Chapter 095
Shimen Yihshyong
The person standing on the other side of the road did look a lot like Duanmuh Shannchyuan, the dahge they had been missing since yesterday.
"Yesterday, Dahge also wore exactly that outfit!" Iren pointed at the person.
Yihshyong noticed the clothes the person was wearing. It did look similar to the clothes their dahge usually wore. But he couldn't confirm that it was exactly the same as Shannchyuan's. Even if the clothes were just the same, it would still be an unusual thing. There were many people who were very similar to other people. But it was unlikely they also had a tendency to wear the same style of clothes.
Iren got up from his chair. Looked like he was about to dart out.
"Where are you going?" Yihshyong got up from his chair and grabbed Iren's arm. He must prevent the impulsive action Iren would do. Something like that would be dangerous.
"Of course I'm going to see Dahge." Iren showed a look of astonishment in his eyes.
"What for?"
"To ask the reason he disappeared."
"Wait a minute!" Yihshyong said. "I beg you to sit down now."
Hearing Yihshyong's request, Iren sat back down. But his face still held a million questions. Yihshyong then also sat back down, feeling a little worried.
It seems that today Iren's brain is not functioning as usual. Earlier, we had eaten, so Iren shouldn't be this naughty.
Yihshyong remembered a strange thing that had happened to them months before. At that time, they all suddenly became stupid after eating food containing one type of mushroom. The food was a delivery from one of Shinnshiow's friends. It turned out the food had expired, so suddenly being stupid was one of the side effects they got. Luckily, it didn't last long. In less than forty-eight hours, everything was back to normal.
The mushrooms in the dish were not mushrooms from their old world. It was native to this new world. Indeed, many plants in this new world were toxic to humans. That's why many people were very careful in choosing food ingredients that come from the wild.
But yesterday we didn't eat such things! So it's unlikely that Iren is being poisoned.
Yihshyong tried to remember further.
But, wait! Last night and this morning we had pizza from Jongli Jyhren. There were mushrooms in there as a topping. Could there be poisonous mushrooms in there? That makes little sense. After all, I don't feel there's anything strange about me. There's no way only Iren was poisoned.
Iren still looked at Yihshyong in confusion.
Toxins can enter the body not only through food. Maybe through something else. Another thing that only Iren consumed.
Iren pounded the table slowly. But it was enough to make Yihshyong's attention turn back to Iren, who was sitting in front of him. Iren looking at him with slightly annoyed eyes.
"Do you think it's important for us to know why Dahge decided to disappear and not tell us?" Yihshyong asked at a slow tempo.
"What do you mean?" Iren asked back with a look in his eyes that still didn't change. Confused and annoyed.
Yihshyong didn't immediately answer Iren's question. He pointed across the street. "What do you think Dahge is currently doing?"
Iren turned his gaze towards the other side of the road. "I have a feeling Dahge might be waiting for something or someone."
"Do we know what or who Dahge is expecting?"
"We don't know. Dahge never told us about this at all."
"Since Dahge never told us about this, it's clear that Dahge doesn't want us to know. If we go to him now, we'll put him in a difficult position.I'm sure the situation will definitely become awkward."
Iren nodded. "Why did Dahge keep what he is doing a secret?"
"I don't know what his reason is. But hasn't it always been that since we first met, Dahge has always acted mysteriously like that?"
"Yes! But usually he keeps secrets only for things that are his personal business. Regarding matters that are of our common interest, he always discusses them with us."
"How do you know that what's happening now is none of his personal business?"
"Eh?" Only a short exclamation like that came out of Iren's mouth.
"I also can't confirm if this is really only his personal matter." Yihshyong said. "People often look at the same problem from different perspectives. Maybe what we think is a common problem, Dahge actually thinks that it is his own problem. So, maybe this time he thinks that what he is doing is a private matter."
Iren was still nodding. Even so, his face didn't look like someone agreed with Yihshyong's words.
"There's even another possibility," Yihshyong said.
"Another possibility?"
Yihshyong straightened his back. "Maybe he's trying to protect us instead."
"Protecting us from what?"
"There might be things that if we knew, we could potentially get into trouble. So Dahge decided to take matters into his own hands."
Apparently, Iren's brain is frozen today.
"Is it okay for you if Dahge is hiding something from us?"
"I have no problem with that," Yihshyong replied quickly. "I believe Dahge has his own reasons. Over the past one year, he has always done everything for our common good. As far as I can remember, he never did anything, only for his own personal gain."
Iren looked disapproved. But he didn't make any sound.
Does he remember something I don't?
Yihshyong continued his words. "Now, all we have to do is trust him. This is very important."
Iren nodded, hearing Yihshyong's words. He stroked his chin.
They looked out the window again. The person they assumed was their dahge was still standing across the street.
"So, what do you think Dahge is really doing?" Iren's voice still sounded doubtful.
"Of course Dahge disappeared to investigate something."
"I see what you mean." Iren took a deep breath. "The police don't seem to be serious about investigating Songfei's disappearance. They think Songfei is just hiding out of fear of the gang of criminals. Meanwhile, we think that the criminals have taken Songfei into custody. If he really was just hiding, then it wouldn't be like this. Over the past few days, he should have found a safe way to contact us. If my guess is not wrong, it's highly likely that Dahge is currently tracking down Songfei's whereabouts."
Yihshyong gave a thumbs up. Turned out Iren wasn't poisoned by magic mushrooms or anything else. Maybe, somehow, he was just slow to think.
"But I still don't understand why Dahge had to disappear. He could have investigated the matter without disappearing," said Iren.
"Because Dahge feels he has more freedom in conducting investigations when he is not at home," Yihshyong replied.
"Why so?"
"There's a chance that someone might still be watching our house. So maybe Dahge thought that the best way to avoid being watched by others was to disappear."
"But Jongli Jyhren said that no one is watching our house," said Iren.
"Do you believe that man one hundred percent? Even he himself doesn't completely trust the police."
Iren nodded again. Yihshyong knew Iren was not blind. Although they were aware that Jongli Jyhren was not a bad person, Jongli Jyhren's profession makes them unable to fully trust Jenqyih's old friend.
"But aren't we in big trouble right now? Shouldn't Dahge stay with us? That way, we can work things out together."
Yihshyong clenched his right palm. He pressed the calluses against the table in front of him.
"If my guess is correct, Dahge is currently investigating all matters relating to the matter we are facing."
"That's what you had said earlier." Iren stretched his hand forward. "So what?"
"This matter about Songfei's disappearance is in line with Shinnshiow's kidnapping. Maybe it's just one of the things he's investigating. Perhaps he's also investigating other things that he thinks are related to each other. Things we're not even aware of."
"Hmm..." Iren only made a brief comment.
"As to why he disappeared, I have the impression that Dahge thought that without him we could handle our problems. And that's true! You see, so far we have been able to act without direction or even without Dahge's presence."
Iren nodded while hearing Yihshyong's explanation. But his face still looked unsure.
I really don't know how to make him believe my explanation!
"Miss Liuchiou is not with Dahge. Where do you think she is? Didn't they disappear together?" Iren cupped his palms together.
How do I know where that girl is?
"I believe that Miss Liuchiou disappeared with Dahge. It is possible that Miss Liuchiou is currently in a safe hiding place. It could be that Dahge has actually prepared a hiding place for Miss Liuchiou." Yihshyong tried to get the words out in a tone that should sound like a sentence spoken with conviction. He hoped Iren didn't realize that the last sentence he said was unreasonable. Yihshyong was just talking nonsense.
"Isn't there already Tsaehorng's apartment? That place is where the elite live. The security is super tight."
"I know Tsaehorng's apartment is a very safe place," Yihshyong said. "But Miss Liuchiou doesn't seem comfortable living there. I believe she chose to be with Dahge."
Iren smirked. "That girl is completely in Dahge's hands. I never thought that Dahge would have that kind of ability."
"Dahge doesn't have that kind of ability. It's just that she's at the right time and the right place. Other girls probably wouldn't do that."
"You're right," said Iren. He smiled. "So you don't think we need to worry about them anymore?"
"Not for the moment. But we'll wait for further developments. Maybe later Dahge will contact us."
"Should we tell this to the others?"
"The others, who?"
"Jenqyih, Chioujen, Jinqkang, Tsaehorng, and maybe also Jongli Jyhren," answered Iren.
Yihshyong snorted. "I don't believe in Jongli Jyhren. He is a very mysterious person. Maybe because he is part of a very secretive institution, then he has to act like that."
"What about Jenqyih?"
"Jenqyih is one of us, so Dahge must believe in him. But we don't know how close Jenqyih is to Jongli Jyhren. That man could have manipulated Jenqyih to tell him everything. So we shouldn't tell him just yet. Except later when Dahge told us to tell him."
"Then what about Tsaehorng? He's helped us a lot. I don't think it's appropriate for us to keep this a secret."
"I know Tsaehorng has sacrificed time, money, and energy to help us. I don't want to be presumptuous, but you also know that Dahge doesn't fully trust him. Dahge is always careful when Tsaehorng is around us."
"You mean the secret passage under our house?" Iren asked.
"Yes, that's one of them. There are other things that show Dahge's caution. Therefore, regarding Tsaehorng, I will follow Dahge's policy."
"What about Jinqkang? He is a Duanmuh. I think Dahge trusts him."
"Dahge does seem to believe in him. But don't forget, he is currently Tsaehorng's employee. So he has an obligation to be loyal to Tsaehorng. It is possible that he will leak everything we tell him to Tsaehorng. I don't want to take that kind of risk. "
"What about Chioujen? He's one of us. He deserves to know we've seen Dahge."
Yihshyong laughed. "You are so naïve. What makes you think Chioujen doesn't know where Dahge is?"
"So he already knows?" Iren's eyes widened as he looked at Yihshyong.
"I don't know for sure that Chioujen knew about Dahge's plans or not. But if you look at Chioujen's movements, there seems to be something strange."
Iren rubbed his chin. "Yeah, I do feel since he got home, he's been acting a bit weird. But I thought it was because he hasn't seen us in a long time. So he needs a little adjustment."
"I suspect Dahge has told Chioujen a lot of things. Do you remember that night, before Chioujen came home? Dahge had time to go to the underground station. Maybe that time they met there and Dahge explained everything to Chioujen."
"Oh!" Iren exclaimed. "Dahge told me to go into the secret passage first. He said he was going to stop by the drugstore. So you might be right that they met at the station. No wonder Dahge was there so long."
"What I said makes sense, right?" Yihshyong said.
"But why did Dahge choose to tell Chioujen this, and not us?"
"First, there are some of our new neighbors who are very suspicious. Chioujen doesn't know them, so he can be more objective. The second is that Dahge has known Chioujen since Chioujen was a child, so it's only natural that Dahge has a high trust in Chioujen. Then third, Chioujen is very good at hiding his emotions. His face can look so flat, without a conspicuous expression when he is angry or sad. If you had known about Dahge's plans beforehand, then you wouldn't have been able to pretend to be worried. Jongli Jyhren would easily have guessed that you were lying."
"Chioujen isn't good at lying, either."
"True, but like I said earlier, people find it hard to read his facial expressions."
"Then why didn't Dahge tell you?"
"I don't know," Yihshyong said. "Maybe Dahge thought that if I found out, then I couldn't bear not to tell you. So he decided not to tell me. Or, there could be other things Dahge is considering."
"Do you think this was Dahge's plan from the start?"
"I don't know. It's possible that Dahge had considered this from the start, but yesterday's events could have given him this idea."
"You mean Dahge used the events at the mall as an excuse to disappear?"
"That's possible, right?" Yihshyong laughed.
Iren shook his head. Then he looked back across the street.
"Hey, someone's coming!" Iren exclaimed in a loud voice.
Yihshyong turned his head towards where their dahge was standing. There was a van that stopped a few yards from where their dahge was standing. He couldn't see how many people were in the car and what they looked like. Apart from the fact that the van's windows were very dark, it was also too far from their position.
The back door on the right opens. The side was facing them so that Yihshyong and Iren could clearly see the figure that came out of the car. He was a man of great stature. Yihshyong estimated that the person's height was probably over 190 centimeters. Judging from the proportions of his body, that person must weigh over 120 kilograms. He carried a long wooden stick. The wooden stick seemed to be made of a very hard type of wood. The tip was not sharp, but it looked so sturdy.
"Shyongge! What do you think he will do?" Iren got up from his chair again.
"I don't know. But let's not act rashly. Let's see what happens first." Yihshyong also stood up. But he did not intend to get out of the restaurant to run towards the car. Yihshyong gripped Iren's arm. He tried to restrain his friend from doing things that were impulsive like before .
The big tall man walked to the front of the car. He moved closer to the person who was similar to their dahge, who was standing at the end of the front of the car.
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