Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Lying Little Bug

Originally, Fang Yuan had intended to consult Chongchong about this matter, but now Chongchong was unable to hear the voice from his heart. In front of Pei Xi, Fang Yuan could only suggest returning to the site. Perhaps there were still clues left behind.

These people managed to destroy all those buildings in such a short time—it was indeed hurried. Fang Yuan believed that no matter how thorough they tried to be, they would inevitably leave something behind.

“Alright, I’ll go with you.” Pei Xi wouldn’t miss any opportunity, especially since the incident concerned Ke Bei.

Fortunately, their earlier steps hadn’t taken them far. After just over ten minutes, they were back at the factory, now reduced to a wasteland.

All the buildings here had been severely damaged, except for the large black door, which remained untouched. Even the electronic lock was unscathed.

Fang Yuan let his hand glide over the door; it was just an ordinary metal door, nothing special about it.

“When we got here, it wasn’t like this. It was Li Mingbo and his men who turned everything upside down,” Pei Xi explained.

Although Li Mingbo’s men hadn’t caused much destruction to the scene, they were pressed for time and had acted with considerable brutality. Perhaps, in their haste, they had unintentionally destroyed clues left behind.

Fang Yuan’s thoughts were entirely occupied by Chongchong. Hearing Pei Xi speak incessantly, he deliberately widened the distance between them.

“Chongchong, tell me, what exactly happened yesterday?” Fang Yuan confirmed the gap between himself and Pei Xi, then softly called to Chongchong.

“Master, are you alright?” Chongchong’s voice sounded exhausted, deepening Fang Yuan’s confusion.

“I’m fine. Chongchong, you should know everything that happened after I lost consciousness yesterday. Please, tell me, what happened here?” Fang Yuan asked.

“Master, actually... I’m not entirely sure. After you fainted, they tossed you into a car and drove you to the seaside. Those people were ruthless; you merely took a peek at their factory, and they wanted to throw you into the sea to feed the fish. Luckily, I’m a good swimmer. I carried you for a long time before reaching the shore. Afterwards, I was so tired that I fell asleep, and the rest you already know.” Chongchong carefully recounted what he had witnessed that night.

Fang Yuan hadn’t expected things to turn out this way, but Chongchong’s account was coherent, with no suspicious points. Fang Yuan decided to trust him.

He still remembered vividly being knocked out by a blunt blow—the assailant had been merciless. Fang Yuan reached up and felt a bump the size of an egg on his head.

“Master, those people are truly vicious. I think you should persuade Pei Xi to give up this pursuit. Such people couldn’t possibly have anything to do with Pei Xi’s mother,” Chongchong advised. The events of yesterday were terrifying; those people were utterly ruthless.

If Pei Xi continued to follow Ke Bei’s lead and probe into their secrets, she might be the next one thrown into the sea to be fed to the fish.

Though Fang Yuan hadn’t faced those people directly, he understood their cruelty and cold-bloodedness all too well.

This matter ought to end here.

But now, with Ke Bei missing, they couldn’t simply walk away. At the very least, they had to find Ke Bei.

“Master, I truly didn’t see that person named Ke Bei. When you were taken away, dawn was nearly breaking. If Pei Xi’s account of the timing is correct, I should have seen Ke Bei then. Maybe he never came in, or perhaps he got lost and will return on his own,” Chongchong said, sensing Fang Yuan’s resolve to continue contending with those people for Ke Bei’s sake, and feeling anxious.

“I wish Ke Bei had never come here. That way, I’d have a reason not to tangle with those people. But…” As he spoke, Fang Yuan’s gaze caught a corner of something pressed beneath the mixed earth.

If he recalled correctly, this should be Ke Bei’s hat.

Perhaps Ke Bei believed wearing a hat lent him an air of mystery; he liked to wear a baseball cap even late at night.

Fang Yuan quickly dug out the hat—it was indeed the brown cap Ke Bei wore yesterday. The similarity between its color and the surrounding soil had kept it hidden from the others.

Confirming the hat belonged to Ke Bei didn’t bring Fang Yuan any joy. He quietly rolled it up and stashed it in the back of his waistband.

He looked around further, noticing each building contained a large pool. Judging by the surroundings, there must have been water in them yesterday—seawater, in fact.

Yet, the seawater had vanished overnight, leaving only damp earth where Fang Yuan had built his fire.

Seeing the spot where he had been doused yesterday, Fang Yuan couldn’t help but frown.

Everything about this affair was shrouded in mystery, but Fang Yuan knew they could not continue investigating. Yesterday’s punishment had only been a warning; any further probing would bring a far more severe blow.

He could never forgive those who had tried to kill him, but for Pei Xi’s sake, he couldn’t let her get involved.

“Did you find anything?” Seeing Pei Xi searching earnestly for clues, Fang Yuan smiled and walked over.

“No, did you?” Pei Xi shook her head in disappointment.

“Me neither. Seems Ke Bei truly never came here. If he had, he would have left some trace. The people you brought nearly turned the place upside down and found nothing. Maybe Ke Bei just got lost or ran into something else. We’d better head back for now.” Fang Yuan’s analysis left Pei Xi feeling uneasy about letting things go, but she had no other arguments.

They had scoured almost every inch, yet found nothing.

“Fang Yuan, maybe we should call the police. The officers know Ke Bei.” The more fruitless their search, the more worried Pei Xi became about Ke Bei’s safety.

At this point, calling the police was the only thing she could think of.

“Alright, you handle the report to the police. I have some matters to take care of back home. We can’t stay here any longer—come with me,” Fang Yuan replied, thinking it would be best if Pei Xi’s attention shifted elsewhere.