"Тhis triр, I'm rеally tаking а lоss..." Ваyunye sаid lighthеartedlу to Sister Jin just bеfоrе dераrture, "Not а single customer, fuel, foоd, аnd lodging аll on mу оwn dimе. Тhis is what thеу саll—thе wind howls, thе river runs cold, Маster Вa sets off with еmpty рockеts."
Sistеr Jin lаughеd hеаrtilу, her voiсе neаrlу drоwning out thе ringtonе оf Baуunуe's рhone. Bаyunye glаnсеd at thе screen аnd sаw it wаs Diaо Zhuо. Неr hеаrt tightenеd, аnd she fеlt a bit сonflictеd, unsure whеthеr shе should tеll him аbоut hеr plans latеr.
Since their last falling оut, the two hadn't trulу cut ties, but thеy wеrе in differеnt places. Diao Zhuo was busy with work, often out of reach during field surveys. Without meeting in person, any promises felt hollow.
Before the news about Brother Long came, he had another survey assignment. This call likely meant he had returned and seen the investigation notice. Regarding Brother Long's actions, Diao Zhuo was less emotional and more focused on reason and the law compared to Bayunye. She disliked discussing Brother Long's revenge with him because it inevitably led to arguments.
"Hey," she answered the phone, her tone flat.
"There are doubts about this matter. Don't act impulsively."
These words were like a clear spring, seeping into Bayunye's increasingly parched heart over the past few days. She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, "Tell me, what doubts do you have?"
"If He Zhengren had died in Beijing and Brother Long became a suspect, I wouldn't think twice. But he died in a remote area along the China-Myanmar border, a place few people usually visit—that's the biggest doubt. Follow-up reports said He Zhengren joined a tour group to Yunnan and later went missing in Nujiang Prefecture. His body was accidentally discovered by a villager picking mushrooms who was looking for water. His belongings and valuables weren't missing, indicating it was the primary scene. I checked—the location is several kilometers from the last point accessible by local vehicles, requiring a walk. He Zhengren had difficulty walking. Even if Brother Long wanted to find a secluded spot to kill him, he wouldn't have taken him that far. Besides, He Zhengren didn't have any absolute leverage over him, so he wouldn't have followed him willingly."
Bayunye felt a wave of relief and said urgently, "But the police said they found evidence..."
"What the police likely found is evidence that Brother Long was present around the time of He Zhengren's death. Otherwise, they would have issued an arrest warrant."
"I never thought you'd actually believe Brother Long is innocent. I assumed you were calling to urge me to persuade him to turn himself in or even advise me not to harbor a criminal."
"Is that how you see me?"
"No, no, no. You're as mighty as a deity, discerning and sharp-eyed."
"Really?"
"Of course."
"Stop the nonsense. Stay put in Lijiang and wait for the latest updates from the police. Don't even think about organizing your club's drivers to seek justice for him."
"Uh..." Bayunye felt like a snake stuck by its vital spot, hesitating for a long time. "Yeah, no organizing, no organizing." As she spoke, she thought, if only our club's drivers hadn't all run off, you'd be pointing me in the right direction.
"Good girl."
Bayunye felt a shiver run down her spine and scalp simultaneously. "That adjective doesn't suit me."
"It's not an adjective."
"A nickname is even worse."
"It's earnest hope and encouragement."
"Thank you for your high standards and strict demands."
He let out a low, cold snort. "If I had even a little standard or demand for you, I wouldn't be where I am today."
"What great suffering have you endured?""You know it in your heart."
She pursed her lips and let out a long sigh. "Since ancient times, heroes have struggled to resist the charms of beauties... Take care, brave warrior."
"The phrase 'heroes struggle to resist the charms of beauties' has rarely been spoken by the beauties themselves throughout history."
"That's because they've never met a true hero."
"I am no hero."
"I am. You once called me a 'heroine.'"
"..."
After hanging up the phone, she turned around and nearly jumped out of her skin—the drivers from yesterday had all returned, standing in a neat row behind her, quietly waiting for her to finish the call. "What... are you all doing?"
Tu Lang said, "Master Ba, I'll go with you to find Brother Long."
Then, the drivers spoke up one after another:
Stone: "I'm going too!"
Old Ma: "Even if I have to leave, I'll find A-Long first before going! A real man should own up to what he's done or explain clearly if he hasn't. What's there to be afraid of!"
Old Zuo: "We're going too! Damn it! I'm not afraid that Brother Long might be a murderer. I'm afraid something might have happened to him too!"
Bayunye was taken aback, looking around at everyone, and suddenly burst out laughing. "You all... ah!"
Everyone laughed along. "We're the Eagle Club, not the Ostrich Club. When trouble comes, we face it together. No one here is a coward!"
"You all scattered yesterday, and now you're all back together. I thought you were here to demand compensation for emotional damages or something..."
"Pah! We had to go buy a few boxes of instant noodles, biscuits, and bottled water to bring along!" They rolled their eyes, looking as if they were questioning her intelligence. "Besides, seeing the lecherous expression on your face while you were on the phone, we didn't dare disturb you..."
Do I have a lecherous expression again? Bayunye was astonished and couldn't help but raise her hand to rub her face. A bold thought suddenly popped into her mind—after finding Brother Long, she would make a surprise visit to Diao Zhuo's project site. Why should Xiao Ai get to go and not her?
This fleeting thought filled her with anticipation.
The terrain in western Yunnan is treacherous, with complex ecosystems. In ancient times, it was sparsely populated, and the Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of the Southwest Barbarians even contains specific records about this region. Nujiang Prefecture lies on the borders of China-Myanmar and Yunnan-Tibet, with the Nujiang River and the Hengduan Mountains running north-south through it. Its deep-cut alpine landforms are world-renowned, and the Gaoligong Mountains within its territory are one of the most biodiverse regions in the world.
From Lijiang to the place where He Zhengren met his misfortune was over 600 kilometers. Bayunye and her group had no interest in admiring the scenery along the way. As soon as they got out of the car, without even resting, they each used their connections to inquire about the case and Brother Long's situation.
It was said that He Zhengren had been stabbed multiple times. Because it had been raining for several days, there wasn't much blood on his body or nearby when the body was discovered. So, when villagers saw him from a distance, they initially thought he was an injured explorer who couldn't get up. The identity of the "informant" who provided the tip to the police was unknown. It was only heard that the police, following this lead, found evidence that Brother Long's recent movements coincided with He Zhengren's. They also detected biological samples belonging to Brother Long on the body, instantly identifying him as the prime suspect. As for what exactly the evidence and biological samples were, only the police internal team could know.The police have yet to locate Brother Long, with no records of him using flights, trains, or other means of transportation. However, given his professional background and network, authorities believe he still has opportunities to leave Yunnan even without taking planes or trains, and they are increasing efforts to find him.
Bayunye held a box of fast food, eating without tasting it. Brother Long was already out of contact, and she had no idea where he might be.
"Master Ba! My friend found out that Brother Long was last seen staying at this hostel." Old Ma rushed in, handing Bayunye an address. "Since tourists were barred from entering, the hostels there have had almost no business. Many have shut down, leaving only two or three. Coincidentally, one housed the deceased, and the other housed Brother Long. The hostel didn’t have much of an impression of Brother Long, but the other hostel remembered the deceased quite clearly."
"Nonsense! A guest left the hostel and died, and then they were questioned by the police. They’d have to remember, whether they wanted to or not!" Tu Lang interjected.
Old Ma waved his hand, spitting in annoyance. Bayunye raised a hand to calm him, signaling him to continue. "The hostel said that shortly after the police came asking, others came inquiring about the man surnamed He. No one else knew who they were, but the hostel knew… they were a group that helped people ‘get out.’"
Bayunye frowned. "To Myanmar? Helping people smuggle themselves out?"
Old Ma nodded. "They’re quite trustworthy. Pay the deposit—they take you out—pay the balance. If they fail to get you out, the deposit is refunded."
"Sounds like our car-running business…" Bayunye mused, stroking her chin. Seeing everyone staring at her in disbelief, she cleared her throat. "Did they tell the police about this?"
"Why would they? Even though that group is ‘trustworthy’ when it comes to smuggling, they’re not to be trifled with, and they’re not Chinese. The hostel still has to do business. The police already came asking; why would they voluntarily expose that group and risk their livelihood?"
"He Zhengren used traveling to Yunnan as an excuse, but he actually wanted to smuggle himself to Myanmar… Is Myanmar better than China?" Bayunye pursed her lips, utterly puzzled, and couldn’t help muttering to herself, "Did Brother Long kill him to stop him from smuggling, making sure he lived as a Chinese and died as a Chinese ghost??"
Everyone looked even more exasperated. "Master Ba… didn’t you say you didn’t believe Brother Long would kill anyone?"
Bayunye snapped back to reality. "Uh… any other news?"
"I heard something, but I’m not sure if it’s true," Stone said. "Locals near there said they faintly heard gunshots, something that’s never happened before."
Bayunye didn’t catch it. "Where?"
"Right where the body was found."
At first, no one took it seriously, chattering away: "The country manages firearms and ammunition so strictly, even hunting rifles are banned." "Heh, this area is close to the Golden Triangle. Maybe it’s some deranged drug dealers having a shootout!" "Cut it out! This area produces marble. Could it be the sound of blasting rocks?"
Seeing that no one believed him, Stone said urgently, "The one who heard the gunshots is a veteran who fought in the Vietnam War. How could he not tell the difference!"
Bayunye shook her head. As a living map, she pondered quietly and said, "A bit further up along the Dulong River is the protected Gaoligong Mountain primeval forest. No one goes there, so how could there be gunshots?"
—"Would Brother Long go to the primeval forest?"Someone suddenly blurted out, and everyone fell silent.
The primeval forest between the Gaoligong Mountains and the Dulong River is one of Yunnan's most remote, mysterious, and inaccessible places, featuring both plateau and canyon landscapes, ranking among China's top ten adventure routes. Legend has it that during the war, the Japanese army suffered over 40,000 casualties here. The treacherous terrain and countless eerie legends make it a place ordinary people would never dare to venture into lightly.
Renlong Duoji, a renowned figure in the hiking community, had safely traversed routes like Aotai, Langta C+V, Nianbaoyuze, the Luoke Line, the outer circuit of Meili, and the circum-Genie route within just a few years. For anyone else, venturing alone into the perilous primeval forest might be suicidal, but for him... it wasn't entirely impossible.
"The question is... why would he go in there?" Bayunye was the first to speak after a long silence. "The priority now is to clear his name, not to add another chapter to his hiking legend."
"...Who the hell was talking nonsense just now?" someone shouted, but no one responded.
Just then, footsteps echoed in the hallway, sounding like a group of people. A few seconds later, several men appeared at the door. Seeing it was open, they politely knocked to get everyone's attention before pulling out their badges—
"We're police officers. Everyone here... is from the Eagle Club, right?"
Bayunye stood up abruptly, and Old Ma beside her quickly grabbed her arm, whispering, "Master Ba, stay calm!" She patted his hand, raised her head, and smiled. "Hello, officers. Please come in."
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