Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 452 Physical Salvation for Human Traffickers

The winter sun in Beijing shone warmly through the window onto the kang (a heated brick bed).

Lin Yan leaned against the armchair by the window, his gaze falling on the two little ones sleeping peacefully side by side on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Her rosy cheeks rose and fell slightly with her even breathing.

Looking at them, he recalled the faded military uniform of their biological father that he had glimpsed during the soul search, and the desperate sweat and blood on their biological mother's delivery bed. He also thought of this vast world, wondering how many similar tragedies were unfolding or had been buried by time.

Even the closest of family members are separated due to ignorance and greed, or due to evil abduction and trafficking.

For those parents who have lost their children, the rest of their lives are filled with nothing but a broken moon and endless searching.

"Merit..." Lin Yan unconsciously twirled his fingertips.

Those who cultivate immortality emphasize cause and effect and accumulate external merits.

Perhaps it can also help the cultivators under the sect who often walk in the mortal world to accumulate some real good deeds and merits, so that they will have more foundation when they face inner demons or break through their realm in the future.

A clear idea took shape in his mind.

"Lin Xiao," he called softly, his voice reaching Lin Xiao, who was handling affairs in the front yard.

Lin Xiao quickly appeared at the study door and bowed to receive the order.

"I'm thinking of setting up a few 'family tracing agencies' in China. Go and think of some preliminary plans!" Lin Yan said.

Half an hour later, Lin Xiao came to report.

"Young Master, we have a plan in mind. As you instructed, the locations for the six cities have been preliminarily selected, all in quiet places with convenient transportation. As for personnel, we will select from our Nascent Soul stage disciples from the mainland ships, assigning each of them one or two clever, reliable, and worldly-wise low-level disciples or peripheral personnel to handle daily reception and paperwork. The regulations are also being drafted, with a focus on procedural standardization and confidentiality."

Lin Yan nodded: "Very good. However, we need a reasonable explanation for how we 'find people' that can also demonstrate our efficiency and accuracy. Directly mentioning 'biometric matching' is too advanced and could easily attract unnecessary technical attention."

He pondered for a moment, a knowing glint in his eyes: "Let's use 'Feng Shui Metaphysics' and 'Bloodline Sensing' as the names."

"Feng Shui metaphysics?" Lin Xiao was slightly surprised, then suddenly realized.

Yes, in the early 1990s in China, the Qigong craze was in full swing, and the people held both reverence and curiosity for the mystical aspects of traditional culture such as Feng Shui and fortune telling.

Using this as a shell is indeed more acceptable and more inclusive and flexible in interpretation than the abrupt "high technology".

"That's right," Lin Yan explained in detail.

"We publicly claim that the 'searchers' hired by our firm are proficient in the ancient 'bloodline connection technique' and 'geographical sensing method.' They require a drop of blood from a direct blood relative's fingertip as a 'guide,' combined with information such as the missing person's birth date and time of disappearance, and the 'searcher' burns incense and calms their mind to sense the mysterious connection of blood. Then, they use a unique feng shui compass to calculate and locate the most likely direction and area in the 'energy veins' of mountains and rivers."

He paused for a moment: "The reason for 'providing results the next day' is that this kind of 'intuitive deduction' is extremely mentally taxing, requiring time for quiet contemplation. Moreover, the results are mostly presented in the form of prophecies or directional hints, which need to be interpreted by a 'tracker.' In this way, the general area clues we provide have a source. Even if they are occasionally surprisingly accurate, it can be attributed to the 'tracker's' profound skill or strong bloodline intuition, belonging to the category of 'coincidence' and 'efficacy' in metaphysics, and will not lead people to directly associate it with supernatural forces or unknown technology."

Lin Xiao nodded repeatedly, "Young Master's consideration is thorough! This method is excellent. Metaphysical teachings can be used for both offense and defense. People will naturally come to believe in them. Even if the authorities hear about it, as long as we do not engage in fraud or disturb the peace, they will mostly regard it as a folk activity and will not investigate it further. The ten yuan fee can also be regarded as 'sincere money' or 'incense offering,' which is reasonable."

"Um."

Lin Yan added:

"Instruct the Nascent Soul cultivators stationed here to conceal their spiritual energy fluctuations when performing the Bloodline Tracing Technique, and to relay the results in a way that mortals can understand, such as proximity to water, mountains, or towns in a certain direction."

The direction can be vague, but it must be correct. At the same time, it is essential to warn them that the purpose of this trip is to accumulate merit and help others, to avoid arrogance and impetuosity, not to use magic to deceive the world, and even more so, not to take the opportunity to extort money or get involved in any disputes that arise after the search for relatives.

We only provide clues, not the results. If there are official investigations or media inquiries, we will respond discreetly by stating that it is an attempt to help people using traditional folk techniques, and the effectiveness varies from person to person.

"Understood!" Lin Xiao replied solemnly.

"This matter concerns not only the young master's compassionate intentions, but also the dignity and safety of us cultivators navigating the mortal world. We must handle it with utmost care. Should we perhaps give our agency a formal name?"

Lin Yan gazed at the distant blue sky outside the window and said slowly, "Let's call it... 'Homecoming Lights Agency'."

"The lights of homecoming..."

Lin Xiao savored those four words, a warmth spreading through his heart. "Yes, young master. I'll make the arrangements immediately and get the lights on in the six departments as soon as possible."

After Lin Xiao left, the study returned to tranquility.

The sunlight shifted, gently caressing the peaceful sleeping faces of the two children on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Lin Yan walked over, tucked the blankets around them, and brushed his fingertips across their delicate cheeks.

"I cannot eliminate all the suffering of separation in this world. But since I have this power, let me light a few lamps. They may not illuminate the entire darkness, but I hope they can point some people on a way home."

The sign for "Homecoming Lights Agency" has been quietly erected on inconspicuous street corners in six cities.

There were no firecrackers, no publicity, just a handwritten notice posted next to the door: "Following ancient customs, seeking blood relatives. A drop of blood from the fingertip of a direct relative is required, along with a ten-yuan reward for sincerity. A message will be sent the following day; its efficacy is ordained by Heaven."

At first, the place was deserted. Occasionally, someone would peek out out of curiosity, but most would shake their head and walk away, regarding it as just another charlatan's shop that was out to swindle money.

The turning point came at the Shanghai office.

A middle-aged man with worn-out clothes and sunken eyes lingered at the door for three days before finally pushing open the simple wooden door with trembling hands.

His name is Chen Jianguo. Eighteen years ago, his four-year-old son went missing at the entrance of the alley.

For eighteen years, he traveled all over China, squandered his fortune, and was utterly despondent.

Seeing this notice was purely a last resort.

The Nascent Soul cultivator stationed in Shanghai, whose Daoist name is "Jingxu," appears as a lean and refined old gentleman wearing round-framed glasses.

He listened quietly to Old Chen's incoherent narration, his gaze calm.

"Mr. Chen, please."

Master Jingxu took out a sterilized silver needle and a small, clean white porcelain dish. The process was extremely simple: he took a drop of blood and placed it in the dish.

Old Chen looked at the drop of his own blood, as if he were betting his last shred of his soul.

"Please come again at this time tomorrow." Master Jingxu put the porcelain plate behind the curtain in the inner room.

Behind the curtain, Master Jingxu simply closed his eyes, focused his mind, and formed a tracing incantation with his hands, all while facing the drop of blood.

With the powerful divine sense of the Nascent Soul stage combined with the exquisite bloodline tracking technique, in an instant, a causal line that transcends time and space was touched and extended... pointing southwest to a certain border town.

The next day, Old Chen arrived as promised, barely daring to breathe.

Master Jingxu pushed a folded piece of paper in front of him, his voice gentle:

"Ancient methods of intuition suggest that the bloodline connection is not severed. Your son should still be alive, heading southwest, near the border, with the aura of water, mountains, and forests. Specifically, you might try searching in southwestern Yunnan Province, around Lincang and Pu'er, paying attention to families related to timber and tea; they might have some clues. This is guided by divine will; the clues are vague, and this is for reference only. Please remember this."

Old Chen held the slip of paper, looking at the place name and brief characteristics written on it with a brush, his hands trembling like fallen leaves in the autumn wind.

For the first time in eighteen years, he had a clear direction! Although it was vague, it was a thousand times better than finding a needle in a haystack! He knelt down with a thud and was about to kowtow, but was stopped by Master Jingxu.

"No, that won't do. The lights of home are only meant to provide a glimmer of light for those who have lost their way. Ten yuan is enough. Go and search quickly, and may you and your son be reunited soon."

Old Chen left, expressing his deepest gratitude.

Several months later, the Shanghai office received a letter without a sender's address, but containing several crumpled but brand-new ten-yuan bills.

The letter was short, the handwriting crooked yet powerful: "Thanks to your guidance, my son has been found and is working for a tea farmer in Pu'er. I am deeply grateful and wish you all the best."

Similar stories began to unfold sporadically in six cities.

A mother in Zhengzhou found her daughter, who had been abducted thirteen years ago, in a blacksmith shop in Xuzhou, guided by a clue that the location was "southeast, near a transportation hub, or where there is a metallic sound."

A woman from Wuhan, following a clue that "heading north to a fertile land, possibly related to aquaculture," found her missing brother at a duck farm in Henan.

The reputation of "Homecoming Lights" spread quietly among the most desperate yet resilient people, like water dripping on stone.

"Homecoming Lights" does not guarantee success, is inexpensive, and involves a mysterious process, but its enigmatic directional hints have repeatedly and miraculously pointed to the correct area.

People began to believe that a truly capable "master" was sitting here, but who did not want to show off.

While the efficiency of "Homecoming Lights" has certainly helped some families, it has also inadvertently touched upon a vast, dark network with deeply intertwined interests—a human trafficking ring.

At first, they didn't care and just thought it was another scam.

However, as individual "success stories" circulated within a very small circle, especially when several of them involved "fresh goods" that they had just obtained and had not yet been exported or "laundered," vigilance turned into unease, and then into anger.

Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents.

Moreover, this is a business that is extremely profitable yet stained with blood and tears.

One evening, the wooden door of the "Homecoming Lights" office in Lanzhou was violently kicked open.

Three burly men with fierce faces and menacing eyes barged in, followed by several hooligans.

The bald man at the head of the group, a cigarette dangling from his lips, glanced at the composed cultivator (alias "Mo Yan") sitting behind the desk, and sneered:

"You old charlatan, I heard you can find people just by calculating with your fingers? Pretty impressive!"

Master Moyan didn't even lift his eyelids, and said indifferently, "This place only helps people find their relatives, and doesn't ask about their origins. If you have nothing else to say, please leave."

"Looking for relatives?"

The bald man slammed his hand on the table.

"Go to hell! I'm telling you, shut the shop and get the hell out of here! If you dare cause any more trouble, believe me, I'll smash this place up and break your fingers one by one, then we'll see how you handle that!"

Foul language, threats and intimidation.

Several henchmen had already rolled up their sleeves and started shoving the simple tables and chairs in the office.

In the eyes of Master Moyan, the ancient well remained calm and still.

He didn't even need to use his true energy to deal with these mortals.

However, the young master strictly forbade that the cultivator's methods be exposed, and even more so that no disturbance be caused in secular settings.

He slowly stood up, his body seemingly swaying slightly.

The bald man felt a blur before his eyes, followed by a sharp pain in his wrist. His pulse had been twisted and he was now paralyzed and unable to move. His two accomplices, who were trying to pounce on him, somehow slipped and collided with each other, feeling dizzy and disoriented.

"roll."

Master Moyan released his grip and uttered only one word.

The thugs felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, their arrogance instantly extinguished. They scrambled out, uttering a few menacing words of "Just you wait and see" in their bravado.

Similar small-scale harassment incidents have occurred in several other cities.

Smashing windows, splashing paint, making threatening phone calls in the middle of the night... these local thugs tried to force "Homecoming Lights" to close down using their usual methods.

The Nascent Soul cultivators stationed there followed orders, using only slightly superhuman strength and aura to drive them away, without resorting to heavy-handed tactics or revealing any supernatural powers.

They simply summarized and reported the situation, awaiting further instructions from the young master.

Courtyard houses on Dongxinglong Street.

Lin Yan looked at the report presented by Lin Xiao, his fingertips lightly tracing over the words "A gang in Yunnan Province offered a reward of 50,000 yuan for the leg of an employee of the firm" and "The 'kidnapping gang' on the Longxi line threatened to burn down the house," and the cold glint in his eyes gradually intensified.

"The lights used for searching for relatives not only illuminate the way home, but also expose the ugliness of these demons and monsters."

"Did they think that by hiding in the shadows, relying on their numbers and the principle that the law doesn't punish everyone, they could act with impunity?"

"Young Master, should we have the senior brothers stationed in various places give them some punishment? Or should we notify the local 'relevant departments'?" Lin Xiao asked for instructions.

"Notify the relevant departments that the procedures are cumbersome, evidence is hard to gather, and at most they can only detain people for a few days, which is a temporary solution and not a fundamental one. On the contrary, it may entangle our cultivators in unnecessary worldly disputes."

Lin Yan shook his head.

"As for punishment... since they like to shroud others in the shadow of violence, let them also taste what it's like to be swallowed by an even more absolute shadow."

He looked at Lin Xiao:

"Order the cultivators stationed in the Sixth Division to strengthen their own and their offices' routine protection, effective immediately, but avoid direct confrontation with these scum. Report the information they have collected, verified, core, and most blood-stained human traffickers' leaders or key members, including their names, appearances, places of residence, and activity patterns, through the identification system."

"You want to..." Lin Xiao seemed to understand.

"Physical salvation."

Lin Yan uttered four words, cold and ruthless.

"Remote, accidental, and without a trace. Make these scum disappear from the world 'reasonably'. Car accidents, slips, sudden illnesses, fires... The specific methods are designed by the executing monks according to the target environment, with only one principle: it must appear to be a pure, unfortunate accident or an ordinary case, and absolutely must not leave any trace of supernatural forces or targeted murder."

He paused. "The focus should be on eliminating the core members who are vicious, incorrigible, and might retaliate against the firm or their reunited families. As for the lower-ranking members, a little punishment will suffice, such as letting them suffer for a while. We want to send a signal: those who disturb 'Homecoming Lights' and those they help will be punished by heaven."

"Understood!" Lin Xiao's heart tightened, and he accepted the order and left.

As a result, in the following period of time, several "accidents" occurred in various places, a case of "just deserts."

A notorious gang leader in Yunnan Province, who controlled several human trafficking routes, drove home drunk late at night. His vehicle "accidentally" went out of control and plunged off a cliff. There were no traces of other vehicles at the scene, and his blood alcohol level was too high, classifying the incident as a drunk driving accident.

The leader of the kidnapping gang in Longxi, who had threatened to set fire to his home, was caught having an "accidental" gas leak while having an affair with his mistress at her residence. The gas leak caused an explosion that killed both of them. The investigation concluded that the gas leak was due to improper use.

The head of a human trafficking transit station in a city in central China suffered a sudden myocardial infarction while taking a bath in a public bathhouse and died despite attempts to save him. He did have a history of heart disease before his death.

A high-level human trafficker in the Pearl River Delta, who specializes in trafficking children overseas, had his smuggling speedboat "accidentally" run aground and sink at night. His body was washed ashore several days later, which is consistent with the characteristics of a maritime accident.

Each "accident" occurred late at night or when the person was alone, with no signs of external coercion at the scene, and the investigations by forensic doctors and the police all yielded conclusions that were consistent with common sense.

Only a very few people walking on the edge of darkness felt a chilling coldness – these people who had gotten into trouble all seemed to have had some indirect conflict with that troublesome “homecoming light” recently, or were preparing to retaliate against it more fiercely.

Coincidence? Once is a coincidence, twice is luck, three or four times... then it becomes some kind of "rule" that makes one afraid to think too deeply.

The harassment and threats against "homecoming lights" melted and receded quickly, like ice and snow under the sun.

Although those forces in the shadows are greedy and cruel, they are also the most afraid of death.

They may not understand what happened, but their intuition tells them that behind those seemingly faint "lights" lies a terrible shadow that they cannot comprehend or resist.

The "Homecoming Lights Agency" has returned to peace, even more so than before.

The number of people seeking help is still not large, but each one carries the deepest hopes.

The Nascent Soul cultivators stationed there continued to play the role of unfathomable "trackers," taking blood samples, meditating, and providing vague yet accurate directional guidance.

They remain low-key, still only charge ten yuan, and still do not guarantee the results.

But secretly, new surveillance information about the movements of the remaining human trafficking networks is occasionally gathered through special channels.

Lin Yan did not order a continued large-scale cleanup, but simply instructed the cultivators to keep a close watch.

He knew that eradicating this malignant tumor would not be a task that could be accomplished overnight, nor was it his original intention in establishing this place.

Maintaining deterrence, ensuring the lights never go out, and helping the families who are fortunate enough to find this place is enough.