The Old Guys Were Too Timid

The blond-haired white man strolled around, observing the surroundings while fiddling with the small porcelain knife. He would occasionally close his eyes, as if he were sensing something through the knife rather than seeing with his eyes.

His name is John Cavendish, he is from Slovakia, and he came to China specifically for Guo Tianxiang.

My previous trip to Montamira was merely because I had heard about the "group illusion of the eight-armed giants" on the way, and I decided to check it out.

After meeting Zhao Feng, Wang De'an, and others, he knew that what was happening there was not something he could get involved in, and he had to leave.

As for why he was able to find this place so accurately, it was because of the small white porcelain knife in Guo Tianxiang's hand, or more precisely, the thing inside that small white porcelain knife—in the early morning of October 9th last year—that revealed the location to them, who were far away in Slovakia.

That small white porcelain knife was a gift from them to Guo Tianxiang in Slovakia a few years ago when he went to Europe.

When they first received feedback from the little porcelain knife, they were overjoyed because, based on their senses, they thought Guo Tianxiang had successfully "hunted," which meant a significant improvement in Guo Tianxiang's blood quality.

But they soon realized something was wrong, because they could no longer sense the substance in the small white porcelain knife in Guo Tianxiang's hand, and Guo Tianxiang did not contact them afterward, which was completely different from their expectations.

This can only mean that either Guo Tianxiang trouble, or Guo Tianxiang betrayed them.

Actually, calling it betrayal isn't quite accurate, because from beginning to end, they never considered Guo Tianxiang one of their own. If he discovered their true intentions, then choosing to sever ties would be perfectly logical.

Both scenarios are possible.

However, they have an instinctive fear of the mysterious Eastern country of China, because some of them have had bad experiences that have left a deep impression on them.

Therefore, they are unwilling to set foot on this land unless absolutely necessary.

But now, several months later, they have reached a point where they have "no other choice."

John wandered around the open space for a long time. Although he was quite certain that the thing in Guo Tianxiang's small white porcelain knife was used here, and that the connection was completely severed here, too much time had passed, and he had not been able to find any valuable clues.

He found a few small, oddly shaped items, but they clearly did not belong to Guo Tianxiang or anyone he should be suspicious of, and there were no obvious signs of excavation or burial in the surrounding area.

After lingering around the open space for more than an hour, John finally left, somewhat reluctantly.

On his way back, he observed the surrounding terrain and concluded that Guo Tianxiang's appearance here was definitely not a chance encounter, but rather a carefully chosen outcome.

Because this place is not far from the city center, but it is an area that is not well noticed, with few people and few residents.

There's a golf course and a botanical garden nearby. There are some tourists and staff during the day, but it gets deserted at night.

Especially the area where the small porcelain knife "reacted" was hidden by the cliffs at the foot of the mountain, and could only be seen from the highway on the other side in the distance—but without lights, at night, from that distance, no one could see what was happening here.

Did Guo Tianxiang deliberately choose this place to lure his "hunting" target here to make his move?

So what happened next?

On his way back, John saw an old grocery store. The owner, with only a few sparse white hairs on his head, sat at the door listening with his eyes half-closed, holding a small radio.

The shopkeeper saw John approaching and greeted him with a smile, "Oh ho ho~, wait, no, I mean... hello ho ho~! hello ho ho, foreign buddy, what would you like to order?"

John took off his sunglasses and met his boss's gaze, but when he spoke, it was neither English nor Chinese, but rather a series of meaningless syllables that sounded like murmurs.

The grocer listened intently to these meaningless syllables, nodding occasionally as if he understood.

After a while, the boss also started muttering in the same tone.

The exchange lasted for a few minutes. John put on his sunglasses and left the grocery store, while the owner continued listening to the radio, as if the conversation had never happened.

John managed to get some information from the boss in his own way, but unfortunately it was useless. The boss's shop usually stayed open until late at night, but he couldn't remember if any of the people who passed by his shop between the night of October 8th and the early morning of October 9th matched Guo Tianxiang's description, since too much time had passed.

John used the same method to ask around at the shops along the road, especially those with security cameras that could capture footage of the entrance.

Unfortunately, none of the stores still have the surveillance video from October.

John didn't stay in Liu City for long. A few hours later, he found a taxi on the roadside and headed to another destination city— Yang City.

In fact, if he wanted to, he could easily flag down a luxury car on the street and "convince" the driver to take him anywhere. However, if a private car owner changes his travel plans, it is easy to attract inquiries from friends, family, or colleagues. Even if he can come up with a reason on the spot, it is easy to cause additional trouble and complications. Commercial vehicles are more convenient.

As for why you didn't take the high-speed train or a plane?

John entered the country illegally and did not have valid identification. He had also entered Myanmar illegally previously.

Even in Slovakia, he did not have any real legal status.

However, in other places, he can easily get away with a fake document, and if necessary, he can simply use his abilities to fool people. Whether he has a document or an identity is completely unimportant.

However, in China, with its comprehensive real-name registration system, interconnected networks, and ubiquitous cameras, there are many potential risks involved in him trying to hitch a ride on public transportation such as trains. This was something he was repeatedly told before he came.

If Guo Tianxiang can still be contacted, it will be much more convenient.

Upon arriving in Yang City, John went directly to the building where Guo Tianxiang's clinic was located.

In fact, Guo Tianxiang did not tell them his specific address in Yang City, but the substance inside his small porcelain knife could release imprints that could be sensed by similar substances when used, recording its location. Within a certain range, John only needed to use the same substance in another small porcelain knife in his hand to find it.

John easily got the building manager to tell him the floor where Guo Tianxiang's clinic was located, and the manager even brought the key to open the door for him.

The entire floor where the clinic is located was bought by Guo Tianxiang, so even though he disappeared, the place was simply closed and not cleaned up.

John also learned from the property management staff that the police were investigating Guo Tianxiang. Before the Lunar New Year, there were plainclothes police officers watching inside and outside the building, but they haven't been seen this month, so it seems they have left.

This surprised John a bit, and he began to suspect that Guo Tianxiang's "disappearance" might have been due to his arrest by the authorities.

But he quickly dismissed this guess, because if that were the case, the Yang City police wouldn't need to be watching this place; clearly, the police were also looking for Guo Tianxiang.

Since entering China, John has been very careful about his surroundings, avoiding being watched and avoiding cameras whenever possible.

He was fairly certain that he had not been followed along the way.

So when he heard from the property management that he hadn't seen the police again this month, he breathed a slight sigh of relief and began searching the clinic for clues that could help him determine Guo Tianxiang's whereabouts.

However, John Cavendish was not a bald man; he couldn't directly observe his surroundings beyond the visual realm, nor could he directly perceive all electronic devices.

Therefore, he naturally did not discover that in Guo Tianxiang's clinic, there were several very discreet miniature cameras that were cleverly integrated into the decorative wall panels, ceiling, and light fixtures.

His perception of sensory information such as sound and smell is also quite limited, and his calculation ability is also quite limited. He was unaware that as he walked into the building and talked to the property management, a young man had already noticed him in a van parked not far away on the roadside with the logo of "Runs Really Fast Express Company".

"Hey, hey, something's up! Something's up! Someone's gone into Guo Tianxiang's clinic!" Inside the van, the young man staring at the monitor took off his headphones and nudged his dozing companion next to him.

"Who is it? Plainclothes police?" his companion asked, rubbing his eyes as he woke up from his reclining seat, not taking it too seriously.

They'd been monitoring Guo Tianxiang's clinic for quite some time, but without any real progress. Previously, they could still observe plainclothes police officers conducting surveillance and stakeouts, but for over a month, they hadn't seen any police personnel at all. They were all wondering when "Mr. Liang" planned to make them leave as well.

"Of course not!" the young man said, staring at the monitor screen while operating the control panel.

Are you sure?

"Nonsense! He's a foreigner!"

Upon hearing this, his companion immediately perked up, sat up straight, and, seeing the blond foreigner inspecting various items in Guo Tianxiang's clinic through the monitor, exclaimed, "Quick, notify 'Mr. Liang'! We've finally found something! We can finally move! Damn it, if we stay any longer, my hemorrhoids are going to flare up!"

"I've already sent the surveillance video to 'Mr. Liang'," the young man in front of the monitor said excitedly.

"Who is this foreigner? Could he just be here from abroad to see Guo Tianxiang medical treatment?"

"This foreigner is acting very strangely. He was talking very oddly to the building manager just now. It's a pity there's no recording equipment there, so we can't hear what they were saying. But the manager's behavior is different from his usual self. I wonder if he was threatened."

Soon, Mr. Liang's distinctive voice replied, "No contact, maintain Level 3 surveillance."

This instruction immediately deflated the two young men in the car who were eager to get started. The meaning of "no contact" is easy to understand: it means not to make any contact with the target in any way. Level 3 surveillance, on the other hand, means to monitor the target from outside their line of sight and maintain a sufficient distance.

This basically means they are not allowed to react at all; they are simply to continue video surveillance from where they are.

Whether they should follow the foreigners after they leave depends on further instructions.

The clues John was looking for at Guo Tianxiang's clinic were naturally different from what the police were looking for. He was focusing more on "Bloodline" and "Bloodline -related derivative elements" in order to find out Guo Tianxiang's purpose in going to Liu City and the reason for his disappearance.

He knew very well that Guo Tianxiang had already entered a phase of extreme bloodlust back in July of last year. Ordinary blood drinking could only temporarily alleviate the bloodlust, and as time went on, the satisfaction that ordinary blood could bring would become less and less.

Back in July, Guo Tianxiang had already sought their help through special channels. Their advice at the time was to find a "Bloodline" or "Blood Beast" that met the requirements for drinking blood before January of this year and to "purify and absorb" it.

If he still can't find it by January, he should go to Slovakia to find them; they will use secret methods to help him get through this stage.

Therefore, he knew that the reason why Guo Tianxiang was able to run to Liu City and use the substance in that small porcelain knife was definitely because other "Bloodline" and "Blood Beast" that met his blood-drinking requirements had appeared.

After searching Guo Tianxiang's clinic for nearly an hour, John still found nothing and had to leave empty-handed, heading to the next location sensed by the small porcelain knife.

As John left the building and walked out onto the street, John noticed that a van that had been parked across the street had also driven out. However, the van drove straight in front of him and quickly disappeared into the intersection ahead, so he didn't pay much attention to it. After arriving in Yang City, he had seen many vans of the same model and style on the streets. From the English letters on the van, he knew that they were delivery company vehicles.

It was past 1 a. m., and after exploring several places where Guo Tianxiang had spent a long time, John still hadn't found anything of value. This made him somewhat irritable, and he had a premonition that this trip to China might end in failure.

However, at the same time, he also felt a little fortunate. If Guo Tianxiang was really killed while "hunting," then even if the "murderer" was found, he might not be a match for him, and might even become the prey instead.

However, if Guo Tianxiang gains some qualitative improvement through the phased blood-drinking and realizes that what they did to him in Slovakia and what they said to him were just using and deceiving him, then he probably won't obediently go back to Slovakia with them, and a fierce battle will be inevitable.

Although he would benefit the most from finding Guo Tianxiang or other "Bloodline" and bringing them back to Slovakia, he would also face the greatest risk. In any case, it's those old guys who are about to collapse and die, not him. He has done his best, and there's nothing he can do if he can't find them.

John, walking on the streets of Yang City at night, was somewhat surprised to see so many people on the streets at this hour, with various late-night snack stalls and nightclubs still open.

He began to relax and went to find a quiet-looking bar to have a drink.

Although they cannot eat normally after being transformed into "Bloodline," a method was found long ago that allows them to drink alcohol normally, and this method has been passed down. However, the only type of alcohol they can drink is red wine, because the original person loved red wine.

Guo Tianxiang had learned that method from Slovakia before, but he didn't know if it had worked.

In the bar, John took a sip of red wine, his brow furrowing slightly; the taste was somewhat different from what he had expected.

So he called over the bartender, said a few words, and the bartender paused for a moment before reopening a bottle of wine.

John was slightly more satisfied this time. After taking a small sip, he turned his gaze to the young girls in the bar, licked his lips, and wondered if he should find a female companion here, or perhaps, before leaving, indulge in a "blood-drinking" experience? He had never tasted the blood of local girls before, and wondered if it differed from the blood of Asian girls in Europe.

After entering China, John, who had been progressing smoothly, gradually let down his initial guard, vigilance, and tension. He felt that what the old guys had said was an exaggeration and there was no need to worry so much. China was simply too vast; with their abilities and characteristics, they could blend into the crowd without attracting any attention, as long as they didn't cause any major disturbance. Just like in Europe, they could easily move freely between London, Paris, and Rome, as long as they maintained a sufficiently low profile and secrecy.

He was even somewhat annoyed, feeling that if the old guys had sent him to China immediately upon noticing the unusual feedback from the substance inside the small porcelain knife, the chances of finding Guo Tianxiang or the person responsible for Guo Tianxiang's disappearance would have been much greater.

Moreover, if the old guys weren't so timid, sending another person with him would greatly increase his chances of success and safety.

Their abilities are naturally suited to mingling in crowded places and hiding in big cities. China, with its large population and high degree of urbanization, is actually the best place for them to demonstrate their abilities.

As he was thinking this, a tall woman who looked very much to his liking walked into the bar and sat down at the bar not far from him, accompanied by a rather handsome male companion.

John smiled slightly and walked over there with his wine glass in hand.

But as soon as he stood up, he frowned slightly, because a man in a black suit, with broad shoulders and a wide face covered with worm-like scars, walked up to him and blocked his way.

"Excuse me, may I speak with you outside for a few minutes?" The burly man in the suit spoke in a tone that appeared polite but was actually forceful.

John frowned even more. He knew that the burly man in the suit was not a security guard at the bar. He had observed everyone in the bar as soon as he entered, and this man had walked straight in this direction. He had come to the bar specifically to see John.

John looked up and met his gaze, but instead of replying, he uttered a few syllables in a strange tone.

The burly man in the suit paused for a moment, then relaxed his muscles, nodded, and opened his mouth to say something.

But as soon as he opened his mouth, the burly man's body suddenly trembled violently, as if he had been electrocuted, and he let out a scream, attracting the attention of people around the bar.

John was also taken aback, but then realized what was going on. Ignoring the burly man slumped on the ground, he quickly walked out of the bar.

After John left the bar, the burly man in the suit with a scarred face finally came to his senses. He shook his head, got up from the ground, took out a spare pair of headphones from his pocket, put them on, and immediately heard a hoarse, low sound like metal scraping:

"Lao Xie, wait for me in the car."

Without saying a word, Lao Xie walked out expressionlessly, under the watchful eyes of the bewildered customers in the bar and the security guards who rushed over after hearing the commotion.

Although the bar's security guards were not much less powerful than him, they inexplicably felt their presence diminished when standing in front of him. They dared not speak up to stop or question him, and subconsciously stepped aside to watch him leave the bar.

After leaving the bar, Lao Xie got into a very spacious black GMC converted campervan in the parking lot, sat in the driver's seat, and waited for further instructions.

He knew he had just been tricked by the blond white man in the bar, but it was expected, so he wasn't annoyed or scared.

He also didn't pay attention to where the blond white man went. He didn't care because he knew that no matter where the white man ran or what abilities he had, he couldn't possibly escape.

Because it was "Mr. Liang" who was dealing with that white man.