Worried that the bad guys might recognize them, Elder Zhang offered them new change of clothes. With the presents Elder Zhang gave them, they looked just like normal villagers.
"Kids, remember to come back to visit if you have time. I'm too old to be moving about anymore. Girl, if you have the chance, pay a visit to 22 High School and find Ling Er. Tell her that her grandpa misses her!" Elder Zhang couldn't help the tears. Mo Li felt quite melancholic, she reckoned her family would be worried sick too. Mo Li nodded heavily, telling Elder Zhang that she would. Even Quan Yu waved goodbye to the old man. Even after they walked down the path and couldn't see the old man anymore, Mo Li still turned her head around to look occasionally.
"There's always no gathering that doesn't end. Furthermore, we better go home. Your family must be looking crazy for you.." Mo Li was startled. She turned to look at the man who was holding her hand tight. Since when have I gotten used to having him around? The words Quan Yu said echoed in his mind. Go home...
"What's wrong?" Feeling Mo Li's eyes on him, Quan Yu turned to her. He was charmed again. Perhaps only Mo Li can make villager's clothes look so fashionable and sexy.
Mo Li suddenly laughed and made a decision, "Hey, after we reach the city safely, do you want to come to my home?"
"Hmm? I'm going to drop you off first. Do you really think I'm going to leave you to journey home on your own while I hop away in the car?" Quan Yu chuckled to himself. What an interesting girl.
Mo Li shook her head. "I didn't mean it that way. I mean, would you like to visit my grandparents and have a meal with us?" Mo Li would never drag things out. Once she set her mind on something, she would cut straight to it. It was also because of this resoluteness that had attracted Quan Yu.
He liked that whenever Mo Li had decided something, she would immediately pursue it. She was not one to mince her words and prevaricate.
Before Quan Yu could savor the moment, they heard a man roar.
"The two of you, go over there!"
"Block off this road, even if we have to wait here all day, we will!"
"Unless that Quan bastard knows how to grow wings, he's not getting out of this mountain!"
Hearing that familiar threat, Quan Yu led Mo Li and slowly retreated. They shared a look and knew each other's thought. Instead of taking the main road pointed out by Elder Zhang, they decided to segue into the forest, it was safer.
"Based on the direction given by Elder Zhang, we should head this way." Mo Li whispered. Her mind was clear. Quan Yu nodded. Their phones had died. The last message he sent was to Ah Si. But it was unknown if Ah Si had received it or not.
"Be careful." Mo Li was wearing student shoes. It was not suitable for jungle trekking. The ground was uneven with roots and vines.
"Do you smell that?" Mo Li suddenly asked Quan Yu. A familiar smell lingered around her nose, causing her to stop.
Mo Li turned to look down a direction and Quan Yu did too. He didn't notice any smell, other than the smell of trees and wild flowers.
"This way." Mo Li took the initiative. As she led Quan Yu closer to the spot, the heavier the smell. "Well, this is unexpected."
They walked into a grassy clearing. The weeds almost reached Mo Li's waist. "One moment." Mo Li stopped Quan Yu and stared at a spot before them.
Quan Yu was confused. He picked up a wooden stick to push the weeds aside. Instantly there was a rustling. It was a litter of feral cats. Quan Yu had disturbed their feast. Through the weeds, they saw something unsightly.
"Is that..." Even though they were prepared, when they parted the weeds fully, their hearts still jumped.
It was a girl's face! The girl was only Mo Li's age!
The girl's death was horrifying. The girl was probably buried but she had been dug up by the feral cats looking for food.
The closest human community was the small village where they had just departed from! So did this girl come from there? Did someone from the villager bury her here? Was this an accident or murder?
"We need to take care of ourselves first. After we leave this place, we'll have to call the police."