Chapter 82: A Visit

He pondered for a moment and said, "We still can't be certain, but at least we've found a direction."

"You mean...?" Li Wenqing's eyes lit up.

"We can track where these vehicles went based on these markings!"

"Exactly!" Jiang Xiaomu said firmly.

Li Wenqing immediately summoned several capable constables, pointing at the wheel marks on the ground and ordered sternly:

"Follow these tracks! Be sure to find out where those vehicles went!"

The constables set off on their fast horses, pursuing the wheel traces all the way.

Time passed second by second, and Jiang Xiaomu's heart grew heavier.

"Xiao Yu, are you hungry?" He turned to his sister, forcing a smile.

Jiang Xiaoyu obediently shook her head.

"Brother, I'm not hungry; you eat."

Jiang Xiaomu felt warm inside and rubbed his sister's head.

He broke the osmanthus cake in his hand into two halves and gave one half to her.

"Eat up; you need the energy."

Jiang Xiaoyu took the pastry and ate it in small bites.

Just then, a constable came running in, sweat pouring down his face, dropped to one knee, and reported breathlessly:

"Sir, I'm incompetent! The wheel marks continued all the way to the city gate."

"After leaving the city, they gradually vanished, and now we have no trace of them!"

Upon hearing this, Li Wenqing's face darkened instantly.

He paced back and forth, brows furrowed, anxiously thinking of a countermeasure.

Jiang Xiaomu also felt a pang of disappointment; he walked to the map and carefully examined the terrain around Wangjiang Cheng.

"Outside the city... outside the city..."

He muttered to himself, his finger constantly moving across the map.

Suddenly, his gaze settled on a mountainous area outside the city.

That mountainous region had complex terrain with ravines crisscrossing, making it an ideal hiding place.

"Sir Li," Jiang Xiaomu pointed at the mountainous area on the map and said:

"I think those vehicles very likely went to that mountainous area!"

Li Wenqing walked to the map, took a close look, pondered for a moment, and said:

"Mr. Jiang is absolutely right; this mountainous area is rugged, easy to defend but hard to attack, indeed a good place to hide."

"There's no time to lose; we'll immediately take people to search the mountains!"

Li Wenqing made a swift decision and gave the order.

Jiang Xiaomu, however, shook his head and said:

"Sir Li, I think we shouldn't act rashly."

"Since the other side dares to abduct so many people so openly, they must have some backing."

"If we rush in recklessly, we'll likely scare the snake."

Li Wenqing felt Jiang Xiaomu made sense, so he asked:

"Then what do you suggest, Mr. Jiang?"

Jiang Xiaomu pondered for a moment and said:

"We need to first ascertain the enemy's situation, then devise a concrete plan of action."

"Besides, the county office is swamped with cases and short-staffed; we need more capable people to help us."

Li Wenqing suddenly lifted his head, a gleam in his eyes, and said:

"Mr. Jiang, I just thought of someone who might be able to help."

Jiang Xiaomu put down the map in his hand and looked at him inquiringly.

"Pei Dongyong, formerly the renowned constable captain of Wangjiang Cheng."

Li Wenqing spoke with respect, tinged with a bit of regret.

"This person solved cases like a god; back in Wangjiang Cheng, everyone knew him, but..."

He paused, then sighed.

"It's a shame that later he had no hope of promotion, suffered retaliation, lost his family and home, and now... alas, he's become a drunkard."

Jiang Xiaomu felt moved; in these troubled times, there are too many such talents—either unrecognized or harmed by villains.

"Sir Li, since this person is so capable, why don't we ask him for help?"

Jiang Xiaomu proposed.

"I think so too," Li Wenqing nodded.

"But... his current situation, I'm afraid..."

"How will we know if we don't try?" Jiang Xiaomu said firmly.

"Perhaps we can help him get back on his feet."

The two immediately decided to go to Pei Dongyong's residence.

Following the rumors they'd heard, they arrived at a dilapidated alley in the southern part of the city.

In front of a thatched hut on the verge of collapse, they found Pei Dongyong.

He was disheveled and filthy, his clothes ragged, holding a wine gourd, and was foolishly grinning "hehe" at the corner of the wall.

Seeing someone approach, a flicker of wariness passed through his dazed eyes, and he muttered indistinctly:

Who… who is it? Get lost!

Li Wenqing stepped forward, clasped his fists in a salute, and said:

Constable Captain Pei, I hope you've been well.

Pei Dongyong narrowed his eyes, sized him up, then suddenly let out a 'pfft' laugh and said:

Sir Li? What, you came to laugh at me too?

A grand County Magistrate coming to see a down-and-out drunk like me—how strange!

He said this, tilted his head back and took a gulp of wine; the spicy liquor trickled down the corner of his mouth and dripped onto his filthy collar.

Li Wenqing's face flashed with embarrassment, but he patiently said:

Constable Captain Pei, we've come today because we have a request.

"You want my help?" Pei Dongyong laughed again, his laughter full of self-mockery.

"I'm a useless cripple—what could I possibly do to help Sir Li?"

Jiang Xiaomu stepped forward upon seeing this and said in a low voice:

Constable Captain Pei, the city has recently seen multiple missing-persons cases, the methods are bizarre, and so far there are no leads.

We've heard that you once solved cases like a god, so we've come specially to ask you to come out of retirement and help.

Pei Dongyong's eyes flickered at the words, but he quickly returned to his listless state, waved his hand and said:

"Don't tease me—what case could I possibly solve in this state? You'd better find someone more capable."

Li Wenqing hurriedly said:

Constable Captain Pei, I know you hold a grudge.

But the citizens are now in dire straits; please consider the greater good!

"The greater good?" Pei Dongyong gave a cold chuckle and said:

"I've been a constable captain for over ten years, solving hundreds of big and small cases, yet what did I end up with?"

"All I gained were enemies everywhere, and my whole family was killed by villains."

"I too have been hunted by my enemies—who ever cared about my well‑being?"

As he spoke, a fierce hatred flashed in his eyes, he gripped the wine jar tightly until his knuckles turned white.

Jiang Xiaomu looked at Pei Dongyong's bloodshot eyes and realized further persuasion would be useless.

He sighed and said:

Constable Captain Pei, if that's the case, we won't press further.

But the citizens are still in dire straits; I hope you will reconsider.

He paused, then spoke with greater severity:

Every day of delay could cost more lives; by the time you regret it, it will be too late.

Pei Dongyong's eyes were hazy with drink; he seemed not to have heard Jiang Xiaomu's words at all, merely muttering:

"What is a life? What is my life worth? What are the lives of my family worth…"

As he spoke, he took another huge gulp of wine, choking and coughing nonstop.

Li Wenqing wanted to continue urging, but Jiang Xiaomu stopped him.

"Sir Li, let's go." Jiang Xiaomu said softly.