Mo Ran watches as Chu Wanning, dress more simple and a bit less warm, gets ready to go away as bait. Mo Ran clenches his already closed fit. He still doesn't like the plan but even with three cultivators they found nothing. Which leads to way too many theories.
The ghosts motives.
Where the ghost even came from because no way it came from the village. From what they've learned people don't move and settle in this city because it's nearly impossible. Unless you've got artisan level skills you won't find a job and won't make a living. Most inn are family owned and some won't hire outside workers. Of course there's still farming and the ranch but those families have trade secrets they don't want to share at all.
Then there's what the ghost does, because none of the missing woman have been found. Not even a clue. No body. The woman can still be alive but considering how long it's been since the first woman disappeared she can't be.
Xue Meng tapping his arm brings Mo Ran out of his thinking, eyes immediately focusing on Chu Wanning walking away. The two wait a bit longer for their former teacher to get further away but still within eyesight. Once the distance is good enough they begin following her.
"Be careful." Qing Su whispers to them. Watching as they leave the mansion. She doesn't close the door until she can no longer see their silhouettes.
Mo Ran and Xue Meng quickly learn they have to go really slow in order to not catch up with shizun. Their strides much larger than Wannings. Both making sure to keep an eye on Wanning, not wanting to loose him again. Both levels of worry the same but on a different level of attachment.
While Xue Meng has always admired his shizun, that goes without question, but Chu Wanning has been there, they have known each other for so long they are family. More on the lines of distant cousins. Close but not close enough. There is still a wall. But they are familiar with each other.
For Mo Ran, it's a jumbled mess. Thoughts of his Chu-Fei cold and in his arms, motionless in the pond and always so pale. Horrible images of the way Chu Wanning climbed the stairs with his unconscious body on his back, bleeding so much but determined to save him. All the hurtful things hes done in his past life and this one. It all plagues him at night or in his dreams. The only thing keeping him sane is Wanning in front of him and the dream, the hope, that one day he can make it up to Wanning, to apologize.
Once the two join Wanning in the rather thick forest they decide to stray from the path and observe Wanning from afar in the foliage of the forest. The density helping in keeping them hidden from sight and masking their presence with the forest creatures.
So far nothing happens.
Still nothing.
Nothing.
...
All three begin to worry they are on the wrong track, waiting is not an option and they're already done that. They can't leave without finishing the job. They may have to stay awake tonight to talk and strategize their next moves. This job has got them all stumped.
But this is how it is. Guess work until finding a solid lead and following that. This case will definitely need to be written and logged into the archives for future reference.
Chu Wanning senses the man before he is roughly grabbed hold of, a hand covers his face with a cloth. Curious Wanning goes along with it. He was expecting some sort of ghost to appear, maybe an illusion of some sort but not a human man. Is the man brainwashed? Is he working with, for, against, or maybe he controls the ghost? What ever it is its something. A lead hopefully. So Wanning closes his eyes and pretends to faint. Body going lax.
Xue Meng and Mo Ran watch as Wanning falls, both know he's faking it but that doesn't stop their hearts from beating out of their chest with worry. The mystery man caress Wanning face for a second before carrying him away. Not easily. The man is a stranger to normal physical labor if he has trouble carrying Wanning away. He's so slow as he walks, stopping just five steps to adjust the person in his arms.
Xue Meng readies to jump the man taking their shizun away but a hand on his forearm pulls him back down. Xue Meng looks at his cousin as if he's lost his mind. "Why did you stop me?" he growls in a whisper. Mo Ran keeps his eyes on the retreating figure.
"Before "passing out" shizun gave us a warning look to not interfere and follow. This is the best lead we've got all night. We made it to the town, and now heading back with nothing happening this must be it." Mo Ran explain, remembering the look in Wanning eyes clearly telling him to follow. Mo Ran doesn't like it, doesn't want anyone touch his Wanning but at the same time he knows Wanning can take the guy if it gets dangerous.
"How could that normal man be a lead? We are hunting for a ghost or spirit." Xue Meng says huffing as he shrugs Mo Ran hand off his arm, then crosses his arms.
"Maybe this is the ghosts plan? Have a human do the dirty work." Mo Ran says. "We have been waiting all night so we might as well see where this leads." Mo Ran says snapping the branch of a small tree in a hands to let off some steam. Xue Meng takes a look, eyes glue to the rather thick branch. Thick enough it shouldn't have been easily broken in one hand. He looks up at Mo Ran face, seeing his cousin glare, he doesn't look like the same person anymore. Mo Ran is just as worried as he is if not more. And neither like this situation but they would rather not get punished or hated by Wanning. He just got back after all.
"Let's go." Mo Ran says moving fast to follow their kidnapped teacher.
"What if we lose them?" Xue Meng question worried.
"We'll send a qi message and follow it. That's only if, we don't want to put shizun in danger accidentally." Mo Ran says, still glaring but his purple eyes are focus.
He's going to be the disciple Wanning trained him to be, risked his life to be and had hopes he can be.
They will not mess up.