Chapter Sixteen: A Deeper Investigation

After seeing off Zhang Hua and Li Fengying, Lin Fan paced back and forth in the living room, weighed down with worry.

Lin Hai was still replaying his conversation with Zhang Hua and Li Fengying in his mind. He mulled over the promises he had made in passing, uncertain if he’d overcommitted. Glancing at Lin Fan for reassurance, he asked, “Nephew, I didn’t actually promise we’d bring the boy back alive, did I? Madam Li did say that just bringing back her son’s remains would suffice, right?”

Lin Fan seemed not to hear, ignoring him and continuing his restless pacing.

Lin Hai stared at Lin Fan, thinking he was pondering the question, and waited patiently. But when Lin Fan showed no reaction at all, he finally couldn’t help shouting, “Nephew! Are you even listening to me?”

Only then did Lin Fan stop, frowning as he looked up at Lin Hai, and replied perfunctorily, “Yeah, I heard you.”

Lin Hai felt a wave of frustration. Was he just talking to the wind? But then he considered that Lin Fan’s odd behavior might confirm his suspicions, so he tentatively asked, “Ever since you saw Xin’er’s photo, you’ve been on edge. Do you know something about Xin’er’s disappearance that you’re hiding from me? Out with it!”

The whole situation was odd and fragmented, and Lin Hai could only probe Lin Fan in hopes of learning more.

Lin Fan slowly walked over to Lin Hai, smacked his lips as if struggling to speak, paused for a moment, then turned and walked away again.

“Are you messing with me? If you have something to say, say it! Don’t just wander around like a dumb mule! You’re making me dizzy—how am I supposed to help like this? Do you want me to die of anxiety?” Lin Hai glared, scratching his head in frustration, raising his voice in exasperation.

Lin Fan circled back and sat beside Lin Hai, looking at him deeply. Out of nowhere, he asked, “Uncle, have you ever heard of anyone in our Lin family who was so gifted that they could master an arcane art in a very short time?”

Lin Hai was baffled. “What do you mean? Does that have anything to do with what we’re dealing with?”

“It does,” Lin Fan explained. “What I mean is, has anyone in our family ever learned the hand-seal technique in just a month?”

Lin Hai was still puzzled, unsure why Lin Fan was bringing this up, but he vaguely sensed the point. He shook his head. “Impossible. Even though the hand-seal technique is considered simple, it’s not that easy to master. I was considered a prodigy, and it still took me three years to form my first seal... What are you getting at?”

Though he said nothing, Lin Hai understood well enough. The hand-seal technique was not just any spell—it was tailored specifically for Lin Fan. Lin Fan had to master and perfect it to ensure the success of his task. Lin Hai was the only one who could teach him this profound art.

Lin Fan seemed disappointed, replying absentmindedly, “Oh, nothing, just asking. But the day Xin’er disappeared, I did see him; he and another boy about ten passed by me. At the time, I didn’t think anything was wrong.”

The moment Lin Hai heard this, he leapt off the couch, grabbing Lin Fan by the collar with a mix of shock and excitement. “Idiot! You sat on such important information until now? Do you realize this is a matter of life and death? Do you know this is a chance for us to live the good life? And you sit there as calm as a rock! What are you waiting for? Take me to the scene right now!”

Lin Hai didn’t even bother changing out of his Taoist robes. Grabbing his gear, he dragged Lin Fan at a run toward Riverside Forest Park.

The park wasn’t far from Lin Hai’s villa. To save time, Lin Hai flagged down a taxi, shoved Lin Fan into the back seat, tossed in bags of talismans and equipment, then jumped into the front passenger seat, shouting, “Drive! Now!”

The taxi driver turned pale with fright, thinking he’d picked up two desperate bank robbers, and didn’t even dare look at them. “You gentlemen can relax! My eyesight’s poor, and I’m near-sighted. I won’t say a word!” he muttered, terrified.

Lin Fan and Lin Hai exchanged nervous glances, wondering if they should switch cars. But before they could decide, the driver floored it, racing them toward Riverside Forest Park.

They stumbled out in front of the park, barely steadying themselves before the taxi vanished as if it had grown wings.

Steadying their nerves and gathering their equipment, they followed the path Lin Fan had taken a week earlier, heading straight for the pavilion where he’d met the two boys.

Soon they reached the pavilion. Lin Hai carefully examined the surroundings, pacing around several times before asking, “This is where you saw the two boys? Are you sure one of them was Xin’er?”

Lin Fan sat on a stone bench, thought hard, and nodded. “I’m sure. Even though my memory’s spotty, I have a pretty good head for faces.”

Lin Hai stopped in his tracks, looking at Lin Fan in disbelief. “Damn, I almost forgot you’re technically a second-class invalid! Why am I believing you? Now I’m starting to think you might have gotten it wrong.”

Offended by the doubt, Lin Fan jumped up and retorted, “Uncle, don’t you ever look in the mirror? Second-class invalid? What does that make you—completely hopeless?”

“You looking for a beating?” Lin Hai rolled up his sleeves.

“Calm down, Uncle! This is life and death! I was really sitting right here, finished my training, was about to go home, and bumped into them after just a few steps. I swear I didn’t make a mistake.”

Lin Fan quickly pulled Lin Hai down onto the bench, steering him back to the matter at hand.

“Fine, let’s trust you this once. Which way did they come from, and where did they go afterward?” Lin Hai asked, not that he truly doubted Lin Fan, but the stakes were high and it didn’t hurt to double-check.

Lin Fan pointed to a winding path leading from the pavilion to the riverbank. “I’m not sure where they came from, but I remember both kids laughing and running off that way.”

Lin Hai got up, hands behind his back, and walked to the pavilion’s edge, gazing in the direction Lin Fan had pointed. After a while, he sat down opposite Lin Fan, falling silent as he analyzed the sequence of events.

Seeing Lin Hai finally deep in thought, Lin Fan didn’t disturb him and instead sat quietly, straining to recall any details from that day.

About half an hour later, Lin Fan seemed to remember something and lightly tapped Lin Hai. “Uncle, that day I also heard shouting from the direction of the park’s playground. Thinking about it now, it was probably Madam Li calling for Xin’er. Should we go check it out?”

Lin Hai snapped back to attention, frowning. “Yes, not just the playground. We need to thoroughly explore this strange park. Consider this a special company perk—a free, all-expenses-paid day at Riverside Forest Park.”

Lin Fan stared at him, wide-eyed. “What kind of tour is that? I could find my way here with my eyes closed! There’s nothing to see, just a bunch of stinking public toilets. Uncle, why don’t you enjoy yourself? I’ll just stay here and train.”

Lin Hai pulled out some bills and threw them at Lin Fan. “Enough nonsense! Go rent us a tandem bike. I want to survey the area. If that boy’s still alive, wasting time here makes you an accomplice to evil!”

The accusation snapped Lin Fan to attention. He grabbed the money and vanished in an instant.

Before long, Lin Hai and Lin Fan were pedaling a tandem bike along the park’s winding paths. Lin Fan, in front, complained breathlessly, “Uncle, you’re fat, fine, but can you at least try to help? If your legs are too short to reach the pedals, just say so—I won’t hold it against you!”

“Nonsense! I’m not slacking. What else can you do besides mindless effort? Muscles for brains—just shut up and ride.”

Lin Hai sat in the back, compass in hand, observing the park’s feng shui. In truth, it wasn’t that he didn’t want to help, but his proportions left his feet barely resting on the frame.

The sight of two men in Taoist robes riding a tandem—normally reserved for couples—quickly drew the attention of everyone in the park. People stopped, took photos, and soon they became a unique spectacle.

The two of them rode until dark, having only managed to survey a portion of the vast park. It wasn’t until Lin Hai suddenly remembered that the old man at the bike rental was about to close up that he hurriedly ordered Lin Fan to pedal them back to return the bike.