Everyone immediately relaxed like us, and gradually, everyone broke free from their restraints, then continued to run. Without any obstacles, we ran much more easily. Even if there were vines attacking us ahead, we could repeat our previous strategy.
After we ran over, we found that we had reached a pavilion on the opposite side. This seemed to be another area of the tourist zone. Regardless, we had escaped the building where we had drawn lots.
Seeing that we had successfully avoided the vines, Du Qitai exclaimed excitedly, "Excellent! In the past, some tourists could last until here, but they were eventually eaten by my plants. I never expected you to actually get through. It's a miracle! You are definitely the miracle of the Silent Tourist Zone!"
"Don't spout nonsense, Du Qitai. Get out here immediately. We've lost our patience!" I retorted angrily.
"Heh heh, when did I say I was going to get out? Alright, you guys go downstairs. I think you're eager to find the tourists I captured before!"
"Where did you put them?"
"You'll know when you go down. Don't say I'm cold-blooded. Actually, I want to see how you save them!"
After saying this, Du Qitai no longer responded. We could only go down for now. This pavilion looked similar to the previous design style. I wondered what was downstairs.
We cautiously walked down a staircase, passing several bends before reaching what looked like a foyer on the next floor. Upon entering, we saw many people hanging from the ceiling, their waists bound by chains, suspended horizontally. I counted fifteen people of various ages.
Upon noticing our arrival, Du Qitai's voice came again: "Do you see? You want to save them, right? Now I'll give you 20 minutes. As long as you can find a way to rescue them, you can take these people downstairs!"
"However, this is difficult. Do you see? The ground is full of spikes, and the chains will slowly move downwards. As time passes, these people might have their bodies pierced! How do you plan to save them? Hahaha!"
As soon as Du Qitai finished speaking, the floor beneath the dozen hostages suddenly split open, revealing numerous spikes below, which were constantly extending and retracting. Furthermore, a foul-smelling liquid flowed from the gaps near the spikes.
My nose twitched. I guessed it might be sulfuric acid. This Du Qitai fellow was too ruthless. If these people fell, even if they weren't killed by the spikes, the sulfuric acid would likely corrode their corpses.
I couldn't imagine how anyone could be saved in such a situation. The hostages hadn't woken up initially, but upon hearing the sound of the spikes extending and retracting below, they were instantly terrified and struggled on the chains: "Help, help! What's going on?"
Clang clang...
As everyone collided, the chains made crisp sounds. Many people saw us and cried out, casting pleading glances.
"Everyone, calm down. We are police officers, here to help you!" Liu Yuning quickly comforted them.
"Officers, are you really police officers? We've been waiting for you for so long! We thought we were doomed. Why are you only coming now?"
"Hurry and save us! I can't hold on anymore!"
"Yes, hurry over. I feel half my body is numb!"
The tourists cried out anxiously. I scanned the surroundings and found only a few walkways where people could stand. I exchanged glances with Gao Mingqiang and the others. We separated and approached the tourists. Xiao Yuande forcefully grabbed a chain, and Gao Mingqiang did too, but the chains were too sturdy, and we couldn't cut through them!
I observed the surroundings, my eyes sweeping across a nearby wall, and suddenly noticed something amiss.
I quickly walked over and felt around, discovering a strange button. But I dared not press it, fearing it would worsen the situation.
He Xin walked over and asked me what was happening. The moment I let go, He Xin directly reached out and pressed it. Before I could stop her, the chain not far away moved down a few inches. Several tourists were so scared they wet themselves because their heads were now directly above the spikes, less than a centimeter away!
"Don't be impulsive, He Xin!"
"I didn't know! I thought this button was used to save people!"
Seeing the predicament, Du Qitai burst into mocking laughter: "Haha, I knew you thought that button was for saving people. You're too naive. I won't be so stupid this time. That would be too easy for you!"
"Du Qitai, aren't you doing this on purpose? There's no way out at all!" I cursed angrily.
"Didn't you say it was easy before? Now you know it's difficult, right? There are no hints this time, figure it out yourselves!"
Du Qitai left these words and fell silent again. I listened to the time slowly passing, and for a moment, I didn't know what to do. The tourists pleaded desperately, many had already given up hope, tears streaming down their faces, their bodies no longer trembling.
It wasn't that they weren't scared, but they had struggled until they were exhausted. A few even wanted to hit the spikes and die. If Liu Yuning hadn't stopped them, several people might have already died before us.
I looked up at the chains above, my mind in chaos, my head feeling heavy. We had had many ways to deal with things before, but this time it was a huge trap, and there was no way to climb out.
I gritted my teeth, wondering what it would be like to see all these hostages die before our eyes.
He Xin saw that I had stopped moving and thought I had truly run out of options. At this moment, Xiao Yuande, for some reason, suddenly jumped up and lunged towards a large chain in the middle.
We were all astonished, thinking about what he was going to do. To our surprise, in the next second, he climbed forcefully towards the ceiling. He seemed to have seen something and had to climb up. As he reached the ceiling, he gave something a hard pull!
Crack!
Crack!
After two strange sounds, the ceiling actually opened, but a giant net also fell down, scattering along with many human bones. However, the chains were forcefully pulled up. The tourists cried out in surprise, thinking they were doomed. Yet, after being pulled up, several chains seemed to touch something above, and with a crackle, they all broke!
But below them were sharp spikes!!