Chapter 20: The Duties of a Yang Envoy

I nodded in agreement, acknowledging his point, and he continued, "So I might have to trouble you a bit more with this. When the time comes, could you help me see who his ghost is following?"

"That’s much too troublesome. If I find him, I’ll just ask him directly and let you know right away. Then you can catch the perpetrator and confirm everything," I replied to Lin Chuan.

He realized this was even more convenient and gave my shoulder a pat. "Thanks a lot, then. I’ll treat you to dinner tonight."

"Tonight? I was planning to head into the county later," I answered.

But Lin Chuan tried to persuade me to stay. "What’s the rush? Besides, this case isn’t closed yet. Stay a couple more days before you leave!"

"I’m afraid I can’t. I have someone with me," I said, feeling a bit awkward.

"That’s nothing, I’ll treat you both. Just stay a couple more days, and once we wrap this up, I’ll drive you to the county," he insisted.

The matter really needed resolving, but I suspected the murderer had already fled. Staying in town seemed pointless.

I thought for a moment and said, "How about you tell me where his house is? I’d like to check if he might have gone home."

"Alright, I’ll have them look into it." With that, Lin Chuan went to retrieve information about the deceased.

Soon, he returned. "The victim’s name is Fang Xiaolong, his family lives in Moon Bay!"

"Got it. I’ll have someone take a look." Then, turning to Tan Xiao, I said, "Moon Bay, Fang Xiaolong—go see what you can find."

"Okay!" After replying, Tan Xiao vanished.

Seeing me speak to thin air, Lin Chuan looked terrified. When I turned back, he whispered, "Do you always have ghosts following you?"

"I do. It actually makes things more convenient," I answered.

He asked seriously, "Aren’t you afraid?"

I smiled wryly. "Honestly, I was at first. But after a while, you get used to it. Ghosts can be good or bad, and with time, the fear fades."

"That’s true, but I have to admit, it’s really convenient. You just give the word and they go," Lin Chuan said, actually sounding a little envious.

It really was convenient. As I was thinking this, Tan Xiao returned and reported, "It looks like his house hasn’t been lived in for a long time, and there’s no one else around. So he probably doesn’t stay there."

I nodded and relayed the situation to Lin Chuan.

He was surprised. "No one at his house? Wait a moment, I’ll have them run a more detailed background check."

He went off to arrange for a more thorough investigation of Fang Xiaolong, and I waited. Suddenly, Tan Xiao seemed unwell, rubbing her head.

Fortunately, Xiao Fang quickly supported her. I went over and asked quietly, "What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?"

"I’m not sure," she replied, frowning.

"Why don’t you go rest for a bit?" I suggested.

"It’s alright, there’s still work to do," she insisted.

Seeing she wasn’t well, I pressed, "You’d better go rest. I’ll handle things here, and besides, Xiao Fang and Xiao Yuan are still around. Don’t worry."

"Yes, Miss Ghost Warden, if you’re unwell, go rest. We can help the officer here," Xiao Yuan added.

With all of us insisting, Tan Xiao nodded and disappeared.

Not long after, Lin Chuan returned with a new address, possibly where Fang Xiaolong was currently staying. I sent Xiao Yuan to check if his ghost was there.

Xiao Yuan left, and it was just Xiao Fang and me for the moment.

"By the way, Lin, do you think the killer might return?" I suddenly remembered how in TV dramas, the murderer likes to revisit the scene.

Lin Chuan shook his head. "Hard to say—it depends on the person. Most wouldn’t return unless they’re especially bold."

"That’s true. If I were the killer, I wouldn’t come back either," I replied.

"Exactly. But there’s something odd—how did he know the hotel’s surveillance was being repaired yesterday?" Lin Chuan was puzzled.

I glanced at the camera by the stairs and asked, "Was it actually being repaired yesterday?"

"My colleague is asking the staff who were on duty. Did you think of something?" Lin Chuan asked me.

I nodded, "Could I join you to ask the staff?"

"Let’s go," he agreed, after a moment’s hesitation.

Downstairs, Lin Chuan asked the receptionist, "When did you call for the surveillance repair?"

"We called a little after four in the afternoon, but the repairman didn’t arrive until today," the staff replied.

"He only came today? When did Fang Xiaolong check in?" I asked.

"Around three in the afternoon."

So he checked in after three, the call for repairs was after four, and the repairman didn’t arrive until today. That meant the killer had plenty of time to come and go without being caught on camera.

I went outside to check, but there weren’t any cameras covering the hotel from nearby buildings. I sighed—unlike big cities, the town just didn’t have enough surveillance, so hoping for useful footage was pointless.

"What about Fang Xiaolong’s phone?" I asked Lin Chuan.

"The killer probably took it. We didn’t find his phone in his room," Lin Chuan replied.

This was going to be a tough case to solve. No clues at all—it was no wonder so many cases went unsolved for so long.

Just then, Xiao Yuan returned. I looked at him and pulled him aside to ask, "Well? Did you see Fang Xiaolong’s ghost?"

"Sir, if I said he deserved to die, would you scold me?" Xiao Yuan said, looking angry.

"Why would I scold you? Tell me what happened."

"That Fang Xiaolong was a beast. He was involved in illegal business and had a lot of enemies. When I went to his house, someone had even thrown paint on it."

I turned to Lin Chuan. "Lin, come outside a moment!"

"What is it?" he asked.

I repeated what Xiao Yuan had told me.

Hearing this, Lin Chuan suddenly seemed to realize something. He quickly took out his phone and stepped aside to make a call.

I didn’t follow or hear what he said. When he finished, he returned. "Xiao Bei, you haven’t eaten yet, have you? Go eat, I need to head back to the station. I’ll come find you later, alright?"

Seeing he was busy, I nodded. "Go ahead, I’ll try to find Fang Xiaolong’s ghost in a bit."

"At his house?" Lin Chuan asked.

"Yes."

"Don’t go yet. I’ll report to my superiors, and then you can come with us," he said, patting my shoulder before hurrying off.

Watching him leave in such a rush, I realized this might be a major case. I didn’t want to get too involved, so I considered waiting until they were done before looking for Fang Xiaolong’s ghost.

But then again, who knew how long it would take them? While I could wait, Tan Xiao seemed anxious. I was still hesitating when Xiao Yuan came up to me.

"Sir, I think we should help those children," Xiao Yuan said.

"Children? What children?" I asked.

"Fang Xiaolong was trafficking children. Several of the ones he trafficked have already died, and their ghosts are still in his house," Xiao Yuan explained.

I pressed him, "Why didn’t you mention this earlier?"

"I was debating whether to tell you," he answered, lowering his head.

"Of course you should tell me! Now, quickly, tell me everything you saw," I said, a bit exasperated.

Xiao Yuan told me that he had seen the ghosts of the dead children in Fang Xiaolong’s house. They had sought vengeance, but a powerful evil spirit was enshrined there, so they’d only walked into a trap. Now, they endured suffering day after day, unable to leave.

If it hadn’t been daytime, with the evil spirit asleep, Xiao Yuan wouldn’t have been able to question the children, and he might not have made it back at all.

Hearing this, I felt awful. My earlier detachment was clearly wrong—since I had this ability, how could I not help them?

"Xiao Yuan, I owe you for this," I said sincerely.

"It’s my duty, sir. You’re the warden, and I’m under your command. Saving people and souls is my responsibility," Xiao Yuan replied.

"Yes, sir, it’s my duty too," Xiao Fang echoed earnestly.

I hadn’t expected such words from the two of them. For a moment, I felt ashamed—how could I, a warden, lack the sense of duty these nameless little ghosts had, always trying to distance myself?

Having realized this, I told Xiao Yuan and Xiao Fang, "Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to save them."

"Thank you, sir. On behalf of those children, thank you!"

"No need for thanks. As you said, it’s what I should do," I replied.

"You truly are a good warden!" Xiao Fang looked at me with admiration.

But that only made me feel even more ashamed.

"Alright, let’s eat first. Once Lin is done, we’ll go together and rescue those children." With that, I led Xiao Fang and Xiao Yuan back to the restaurant.

Seeing there was still no food on the table, I asked He Yanran, "Didn’t you order yet?"

"No, I was waiting for you," she replied.

"Don’t do that in the future—if you’re hungry, eat first!" I said, then called toward the kitchen, "Boss, serve the dishes!"

"Right away! Coming up!" came the reply from the kitchen.