Translator: Cinder Translations
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Suddenly, Jiang Cheng noticed the sunlight on his shoulder. He turned around and saw that the sun had already sunk halfway down the mountain.
From the time they infiltrated the Qian family's main residence until now, it had been no more than two hours.
They had entered the mansion during the strongest midday sun, and yet, it was already sunset?
"We don't have much time left," Chen Xiaomeng glanced at the sunset on the mountainside and explained, "The closer we get to the end of the mission, the more obvious the anomalies in the world around us will become."
Jiang Cheng nodded; he had experienced the same thing in his previous two missions.
The daylight hours grew shorter until eventually, the entire world plunged into eternal night.
The time left for them was running out.
"Do you remember our previous guess?" Chen Xiaomeng spoke rapidly, "The reason the ghost kills people and places their bodies near Anping Town is that someone the ghost really wants to kill is hiding there."
"To end the mission, we need to find that person."
"The Qian family," Jiang Cheng said.
Chen Xiaomeng nodded. "It should be. According to the village head, the old Qian village chief had three sons, all of whom were killed by the ghost. But according to the photos, there were four sons! I think the last one is hiding in Anping Town!"
"As long as we find him and send him out of Anping Town, I think the mission will be over."
Jiang Cheng frowned upon hearing this.
Chen Xiaomeng seemed to think of something and asked in surprise, "You're not unwilling to do that, are you?"
In Chen Xiaomeng's impression, people with antisocial personality disorder would have no basic compassion. Not just for strangers, even for family...
"No," Jiang Cheng shook his head, "I think the ghost isn't looking for a man, but a woman."
"What did you say?!"
Then Jiang Cheng recounted what he had seen at the Anping Inn, causing Chen Xiaomeng to become disturbed. "You mean there's a disfigured woman hiding in a secret room on the third floor of the Anping Inn?"
"Yes."
"That's why you and Zhou Rong were delayed upstairs for so long?"
"Exactly," Jiang Cheng replied angrily. "I wanted to tell you guys, but Zhou Rong wouldn't agree. He threatened me, saying that if I dared to leak it, he'd make me pay. Then he smugly said he'd trap you idiots or something like that."
Chen Xiaomeng: "..."
Jiang Cheng waited for a moment and then asked, "Why aren't you thanking me?"
Chen Xiaomeng gave him a glare, "The only reason you're telling me this now is because the Anping Inn is an important clue location, and it's dangerous inside. You're telling me to share the risk, and in the end, I'm still helping you. If anyone should thank anyone, it should be you thanking me."
"Ugh," Jiang Cheng muttered. "I think I should just send you back to the ghost. You don't know how to be grateful!"
"Less talking," Chen Xiaomeng sat with one leg crossed, her mature style giving her a domineering vibe. "What are we doing next?"
Before Jiang Cheng could reply, he suddenly stood up as if struck by a thought. Chen Xiaomeng was startled and thought the ghost was coming.
"I have an appointment," Jiang Cheng said. "I almost forgot."
"An appointment?"
"Yes," Jiang Cheng grabbed the two photos and stuffed them into his pocket, then ran outside. "I'll go first, you take your time." Moments later, his distorted voice came from outside.
Chen Xiaomeng gritted her teeth and chased after him. Those two photos were crucial clues.
The sunset lasted longer than Jiang Cheng had anticipated. He ran along the stone path outside the door and reached a simple courtyard. There, he saw a familiar figure standing under a tree, looking around.
"Hong Hong," Jiang Cheng greeted, "I'm here."
To Jiang Cheng's surprise, the little girl Hong Hong wasn't as enthusiastic as he had imagined. Instead, she stood in place, waiting for him to come over, her expression quite strange.
At that moment, Chen Xiaomeng also caught up. Seeing Hong Hong, she inwardly cursed Jiang Cheng for being shameless.
Hong Hong's little hands were frozen red as she clutched the hem of her cotton coat. She spoke awkwardly, "Don't come looking for me again. Mother said I'm still young, and... boys and girls... boys and girls..."
At this point, Hong Hong seemed to forget her lines. She anxiously tugged at her braids, pacing in circles.
"Boys and girls shouldn't touch," Chen Xiaomeng said with a smile as she walked up. Compared to Jiang Cheng, her appearance was undoubtedly much more attractive.
She took out a fruit from her chest and teased Hong Hong, "Sister's not a man, so we're not afraid of boys and girls touching, right?"
Hong Hong stared at the fruit in Chen Xiaomeng's hand, her eyes following it up and down, but she didn't reach out.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and both Jiang Cheng and Chen Xiaomeng turned their heads. A man in a somewhat decent outfit stepped out.
He appeared to be around 35 years old, wearing a blue work jacket and military-green pants, and seemed full of energy.
He waved at Hong Hong, and only then did she reluctantly give the fruit one last look before running back into the courtyard, stopping at a distance from the man.
The man smiled and said to Jiang Cheng and Chen Xiaomeng, "You must be the experts sent by the village head. Thank you for coming all this way to help us."
Chen Xiaomeng looked at him and asked, "And you are?"
The man rolled up his sleeves and pant legs as he walked into the vegetable garden at the front of the yard. He skillfully used tools to tend to the weeds while replying, "I'm Hong Hong's uncle. I came to help with the garden today. Hong Hong's mother has been taking care of the child by herself, and it's been too hard for her. She's been sick, so I'm here to help."
"Thank you for your hard work," Chen Xiaomeng nodded in respect.
"It's nothing," the man replied. "Hong Hong's mother is the one who's really struggling. I haven't had time to come by lately."
Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes and suddenly asked, "I heard Hong Hong's grandmother is sick. How is she doing now?"
The man seemed saddened by this question. His mood visibly darkened, and after a pause, he sighed and said, "Hong Hong's grandmother has been sick for a long time. Every year, she suffers more, and this year, it's especially bad. She can't speak or get out of bed anymore."
"So serious?" Jiang Cheng said as he walked inside. "It's lucky I know a bit about medicine. I'll take a look and see if I can—"
The man immediately rushed to the door and stopped Jiang Cheng, "We appreciate your kindness, but Hong Hong's grandmother's illness is very complicated. The village has already sent her to the town where the conditions are better, and the doctors there are far better than the barefoot doctors we have here."
"Then Hong Hong's mother must still be at home," Jiang Cheng said anxiously. "I'm a doctor from the big city. I should be able to help her."
(End of the Chapter)
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