Mr. He and the butler searched for a whole day but couldn't find Shen Qingqing. Both began to despair. The little one was gone, and the big one had also disappeared.
"Sir, should we notify Fu Jingshu?" the butler asked.
Mr. He took a deep breath and said, "Call him."
As soon as he finished speaking, a voice came from behind them.
"No need."
Mr. He and the butler turned around abruptly to see Shen Qingqing standing not far away. However, she was no longer the radiant figure she was in the morning.
Her clothes were dirty, her hair messy, and there was a smudge of dirt on her face. She looked quite disheveled, but her expression was as cold as ever.
"I've found a clue."
"Found a clue?!" Mr. He quickly hobbled over, leaning on his cane. He had fallen down a slope while searching earlier and twisted his ankle, so he was still limping. "What clue? Where is he now?"
Shen Qingqing glanced at him. "Follow me."
If not for his genuine effort in searching, she truly wouldn't have bothered with him.
If it weren't for him, Xixi wouldn't have been lost.
Mr. He paid no mind to her indifferent demeanor and limped after her into the woods. The butler followed, earnestly trying to persuade him.
"Sir, you should go back. Miss Shen and I will search."
Mr. He ignored him.
The butler sighed deeply.
As they ventured deeper, the surroundings seemed to grow colder. Sharp winds enveloped them, rustling fallen leaves and dry twigs, making hair-raising sounds.
It felt as if unseen hands were stirring the air.
The search party followed behind. They were accustomed to such places and were not afraid, but as they went deeper, even they began to feel a tremor of fear.
"Do we have to go further in? It's very dangerous inside!"
"There are many wild beasts in there. We came in such a hurry and didn't bring any protective gear. If we encounter danger, two legs alone won't be enough to escape."
The crowd chattered, and Mr. He's gaze fell on Shen Qingqing's back. She was slender, yet she exuded an unwavering determination.
Despite knowing the path ahead was perilous, she showed no fear.
In a daze, he thought he saw someone.
"Sir, sir?" The butler calmed the agitated crowd and then noticed Mr. He's dazed expression. "Sir, what's wrong?"
Mr. He snapped back to attention, shook his head, and his expression instantly returned to normal. "Nothing."
The group walked on for a while. Shen Qingqing occasionally searched the roots of trees, leaving everyone puzzled.
Suddenly, Shen Qingqing stumbled.
Mr. He rushed forward to help her, his gaze falling on her pale face. "Are you alright?"
Shen Qingqing pulled her hand away, stepped back, and rubbed her forehead. Her eyes remained clear. "I'm fine, let's continue."
"Don't push yourself," Mr. He blocked her path. "There's no color in your face. You call this alright?"
"Finding Xixi is what's important."
Shen Qingqing didn't care about herself at all. Her mind was consumed with finding her child. If she couldn't find him, she wouldn't be able to rest even if he told her to go back and recuperate.
Mr. He gritted his teeth. "But if something happens to you, Xixi will be very worried."
Shen Qingqing gave him a cold look.
Mr. He faltered. "I know you blame me, and I'm very remorseful. This is indeed my fault, and I promise you, I will find him."
"I don't trust you."
Shen Qingqing's words were blunt and sharp.
Yet, Mr. He couldn't get angry. At this moment, what right did he have to be angry? He could only offer a wry smile. "I know."
Shen Qingqing strode forward.
Mr. He fell silent for a moment, then followed. The butler and the others also kept pace, but they were all exceptionally quiet.
After about five minutes, Shen Qingqing took out a medicine bottle from her sleeve and poured out more than ten brown pills.
She distributed them to everyone.
They looked at the pills in their hands, unsure of their purpose.
Shen Qingqing explained, "These pills release a scent that can repel wild beasts and poisonous insects, ensuring your safety in the forest. We can't continue like this. We need to split up. This will also increase our chances of finding him."
"But weren't you following markers? We should be able to find the child by following them," someone said.
Shen Qingqing gritted her teeth. "I haven't seen any markers for a long time. I suspect he hasn't gone much further inside and is somewhere nearby."
Upon hearing this, Mr. He issued an order without hesitation.
"Then let's split up and search immediately. If you encounter any danger, blow your whistle to signal for help."
However, the most worrying aspects of this forest were the wild beasts and poisonous insects. Since Shen Qingqing had neutralized them, they had nothing to fear.
"Everyone remember to gather here before it gets dark," Mr. He said sternly.
Everyone nodded. They paired up, clutching the beast-repelling pills, and set off in different directions.
Shen Qingqing stood in place, looking around with a thoughtful expression, and finally chose to head straight forward.
Mr. He told the butler to go to the right, but the butler was unwilling to be separated from him. Reluctantly, the two of them set off together.
The trees were numerous and dense, blocking out the sun. The deeper they went into the forest, the darker it became, and Mr. He's heart sank.
He saw no sign of a child.
Suddenly, the butler exclaimed, "Sir, come look quickly!"
Mr. He quickened his pace. At the base of a large tree, there was half a footprint.
Although it was only half a print, it clearly did not belong to an adult.
"This is Xixi's track!" Mr. He was overjoyed. Since there was a footprint here, it meant they were heading in the right direction!
They then began to search the ground diligently, and their efforts were rewarded. They found a clue left by Xixi.
It was a piece of torn clothing.
Xixi was wearing a sky-blue jacket with white patterns when he went out that day. This torn piece of cloth, embedded in the soil, matched his clothes exactly.
Suddenly, the butler heard a sound.
"Don't come closer!"
He thought it sounded like Xixi's voice.
The butler shared his suspicion with Mr. He, who immediately said, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
With his mobility issues, he almost tripped in his haste, but thankfully the butler caught him in time. The two of them moved towards the source of the sound.
When they finally reached the hillside, after much difficulty, Mr. He's heart turned to ice at the sight before him.
A fierce wolf was confronting Xixi.
He stood at the edge of the slope, a small dagger in his hand, his eyes sharp. Even facing the ferocious wolf, he did not flinch.
He didn't move, and neither did the wolf.
The boy and the wolf stood in a tense, suffocating standoff, on the verge of exploding.