Before Yan Tuo could respond, Xing Shen asked another question: “Who’s in your car? Is there a Di Xiao?”
Xing Shen was from the Gou clan, though they could no longer detect the scent of Xiao. Yan Tuo answered truthfully: “Yes.”
Xing Shen nodded, a barely noticeable smile crossing his lips. Of course, he knew—while he couldn’t smell it himself, the Macha had become agitated earlier before he quieted it down.
This was a test, and Yan Tuo had passed.
Time was pressing, leaving no room for idle chat. Yan Tuo got straight to the point: “How much do you know?”
“About Lin Xirou and her group, the farm, the blood sacs, mixed feeding, and so on—Er Nie told me everything…”
Yan Tuo was taken aback: on the phone, Xing Shen had called Nie Jiuluo “A Luo,” why the sudden change in address?
He glanced at Yu Rong and immediately understood: with an “outsider” present, it seemed Nie Jiuluo’s true identity was known only to two or three people.
“Regarding your background, and why you’re working against them despite being in their midst, she didn’t tell me. She said this was your private matter and should be told by you—I’ll make my judgment after hearing it.”
Yan Tuo understood. Trust hadn’t been established between him and Xing Shen yet. Nie Jiuluo had left this part for him to tell, partly out of respect for his privacy, partly to give him a chance to earn trust.
He placed one hand on the car roof and bent down slightly—a common posture when chatting with people inside a car.
“Lin Xirou appeared in ’92. At that time, my father Yan Haishan was mining in Tang County. If the speculation is correct, they encountered each other in the mine shaft. Afterward, my father became a Chang Gui. After I was born, she entered our household under the guise of a nanny.”
Xing Shen nodded slightly: “Chang Gui are mostly indistinguishable from normal people.”
“My father had good business acumen. While money might not work miracles, it could solve most of life’s problems. Lin Xirou probably saw this potential and used my father’s connections and wealth to gradually establish herself in this world.”
There was a soft “click”—Yu Rong had lit a cigarette with her lighter. She coldly watched Yan Tuo and Xing Shen, raising her cigarette pack: “Want one?”
Both men shook their heads. Yu Rong put the cigarette between her lips—she smoked differently from others. While most people held their cigarettes, occasionally taking a puff, she kept it in her mouth like a lollipop, occasionally catching falling ash with her hand.
“Soon after, rumors spread about her and my father. My mother couldn’t handle it, and conflicts escalated.”
Xing Shen wasn’t surprised at all. He turned slightly toward Yu Rong: “Mating season?”
Since she needed to speak, Yu Rong couldn’t keep the cigarette in her mouth: “I don’t know about humanized Di Xiao, never encountered one before. In the Bian family’s Xiao training, we did deal with Di Xiao in heat. They were all beasts—the females would attack the males until they were neutered. Occasionally, when we weren’t watching closely enough, some would escape and harm humans.”
Yan Tuo’s hand on the car roof tightened slightly. While these two might have been speaking carelessly, their words carried a hint of humiliation for him.
He quickly moved past this part: “Many complications arose. Later, my mother had an accident—complete paralysis, and brain damage, bedridden for over twenty years now. My father died of a serious illness. I also had a sister who went missing. I’ve been trying to find her—recently learned she was thrown into Heibai Ravine.”
Both Xing Shen and Yu Rong showed surprise at the mention of “Heibai Ravine.”
“When everything happened, I was very young, barely able to remember. Since Lin Xirou raised me from childhood, perhaps because of this, she had special feelings for me and didn’t guard against me much, keeping me by her side as I grew up. About seven years ago, one of my father’s friends, fulfilling a promise made while he was alive, gave me my mother’s diary. In it, she detailed everything that happened after Lin Xirou entered our home.”
Suddenly, a cry of “Ah!” came from ahead, sounding like Lin Ling. Yan Tuo’s heart tightened as he looked toward the sound, but there wasn’t much commotion. Da Tou, however, was approaching with an ashen face.
Reaching the car’s side, he lowered his voice: “Brother Shen, we have trouble. There’s a woman in the car who’s seen me before.”
Da Tou was referring to Lin Ling.
Initially too busy with the chaos, Lin Ling hadn’t paid attention to the outside. After helping Lü Xian treat Feng Mi’s wounds, she was worried about Yan Tuo and looked out the window.
This glance resulted in direct eye contact with Da Tou, causing one to cry out in surprise and the other’s face to turn ashen.
They had met before.
When Yan Tuo went missing, Lin Ling had helped with the reward posting. Da Tou had responded to it, grumbling about not showing ID or being recorded, claiming privacy and portrait rights protection.
Hence the particularly vivid impression.
…
Xing Shen tensed: “She’s seen you before? Why didn’t you ever mention this?”
Da Tou stammered: “That was years ago, who would remember?”
After Ban Ya’s incident, he had been hiding in the basement of Jiang Baichuan’s villa, then moved to the garment processing factory, living in seclusion. Finally having a chance to get out, he got excited about this “car encounter” and rushed over without thinking to report such details.
Yan Tuo said: “It’s fine if she saw you. But since you’ve been exposed before, keep your hat on, keep your head down, and don’t look around too much.”
It’s fine?
Da Tou looked at him questioningly. Hearing Yan Tuo’s confident tone, Xing Shen also relaxed: “Do as he says.”
Meanwhile, Lin Ling sat back in the passenger seat, her heart pounding.
Yan Tuo was meeting with the people who had previously imprisoned him, pretending not to know each other. This collision wasn’t accidental, and his earlier words “Fasten your seatbelts” had carried hidden meaning.
She swallowed dryly.
Feng Mi had a large gauze bandage on her forehead, her expression full of defiance and impatience, adding to her “street-smart” appearance. She looked at Lin Ling, then turned to the window: “What’s wrong?”
Lin Ling quickly deflected: “Nothing, just wanted to see how the talk was going. That guy with the big head looks scary.”
Feng Mi sneered: “Don’t worry, you’re the safest one in this car.”
After all, she was Aunt Lin’s blood sac—nothing could go wrong.
Yan Tuo’s background story seemed reasonable, and his motives made sense. Cooperation was like this—you take a step forward, I take a step forward, showing mutual sincerity.
Xing Shen said to Yu Rong: “Show him the photos.”
Yu Rong took out her phone, opened the photos, and handed it to Yan Tuo.
Yan Tuo looked at them—they showed dead people hanging from trees. Among them was a familiar face, Que Ye. On this trip, he’d encountered many familiar faces, some alive, some dead, some standing on the ground, some… hanging from trees.
He quickly swiped through several photos before handing the phone back.
Nie Jiuluo had mentioned this to him. At the time, he had said “frozen to death, probably already frozen by now, the rest probably won’t freeze to death anymore,” and his prediction had proven accurate.
Xing Shen said: “These were sent to Que Cha’s phone. Now, counting Uncle Jiang, they have eight of our people. Their first condition is to exchange Macha.”
As soon as the words were spoken, the previously motionless Macha suddenly trembled—it might not have understood the words, but it recognized its name.
Xing Shen reached out and gently stroked the back of Macha’s neck.
Yan Tuo remembered the message Jiang Baichuan had asked him to deliver and was about to speak when Xing Shen raised his hand, indicating him to listen first: “Er Nie told me you helped convey the message—Uncle Jiang said not to make the exchange. I understand Uncle Jiang’s concerns, but you should know, that if there’s even a slight hope of bringing people back alive, we want to try. After all… eight lives are at stake.”
Yan Tuo said: “Wait a moment, I need to make an appearance over there.”
It wouldn’t be appropriate to stay here too long.
He returned to Lü Xian’s car, and as soon as he bent down to the window, all three occupants leaned toward him: “What did they say?”
Lü Xian lowered his voice: “Yan Tuo, should we call the police?”
Yan Tuo: “The talk went well, we should be able to settle this privately.”
Lü Xian didn’t understand: “How to settle it?”
“Weren’t they tailing us? Our car has damage, I’m asking you how much compensation you think is fair.”
Lü Xian was stunned: “Damn, Yan Tuo, you’re a negotiation expert! Weren’t they trying to extort us earlier? How did you turn it around just by standing there for a while?”
Yan Tuo replied calmly: “His subordinate was making noise, but he’s reasonable. Besides, after I mentioned my background, he probably figured making a friend would be more profitable than extorting some money.”
That made sense. Lü Xian suddenly remembered the new phone Yan Tuo had bought him—befriending a generous rich second-generation would bring endless benefits. In comparison, how much could they get from a small Honda, even if it was completely wrecked?
Feng Mi snorted: “At least he knows what’s good for him.”
Yan Tuo looked at Lü Xian: “If you don’t have a specific amount in mind, shall I negotiate for you?”
Lü Xian nodded vigorously: “You negotiate! I trust you, you definitely won’t let me get the short end of the stick.”
…
Yan Tuo returned to the Prado.
Xing Shen smiled at him: “Not bad—you act more seriously than professional actors.”
Yan Tuo felt that although Xing Shen couldn’t see, his other senses must be extremely acute: since their meeting, he hadn’t once turned in the wrong direction, whether raising his head or smiling, his timing and positioning were always perfect.
He smiled back: “An actor only risks criticism for a poor performance, but my life is at stake if I don’t act well. How could I not take it seriously?”
Then, dropping his smile: “Let me tell you my plan.”
The Prado and Alto were far apart, with the Honda serving as a barrier between them. Their hushed conversation was unlikely to be overheard, but at the most crucial point, Yan Tuo still lowered his voice to a bare minimum: “I have a list of Di Xiao scattered in various locations. Excluding those who failed transformation and were abandoned, those who died, those who were captured, and those currently gathered around Lin Xirou who are hard to reach, there are still five.”
“Initially, I planned to use your manpower to rescue the blood sacs and secretly relocate them, saving them from harm. Later, I realized this approach only treats the symptoms, not the cause. First, the blood sac list is incomplete. Second, if the blood sacs disappear, the Di Xiao will use all their resources to search and retaliate frantically, causing more trouble. Better to handle it all at once, do something bigger.”
Xing Shen imperceptibly licked his lips: “Go on.”
He liked the phrase “do something bigger”—either don’t do it at all, or do it with earth-shattering impact.
Yan Tuo continued: “Rather than rescuing blood sacs, we should capture the Di Xiao. Once we separate the Di Xiao from their blood sacs, the blood sacs will be safe. If successful, five Di Xiao, plus Chen Fu, and Macha—your leverage increases. Jiang Baichuan and the other seven will be even safer.”
Xing Shen understood, his heart pounding in his chest.
This was true—since Jiang Baichuan’s group was taken, he had been in a defensive, weakened position, but if he had leverage…
He said: “Capturing Di Xiao won’t be easy, right?”
He remembered that night in the snow—they were all armed.
Yan Tuo smiled faintly: “I’ve analyzed it. These five Di Xiao aren’t combat-oriented. They blend into crowds, living as ordinary people. Take Shen Lizhu, for example—she works at a hotpot restaurant in Chongqing. When she’s commuting to work, would she carry a gun? Besides, if we strike when they’re unprepared, our chances of success increase greatly. If you have enough people, use a three-to-one or two-to-one ratio, equipped with tasers preferably, to avoid direct combat.”
Yu Rong had long finished her cigarette, clutching it with the ashes in her dampening palm.
Seeing no objection from Xing Shen, Yan Tuo continued: “This operation needs to be simultaneous in different locations. We can’t do it one by one, because if even one Di Xiao suddenly goes missing, the others will be alerted and might relocate immediately. Then the list I worked so hard to obtain would become worthless.”
At this point, he turned his head toward the Audi in front: “In the car is Lin Xirou’s blood sac, Lin Ling. I hope while you’re hunting the Di Xiao, you’ll also arrange to kidnap her—though it’s more of a rescue than a kidnapping. Find a safe place to settle her.”
Xing Shen pondered: “In your car, you have both Di Xiao and blood sac. Since everyone’s here, haven’t you considered taking the whole car now?”
Yan Tuo shook his head: “That would alert them. Lin Xirou’s side is already very cautious after losing Han Guan and Chen Fu. If anything happens to this car, we can forget about finding the other Di Xiao.”
Xing Shen made an affirmative sound: “And you? What are your plans after this succeeds?”
Yan Tuo let out a long sigh: “All these years, I’ve been investigating Lin Xirou’s secrets. Now, I think I’ve learned enough. Once this succeeds and Lin Ling is safe, I can withdraw completely, ending these days of constant fear. With Di Xiao as a hostage then, you can exchange for your people, while I’ll directly ask Lin Xirou where to find my sister.”
Xing Shen fell silent—indeed, it was a bold plan, a win-win deal.
Yan Tuo looked at the sky: “It’s getting late, I still need to go sightseeing. This is a big matter, you need time to consider it. Let’s contact each other later. How about we each withdraw for now?”
Time was needed to consider—while blood was pumping during the discussion, decisions shouldn’t be made in excitement.
Xing Shen nodded. Yu Rong lowered the window and reached out, knocking twice on the car door with her fist.
This must have been a pre-arranged signal. Shan Qiang, straddling the Honda’s hood, called out dramatically: “Oh, the bosses have reached an agreement? That’s great, peace brings prosperity! Let’s go!” He jumped down as he spoke.
This round was perfectly concluded. Yan Tuo felt half the weight lift from his heart. As he turned to leave, Xing Shen called out: “One more question—how did you and Er Nie meet?”
Yan Tuo’s heart stirred: Nie Jiuluo hadn’t told Xing Shen?
He replied: “Ask her—whatever she says goes.”
Xing Shen was somewhat taken aback, wanted to say something but swallowed it, then slowly leaned back in his seat.
He had asked Nie Jiuluo before, but she had shut him down with one sentence: “Who I know and how I know them is my private matter.”
Thinking back to when he first “saw” Yan Tuo, there was a light about him, faint, not aggressive, but somehow gave off a pressuring feeling.
The color…
Was very similar to A Luo’s…
Lü Xian’s car had a bent bumper and slightly dented trunk lid, but it appeared to be minor rear-end damage, not affecting drivability.
Yan Tuo got in the car, started it, and pressed the accelerator, continuing toward Five Dragon Cave while reassuring Lü Xian: “After we return, just get it repaired—I’ll cover all costs.”
Feng Mi was skeptical: “That generous?”
Yan Tuo: “It’s about making friends. He’ll pay part, I’ll contribute some, and the matter will be settled.”
Hearing “cover all costs,” Lü Xian felt much relieved, then suddenly remembered something: “We’re only talking about my car, but Miss Feng hit her head—are we just letting that go?”
Yan Tuo glanced at Feng Mi through the rearview mirror, his words carrying hidden meaning: “Miss Feng has a strong constitution, she’ll recover quickly, it’s fine.”
Feng Mi also looked in the mirror, their eyes meeting in the reflection. She snorted, and Yan Tuo smiled slightly—he was in a good mood now, showing a pleasant face to everyone.
Only Lü Xian remained indignant: “Listen to yourself! How can you say that when she’s injured? What nonsense about recovering quickly!”
…
They arrived at Five Dragon Cave rather late, but staff said if they just wanted a quick look, it could be toured in an hour or two.
So they bought tickets and entered—since they’d come all this way, and after all the twists and turns, they had to see at least a couple of attractions.
Despite having “cave” in its name, it was a forest park where you could climb mountains and view the waters. In such places, everything looks beautiful when you’re in a good mood; when you’re not, it’s just ordinary hills.
Yan Tuo was in excellent spirits, walking upstream along the creek, stopping to take photos at scenic spots—there weren’t many tourists to begin with, and with the cold weather and mountain shade, it was almost empty, but this private viewing experience felt quite magical.
Reaching the Hulong Platform, a gust of wind made him shiver, but the view opened up. Yan Tuo called to the three lagging behind: “Come look, the fog is rising.”
As evening approached, temperature differences caused fog to form, spreading across the mountains and rolling through the wilderness in an instant.
Feng Mi, having lived in the city for a long, rarely saw such scenery. She asked Yan Tuo to take photos for her, but his shots were either crooked or made her head look too big and her body too small. Despite any goodwill she had toward him, she couldn’t tolerate this. After three attempts, she dragged Lü Xian to be her photographer instead.
Yan Tuo took the opportunity to slip away and admire the mountain view.
Lin Ling followed, stopping beside him and saying softly: “You’re in a very good mood today.”
Yan Tuo said: “Soon.”
Lin Ling was startled: “What’s soon?”
But she understood in the next second. Her heart began pounding like a drum, her eardrums buzzing, while simultaneously feeling a surge of anxious urgency.
She asked: “Is it dangerous?”
Yan Tuo said: “Possibly. With good luck, we can all get through it. With bad luck, it’s hard to say. Some day, when I can’t help you anymore, you’ll have to swim on your own.”
At this point, he seemed to remember something and pulled up his phone’s notes, showing Lin Ling a name and number: “This person is Liu Changxi, someone trustworthy. Remember this—if you’re desperate, you can seek his help. But be careful when you do, don’t bring danger to him. He’s an ordinary person.”
Despite being surrounded by scenic mountains and waters, a supposedly relaxing place, Lin Ling trembled with nervousness. She silently repeated the number several times to memorize it, then asked: “What about you? If something happens to you, who can… help?”
Yan Tuo said: “Me…”
He thought and thought—who could help him?
Uncle Changxi definitely couldn’t; though willing, he lacked the ability. They couldn’t drag such a kind person into this.
Xing Shen’s group? They were cooperating for mutual benefit, but might not truly care about him.
After a long while, he finally said: “Maybe… there’s one person.”
But who this person was, he didn’t say.