Chapter 124: Whereabouts

Guo Fan nodded in agreement but said nothing. Just by looking at his eyes, I could tell he was equally stirred. In truth, the work they do is far from easy. If not out of sheer necessity, who would choose such a perilous line of work? It’s a dangerous business, serving others at the risk of one’s own life—many have been killed or seriously injured. Although the pay is high, the danger is immense, and in these times, people are plentiful, but good jobs are scarce.

Both of them packed lightly, each carrying only a small bag with essentials, ready to set off at any moment. I also asked Monk Wei to help me arrange a secondhand vehicle. His efficiency was impressive; within two hours, the car arrived—a Mitsubishi SUV painted in camouflage. Guo Fan, who knew cars fairly well, tested it and assured us it was in excellent condition, a retired military vehicle.

It seemed that Monk Wei’s network was indeed extensive; even a decommissioned military vehicle was within his reach, which alone spoke volumes about his capabilities.

Yesterday, while drinking, I had already mapped out a rough plan. First, I could not take any public transport; that would make it too easy for me to be tracked. Within the capital, the Old Ghost and his people might exercise some restraint, but outside the city, their influence was deeply entrenched. I would be in grave danger. That was the primary reason I needed some allies. Driving was the only option, and having a vehicle was crucial.

Another point: I would not take Anna with me, or rather, I would not let her travel alongside me. But with that foreign girl’s tenacity, she would never agree. I planned for her to take a plane and then travel by car to the destination, while I would drive separately. Along the way, anything could happen, and I certainly didn’t want to be burdened with a liability.

Anna was not under surveillance; she was safe and could pass as a tourist. Moreover, as a foreigner, she would receive special protection. I believed she would consent. Regardless, whether she agreed or not, I would depart first. Just now, Guo Fan, Liu Dong, and I calculated the time. If the three of us took turns driving without rest, we could reach Wuming County in thirty hours. There, we would secure equipment and rest before heading to Longtou Town at the foot of Longtou Mountain to scout for information. Wuming County was close to Longtou Town, just over an hour’s drive. I planned to set off at six that evening and arrive at Wuming County around midnight for caution’s sake. Traveling at night to arrive under cover would avoid attracting any attention, especially from the Old Ghost and Gu Sanniang.

I gave Guo Fan and Liu Dong some money to buy food and supplies. Although Monk Wei had arranged for gear to be prepared, it was wise to have some provisions ready—one could never predict what might occur on the road.

Next, I called Anna to inform her of my plan. At first, she strongly opposed the idea and insisted on accompanying me. Our conversation was arduous, lasting nearly an hour before I convinced her. I told her precisely that I needed her to arrive ahead of me to prepare some things, though this was a pretext. It worked well because Anna was more concerned about Li Ling’s situation and eventually gave up, agreeing to take a late-night flight to get there in advance.

The following call was to Zhang Cheng, whom I informed that I had to travel. When he asked where, I hesitated before saying Yunnan, without specifying the exact location. Zhang Cheng didn’t press for details; he simply expressed concern and advised me to be careful. I found this odd—usually, that hefty fellow would pester me endlessly for information. Perhaps he was preoccupied and couldn’t bother; I didn’t dwell on it.

The next call was not mine but incoming—from He Ming. He told me that the person had been found, and what shocked me most was that the individual was indeed Wang Wenshan’s son!

“No mistake. I was surprised too, but the evidence shows the person handling the certification is Wang Wenshan’s son—the only biological one. We have also contacted him. He said Wang Wenshan is now in a sanatorium in Australia. However, he refused to disclose any further details. You know, he has the right to refuse to answer, plus he’s not a Chinese citizen, so there’s nothing we can do. Moreover, his son said the case should be closed; he doesn’t want to pursue it further. I checked the airport surveillance and immigration records; his son did return to the country, and the timing matches. There are many doubts, but for now, this case is considered closed. I can finally relax. Thank you so much, Comrade Xiao Gao, for providing the clues; otherwise, I wouldn’t know how long I would have had to carry this case!”

He Ming’s words left me stunned for a long moment. He then said, since matters here were settled, he would return to his unit and thanked me once again.

His concern was the case, while mine was to find Wang Wenshan—a fundamental difference. Now that He Ming’s part was done, I had no means to enlist further help in locating Wang Wenshan. After all, Wang Wenshan had been taken abroad by his direct family member, who had voluntarily withdrawn the case. Even the Public Security Bureau could no longer intervene. If I wanted to find Wang Wenshan, I would have to do it myself.

Besides, the Public Security Bureau had confirmed Wang Wenshan’s departure abroad, so I had little else to say. After hanging up, I fell into deep thought.

The matter of Wang Wenshan would have to wait until later. During the call with He Ming, I tried to get Wang Wenshan’s current contact information, but He Ming told me that Wang’s son had explicitly requested the number remain confidential. The police were bound by regulations not to disclose it. The family’s demands were clear, and they could not share it with me.

I shook my head in helplessness. The situation at hand was far from resolved. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure if my own health would allow me to complete the current mission, let alone the matter of Wang Wenshan.