The place Wang Yi mentioned wasn't far from Wenguantun, near the border of Yuhong District. The driver drove steadily but slowly, so I urged, "师傅 (Master), can you speed up? I'm in a hurry."
"This is as fast as it goes," he replied flatly.
Frowning, I wondered if he'd argued at home. Unable to read his face from the back seat, I 苦笑 (bitterly smiled) at my occupational habit. The road was empty, yet we crawled at 30-40 km/h. Exhausted, I asked him to wake me on arrival and dozed off.
When I opened my eyes, we were surrounded by construction sites and sporadic wheat fields—I'd passed Yuhong District! Why hadn't the driver told me?
Angry, I snapped, "Why didn't you say we arrived? We're in Yuhong! You're detouring on purpose. Take me to Wanghua Street now, or I'll file a complaint!"
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"Wanghua Street! Where have you taken me?" I shouted.
He replied, "This car only goes to Silver Market."
Silver Market? I'd lived in Shenyang for years and never heard of it. Just then, a young woman waved from the roadside. The taxi pulled over. Standing in the barren, unlit wasteland, she seemed odd. She got in without a word, ignoring me—short - haired, glasses, pale skin, gaze fixed outside.
Worried about being abandoned, I said politely, "师傅,I need to go to Wanghua Street. Can you turn around? I'll pay extra."
"This car is going to Silver Market," he repeated.
Growing anxious, I saw the woman as backup. "This is a scam! Take me back, or I'll call the police. There are two of us—we'll testify against you."
Just then, the woman spoke. "师傅,I'm going to Silver Market."
Was there really a Silver Market? The driver grunted and fell silent. Assuming he'd drop her first, I held my tongue.
The taxi turned from the main road onto a narrow path, driving straight into desolation. After ten minutes, wild fields surrounded us, no lights in sight. "How far is Silver Market?" I asked.
"Almost there." Why would a young, pretty woman go to Silver Market at midnight? Ten more minutes later, the taxi stopped. The woman glanced at me, sighed, and got out. "This one won't do," she muttered.
We drove on. Feeling eerie, I activated my 慧眼 (Divine Eye), but both driver and woman looked normal. She stood by the road, vanishing as we pulled away.
"Wasn't that Silver Market?" I asked.
"No."
"Why drop her off if she wanted to go there?"
"She wanted to, but she couldn't," he said, falling silent again. When I asked to go to Wanghua Street, he repeated, "I only go to Silver Market."
Puzzled, I noticed the next passenger—a sobbing man in his thirties. The driver stopped, but when the man got in, he said, "I'm going to Silver Market. You can't come."
"Why not?" the man wept.
"You have no home. Get out!"
"What about the woman earlier?" He pointed at me, eyes red.
"Get out," the driver snapped. The man slammed the door, glaring at me resentfully.
The road grew pitch - black. My phone died just as I tried to call Wang Yi. "I don't want to go to Silver Market. Take me back to the city—name your price," I pleaded.