The one calling out to Xiao Shu was none other than Old He, the man who, along with Xiaoyu, had saved the near-dead Xiao Shu from peril back in Miao Village. After leaving Miao Village, Old He returned to normal life, continuing his work as a police officer. However, due to his prolonged unauthorized absence, he received a disciplinary action—a warning, they said, which would remain on his record for two years before being cleared. When a true crisis strikes, no one cares about past mistakes; all the officers, fully armed, shouldered the duty of protecting the city.

However, this particular assignment seemed fraught with difficulty for them. If the enemy were an outside invader, the army would mobilize without hesitation, crushing the aggressors utterly. But when domestic unrest brews, extreme caution is required. Distinguishing between law-abiding citizens, outright rioters, and those who rose up only after being threatened often leaves the police feeling helpless. Failing to discern friend from foe creates the greatest danger, easily leading to public criticism once the situation is quelled, planting seeds for future unrest.

“Old He! What are you doing here?” Xiao Shu rushed forward excitedly, embracing him like a long-lost friend, radiating warmth.

“This is the temporary shelter; I’m on duty here,” Old He exchanged pleasantries with Xiao Shu briefly before pulling him aside and quietly asking, “Have you been in contact with Wang Jue lately?” Old He was one of the few who knew the true reason behind this riot, but out of loyalty to his friend, he had remained silent. Now, seeing Xiao Shu alone at the shelter, his first question was about Wang Jue’s whereabouts. Rumor had it that the police and the army had already flagged him as a wanted criminal.

Xiao Shu shook his head, indicating he had no idea where Wang Jue was, as he himself was searching for the whereabouts of another dangerous individual.

Hearing this, Old He’s eyes widened in disbelief. He pulled Xiao Shu to an even more secluded spot, determined to get a clear picture of the whole situation. Xiaoyu was indeed dangerous, but Xiao Shu had no inkling of what he planned to do—he couldn't articulate precisely how dangerous he was; it was merely a deep-seated intuition. Furthermore, from the very beginning, Xiao Shu had kept both him and Ali in the dark; they were merely deeply unsettled by Xiaoyu’s abnormal demeanor. Concepts like reincarnation or ninety-nine lives were beyond their comprehension. The tale of those ninety-nine departed souls was a secret shared only between Mingmei and Xiaoyu.

At this, Old He sighed heavily. “You must go look for him; one can’t stand by while a friend is in peril. But you see the state of the city; it’s not optimistic. If he’s not in the shelter, he might be out on the streets. It’s treacherous there; rioters appear sporadically, attacking patrolling officers and anyone else they deem a target. If you’re going to look for him, you must be exceedingly careful.”

Xiao Shu nodded, agreeing with Old He. “Since we faced life and death together, there’s no reason to abandon him. He hasn't been well recently; finding him would bring some peace of mind.”

“Right, I’ll take you to someone who might know Xiaoyu’s location,” Old He suddenly snapped his fingers, a flicker of insight striking him, leading Xiao Shu toward a corner of the tent encampment.

This area had been specifically designated as a makeshift medical station, where anyone injured or sick would come for rudimentary treatment. The conditions were exceedingly basic. Yet, under the circumstances, it was far better than nothing; having something was certainly superior to having absolutely none.

There, a woman wearing a headscarf that concealed her wild, explosive hairstyle moved busily among the patients, occasionally applying simple bandages to the wounded, dispensing anti-diarrhea medicine to those suffering from stomach troubles, and checking the temperature of feverish individuals.