Chapter 50: Chapter 50
Gasping for breath, she tried to move but her body ached all over. Then she heard footsteps on the slope above, steady and unhurried.
Someone was still there.
Walking toward her was a figure she couldn’t quite recognize, and before she could do anything she was hit in the head once again.
The figure then proceeded to drag her away, carrying her deep into the mountains until reaching a serene and busy place before coming to a stop.
With one push, Lin Xu fell into a huge hole which was dug deep down.
With her successfully in, the figure stood for some seconds before turning around to leave.
Time passed, and back at the riverside, Yan Mei was getting tired of waiting.
"Where is Lin Xu? She hasn’t returned yet," she said as Mo Yiling pouted, "Maybe she’s still looking for my clothes, though I don’t remember keeping them in a place far from sight."
Just then, Zu Shi arrived holding her bowl and clothes, and with her she had Yiling’s clothes.
"Hey guys! Yiling, see what I found... you forgot your clothes at the tent. Thank God I came in time or else Lin Xu would have given you a lot of scolding."
She laughed as the two looked at her confused. "Zu Shi... didn’t you come with Lin Xu? Where is she?"
"Lin Xu? Of course I didn’t come with her. Didn’t she come with you guys? Why are you asking me about her?" Zu Shi was taken aback.
"Are you saying you didn’t see my mama at the tent?" Yiling questioned.
Shaking her head, Zu Shi responded, "No, I didn’t. I’ve been in the tent with Madame Yan all morning. I just left now to come take my bath... I didn’t see any sign of Lin Xu at all."
Immediately her words reached the both of them, they started panicking.
---
Mo Ying and the other men returned around noon and they returned just in time as winds were just starting to blow, meaning the rain would soon start.
Upon arriving, they were all shocked to see the women all gathered together exchanging words, their faces full of worry.
Chief Yan and Mo Ying, together with some other men, walked towards them.
"What’s going on with you all? What’s with all the worried expressions?" Chief Yan asked his wife as Madame Yan, upon seeing Mo Ying, quickly stood up and walked towards him.
"Mo Ying, we have something to tell you... It’s your wife.." she hesitated.
"My wife? What happened to Lin Xu?" Mo Ying’s voice was deep, his brows tightening as he stepped forward.
Madame Yan exchanged a quick glance with Yan Mei and Zu Shi before answering, "She went with the women to the river this morning. But she hasn’t come back since. We thought maybe she went back to the tent, but we at the tent swore she never saw her there."
The air grew tense immediately. Chief Yan’s expression hardened as he asked, "Are you certain? Did anyone see her leave the riverside?"
Yan Mei quickly spoke up, her hands twisting nervously. "She left to fetch Yiling’s dry clothes. But she never returned. At first, we thought it was taking her too long... then Zu Shi came and said she hadn’t seen her at all."
Mo Ying’s jaw clenched as he turned sharply toward the slope leading down the mountain. "And you’re only telling me now?" His voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Mo Ying..." Madame Yan began carefully, "we didn’t want to alarm everyone too quickly. We thought maybe she had gone somewhere else—"
Before she could finish, Mo Ying’s face twisted in anger. "This isn’t a matter to be taken lightly. She’s been missing for hours. Lin Xu is smart, she isn’t someone to just leave without telling anyone!"
The wind picked up around them, making the trees rustle. Chief Yan raised his hand to steady the group. "We must act now. The rain will soon be here. If she’s missing in this weather, every second matters."
Mo Ying turned back to Yan Mei. "Show me where she was last seen."
Yan Mei nodded quickly, her face pale.
Mo Ying’s fists were still tight, but when he saw the kids, his face softened.
"Papa Mo, is Mama going to be alright?" Mo Yuen asked with tears.
Mo Ying bent down, pulling the three of them close. "Listen well... I will bring your mother back, safe and sound. I promise."
Yiling sniffled. "You promise?"
"At all costs," he said firmly.
They cried as he hugged them tightly, holding them for a long moment before letting go. He wiped Yiling’s tears. "Be brave. Believe in your mother... and in me."
Then he stood, his eyes cold again, and turned to Chief Yan. "Let’s go."
The search party set off, ropes and torches in hand, while the children’s sobs echoed behind.
The villagers exchanged anxious looks, the sound of the wind growing heavier, as if even the mountain itself knew something was wrong.
---
For over one hour they searched through the heavy winds but they couldn’t find Lin Xu anywhere.
"Lin Xu!"
"Lin Xu... where are you!"
"Miss Lin!"
"Sister Lin!"
They called out but she never responded.
Soon the rain began and it started so hard that every raindrop that landed on their skin hurt.
Seeing the condition of the weather, Chief Yan said to Mo Ying, "It would be better for us to go back to the tent.. the rainfall is heavy enough, if we stay out here too much... something may happen."
But Mo Ying wasn’t having it. "You can leave if you all want to, but I’m not leaving. My wife is out there, I don’t even know if she’s fine and you want me to go find shelter... does she have shelter?" Mo Ying shouted as he turned and kept on looking for her.
Chief Yan sighed as he then turned to the other men who had volunteered to help.
"Let’s head back to the tent, after the rain we will continue looking for her.."
"No dad, it’s Lin Xu.. we can’t stop, I’ll continue!" Yan Mei disagreed but Fuhan held on to her.
"After the rain we will go back to look for her.. for now you have to make sure you don’t get hurt as well." He said.
"B-but.." before Yan Mei could say anything, she was dragged away, leaving only Mo Ying in the mountain as the rest made their way back to the tent.