Capturing My Demon King Costar

MY COSTAR IS HELD CAPTIVE

Tan Liansi curses as soon as she sees the location marker. "He's trying to draw you into a trap, so you won't say anything about Xin Hulei's disappearance."

The sudden disappearance of one of the country's most famous actors is bound to generate several shockwaves. Not to mention that the timing, so soon after the reveal of the murders at the hotel, is nothing if not suspicious.

Gao Wu wants to avoid all that.

It's at once alarming and reassuring. Xin Hulei must be alright, for Gao Wu to be trying to salvage the situation.

Most likely he thinks that Yao Shen has no idea about Xin Hulei's true nature, and will just try to convince him that he's evil -- if what he said about his family being exorcists is true.

"We need to go there, right now," Tan Liansi says.

She grabs hold of Yao Shen's hoodie, in preparation to taking him with her towards the location Gao Wu sent.

Yao Shen slaps her hand away.

"Don't be so hasty, we can't rush into this."

She shoots him an annoyed glare and makes another grab towards him.

"Gao Wu doesn't know you're with me!" Yao Shen says, trying to get her to calm down. "Let's use that to our advantage. If I show up right away he'll know something is up."

The location Gao Wu sent is halfway across the city, and while public transport in Beijing is remarkable it hasn't achieved light-speed yet.

"You want us to catch the metro to rescue my ge?" she hisses, her dark eyes flashing.

Yao Shen isn't happy about it either, but he doesn't see an alternative. Except, "He doesn't know about you, so you can go there and as a lookout and keep me informed." He runs his fingers through his messy hair. "I catch the metro."

Tan Liansi isn't any happier about that solution, but at least it keeps her from protesting. Yao Shen chalks it up as win.

---

During the metro ride, and the three changes he needs to make to reach the address Gao Wu sent him, Yao Shen reminds himself this is the quickest mode of transportation in the city, and that while ride-hailing might seem like the fastest option -- it's not, and he'll only end up stuck in traffic that way.

It doesn't help that Liansi's messages aren't reassuring.

[Liansi: I'm here, it looks like a Daoist temple]

[Liansi: There's a courtyard out front, but I can only go in so far before anyone sees me.]

[Little Menace: Have you seen any signs of either of them?]

[Liansi: I just see a lot of bamboo, and all kinds of greenery! This is pointless. I either go in and risk exposing myself or I stay hidden and don't find anything useful]

[Little Menace: stay put, you're our secret weapon. Gao Wu can't find about you now]

After that Tan Liansi sends him a string of curses and aggressive emojis that Yao Shen doesn't bother trying to reply to.

---

Finally, he arrives at the location. Just like Tan Liansi said, it's a Daoist Temple, with large, tiered red gates leading up to an overgrown courtyard that hides the pavilions from view.

The outside wall and the imposing gates look as if they've seen better days. The whole thing gives off an air of disrepair.

Yao Shen sends the same message to both Tan Liansi and Gao Wu.