Along the way, both of them were worried. Wein Zikua had prioritized the Examination above all else all the time. How could he vanish from the school without any warning?
In a cosmetics shop on Goldsource Street in the city, the duo found Wein Zikua's cousin brother, Chin Fonr. He was the owner and shopkeeper of the shop, despite his young age.
"Elder Brother Zikua? No, he hasn't come to me these few days. If he decides to go home, he would come see me and ask me to help carry his books, clothes, cases, or something like those, for him. I haven't seen him for a long period. Eh? Didn't he go for a party with you a few days ago?" Chin Fonr said in bewilderment.
Upon hearing this, Soan Jingor's face grew more careworn. He looked at Le Xaan and exchanged a glance with him.
"Yes, we did have a party. But we haven't seen him over the past two days as well. That's why we come and look for you."
"Oh... I remember it. During the midnight the day before yesterday, he had dispatched a servant to fetch some high-cost scented pouch and face powder from my shop." Chin Fonr said with a grin. "I guess he must have been hitting on some girls! Hee hee... All those are meant for young girls, after all..."
"During the midnight the day before yesterday? What is the exact time?" Abruptly, Le Xaan asked while wearing a strange expression.
"Roughly, two o'clock or three o'clock... it's late into the night. I was sleeping at the time. Hearing the knocks on the door, I was woken up. His servant seemed to be in a rush. I have a deep impression on that matter." Chin Fonr stoked his chin while saying, "By the way, the servant came to fetch some scented pouch and face powder so late at the night... Tsk, tsk..." he showed a lewd look on his face.
Soan Jingor was perplexed, furrowing his brows. He still couldn't get his head around this.
But Le Xaan now had some suspicions on his mind as his mood grew grim
From his expression, Soan Jingor could tell that Le Xaan had his guesses. So, he hurriedly bid farewell to Chin Fonr and took Le Xaan by his hand, walking into an alley beside the shop.
" Xaan, are you having some clues? Why did Zikua need some items for women that night? Wasn't he having a drink with us in the pleasure cruiser at that time?" Soan Jingor asked with a solemn expression.
Le Xaan gazed at Soan Jingor seriously while answering,
"Jingor, to tell the truth, I had gone back to the ship once more that night after we left."
Soan Jingor was bewildered. "Xaan, why did you do so? It's so late back then. The ship was already closed for the day, right?"
"Yes." Le Xaan answered with a gloomy face, "But I left my waist pouch on it, so I went back. Unexpectedly..."
"What?" Soan Jingor asked with seriousness, apparently being tensed up by Le Xaan's words.
"I had never expected that at the time countless red lanterns were hung throughout the ship yet there wasn't a single person there." Le Xaan narrowed his eyes while continuing, "I went into the private room that we stayed in, where two red lanterns were hung as well. But there was no traces of anyone, either, even a cleaner. Afterwards, I recovered my waist pouch, so I rushed and fled the place."
"No traces of anyone.... So you mean..." Soan Jingor immediately wised up to something, " You mean that Zikua was to gift the pleasure ship's girls those scented pouches and face powder, so he sent a servant to fetch them for him during midnight? But since you had gone back to the place too, why..."
"It's very likely!" Le Xaan suddenly realized something, "Don't guess randomly. Let's go to the ship now."
Soan Jingor nodded while hearing this.
Without words, the two of them waved down a horse carriage once more and headed in the direction of the riverside. Now that the nightfall had descended, it was the proper timing for such entertainment venues.
Soan Jingor and Le Xaan soon arrived at the pleasure Cruiser they had patronized before, named Sweet Nightingale Nest.
The big ship was docked at its usual place. The two of them soon made their way onto its deck.
"Young Master Soan, since we met a few days ago, your skin looks healthier." The middle-aged hostess walked up, beaming at Soan Jingor, "Kunny is still dressing herself up. Why not listen to some songs and have a little fun first? Some new singers have arrived. Their performances are great."
Soan Jingor wore a stern face and didn't return her smile.
"I'm here for an important matter. A few days ago, I'd come here with my friends. One was named Wein Zikua. I heard that he had returned here alone after we left together. Could you summon the girl who accompanied him that night to us? I have something to ask her." He stuffed a few silver coins into the palm of the thirty-ish hostess.
These silver coins amounted to hundreds of dollars in Le Xaan's previous life, telegraphing Soan Jingor's wealthy background without words.
"You mean Dierr, right? Well, I will call her to you soon. Both of you can have a rest in an empty room while waiting." Laying eyes on Soan Jingor's solemn face, the hostess didn't dare to waste a moment and rushed off. Among the patrons, there were few who were as generous as Soan Jingor. Those high-ranking officials' offspring, though with a higher standing than him, wouldn't squander money like how he had always done.
Le Xaan and Soan Jingor were ushered into a private room, waiting for a while. Soon, a girl named Dierr came in.
Dierr appeared enchantingly gentle and meek, attired in a pale green dress accentuating her slender waist. She held a long flute in hand. Apparently, she had been performing on the flute for some customers not long ago. At present, she looked confused, unaware of why she was summoned here.
"Young Master Soan, why do you call me here?" She asked in a soft voice.
"Alright. Answer me the question. Do you remember Young Master Wein Zikua that you accompanied at the night the day before yesterday? Where is he now?" Soan Jingor asked in a deep voice.
Dierr looked dazed.
"Young Master Wein Zikua? Oh... I remember it. Didn't he leave along with you two that night? Back then, I was so tired. So, after you left, I went back home to rest immediately."
"Go home and rest?" Soan Jingor was taken aback.
"Yes. That night I had hostessed three batches of customers; that made me exhausted. So immediately after you left, I was off the clock. And I was among the first few girls who went ashore that night." Dierr then asked in a low voice, "Why are you asking me this? Could it be that... something has gone wrong with Young Master Zikua?"
Her voice betrayed her uneasiness and fear.
Le Xaan's piercing eyes were fastened on her, but he couldn't detect any sign of a lie.
"Answer me, was the ship shut down for the day after we left?"
Dierr nodded her head hurriedly. Le Xaan's gaze instilled fear in her.
"Yes, yes, it was. After you three left, it was shut down, as you say."
"Okay. Another question! After that, was the ship decorated with red lanterns?" Le Xaan queried.
"Red lanterns?" Dierr was perplexed. "What red lanterns? Every day after the place was closed, our ship will navigate into a dockyard nearby for maintenance and inspection. When it is being done, no open fire is allowed on the ship. "
"Navigate into a dockyard? Isn't the ship docked by riverside?" Le Xaan was astounded.
"No. The ship only rests here when we're doing businesses. Sometimes, there's a lot of wind and waves here. If the ship is to be docked here, won't it float away?" Dierr looked at Le Xaan questioningly.
Le Xaan's worst suspicions were confirmed now. There's a high likelihood that Wein Zikua had boarded the same ship as him, where red lanterns were hung everywhere.