnish it themselves.

Clean spring water flowed through the settlement—purer and sweeter than any to be found outside.

Electricity was stolen from the city above—unreliable, often cut off—but a few electrical engineers among them were working on building their own power system, with everyone pitching in as they could.

When Shao Gang asked how to move in, a friendly local told him he didn’t need to apply to anyone—just find an empty spot and settle in. There were a few rules, though: don’t litter (the place was poorly ventilated and the smell would bother neighbors), and don’t damage public facilities, since everyone had worked hard to build them.

All in all, Shao Gang liked it here. Compared to Future City, this was almost an ideal land. In fact, the residents themselves called it the “Ivory Tower.”

With an old friend looking out for them, the Falcon Brothers soon settled into this new life, joining in community projects and maintenance.

Once they were established, the brothers quickly made contact with their allies outside. The authorities’ grip here was weak, so it was easy to communicate without fear of being discovered. If only they’d known about this place earlier, they wouldn’t have risked their lives infiltrating enemy lines, Zhang Xingmin thought.

Still, even here, Zhang Xingmin was cautious when making outside contact—one could never be sure there wasn’t an enemy spy among the residents, and it was safest if no one knew their true identities.

Even as careless as he was, Shao Gang soon noticed that the three men Yan Ze had brought sometimes conspired together in secret. Yan Ze told him not to worry—sometimes, knowing less was better for one’s own good. All that mattered was that the three meant no harm.

Shao Gang wasn’t in the habit of prying into others’ secrets, and he had no interest in the Falcon Brothers’ affairs. Yan Ze had spoken, and besides, the three had helped him before—how could he not look after them? Otherwise, he’d be an ungrateful man.

What did bother him, though, was how much the three of them ate. Food was hard to come by, and he’d been rationing his supplies, but the stores he’d saved up over half a month were gone in just two days. He felt embarrassed to say anything—were these three bottomless pits?

Zhang Xingmin noticed Shao Gang’s sour mood and approached him cautiously. “Are you feeling unwell?”

“It’s nothing! I’m as strong as an ox—what could be wrong?” Shao Gang replied, though his tone betrayed his annoyance. He’d always been straightforward.

“Are we causing you trouble?”

“Not at all! It’s been a long time since my home was this lively. It’s just… we’re running low on food,” Shao Gang sighed.