Chapter 9: The Second Elder's Intentions—Seizing Someone

Three individuals clad in the attire of the Xuanmen Association approached from ahead and behind.

Leading them was none other than the Second Elder of Xuanmen. Had Fu Xiqi been discharged from the hospital even a moment later, she would have realized that this middle-aged man was the one searching for her.

Beside the Second Elder walked Ye Ning’an.

Upon seeing Fu Xiqi beside Shen Du, Ye Ning’an’s surprise was evident.

Especially since Fu Xiqi and Shen Du appeared to share a close relationship, Ye Ning’an frowned and asked, “What are you doing here?”

Fu Xiqi tapped on the turtle shell and rolled her eyes without concern. “If you can be here, why can’t I?”

Ye Ning’an said nothing.

Her question wasn’t meant as a rebuke but stemmed from curiosity about how Fu Xiqi could be so familiar with someone from the 09 Squad.

While the public regarded the 09 Squad as an ordinary unit, members of the Association knew it was actually the core team of a special agency.

Particularly Shen Du.

Yet, upon reflection, Ye Ning’an saw no need to argue with Fu Xiqi—it would be a waste of time.

The Second Elder paid no mind to why his disciple knew the girl before him; he merely turned to Shen Du and inquired, “I heard your team found Li Fang’s body?”

As he spoke, Xiao Li approached, and the Second Elder glanced at the little peach spirit behind him before withdrawing his gaze indifferently.

Xiao Li didn’t care; after all, Association members were always proud and aloof.

By comparison, Miss Fu was more down-to-earth and easier to get along with.

He looked at Fu Xiqi and Ye Ning’an, maintaining silence and feigning ignorance.

On this side, Shen Du responded with a faint “Hmm” and wiped away the dazzling distractions in his eyes. “It’s in the hospital morgue. As for the details, it’s inconvenient to disclose.”

Could it be that some expert unknown to him had intervened?

The Second Elder nodded thoughtfully, seemingly noticing the injury on Shen Du’s hand for the first time. “Captain Shen, that hand will take a while to heal.”

Though he had seen the ghost of the little peach spirit, he only cared about how Shen Du had found the body, showing no interest in the matter of the spirit.

Since Shen Du was clearly reluctant to say more, he did not press further.

Unable to obtain the answers he sought, the Second Elder prepared to leave and bid Shen Du farewell.

Only after they had walked some distance away did the Second Elder ask Ye Ning’an, “Do you know that girl from before?”

“Yes, she is the daughter that Yu Fanrou found,” Ye Ning’an replied, somewhat distracted.

The Second Elder paused with his hand on the car door, tilting his head. “Then you…”

“Master, I don’t believe I have any kinship with the Ye family, but I can’t calculate it. Also, Fu Xiqi is fine—I’ve checked. She’s just an ordinary person.”

“That’s strange,” the Second Elder murmured, unable to fathom the reason.

Ye Ning’an smiled faintly. “It doesn’t matter. The Ye family won’t acknowledge her anyway.”

The Ye family’s needs far exceeded what Fu Xiqi could provide.

Knowing who Ye Zhixuan was, the Second Elder thought no more of it.

Regardless of the reason, it was unimportant as long as it didn’t affect Ye Ning’an’s interests or safety.

What concerned him more was who had helped Shen Du—someone he couldn’t even discern.

—

After the three had left, the little peach spirit finally dared to drift back beside Fu Xiqi.

“Master, can I go with Xiao Li and the others to find the murderer now?”

Fu Xiqi returned the turtle to her cloth bag and handed her knife to Shen Du, replying casually, “Hmm, they can see you for eighteen hours.”

Little Peach didn’t mind. She touched her eye sockets; her vision was still blood-red—clear but colorless and dark.

“What about my eyes…”

“They can be found again.”

Little Peach patted her fragile heart, no longer afraid.

Fu Xiqi waved Xiao Li and Little Peach aside, then extended a hand toward Shen Du. “Give me your phone number.”

Xiao Li, just steadying himself, was shocked.

A pick-up?

But Shen Du was hardly the type to hand out his contact easily.

Watching Shen Du hand over a business card, Xiao Li covered his eyes in disbelief.

“Captain, you’re disappointing.”

“Contact me tomorrow.”

Fu Xiqi casually stuffed the card into her pocket. Her eyes were too pure and clear, and with a wave of her hand, she vanished without leaving a trace.

Little Peach looked at her retreating figure and whispered, “Comrade Xiao Li, can we go find the murderer and tear him apart?”

Xiao Li snapped back to reality, his expression grave. “Your thoughts are dangerous and could affect your reincarnation. It’s not worth it for someone like that.”

His gaze settled on Little Peach. “But I can secretly tell you, after he’s locked up, you can deal with him—just don’t scare your soul away.”

That advice was invaluable. Understanding it, Little Peach nodded eagerly.

Shen Du glanced back at the still-chatting Xiao Li. “Make the arrest.”

—

In the early hours, as darkness lifted and dawn approached,

Xiao Li and his team successfully captured Wu Laosan and rescued the woman locked in the cellar. They contacted a psychologist first before returning to their base.

Approaching the special interrogation room, Xiao Li spotted Little Peach at the door.

“Don’t you understand human language? I only did bad things because there was no surveillance on the mountain. That old woman can’t bear a son—why should I be blamed for her? I don’t accept this! Don’t spout nonsense rules; I don’t understand…”

Hearing the voice inside, Xiao Li frowned, instinctively wanting to cover Little Peach’s ears, but recalling she was a ghost, he hesitated.

Suddenly, Little Peach turned her head, her smile bleak. “Comrade Xiao Li, he won’t admit guilt and says he dug out my eyes simply because he liked me.”

Xiao Li disagreed. “That’s just an evil excuse.”

“Yes…”

Little Peach lowered her head, a pair of eyeballs resting in her palm. “Comrade Xiao Li, I remember everything now.”

She recalled being a biology student, picking a plant on Silver Mist Mountain when Wu Laosan targeted her, and eventually…

Hearing this, Xiao Li clenched his fists tightly. “Are you… okay?”

“I’m fine.” Little Peach shook her head, her gaze fixed toward the door. “I lost my mind at first, but Master saved me. Comrade Xiao Li, please help me.”

She remembered clearly that, at the brink of madness, a red light had restored her clarity.

After saying this, Little Peach vanished.

At the same time, a couple with tear-streaked eyes entered through the main gate.

Xiao Li finally understood Little Peach’s meaning. He composed himself and personally received Little Peach—the parents of Li Fang.

—

When Little Peach found Fu Xiqi, the latter was sound asleep on a park bench.

She quietly sat nearby, watching passersby cast strange glances at her.

Fu Xiqi stubbornly slept on until the noon sun blazed fiercest before waking.

Before opening her eyes, she sat up, lazily running her hand through her hair, tying it up with a stick, then closing her eyes again for a full three minutes.

“Little Peach.”

Startled to be called by that name, Little Peach almost failed to respond but smiled and said, “Master, thank you.”

Fu Xiqi waved her hand. “No thanks. So, what’s the bank card password?”

Little Peach was taken aback. She didn’t dislike this reaction; it actually made her feel at ease.

She truthfully gave the password, then asked, “Will the ghost officials accept me?”

That was her greatest worry now. If not accepted…

Would she have to remain a lonely wandering spirit forever?