What Liang Shixin said was consistent with her identity. She was a real police officer, but I didn't plan to fully cooperate with her. However, that's all in the future. The key issue now is to handle the case. I want to see what she does next. If her actions satisfy me, I may cooperate a little bit; otherwise, it's hard to say.
"Give me your clothes and I'll help you dry them. You're clumsy and might burn them," Liang Shixin said as she changed from being a policewoman and even offered to help me dry my clothes.
I was confused but didn't refuse her offer and handed over my clothes and shoes.
While drying my clothes, she asked how old I was and what I did before this incident happened.
"I'm thirteen years old this year, turning fourteen after the lunar March festival. I'm just a middle school student," I replied while shaking off my wet clothes.
Liang Shixin apologized for Old Gu shooting at me earlier on behalf of him being reckless.
"How did you stop the bullet? Do you have superpowers?" Liang Shixin asked curiously when she noticed that the bullet had not hit me despite Old Gu firing his gun at close range earlier on.
Hearing this question made Old Gu curious too as he had been silent until then.
"I don't know what happened either; maybe it's just luck," I smiled back at them both without giving away any details about myself or how it happened which seemed unsatisfactory for Liang Shixin who threw my half-dried clothes back at me in annoyance.
"What are your plans now?" I asked Liang Shixin after putting on my semi-dry clothing.
Liang frowned slightly before telling Old Gu: "Old Gu, go back to headquarters immediately tonight and bring reinforcements here so we can arrest Lu Dakun first."
As she spoke, Liang glanced at me a few times, apparently hinting at something. I pretended not to notice.
"Okay, I'll go now," Old Gu said before leaving us alone in the woods.
The atmosphere became awkward with just the two of us left there.
"What are you planning to do next?" Liang Shixin asked me while also asking why I came here in the first place and if it was just a coincidence.
"It's both a coincidence and not; who knows what fate has in store for us?" I smiled back at her before lying down on some thick leaves nearby suggesting we rest until dawn.
"You're quite an interesting person. But never mind, there are many strange people out there. You obviously are one of them. If you don't want to say more about yourself, then that's fine too," Liang Shixin replied as she leaned against a tree and closed her eyes to rest for a while.
I pretended to sleep with my eyes closed, but in reality, my energy was always locked onto her. I waited for her to fall asleep before quietly getting up and walking away into the distance. The sky was hazy and foggy, and morning had arrived.
As I walked forward, I scolded YunQingYue: "You're becoming more clever and cunning, aren't you? You knew it was him all along even though you couldn't locate him or confirm his identity. Why didn't you say anything?"
"He's a water demon being hunted down by people. What could I have said?" YunQingYue replied.
"What are you going to do now? You know where he is. Are you going to acknowledge him or just leave it be? If it's the latter, then your goal has been achieved and we can leave now. Haven't you seen enough?" I asked YunQingYue.
"I don't know what to do," she answered in a confused voice.
Indeed, she must be very conflicted right now.
"Then stop talking nonsense and show me the way. Where is he? I need to find him," I told YunQingYue.
"Why are you looking for him?" YunQingYue asked warily.
"He's injured; I'm looking for him so that I can treat his wounds!"I said firmly.
Upon hearing this, YunQingYue nodded her head before pointing me in the direction of where he was located.
I have to admit that An Yesu relied on the convenience of water flow when escaping as he managed to run quite fast despite not seeing each other for long - he had already traveled over ten miles downstream from the mountain by noon.
After running along the riverbank for some time,I finally caught up with An Yesu at a secluded small bay surrounded by trees which were covered with many withered reeds. I guessed he wanted to come ashore here to treat his wounds.
I hid in the reed layer on the shore, waiting motionlessly for him. After a long time, I finally heard the sound of splashing water and saw him biting his teeth while walking out of the water step by step with one hand holding onto his thigh.
Soon after, he walked through the reed layer and came up to me onshore. "How did you find me? How did you know that I would come ashore here?" An Yesu was surprised when he saw me.
"Don't say anything more; your wound has been soaking in water for so long that if it's not treated properly soon, your leg will have to be amputated. Come with me; I'll take you to get treatment," I said as I turned around and walked into the woods.
"Who are you?" An Yesu limped behind me, still curious about my identity.
First, put on this coat," I took off my jacket and threw it to him. After he put it on, I helped him sit down and bandaged his wound. Then, I figured out the direction and supported him to walk towards a small town along a main road.
"Is the girl okay? Where did you leave her?" I asked while walking with him.
"Don't worry, she's fine. You don't have to worry about that," An Yesu reassured me.
"That's good," I nodded and then asked him: "What are your plans now? The police have gone to arrest Lu Dakun, but in order to convict him, you need to come forward and identify him. In addition, the girl's body is also important evidence. If you keep hiding like this, Lu Dakun may continue to evade justice."
"Are you from the police?" An Yesu looked at me suspiciously.
"No, but I have had some contact with them before so I know a little bit about legal matters," I replied.
"What should I do then? Tell me what to do. If it can really help convict Lu Dakun and sentence him, then I am willing to come forward and identify him!" An Yesu said as he looked at me.