Chapter 567: Chasing Li Xiang

Chen Shi watched over the unconscious KK, with Tao Yueyue standing beside him. After a while, she remarked, “The human body is really fascinating!”

“It sure is. This has been quite an eye-opener.”

“KK won’t be in any danger, right?”

“No, he’ll be fine. A rascal like him won’t go down so easily!”

Suddenly, a familiar wailing cry came from outside. Chen Shi went out to see Sun Zhen crying over someone being wheeled out of the emergency room. “What are you crying about? We’re over here!” Chen Shi called.

Sun Zhen quickly wiped his tears and sheepishly said, “Wrapped up like that, I thought it was him and that he was beyond saving… How is he?”

“The doctor said he’s out of danger.”

The toxin was essentially just a type of algae, not a virus that spreads uncontrollably. Since it was now under control, KK’s body would gradually expel it through metabolism and medication.

Looking at the comatose KK, Sun Zhen said, “I shouldn’t have told him about my dream this morning.”

“What happened?”

“These guys who live on the edge are superstitious about talking about dreams, rabbits, tigers, and such in the morning. When he wakes up, he’ll definitely blame me.”

“Your point of reflection is off. I think it’s my fault for not warning him not to go alone.”

Tao Yueyue pointed to the IV bottle and asked, “Uncle Chen, is it true that injecting air into this can kill someone?”

“Not really!” Chen Shi gestured, “An air embolism in the heart isn’t that easy to form. Blood proteins carry air as well, so you’d need a long, thick needle to inject enough air into the blood to be fatal.”

Sun Zhen commented, “You two get along well. If I asked my dad such a question, I’d get a slap.”

“Is your dad still alive?”

“Long since sent to the crematorium for formatting.”

“What about your mom?”

“Can we not talk about this in the hospital?”

“Then what should we talk about? Open the window to call back his soul?”

“Does that work?”

“I think it’s like hitting a computer case when it has issues.”

As they chatted aimlessly, Lin Dongxue texted Chen Shi asking which hospital he was at. When he replied, she said, “We’re on our way!”

Chen Shi instructed the two to stay put and went outside to meet Lin Dongxue and her team. She reported, “We have two findings. First, a girl reported being followed by someone matching Li Xiang’s description, but he ran when she noticed him. Second, Captain Peng tested the DNA of the corpse’s limbs and found they came from different bodies. We checked with the precincts, and this hospital’s morgue reported missing corpses two years ago.”

“That’s quick!”

“So I wonder if Li Xiang might come here to steal bodies.”

“Let’s check it out!”

The hospital morgue was a small temporary room for storing bodies, privately contracted. When the police arrived, they found the lock broken and immediately drew their guns.

Lin Dongxue cautiously pushed open the door. The room was cold, with a door leading to a row of metal cabinets inside.

The creaking door sounded eerie. Inside were the same sliding-type morgue drawers used in police stations, each with a latch. If Li Xiang had been here, he’d have tools to open them.

Lin Dongxue had the morgue attendant open the drawers. Chen Shi said, “No need to open them all. Which one has the body of a young woman? You have records, right?”

“There’s one!”

The attendant opened the drawer, revealing it empty, and he was shocked.

“Looks like he was here and took a body. He won’t get far dragging a corpse. Search the area!” Chen Shi ordered.

The team searched the hospital grounds. Someone found a section of iron fence kicked open, with ice shards scattered on the ground. Following this trail led them to a road. Watching the traffic, Lin Dongxue called the traffic bureau to check surveillance at this intersection.

Chen Shi’s phone rang. Unexpectedly, it was Li Xiang, who said sinisterly, “Officer Chen, you work efficiently!”

Chen Shi gestured for silence to those around him and replied, “I advise you to surrender. If we catch you, it’ll be much worse for you.”

“Hmph, can’t the police come up with new lines? There’s a supermarket outside the hospital. I suggest you check its surveillance.”

Li Xiang hung up.

Chen Shi crossed the road to the supermarket and asked to see the surveillance footage. Half an hour earlier, Li Xiang had entered with a large bag, fiddled with some bottled water on the shelf, and then left.

Chen Shi inspected the shelf and found several bottles with tiny puncture marks. He called Li Xiang back. Li Xiang said, “See those bottles? I’ve tainted them with that flagellate algae in many supermarkets. Stop chasing me, and I’ll tell you a new location every hour. Otherwise, you’ll have a mass poisoning event on your hands. Can you afford that risk? Letting me go is just letting a harmless weirdo escape. Think about it.”

“You want to negotiate with the police…”

Before Chen Shi could finish, Li Xiang hung up. Calling back, he found the phone off.

“That bastard!” Chen Shi exclaimed.

“Should we call in more officers? Bring in the SWAT team?” Lin Dongxue frowned.

“I don’t believe he has the capability. He’s bluffing!” Chen Shi stared at the water bottles, then unscrewed one and took a sip before Lin Dongxue could stop him. “If nothing happens to me in ten minutes, he’s bluffing!”

“You…” Lin Dongxue was speechless.

“It’s okay. This dose won’t affect me.” Despite his words, Chen Shi felt a bit anxious—it was a gamble.

Just then, Lin Dongxue received surveillance footage from the traffic bureau showing Li Xiang climbing into a truck parked near the hospital. The truck drove off ten minutes later.

“Let’s follow that truck!” Lin Dongxue ordered.

With coordination from the traffic bureau and the police, they quickly located the truck. As they approached, they encountered a traffic jam. Flames leapt into the air from a burning truck. The officers left their cars and walked, seeing a truck bed on fire.

This was the truck Li Xiang had used. He had set its cargo, cotton textiles, on fire before fleeing. Lin Dongxue said, “This guy is ruthless!”

Li Xiang’s goal was to keep the police busy. Chen Shi scanned the area and saw a figure with a backpack running across an overpass. He called for Lin Dongxue and the others to follow.