The way back had no Clock Tower to use as a landmark. The two-story inn was easy to lose among the Coconut Grove, making it hard to tell where they were.
Following the route he remembered, Qi Si caught the faintest trace of blood in the air.
Without drawing attention to himself, he changed direction, pushed aside the leaves on either side, and skirted several sand dunes. He stopped where the smell of blood was strongest, and the trees suddenly gave way to an open patch.
It was a small stretch of sand untouched by the Coconut Grove. At its center lay a young man in a black sweatshirt.
No one knew how long he had been lying there. A pool of blood had gathered beneath him, staining the sand a deep crimson.
Chang Xu went over first and crouched beside the young man, reaching out to check for breath. "He's dead."
After waiting another ten seconds to make sure there was no danger, Qi Si approached and stopped at the edge of the bloodstain. "Judging by how the blood has congealed, he's been dead for at least three hours."
The young man had delicate features, but nothing about him was particularly memorable.
His eyes were wide open, his pupils dilated, and his tongue lolled from his open mouth. It was an ugly way to die.
Qi Si found no handkerchief in his pockets, so he kept his hands to himself and directed his teammate instead. "Turn him over. He was probably killed by a blow to the back."
Chang Xu did as he asked.
As Chang Xu moved to turn the body over, Qi Si saw something fall from its head. It was clearly a fragment of bone, which had been piled back into place and obscured with blood.