Chapter 53 Lin Xun's Request

Ma Wenwen’s highly incigatory words plunged Le Dong into hesitation.

To thoroughly resolve the trouble? To regain a peaceful life? The temptation of this for him and Cai Kun was simply too immense!

He truly did not want to live in the shadow of Old Man Hu’s lingering spirit for the rest of his life.

Moreover, Ma Wenwen’s final remark regarding the connection to the gold and that mysterious "major case" acted like a stone cast into the calm lake of his heart, stirring up intense ripples.

Le Dong had a premonition that a massive secret must be hidden behind all of this, and perhaps only by finding the source could the trouble plaguing them be completely resolved.

A fierce struggle raged within his heart. Reason told him this was extremely risky, but the "complete resolution" and "peaceful life" painted by Ma Wenwen, combined with their joint ghost-busting experience at the apartment, deeply resonated with him on a profound level.

"Then do you know where to look for them?"

A trace of compromise tinged Le Dong’s tone.

"I don't know the exact location, but I have a general idea. We can go and ask around. I refuse to believe that the locals wouldn't know someone who looks like that Face Mountain."

"Sigh... But... But even if I agree, we don't have a car. You don't expect us to carry the deity statue and hail a taxi, do you?" Le Dong finally found a realistic difficulty, attempting a final resistance while also giving himself a graceful exit.

Subconsciously, he tossed the problem to Cai Kun, hoping that Cai Kun could come up with a good way to stop Ma Wenwen.

"Cai Kun has a car!" Ma Wenwen chimed in immediately.

Clearly determined, Ma Wenwen gave Le Dong no time to hesitate once those words left his mouth. Raising his voice immediately, he shouted toward the utility room where Cai Kun was taking a temporary nap, "Cai Kun! Cai Kun! Wake up! Get out here!"

"What is it? Is there a situation?" Cai Kun’s sleepy mumble drifted from the room.

Soon, the door was pulled open. Rubbing his eyes and sporting a mess of unruly hair, Cai Kun poked his head out with a sleepy look, "Huh? It's not dawn yet... Le Dong? What are you two doing?"

Sensing the confusion in Cai Kun’s voice, Ma Wenwen groped his way over and rapidly repeated everything he had just told Le Dong. He heavily emphasized that "Master might have gone and not returned," that "travelling with the Zhong Kui statue ensures safety," that it would "completely resolve the trouble," and that "Brother Le Dong is already somewhat tempted."

Cai Kun was bewildered at first, but his eyes gradually lit up when he heard that "if Fan Biao meets with misfortune, the deity statue might not offer protection much longer," along with the promise of "completely resolving the trouble" and "no longer fearing Old Man Hu's ghost."

Hearing that Le Dong was "somewhat tempted," he immediately looked at Le Dong, "Le Dong? Do you really want to go?"

Riding a tiger and finding it hard to dismount, Le Dong looked at Ma Wenwen’s resolute yet fragile appearance, then thought of his own unresolved troubles. Hardening his heart, he stammered:

"What Master Ma said... makes some sense, it's just... the risk is too huge, and this deity statue..."

"What's there to be afraid of?"

Cai Kun’s reckless streak flared up as he slapped his thigh. "If Master Fan really gets into trouble, the two of us won't even have a place to cry. As for this precious deity statue, I'll carry it to protect everyone from Old Man Hu's ghost! Besides, with Master Fan and Uncle Zhou away, relying solely on a deity statue leaves me uneasy anyway. Since Master Ma is worried about his master, this is about filial piety! Helping out is helping ourselves! Once this matter is thoroughly resolved, wouldn't it be great to sleep peacefully from then on? Let's do it, Dongzi! I have a car! Let's figure out how to get His Excellency the Deity into the vehicle first!"

Le Dong looked at Cai Kun’s "all-in" demeanor, then at Ma Wenwen’s gauze-covered face filled with determination. He thought of the lingering threat of the ghostly spectre and the potential opportunity for a "complete resolution."

Finally, the tiny spark of adventurousness and desire for peace deep within his heart overpowered his fear.

He clenched his teeth and nodded heavily, "Fine! Then... let's give it a try!"

"Alright!" A look of relief finally surfaced on Ma Wenwen's tense face.

***

That night, the three of them lost all sleep and immediately began to confer in low voices.

How to safely dismantle and wrap the heavy Zhong Kui deity statue became the primary challenge.

Although blind, Ma Wenwen relied on his familiarity with his home's layout to direct Le Dong and Cai Kun in retrieving thick blankets and cardboard boxes.

After a grueling effort, they finally wrapped the deity statue securely, layer upon layer.

By this time, a dim, grayish-white light had begun to seep through the windows.

No longer lingering, the three packed some essential items and hurried downstairs to hail a taxi, planning to head to Le Dong's rented apartment.

After all, Cai Kun's minibus was still parked there...

Just as they stepped out of the elevator, a sharp and capable figure appeared before them.

"You guys... where are you heading?"

Le Dong and Cai Kun jerked their heads up, their movements of carrying the deity statue instantly freezing!

The person standing before them wore a black denim jacket and possessed an upright posture, holding what appeared to be a file folder in her hand.

On her attractive face, a pair of probing eyes filled with suspicion locked firmly onto them.

The newcomer was none other than Police Officer Lin Xun.

"Ahem... Officer... Officer Lin, good morning."

Le Dong dry-coughed a few times, feigning coincidence as he smiled, "The morning air is so nice, so we thought we'd go out for a morning jog..."

Lin Xun did not reply. Her gaze swept over the three of them, finally coming to rest on the heavily blanketed statue clutched in Cai Kun's arms. She then glanced sideways at the corner of a compass and ritual sword protruding from the poorly zipped opening of Ma Wenwen's cloth bag.

"A morning jog?"

Lin Xun's voice wasn't loud, yet it carried a piercing quality. The corners of her mouth curved into an amused smile. "Taking the Zhong Kui deity statue out for a stroll? And bringing ritual instruments along on a morning jog?"

Le Dong's heart skipped a beat. Subconsciously, he shifted sideways, using his body to block the opening of Ma Wenwen's unzipped bag.

Yet, to Lin Xun, this action was tantamount to a thief posting a sign declaring he had not stolen 300 coins.

"Heh."

Lin Xun let out a light chuckle. Without pressing further, she looked up toward the upper floors of the residential complex and said:

"I noticed Master Fan's car isn't downstairs. Did he go for a morning jog too?"

This loaded question made the three men dare not meet her eyes.

Seeing this, a look of "as I expected" appeared on Lin Xun's face. She stepped forward aggressively, her capable aura carrying a sense of oppression:

"Judging by how hastily you're acting, unable to even properly pack your luggage, you must be planning to go look for Master Fan, right?"

Le Dong and Cai Kun exchanged glances, seeing tension in each other's eyes. Their mouths felt as though they had been glued shut, and they remained silent.

Meanwhile, Ma Wenwen was burning with anxiety beside them. Having nearly reached the front gate only to be blocked here, with his master's situation unknown, every delayed second tortured his heart.

Unable to hold back any longer, he blurted out, his voice sharp with desperation: "We don't know! When Master leaves, he doesn't report to us!" With that, he reached out to grab Le Dong's arm, attempting to forcefully squeeze past Lin Xun. "Excuse us, we need to go!"

Lin Xun stood unmoving, planted like a nail in the ground, her gaze growing even heavier. "What, refusing to talk?"

Her tone abruptly turned stern as she adopted an official stance: "I am under orders to assist Fan Biao and Zhou Fan in handling the aftermath of the villa case."

"Now that the two main figures have left without explanation, I have the right to know their whereabouts! This concerns the progression of the case and public safety. I expect your cooperation and truthful disclosure."

"What obstruction of justice or non-obstruction of justice? If we don't know, we don't know!" Ma Wenwen completely lost his composure. Disregarding everything else, he pulled Le Dong and practically slammed his shoulder against Lin Xun's, trying to smash through a path.

Lin Xun staggered slightly from the impact, but her footing was exceptionally steady. Instead, she used the momentum to yield a tiny gap.

Just as Ma Wenwen and Le Dong thought they could squeeze through, Lin Xun's cool voice rang out clearly from behind them:

"Since you refuse to talk, I'll have no choice but to call Master Fan directly and ask him myself."

These words acted like a binding spell, causing Ma Wenwen to halt abruptly in his tracks.

He froze in place, his shoulders trembling slightly, the gauze-covered face expressing overflowing anger and a profound sense of helplessness.

Slowly turning his head, he "looked" in Lin Xun's direction. Even though his eyes were blindfolded, the stifled grievance and indignation were palpable.

Lin Xun stepped forward, her tone softening slightly with a touch of earnestness:

"I know your master's temperament; he dislikes entanglements with official authorities. But higher-ups attach great importance to the villa case. The implications are too vast, and it must be thoroughly resolved as soon as possible."

"Right now, I am the only one following up, and the situation remains under control. If you continue to conceal things, the person sent from above won't just be me, nor will they be this polite."

"By then, even if your master wishes to avoid involvement, I'm afraid it won't be up to him." She paused, her voice growing heavier. "The best course of action right now is for me to find him and resolve this villa case together."

"I've made myself clear. Can you tell me where he is now?"

Lin Xun's threatening yet rational words caused the air to freeze.

Le Dong and Cai Kun held their breath, gazing at Ma Wenwen. Lowering his head, Ma Wenwen gripped the straps of his cloth bag tightly. After struggling for a good while, he finally deflated like a punctured ball, nodding with extreme reluctance, his voice muffled:

"...I only know the general direction. It's in Minzhou. I don't know the specifics... I was planning to ask around once we got there."

"Minzhou..." Lin Xun repeated thoughtfully. Her gaze swept over the three somewhat disheveled yet resolute figures, then lingered on the heavily wrapped deity statue in Cai Kun's arms, her eyes flashing.

Suddenly, she made a decision that caught everyone completely off guard:

"In that case, I'm going with you."

"What?!"

Le Dong, Cai Kun, and Ma Wenwen cried out in unison.

The shock and resistance on their faces were completely unmasked...