The setting sun was completely swallowed by the horizon.
The surroundings finally turned into a dim expanse.
The glow that enveloped Ran Jingjing gradually faded until she and the darkness around her merged completely.
“Of course, what I said is true.”
In the darkness, Ran Jingjing’s voice was calm.
“Cao Ji’an is a murderer and a violent maniac. Can his words be trusted?”
In the dilapidated abandoned building, footsteps and breathing were distinctly audible.
“I am Xiaohua’s best friend,” Ran Jingjing stepped back towards the door, “It’s so dark here, we should leave.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
S419M: [Lord Host, is there something wrong with Ran Jingjing?]
Escape System: [I think so too. Based on past experience, the less likely it seems, the more likely it is.]
S419M: [Wasn’t the spirit of the little boy just now trying to tell us that Ran Jingjing is Xiaohua?]
Escape System: [But his lunge towards Ran Jingjing was strange, it was as if he had a grudge against her. It seems he didn’t finish his sentence. Could it be possible that he meant the opposite direction? He might not have been trying to say “Ran Jingjing is Xiaohua,” but rather “Ran Jingjing caused Xiaohua’s death”? Did he remember something and wanted to avenge Xiaohua?]
S419M: [??? Can it be like that?]
Bai Lixin: “…”
“Let’s go back to the crematorium again,” the taxi was speeding towards the city. Just when they were about to enter the city, Bai Lixin’s words caused the taxi’s red tail lights to flash brightly.
The driver slammed on the brakes, his voice sharp with shock: “What?!”
‘Am I hearing things?’
Bai Lixin: “I said, let’s go back to the crematorium.”
“I’m not going,” Ran Jingjing said slowly, “I still have a case to handle. Take me home first. If you’re in a hurry, I can get off here and take a taxi myself.”
Bai Lixin: “Don’t you only have that one fake case from me recently?”
Ran Jingjing: “… It’s a previous case.”
“It’s on the way to the crematorium from here, and we’ll be back right away. It won’t take much time.” Bai Lixin continued, “Besides, it’s not easy to get a taxi here. It’s dark now, and I’m not comfortable leaving you alone here.”
Ran Jingjing paused, “Well, to be honest, I’m a bit afraid of the crematorium and don’t want to go.”
Bai Lixin sat in the passenger seat amd looked at Ran Jingjing through the rearview mirror, “How about this, just like last time, have the driver wait outside, you wait with him, and I’ll go in by myself. Is that okay?”
Ran Jingjing: “Why do you insist on going to the crematorium?”
Bai Lixin: “I left something there that I want to retrieve. It’ll be quick, okay?”
Ran Jingjing pondered for a few seconds, then nodded slightly, “Fine, we’ll wait for you outside, you go in by yourself.”
Bai Lixin: “… Okay, thank you.”
Though they were headed in the same direction, the abandoned factory and the crematorium were still a bit out of the way.
Today, for some reason, the sky was covered with dark clouds, the stars and moon were dim, with no light or dust in sight.
When there was still some distance from the crematorium, the driver hesitated and hit the brakes, “Great Immortal, should we wait for you here?”
Bai Lixin glanced at Ran Jingjing, who immediately looked away.
“… Alright, stop here,” Bai Lixin said.
“We’ll wait for you here,” Ran Jingjing added.
The young man got out of the car alone and walked slowly towards the pitch-black crematorium.
The driver recalled the news from a few days ago about what happened here, shivered, and turned on all the lights in the car.
Through the car window, he watched Bai Lixin’s figure. His pace was slow, yet somehow it seemed fast. In the blink of an eye, he had already walked half the long road.
The driver yawned.
When he opened his eyes again, the tall figure he could see earlier was nowhere to be found.
His drowsiness instantly vanished.
The driver shivered and tightened his clothes.
‘The Great Immortal was indeed worthy of being called a great immortal.’ He thought to himself.
Time passed minute by minute, but Bai Lixin, who had left, still hadn’t returned.
The driver’s phone was running low on battery. Unable to play with his phone, he felt a bit bored and started chatting with the other silent passenger in the car.
“By the way, miss, how did you meet the Great Immortal?”
Ran Jingjing seemed distracted, and kept looking outside.
The driver, being chatty, continued, “You seem very worried about the Great Immortal. Don’t worry, the Great Immortal is really capable.”
“… Why hasn’t he come back yet? What is he looking for?” Ran Jingjing asked.
“Who knows? The Great Immortal is everywhere, and goes everywhere. Seems like he’s looking for a lot of things.”
Ran Jingjing remembered something and shifted her gaze towards the driver, “Brother, you mentioned before that night you took Bai Lixin from Doncheng to Xingchen in the city. Where did you both go? Have you taken him before?”
“I have, more than once.”
“Let me think.” Bai Lixin’s distinctive features were so memorable that the driver only had to think for a moment before recalling his routes, “The first night, I picked him up outside the police station. It was 2 a.m., and at first, I thought he was a college student. That night, he went to the old neighborhood near R University, I forgot what it’s called.”
“The second time was also at the police station, he went to…”
Listening to the driver, Ran Jingjing’s expression darkened slightly. She glanced at the time on her phone, then looked at the still deserted road, lightly biting her lip. She placed her hand on the door handle and opened the door.
The talkative driver paused upon hearing the sound, “Hey, what are you doing, miss?”
“I’m worried he’s in danger since he hasn’t come back for so long. I’m going to check.”
“Wait, wait!” The driver quickly waved his hand, “The Great Immortal told me to take care of you before he left. If he comes back and sees you’ve gone down by yourself, he’ll definitely blame me.”
“I’ll explain to him that I got off on my own.” Ran Jingjing already had one foot on the ground, “He’s not unreasonable. He won’t blame you.”
Driver: “No way! If you insist on going, I’ll take you there. This road is long, and you’re afraid of the crematorium. How can I let you go alone? If you want to go, I’ll take you there! Get in quickly and sit down properly!”
Ran Jingjing: “…”
The car door closed again, and the driver drove Ran Jingjing towards the entrance of the crematorium.
The crematorium was a peculiar place. It is usually deserted, not to mention that someone died here not long ago.
The duty light at the entrance illuminated the stern white walls, giving them an eerie coldness.
The car lights shone on the iron gate, where a large chrysanthemum was vividly depicted. The trees inside the fence cast mottled shadows in the light, which, after passing through the shadows, seemed like a group of people holding hands and dancing.
The driver was frightened and quickly hit the brakes.
He was still trembling when he heard a click from the car door.
Before he could turn around, a figure swiftly passed his car window and ran towards the entrance.
The driver muttered quietly, “Didn’t this beauty say she’s afraid of the crematorium? Why is she running so eagerly?”
Despite his many objections, the driver remembered the Great Immortal’s instructions before he left. He reluctantly got out of the car and hurried to catch up with Ran Jingjing.
A plaque hung on the metal gate, with blue letters on a white background: “No entry at night.”
The two stood at the gate. The taxi engine was still running. In the dim light, they could seega row of flower beds in the center, but they didn’t spot Bai Lixin’s figure.
‘Where did the Great Immortal go?’ The driver wondered.
Luckily, the gate was locked. Otherwise, judging by this beauty’s nervous attitude, she might have rushed in immediately. Then wouldn’t he have to follow?
Damn it, how much is he getting paid to enter a crematorium late at night?
Is there nothing left for him to miss in this world?
Before he could finish this thought, he heard a creaking sound of metal being pulled.
Following the sound, the driver’s expression froze instantly.
The iron gate slowly opened, and the heavy lock hung loosely on the railing.
Driver: “…”
‘Who’s on duty tonight!
Who’s so irresponsible that they didn’t lock the gate!’
At the moment the gate opened, Ran Jingjing was also stunned for a moment.
But she quickly calmed down, exerted more force on her hand, and before the driver could react, she had already entered the crematorium.
The driver glanced at the taxi behind him that was still running, and then at Ran Jingjing, who was about to disappear.
He gritted his teeth, made up his mind and followed her into the crematorium.
As soon as Ran Jingjing entered, she stood in the courtyard for a moment, then suddenly turned her head and walked straight towards a direction in the courtyard.
Every few steps, she would stop, then continue forward with great certainty.
There was a strange feeling of familiarity and unfamiliarity here.
“Swoosh.”
“Swoosh.”
“Swoosh.”
Around them, the leaves rustled.
The driver ignored his fear and followed Ran Jingjing closely, fearing that if he lost her, it would be a disaster to get lost in this crematorium.
Ran Jingjing passed through the courtyard and flower beds and came to a small grove in the backyard.
Finally, she stopped in front of a small tree.
The trunk of this tree could be circled with both hands clasping thumbs.
Compared to the other small trees around it, this tree was thicker and more lush.
She stood in front of the trunk and looked down at the soil beside the roots.
Then she breathed a sigh of relief. Just as she raised her head, a figure that shouldn’t have appeared stood not far away.
