I then understood that she had likely used a honey trap or something similar to manipulate these boys.
Around 11 PM, they arrived at the Guangyuan bus station to wait, while we pretended to be loiterers in parked vehicles near the station, keeping a distance.
Over twenty boys stood in line with Zhao Gaoyuan, holding their phones, looking as if they were all ready to take pictures the moment they saw the strange bus. I could tell they weren't nervous, but rather quite excited.
Around 12 AM, this time without delay, the dilapidated bus arrived punctually.
Liu Yuning and I were simultaneously in a Buick, with Gao Mingqiang and Xiahou behind us.
Xiao Yuande and others were ambushing in different vehicles.
A few minutes later, the old bus approached the station. This bus was very similar to the one described in the news, but it appeared even older. The advertisement signs on both sides had long since been washed away by the rain, many wooden planks were used to patch the glass windows, and there were several large holes in the roof. Compared to the subway before, this bus was far more decrepit, yet it could still start. I genuinely worried it would break down halfway.
The students were cautiously boarding the bus. Before getting on, Zhao Gaoyuan glanced in our direction, signaling us to be ready. I nodded, and he quickly boarded.
The bus door made a heavy, hoarse sound as it closed, indicating how old and rusty the metal plate was, causing such noise when it rubbed.
As the bus slowly started, we saw it move a distance before we followed. The bus was incredibly slow, even slower than someone on a bicycle. We had to reduce our car's speed to the absolute minimum. However, such low speeds are the most challenging for driving skills. Seeing Liu Yuning's awkwardness, I couldn't help but say, "Let me drive! Shall I?"
"No need, it's just driving slow, I can do it!" Liu Yuning pressed on, continuing to drive. We followed the bus's direction until it passed Hell Lake without plunging into it. Clearly, those people hadn't fallen into the lake; the legend was false.
We continued to follow the bus until it stopped at a nearby forest. Strangely, the first person to get off wasn't an old man, but Zhao Gaoyuan, who was leading them. His classmates followed, and a person emerged from the forest, seemingly there to receive them. It was a staff member in a white coat.
Upon seeing this, I immediately pressed the radio and said, "Action!"
The police officers who had accompanied us got out of their vehicles immediately and began to surround the forest. The man in the white coat, however, showed no fear. Instead, he smirked, raised a bottle filled with green venom, and smashed it on the ground.
Bang—!
After a loud explosion, the bottle shattered, and thick green smoke instantly filled the air. The police officers tried to retreat but had already inhaled the gas. Along with the more than twenty students, within a minute, their expressions became vacant, just like when we were on the subway before!
The researcher snapped his fingers at them and said, "You, go! Arrest those few police officers for me!"
The hypnotized police officers, along with the twenty-odd students, suddenly accepted the command and surged forward!
"What are you doing?" Liu Yuning, Gao Mingqiang, and I were surrounded by over ten people. Although we had weapons, they were too many, and we were quickly subdued. Seeing this, Liu Yuning exclaimed, "This is a trap!"
"Haha, Officer Liu, you figured it out too late! That's right, it was intentional!" Zhao Gaoyuan laughed heartily.
"Bastard! You're working with them!" I cursed.
"Heh, you could say that. I can't just give up a chance to make big money for the sake of justice, can I? Do you think I would give up such an opportunity for you? Hahaha! Take them all away!"
I could see that only Zhao Gaoyuan and the researcher were acting normally; everyone else seemed to be under a spell.
We were escorted by dozens of people onto an armored vehicle. The only ones who were still lucid were the three of us. Even Xiao Yuande and Xiahou had inhaled a considerable amount of the toxic mist by now.
Inside the armored vehicle, we were held captive by many people, and our weapons and police badges were confiscated. I asked them, "Where are you taking us?"
"Don't ask so many questions. You'll know when we get there. Don't ask so many questions." Zhao Gaoyuan, now like a different person, spoke to us with extreme coldness.
But we were helpless. The armored vehicle was sealed, so we had no idea what was happening outside. We could only follow the vehicle. After about twenty minutes, the armored vehicle finally stopped. Zhao Gaoyuan forced us out. Upon exiting, we discovered that this place was much more remote than the previous villa. It was a mountain village, with no signs of any city in any direction, only mountains and forests.
"Why did you bring us here?" I demanded.
"That's not for you to ask. Come with me. Don't say I'm heartless; we did work together at one point. Let's go!" Zhao Gaoyuan said, turning to lead us into the mountain village. Liu Yuning and I were clear-headed, but the police officers were almost all hypnotized. They obeyed the researcher implicitly and followed him down another path through the village, heading somewhere unknown. I glanced around a few times, and Zhao Gaoyuan cursed, "What are you looking at? Come this way!"
"What exactly do you want to do?" Liu Yuning asked again.
"Heh, we won't kill you, I promise! But you need to cooperate. Mr. Gongsun now has a new plan to use male flesh for new samples. I'll take you to the laboratory now!"
With Zhao Gaoyuan saying this, we at least knew what we were going to do, and we weren't as worried.
We passed through a small house in the village and discovered a passage behind it. This was completely different from the backward village; it had infrared anti-theft devices and surrounding disinfection systems. It seemed this place had been modified.
As we passed through, Zhao Gaoyuan said, "Isn't it high-class? Seeing it for the first time, right?"
"This place is very similar to the previous laboratory."
"Yes, but this time with added disinfection equipment. Mr. Gongsun said that certain odors from the human body can affect the experimental results, so this equipment is necessary."
"Oh? Why don't you call Gongsun 'master,' Zhao Gaoyuan?"
"I like it. He and I are just partners; I'm not his subordinate."