176: Another city

Shen Mingyuan looked at Xu Lang, whose expression was a mix of terror and confusion, and didn't press for further details. Instead, he synthesized the available information to offer a preliminary inference based on realistic logic.

"Calm down and listen," Shen Mingyuan's voice carried a stabilizing force. "Given the current situation—no body found, no missing person report filed, no investigation targeting you—it's highly likely that Sun Qian isn't dead."

Xu Lang jerked his head up, his eyes bursting with an unbelievable light, mingling wild joy with deeper anxiety: "Not... not dead?!"

"This is the speculation that best fits the current 'abnormally calm' state of affairs."

Shen Mingyuan analyzed coolly, "Whether the body was disposed of by enemies or accomplices, or some unknown third party intervened to cover it up, it would inevitably involve more people, more complex actions, and be more likely to leave new, traceable clues.

The difficulty of that kind of 'perfect disappearance' far exceeds your imagination. But if Sun Qian himself isn't dead, everything becomes much simpler—he chose not to report to the police for some reason, treating his wounds and hiding himself, which best explains why things are so calm.

More importantly, if he were really dead or missing long-term, his social connections couldn't possibly remain completely silent; at the very least, a 'missing person' filing would likely already exist. But right now, there's nothing."

As Xu Lang listened, his rapid breathing eased slightly, as if grasping a floating log while drowning. But the next second, that log turned into a red-hot branding iron.

"He's not dead... he's not dead..."

Xu Lang murmured repeatedly, the color briefly returning to his face only to drain away again, his eyes once more seized by fear. "Then... then aren't my family in even greater danger?! He must hate me to death! He'll definitely retaliate even more fiercely! My parents, my sister... it's over."

"Don't scare yourself first," Shen Mingyuan's voice was resolute, cutting off Xu Lang's surging panic again. "Retaliation requires time and capability. If he's really badly injured, the most likely thing right now is self-preservation, not immediately arranging for people to cross provinces to trouble your family. But speculation is useless; we must verify. Now, immediately, call your parents and sister again, use the most ordinary tone, confirm their current safety, and whether there's been anything unusual today. Remember, ask clearly, but don't give anything away."

Stunned by Shen Mingyuan's steady presence, Xu Lang took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the trembling in his throat, and picked up his phone again. He first called his parents; the call connected quickly.

"Mom, it's me... yeah, nothing, just suddenly missing you, calling to check in... is everything okay at home? Is Dad's back alright?... Oh, that's good.

Recently... have there been any strangers coming to the door, or any strange calls? No?

Okay, okay, nothing, I was just asking randomly, been watching too much news lately, worrying over nothing... me?

I'm on a business trip, taking the chance to visit an old classmate, yeah, Shen Mingyuan, right, haven't seen him in ages, catching up... no, no, as long as you're all fine, I'll hang up now."

After hanging up on his parents, Xu Lang relaxed a little, then quickly dialed his sister's number.

His sister's voice was clear, carrying the unique vitality of campus life, sounding completely normal. She found her brother's "concern" only a bit surprising and amusing, not mentioning anything amiss.

Ending the call, Xu Lang looked at Shen Mingyuan, the frantic fear in his eyes fading considerably, replaced by a dazed exhaustion and lingering fear after the ordeal.

"They... they're all fine. Sounds completely normal."

"No immediate signs of retaliation; this aligns with the speculation that his own situation might be unfavorable."

Shen Mingyuan analyzed, his fingers unconsciously tapping his knee. "But this doesn't mean the threat is gone.

As long as Sun Qian is still around and remembers this debt, you and your family are far from safe. Hiding here with me isn't a long-term solution."

Xu Lang lowered his head, his voice muffled: "I... I want to go back. Sneak back to check the situation. Hiding forever isn't a solution, and... I'm worried about home too."

Hearing this, Shen Mingyuan didn't immediately object but fell silent for a moment, his gaze shifting between Xu Lang's fear-stricken face and the heavy night outside the window.

The Detective's instinct was warning him—Xu Lang's account still had vague points, Sun Qian's life or death and movements were a mystery, the entire event like a thorny bush wrapped in gray fog.

And the lawyer's rationality reminded him that Xu Lang's current state and choices came with enormous legal and personal risks.

A few seconds later, he made a decision.

"I'll go back with you," Shen Mingyuan said calmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

"What?" Xu Lang jerked his head up, astonished. "You're coming with me? That... that won't do! It's too dangerous, it'll drag you into this too!"

"Precisely because it's dangerous, and you're already involved, that's why I need to go even more."

Shen Mingyuan stood up, walked to the window, his back to Xu Lang, his voice clear and cool. "In your current state, going back alone, I'm not at ease.

If Sun Qian isn't dead, or if his accomplices make a move, you likely won't be able to handle it, might even act irrationally again. And—"

He turned around, his gaze behind his glasses sharp as ever, reigniting the investigative flame that Xu Lang recognized as belonging to "Detective Shen Mingyuan."

"—this matter itself is a 'case' that needs to be cleared up.

If Sun Qian isn't dead, why is he hiding without reporting? Is he too injured to move, or planning something else?

If there's a deeper network behind him, could this incident reveal more? Without clarifying these questions, your danger can't be fundamentally resolved.

I'm in the shadows; he probably doesn't know the specifics of your relationship with me right now.

I can use other identities to probe the situation from the side, see what's really going on with Sun Qian, if there's any unusual activity in his territory.

If we can find an opportunity to gather some evidence that can put him away for good, that's the permanent solution.

Even if not immediately possible, at least I can help you assess the risks, let you and your family take precautions."

Shen Mingyuan's reasons unfolded layer by layer, mixing concern with cool calculation. Xu Lang opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but found every point hit the mark.

He really was like a startled bird now, his rationality and courage gnawed away by fear, leaving little behind. Having someone trustworthy and clear-headed by his side was almost a longed-for support.

Moreover, Shen Mingyuan's proposal of "probing" and "finding evidence," though sounding risky, genuinely pointed toward solving the problem, not just fleeing endlessly or waiting for disaster to strike.

Struggling for a moment, Xu Lang finally nodded heavily, his voice hoarse: "...Alright. Mingyuan, thank you. I... I really don't know how to..."

"Save the pleasantries for later," Shen Mingyuan waved him off, already shifting into execution mode. "You need to calm down, rest here for a bit, we'll leave at dawn. For now, I'll handle some things on my end."

He walked back to the desk, opened his computer, and picked up his phone, dialing the law firm partner Director Wang.

"Director Wang, it's me, Mingyuan. Yeah, there's something I need to ask for leave about... right, a sudden urgent matter, need to be away for a while.

An old classmate here has some important personal affairs needing my help, quite tricky, might take some time and effort... specific duration? About a month or so.

Yes, during this time, my cases will trouble you and the other colleagues more... compensation-wise?"

Shen Mingyuan glanced at Xu Lang, full of guilt and gratitude, and continued into the receiver, "My classmate here is willing to pay a corresponding fee in the form of a special legal consultant to cover my absence and the impact on the firm... yeah, good, specific details I'll have him coordinate directly with finance. Thanks for understanding, Director."

Hanging up, Shen Mingyuan briefly explained to Xu Lang: "Saved you the trouble of explaining, and used your name to prepay the fee, so the firm won't dig deeper, and I have a reasonable gap period. Consider this money you owe me; we'll settle it later."

Xu Lang quickly nodded; right now, forget money, as long as there was a way out, he'd agree to anything.

"At dawn, you drive your car, I'll drive mine, we leave separately, destination set to your city. Keep in touch by phone on the road, but not too frequently.

Once in the city, first find a safe place to settle you, don't go directly home. After that, we'll discuss the next steps."