Chapter Thirteen: Fan Fan Has Been Kidnapped

“Hey, Mirror, share some of my life with him. That way, even if you don’t take all of his life, the wish can still be fulfilled, right?”

“What… what are you saying?” Seeing Qin Xiaochuan suddenly rush in, Bai Ying was startled. To be honest, he really hadn’t expected Qin Xiaochuan to step forward to help fulfill his wish. All he wanted was someone to help take care of the aftermath after his wish was granted, so he could leave without worry.

“Have you ever seen your mother weep for you until she lost her voice?” Hearing Bai Ying’s question, Qin Xiaochuan recalled not long ago seeing his mother devastated by his departure. Without thinking, he replied, “Nothing is more unsettling than that.”

“Ah!!!...”

After a fierce flash of light, the two involved lost consciousness. No one knew how much time passed before Bai Ying opened his eyes on the floor. “I… I’m still alive?”

He climbed to his feet, staring incredulously at his hands. “I’m alive… What about my mother?” At that, Bai Ying glanced at Qin Xiaochuan, who was struggling to get up. Saying nothing, Bai Ying hurried to the hospital, desperate to know the condition of the mother who weighed most on his heart. Had the mirror fulfilled his wish?

He pushed open the door to his mother’s hospital room and saw her boyfriend standing by her bed. The attending physician was beside him, seemingly giving instructions.

“Luffy, you’re here,” the middle-aged man wiped tears from the corners of his eyes. “Your mother… she’s pulled through. It’s wonderful.”

“Not only that, her condition has stabilized,” the doctor quickly congratulated Bai Ying. “She’s improving. It’s incredible—human vitality is truly astonishing.”

Bai Ying’s anxious heart finally settled.

“Come here, Luffy, come to Mom…”

Hearing his mother’s call, Bai Ying hurried forward, grasping her scarred arm. Tears spilled down his face. “Mom…”

After retrieving the Dark Mirror, Qin Xiaochuan, drained and weak, staggered home. It seemed the Dark Mirror had absorbed much of his strength.

“Mom, I’m back.”

“Oh, welcome home.” Hearing Xiaochuan enter, Susu, lying on the sofa watching TV, raised her hand.

“Mom, I’ll cook today. What do you want to eat?”

“Oh my, what wind blew you in today?”

Perhaps affected by Bai Ying, Qin Xiaochuan, upon returning home, unexpectedly offered to cook a sumptuous dinner for his mother. Watching her on the sofa, Qin Xiaochuan felt a warmth for the mother who used to nag him, whom he once found unbearably annoying. It was a warmth he had long forgotten—the safety and comfort of nestling in his mother’s embrace. Maybe only here could he find a harbor to rest and rely upon, because this was his home.

Two days later, on the school rooftop, Qin Xiaochuan sat on the ground, pulling out a lighter, about to light a cigarette. Xia Dan, beside him, snatched the cigarette from his lips and crushed it. “Smoking is bad for your health. Besides, your wounds just healed. You shouldn’t smoke—hold back, okay?”

“Honestly, I’m feeling troubled, and now you’re interfering again. There’s only one day left,” Qin Xiaochuan sighed helplessly, watching the bits of tobacco fall to the ground. Hands braced on the floor, he gazed at the sky. “I wonder where Feiyan, that little guy, is hiding. He hasn’t shown up for so long—did he run away? Oh, how’s Bai Ying? Has the Netherworld’s verdict come in?”

“He’s alright,” Xia Dan replied, finding a spot opposite Qin Xiaochuan to sit. “Because he confessed and the mirror wasn’t damaged, he’s been temporarily sentenced to stay at his home in the human world, with his movements restricted. It’s much better than being hauled back to the Netherworld prison.”

“That’s good,” Qin Xiaochuan rotated his shoulders and twisted his waist. “Hmm, the pain’s gone. Didn’t expect your healing magic to work so well, Xia Dan. Thanks. Based on my experience, an injury like mine from the Stone Demon should have taken at least a month to fully recover. But after just two days, I’m almost healed. Your mental healing magic really is amazing, Xia Dan.”

Xia Dan squinted, giving her signature smile. “Hehe, don’t mention it. It’s what a detective’s assistant is supposed to do.”

“But where’d you get that school uniform?” Qin Xiaochuan asked, rubbing his chin as he eyed Xia Dan in the school’s uniform. Since arriving in the human world, she’d run a tiny fortune-telling stall, but her address and source of living expenses seemed even more mysterious than those of the three demon thieves. Out of courtesy, Qin Xiaochuan hadn’t asked, but seeing her stride into school in their uniform today, curiosity got the better of him.

“Secret! Hehe,” Xia Dan replied, as mysterious as ever. “I wear the school uniform so I can find you without raising suspicion. It’s pretty qualified for a detective’s assistant, right?”

“Tch,” Qin Xiaochuan waved his hand helplessly at her evasiveness. “Fine, forget it. Any news about Feiyan? Where should I look for him? The demon meter isn’t reacting, and there’s only one day left. What should I do?”

“Hang on,” Xia Dan said, pulling a little notebook from her pocket. “Just a moment… Found it. Xiaochuan, Feiyan is really tricky. To get what he wants, he can even kill his companions. Anyone he dislikes, he’ll execute. He’s a cold-blooded demon who’ll use any means to achieve his goals. Be careful, Xiaochuan.”

“Got it. That’s as useful as not saying anything…”

“Qin Xiaochuan, I knew you’d be here. Who’s this?” At that moment, the rooftop door swung open. Fan Fan, with her ponytail, rushed in. Seeing Qin Xiaochuan talking to a cute girl in their school uniform, she froze, uncertain what to say.

“Hello, I’m Xia Dan.”

Before Xia Dan could say more, Qin Xiaochuan quickly pulled her behind him, shooting her a look and muttering, “Fan Fan doesn’t know who you are yet. Don’t spill anything.”

Seeing how close Qin Xiaochuan was with this girl, Fan Fan pouted. “You haven’t handed in your homework, have you? Mr. Huang Kui is furious. If you don’t turn it in, I’ll be punished with you as the class rep. Come with me to see Mr. Huang—I don’t want to be punished with you!”

Realizing she’d been misunderstood, Xia Dan quickly waved at Fan Fan. “You two talk, you two talk! I’ll go now. See you, Xiaochuan!”

With that, Xia Dan dashed to the rooftop door and down to the teaching building.

“See you… Xiaochuan? Hey, who is she? Explain yourself!” Fan Fan demanded, pointing at Qin Xiaochuan as Xia Dan vanished.

“Well… It’s a long story. Let’s not get into it…”

“Hm? Is that so?”

“Hey, wait,” Qin Xiaochuan called out as Fan Fan turned to leave. “You’re not satisfied, are you?”

“Huh? Not satisfied about what?”

“About Xia Dan.”

“About Xia Dan?”

“Yeah, listen—it's not what you think.”

“Forget it. I don’t care anymore.”

“Wait…”

Ten kilometers from the school, Feiyan stood on a rooftop, eyes closed, observing the events unfolding on the school roof. His headscarf was off, revealing a large eye in the middle of his forehead, staring in the direction of Qin Xiaochuan’s school. This eye was why Feiyan was called the Evil-Eye Master: when it opened, he could see anything he wished, even a thousand miles away.

“The Stone Demon got taken out by that guy, and Bai Ying couldn’t escape the bonds of emotion. I had planned to kill them both to steal their treasures, but this saves me the trouble. That woman seems to be the weakness of the Netherworld’s detective—guess I’ll start with her…”

“Hey, Xiaochuan, you’re out!” Xia Dan waved vigorously from the school gate as Qin Xiaochuan ran toward her. “Come quick! Something’s happened.”

“What are you doing here? What happened?” Qin Xiaochuan asked, panting as he reached her. “My demon meter is reacting. It’s not far from here.”

“I was just about to tell you. Feiyan’s demon power is strong—he used telepathy to tell me he kidnapped Fan Fan. He wants you to bring the Hungry Ghost Jade and the Dark Mirror to Warehouse 31 in District G, or he’ll kill Fan Fan…”

“What!? He kidnapped Fan Fan! That vile creature!”

District G, Warehouse 31—a long-abandoned place with old containers stacked inside. Entering with Xia Dan, Qin Xiaochuan shouted into the dark warehouse, “Feiyan, come out! I brought the items. Show yourself!”

Suddenly, the floodlights snapped on, illuminating the warehouse. Fan Fan was tied to a chair, mouth sealed with tape, her head slumped as if unconscious. The small-framed Feiyan stood beside her, sword in hand, pointing at Qin Xiaochuan.