NOVEL SIMPLE Shadows in the Lantern Light
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Li Wei stood in the town hall, the dim light filtering through the dusty windows casting long shadows across the room. A sense of foreboding hung in the air, mirroring the worry etched on the faces of the parents gathered before him. It had been over a week since Zhang Ming's disappearance, and the town was now gripped with fear after four boys had vanished.
"Thank you all for coming," he began, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. "I understand this is a difficult time, and I appreciate your willingness to share any information that might help us in our investigation."
The room fell silent, each parent wearing a mask of worry as they exchanged glances. The atmosphere was thick with anxiety, and after some initial exchanges about what they had seen and heard, the conversations drifted.
A father with graying hair finally broke the tension. "My son, Li Feng, was at the Lantern Festival with his friends. He was right here when Zhang Ming went missing. I thought the boys were safe in the crowd."
Another mother nodded in agreement, her hands trembling. "I was there too! It was so crowded… I didn't think anything could happen."
As they talked, more parents shared their observations, but the insights often felt vague and inconclusive.
After several hours, the conversation meandered until a father hesitantly spoke up. "You know, my son was tested by a master not long ago. The master said he had great potential but never returned to take him on as a disciple. I thought it was just a missed opportunity."
A murmur of surprise spread through the room. Another parent interjected, "The same thing happened with my son! Master Zhou praised his abilities, but he never came back."
Li Wei's interest piqued as he listened to the parents. All four boys had shown talent, and they had all been tested by masters in the area. This can't be a coincidence.
After the meeting wrapped up, Li Wei decided to send Chen Wei to discreetly ask around town. "See if there are other parents whose children were tested by masters. We need to gather as much information as possible, but keep this quiet."
"On it, Captain!" Chen Wei replied, eager as always.
Days passed, but despite Li Wei's logical mind, he felt increasingly frustrated. He spent hours reviewing notes and reports, but without any solid leads, the situation remained dire.
Then, as he examined the map of the town, he found himself staring blankly at the layout. His gaze drifted over the locations of each kidnapping, and a thought suddenly struck him.
He quickly traced the paths on the map. All the kidnappings had occurred near the same general area, and each time the boys had been taken, the escape routes seemed to lead toward one specific direction.
Wait a minute.
He recalled that when Du Heng was taken, he had been near the well. Zhang Ming had gone missing near the toilet right next to the woods. The pattern was emerging.
Connecting the Dots
With this realization, Li Wei felt a renewed sense of purpose. He needed to take action, but this time, he needed to be careful.
Li Wei approached the mayor, keeping his tone low. "I believe I've identified a pattern in the kidnappings. We need to mobilize the town guard, but it must be kept discreet. If the kidnappers are aware of our movements, they could escape."
The mayor's expression turned serious. "What do you suggest?"
"We'll surround the area around the woods without alerting the townsfolk. I'll coordinate with the captains and only share this plan with the highest-level personnel. We can use a human wave tactic to comb through a five-kilometer radius while ensuring the public remains unaware," Li Wei explained.
The mayor nodded in agreement. "That's wise. We can't afford to let the kidnappers know we're onto them. I'll arrange for the captains to meet."
As they prepared for the search, Li Wei organized the teams, ensuring that only the captains and a select few guards were in the loop about the operation.
"Listen carefully," Li Wei instructed the captains. "We're going to cover the area around the woods, but I want minimal chatter. We don't want to spook the kidnappers."
They nodded, fully aware of the stakes. As they moved out, Li Wei emphasized, "We're looking for any signs of the boys—traces, hidden paths, anything that might lead us to them."
Chen Wei couldn't resist a quip, "So, if we find a hidden lair, I still get to wear a mask, right?"
Li Wei raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Only if you find a secret weapon to go with it."
"Deal!" Chen Wei replied, excitement bubbling in his voice.
As the search began, the contingent spread out, scouring every inch of the area. Li Wei felt the weight of urgency with each passing moment, knowing they had to find the boys before it was too late.
Finally, as they combed through a particularly dense area of trees, one of the guards called out. "Captain! Over here!"
Li Wei rushed over to find the guard kneeling beside a patch of disturbed earth. "Look at this! It seems like someone covered their tracks here."
Excitement surged through Li Wei as they followed the signs deeper into the woods. They soon stumbled upon a hidden underground entrance, partially obscured by foliage.
"Well, Chen Wei, looks like your ninja dreams are coming true," Li Wei remarked dryly, gesturing toward the entrance.
"I knew it!" Chen Wei exclaimed, his eyes gleaming. "Let's go in and find those kids!"
As they descended into the hidden base, anticipation filled the air. But when they reached the bottom, the space was empty.
Li Wei frowned, scanning the area. "No kidnappers… but the signs indicate they left in a hurry."
"What do we do now?" Chen Wei asked, glancing around.
Li Wei took a deep breath, his mind racing. "We regroup, analyze what we've found, and prepare for the next move. The pattern isn't over yet."