They moved north. Rumors. Empty clues. Tea stalls and fading maps.
In one town: a willow-lined river. Red lanterns swaying.
On a notice board:
Missing boy. Lotus birthmark. Taken during border unrest. Would be near twenty. Family still seeks him. Affiliated with Yunmeng Jiang.
Yujin memorized it. Said nothing.
That night:
"I saw something," Yujin told him.
Xiao didn't let hope rise.
"They lost you," Yujin said. "They didn't discard you."
"And if it isn't me?"
"Then you still have me."
Later, Xiao stood by the window:
"As a child, I dreamed someone would come."
Yujin came up behind him, hand on his shoulder.
"Then let me hope for you," he said. "It's lighter when shared."
Far behind:
Masked men removed the notice from the board. One read it, smiled thinly.
"Found you," he whispered.