Chapter 14-Resentment XI
Lu Xiyun attempted to open his eyes, but he felt too weak to move a muscle. He couldn't determine how long he had been unconscious. The only sensation he perceived was a slimy liquid covering his skin.
After struggling for a while and making multiple attempts, he managed to open his eyes and blinked a few times to clear away the blurriness. Although he felt a slight stinging sensation in his eyes, it was tolerable.
Before him, individuals who had their eyes closed were contained within structures resembling capsules. These structures brought to mind the VR egg capsules he had seen on television. However, there were notable distinctions; these capsules were entirely enclosed by glass and filled with a clear liquid, each tinted with a distinct color such as yellow, pink, green, or grey. Moreover, each capsule was connected to 3-4 tubes.
He then turned his attention to himself. His body, except for his neck and head, was immersed in yellow liquid. He now sported a white shirt and pants, identical to the attire worn by the individuals he had observed in the room containing jars of body parts. A restraint strap wrapped around his waist, securing him to remain in a standing position leaning against the back of the capsule.
Suddenly, he noticed the door about to open. He immediately shut his eyes and feigned unconsciousness, believing that appearing asleep would make him less conspicuous as the only awake person.
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Five people in lab coats gathered around the computer area. On the screens, they examined statistics detailing the physical conditions of those inside the capsules. After reviewing the data, they split up and stood in front of each capsule, scribbling notes on paper.
When one approached Lu Xiyun's capsule, he frowned and adjusted some settings, causing the liquid inside to darken. Once they finished their tasks, they left the room.
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Lu Xiyun, confined within the enclosed space, couldn't determine if anyone else remained in the room. After a cautious wait, he cracked open his left eye and looked around, finding the room empty.
Despite having spent a significant period since his escape from the bedroom, he had yet to locate the exit. His search had been focused on the corridors, leaving little opportunity to thoroughly investigate the rooms. Recognizing the potential for clues or useful items within this space, he remained inside the capsule to survey his surroundings.
He first concentrated on identifying useful objects while disregarding unfamiliar items. His search was aimed at finding anything resembling a map to assist in his escape plan. Zhao Bojing thought it was important for Lu Xiyun to know more than just the cafe and home. They often went out together and Lu Xiyun usually followed Zhao Bojing's lead, but knowing how to read a map was useful. Still, he didn't have high hopes of finding a map in the room. After all, it was unlikely that someone would just leave a map lying around randomly.
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His vision was sharp enough to discern the contents of the scattered papers on the tables. However, since half of it was covered, he couldn't be certain if it was a map. As for the papers he could see, those didn't look like maps.
Seeing that none of the other occupants in the capsules had awakened, he speculated that the drugs administered by their captors were meant to keep everyone unconscious. Therefore, undoing the waist strap was relatively easy, as it seemed designed only to prevent them from leaning forward. He struggled a bit against the thick liquid, which hindered his movements but after releasing the restraint, he waited cautiously to see if anyone would appear, but no one did.
Breaking free from the capsule was the most challenging task. He didn't know how to open it from the inside. Raising both arms above the liquid, he struck the glass as hard as he could, but it didn't even crack. He was about to attempt it again, but suddenly he felt the same stiffness he had experienced while climbing to the ceiling using the pipes. Frowning, the stiffness subsided after 20 seconds. Choosing to ignore this strange sensation, he proceeded with his actions, but the results remained the same. He attempted to use the metal edges of the strap, which extended above the liquid, but once more, there wasn't even a crack in the glass. It was clear that brute force alone wouldn't be enough to shatter the glass.
He pursed his lips, pondering for a while before making his decision. He didn't really want to resort to this unless he was truly cornered, but he couldn't think of any other options.
Lu Xiyun clenched the sharp edges of the metal strap in his right hand and raised it as high as he could. With a determined grip, he drove it deep into his left arm, sliding it down!
Despite the pain, he remained stoic, his jaw clenched tightly as the sharp edge pierced his skin. Blood immediately spurted, some of it splattering onto his face while the rest dripped into the liquid below. Letting the strap fall back into place, he delved deep into the wound, searching for what he needed.
Soon, he extracted a tiny plastic vial, about an ⅛ inch wide and roughly the length of a finger. Its contents resembled ordinary water, but he knew its true nature – a lethal substance, potent when used correctly.
He cautiously uncapped the vial, removed the seal, and poured a little bit of fluid onto the glass wall. The glass began to visibly melt, starting from the point where it made contact. Gradually, the melting spread to other areas of the glass.
He slipped out of the capsule once the opening was large enough, making sure not to touch the glass. Unable to use his wet clothes for bandaging, he retrieved a piece of fabric from the table and wrapped it around his arm to temporarily stop the bleeding. He then hid behind one of the capsules, which no one came after waiting for a while.
He then walked over to where the papers were located. While he looked through it, his left arm brushed against a box on the surface of the table, and grazed a button but Lu Xiyun didn't notice this small accident.
While examining the papers, he saw many photographs of individuals, depicting various body parts such as faces, backs, and legs. However, he noticed that these photos were not typical, as they displayed burns, trauma, or other imperfections. He also noticed some papers featuring only a person's face, alongside labels for various internal organs such as the brain, heart, and intestines, each marked with a number. Each of these papers with the same format had a different number for these organs.
Finally, he found one that looked similar to a map but wasn't exactly like one. Comparing the placement of the larger objects in the room to the drawing on the paper, he realized it was indeed the layout of the room. It also depicted the outline of the tubes connecting to the capsules, which extended beyond the perimeter of the room. Lu Xiyun decided to use the pathway of the tubes as a guide. The opposite end of the tubes might be connected to the outside or be near to it.