Why? Lu Xiufeng inquisitively asked.

There is no motive, Wu San said. Hes doing good in the valley, so why would he need to send someone to kill so many people on the outside? What was it that he hoped to achieve? Furthermore, he is the staunchest supporter and protector of the old ways passed down through the generations for hundreds of years in the village. He wants to keep passing down the heritage of the village from here on out, just like it has been done for the past several centuries. He avoids too much contact with the outside world to ensure the village remains like a lone paradise.

From what he said, it seemed that he knew Miao Xihe very well.

Thank you, Lu Xiufeng said.

Yeah, alright. You people best leave. Its too noisy here now. Wu San waved.

Oh right. I hope all these incidents wont be too much of a trouble to you. Lu Xiufeng paused for a moment before writing his phone number down. Give me a call anytime if you need anything.

Yeah, you can leave now.

Wu San had actually talked a lot to Lu Xiufeng that day. If one were to consider his habits, he probably would not have said that much even in a month.

Thank you.

Lu Xiufeng rose and bowed before leaving.

Captain Yang, Captain Lu, we were unable to capture the two suspects.

There were so many people out there, yet you guys still lost them. Lu Xiufeng lit a cigarette. He wasnt angry about it. He had long anticipated that to happen.

Indeed. They seemed to know the woods around these parts very well. We lost them not long after getting into the mountains.

Noted. Notify all related personnel in the nearby county town and villages. Tell them to report it as soon as those two are spotted.

Yes, Sir.

Yang Guanfeng and Lu Xiufeng saw Miao Chengtang for the second time in the bamboo building. This time, they were seeing him as he truly was.

We meet again.

Did you get him?

Nope. Theyve escaped.

Miao Chengtang sighed a breath of relief deep down. After all, they were from the same village and had once been neighbors. But he did not agree with the methods taken by Miao Tianchuan. Deep down, he still hoped that he would be apprehended by the police and punished. Even if Miao Tianchuan were to fail or die, he should have gone out in some other ways.

Have you made up your mind?

I have.

Shall we talk?

Here? Miao Chengtang asked. Im afraid its rather ill-suited for such talk.

Are you afraid they will return?

I am.

Alright, lets go somewhere else then.

The high-profile operation was over as soon as it began.

Man, just what the hell is going on here? The people who were waiting for treatment there were all dumbfounded, not to mention very frightened as well.

Who knows? Maybe they were out to catch some fugitive.

Hey, come and see if its them. Someone searched the news that had just come out moments ago.

Wanted criminals, right here?

Its very possible given how remote this place is.

My god, over 20 people were killed!

It news from unknown sources, so its not necessarily true.

The activity and news in the village made everyone around rowdy for a while.

Somewhere in the nearby mountains

Miao Tianchuan and Miao Qingshan were hiding at a mountain peak.

Did we lose them?

Yeah. Miao Tianchuan looked at what was happening beneath the mountain. He was thinking of something.

I wonder if Chengtang will be alright.

He should be fine, Miao Tianchuan said.

Fine? Wont he be taken away by the cops?

Yeah, Miao Tianchuan replied.

You can never predict how people think.

Miao Chengtang, Yang Guanfeng, and Lu Xiufeng were sitting inside an interrogation room in the public security bureau of He County,

Alright, speak, Lu Xiufeng said.

Do you mind giving me a cigarette? Miao Chengtang asked.

Here you go. Lu Xiufeng handed him a cigarette.

Miao Chengtang spilled everything he knew down to the very last detail.

So, Miao Tianchuan was the guy behind all the murders?

I dont know if hes doing it alone or if there are some others out there doing it with him in the beginning, Miao Chengtang said. When the recent case happened, I and Miao Qingshan were both at the villa. The two of us didnt know before we got out of the village, or even after, that Miao Tianchuan was that much of an unhinged lunatic. He has gone crazy. Hes willing to do anything to exact revenge.

Why did he suddenly return to the village? He knew that he could have easily died if he went back, so why did he do it anyway?

He probably knew that he was about to die back then, so he might have wanted to see the place he once called home for the last time before he kicked the bucket.

He was about to die?

Yeah, he had been poisoned. It was something he had been exposed to all those years ago when he escaped from the village. It was very potent. He was one hell of a guy to be able to last that long.

Miao Xihe?

It was not him. It was some other guy, Miao Chengtang added.

You all share the same surname and are from one village, but you people sure knew how to fight among yourselves, Lu Xiufeng exasperatingly quipped.

Conflicts happen where there are people. Miao Chengtang plainly replied. Its a very normal thing to happen.

Alright, lets continue. How did he manage to last?

He probably found some miracle cure.

Miracle cure?

The woods are dense in these parts of southern Yunnan, Miao Chengtang said. The herbs available are countless. According to ancient records in the village, there are a few herbs that are extremely rare and known to be holy medicines. All of them are almost capable of bringing back the dead, so to speak. He might have found one of those, I guess.

Like the Blood Orchid?

Precisely.

Can you help us locate where they are?

These parts of Miaojiang are filled with forests, Miao Chengtang said. Theres no way you could find them once they got into the woods, and I suspect that he no longer trusts me.

That fast?

His sixth sense is mystical and very accurate. Ive witnessed it at work more than once.

Other than that, is there anything else that we dont know? Please tell us.

Give me a pen and a map. Ill circle the places weve been to for the past several days. It might be of use to you guys.

Very well.

What? Hes an undercover? Are you sure about that?

The higher-ups were delighted to hear that they had apprehended a suspect. They only knew after communicating with Yang Guanfeng that the so-called suspect had been an undercover.

Yeah, very sure. He was the one who contacted us back when he was still in the Valley of Thousands of Medicine.

Get his help right away to capture the other two. The ones up there are keeping a close eye on this. They are very anxious!

Yes, Sir.

It took Yang Guanfeng quite a bit of time to clear Miao Chengtangs identity.

Alright, there is no problem with you for the time being.

For the time being? What do you mean?

If we find any evidence that indicates youve been a part of those cases, it will be a different story altogether.

I told you, Ive never been in any part of that, Miao Chengtang said. Im not a lunatic like him.

I believe you, and the outcome of our deductions is telling us the same thing. Everything can only end one we get Miao Tianchuan into custody. Furthermore, its not like you know if the valley knew about any of that beforehand, right?

Oh yeah, definitely. But you guys need to protect me now. Miao Xihe is looking for us now. If he were to find out that Im the one ratting them out, hell try to kill me.

Relax, well keep you safe.

At a hotel somewhere in Qushan County

I heard they captured one of them.

Indeed. Only a select few know about this. The news is tightly sealed.

Who is the guy?

Miao Chengtang.

Really?

Do we need to think of some way to get rid of him? Miao Changhong asked.

No. We cant risk doing that at his juncture. Right now, we need to think of ways to help them catch Miao Tianchuan as soon as possible, dead or alive. Even just being able to confirm where he actually is would help.