Chapter Ninety-Two: Old Friends

Hearing Han Qiang say this, I instantly became excited. Since he recognized Peng Lei in the photo, it meant I had found the right person. Heaven had indeed watched over me, letting me find Han Qiang at last.

Without delay, I explained my purpose in coming. I told him that his old comrade-in-arms, Peng Lei, wished to see him. Han Qiang's eyes reddened as he nodded and said he was truly glad that after all these years, that kid still remembered him.

Han Qiang agreed to come with me at once, though for this trip out of the Underworld, he’d only been granted half a day’s leave from the barracks. Just the journey here and back across the Yellow Springs had already wasted several hours, so time was tight.

I hurriedly suggested we set out immediately and thanked the old Taoist priest. To this day, I still didn’t know if he was truly dead or simply crossing into the Afterlife Lodge.

The old Taoist smiled and nodded at me, then tossed the Soul-Guiding Lamp back at me and said, “Boy, when you return, tell that little girl Qin Yu not to help people cross between worlds unless she’s truly capable. Otherwise, she could end up killing them.”

I took the old Taoist’s warning to heart and returned to the living world with Han Qiang.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Bai Rushuang sitting next to me, dozing off. She looked exhausted, dark circles faintly visible beneath her delicate features. I quickly woke her. At first, she was stunned, then said, “You’re finally back! If you hadn’t woken up soon, Yu-jie and I were about to bury you ourselves.”

I drew a sharp breath. “You two are ruthless.”

She replied, “Of course! If you died in Yu-jie’s flower shop, the police would accuse us of murder.”

Just then, Qin Yu hurriedly came upstairs. Seeing me awake, she let out a long sigh of relief. “It’s been three days. You finally woke up.”

I smiled at her. “Thank you for worrying about me, Yu-jie.”

She shot me a look. “I wasn’t worried! It was Rushuang who was so anxious she didn’t sleep for two days and nights.”

I looked at Bai Rushuang in surprise. She pouted and, grabbing a handful of popcorn, stuffed it in her mouth. Chewing, she said, “Don’t get the wrong idea. I was only worried the police would lock us up.”

Qin Yu then asked if I’d found Han Qiang. Before I could answer, Han Qiang suddenly appeared before us, startling both Qin Yu and Bai Rushuang. They looked at me in astonishment, eager to know how I’d managed it.

So I recounted to them how I’d met the old Taoist at the Afterlife Lodge. Qin Yu’s expression changed instantly, while Bai Rushuang grew excited. “You really met that old guy there? Is he really dead?”

Qin Yu quickly glared at her. “Don’t say such things!”

Bai Rushuang stuck out her tongue, then returned to her popcorn, offering some to Han Qiang as well. “Want some?”

I was speechless at Bai Rushuang’s antics. Qin Yu, somewhat dazed, asked, “Did he leave any message for me?”

I nodded quickly and handed her the Soul-Guiding Lamp. “He said you mustn’t help others cross between worlds unless you’re truly capable. It’s too dangerous.”

“Did he say anything else?” Qin Yu pressed.

“That’s all.”

“Oh.” Qin Yu nodded, a little disappointed, and fell silent. I immediately called Peng Li, telling him to bring Peng Lei to the Sanhua Pavilion at once—I had brought Han Qiang.

Peng Li was stunned for several seconds, then asked in disbelief if I was serious.

I assured him I had no reason to joke and urged him to hurry, as Han Qiang could not stay in the living world for long.

Peng Li agreed and hung up. After about half an hour, Han Qiang’s BYD off-road vehicle and another SUV with a red police plate roared up to the Sanhua Pavilion and stopped outside. Peng Lei and Peng Li, accompanied by two policemen, hurried inside.

Qin Yu stopped Peng Li and the two policemen, saying only Director Peng could go up. Peng Li didn’t refuse; he understood why Peng Lei had come. The two officers behind him were unhappy, insisting they were responsible for his safety.

Peng Lei turned and signaled for his subordinates to wait downstairs. Only then did they relent.

So, led by Qin Yu and me, Peng Lei went straight to the second floor. Han Qiang sat waiting in the curtained room, lost in thought.

The moment those two old brothers, who hadn’t seen each other in forty years, finally met, I could clearly see Peng Lei tremble from head to toe.

Han Qiang remained calm, smiling at Peng Lei. “Lei, long time no see.”

Han Qiang now looked barely over twenty, while Peng Lei, hair white as snow, could hardly believe it wasn’t a dream. After standing stunned for over ten seconds, he finally stepped forward, his voice trembling, “Brother Qiang, it’s really you!”

These two men, once iron-boned warriors of the Vietnam War, now stood together again. Though Peng Lei held great power now, in this moment, it was as if they’d been transported back forty years, to those fiery days of youth. Both heroes’ eyes filled with tears as they grinned foolishly at each other.

Qin Yu and I knew better than to disturb them. She lit a stick of incense in the room, reminding us that Han Qiang had to return to the Underworld before it burned out, then we quietly slipped downstairs.

Below, an excited Peng Li immediately handed me a cigarette and clapped my shoulder hard. “Well done, kid! I can’t believe you actually pulled this off.”

I chuckled. “We have to thank Yu-jie too.”

Peng Li, perhaps too emotional, took Qin Yu’s hand and thanked her profusely, making her a bit embarrassed.

Bai Rushuang, displeased, stuffed her mouth with popcorn and mumbled, “Officer Peng, if it weren’t for me, none of this would have worked!”

Peng Li laughed and thanked her as well, which made us all burst out laughing.

About half an hour later, Peng Lei finally came downstairs. There was a faint smile on his face, and he seemed years younger—as if the knot in his heart, twisted for over forty years, had finally been undone.

Peng Lei then asked us to come with him to the police station.

Hearing this, I grew excited. After saying goodbye to Qin Yu and Bai Rushuang, I got into Peng Lei’s car immediately.

Soon, we arrived at Peng Lei’s office at the Bashu City Police Bureau. Once inside, Peng Lei opened a drawer of his desk and took out a brown envelope.

He placed it on the desk, then looked at Peng Li with satisfaction. “Peng Li, do you know why I never believed you before?”

“You’re an atheist,” Peng Li replied without hesitation.

“No, you’re wrong,” Peng Lei said. “In fact, those of us who have been to war are more likely to believe in ghosts and gods. And I know, the mission you undertook two years ago couldn’t be explained by anything but the supernatural. I’m convinced the adversaries you encountered then were connected to the world of spirits.”

Peng Li was stunned. “Uncle, if you believed I wasn’t crazy, why didn’t you let me form a paranormal investigation team? Why make things so difficult for me?”

Peng Lei scrutinized him, his tone turning serious. “Look at the state you were in. Did you really have what it takes?”