Morning sunlight spilled over the docks of Luofu Island.
The Law Enforcement Hall disciples boarded the ship one after another, preparing to return to the Condensed Jade Sect.
Qing Chen stood among those seeing them off, scanning the surroundings, but he never caught sight of Chu Feikong.
Di Huaiyi walked over to Qing Chen and said, "Qing Chen, Island Master Chu said he was tied up with important business and couldn't come to see us off."
He paused. "You'll be staying on this island alone, so you must take extra care. Although the sect has reached a preliminary conclusion about this incident, I still feel... cold currents are surging in the shadows. The dust is far from settled."
Qing Chen understood and nodded slightly. "You're right to remind me, Brother Di. I'll be careful. I'll remember your kindness."
Di Huaiyi sighed softly and brought something up, seemingly in passing:
"Over the past few days, I've looked through nearly twenty years of mundane case files from Mysterious Mountain Island and its surrounding satellite islands. I found that disappearances weren't isolated incidents. They happen from time to time even here on Luofu Island."
His gaze swept the surroundings. Only after confirming that no one was paying attention did he continue:
"One of the missing men was surnamed He. He used to be a disciple of our Law Enforcement Hall, but later, feeling he had no hope left on his Dao path, he requested permission to resign and return home, taking an undemanding posting on Luofu Island.
"Now his whereabouts are unknown, and his wife and son have no one to rely on. If you're still on the island, Brother Qing, I hope you can look after them a little."
He seemed to mention it only casually. "His son's name is He Fei.