The northeast... What kind of place is this? Liu Xiaojiang left the automobile company, his mind preoccupied. Along the way, he endured countless scornful gazes from passersby, yet remained indifferent to their disdain. Standing awkwardly on the bustling sidewalk, he seemed like a misplaced figure amidst the crowd. People instinctively avoided him, some covering their noses as they passed, shaking their heads in disapproval. Not a single soul approached him.
Ignoring the stares, Liu Xiaojiang surveyed the unfamiliar streets and towering buildings around him, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. He had no idea where "Lianmen Port" was, nor could he decipher the meaning of "the Northeast" the driver had mentioned. Standing still, he attempted to sense his surroundings, but found no trace of the girl he sought. Instead, he felt an inexplicable certainty—he was not only far from her city, but had somehow strayed even further from her location.
Realizing his mistake, Liu Xiaojiang turned back towards the automobile company, hoping to use the vehicles once more to traverse the distance. However, the diligent staff and the omnipresent surveillance quickly thwarted his plan. Cast out, he found himself adrift in the city, his tattered clothing a stark reminder of his plight. With no money, no identification, and no destination, the once-feared, legendary Jiangshi had become nothing more than a destitute wanderer. The absurdity of his situation left him utterly stunned.
Meanwhile, in Jinnan City, at the North China branch of the "Universal Freight Company," Xu San entered the office of the manager, Xu Si, holding a sealed document. Without ceremony, he tossed it onto the desk.
"Xu Si, everything in the village has been arranged, but there's something odd. Despite Bao Bao's intuition, the team found nothing unusual."
Xu Si, lounging behind the desk with his phone, glanced up in mild curiosity. "Nothing? That's rare. Bao Bao's instincts are usually spot on. Could the team have slacked off?"
Xu San adjusted his glasses and shook his head. "Unlikely. I told them this might be important, so they conducted a thorough investigation this morning, going door-to-door in the village. Aside from one farmer, Mr. Huang, who lost a dozen chickens to what seemed like a weasel attack, there were no anomalies."
"A dozen chickens?" Xu Si set his phone down and lit a cigarette, his expression intrigued. "Xu San, even if they're all poultry, what kind of weasel could devour that much? Maybe it was an entire family out hunting?"
"I found it strange too," Xu San admitted, his brow furrowed. "But given our unique situation and the nature of this operation, we couldn't request formal clearance for a full investigation. We relied on interviews instead. The Huang family didn't think the incident was unusual and refused us access to their property."
"What about Bao Bao?" Xu Si exhaled a smoke ring, his demeanor casual.
"She seemed unsettled," Xu San replied, his voice tinged with concern. "It was as if she sensed something but couldn't articulate it. She's currently at Nankai University meeting Zhang Chulan. You know how Bao Bao is... Even if she knows something, she might not be able to explain it clearly."
Xu Si nodded, mulling over the information. "Anomalies, missing livestock... If something could evade Bao Bao's senses, it's unlikely ordinary surveillance would catch it. Still, remind her not to stress too much. And Xu San," he added with a sly grin, "make sure she doesn't get too flustered. Just because the target is a decent-looking young guy doesn't mean she should lose her head, okay?"
"Xu Si, you idiot!" Xu San slammed the desk, his anger flaring. "Stop teaching Bao Bao nonsense! Look at what you've turned her into! Do you realize she's been digging pits all over the company grounds? The local tourism bureau is starting to investigate!"
Xu Si burst into laughter. "Not my fault if she has... creative hobbies. Just deny everything!"
Late at night, in a dimly lit alley of Lianmen Port, Liu Xiaojiang sat alone near a pile of trash, his disheveled long hair draped over his shoulders. His arms wrapped around his knees, his figure radiated despair and loneliness. He looked like a forsaken soul, a portrait of quiet misery. If a cracked bowl were placed before him, he might have earned a few coins from sympathetic passersby. But in this desolate corner, no one would appear to offer charity.
The damp ground reeked of decay, and the overflowing trash bins only added to the suffocating stench. Even in such a dire setting, hunger gnawed faintly at Liu Xiaojiang's belly. It wasn't the maddening hunger of before, but a dull emptiness that could be ignored—for now. Yet he knew that without sustenance, the insatiable craving would return, threatening to overwhelm him once more.
As he pondered his predicament, uncertain of what or how to eat, a sudden commotion shattered the silence. From the mouth of the alley came a woman's desperate cries, her voice trembling with fear. Two shadows appeared, moving swiftly in his direction.
"Let go of me! Let me go, you bastard! Help! Someone, please help!" Her voice was muffled as she struggled, her pleas fading into sobs.