Knock, knock, knock.
Knock, knock, knock.
The urgent knocking at the door rang ceaselessly.
Yú Hóng was in the basement, tidying up when he suddenly heard the safety house door being pounded on.
He quickly went up to the first floor and peered through the small window.
There stood Lǐ Rùnshān at the door, looking somewhat anxious as he knocked.
He approached but didn't open the door right away.
Instead, he lightly tapped a few times in the regulated pattern as a reminder.
Immediately, Lǐ Rùnshān responded with a rhythmic series of knocks, confirming their agreed signal for identification.
Once he ensured the signal was correct, Yú Hóng breathed a sigh of relief. “What’s wrong, Old Li?”
He checked the silver array on the door behind him, but there was no reaction, so he opened the door and allowed Lǐ Rùnshān to enter.
“I’ve gotten into trouble!” Lǐ Rùnshān hurriedly rushed in, looking ghastly.
Strangely, the moment the door closed behind him, the indescribable chill that had been following him vanished, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
“Huff, huff!”
Lǐ Rùnshān gasped for air, sweat glistening on his forehead.
He had rushed over from the post office stone house, and coupled with his tense mood, he was drenched.