Chapter 16: Splitting Up

Haunted?

Chen Shangke’s sudden speculation made everyone involuntarily shiver.

Gao Zhuang narrowed his eyes and grumbled in a muffled voice, “In broad daylight, under the clear sky, what ghost nonsense are you talking about?”

Lin Xiaqian sneered, “Those so-called feng shui experts like them believe in all sorts of nonsense. Ghosts? I think you’re the ghost!”

Seeing no one agreeing, Chen Shangke grumbled dissatisfiedly, “Believe it or not, suit yourself.”

Boss Zhou chuckled twice and stepped forward to smooth things over. “It’s definitely not haunted, but the situation is indeed strange. Whatever the cause, the fact remains. Let’s discuss what to do next.”

Everyone fell silent, seemingly at a loss for how to handle this sudden predicament.

“How about… we try to drive back? At worst, we drive slowly,” Chen Shangke was the first to suggest.

Boss Zhou immediately waved his hand to reject the idea without hesitation. “No! We’re already a day behind Zhifeng. If we mess around now, that’ll cost us at least another day. We might miss them altogether.”

Gao Zhuang added, “All four tires are flat. We won’t get far. The rims will get warped, the suspension and axle damaged. Then we’ll have no vehicle at all, which is even more troublesome.”

Zhu Luo offered, “Here’s an idea: we split up. Send one person back to the county seat to buy a pump. If they can find a ride, great; if not, they walk back. The rest of us continue searching ahead. In the end, we regroup here. That way, neither side wastes time.”

They had spent nearly half a day driving here. Though slow, dozens of kilometers separated them from the county seat. Walking back on foot without rest would likely take until late at night.

Meanwhile, those who stayed behind to search the tunnel would be in an even more perilous situation. Without vehicles, they’d have to lug heavy gear through mountains, possibly camp overnight in the barren wild with temperatures below minus thirty degrees Celsius. Being in the forest during the dry winter, they dared not light fires to warm themselves—it could be deadly.

Zhu Luo’s proposal wasn’t perfect, but no one else could think of a better plan.

Everyone looked around at each other, then finally turned their gaze to Boss Zhou, waiting for his decision.

Boss Zhou frowned, lowered his head in thought, then nodded slightly. “That’s indeed a solution. But who should we send back?”

Gao Zhuang was strong and skilled with rich survival experience—essentially the team’s bodyguard. Chen Shangke was the guide, relied upon to lead the team. Zhu Luo and Lin Xiaqian were professional geomancers, the main forces to investigate the tunnel. Boss Zhou, as the operation’s initiator, was the team’s brain and backbone—he couldn’t leave.

By comparison, only Cheng Xiangru seemed expendable.

In other words, Cheng Xiangru was the best candidate to return to the county seat.

---

When all eyes turned to him, Cheng Xiangru understood their decision.

“I’ll go back,” he said, head lowered, reluctant but aware this was no time for stubbornness.

After traveling thousands of kilometers, he was just a short distance from seeing his father—he truly felt unwilling.

Boss Zhou approached, pulling out a wad of cash and a spare car key, handing them to Cheng Xiangru. “Son, you’ve come so far. Be careful. If you find a ride, even if it costs more, take it. If you arrive late, stay overnight. Tomorrow, try to find a pump with a pressure gauge; if you can’t, just a regular one. Then get a ride back. If we’re not here when you return, wait in the car.”

Cheng Xiangru nodded, took the money and key, dividing the cash into two portions—one hidden close to his body, the other tucked in his down jacket pocket.

Chen Shangke had him take out his phone and patiently taught him how to use map positioning and navigation, marking both their current location and the county seat.

By the time Cheng Xiangru mastered the app, Lin Xiaqian had packed a travel bag with food and water, then lovingly zipped up his jacket for the boy who towered over her by half a head. “Xiao Cheng, be careful. Be flexible, and remember to keep your valuables hidden…”

Hearing her concerned admonitions warmed Cheng Xiangru’s heart. He silently vowed to return as soon as possible, to be back with Boss Zhou and the others before they found his father. If need be, he wouldn’t sleep tonight.

Boss Zhou came over, tightened Cheng Xiangru’s scarf, sighed softly, and patted his shoulder. “Go, son. Be safe.”

“Mm!” Cheng Xiangru nodded firmly, then turned and briskly retraced the rutted path.

After a few hundred meters, he couldn’t help glancing back, seeing Boss Zhou and the others climbing another mountain, their backs turned away.

I have to hurry! I must get back before they find my father!

With renewed resolve, Cheng Xiangru quickened his pace, his boots crunching on the snow as he pushed through exhaustion.

Running through snow consumed tremendous energy.

Bundled in thick clothes and carrying his bag, he bore a heavy load. The uneven, slippery ground forced cautious steps.

No matter how urgent he felt, his strength soon waned. His legs felt leaden, every lift bringing sharp soreness.

He exhaled white breath, staring into the hazy white world ahead, feeling everything surreal. His cheeks were frozen stiff like a mask.

He raised a hand to wipe his face but only scraped icy snowflakes, stinging painfully.

How much farther is it?

---

Cheng Xiangru took off his gloves, pulled out his phone, and checked the map. Despair flooded him: after all that exertion, he had barely covered a tenth of the distance.

He felt hopeless but refused to give up.

Stowing the phone, putting on his gloves, he breathed out several puffs of white vapor.

Keep going!

He stopped running and plodded forward, head down.

The afternoon sun reflected off the snow, dazzling his eyes; the cold wind sliced at his exposed skin; his breath quickly froze, frosting his eyelashes and stiffening his bangs.

He moved like a mindless automaton, each mechanical step making him the only dark speck in the vast white expanse.

Suddenly, a faint buzzing sound came from afar, like an ancient beast’s cry, jolting Cheng Xiangru awake.

Could it be a passing vehicle?

He stopped, panting heavily, scanning around. Far ahead, a rickety van slowly rounded a bend, approaching him.

Summoning strength he didn’t know he had, Cheng Xiangru hurried forward, arms outstretched, shouting for the vehicle to stop.

The van was old and battered, its paint chipped away in many places revealing rusty metal beneath, yet it brought him hope.

The vehicle slowed with the clatter of snow chains and the click of gear changes.

Cheng Xiangru approached quickly, but before he could speak, the driver’s door slammed open, warm breath steaming from inside, and someone jumped down.

“Ah? It’s you?” Cheng Xiangru squinted, surprised.

The figure was dressed in black from head to toe, hood pulled up, half the face hidden behind a black mask—it was the mysterious black-clad girl.

She sized up the snow-steaming Cheng Xiangru, then cautiously asked, “What happened… were you abandoned?”