The steps under his feet gradually slowed down. Jiang Cong cautiously circled around the perimeter of the house.
Seeing Jiang Cong stop in front of a house at the alley entrance, Yang Heng also quickened his pace and walked over.
"This house has been around for many years. I heard it was built during the Qing Dynasty. Strangely enough, there seems to be no sign of anyone living in it," Yang Heng speculated as he saw the thick layer of dust on the copper lock of the front door.
Jiang Cong shook his head in disagreement. "This is exactly where that person is brilliant. No one would think that someone could enter this house with a rusty and dusty lock."
Even if they finally suspected something was wrong with the house and broke in, they would only find an ordinary house.
If it weren't for the unexpectedly appeared white powder, Zhang Lu might have quietly disappeared from the world completely.
"You mean there's something special inside?" Yang Heng recalled the virtual diagram Jiang Cong had drawn before and said as if suddenly enlightened.
Jiang Cong didn't say a word, tacitly confirming Yang Heng's guess.
"First, find a way to open the door. Then I'll go inside and take a look," Jiang Cong said. Just now, he had used his steps as a measurement basis and initially determined the location of a hidden chamber on the outer perimeter.
As long as he got inside the house and combined it with the measurement of the inner perimeter, he could determine the final location of the hidden chamber.
Hearing this, Yang Heng grinned and rubbed his hands, looking eager to try. "No need to find a way. I can open it. Just give me a wire, and I can pick locks all over the neighborhood."
Jiang Cong slightly raised his sword-shaped eyebrows and let out a noncommittal chuckle.
Quite a versatile guy.
Yang Heng somehow fished out a thin wire, inserted it into the keyhole, turned it left and right about five or six times, and the copper lock clicked open.
Yang Heng threw the wire over, took off the copper lock, and boasted, "Professor Jiang, look, am I amazing?"
Jiang Cong surprisingly nodded in praise. "It's a good thing you became a policeman. Otherwise, you'd make so many people feel insecure."
Yang Heng felt awkward.
Was this a compliment or an insult?
Jiang Cong didn't waste any more words with Yang Heng. He directly pushed the door open and walked to a corner under the eaves.
One step, two steps...
That's right!
This was the place!
Jiang Cong raised his hand and knocked on the wall. The hollow wooden board echoed, indicating it was a hidden wall.
It seemed that Zhang Lu was locked in the secret chamber behind this hidden wall.
"There's a hidden wall here. Break it down, and we can rescue the hostage," Jiang Cong said without turning around, ordering the rescue team members who filed in behind him.
The rescue team members didn't doubt him. They immediately took out their tools and started to break down the hidden wall.
The sound of knocking kept ringing.
At this moment.
A smell of burning wafted into Jiang Cong's nostrils.
Then, thick smoke rose outside the wall, and the flames blazed brightly.
"Something's wrong, Professor Jiang. There's a fire in the alley. The fire is getting bigger and out of control," Yang Heng staggered in from outside the door, coughing violently.
"Did you call the fire department? When will they arrive?" Jiang Cong's face remained as calm as ever. His black eyes stared at the flames quickly climbing up the wooden beams.
"I did, but since this alley is some distance from the urban area, it will take at least half an hour's drive for them to get here," Yang Heng's heart sank gradually.
Since the house was an old one with loose wood, even a small spark could cause a raging fire.
And now, apparently, the worst-case scenario had happened.
The old house was quickly set on fire. If they gave up now or waited for the fire department to arrive, Zhang Lu might be burned alive in this fire.
They had to take a desperate chance.
The rescue team members gritted their teeth and sped up their actions several times. They were racing against time and the huge fire.
All the key points were stuck at this critical moment.
Finally.
The hidden wall was successfully broken down.
The rescue team members temporarily breathed a sigh of relief. They didn't delay and rushed into the secret chamber.
The fire had already spread into the secret chamber. The thick black smoke constantly irritated people's eyes and nostrils, and the high temperature burned people's exposed skin.
Yang Heng desperately blocked Jiang Cong's attempt to go in. "Professor Jiang, you can't go in. It's very dangerous in there! Leave it to the rescue team members. They'll rescue Zhang Lu."
Jiang Cong's gaze passed over Yang Heng who was blocking in front of him, and he ordered in a tone that brooked no refusal. "Zhang Lu is a key figure. He can't die. There may be clues the murderer didn't have time to clean up in this secret chamber. You stay here to support me. Don't stop me!"
After saying that, Jiang Cong pushed Yang Heng away and resolutely rushed into the fire.
Yang Heng watched helplessly as Jiang Cong's figure disappeared into the sea of fire. He clenched his fists, stamped his feet helplessly, and kept praying in his heart for the fire department to come quickly.
Inside the secret chamber, the rescue team members successfully found Zhang Lu. He had fallen into a coma because of inhaling a large amount of smoke, but fortunately, he seemed to be okay for now.
The fire left less and less room for people to move.
"Professor Jiang," Gao Fan's breathing was a bit rapid. "Let's leave here quickly. The house is about to collapse soon!"
Jiang Cong rejected Gao Fan's suggestion to leave. He shook his head firmly. "I can't leave yet. You leave first. I'll go out after I find the clues!"
As he was speaking, a wooden beam fell beside them.
Gao Fan was obviously exhausted, but he still advised, "Professor Jiang, the hostage has been rescued. Leave the rest to the fire department. It's not too late for us to inspect the scene after the fire is out!"
Jiang Cong pushed Gao Fan forward forcefully. "Go quickly! I know what I'm doing. Take Zhang Lu out first and protect him well. That's an order!"
Although Zhang Lu had been found, Jiang Cong still wanted to find as many clues and evidences as possible.
If they waited for the fire department to put out the fire, the traces left by the murderer would disappear completely with this fire.
So no matter what, he couldn't leave.
Seeing Jiang Cong so persistent, Gao Fan had no choice but to take Zhang Lu and leave.
The sky - full of flames surrounded Jiang Cong. He struggled to shuttle through the sea of fire.
The scene in front of him became more and more blurred, and his eyelids became heavier and heavier. Jiang Cong bit his tongue. The fishy - sweet taste helped him stay temporarily awake.
"Don't fall, Jiang Cong. You mustn't fall!" Jiang Cong constantly cheered himself up in his heart. Even though the air he breathed became thinner and thinner, Jiang Cong didn't have the slightest thought of retreating.
In Jiang Cong's dictionary, there was never the word "retreat".
It was like this in the past, it was like this now, and it would be like this in the future.
Jiang Cong struggled to support his tired and weak body, trying hard to find clues.
However, Jiang Cong's physical strength was approaching its limit.