"Oh?" Chu Muyun's eyes narrowed slightly. "What happened?"
Wen Shilin immediately recounted the events in detail. Since Chu Muyun was aware of Chen Ling's objectives and their investigation—effectively half an insider—there was nothing about last night's incident that needed to be concealed.
"So, you're saying there were signs of a struggle at your doorstep, but Chen... but Lin Yan is missing?"
"Exactly. He was most likely taken away by someone."
"I see."
Chu Muyun casually brewed himself a pot of tea. "And you came to me just to tell me this?"
Seeing Chu Muyun so unfazed, Wen Shilin was visibly taken aback. He wondered if it was because Lin Yan and Doctor Chu weren’t actually that close. But that couldn’t be… The two had worked together for so long. Hearing such news, his reaction shouldn’t be so indifferent.
"The Stellar Chamber of Commerce went so far as to deploy outsiders just to target us. If Lin Yan was captured, his chances are slim." Wen Shilin took a deep breath. "Doctor Chu, you hold considerable prestige in Aurora City and have close ties with both the Stellar Chamber of Commerce and the enforcers. Right now, you're the only one who can pull him out."
"Mr. Wen, I think you’ve overestimated my influence. I’m just a doctor."
"Impossible. If everything were normal, Lin Yan would have definitely come back to me." Wen Shilin shook his head firmly. "I don’t misjudge people. He’s not the type to desert when things get tough."
Chu Muyun’s expression turned peculiar. He gave Wen Shilin a long, deep look and sighed inwardly…
This reporter Wen has really been brainwashed by Chen Ling, hasn’t he…
Under Wen Shilin’s persistent pleas, Chu Muyun couldn’t outright refuse—after all, he and Chen Ling had established their personas. After a long pause, he finally nodded.
"Fine, I’ll make a trip to the Stellar Chamber of Commerce… But I can’t guarantee any results."
At this, a weight seemed to lift from Wen Shilin’s heart. He spoke sincerely:
"Thank you, Doctor Chu."
---
Bzzzz—
A piercing alarm reverberated through the Aurora Commerce. Yan Xishou, who had been sitting in his room reviewing documents, froze momentarily before looking up in bewilderment toward the window.
"What now…? Damn it, can’t we have a single peaceful day?!"
Yan Xishou cursed under his breath and stood to leave. Just as he reached for the door handle, it turned on its own—the door swung inward instead…
Yan Xishou stood rooted in place.
Outside, a hunchbacked man carrying a paper figure on his back stood calmly. When his eyes landed on Yan Xishou behind the door, a flicker of surprise passed through them.
"Paper Puppeteer?" Yan Xishou asked, puzzled. "What are you doing here? Did you catch those two journalists?"
Chen Ling studied the man before him and almost instantly superimposed his face with Yan Xicai’s… The resemblance between the two was uncanny, though this man was noticeably older.
No doubt about it—this must be the Stellar Chamber of Commerce’s Young Master, Yan Xishou?
After entering the building, Chen Ling had already scouted most of it. Many rooms were empty, and while the basement seemed to hold plenty, it was sealed behind a heavy metal door. Without a key, he couldn’t proceed… After some hesitation, he decided to risk searching the private offices upstairs. Unexpectedly, he ran into Yan Xishou just as the latter was about to leave.
Chen Ling glanced around, confirming no one was nearby, before stepping into the room and locking the door behind him.
Watching this, the confusion in Yan Xishou’s eyes deepened, "What are you—"
"Young Master, there’s been a prison break in the dungeon. It’s dangerous outside right now," Chen Ling said gravely. "Please don’t wander off."
"Another breakout?" Yan Xishou stiffened before anger flashed across his face. "Lately, every stray cat and dog seems to be escaping… Those useless dungeon guards! Sooner or later, I’ll have them all replaced!"
Chen Ling smirked inwardly, but his expression remained unchanged as he continued, "This breakout seems different from the last one. The intruder deliberately infiltrated… If I’m not mistaken, their target is likely the organ trade investigation. Young Master, have you secured the transaction records?"
"Organ trade?" At these words, Yan Xishou’s face paled slightly, as if pondering something. "The records are in my possession. They should be safe for now—"
"Young Master, given the gravity of the situation, it’s best to hand the records over to me for safekeeping. Just in case the intruder targets you."
As Chen Ling spoke, an invisible serpent slowly coiled around Yan Xishou’s body…
Yan Xishou’s brows furrowed tightly. He stared at the deferential hunchbacked man and spoke in a low voice, "Hand them over to you? Paper Puppeteer, what are you tryi—"
Before Yan Xishou could finish, the Mind Serpent lunged for his mind—but the moment its fangs were about to strike, a blinding white light erupted!
The light came from Yan Xishou’s chest, where a blue necklace trembled violently. At the same time, the serpent coiled around him was forcefully repelled, as if an invisible barrier had expanded from the necklace!
Feeling the necklace’s strange reaction, Yan Xishou’s expression twisted in alarm, "You’re not the Paper Puppeteer?! Who are you?!"
One hand clutched the necklace at his chest as he stumbled back. Seeing this, a cold glint flashed in Chen Ling’s eyes. He pinched a copper coin from his pocket and flicked it lightly.
Ding!
With the flip of the coin, the necklace at Yan Xishou’s chest vanished—swapped in an instant!
Yan Xishou felt something off about the texture in his hand and immediately looked down. The necklace he had been gripping was gone, replaced by a grimy copper coin… He froze in disbelief.
Meanwhile, Chen Ling caught the necklace midair and lunged forward, a whip-like leg slicing toward Yan Xishou’s head!
Everything happened too fast. From Yan Xishou noticing something amiss to the necklace being swapped, less than two seconds had passed. Before Yan Xishou could even process it, a sharp pain exploded at his temple—his vision went black.
Yan Xishou’s head slammed against the hard wall before he crumpled to the ground.
Seeing Yan Xishou unconscious, Chen Ling exhaled silently in relief… His biggest fear had been Yan Xishou possessing multiple protective artifacts. A prolonged struggle would inevitably draw attention, and if the real Paper Puppeteer or other outsiders arrived, escape would be impossible.
Just as Chen Ling was about to search Yan Xishou and the room, faint footsteps approached from outside the door, growing louder…
Knock knock knock—
Urgent raps sounded against the door.
"Young Master, are you in there?"