Chapter 220: A Confrontation

During lunch in a private room at a restaurant, everyone was discussing their recent experiences.

“Did you see how big that Tibetan Mastiff was? My God, it’s the first time I’ve seen a dog that huge. It’s as big as a pig; you could ride it!”

“Yeah, and its food bowl is the size of a basin. It must eat ten pounds of food in one go.”

“Who can afford to keep such a dog? Just feeding it meat would be too much.”

Lin Dongxue asked curiously, “Did the kennel really have the legendary Snow Mastiff?”

“Yes, yes!” said a technician. “I saw one in a room. It was pure white, like snow!”

“That’s not a Snow Mastiff,” Peng Sijue said. “It’s a Tibetan Mastiff with albinism. Albino dogs are sensitive to light, so they keep it indoors.”

“Now that you mention it, its nose was also a bit pale,” the technician added.

Lin Dongxue was surprised. The so-called Snow Mastiffs that Liu Hong was selling were just albino Tibetan Mastiffs. Albinism is hereditary, and these inbred dogs would be weaker with each generation. She couldn’t help but feel sorry for the poor dogs.

Chen Shi asked, “I couldn’t see clearly from the camera. Did you find any incinerators, secret rooms, or basements in the kennel?”

“No,” everyone shook their heads. “It was just a regular kennel.”

“How does he dispose of the bodies then?” Chen Shi pondered.

“I saw the duty roster on the wall. Six employees take turns on night shifts, and the boss comes on Sundays. This place is in the middle of nowhere; once the gates are locked, no one gets in or out without the dogs barking,” Peng Sijue said.

“Everyone thinks the bodies were fed to the dogs!” Others agreed.

“The police aren’t stupid. After each disappearance, they must have investigated. A single nail or bloodstain would have incriminated Liu Hong. So, I think the kennel is just a cover,” Peng Sijue shared a similar view to Chen Shi.

“Tonight, let’s search the surroundings,” Chen Shi suggested.

“The area is huge. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack,” someone said.

Chen Shi shamelessly smiled, “Whether we find anything or not, I’ll treat you to meals for three days.”

“Yeah, right!”

After lunch, Peng Sijue left abruptly, as if washing his hands of the matter. But Chen Shi said to Lin Dongxue, “He’s off to figure something out.”

“He’s just annoyed at being treated like a laborer.”

“Everyone has their specialty. If I could find it, I’d do it myself… Hey, can you get us a police dog?”

“The police dogs are with the SWAT team. It requires paperwork.”

“I’ll remind Captain Peng then.”

Chen Shi found a picture of a police dog online and sent it to Peng Sijue, who ignored him.

Xu Xiaodong discovered that Liu Hong owned three properties in the city. Apart from the one under surveillance by Officer Liu, the other two were suburban villas, isolated enough to avoid detection.

He also found an old partner of Liu Hong named Li Biao.

Li Biao used to own a 30% share of the kennel but sold it to Liu Hong ten years ago. Now, he lives comfortably off his savings.

Xu Xiaodong said, “I found out from the business registry that Liu Hong’s kennel is thriving. The shares Li Biao sold have increased in value by 200%. He must feel like he lost out.”

“You don’t know the full story. Maybe Li Biao is the one who played along to survive,” Chen Shi said.

“Do you think Li Biao knows about Liu Hong’s activities? Should we go talk to him?” Lin Dongxue asked.

“What’s the point? He hasn’t betrayed Liu Hong in over a decade, showing they’re partners in crime. Xu Xiaodong, keep an eye on Li Biao.”

“Surveillance?”

“No need to go that far. Just check on him daily.”

“Why not directly watch Liu Hong?”

Chen Shi rubbed his chin, “I have a theory. Liu Hong might have accomplices. Could Li Biao be one of them?”

In the afternoon, Chen Shi and Lin Dongxue went to Officer Liu’s place, going through the files. Reading about the missing cases was dull and frustrating, like unraveling unsolved mysteries, making them more desperate to know the truth.

Chen Shi spread out the photos of the missing people on the floor, arranging them in different ways.

Lin Dongxue noticed he was deeply troubled. This unusual case seemed to stump even Chen Shi.

By five o’clock, Lin Dongxue suggested, “Stop for now. Let’s go out for some food and relax.”

“This is the most frustrating case I’ve ever encountered!” Chen Shi tossed a stack of photos on the floor. “Just give me one body.”

“Don’t jinx it!”

They went for a walk in the neighborhood to clear their heads and decide what to eat. Suddenly, they saw the young monk pacing the street. Lin Dongxue approached him, “Little Master, why are you here again?”

The young monk bowed, “After seeing my father’s killer yesterday, I couldn’t calm down. I wanted to see him again.”

“What will that achieve? Kill him with a stare?” Lin Dongxue joked.

“If monks could curse, I’d send him to hell… but that’s just a fantasy,” the young monk sighed. “Why haven’t you arrested him?”

“Evidence, Little Master!” Lin Dongxue said.

Chen Shi added, “Don’t wander around. If Liu Hong recognizes you and decides to kill you, then what?”

“If he kills me, can you arrest him then?” the young monk asked earnestly.

“Don’t say such unlucky things! Leave it to the police. Don’t do anything rash!” Lin Dongxue urged.

The young monk nodded thoughtfully.

“Hey, monk, still begging here?” a gruff voice called out from behind. They turned to see Liu Hong walking his Tibetan Mastiff.

Liu Hong’s attention shifted from the young monk to Lin Dongxue. He leered at her, “Beautiful lady, don’t fall for this scammer. He begs here all the time. Yesterday, I gave him a hundred.”

Lin Dongxue, avoiding conflict, smiled, “I was just asking for a charm for my mom. She believes in this stuff.”

“You live here too?” Liu Hong perked up. “Which unit? I’d like to visit and bring a jade Buddha for your mom.”

“I… don’t live here.”

“Where do you live then? Do you like dogs? Let’s add each other on WeChat,” Liu Hong leered at her.

“Stop harassing my girlfriend!” Chen Shi interjected, pointing at Liu Hong.

Lin Dongxue felt a warm sensation, knowing Chen Shi was only shielding her, but hearing him say “my girlfriend” made her happy nonetheless…