A Dead Friend's Phone Call

Twenty minutes later, Qin Shang had adjusted his state.

He hadn't felt anything while on the Path of the Gods, but once he emerged, he was ravenously hungry. He estimated he had entered the Path of the Gods around noon and emerged in the early hours of the morning.

It seemed the flow of time within the Path of the Gods was identical to reality. He casually searched online for urban legends about the "Death Train" in 19th-century London.

However, perhaps because he was within the country, there wasn't much information available online.

Next, Qin Shang hesitated for a moment before searching for "Con artist" on Baidu.

The results were mostly academic papers, detailing the history and development of the profession. These were all about real-world con artists, and Wikipedia even stated that con artists redistribute resources through deception and plunder.

Put nicely, they were con artists; put bluntly, they were swindlers...

There was no specific description of the Path of the Gods profession, nor were there any discussion threads related to it.

If not for the small, silver-white card he held in his hand at that moment.

Qin Shang might have even felt a sense of delusion, as if everything that had happened in the instance was merely a dream.

He gripped the Character Card, and a panel with basic information immediately appeared before his eyes.

[Name: Qin Shang]
[Race: Human]
[Profession: Con artist]
[Path of the Gods ID: Fiercely Licking Cockroach Jade Feet]
[Experience: 0%]
[Inventory: El's Letter]
[Skill: Inheritance {Requires a thirty-minute cooldown after each use. Allows inheritance of hints and quests from deceased targets. This profession cannot actively use this skill. When a player personally kills another player, they do not inherit quest information or hints.}]
[Skill: Decipher {Exclusive skill for the Teacher profession. As the name suggests, it can decipher all forms of text.}]

Qin Shang frowned slightly as he examined the small card.

It was hard to imagine that all his recent experiences stemmed from such a tiny, silver-white card.

Just then, his phone on the table suddenly vibrated.

It was already night, and Qin Shang was taken aback, instinctively answering the call.

"Hello? Regarding Jiang Qiqi's case, the authorities in Yanjing have officially classified it as a missing person case. These useless sheriffs, do you want to try contacting the orphanage again?"

"See if the old dean has any information related to Jiang Qiqi's friends and family?"

"Even if they're orphans, they should still have some other relatives alive, right?"

"They want to brush it off with a simple 'missing person' case; I don't think they intend to investigate properly at all. Should I find some old colleagues to help put pressure on them..."

Hearing the rapid-fire voice, Qin Shang immediately understood the caller's identity.

It was his best friend, Xu Mingyang.

He was probably calling because he had heard about what happened that morning through other channels.

Jiang Qiqi's "personal belongings" had been sent to her husband, Qin Shang, so he was worried about Qin Shang's mental state.

For the ninety days his wife had been missing, Qin Shang hadn't stopped worrying about Jiang Qiqi's safety.

In truth, for a living person to disappear without a trace, especially for about three months.

Besides being murdered, they must have been kidnapped!

It was normal for official law enforcement to close the case as a missing person!

But while others could give up, Qin Shang, as her husband, could not.

He and Jiang Qiqi had met through his friend Xu Mingyang. At that time, Qin Shang had just been released after serving two years in prison for fraud, his life in a dark place.

No education, no job, no house, no car.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Qiqi, with her outstanding looks and lively personality, had taken a liking to Qin Shang at a dinner party. She had cast aside her many admirers and sycophants, and quickly fallen in love with Qin Shang.

They say chasing a woman is like climbing a mountain, while a woman chasing a man is like piercing a veil.

Who could resist a sexy, sweet, lively, and enthusiastic little girl in a pink dress?

For the next two years, the couple lived a peaceful and ordinary life.

During this period, Qin Shang forgot many people and learned many things...

Qin Shang often wondered what would have happened to him if not for Jiang Qiqi.

It was an unanswerable question; he only knew that his wife was his sole reason for living.

Over the past two years, life had gradually improved in an orderly fashion...

Until half a year ago, when misfortune struck again. Qin Shang fainted inexplicably while at work and was diagnosed with brain cancer.

Jiang Qiqi abandoned everything, selling their house and car to pay for his medical treatment.

However, the financial capabilities of two orphans were clearly insufficient to cover the high medical expenses.

That's right, both of them were orphans...

Piecing things together, the medical expenses were still not enough.

Qin Shang had thought about giving up several times, but Jiang Qiqi had said:

"You bastard, you want to leave before you've even given me a life of luxury? I won't allow it. You will live well for me..."

After that, Jiang Qiqi changed jobs and went on a business trip to Yan Jing.

She said that by taking advantage of the business trip, she had found a way for Qin Shang to survive.

She didn't explain the specific method, but the hospital's inpatient department received the medical fees on time every month.

After Jiang Qiqi disappeared, Qin Shang completely gave up on treatment.

The doctor said he had at most six months left.

Before he died, Qin Shang's only wish was to find his wife...

Thinking of this, he stared at the silver-white card in his hand and then, pursing his lips, said into the receiver.

"Xu Mingyang, I have some clues about Qiqi!"

"No need to trouble the old dean..."

Upon hearing this, Xu Mingyang was stunned.

"Clues? What clues do you have?"

Seeing that Qin Shang was fine, Xu Mingyang breathed a sigh of relief and immediately started talking.

"Damn it, you really scared me to death today. I called you all day, terrified that something had happened to you."

"I thought I saw Jiang Qiqi's belongings and was reminded of her, and you were going to end it all..."

"Alright, stop playing coy. If you have clues, share them quickly. Let me see if I can use my connections to help you investigate. We can find Qiqi back sooner!"

Jiang Qiqi didn't disappear in Ji City, but in Yan Jing.

Coincidentally, Xu Mingyang worked at the Yan Jing Public Security Bureau, just not in the same jurisdiction as the one handling Jiang Qiqi's disappearance case.

Since Jiang Qiqi disappeared, Xu Mingyang had wasted no small amount of his connections and resources, helping Qin Shang deal with his colleagues in Yan Jing to obtain clues.

Unfortunately, it was all like a stone sinking into the sea, with no trace whatsoever. Jiang Qiqi had vanished as if she had evaporated from the face of the earth.

Qin Shang hesitated at this thought.

Xu Mingyang had already done more than enough for the couple.

Unlike himself, who was nearing his end and had been told by the doctor he wouldn't live past six months.

He had a bright future.

The Path of the Gods game was very deep. The next time Qin Shang entered a dungeon, he might become a soul claimed by the God Slayer.

He shouldn't let an outsider like Xu Mingyang get involved in this mess anymore, even though it might be easier for him, as a sheriff, to obtain information than himself...

With this thought, Qin Shang said softly.

"It's nothing, just a clue."

"Can you stop playing coy? You seem to be in a bad mood..."

"The brats at the Public Security Bureau said they sent your belongings to you today, and I got angry. I told them who the hell said they were belongings, they're just useless evidence and clues!"

Hmm, you know how to talk, kid...

Qin Shang understood his nature and knew his best friend often spoke without thinking, so he didn't dwell on it too much.

"I'm fine, just tired. My head felt a bit uncomfortable today, so I slept all day. I didn't intentionally ignore your calls!"

"Hmm... uncomfortable head? You've been out of the hospital for over three months. Isn't it almost time for your follow-up appointment?"

"Pay attention to your own matters. Take care of yourself. You need to find Qiqi, but don't overwork yourself."

"I don't want to see a parent outlive their child, you know."

Qin Shang winced.

Truly... a dog's mouth can't spit out ivory.

"Every time I talk to you, I feel like I'm losing brain cells. I don't know how I've managed all these years, tolerating the urge to kill you."

"Scram, Dad's going to bed."

After saying this, seeing that Qin Shang's mood didn't seem as pessimistic as he had imagined.

Xu Mingyang quietly hung up the phone and sighed without speaking.

As a sheriff, he also knew that a large number of people went missing across the country every year; they either died or were trafficked.

The probability of rescuing them was extremely slim.

The possibility of his best friend reuniting with his wife within the next three months was pitifully small.

Thinking of this, Xu Mingyang, far away in Yan Jing, closed his eyes and murmured with some sympathy.

"Life is full of hardships!"