Chapter 44: Questioning

"...Never mind."

Chen Ling put away the short blade and took a deep breath. "Let me think about it first."

Chu Muyun leaned back into his chair, seemingly unsurprised by this result. He didn't try to keep him, just said calmly,

"No problem. Whenever you've made up your mind, come find me at Xiaofang’s Grocery Store... I'll be waiting for you there all day today."

As Chen Ling stood up to leave, Chu Muyun took a small silver cube from his pocket and handed it to him.

"What is this?"

"A gift from my superior." Chu Muyun said faintly. "Through this, you might be able to understand us a little better..."

Chen Ling took the small cube, examined it for a moment, and nodded slightly.

"Alright, thanks."

"Also, pay attention to your mental state. Don't be influenced by that twisted divine path... that path of yours is very eerie."

Chen Ling didn't answer. He had also noticed that since stepping onto that path, his emotions had become somewhat strange...

He needed to calm down and think things through.

Leaving the room, Chen Ling walked up the stairs and eventually arrived at a small convenience store. A woman sleeping on the counter looked up at him once, then went back to sleep.

Chen Ling had some impression of this Xiaofang’s Grocery Store. Although it was far from Frost Street, the things sold inside were very cheap. He used to occasionally bring Chen Yan here to buy things during the New Year... He never expected this place to be a stronghold for Chu Muyun’s organization.

Chen Ling had no intention of chatting with the woman and pushed the door open to leave.

The heavy snow had not stopped with the conclusion of the first play; it continued to drift down upon the world. The snow was now over his ankles, making walking increasingly difficult.

Chen Ling identified his direction and headed straight for Frost Street... He didn't even know why he was going back; there was nothing left there.

But besides Frost Street, where else could he go?

Chen Ling didn't know that the small house on Frost Street was his only sanctuary in this world, even if that sanctuary hadn't left him with any fond memories...

"Chen Ling!!"

Just as Chen Ling reached the vicinity of his home, a voice rang out from not far away.

He saw Wu Youdong moving with great agility, crossing the snow lightly to reach him. "Chen Ling, where did you go earlier? Is your body feeling better?"

"Why are you here?" Chen Ling looked at Wu Youdong in surprise. A few hours ago, the man had been leaning on a crutch, half-dead, but now he was moving freely and looked radiant.

"I came to thank the Divine Doctor!" Wu Youdong said excitedly. "That man who stayed at your place, he’s so miraculous! I remember talking to him, then everything went black. When I woke up, my leg was healed!

The clinic doctor said I needed to rest for half a year and there was a high chance of lingering issues... but he healed me just like that!

I had been injured doing heavy labor before, and my knees and joints would ache whenever it was cloudy or rainy, but now I can't feel a thing. And the most important thing is...

I feel like I’ve grown taller!"

Chen Ling looked Wu Youdong over and could clearly feel that he was indeed taller... Before, the top of his head only reached Chen Ling’s chin; now, it was approaching his nose.

Chu Muyun, that powerful?

"He has already left." Chen Ling paused for a moment, then added, "And in all likelihood, he won't be coming back."

Wu Youdong froze for a moment, disappointment clearly showing on his face...

"Alright then, I'll head back."

Watching Wu Youdong walk away, Chen Ling returned to his doorstep. Just as he was about to push the door open, his hand suspended in mid-air suddenly stopped.

He looked at the old door frame, his eyes narrowing, a faint glimmer flashing in his pupils.

The extreme detail-observation ability brought by [Secret Pupil] instantly locked onto the fine snow residue on the door frame.

Something's wrong...

Someone had entered the house while he was away.

And in all likelihood, they hadn't come out.

Chen Ling vigilantly pulled his arm back and retreated two steps silently in the snow. Just then, a voice slowly sounded from inside the house.

"Good observation skills. Come in." It was Han Meng’s voice, as low as ever. "You didn't think you could stay away from home forever, did you?"

Seeing that his movements had been exposed, Chen Ling frowned. After a moment of hesitation, he pushed the door open hard.

"What are you doing in my house?" He looked at Han Meng, who was sitting at the dining table, and said in a deep voice.

"Investigating."

"How is this any different from a burglar breaking and entering?"

"Law Enforcers have the power to enforce the law and investigate. Do I need to explain that to you?" Han Meng tapped his knuckles on the table. "Don't say I just came in to investigate; even if I burned the house down, what could you do about it?"

"..." Chen Ling’s gaze grew colder.

"But I really didn't expect you to know Chu Muyun... How do you two know each other?"

"Does that have anything to do with you?"

"I am questioning you now in my capacity as the Chief Law Enforcer of District 3. Chen Ling, watch your attitude." Han Meng’s gaze tightened, and an inexplicable pressure suddenly enveloped the living room!

Chen Ling stared at him for a long time, then spoke slowly,

"Dr. Lin from the clinic on the corner introduced us."

"Why go to a doctor?"

"I wasn't feeling well at the time."

"Not feeling well, so you needed to invite Chu Muyun? Are you really not feeling well, or... has your mind been polluted by the Gray Realm?" Han Meng’s gaze turned sharp, like an eagle peering into the human heart.

"I..." Chen Ling’s heart shook. In front of Han Meng, he suddenly felt like he had nowhere to hide.

"The night the Calamity appeared, you spoke to Jiang Qin, saying your brother was squatting at the corner. But I was investigating Ice Spring Street in District 2 today and discovered that your brother, Chen Yan, had all his organs harvested and died an unnatural death days ago. So, who was the brother you were talking about that night?"

“……”

"I searched the whole house; there were traces of two people living here—you and Chu Muyun. But why are there three rice bowls in the dish rack? Who was that bowl for?"

“……”

"Before I came, I asked Wu Youdong. He said you were lighting candles alone in the room, and then..."

"Enough!!"

Chen Ling stood up abruptly, his eyes bloodshot.

"Yes! I'm crazy, is that enough for you?!"

"Something's wrong with my brain! I can see A-Yan! I feel like he's right by my side!!"

"Just a short while ago! He was still building a snowman at the door! Blowing out candles with me in the room! He said he wanted to go back to school, wanted to sing in the New Year’s gala! To me, he is a living, breathing person!"

"He’s just an ordinary child! He got sick! He wanted to get better! Wanted to stand on stage and perform openly one day! What did he do wrong?!"

"Han Meng! You’re here aggressively questioning me now, but where were you when those people on Ice Spring Street killed my brother?!"

"Where were you when they colluded with Law Enforcers to force one ordinary person after another to their deaths?!"

"Where is your investigative power?! Where is your law enforcement power?!?"

Han Meng’s body jolted.

Chen Ling’s chest heaved violently. He stared fixedly into Han Meng’s eyes... Han Meng’s originally calm eyes contracted slightly, and he unconsciously avoided Chen Ling’s gaze.

He just sat there quietly, head bowed, like a statue.