After returning home and finishing breakfast, I quickly tidied up before setting off with a stack of damp banknotes in my pocket. The spring breeze brushed past me as I arrived at the school and found Xie Yilin. She was already prepared to leave at any moment. Naturally curious about my height, I easily convinced her that my martial arts training had led to a breakthrough last night, resulting in bone strengthening and growth.
Without hesitation, we left the school gates with our backpacks on our shoulders - a clear elopement plan. We didn't ride bikes but instead hailed a van on the street to take us to the county town where we planned to buy train tickets for Hangzhou.
However, upon arriving in the county town, something suddenly came to mind and I asked Xie Yilin to wait while I took care of some business. When she asked what it was about, I didn't give her specifics but instead hailed a taxi straight towards the police station.
Once there, I went directly to Zhao Guohua asking him where Jietou was being held so that I could see him. He arranged for Wu Zhenfeng to take me there.
Jietou was being held at Shuhe County Juvenile Detention Center located east of town. Upon arrival at the center's reception area we sat down waiting for someone from inside come out and greet us.
While waiting for an officer who had gone out earlier during our conversation with Wu Zhenfeng and Xie Yilin present beside me still clueless as ever regarding what exactly is going on here; soon enough an officer returned leading Jietou into room looking disheveled with his head shaved wearing rough clothes appearing quite dull overall.
"Jietou how are you?" As soon as he entered,I stood up immediately greeting him warmly.
"Please keep your distance," said one of officers separating us by placing table between us.
Jietou remained silent and expressionless, staring at me for a long time without saying a word. "Jietou, what's wrong?" I noticed that something was off with Jietou and couldn't help but frown as I asked him.
"Ever since Lan Xiaodong came in here he has been like this. He lost his voice and basic self-care abilities. We had doctors examine him and they concluded that it was due to excessive stress which caused partial brain function loss," explained the officer beside us.
Upon hearing these words, my heart tightened and I instinctively stood up, grabbing the receptionist's collar and shouting, "What did you say?! You're talking nonsense! Jietou has always been fine. How could he become like this? Did you take money from the Qin family to intentionally harm him like this? Let me tell you, Jietou is my own brother. If you dare treat him like this, you're dead meat. I won't let it go!"
"Hey hey, what are you doing? You can't falsely accuse innocent people. We didn't do anything to him," the receptionist quickly defended himself. But I couldn't control my anger and raised my hand to hit him in the face.
"Junior Master, calm down!" At that moment, Wu Zhenfeng rushed over and held me back while Xie Yilin tried to stop me as well.
"Wu Zhenfeng! Tell me what's going on here! Why did Jietou become like this? Did you guys do something?" I yelled at Wu Zhenfeng before punching him in anger.
"Junior Master, please don't be angry. This really has nothing to do with us. Lan Xiaodong suddenly became like this out of nowhere and we don't know why either. If you don't believe me, ask our master who personally brought Lan Xiaodong here that day when he was already in such a state," Wu Zhenfeng explained.
Hearing his words made me frown as things seemed suspicious now.
So our master knew about Jietou's condition all along but why didn't he tell me earlier or act concerned?
Just then an unexpected voice interrupted us: "Wow wow wow! What's all the commotion about?"
We looked towards the door only to see our master holding a small package which appeared to contain some food items.
"Master, you're here! It's great timing. Please explain to Junior Brother Yiheng that Lan Xiaodong was brought in by you and he was already like this at the time. We had nothing to do with it," Wu Zhenfeng pleaded.
Upon seeing our master, Wu Zhenfeng quickly explained everything while our master smiled and nodded before walking over with his cane and handing the package to the receptionist saying: "Please take care of my disciple for me. Thank you."
The receptionist took Jietou away as I slammed my hand on the table and sat down on a chair glaring at our master asking him why he didn't tell me earlier if he knew about Jietou's condition.
"Ha ha, young man, this is not the place to talk about it. If you really want to know what happened then follow me," our master said before turning around and leaving.
I realized there was more than meets the eye so I followed him along with Xie Yilin.
Wu Zhenfeng followed us, but I drove him away and told him to go back to the police station. About an hour later, we sat around a table in a private room of a small restaurant on the outskirts of the city. The old man sipped his drink and asked me, 'You're heading to Zhejiang, right?' 'Yes,' I nodded and then asked him, 'Don't change the subject. First tell me what's going on with JIETOU.' 'Hehe, don't be impatient. Let's talk slowly,' the old man laughed and then asked me, 'What are your chances this time?' This question really stumped me. Honestly speaking, I didn't have full confidence but that couldn't be my reason for cowardice. 'Fifty-fifty chance,' I said to the old man. 'Based on what I know now about Mount Modu besides Soul Eater there may be some more powerful evil spirits present so it will definitely involve a fierce battle.' The old man then asked me with a smile: "Do you want some help?" This made my eyes light up as I couldn't resist asking him: "Master, do you mean you'll come with me?" This was great news because although he was unreliable at times he had profound knowledge and experience which would make things easier if he agreed to come along. However, much to my dismay after hearing my words he just shook his head while smiling saying: "No no no! I'm too old for long journeys by car or boat; someone else will accompany you.