I immediately phoned Song Xingchen and told him to wait for me outside the station. Then, turning to the other two, I said we would go looking for Luo Youyou.

"Will your bodyguard get there so soon?" doubted Bingxin.

As soon as we walked out the station, I saw Song Xingchen waiting nearby as he sipped on bubble tea. The man was like a ghost who could show up at any given moment.

We hailed a cab from the side of the road. Song Xingchen sat in the passenger seat with his Tang sword in hand, frightening the driver into nervous silence. The three of us crowded into the back. In order to draw a clear line with Dali, Bingxin sat in the innermost seat, holding my arm the entire journey.

Along the way, Dali chattered endlessly,...