Time Through Time We Remain Untamed.

Chapter 3- SEARCHING

       A few days passed and Lan Zhan was much more preoccupied than he had expected to be. He found himself being constantly  pulled in different directions with everything requiring his attention and it was beginning to get overwhelming. But Lan Zhan managed. He kept his cool and did his part quietly with much resilience and stamina. He was in the middle of going through procurement documents for extra parts and formulas when his phone dinged and he took a minute to check it.

   It was a message from his brother and it simply read, 'He's here.' Lan Zhan immediately understood what it meant and he responded swiftly. He packed up his remaining work as fast as he could and delegated the rest to his managers to handled as he stepped out. He wasn't sure when he would come back and he didn't want to be unaccountable or behind the schedule set. At the moment, his attention was being required else where and since he hadn't heard from him in two months, he being here meant that he had news.
    

    He rushed out to his car and then sped off in the direction of his brother's apartments at the other end of the city. The drive usually took about 2 hours due to traffic and Lan Zhan's careful driving but today it took 1 and half hours given the urgency. Lan Zhan was almost sure that he had broken a few traffic rules but for once he didn't pay much attention to it.
  
    “Da Ge,” Lan Zhan called out immediately he arrived. Xichen was already waiting for him outside and he led Lan Zhan in.

    “He hasn't been waiting too long so, take your time and then we will talk later.”

Lan Zhan nodded to that before he headed into his brother's study to meet with his secret friend. He found the guy seated waiting for him and they went straight into business without formalities.

    “Please inform me of what you know.” Lan Zhan said commandingly as he took a seat across him and prepared himself for anything.

   “Master Zhan, we still haven't found concrete information about Mr Wuxian. As you already know, after his arrest, all information pertaining to him have been secretly discarded, forged and misleading much coming from your father and Mr Wuxian's adoptive family. We have tried digging deep into it but our efforts have only derived little that might not be that helpful,”

    “Tell me regardless.” Lan Zhan ordered. He had hired a private investigator to look into the whereabouts of Wuxian and he needed information about him. Lan Zhan had become much desperate and persistent as this was his 10th investigator after being scammed, mislead and outed for years by the others. He had wasted much time going round in fruitless circles until he met this particular PI who was quite efficient and trustworthy.

    “We know for sure that Mr Wuxian wasn't detained in the country. There is no record of that so far from our investigation and we have been able to narrow down that he was most likely imprisoned in Europe ; specifically between France, Spain, Germany and Norway. My team have found out that in the past 11 years, Mr Wuxian's family had traveled to these countries and there might be a great possibility that he is in one of them. According to the charges you told us, it is much more plausible that he was taken abroad to serve a heavier sentence and one that was much harder to track down. For now we can't exactly pinpoint where he is given the years and much of the shady dealings behind this case. Moreover it would require a larger task force, more money and frankly we will be forced to result to other illegal means if we really want more results.” the man said as he looked up to Lan Zhan.

   Lan Zhan's heart deflated at the news and he leaned back into his chair. He had been hoping for something much more useful but it had ended up as always. A dead end. No matter how hard he tried, it seemed as though Wei Wuxian had disappeared off the face of the earth. It was almost as though he didn't want to be found. But there was a silver lining to all of this, at least he knew that Wuxian was alive and out there and that he knew Wuxian could be found in time.

    “What do we do Master Zhan? Do we proceeded with the search or not?” the man asked. Lan Zhan sat quietly for a while not wanting to be hasty in his decisions. Of course he wanted them to continue but he couldn't risk the chance of being exposed if they dig in deeper. No, they had done enough for now.

   “No. Just continue with the normal routine. I don't want to involve you and your team in bad situations that could easily put your lives at risk. It's better keep on with a clean investigation. Thank you for the news and inform me of any changes that may occur.”

    “It's my pleasure Master Zhan. I and my team will do its best and try as hard to get anything about Mr Wuxian. Do not worry. Farewell Sir.” the guy said standing up professionally and bowed to him. Lan Zhan nodded back in respect and the man promptly left.
 
  Lan Zhan took his time and sat there in the study alone with his thoughts. This journey to find Wuxian was beginning to provr difficult and it was all thanks to his father and other people who loathed Wuxian. Lan Qiren was a man who like the glory and respect of society and always lived up to the expectations held for him. He always wanted his family to be viewed as the most honorable and perfect  and hated anything that sort to ruin that. And that was exactly what Wei Wuxian was. A liability, a potential threat that sort to harm Lan Zhan who was his father's prized possession. From the moment Lan Qiren had met Wuxian, he had absolutely despised him and did everything to separate him from Lan Zhan. At all costs. It didn't surprise Lan Zhan that his father might have had a hand in something to do with the fact that Wuxian couldn't be easily traced. He had gone through extra miles to keep Lan Zhan away from even a whisper of Wuxian so much so that Lan Zhan had to do his business in much secrecy to avoid suspicion. If his father found out that he was still on about Wuxian, undoubtedly a war would break out and Lan Zhan knew he wouldn't back down from it just like last time and those were issues he didn't need or have time for at the moment.

     The door to the study was opened after a while and Xichen popped in with a tray of sweet tea.

“So....... any progress? It's been a while since you two last met,” he asked as he poured two cups for the both of them.

  “Forgive me Da Ge, but I don't want to involve you in this matter. It is much safer if you don't know anything about it.” Lan Zhan replied as he remained deep in thought and earnestly said his words. Xichen scoffed at his brother's noble intentions but he wasn't about to sit back and just watch. He knew what his brother was doing. Trying to keep it all to himself in the case this whole thing blew up so that Xichen wouldn't get into trouble. Typical Lan Zhan.

   “Wangji, I'm already involved in this matter. I mean you do use my house as a hideout. It's suffice to say that I am also a part of this team. I know how much this means to you, you've been searching for 16 years. That's more dedication and love that I haven't seen  and I want to help you and be by you as much as possible until the end. Its my responsibility as your brother therefore, take this tea, drink it and tell me exactly what the PI said. Every detail.” Xichen said using his elder brother tone which Lan Zhan couldn't refuse.

      Lan Zhan sighed silently before he obeyed his brother and proceeded to tell him everything to the last point. He may not have explicitly admit it but he was glad that his brother supported him and that he could bank on someone in such trying times.