I woke up at the hotel that morning.
I made a video call to Seventh Master and told him about Rat and Xiao Xuan.
After hearing the story, Seventh Master looked very serious too.
On the screen, he said, "Pitiful as he is, if he needs to be sent on, he still has to be sent on. Don't forget that ironclad rule."
Of course I hadn't forgotten. Once someone died, everything from their life ceased to have anything to do with them.
Song Xiaotian came over carrying a bowl of noodles and said, "Seventh Master, what about Xiao Xuan? Who's going to look after him?"
Seventh Master said, "I know the director of a children's welfare institute. I'll give him a call and come over with him this afternoon. We'll discuss it with that blind old man and arrange for the child to go to the Welfare Institute."
Still a little uneasy, Song Xiaotian asked, "Is it reliable? I've heard those places all abuse children..."
"Where did you hear that?" Seventh Master snapped. "You've been watching too many foreign movies. Besides, I know the director of that Welfare Institute. He's wholeheartedly devoted to charity. There's no abuse there."
"That child you mentioned has to go to the Welfare Institute. Otherwise, are you going to raise him?"
Song Xiaotian said, "Oh, no. I can barely support myself."
After hanging up, I called An Ning too and asked her to come over.
We had to catch Rat tonight, but the kid wasn't easy to catch. Even a first-rate runner like me couldn't keep up with him.
Having more people would be safer.
At around two that afternoon, An Ning arrived, as did Seventh Master and the director of the Welfare Institute.
The director shared my surname, Chen. He was a tall, thin,