# 1173
Chapter 1174: The Two Who Disappeared
It was him…
From what Zuo Qing meant, was Doctor Li really not that simple?
After a moment of thought, Lin Qiye became certain of this assumption. How could a doctor who independently managed a psychiatric hospital in the most core area of the Purification Chamber—a maximum-security prison for malignant supernaturals—be an ordinary person?
"This matter can only be entrusted to you." Zuo Qing instructed. "The power of the 【Dominating Emperor】 is too strong, and combined with this child's extreme personality, if something were to happen, there wouldn't be many people in the Night Watch capable of controlling him. Besides, you're the one who captured him personally. You must ensure he is delivered to the Purification Chamber intact."
"Understood." Lin Qiye nodded.
Lin Qiye hung up the phone, his gaze sweeping across the empty interrogation room. He sighed deeply.
Wu Quan had already been taken away by Baili Pangpang and the others to a teahouse nearby. Presumably, Old Man Liu had also arrived in the area by now.
Lin Qiye pushed open the door and stepped out.
When he approached the teahouse, he saw Wu Quan and Old Man Liu sitting in the most conspicuous spot by the glass door. Baili Pangpang and the others were seated in the coffee shop across the street, keeping distant surveillance on their position.
Lin Qiye didn't go to disturb Wu Quan and Old Man Liu. Instead, he walked into the coffee shop, sat down, and quietly observed the situation inside the teahouse using his spiritual power.
"Any news from headquarters?" Baili Pangpang asked.
"Yeah."
Lin Qiye shared the information about the 【Dominating Emperor】. Shock appeared on everyone's faces.
"The Fourth King's Ruins… this kid is that powerful?" Baili Pangpang murmured to himself. "And he's only fifteen. If we give him another two or three years, wouldn't he be on par with the captains of the special squads? That's insane!"
"If two or three years pass and he doesn't die from his lifespan defect, his strength should far surpass the captains of the special squads… after all—"
"Why?" Cao Yuan asked in confusion.
"His personality is too extreme. Having him in the Night Watch might carry more risk than benefit. After all, no one can guarantee whether, if he goes mad, he might destroy an entire city. Moreover, he still has thirty-something lives on his conscience."
"Besides, his situation is different from Old Cao's. The lives Old Cao took were caused by Black King losing control unintentionally… But this kid? He actually has the guts to do it with his own hands."
"Sigh… It's just a shame about that legendary Fourth King's Ruins. This is the same type of King's Ruins that the Marquis had!"
"Actually, as long as someone can discipline him properly, he might surprisingly be effective at critical moments."
While they were chatting, inside the teahouse, Old Man Liu and Wu Quan stood up from their seats and pushed open the door to leave.
Old Man Liu pulled Wu Quan by the shoulder on the street, fished around in his pocket, and handed the last two hundred-dollar bills to Wu Quan, seriously giving him some instructions before turning around to leave.
Lin Qiye and the others walked up to Wu Quan. Just as they were about to ask something, the latter suddenly spoke:
"Let's go. Weren't you going to take me away? Let's set out now."
"Now?" Lin Qiye was stunned. "Why the sudden rush? What did you say to him?"
"I tricked him into thinking I was going out with my classmates for a meal."
Cao Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Going out for a meal? That's too careless an excuse… You could have told him you were joining the military, like your brother did."
Wu Quan shook his head. "Don't underestimate Liu Grandpa. Although he's old, he started out in business. He's not that easy to fool. Which military branch even recruits minors these days?
Besides, even if he believed me, he wouldn't let me leave… When Qingzhu brother went to join the military, Liu Grandpa didn't let him go either. It was only after Qingzhu acted first and apologized later by climbing over the wall that he left. If I had just told him face-to-face like that, I really wouldn't have been able to leave today."
"After you leave, won't he panic even more when he discovers you're missing? What if he searches for you all over the world?" Baili Pangpang frowned.
"He won't. I just wrote him a letter. After he reads it, he won't come looking for me."
"Letter?" Lin Qiye was stunned.
"I've been with you the whole time. When did you write a letter?"
Wu Quan didn't answer. He simply turned around calmly, his gaze falling on two figures standing across the street…
…
Hanshan Orphanage.
The rain in the sky had gradually stopped, but heavy dark clouds still covered the sky.
Old Man Liu folded his umbrella, pushed open the iron gate, and strode directly toward the kitchen. At the same time, he shouted toward the house:
"Brats! Get ready for dinner!"
Old Man Liu's voice echoed through the courtyard and the house. The entire orphanage was deathly quiet, with only the water accumulating on the eaves dripping into puddles below, making soft dripping sounds.
Old Man Liu habitually walked into the kitchen, tied on his apron, and poured last night's leftovers into the wok. As he skillfully stir-fried, he muttered toward the outside:
"Xiaoquan is going out to eat with his classmates today, so he won't be back. We'll just have something simple for the few of us."
"After eating, we'll go buy some vegetables in the afternoon and make braised pork for dinner tonight!"
"Xiaoyan, have you finished today's homework? If you're done, bring me that bag of salt from the cabinet."
"…Xiaoyan? Xiaoyan?"
Old Man Liu called out several times, but no one in the courtyard answered. His brow furrowed. He turned off the stove and hurried out of the kitchen.
In the silence, Old Man Liu pushed open the door to the small dormitory.
"Xiaoyan?"
He entered the small dormitory, only to find Liu Xiaoyan's and Qian Cheng's beds completely empty. Only three of the youngest children were茫然地爬起来。
They rubbed their sleepy eyes and said quietly:
"Liu Grandpa… you're back?"
"Where are Xiaoyan and Qian Cheng?" Old Man Liu's brow was tightly knit.
"Xiaoyan sister and Qian Cheng brother… seem to have gone out."
"Out? Where?"
"We don't know. As soon as you left on that phone call, they started packing their things. Brother Qian Cheng even gave each of us a glass of juice. After drinking it, we somehow fell asleep…"
"Oh yeah, before I fell asleep, I think I saw Sister Xiaoyan writing something at the desk!"
"Yeah, yeah, I saw that too."
The three children's consciousness gradually returned to clarity. They began chattering excitedly. Old Man Liu quickly walked to the desk, and sure enough, found a letter there.
He quickly unfolded the letter and read it carefully.
His pupils constricted slightly!
"Going adventuring with Wu Quan… Going adventuring? How is this possible…" Old Man Liu's hand holding the letter trembled. He muttered to himself.
For some unknown reason, images of Wu Quan and Lin Qiye's group flashed through his mind.
The strange fire, Xiao Shen joining the military, comrades visiting, Wu Quan leaving without a word—Xiaoyan and Qian Cheng leaving without saying goodbye.
Thoughts raced through his mind. Old Man Liu's brow furrowed tighter and tighter. He stared at the letter in his hand for a long while before placing it on the desk.
"All of you… all of you have things you want to hide from me… Do you really think I can't notice anything…" Old Man Liu stared at the gloomy sky outside the window, his voice hoarse.
He stood there like a statue. After a long while, he gritted his teeth and rushed out the door!
He mounted the old electric scooter at the entrance, forcefully twisted the handle, and disappeared rapidly into the alley.
Some people are dead, but not completely dead…