Jixiang Fish Farm was located in the suburbs of Wangcheng, just five kilometers from Guo Xing’s home. Ten minutes later, You Ming Xu and her team arrived.

The access road wasn’t easy to navigate—a narrow dirt path that could only accommodate one car at a time. At the farm’s entrance, they found it wasn’t an enclosed space: just a sign at the front, a few buildings, and several large, empty ponds. Not far behind stretched mountains and forest.

You Ming Xu and Xu Meng Shan exchanged glances, understanding this meant that even if something had happened here, finding eyewitnesses would be difficult.

On this weekday afternoon, there wasn’t a single angler at the farm. Only the owner and his nephew were keeping watch. Xu Meng Shan called the owner over and showed his credentials and Guo Xing’s photo. The owner immediately recognized it, nodding: “Yes, yes, Manager Guo was here the day before yesterday.”

“What time did he arrive?”

“Around 2 PM. Can’t remember the exact time.”

“How did he get here—by car or taxi?” Guo Xing didn’t own a car in Xiangcheng.

The owner thought for a moment, then said, “Taxi. It left right after dropping him off.”

“How many people?”

“Just him alone.”

“You’re certain?”

“Certain. Manager Guo always came alone. Officers, has something happened? Manager Guo was such a nice person—nothing’s happened to him, has it?”

Xu Meng Shan didn’t answer. Jing Ping patted the owner’s shoulder, saying, “Everything’s fine, don’t ask too many questions. How busy does your fish farm usually get?”

You Ming Xu glanced at Jing Ping. He had noticed something, his eyes deepening, but You Ming Xu had already looked away.

The owner replied, “It’s alright. Busier on weekends, we get a few people then. We mainly focus on raising fish. These are all-natural ponds—we don’t use feed, just cabbage, and grain. Everything’s completely natural.”

Which confirmed this was indeed a place rarely frequented by people.

“What time did Guo Xing leave that day?” Xu Meng Shan asked.

The owner paused, thought carefully, then shook his head: “I didn’t notice. Manager Guo was generous, always paid three hundred yuan, and could fish as much as he wanted. I don’t know when he left.”

The three exchanged looks, and Xu Meng Shan asked, “Besides Guo Xing, who else came that day? Do you keep records?”

The owner nodded: “Yes! I make a habit of recording accounts daily. I’ll go get them.”

“Wait,” You Ming Xu said. “Which spot did he fish from that day?”

The owner thought for a moment, then pointed to the distance—the farthest pond, surrounded by several dense trees that completely blocked the view. From afar, only glimpses of rippling water were visible behind the trees.

The owner left to get his account book.

The three stood there, staring at the secluded pond.

They could now confirm that Guo Xing had indeed visited the fish farm that afternoon. But his movements afterward remained a mystery. Additionally, who else had visited the farm? Were there any suspicious individuals? Was there a connection to Guo Xing’s disappearance?

You Ming Xu gave Xu Meng Shan a look; he nodded, staying put. Just as You Ming Xu and Jing Ping started walking toward the pond, her phone rang.

She checked the caller ID, paused slightly, and answered: “Hello?” Her tone was neither warm nor cold.

On the other end, Yin Feng’s voice was equally neutral: “Where are you?”

You Ming Xu responded inexplicably: “How is that your business?”

Yin Feng was silent for a second, then said: “I need to discuss something with you.”

You Ming Xu: “Investigating a case. No time.”

As if he hadn’t heard, he continued: “Send me your location. I’ll come to find you. Won’t delay your investigation—I might even help.”

You Ming Xu hung up directly.

Jing Ping had been standing nearby, silent. You Ming Xu looked up: “Let’s go.”

Jing Ping raised an eyebrow and followed.