Chapter 857: Snake’s Path

“I need to use the restroom.”

Xu Xiaodong stood up and left the conference room. Other officers who had just returned from the “restroom” exchanged knowing glances.

Xu Xiaodong walked to the staircase at the end of the hallway and took out his phone to call his mother.

“Mom, I’m telling you the truth. Please don’t go out recently, just order takeout for meals. Takeout doesn’t use gutter oil anymore; it’s illegal and you can go to jail for that. Why do you keep worrying about this? Please, just don’t go out for now. I’ll come home early.”

Hearing his mother’s voice, Xu Xiaodong sighed with relief. Just then, he heard Officer Zhang’s voice from the stairs below, sounding particularly agitated.

“Tingting, why are you being so difficult? Do you think I’m lying to you? These are separate issues. I told you not to go out recently, especially not at night. Hey, don’t hang up, don’t hang up!”

Xu Xiaodong glanced down and saw Officer Zhang standing on the landing, sighing in frustration at his phone.

He hurried back and ran into Lin Dongxue, who was returning from the technical squad. Lin Dongxue asked, “Calling your mom?”

“Yeah, I’m scared.” Xu Xiaodong admitted awkwardly. “Does Officer Zhang not get along with his daughter? I just heard him on the phone, sounded like a fight.”

“He’s been separated from his wife for many years. His daughter should be in high school now.”

“Sigh, every family has its problems.”

Just then, Chen Shi walked in from outside and saw Lin Dongxue holding an identification report. He asked, “Is the autopsy out?”

“No, this is the fingerprint identification report. There were Ling Shuang’s fingerprints on that ‘diagnosis’ paper.”

Since Zhou Tian’nan’s death, some of his information had been discovered by the police. Ling Shuang was basically a wanted criminal now. Chen Shi said, “This case was hired by Lie Guoxiao.”

“Are you sure?”

“Think about it, why not kill the police officers themselves, but only their family members? Because Lie Guoxiao doesn’t want to harm you and Lin Qiupu. He perfectly avoided you siblings while achieving the goal of retaliating against the police.”

“Retaliating against the police? Isn’t that a bit extreme?” Xu Xiaodong said.

“How much evidence have you gathered against Lie Guoxiao?”

“A lot, enough to put him away for life.”

“Yes, he’s at his wits’ end. He’s a very proud man, and he wants to drag a few people down with him… that’s my take.”

“Despicable guy!” Lin Dongxue muttered.

“Where’s Officer Zhang?”

Just then, Officer Zhang returned, looking a bit downcast and smelling of smoke. Seeing the three of them standing in the hallway, he greeted them. Chen Shi said, “Officer Zhang, can your task force spare some people?”

“I’ve been thinking about it, but we’re really short-handed right now. Lie Guoxiao’s case is huge, and the higher-ups are paying close attention.”

“Then let’s call Lin Qiupu back!”

“That would be great. I’ve been struggling as acting captain. Having Lin back would be a relief.”

Lin Dongxue quickly contacted Lin Qiupu, who soon returned. After understanding the situation, he said, “Let’s start investigating right away!”

The only thing they could investigate at the moment was the scene’s surveillance footage. The three of them found a quiet office and watched the surveillance around the scene segment by segment. To save time, they even had their takeout lunch in front of the computer.

While eating fried dumplings, Lin Dongxue remarked, “Zhou Xiao is really hard to catch. Every time, he leaves nothing but the body.”

Lin Qiupu said, “Actually, we did have some success in tracking him. We discovered his residence twice, but he had already moved by the time we got there. This guy is very sharp.”

“It’s unbelievable that a wanted criminal can hide in Long’an for so many years. He needs to eat, drink, and sleep. How does he leave no trace? Is he practicing fasting or something?”

“The answer is four words: Snake’s Path.” Chen Shi said, “People like him have their own world. There are people selling information, providing food and shelter, offering weapons. It’s an underground world, a network of criminals that ordinary people can’t access.”

“Incredible!” Lin Dongxue exclaimed.

“This reminds me of something. One year, we found something in the sewers of Xinghua Ridge…” Lin Qiupu suddenly stopped talking, his eyes fixed on the screen.

Lin Dongxue leaned over to see what he had discovered. The frozen screen showed a person. Lin Dongxue exclaimed, “Brother, isn’t that your former captain?”

Chen Shi quickly moved closer, his pupils constricting. The image captured a man walking past a street corner, his side profile unmistakably that of Song Lang.

Bastard! Chen Shi cursed internally.

Lin Qiupu was completely absorbed by the image. After a long time, he said, “He was my former captain. Four years ago, he became a wanted criminal for shooting a colleague and has been missing since. Recently, he appeared in a pawnshop murder case. I have reason to believe he’s now Zhou Xiao’s accomplice.”

“You can’t conclude that just from the surveillance!” Lin Dongxue said. “He used to be a police officer. How could he join forces with criminals?”

“For survival!” Lin Qiupu said. After seeing “Song Lang” on surveillance before, he had thought a lot about it. This was his conclusion.

“Dongxue, go see if the autopsy report from Old Peng is out yet.” Chen Shi said.

After hours of watching surveillance, Lin Dongxue was happy to go out and rest her eyes and mind. After she left, Chen Shi moved his chair next to Lin Qiupu, turning off his screen with a click. Lin Qiupu frowned, “What are you doing?”

“I have something to tell you!” Chen Shi stared at him seriously.

Chen Shi had imagined countless times how he would reveal his identity, but the current setting seemed too ordinary compared to his imagination. However, if he didn’t say it, Lin Qiupu would continue to believe Song Lang was a criminal.

Unfortunately, Lin Qiupu’s mind was very straightforward and easily deceived.

Chen Shi hesitated for a long time, still unable to make up his mind to speak. Lin Qiupu looked at him and said, “What’s wrong with my sister?”

“How did you guess?”

“Of course, you sent her away and now want to talk to me alone. It must be about her!” Lin Qiupu’s eyes were burning with certainty.

Chen Shi deflated instantly, losing his resolve to confess, and could only go along, “Can I propose to her?”

Lin Qiupu was slightly startled, suspiciously asking, “Suddenly saying this, do you have some ulterior motive?”

“What ulterior motive could I have?”

Lin Qiupu stood up and poured a glass of water, saying, “Don’t rush to tell her. Let me think about it and give you an answer in a couple of days.”

Chen Shi thought, in a couple of days, he’d probably be handed another strange contract.

Chen Shi turned back to the screen, looking at “Song Lang’s” side profile, feeling a surge of anger. Was this a blatant provocation?

He considered going to Dr. Yang to ask if Zhou Xiao had recently undergone any facial surgery. On second thought, he dismissed the idea. If that doctor were so loose-lipped, Song Lang wouldn’t have chosen him back then.