252: small mountain village

Lu Jianchuan and Wei Ziqing fell into silence. Those words were too heavy, pressing down on them so that they didn't know how to respond for a moment.

After a long while, it was The Blind Man himself who broke the silence. The intense emotions on his face had faded, replaced by that almost resigned calmness, even carrying a hint of apology:

"I know what you're thinking, really. I... won't send money to those accounts anymore. I understand. I've troubled you."

Lu Jianchuan looked at him, knowing the other man might just not want them to bother him anymore, or perhaps he had taken in a little of what they said, but the deeper issues were far from resolved.

In the end, he could only respond dryly:

"Alright. You... take care. We understand."

The Blind Man nodded and, guided by his guide dog Doudou, turned and slowly walked towards home.

Lu Jianchuan and Wei Ziqing, still worried, silently followed behind, not leaving until they saw him safely return to his anxiously waiting sister.

Once outside the residential area, Wei Ziqing let out a long sigh and asked with some uncertainty, "Brother Lu, what he said at the end... does that mean he's come around? He should be... okay now, right?"

Lu Jianchuan gazed at the distant setting sun, his brow still furrowed. "I don't know. I hope so." The unease in his heart had not dissipated.

That evening, Lu Jianchuan and Wei Ziqing were at the Police Station, discussing the day's events with Old Li, trying to devise a more long-term monitoring plan. Suddenly, the internal phone on the desk rang urgently.

Old Li answered, listened for a few moments, and his expression abruptly changed:

"What?! He's missing? When did this happen?!... His sister just discovered it? The last phone location appeared at... Okay, pull the relevant surveillance footage immediately!"

After hanging up, Old Li's face was ashen. He slammed a fist on the table:

"He still believed them! That scammer contacted him again, used some sweet talk, lured him out of his house! Last seen on surveillance being picked up by an unlicensed van, heading out of the city! This is no longer just fraud; it's suspected abduction and unlawful confinement!"

Lu Jianchuan's heart sank. The worst-case scenario had happened.

"Investigate! Check all surveillance along the route out of the city, trace that vehicle's path! Contact traffic police and units along the way for assistance!"

Lu Jianchuan immediately shifted into action mode, his voice firm and resolute. They had to find him, and they had to be fast!

A tense pursuit began. Through blurry surveillance clips along the route, checkpoint data analysis, and scattered eyewitness reports, clues gradually converged like pieces of a puzzle.

The van seemed to have a very clear destination, heading straight for a remote mountainous area outside the city, eventually disappearing at the end of a rural road leading to a range of rolling hills with sparse surveillance.

Integrating all available information, the most likely hiding place was pinpointed near a small, isolated, sparsely populated mountain village deep in the mountains.

The terrain there was complex, easy to hide in, and fit the profile for a shady "black clinic" or "illegal experimental site."

There was no time to waste; they had to act immediately. As the case's directly involved officer and someone with special abilities, Lu Jianchuan was inevitably going.

Upon learning this, Wei Ziqing didn't hesitate: "Brother Lu, I'm coming with you! More hands make lighter work."

Meanwhile, in the temporary dormitory provided by GUPA, Shen Mingyuan was leaning against his bed, casually watching the evening news on TV.

Dawn was breaking, the mountains shrouded in mist.

Several police cars and a command vehicle were parked at the entrance of a dirt road leading into the mountains. Lu Jianchuan, Wei Ziqing, and over a dozen elite police officers had assembled, all equipped for mountain operations, their expressions serious.

Old Li spread out a map, pointing to several circled, scattered locations:

"Based on the clues, the most suspicious are the deep mountain village 'Aozicun' and the even more remote 'Yeluping.' Vehicle traces last disappeared near the main fork leading to this area.

The mountain roads are difficult, and the signal is extremely poor. The perpetrators definitely think it's safe here. We'll split into two groups and approach from different routes. Remember, the suspects may be armed, and the hostage's condition is unknown. Proceed with extreme caution. The primary objective is ensuring the hostage's safety!"

Lu Jianchuan looked up at the mist-shrouded, lush green mountain ranges, taking a deep breath of the cool, damp air. He knew The Blind Man was somewhere in these vast mountains. Time was of the essence. He exchanged a glance with Wei Ziqing, and they both nodded.

"Move out!"

The mountain path was rugged. It took the team nearly two hours to reach the village marked on the map as "Aozicun."

Unexpectedly, the village before them was not the dilapidated, isolated scene they had imagined.

Although the cottages were old-fashioned, most were tidy. In the afternoon sun, they could see elderly people sitting in front of their houses basking, children chasing and playing in open spaces, villagers working in the fields, and cooking smoke curling upwards, painting a picture of tranquil mountain life.

"It looks... pretty good," a young officer accompanying them muttered quietly.

Wei Ziqing, however, frowned slightly, his gaze scanning the seemingly ordinary houses and the occasional villager looking their way with curiosity and scrutiny. He moved closer to Lu Jianchuan and said in a low voice:

"Brother Lu, we still need to be careful. I've seen quite a few cases in short videos and news reports. Some remote villages appear harmonious on the surface but are exceptionally tight-knit internally, very unwelcoming to outsiders. If this really involves abduction or hiding someone, the whole village might help conceal it, even... resort to drastic actions."

Lu Jianchuan patted his shoulder, his own gaze sharp as he observed their surroundings, whispering back:

"I understand your concern. Being cautious is right. But we have a decent number of people this time, all equipped. Even if they have ideas, they generally wouldn't dare act openly unless..."

He paused, "Unless we were isolated or showed clear hostility. But you're right, it's always good to stay alert."

The team spread out, conducting inquiries through door-to-door visits. Lu Jianchuan and Wei Ziqing formed a pair, walking slowly along the village's main road, showing their badges to villagers they encountered, asking if they had seen an unlicensed van or if any strangers had recently visited with a blind man.

Most villagers shook their heads, saying they hadn't seen anything. Their attitude wasn't exactly warm, but they were cooperative enough.

As they reached a large tree at the village entrance, a boy of about seven or eight, with dark skin and bright, sparkling eyes, ran over. Not shy at all, he looked up curiously at the police insignia on their uniforms:

"Uncle Policemen! You're policemen! It's been a long time since policemen came to our village!"

Lu Jianchuan crouched down, offering a gentle smile: "Hello there, little one. We're looking for someone. Have you seen a... hmm, silver-gray or white van without a license plate drive into the village?"

The boy tilted his head, thought for a moment, and shook his head quite firmly: "Nope! I know all the cars in our village. There's no car like that."

Lu Jianchuan nodded. That was expected; they likely hid the car somewhere more secluded. "Then have you seen any strangers with an... uncle who can't see, maybe leading a big, yellowish-white dog?"

The boy shook his head again: "Nope."

It seemed direct clues weren't obvious. Just as Lu Jianchuan was about to thank him and leave, The boy's eyes lit up as if remembering something, speaking with a tone of innocence and pride:

"Uncle Policemen, are you looking for someone? We have an 'Immortal' in our village! He's amazing! If you make offerings to him or make a wish, it's very effective! My grandpa said that in the past, people from outside with strange illnesses came, prayed to the 'Immortal,' and got better! Do you want to go see him too?"

"Immortal?" Lu Jianchuan's heart stirred. He exchanged a look with Wei Ziqing. This term, appearing here and now, was far too coincidental and jarring.

But he kept his expression neutral, just smiling and patting The boy's head: "Oh? Really? Thank you for telling us, little one. But we're here to find someone, not to make wishes. This 'Immortal'... does he live in the village?"

The boy shook his head: "He doesn't live in the village. He lives in a quieter place deeper in the mountains. Only the village chief and a few grandpas know how to get there." He seemed a bit embarrassed, feeling he hadn't been helpful.

"It's okay, you've already been very helpful." Lu Jianchuan stood up and gave Wei Ziqing a meaningful look. "Go play, little one. Be careful."

The boy said "Okay!" and skipped away cheerfully.