Mo Ran looks down at the paper in hand then looks around. Eyes stopping at a building easily seen in the distance.
"Shizun that should be it." He says motioning to an inn to their right.
"Mm." Wanning nods. They walk side by side as they head towards the inn. Mo Ran looks at Wanning from the corner of his eye. The older of the two has been on the quiet side since it was agreed they would go on the mission.
"Let me hear it." Wanning says.
"I would have asked someone else but... in this particular instance I think you would be perfect for it." Wanning raises an eyebrow in question at that remark. Seeing the question on both of their faces Zhengyong continues. "There has been a ghost hunting an inn. The inn owner asked for help. The ghost has been kidnapping wives of the travelers. I think you should go. Though it will require you go with someone else as your husband."
Wanning only sat still while staring shocked. Which is justified.
"Just the wives?" Wanning wonders.
"Yes. There have been many cases of husbands waking up in the morning by themselves. At first it was thought that maybe the wives ran away but after so many times and all in the same inn. It can't be a coincidence. The body of the first victims wive was found not to long. Upon inspection we can conclude she didn't run away. And it wasn't... normal, the wounds on her body." Zhengyong looks disturbed by this.
"Want me to be bait?" Wanning wonders.
"I sent another pair to investigate but nothing happened. Both were men so nothing happened. I don't want to send someone inexperienced. With the way you are now it seems like a good idea. Of course it's your choice. Will you go?" Zhengyong wonders. "It will also require you to go with someone as your husband." He adds.
They enter the inn, not the one where the wives go missing. They are a town away. But they will stop here for the night and head to the actual one in the morning. They look around, it's not busy but it's not empty either. They spot a man, older man, drinking at a table by himself. His clothes standing out by how nice they are.
The couple exchange a look. Heading towards the old man. He sat drinking tea. "Chang Fang?" Mo Ran speaks up. The older man snaps his head to the two. He takes in their appearance. Mo Ran tall and muscled, with his black robes on, a bit of his chest showing. The usual. Then there's Wanning. After consulting madam Wang Wanning has put on his own robes, his cultivation robes, the ones that don't do much to hide his body. Chang Fang blinks at Wanning, no lust or want, he is surprised. Wanning levels a look at him. After a blink he stands up bowing at the two.
"You must be the young master Zhen-zongshi told me about. Thank you for helping." Chang Fang says. The couple bow back.
"It's our job." Mo Ran says with a smile, besides him Wanning nods.
"Please." Chang Fang holds his arm out, motioning for them to sit down, joining him at his table. He watches as Mo Ran help Wanning sit first. Then he sits next to her. "Your wife is also a cultivator?" Chang Fang asks, to make sure, not wanting a woman to get hurt. Especially not one as beautiful as her.
"Yes." Mo Ran grins, loving the way that sounds. Wanning nods keeping a straight face, wanting so bad to correct the man, they are dating. But Wanning lets it slide, for the mission. The older of the couple not minding having to not talk as much. Plus the less people who know they are not married the better for the mission. "Uncle said you'd tell us more." Mo Ran starts.
"Yes." Chang Fang snaps his attention to Mo Ran. "It started three months ago. The inn I own is large and in a very good spot so many people come by."
"What can you tells us about the victims and how they were taken?" Mo Ran asks cutting him off.
"I am not sure but it's mostly sometimes during the last light and before the rooster wakes."
"Are you positive it wasn't a person who did this?" Wanning wonders.
"A person?" The man looks at Wanning stunned in horror. Not able to believe another person would do this. "Why would they?" Wanning and Mo Ran look at each other at that statement. After what they've been through it's not so outlandish of a thought. "It can not be a person. If it were we would have seen them. Because our inn is so large I have many workers. One take morning shift. After noon shift, last is an evening shift. The evening shift last until the morning shift, wandering the halls or at the front desk in case a customer checks in or is in need of something." the man explains with a shake of his head.
Mo Ran and Wanning think about it for a second. If the inn is large enough not only would a worker have seen something but so would a customer. What's also curious is if the woman were taken, kidnapped, why didn't they fight back? That would have caused a disturbance gaining many people's attention. But no one saw or heard a thing.
"Were the woman who were taken all married? There was no single woman?" Wanning wonders.
"It was all married woman." Chang Fang nods.
"Were all their bodies found?" Mo Ran asks.
"Yes. Recently. Because of the incident rumors have spread and couples aren't staying at our inn. Now we only have men traveling. Even the single women no longer come around. It's hurting our revenue." Chang Fang looks down upset.
"Is it just your inn?" Wanning asks, thinking it weird it's just one inn that's having the problems.
"Yes. There hasn't been problem for the others." Chang Fang answers with misty eyes.
"Were the woman bodies found in the same place?" Wanning wonders.
"Yes. Near the mountain range south east of our town."
Wanning turn his head to think. It's particular this case. "Wanning?" Mo Ran calls. The small man looks at his... husband.
"Mm?" Wanning hums trying not to think about the fact they've gone as husband and wife. Zhengyong had asked Wanning to go with someone and he would have chosen Mo Ran, they are dating so it's not awkward like it would be with someone else. No one else would have wanted to act like a couple him. But he didn't know how to bring it up casually. He didn't want to sound desperate either.
"What do you think?" Mo Ran wonders. A large smile on his face. Hasn't been able to stop since they left the peak. He knows their relationship should be a secret but after being asked who would join him, the sight of Wanning thinking so serious made Mo Ran think. Mind jumping to conclusions. What if Wanning asked Tanlang? With the gossip around those two the last thing those two need is a situation to add to it. Plus Mo Ran blood boiled at the thought so he volunteered. Maybe he was to eager because uncle gave them both a silent look, observing them. He said okay, smiled in his usual joyful way.
"It's worth checking out. We won't solve everything by sitting here and guessing." Wanning answers his husband.
"I see. Will you both be traveling back with me?" Chang Fang wonders, a hopeful spark in his eyes.
The two shake their head, the older man slumps his shoulders. "We need to prepare tonight. Plus it would be suspicious if we came with you. We don't know how the ghost works so we need everything to be as similar to the others." Mo Ran explains. "That means acting like you've never meet us before." He adds.
"With the rumors no one will be hurt. But in case there are some do try to shoo any couple away. We'll be there tomorrow." Wanning says. The man nods.
"Then I'll take my leave." The man gives them a bow before leaving. After the man pays and leaves Wanning and Mo Ran stand. Moving to get a room.
Though it's only after Mo Ran has gotten them a room that he thinks maybe he should slow down. Ever since he jumped in and volunteered Wanning hasn't... been himself. The whole time here was silent. Not the comfortable silence Mo Ran knows and loves. Maybe Wanning didn't like it? Would he have wanted someone else to go with him?