Volume One Chapter 48: The Search Mission

Chu Fangfei’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Sister, do you really want me to take charge?”

Chi Xingwan replied, “Haven’t you always wanted to complete a task on your own? This one is just about finding someone—no danger involved. It’s a good opportunity for you to give it a try.”

“Great, this time I’ll really show what I can do.” She hesitated for a moment, then asked anxiously, “But what if I mess it up? There’s no danger, but to the client’s friend, this is more important than her own life.”

Chi Xingwan reassured her, “Don’t worry, I’ll be watching over you.”

Touched, Chu Fangfei’s face flushed crimson. “Sister, from today on, you’re my favorite person in the world.”

Chi Xingwan couldn’t help but laugh and cry at once. “All right, but make sure you stay professional in front of the client.”

“Understood.” Chu Fangfei instantly composed herself, putting on a mysterious, inscrutable smile when she met Zhang Shaodan.

Sure enough, Zhang Shaodan was taken in, hastily reaching out to shake Chu Fangfei’s hand.

They had agreed to meet at the home of Zhang Shaodan’s friend. Zhang Shaodan pressed the doorbell, and before long, someone came to open the door.

It was Zhang Shaodan’s friend, Li Huihui. She was thin and haggard, her face sallow, her eyes dull and lifeless—a mere shadow of herself.

Zhang Shaodan’s heart ached at the sight. “Huihui, have you not been resting well again?”

Li Huihui stepped aside to let them in. Only after they had sat down did she speak. “A few days ago, I went out of town again, but still found nothing.”

Zhang Shaodan held her hand, comforting her gently. “Take your time. You need to take care of your health.”

Li Huihui covered her face and shook her head. “How can I take my time? Every time I think of my Qiuqiu, not knowing where she’s suffering, I can’t wait another second. I have to find her as soon as possible and bring her home.”

Seeing her friend in such agony, Zhang Shaodan fell silent. The room was heavy with quiet.

Chi Xingwan nudged Chu Fangfei, who came back to herself and asked, “Miss Li, would you mind telling us what happened?”

Zhang Shaodan had already explained to Li Huihui who Chi Xingwan and Chu Fangfei were. Li Huihui had never believed in the occult before, but at this point, she was desperate to grasp any hope.

“About half a year ago, the three of us had planned to go to the seaside for a holiday. Right before we left, something went wrong at work, so I had to stay behind, letting my husband take our daughter ahead. I intended to join them as soon as I’d resolved the problem. But I never imagined that something would happen on the very first day they arrived.”

Recalling that nightmarish day, Li Huihui was still overwhelmed by grief. She choked out, “That night, I got a call from my husband. He said our daughter was missing.”

Chu Fangfei was swept up in Li Huihui’s emotion, tears brimming in her eyes. She only just managed to keep from crying.

After a moment, she asked, “Did you check the security cameras? Not a single clue?”

Li Huihui shook her head. “The footage showed my husband carrying her back to the guesthouse. Not long after, he went out to buy dinner. During that time, the child left on her own—and then, she vanished.”

Chi Xingwan lowered her gaze and said to Chu Fangfei, “Take a look for her.”

Chu Fangfei nodded. She formed a hand seal and summoned the spiritual power within her, then looked at Li Huihui again—and her heart sank.

“Sister…” she murmured to Chi Xingwan, uncertainty written all over her face.

Chi Xingwan stood up and addressed Li Huihui, “Miss Li, searching for someone requires the right time and place. It seems today isn’t auspicious. If you don’t mind, may we come back another day?”

Li Huihui hadn’t held out much hope to start with, so she didn’t ask them to stay.

As they went downstairs, Zhang Shaodan finally asked, “Xingwan, was there something you couldn’t say in front of Huihui?”

Chi Xingwan looked at Chu Fangfei, who replied, “I just checked her family ties, and right now… she’s in a state of having no children.”

Zhang Shaodan’s head spun. She struggled to get the words out: “So, Huihui’s daughter… she’s already gone?”

Chu Fangfei nodded, holding back tears. Zhang Shaodan broke down in sobs. “Why did it have to end this way? What will Huihui do, how can she bear it?”

Chi Xingwan patted her on the shoulder. “What’s done is done, it can’t be changed. You’re her friend, and also our client—so now, it’s up to you whether to tell her the truth.”

Zhang Shaodan’s mind was in turmoil. After a long time, she finally said, “Are you sure? Qiuqiu… her daughter, she’s really gone?”

“We’re sure,” said Chi Xingwan.

Zhang Shaodan nodded. “I understand. I need some time to think about how to tell Huihui.”

Chi Xingwan didn’t push her, nor did she ask Zhang Shaodan to see them off. She contacted the driver arranged by Madam Xiao and left with Chu Fangfei.

All the way back to school, Chu Fangfei was withdrawn and gloomy. Walking along the campus path, she furtively wiped away tears.

Chi Xingwan sighed. “Fangfei, you have to get used to it.”

Chu Fangfei sniffled. “I know. My master and all my senior brothers and sisters have told me that in our line of work, things like this happen all too often. But facing life and death, I still can’t seem to take it lightly.”

Chi Xingwan was silent for a long time. As they were about to part ways, she finally said, “It’s a good thing you can’t get used to it.”

Only those who have lived through it can become numb. She hoped Chu Fangfei would always stay as innocent and sensitive as she was now.

The next day, Chi Xingwan received a call from Zhang Shaodan, her voice hoarse. “Xingwan, could you come to Huihui’s house? I’ve told her the truth.”

“I’ll be right there,” Chi Xingwan replied, then called Chu Fangfei to join her.

Zhang Shaodan opened the door for them. In the living room, Li Huihui was clutching a doll, her expression blank, the corners of her eyes red and streaked with tears.

As soon as she saw Chi Xingwan and Chu Fangfei, she blurted out, “It’s not true, is it? Qiuqiu is still alive. Tell me you can’t be certain she’s dead.”

Chu Fangfei turned her head away, unable to meet her gaze, while Chi Xingwan looked her straight in the eye. “We are certain your daughter has passed away. Of course, you don’t have to believe us.”

“It’s not true! It can’t be!” Li Huihui burst into wailing sobs.

Zhang Shaodan hurried to embrace and comfort her, while Chi Xingwan and Chu Fangfei sat quietly to one side.

After a long time, Li Huihui finally calmed down a little. She bit her lip so hard it bled, and at last, with determination, she asked, “You say my daughter is dead. Then can you find… her remains?”

Encouraged by Chi Xingwan’s gaze, Chu Fangfei answered, “We can, but we’ll need something your daughter often touched—an article of clothing, or a toy she played with regularly.”

Li Huihui shut her eyes for a moment, then handed over the doll she was holding. “Please. No matter what, alive or dead, I must find her. I have to bring her home.”

“Leave it to me,” Chu Fangfei said, taking the doll and beginning to set up an array and work her spell.