29: Love between man and woman, living together

Jiang Lan was first stunned, then he understood.

Something must have happened on Zhang Wen's side.

Zhang Wen and Zhao Wu both didn't come to work today; they were both looking after his older sister.

Now that Zhao Wu had rushed over, there was no need to think; something must have happened.

“Let’s talk on the way.”

Jiang Lan stuffed the brocade box containing the Scent-Tracking Bug into his embrace, pulled Zhao Wu, and walked out, not bothering to greet Chen Heguang.

Chen Heguang didn't chase after him from behind, only calling out, “Should I send two people to follow you?”

Jiang Lan raised his hand above his head and waved a few times to indicate it wasn't necessary, then quickly disappeared with Zhao Wu from Chen Heguang's sight.

At the entrance of the Demon Suppression Division.

“What happened?”

As they hurried along, Jiang Lan asked.

Zhao Wu followed closely behind Jiang Lan.

“Zhang Wen’s older sister didn’t go to the pharmacy today, saying she wasn't feeling well. Then, just now, that ruffian named Feng Liu came directly to their door.”

After all, he was an ordinary person who hadn't entered the realm, and Zhao Wu panted as he spoke, “Zhang Wen and I went out to chase that ruffian... and when we returned to the house, Zhang Cui was gone!”

“Didn’t you search carefully?”

“We did!” Zhao Wu said, “Zhang Wen and I searched everywhere nearby; we almost looked in his outhouse.”

Jiang Lan: “...”

Zhang Wen's house was not too far from the Demon Suppression Division, similar to the pharmacy, about four to five li away.

Seeing that Zhao Wu's speed was really slow, Jiang Lan pondered for a moment and stopped.

Zhao Wu was startled.

“Boss, why aren’t you moving?”

Jiang Lan bent down slightly, “Come here, I’ll carry you on my back.”

“Ah?”

“Hurry.”

He could have gone by himself, but something had happened at Zhang Wen’s house, and it was his own older sister, so Jiang Lan was afraid he wouldn't be able to explain it clearly. That’s why he decided to carry Zhao Wu with him.

At least Zhao Wu was an outsider, and it wasn't his older sister who was missing, so his thoughts would surely be clearer.

Zhao Wu gritted his teeth.

Since his boss had spoken, he no longer worried about offending him and directly lay on Jiang Lan's back.

Feeling the weight on his back, Jiang Lan activated the Flood Dragon Swim, transforming into a blur and disappearing directly onto the street.

About twenty breaths later.

Jiang Lan stood at the entrance of Zhang Wen’s house and put Zhao Wu down.

At this moment, Zhao Wu was dizzy and disoriented, his mind in a fog.

Who am I? Where am I?

As soon as the thought arose, a strong wave of nausea surged over him.

He stumbled to a tree, propped himself against the trunk with his right hand, and began to dry heave.

“Ugh...”

Jiang Lan didn't pay attention and walked directly into the courtyard.

Beside him, Zhang Wen suddenly darted out from somewhere, his eyes red, looking as if he was about to cry from anxiety.

“Boss! You’re finally here! Help me find my older sister!”

“Calm down and speak slowly.” Jiang Lan said, “Zhao Wu has already told me the general situation. You two went to chase Feng Liu, and when you returned home, your older sister was gone?”

“Yes, yes!” Zhang Wen nodded repeatedly.

“Was someone else with Feng Liu?”

Zhang Wen said, “I don’t know... I didn’t see clearly then, but it should have been... anyway... it seemed like...”

Jiang Lan was silent for a moment.

Indeed, bringing Zhao Wu back was a wise decision.

Zhang Wen’s thoughts were too chaotic now; he probably didn’t even know what he was saying.

At this moment, Zhao Wu had finished vomiting, wiped his mouth, and walked into the courtyard.

Jiang Lan turned his head.

“Zhao Wu, tell me, was there anyone else with Feng Liu at that time?”

“No.” Zhao Wu said with certainty, “He was by himself! I saw him peeking suspiciously into the house from outside the window, which is why I chased him. There was definitely no one else with him.”

“How long did it take you two from chasing him to returning?”

“Only about half a cup of tea’s time.”

Half a cup of tea, that was less than five minutes.

Jiang Lan asked again.

“How far did you chase him?”

“Not far, just to the street corner. Feng Liu disappeared after a few steps. The rest of the time, we were worried he might come back, so we guarded the street corner for a while.”

Jiang Lan narrowed his eyes.

The distance from this small courtyard to the street corner was only about a hundred meters.

It wasn’t close, but it was definitely not far either.

“When you two were at the street corner, did you hear any sounds?”

Zhang Wen and Zhao Wu exchanged glances.

Zhang Wen:

“Meat buns! Fresh, hot, big meat buns! One coin each! Does that count?”

Jiang Lan glared at him.

“Are you looking for your older sister or not?”

Zhang Wen looked wronged, “Boss, weren’t you asking about sounds... that was the only sound at the time...”

“I was asking if there were any sounds of crying, shouting, or fighting.”

“No, there weren't.”

Jiang Lan looked at the tiled house not far away and pondered for a moment.

“Your older sister... she probably left on her own.”

Zhang Wen: “What?”

Zhao Wu: “Huh?”

“I can’t guarantee it, but it’s ninety-nine percent certain.”

Jiang Lan was almost certain that Zhang Cui was not abducted by someone.

According to what Zhang Wen and Zhao Wu said, if someone had truly broken into their house and forcibly abducted Zhang Cui, she would have struggled and cried out.

But the truth was, besides the hawker’s cries for selling buns, the two of them heard no other sounds.

Unless the perpetrator could prevent Zhang Cui from making any sound at all, quietly taking her away in broad daylight.

But if that were the case, why would Feng Liu be used to attract attention?

One person is dealt with, and three people are dealt with.

If they could truly take Zhang Cui away silently, then taking three people at the same time would probably not be difficult for the perpetrator.

Therefore, the scenario of the perpetrator committing a crime can basically be ruled out.

So, the next thing to do was to prove it.

Jiang Lan inquired:

“Does your older sister have any valuable jewelry? Or gold and silver valuables?”

“Yes, she does.” Zhang Wen nodded.

“Go back and see if they are still there.”

Hearing Jiang Lan's words, Zhang Wen rushed into the house.

Less than two minutes later, he came out with a look of horror on his face.

“Boss, they’re gone!”

Jiang Lan gave Zhang Wen an exasperated look.

What he said was truly inauspicious.

“Speak clearly.”

“The jewelry is gone! Not a single piece is left!” Zhang Wen said repeatedly, “Even the one tael and two qian of my monthly allowance that I saved up is gone!”

Jiang Lan looked at Zhang Wen with a hint of pity in his eyes.

“Are there any signs of the house being ransacked?”

“No.” Zhang Wen shook his head repeatedly, “Besides my older sister’s jewelry and my hidden monthly allowance, no other part of the house has been touched.”

Hearing this, Jiang Lan’s suspicion was confirmed.

Zhang Cui did indeed leave on her own.

Eloping with Feng Liu?

No, it’s probably not that simple.

If the incident in front of Chengtian Mansion hadn't happened yesterday, Jiang Lan might have truly thought that the two of them had fallen for each other, packed some gold and silver valuables, and eloped.

But Feng Liu was accused of abducting someone else's daughter yesterday, and today he eloped with Zhang Cui?

It was impossible to imagine.

Jiang Lan narrowed his eyes.

“How much do you know about Feng Liu?”

Zhang Wen said, “Ever since he started bothering my older sister, I asked someone to inquire, and I know a few things.”

“Tell me in detail.”