Martial Arts: Starting from a Seemingly Real System

Chapter 206 Confusing

"Ugh……"

Chen Nian sighed deeply. He first pulled Master and Apprentice Qiao Rui to sit down, and then arranged for his men to serve tea. After everyone else left, he asked, "Brother Qiao, are you here to ask about the missing baby in your grandfather's family?"

"That's right," Qiao Rui put away his smile and said seriously, "Brother Chen, do you have any plans?"

"I have no idea!" Chen Nian shook his head, his face full of helplessness.

"The only connection is that many children have gone missing in the counties, towns and villages surrounding Longxing City in recent days. However, these missing children are between three and six years old, and the only one-year-old baby is from your grandfather's family," Chen Nian added.

"Oh? Are there other children missing too?" Qiao Rui was surprised. He wondered if the disappearance of those children was intrinsically linked to Xiao Yunlei's disappearance?

He frowned and pondered, "Have babies or children ever gone missing before?"

"Yes, there are, but they only happen occasionally. I have never seen such a large number of disappearances like this." Chen Nian scratched his hair that was almost turning into a mess and smiled bitterly.

He was also unlucky. He had just taken office as the Dianshi and had not yet started to enjoy his success when he encountered this case that caused great public resentment. He was given a deadline to solve the case, and many days had passed, but he was still at a loss and had no clue. No wonder he was so exhausted and in such a state of disgrace.

"What are the common situations when children go missing?" Qiao Rui asked again. Chen Nian has been a detective for many years and he must know a lot about various cases.

"Some were taken away by hungry wild beasts that came down the mountain to look for food, some had accidents while playing out, and some were kidnapped." Chen Nian thought for a moment and concluded.

"With such a large number of disappearances, it's impossible that they were all taken away by wild animals or had accidents. The only possibility is that they were abducted by humans." Qiao Rui said.

"That's the only explanation!" Chen Nian nodded when he heard it, his eyes full of bitterness. The other party was able to kidnap so many children quietly, which showed how powerful he was and how arrogant he was. He simply didn't take the government seriously.

This kind of case is the most difficult to deal with. If I can't solve it within the deadline, I will be dismissed before I can even get comfortable in my new position. It's really shameful to think about it.

Qiao Rui frowned in thought, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the armrest of the chair, making a subtle "tap-tap" sound, "If these children were deliberately abducted, then what was their purpose?"

"Generally, children are kidnapped to be sold for money. Boys are sold to childless families, and girls are sold to brothels. Some of them who are not good-looking but have nimble hands and feet can be trained to be thieves to make money for them. Those who have no advantages will be crippled and thrown into the streets to beg for money!" Chen Nian replied.

"Is it so cruel?" Huang Jingxuan, who was standing aside, muttered softly after hearing Chen Nian's analysis. The young man frowned tightly, as if he felt the same way.

When the world changed drastically and there was turmoil, his mother was killed, and he and his sister became orphans without anyone to rely on. If it weren't for Qiao Rui and Liu Xinyue who helped them, giving them a little ability to protect themselves, their situation would not be much better now.

Even if they survived the three bloody days, in this world where violence is used to break the law, the brother and sister who had no ability to protect themselves would probably fall into the hands of those inhumane bad guys and become their tools to make money, right?

The thought of this made him shudder. Huang Jingxuan suddenly looked at Qiao Rui, and his frown relaxed unconsciously. He grinned, his bright eyes flashing with admiration and gratitude. Fortunately, I met you!

Chen Nian naturally didn't know what Huang Jingxuan was thinking. He just thought the boy's reaction was a little strange, but he didn't care. He continued to analyze, "But Xiao Yunlei's disappearance is hard to explain. No matter what he did after being kidnapped, it is inappropriate. A one-and-a-half-year-old baby is too young. If he is taken away rashly, he may die young..."

At this point, Chen Nian suddenly stopped talking. It seemed inappropriate to talk about other people's children in this way.

Qiao Rui didn't blame Chen Nian, but his face looked unhappy. He thought of a possibility, but it couldn't explain Xiao Yunlei's disappearance.

"Could it be the Beggars' Gang?" Qiao Rui expressed his guess. He remembered that when he first visited the Zhengqi Hall of the Longxing City branch of the Jiangyou branch of the Beggars' Gang at night, he had seen those beggars from the lowest level. There were young men with nimble hands and feet and shifty eyes, as well as disabled beggars who were too miserable to be seen.

"There is suspicion, but no motive!" Chen Nian shook his head slowly.

Having worked as a constable for many years, Chen Nian knew that most of the thieves and beggars on the streets were related to the Beggars' Gang. If one or two children went missing occasionally, they might have been abducted by the beggar leaders under the Beggars' Gang. But the Beggars' Gang would not do such a large-scale and intensive kidnapping of children that would infuriate the people.

"It's good that there is suspicion. As for the motive," Qiao Rui paused, his dark eyes gleaming with a cold light, "Just because we don't know doesn't mean there is no motive."

"I have taken people to search all the beggars' strongholds in and outside the city, but found no clues." Chen Nian frowned. He understood what Qiao Rui meant, but if there really was a Beggar Gang behind this case, it would not be something that a registrar like him could investigate clearly.

"I will report it and find a way to get other people to investigate." Qiao Rui nodded. He didn't say where to report it to or who would investigate it. Chen Nian didn't ask either. Everything was self-explanatory.

Chen Nian smiled and toasted Qiao Rui with tea instead of wine. He knew that Qiao Rui was most likely a member of the Qingtian Guard and had a high status. If Qiao Rui reported the matter and the Qingtian Guard took the initiative to intervene, his own responsibility would be much smaller.

Otherwise, it would mean that you were not doing your job well, and you would be punished to some extent, or even lose your job.

"There is no time to lose. I have other things to do. Tell me the location of the stronghold where the beggars gather. I will find time to go and investigate the Beggars' Sect at night. As for Xiao Yunlei, I have to go back to see my grandfather as soon as possible."

Seeing that no conclusion could be reached, Qiao Rui still had to go to Qingtianwei to discuss cooperation with Huashan, so he stood up and wanted to say goodbye.

"Okay," Chen Nian quickly wrote down the locations of several beggar gathering spots, handed the note to Qiao Rui, patted his shoulder and said with a smile: "I'll accompany you back to your grandfather's place tomorrow to check out other places where missing persons have been found. From your perspective as a martial arts master, see if you can find some useful clues."

"Okay!" Qiao Rui didn't say anything more polite. He put the note away and left with Huang Jingxuan.

After leaving the county government office, Qiao Rui asked Huang Jingxuan to go back first, and he went to Qinglian Pavilion alone.

Although Huang Jingxuan is Qiao Rui's apprentice and knows Qiao Rui's identity as a Qingtian Guard, he is not a member of the Qingtian Guard after all, so he naturally cannot take him to Qinglian Pavilion.

I don't know why the Grand Commander specifically asked to see me. Although cooperation with Huashan is important, it doesn't make sense for the Grand Commander to come out in person to discuss the matter, right?

Why is that?

It couldn't be that he became a disciple of Shaolin and became the second generation, or that he became the son-in-law of Huashan, so the commander-in-chief doubted his loyalty to the Qingtian Guard?

Looking at the majestic Qinglian Pavilion, Qiao Rui hesitated for a moment, not knowing whether a storm or sunny weather was waiting for him!