The Hidden Trace and a Familiar Face

Bai Qiao ran a few steps forward, exiting the small yard in front of the villa and closing its iron gate. While streetlights lined the area, arrogant young masters from influential families frequently shattered them. As a result, only two of the five lamps illuminating the path ahead were still functional.

This created an inexplicably hazy atmosphere, and the dim surroundings momentarily obscured Bai Qiao’s vision, making it impossible to discern his surroundings.

Roughly three minutes had passed from the moment Bai Qiao gave chase until Bai Chen’s departure. Locating someone at night was already a daunting task.

If Bai Chen had used his inner energy, his speed would be no laughing matter. He could have already covered a hundred kilometers by now, making him incredibly difficult to find.

Bai Qiao took a deep breath, fully aware that further hesitation would only worsen the situation. He decided to act immediately.

Slowly, he closed his eyes, his long eyelashes shimmering faintly in the lamplight. He channeled almost all of his inner energy, and a faint blue glow flickered between his brows.

This icy blue light then spread outward with astonishing speed, covering everything within his sight in the blink of an eye. A blue, technologically advanced plane rapidly unfolded around him.

Fortunately, ordinary people couldn’t perceive it. Otherwise, the next day’s headlines might very well scream, [“Girl in High-End Villa District Suspected of Creating Large-Scale Radioactive Surveillance Device”].

“…”

Bai Qiao had scoured the area within several hundred kilometers. Yet, how could this be?

By his meticulous calculations, even at Bai Chen’s fastest speed, three minutes would only cover a few hundred kilometers. Even if Bai Qiao’s mental energy couldn’t reach beyond that range, he should still have detected something.

Now, with absolutely no trace, Bai Qiao had every reason to suspect that Bai Chen was deliberately concealing his presence.

“…”

A wave of inexplicable frustration surged within him. ‘Hiding away, huh? I wasn’t even keen on looking for you!’ he thought indignantly.

‘Do you really think someone would come looking for you?! Hmph! I, I… Argh! Where did that guy go?’

“Who’s there?!” The melancholic aura surrounding Bai Qiao abruptly shifted, replaced by an instant surge of murderous intent.

His gaze, perfectly blending with the moonlight, revealed an undisguised icy glint. Black Sha was momentarily startled, but quickly recovered, a smile gracing his lips as he slowly approached Bai Qiao.

“What are you doing?” Bai Qiao unceremoniously drew his longsword.

After all, while the person didn’t give him a particularly bad feeling, they clearly possessed inner energy, making them a potential threat.

“Bai Qiao? No, I should address you as Bai Chen.”

Black Sha was gratified to see Bai Qiao’s body tremble slightly at his words.

“We’ve met before, have you forgotten?”

“Huh? When was that?”

“It was when I first arrived at this school. My behavior… well, it was considered strange by all of you back then.”

“…”

Bai Qiao furrowed his brow for a moment. Then, as if recalling something, he exclaimed, “Ah, it was you! You were there at that time…”

Bai Qiao remembered that period as a significant bottleneck in his life, precisely when Yingluo had appeared and, concurrently, Black Sha had emerged.

He vaguely recalled going to a location Yingluo had specified and being forced to make an impossible decision, eventually passing out. Yet, even then, he had glimpsed a back and a side profile.

Later, unwilling to owe anyone a favor, Bai Qiao had indeed sought him out and found him. The favor hadn’t been repaid, but after an hour of candid conversation, Bai Qiao had come to regard Black Sha almost as a brother.

When he had asked Black Sha why he saved him, Black Sha had stammered evasively. Judging by the current situation, it was likely due to his striking resemblance to Bai Chen.

Although they hadn’t maintained contact afterward, now that he remembered, Bai Qiao was naturally pleased.

“You can still call me Bai Qiao,” he said. “By the way… what’s your relationship with Bai Chen?”

“We were once very good friends,” Black Sha replied, “but then a misunderstanding occurred.”

“And he intended to kill you for it?!”

“Perhaps… Ah Chen was simply in a bad mood at the time,” Black Sha mused. “You can’t blame him for it.”

“Hmph! That guy is utterly… unreasonable!”

Watching Black Sha’s seemingly “sorrowful” expression, Bai Qiao’s heart instantly swelled with indignation.

****