After several searches, Yu Siqi finally saw a watch shop that was still 'in business' in the depths of a street alley that looked like a dead end.

The owner of the shop is a young man with white hair, and if you look closely, you will find that this guy's face seems to be a few years younger than Yu Siqi himself.

As soon as he saw Yu Siqi standing at the door looking inside, he said in a loud and crisp voice: "Since you're here, don't you come in and sit?" ”

"Do you usually solicit business like this?"

When Yu Siqi walked into the watch shop, he noticed that there were many different styles of clocks inside. A large number of clocks and watches do not have dials and hands, and the few that have dial hands are mostly fixed at a certain point in time.

"Probably not. If it weren't for a distinguished customer like you, I probably wouldn't have opened it for business. After all, you have probably noticed that this once bustling commercial street is now completely devoid of 'vitality'. ”

After Yu Siqi entered the store, the owner closed the door and pulled down the thick roller shutter.

"What are you?"

Yu Siqi didn't quite understand what the shopkeeper was doing.

"Although I was told that you fought off several 'vicious dogs' on your own. But that's your ability after all, not mine. Therefore, in order to avoid bringing yourself to bad luck, I think it is more appropriate to keep a low profile.

Besides, you don't want to be disturbed by that 'disappointing existence' when you're 'shopping', right? ”

After the boss closed the door of the store, he motioned for Yu Siqi to go to the inner hall with him.

When Yu Siqi came to the inner hall, he unexpectedly saw the dog who had deceived him before, this guy was bowing his head and drinking something like mush.

As soon as he saw him, Yu Siqi immediately said angrily: "It's really a narrow road!" ”

"Didn't you say that I would take him in after I finished eating? You've broken your promise again. ”

In the face of Siqi's anger, the dog baby drank the last bit of paste in the bowl into her stomach unhurriedly, and then jumped off the chair and said.

"Aren't you the same? We made an appointment, you brought him for me, and I gave you food. ”

The boss took the initiative to pull a chair for Yu Siqi.

"So we're even?"

The dog's eyes turned around in the small sockets and asked.

"Let's not. If you can, I'd like you to go to the backyard for a while, and I'd like to talk to this guest alone. ”

The boss moved the bowl used by the dog to the side and said to him.

The latter tilted his head and said, "Well, for your sake, you've just fed me." ”

After the dog baby left, the boss said to Yu Siqi, who was still a little grumpy: "First of all, I want to solemnly apologize to you, I know that the dog baby is a stubborn child, but it is wrong for me to send him to pick you up."

But given the current situation, I don't think I've got anyone other than him to send.

So, can you hold back your anger and talk to me with a normal heart? ”

"Haven't I already looked at the things you've done with a 'normal mind'? In fact, I think you'll probably have to explain to me why you're in such a hurry to find me.

After all, from all angles, it should be the first time we have met, right? ”

Yu Siqi looked at the boss in front of him who looked younger than himself and said.

"For the first time? Time is really interesting. Well, considering that you're indeed 'first' coming to the transit station, I'll take a moment to explain it to you. So, where do you start..."

As soon as the boss said this, Yu Siqi interrupted him and asked eagerly: "I heard you right, you said this place is called 'transfer station'?" And what about the depths of the cracks? Am I in the wrong place? ”

"Yes, your ears are as good as my own. Don't rush to ask questions, this place is indeed called a 'transit station', and as for the depths of the crevices you mentioned, you need to take a special train to get there.

It's a pity that ordinary people like you and me usually can't buy tickets.

Because when there are far more passengers than there are on the train, privilege and class come to life. ”

The boss said to Siqi with an indifferent expression.

"Hell. Have you ever seen a tall old man at this 'transit station' before? If possible, maybe he had two 'ladies' by his side? ”

Yu Siqi began to realize that Father An may not have really gone to the depths of the crack, but came to this so-called 'transit station' like himself.

"I haven't met the man you speak of, but I happen to hear someone mention him. After all, before you, he was probably the only one who fought off several waves of 'vicious dogs' with his physical body.

Speaking of which, you seem to have a 'master-apprentice relationship', what a powerful group. ”

The boss put his hand on his knee, looked at Yu Siqi, and said.

"What else have you heard?"

Yu Siqi asked.

"Something that might help you. But before I tell you, I hope you'll do me a favor. The boss took out a pocket watch from his pocket, handed it to Yu Siqi, and said, "This is a gift from a 'nobleman' who once gave me, I didn't cherish it properly, and accidentally broke it." If you can promise me to fix it, I will tell you the whereabouts of that priest without reservation. ”

"You're a watchmaker, you can't fix a pocket watch, and you still ask a layman like me to repair it?"

Yu Siqi wasn't sure if it was purely trying to tease herself, or if it meant something else.

"I can fix most of the watches in the world, but this is the only one, no matter how hard I try, I can't do it. This is perhaps the most fundamental gap between people.

I've accepted my fate, and I've accepted it, and I sincerely hope that you will do the same. ”

The boss said sincerely to Siqi.

"Well, even if I promise you, I really won't fix my watch!"

Yu Siqi looked down at the pocket watch and found that the structure inside was incomparably more complicated, much more complex than any mechanical watch he had seen so far.

"I can give you a hint that this pocket watch was made by a master named Ge Man, and I believe that as long as you give it to him, it will definitely be able to 'restore it to its original state'." The boss looked at Yu Siqi with a smile, and the latter immediately asked, "Do you know Ge Man?" ”

"How could I not know such a famous master?

You may not know it, but I don't just know him. I also happened to hear about some of his 'glorious' deeds, and I was fortunate enough to spend a long time understanding the notes he left behind.

I've heard that he later went to a place called the Tower of Time, and if you want to find him, you can start investigating this place. ”

The boss gave more detailed information very intimately, but he obviously didn't expect that Yu Siqi had already had contact with Ge Man.

"There's no need to investigate, I've been to the Tower of Time before, and I've happened to meet Ge Man. Speaking of which, you two look pretty much the same age. Could it be..."

As Yu Siqi spoke, he suddenly felt that the two of them were not only of the same age, but also looked alike.

"To tell you the truth, Ge Man is my father, and my name is Ge You. Our family has been watchmakers for generations, until I... There was an accident. ”

As soon as the boss who claimed to be Ge You said these words, Yu Siqi believed it immediately.

"Don't you want to see your father with your own eyes?"

Yu Siqi asked after putting the pocket watch in his pocket.

"I'm not like you, it's impossible for me to be in the material world. Years of spending time at transit stations have made me feel a little connected to this place.

Cutting it off is a very risky thing to do, and I don't dare... I don't want to. When Ge You said this, he immediately changed his words, and then said to Siqi: "Now, it's time for me to fulfill my promise." Based on the clues provided by the dog, and my own investigation, that mentor friend of yours should be hiding in a hotel called 'Ask Lai' by now. From my past point, it would only take 670 steps to get there.

However, it was a well-guarded inn, and it was impossible for ordinary people to stay without a letter from the station manager. I'm guessing that your friend probably got this handwritten letter from someone else, assumed his identity, and sneaked in.

As for if you want to get in, I'm afraid it's not that simple. ”

"Do you have any good suggestions?"

Yu Siqi humbly asked.

"There is one way, but I don't know if you can endure that kind of torment."

Ge You once again took something out of his pocket, and Yu Siqi looked at it and found that it was a hand-drawn map. Through this map, Yu Siqi saw this place called 'Ask Lai' Hotel, and it was indeed difficult to sneak into it easily.

However, a hidden entrance is clearly marked in red letters on the map.

"What kind of place is this, like it can sneak me in."

Yu Siqi pointed to the place where the red letters were painted and asked.

"Dumping place. All waste and waste generated by guests at the 'Ask' Hotel will be discharged and disposed of at this dumping site. ”

Ge You carefully gave Yu Siqi a corresponding explanation.

"So, are you going to let me swim in the cesspool and dive in?"

Yu Siqi raised his eyebrows, just saying such a thing had already caused him personal discomfort. 、

"No, how could I let you do something like that. I'm just trying to say that you might be able to hide in the bucket first, and then I'll have the bucket passed through the dumping site and reversed into the hotel.

Then it's up to you. As long as you can find your friends without being alert. Naturally, I'll find a way to get you out safely. ”

Ge You corrected Yu Siqi's statement and also made a series of additions.

"It smells bad in the barrel, okay?"

Yu Siqi said with a little complaint.

"I'll try to stuff you with spices, it should make you feel better. Besides, this process shouldn't last long. ”

Ge You tried to persuade Yu Siqi, but after thinking twice, the latter nodded reluctantly.

"Good. I wanted to go out and do some preparation before the plan was officially executed. You don't mind helping me see the store alone, do you? ”

Ge You looked at Yu Siqi with satisfaction and stood up.

"You don't usually have customers at this store, do you?"

Yu Siqi asked disappreciably.

"That being said, the dog is still in the backyard. Haven't you heard of a saying that says, 'Day and night, home thieves are difficult to prevent'? ”

Ge You pulled up the roller shutter, pushed it halfway, hunched himself out, and then lowered the roller shutter again.