Bai Li instinctively turned to look and saw the little cub’s uncle, Yu Yingyi, being pushed toward her in a wheelchair, followed by the little cub’s aunt, Yu Qingqiu, and several young soldiers.
Yu Yingyi had a handsome appearance, and even sitting in a wheelchair, it was hard to conceal his gentle, refined, and jade-like demeanor. Seeing Bai Li looking at him, he gave her a warm smile and asked with concern, “Li Li, where is your mother?”
Meanwhile, Yu Qingqiu quickly ran to Bai Dingting’s side, panting, “Li Li, where did you and your sister go? You didn’t even say a word. Everyone at home was worried sick. Even my brother couldn’t rest properly and had to send people out to look for you.”
Seeing Yu Qingqiu, Bai Li frowned. This little cub’s aunt harbored hostility toward the little cub’s mother.
On the surface, she seemed concerned about the little cub’s mother, but her eyes were darting around. She also implied that she and her mother had been running around recklessly, causing worry for the family and forcing her uncle to disregard his injuries to search for them.
Even at a time like this, she was still seizing the opportunity to smear her mother and herself. What a wicked woman!
There was also a gray Sin Line on her body. Who knows what she had done for her sins to manifest so visibly on her.
While Bai Li was deep in thought, Bai Dingting answered Yu Qingqiu’s question, “Qingqiu, I just found Li Li. She told me that Lixia was taken by bad people and said she would lead us to find Lixia. That’s when you and Commander Yu arrived.”
Hearing Bai Dingting’s words, a strange glint flashed in Yu Qingqiu’s eyes, but she spoke with urgency, “Brother-in-law, then you should hurry and save my sister. Li Li is still young, and it’ll be inconvenient for you to take her along. Leave her with me to take care of.”
With that, she reached out to snatch Bai Li from Bai Dingting’s arms.
Bai Li shrank back in Bai Dingting’s embrace, avoiding Yu Qingqiu’s hands, and shook her head vigorously. “No, I want to go save Mom. Auntie, step aside.”
Yu Qingqiu’s hand remained outstretched, her tone gentle but her attitude firm. “Li Li, you’re just a child. How could you remember the way? Your forehead is bleeding, and your neck is swollen so badly. You need to see a doctor right away.”
Upon hearing this, Bai Dingting immediately realized that he had been so preoccupied with Bai Li’s words earlier that he had overlooked her physical condition. Feeling a pang of guilt, he patted Bai Li’s back gently. “Li Li, be good. Your aunt is right. Let her take you to the hospital first. Dad and Uncle will go save Mom together!”
Seeing this, Bai Li understood that because the little cub was so young, Bai Dingting hadn’t taken her claim of knowing her mother’s whereabouts seriously. With a “hmph,” she suddenly twisted her body, jumped down from Bai Dingting’s arms, and took off running.
The scent of the little cub’s mother seemed to be growing fainter. If they delayed any longer, it might disappear entirely.
They couldn’t afford to waste any more time!
“She’s not my aunt. My real aunt wouldn’t keep me from saving Mom when she knows I have information about her.”
Bai Li shouted as she ran.
Did they think Little Pi Xiu was too young to realize that Yu Qingqiu was deliberately trying to take her away, preventing her father and the others from finding out who had taken the little cub’s mother and buying time? But the situation was urgent now. Little Pi Xiu would settle the score after rescuing the cub’s mother.
Bai Dingting, caught off guard, allowed Bai Li to run off. Helplessly watching his daughter’s retreating figure, he pointed at the young soldier who had just been holding Bai Li and commanded, “Liang Junping, Ye Hongwei, take ten men and follow. Lin Kangjie and the rest stay here. Report immediately if anything unexpected happens.”
After speaking, he shook the walkie-talkie in his hand, turned, and quickly ran after Bai Li.
“Yes, sir!” The three saluted Bai Dingting and sprang into action.
Yu Yingyi said softly, “Dingting, go quickly and save Lixia. I’ll wait here for the others to return, then come find you.”
Although Bai Li had run far, she heard Bai Dingting’s orders clearly. When Bai Dingting caught up to her, she didn’t struggle, allowing him to scoop her up.
Long legs were always faster than short ones.
Yu Yingyi watched the direction Bai Li and the others had gone, turned his wheelchair to face Yu Qingqiu, and said, “Qingqiu, go back. Tell Mom and Dad that I’ll bring Lixia and Li Li home soon and not to worry.”
Yu Qingqiu stood still. “Brother, I want to go find my sister too.”
Yu Yingyi’s gentle smile suddenly faded, his tone turning stern. “Qingqiu, this involves a military mission and catching human traffickers. It’s not something you can participate in. Go back!”
Seeing Yu Yingyi’s insistence, Yu Qingqiu had no choice but to reluctantly follow a young soldier and leave.
Meanwhile, Bai Dingting, carrying Bai Li, followed by Liang Junping, Ye Hongwei, and others, ran two to three hundred meters in the direction Bai Li had pointed before stopping at a three-way fork in the road.
“Li Li, which way now?”
Bai Dingting held Bai Li gently as he asked.
But Bai Li was now staring anxiously at the three paths before her, her little nose twitching hard. The fork was filled with the scents of many people, yet none of them were her mother’s.
It couldn’t be helped. The Pixiu’s soul was too powerful, and the little cub’s body couldn’t fully accommodate it yet, causing the Pixiu’s sense of smell to severely deteriorate.
Suddenly, Bai Li remembered that her Companion Space contained several Tracking Talismans, which could be used to follow scents and track the little cub’s mother.
So, Bai Li focused her consciousness on her Companion Space.
But why couldn’t she open her Spatial Dimension now?
Wah!
Bai Li immediately burst into tears, overwhelmed with sadness.
The little Pixiu couldn’t retrieve anything!
It felt like the sky had fallen.
To Bai Dingting, it looked like his daughter was desperately sniffing, her little face flushed with anxiety, until she finally broke down, tears falling like broken strings of pearls.
Seeing Bai Li cry so sorrowfully, Bai Dingting’s heart ached. He tightened his left arm around her, freeing his right hand to pat her back gently, his voice calm and reassuring. “Li Li, don’t cry. If we can’t find her, Dad and the uncles will split up, each taking a path to search for Mom. We’ll find her eventually.”
Hearing Bai Dingting’s words, Bai Li immediately stopped crying, temporarily setting aside her sadness to focus on the three paths before her.
The little Pixiu had to rescue the little cub’s mother first, then figure out how to fix the Spatial Dimension issue.
After three seconds, Bai Li pointed firmly at the middle path. “Daddy, take the middle one.”
The clan elder had said that when in doubt, trust your intuition.
Her intuition told her that taking the middle path would lead to an unexpected surprise.
Without hesitation, Bai Dingting carried Bai Li and ran straight down the middle path.
After walking for a while, Bai Li noticed that the chaotic scents at the intersection had disappeared, and the familiar smell had returned. A smile couldn’t help but spread across her face.
Sure enough, trusting her instincts was the right choice. The clan elder hadn’t lied to her.
Soon, Bai Dingting carried Bai Li to the end of the middle path, where a small, single-story house with a courtyard stood.
Sensing the scent of the little cub’s mother growing stronger, its source clearly inside the small house, Bai Li grew excited. She straightened her back in Bai Dingting’s arms, leaned to the side, and stretched out her left hand, pointing at the house. “Daddy, Mommy is in that house.”
By now, the sky had darkened. Households had lit their kerosene lamps, and some even glowed with yellow electric lights. But the small house before them remained tightly shut, its interior pitch-black, as if no one was inside.
Seeing this, Bai Dingting hesitated. “Li Li, it’s quiet inside. It doesn’t seem like anyone’s there. Are you sure you remembered the right house?”