# 870
Chapter 871: The Faint Red Moon
Ningchang County.
Sunset Coastline.
Rows of black vans raced along the broad road, stopping at the edge of the coastline. Large numbers of personnel climbed out of the vehicles, silently and swiftly setting up a perimeter along the coastline.
"Hey? What's going on? Why is this place blocked off?"
"Yeah, isn't this a scenic spot?"
"What's happening up ahead?"
"No idea…"
"…"
The tourists who were still taking photos by the coast witnessed this scene and immediately began discussing among themselves. Soon, someone came to maintain order, dispersing the tourists and completely sealing off the entrance to the scenic area.
A sedan pulled up near the perimeter, and several figures draped in dark red cloaks stepped out, quickly approaching the coastline.
"Hello, I'm Zhou Dao, captain of Team 197 stationed in Ningchang County." The man in front extended his hand, shaking it with another man who had just finished dispersing the tourists.
"I'm Lü Ruici, a special investigator dispatched from the Shangjing City headquarters."
After the handshake, the two quickly walked past the perimeter line, heading toward the coastline ahead.
"What's the situation here?" Zhou Dao looked at the busy crowd, puzzled. "Didn't we come to search for the missing Mask Squad? Why is such a big setup arranged here?"
"This is an order directly from Commander Zuo Qing himself. Master Chen is also on his way."
"Has the situation become that serious?"
Lü Ruici didn't elaborate much, only nodding slightly. He extended his hand, pointing toward the end of the coastline ahead.
"Were there any incidents that happened near here before?"
Zhou Dao thought for a moment. "No, there haven't been any 'mystery' events near here, but after receiving your message, I immediately checked the local police archives and found three missing person cases."
"Missing person cases?"
"Yes, all were tourists who came to play near here and then suddenly disappeared. The oldest case dates back over thirty years, and the people still haven't been found."
Lü Ruici nodded thoughtfully.
"Shouldn't we go in and scout the situation first?" Zhou Dao noticed everyone standing neatly outside the perimeter line, not taking a single step in, and couldn't help but ask.
"No, Commander Zuo Qing has ordered that we can only act when Master Chen arrives." Lü Ruici said firmly.
"When will Master Chen get here?"
Lü Ruici was about to speak when, as if sensing something, he turned to look toward the end of the horizon.
Between the azure sky and the sea, a carriage passed through the rolling waves like a phantom, its hooves touching the water's surface as it approached at an astonishing speed. With the swaying of the carriage, copper bells hanging at the front of the carriage compartment jingled endlessly.
"He's here." A faint smile curved Lü Ruici's lips.
The phantom carriage swept across the sea surface at a stunning speed, finally stopping in front of the two men.
The carriage door curtain was lifted, and Master Chen, in his gray robe, sat behind a low table, cup in hand, his calm gaze sweeping over the two men as he asked, "Who is Lü Ruici?"
"It's me, Master Chen."
"Where is the place Zuo Qing mentioned? Is there any news from the Night Watch squad?"
"The Night Watch squad still has no news…" Lü Ruici extended his hand, pointing in a certain direction. "But the coordinates they left before disappearing are right ahead. Commander Zuo Qing instructed us to cooperate with your operations once you've arrived."
"Alright."
Master Chen nodded. "Everyone get in the carriage. Let's go take a look."
Zhou Dao was stunned. He turned to look at Lü Ruici, who gave him a slight nod, then took the first step into the carriage compartment. Zhou Dao followed closely behind.
"This carriage looks brand new." Zhou Dao sat inside the carriage, curiously examining his surroundings, and couldn't help but say.
Master Chen's hand holding the cup trembled slightly.
Lü Ruici cleared his throat softly, leaning close to Zhou Dao's ear and whispering, "During the god war two years ago, Master Chen's carriage was smashed by the Nine Pillar Gods… This is a new one."
Only then did Zhou Dao realize he had said something wrong, and he awkwardly lowered his head.
"There's nothing shameful about it." Master Chen slowly sipped his tea, his gaze unruffled. "Back then, I truly was no match for the gods…"
His gaze drifted to the bird-and-flower-filled Mindscape outside the window, then continued,
"But now, they can no longer do that."
"Giddap!"
The page boy sitting at the front of the carriage drove the horses forward. The copper bells hanging under the eaves jingled once more. Master Chen waved his hand gently, and the bird-and-flower-filled Mindscape outside the window vanished without a trace. In the next instant, all the walls and ceiling of the carriage compartment faded like an ink painting. Sitting inside the carriage, one could clearly see the scenery of the coastline outside.
"360-degree panoramic sunroof?" Zhou Dao's jaw dropped in shock. "Is this new carriage that smart?"
Lü Ruici shot him a glare, and Zhou Dao quietly shut his mouth again.
The carriage raced forward, the coastline outside the window blurring past. Lü Ruici's brow furrowed tighter and tighter.
"That's strange… It should be right here." Lü Ruici looked around in all directions, puzzled. "Where's the fishing village? Why can't we see the fishing village?"
Waves crashed against the gray-brown shore. Around the carriage was nothing but barren rubble and gravel—not a single hermit crab, let alone the fishing village Lin Qiye had mentioned on the phone.
"Could the address be wrong?" Zhou Dao asked.
"Impossible. The signal location from that last phone call was also here. It can't be wrong."
Just then, Master Chen, who had been sitting with his eyes closed in meditation, seemed to sense something. He opened his eyes and suddenly said, "Stop."
The page boy tightened the reins, and the carriage came to a rapid halt.
Master Chen's figure flickered, flying directly out of the carriage. In his gray robe, he stood on the barren rubble and gravel, his brow slightly furrowed.
Zhou Dao and Lü Ruici got out as well, looking around but finding nothing.
"Master Chen, what did you discover?"
Master Chen didn't answer. He stood on the shore, gazing up at the azure sky, his eyes slightly narrowed.
After a long while, he raised his hand, pointing toward the half-hidden, half-visible shadow of the moon in the sky.
"From this angle… the moon is red."
…
Shangjing City, Night Watch Headquarters.
"Can't find that fishing village?" Zuo Qing received the phone call, his expression growing grave. After careful contemplation, he said, "Chen Lu didn't deny the existence of that fishing village, which means the address Lin Qiye gave should be correct. Perhaps that fishing village has hidden itself using some other means…"
Zuo Qing glanced at Chen Lu, who was still in the interrogation room. In his mind, every segment of their conversation flashed rapidly.
In the initial part of the conversation, Chen Lu had been very surprised that they had found the fishing village, but when he answered the date, Chen Lu laughed instead…
Could the key to entering the fishing village be the date?