Chapter 364: Searching for Enemy Traces

"Yes, one room for us will be fine," the youth replied crisply.

"Just one?"

"Yes," the woman in the green dress beside him apologized. "We need an economical room type; it's fine if it's a bit cramped."

"Oh," the innkeeper glanced at them, took out a key, and placed it on the table. "Room 301, 120 a night. Is that acceptable?"

"Yes, that's fine."

The woman in the green dress carefully counted the money in her hand. After confirming the amount, she handed it to the innkeeper, took the key, and led the group towards the stairs.

They had walked a short distance when they realized someone was missing. Puzzled, they turned to look back.

"Innkeeper!" The youth was still standing where they left him, blinking curiously, his bright eyes twinkling like stars.

"What is it?"

"Your glasses are so pretty. Where did you buy them?"

"These?" The innkeeper pointed to the glasses on his nose, smiling slightly. "I bought them from a merchant in Li Town, but he's already left."

"...Oh, okay."

Disappointment clouded the handsome youth's face. After a sigh, he followed the other three up the stairs.

Watching the four disappear up the stairs, the smile on the innkeeper's face gradually faded. He calmly took off the glasses from his nose, and the next moment, he vanished into thin air...

He gazed out of the inn's door, as if waiting for something.

"Code 031, Lin Xi?"

A gentle breeze rustled the dark willows. Under the moonlight, Lin Xi watched the two dusty figures approach and nodded slightly:

"That's me."

"Apologies, we were delayed a bit on the way." One of them extended a hand. "I'm Code 030, you can call me Old Lu."

"It's fine. The 'Circle' will last for over forty more hours, which should be enough time for us to catch him."

Lin Xi said this while shaking his hand, then looked at the other person.

"Code 029, Feng Gui."

The other person spoke blandly, showing no intention of shaking his hand.

These two were the Fuhsheng Hui members who had come to support Lin Xi. Nearly seven hours had passed since Lin Xi sent his distress signal, and a pale glow was already appearing on the horizon. Had Lin Xi not applied for the 'Circle' to descend in advance, Chen Ling would likely have escaped far away by now.

"We came as soon as we received the distress call. What exactly is the situation now?" Old Lu asked, puzzled.

Lin Xi's expression darkened slightly as he recounted the details of his encounter with Chen Ling. Both men's brows furrowed simultaneously.

"Are you saying the enemy is someone possibly from the 'God of Drama' path, yet possesses extremely strong close-quarters combat abilities... and is an unkillable cockroach?" Old Lu asked with a strange expression.

"That's a pretty accurate summary," Lin Xi nodded.

"That bizarre?"

"No matter how bizarre, he's still only a third-tier," Feng Gui scoffed. "With the three of us working together, plus the ability to call for pinpoint support at any time, even if he had three heads and six arms, he wouldn't escape."

"That's true... Lin Xi, have you located him?"

"No," Lin Xi shook his head.

"However, he should have already discovered the 'Circle' and knows he can't escape Willow Town... Furthermore, having been directly hit by the Ink Lightning, he must be severely injured right now. If I'm not mistaken, he's very likely hiding in an inn somewhere."

"That makes things easier then. Willow Town only has a few inns, so we just need to search them one by one," Old Lu nodded in agreement. "By asking if any strangers checked in during this time frame, we should be able to pinpoint his location... Feng Gui, what do you think?"

"Let's do that for now," Feng Gui said indifferently.

With an agreed plan, the three immediately began searching the inns within Willow Town. Following the logical hiding places of an enemy, they started with the smallest and most secluded inns. After checking three in a row, they still found nothing.

The people staying in these inns were mostly couples involved in secret affairs or impoverished merchants. In the last few hours, no suspicious individuals had checked in at all.

"Strange... Could he not be in an inn?" Old Lu said, sounding somewhat doubtful.

"If he were to break into a private residence to hide, he would inevitably have to deal with the residents inside. But with his injuries, doing so would be too risky... If he makes any noise, I'll know quickly." Lin Xi's logic was very clear.

"In any case, let's finish searching the inns first. If that doesn't work, we'll search the private residences. Willow Town isn't that big anyway; turning it upside down won't take much time."

"There's one more inn ahead, the largest in Willow Town. If he's not there, he's truly not in any inn."

The three spoke as they entered the inn.

It was dawn, and the inn was quiet; most people were still deep in their sleep. The three walked up to the inn's counter, where a figure sat dozing.

As if hearing them approach, the innkeeper opened his drowsy eyes and slowly stood up.

"Are the three of you checking in?"

"No, we're here to ask for some information." Lin Xi took out a police badge from his pocket and placed it on the counter.

Upon seeing the police badge, the innkeeper's expression immediately changed, and he asked somewhat nervously:

"...What do you want to know?"

"In the last seven hours, has any unfamiliar face checked in? Specifically, someone alone?"

The innkeeper frowned slightly, as if deep in thought... He pulled out a notebook from under the counter and ran his finger across the entries, finally stopping at a particular room number.

"Yes!"

At that word, the eyes of all three immediately lit up.

"What does he look like? Any distinguishing features?" Lin Xi quickly followed up.

"He looked to be around twenty, quite ordinary, nothing particularly distinctive... Oh, right, when he arrived, he seemed to be limping slightly? And he spoke weakly, as if he was very tired," the innkeeper recalled.

A sharp glint flashed in Lin Xi's eyes, and he stated confidently: "That's him!"

"Oh dear, what exactly are you investigating?" The innkeeper's heart sank. "There isn't anyone dangerous staying in my inn, is there?"

"That's not for you to worry about," Old Lu waved his hand. "Which room is he in?"

"Let's go."

The three immediately headed up the stairs.

"I didn't expect this guy to be so bold as to stay here..." Old Lu scoffed as he walked.

"The most dangerous place can sometimes be the safest. With so many people staying here, it can provide good cover." A series of sharp glints flashed in Lin Xi's eyes. "It seems catching him won't take forty hours after all..."

"Having been struck by the Ink Lightning, he won't die, but he'll be severely weakened. He must be recuperating now. Let's keep our footsteps light; we don't want to alert him."

The three quietly made their way through the third-floor corridor. The faint light of dawn filtered through the windows, casting a thin, ethereal veil upon the floor.

Finally, they stopped in front of a room door.