BL Ch82

The weather in Myanmar in August is unpredictable. A few days ago, there were several refreshing rains, but now the sun blazes down fiercely. The distant dirt road seems to shimmer with heat waves, making your feet burn when you step on it.

The mist in the valley had long dispersed, revealing the clear contours of the undulating mountains. A group of more than ten people walked up a northbound dirt path, struggling over the uneven terrain, looking as wilted as the leaves by the roadside, scorched by the sun.

Yu Duqiu had his hair tied back in a small braid, stuck to his collarbone with sweat. He tilted his head back to drink some ice water, licked his cool lips, and fanned himself by tugging at his collar, asking the guide at the front, “How much longer until we reach the mine you mentioned?”

The guide was a local Chinese youth who had just come of age, named Aken, the gem vendor who called to inform them about Bai Zhiming’s whereabouts. He claimed to have heard about a man missing a finger at the Pat mine, which was thirty kilometers from the city center.

“I heard from people who went there to mine that they saw a man with a missing finger. From the description, he sounds like the person you’re looking for.”

Most locals made their living by mining gems, so it wasn’t surprising that Bai Zhiming was involved in this trade here, but the information was too vague to alert the Myanmar police for a search, not to mention it would expose their secret investigation.

Ji Lin discussed with the bureau overnight, deciding to check it out first; if it really was Bai Zhiming, they could then notify the Myanmar police. As long as they caught him, being deported wouldn’t matter.

However, they didn’t anticipate how arduous the journey would be. The mountain path was too narrow and steep for vehicles, which could only go halfway up, explaining why locals mostly used motorbikes. Even if they borrowed motorbikes, they weren’t skilled at navigating these mountain roads. Yu Duqiu wanted to hire locals to take them into the mine, but Ji Lin quickly vetoed that idea.

A convoy of seven or eight motorbikes on the road would alert Bai Zhiming from miles away.

In the end, they resorted to the most primitive form of transport – walking.

This walk took over an hour, which under such weather and terrain felt like torture.

Aken, accustomed to long treks like a lean, dark monkey, bounded ahead on the rugged path, leaving the city folks far behind. When Yu Duqiu asked his question, he bounced back a few steps, casually pointing to the narrow path ahead, “Follow this to the bottom of the next slope, and you’ll be there.”

Lou Baoguo wiped the sweat from his forehead, resting with his hands on his knees, looking in the direction Aken pointed. He saw ancient, twisting trees and branches, with dead leaves covering the ground from the recent heavy rain, creating an atmosphere of loneliness and strangeness. He questioned skeptically, “This place doesn’t look like anyone comes here often. How did you find this place in three days?”

Normally, when looking for someone, you’d start in crowded places. This place seemed so desolate that even wild beasts could be roaming.

Aken flashed a bright smile, showing his white teeth, “This handsome guy told me to look in this area.”

He looked at Bai Zhao, so Lou Baoguo also turned to look, “Big brother, you have some telepathic connection with your son, huh?”

Bai Zhao, drinking from a bottle of mineral water handed by Yu Duqiu, gave Lou Baoguo a glance so cold it was like ice water, making him shiver with the realization he’d said something wrong, “Oh, I didn’t mean to doubt you, big brother, I meant to say… to say… you’re incredibly strategic!”

Bai Zhao withdrew his chilling gaze and tucked the empty bottle into his backpack, “The police must have already searched the densely populated areas. I divided the mountains around Moxie into several sections and had them look for Bai Zhiming with his photo. Aken was just lucky to find something here.”

Ji Lin wasn’t so optimistic, his brows furrowed, “It might not be him; otherwise, we’d be too lucky, finding him in just three days when the Myanmar police have been working on this for half a month.”

Lou Baoguo, who had quickly forgotten his previous discomfort, said without a care, “Maybe Officer Mu’s spirit is watching over us.”

Zhou Yi couldn’t stop him in time, seeing Ji Lin’s eyes darken, “Maybe… perhaps.”

Yu Duqiu’s face turned serious, “Baoguo, don’t talk nonsense.”

Everyone fell silent, looking at him in disbelief.

“I’ve told you many times, don’t be superstitious. Dead people are dead; there’s no such thing as a spirit watching over us.”

“…”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Yu Duqiu was still his usual, unsentimental self, which meant everything was normal, and they could relax.

Aken urged them from ahead, warning that if they didn’t hurry, an afternoon rain might make descending difficult, so they picked up their bags and continued uphill. Despite sweating profusely, Yu Duqiu and his group were still able to keep going, but it was tough on the translator and doctor, who needed frequent breaks, panting like donkeys.

Ji Lin suggested, “Why don’t we let them wait in the car? You only brought them to make Pei Ming think you were looking for volunteers. We just need to check if Bai Zhiming is there, and we won’t need them.”

Yu Duqiu disagreed, “What if something happens? I left four or five people at the hotel to watch Pei Ming and his crew, in case they follow us. But that means our security here is weakened. I can’t feel at ease without a doctor.”

“You might feel at ease, but look at them; they’re close to heatstroke. If something goes wrong, you’ll have to look after them, and they’ll just slow you down.”

Yu Duqiu glanced back to see the two lagging far behind, looking utterly exhausted, moving slower than snails, indeed not in any condition to help.

“Alright, fine.” Yu Duqiu sighed, instructing the bodyguards behind to tell the translator and doctor to return to the car and wait for them.

The two seemed to have received a pardon, their eyes shining with gratitude as they quickly headed back down the slope.

In no time, the group was reduced to ten.

This number was more than enough to look for Bai Zhiming’s traces, but if they encountered the rumored armed groups, they might not come back unscathed.

Zhou Yi surveyed the surroundings with a serious look, listening intently to the bird and insect sounds for any unusual noises that might signal trouble.

Lou Baoguo also became more alert, murmuring, “I don’t know why, but I feel like Bai Zhiming, that old beast, isn’t simple. Faking his death and escaping, I couldn’t even think of that. Do you think… this isn’t his first kill?”

Zhou Yi replied in a low voice, “It’s very possible. He doesn’t seem like a novice criminal, yet he has no criminal record, which shows how capable he is. His evidence of murder might be hidden as cleverly as in the Zhu Zhenmin case.”

Lou Baoguo shivered despite the heat, rubbing his arms, “Damn, suddenly feel like we should have brought more people.”

Zhou Yi: “I agree. Uncle Hong called last night; I told him about today’s plan. I wanted to request more manpower, but even the fastest would take seven or eight days, and getting travel permits here is tough.”

Lou Baoguo drank half a bottle more of water, wiping the water from his mouth, “He calls every day like he’s checking on his grandson. Let’s not worry him too much, or he might get high blood pressure or something.”

Zhou Yi: “Not telling him might worry him more. That’s how the elderly are.”

As they chatted, they finally reached the highest point on the uphill path. Aken pointed down and shouted, “Look, that’s it! That’s where I got the information!”

Yu Duqiu and the others looked down — the intense sunlight made the mountain’s landscape very clear. Most of the mountain was covered in dense, green forest, but one corner had been dug out by large mining machinery, leaving an ugly, exposed yellow earth. A muddy river flowed through the valley, its color indicating a lot of sediment and silt.

The beauty of nature and the sins of mankind coexisted in this bizarre harmony.

Yu Duqiu sighed, “Just for a few pretty stones, humans are truly the source of all evil.”

Ji Lin: “You should take off your ruby ring before you say that.”

“I’m part of that source too,” Yu Duqiu admitted frankly.

The downhill path was much easier. They reached the flat ground at the foot of the mountain, where piles of white stones lay scattered, looking like an isolated ruin. However, it wasn’t completely uninhabited; in the distance, they could see four or five people by the stream, searching for gems with hammers and sieves.

Aken explained that this was once a large mine leased to a foreign mining company. The noise of explosions was common, and the sight was quite spectacular. But after the Moxie government banned their operations, the place was abandoned. Such abandoned mines are common in Moxie; the white stones are calcite left by those companies, possibly containing gems. Villagers come here to try their luck, smashing waste rock and sifting through river sand, hoping one gem could secure their family’s future.

But for most, they only find worthless fragments, barely making ends meet.

Yu Duqiu asked casually, “Was it a Chinese company? Called Pei?”

Aken shook his head, “Not sure, there are many Chinese companies here, I don’t remember the names.”

Nevertheless, if Bai Zhiming was indeed hiding here, it might have been a mine once leased by the Pei family.

As they approached the group sifting through the stones, it was still too far to identify anyone clearly.

Yu Duqiu paused, using the trees for cover, and told Aken, “Go check if there’s the man from the photo. If there is, take a photo and send it to us; your task will be complete. If not, ask those people if they’ve seen him.”

Aken nodded and walked out from the trees towards the group.

“He’s a local; he won’t arouse suspicion.” Yu Duqiu pulled back Bai Zhao, who was standing too far out, “Put on a mask, in case Bai Zhiming sees you. Among us, he only knows you; you’re the most likely to be recognized.”

Bai Zhao complied, half of his face now hidden behind a black mask, making his eyes look even more rugged and dashing.

Yu Duqiu couldn’t help but look at him a couple of times, not even noticing when Aken returned until the young man called out, “Mr. Yu?”

Yu Duqiu turned back in surprise, “Why are you back so quickly?”

Aken scratched his head, “I mentioned a man with a missing finger, and they said they had seen him. They even pointed out the direction. The person you’re looking for lives on the mountain across the river, see that black house?”

Everyone looked in that direction—

After crossing the river, indeed, there was a small, low house near the top of the opposite mountain, half-hidden by tall trees, only the black tip visible, almost impossible to spot unless looked at closely.

To reach there, they would inevitably have to cross the valley.

Yu Duqiu hesitated, “How do those people by the stream know where Bai Zhiming lives? Aken, do they have weapons?”

Aken shook his head, “Just some hammers and sieves for mining gems, nothing else.”

Yu Duqiu’s gaze swept over the others behind him. Each of them could easily handle two Akens, and the people by the stream looked quite thin and weak. Even if they had bad intentions, dealing with them shouldn’t be a problem.

“Alright, let’s go over there.” He left three bodyguards behind, “Stay here. If anything happens behind us, notify us immediately. If we don’t return or contact you within three hours, call the police. Aken, you wait here with them; it’s safer.”

Though it sounded like concern, everyone knew his nature; he was just worried that Aken might be tricking them, so he left guards to watch over.

After the arrangements, Yu Duqiu led three personal bodyguards, one accompanying bodyguard, and a police officer temporarily acting as a bodyguard.

This group was quite formidable, especially in such a remote place, instantly drawing the attention of the group by the stream.

As Ji Lin passed them, he kept a wary eye on them. They indeed looked like commoners, in tattered short-sleeved shirts and shorts, barefoot in the yellowish stream, sifting through small pebbles with an iron can beside them for storing gems, seemingly with little success.

Those people watched them leave, and Zhou Yi glanced back, feeling their gazes were sinister, perhaps just psychological.

The distance between the mountains looked short, but walking to the house they saw from the opposite side was like climbing to heaven.

There was no path to speak of, only flat spots among the stones to step on. Above, dense leaves formed a canopy blocking the sky, casting dappled shadows that made one dizzy and disoriented, growing darker the deeper into the forest they went.

“This place is far worse than your villa; how can Bai Zhiming stand it?” Yu Duqiu climbed, holding onto a thick tree trunk, quietly asking Bai Zhao, “From what you know of him, would he really live here?”

Bai Zhao, with his hand raised behind Yu Duqiu for protection, said, “He’s a hedonist, but also adaptable. I can’t be sure.”

Ji Lin, leading the way, turned back and shushed them, “Quiet, we can see the house.”

Everyone looked up — through the dense forest, they could vaguely see a gray cement house, relatively decent compared to the local housing standards.

The door seemed to face their direction, so Ji Lin signaled for them to circle around to the back to avoid being seen.

They lightened their steps, holding their breath, silently moving around, the rustling of small leaves covered by the mountain breeze, inaudible even to the sharpest ears.

This detour took another half hour; adding the time spent climbing, it had been an hour and a half. Yu Duqiu checked his phone, showing it was 3 PM. He didn’t know if the rain Aken mentioned would come down; if it did, descending would be difficult.

They found a flat rock behind the house to rest, carefully finding cover to hide and observe the house about forty to fifty meters below.

Up close, the house’s exterior wasn’t painted gray; it was just dilapidated, with peeling paint revealing the cement underneath. There were also cement bags scattered around, looking like an abandoned shack in the wilderness, hardly seeming like anyone lived there.

Just as they thought this, they heard a woman’s faint sobbing.

In this eerie wilderness, the sound could make one’s hair stand on end.

Fortunately, they were all brave, and with Yu Duqiu, the staunch materialist, leading, no one would mistake it for a ghost’s cry.

The woman cried for a few minutes, then there was a clear “creak,” echoing in the quiet forest, as if someone had exited the house.

Everyone’s nerves tensed, eyes fixed on the scene below — a woman, dressed simply and somewhat unkempt, came out, leaning against an old, slanting tree, one hand wiping tears, the other cradling her pregnant belly.

In such a desolate, dilapidated place, there was actually a pregnant woman.

Could this be Bai Zhiming’s girlfriend? Had he suddenly become capable of healing?

If Lu Qing were here, she would certainly roll her eyes at these men: “Please, when Bai Zhiming went to buy painkillers, he mentioned his girlfriend was having menstrual cramps. How could this pregnant woman have menstrual cramps? There must be something wrong here! Either Bai Zhiming lied, or this isn’t his girlfriend.”

However, among the most intelligent of their group, all were men, and none were particularly sensitive to female physiology. In their surprise, they didn’t catch this inconsistency, and then something even more shocking happened—

The man who followed the woman out made everyone change color!

The man had large ears, a broad back, and muscular frame, wearing an old man’s vest, his muscles bulging like Lou Baoguo’s.

Though familiar with this face from case files, everyone’s gaze immediately went to the person who knew this face best — Bai Zhao, whose fierce eyes confirmed their guess.

“It’s him.”

This short, hoarse phrase struck like a heavy blow to everyone’s heart.

Ji Lin clenched his fists involuntarily, his blood boiling to his brain, his usually gentle features showing a rare killing intent, his voice low and trembling with rage, “Bai Zhiming… we’ve finally found you.”