Chapter 12: The Vanished Woman (5)

A black insect clinging to Meng Siqi’s arm was swiftly brushed off by Zhao Leiting’s hand.

Startled, Meng Siqi straightened up, surprised by his sudden action.

“Mountain leech,” Zhao Leiting explained. “These things suck blood.” He pointed toward the leaves beside her.

Still sluggish from exhaustion, Meng Siqi immediately snapped to attention at the mention of “blood-sucking.”

She glanced at the nearby leaves and spotted a long, slender black worm with faint watermelon-like stripes. It was slightly thinner than a chopstick, covered in mucus, stretching its body toward her.

“Ah!” She instinctively leaped away and ran forward, leaving Zhao Leiting standing there, dumbfounded.

Li Ping, who was ahead of them, turned around upon hearing the commotion. Smiling, he said, “Mountain leeches move silently. You never know when one might latch onto you. Even with tightly sealed clothing, they can sometimes sneak in. But don’t worry, they’re not life-threatening.”

For Meng Siqi, it wasn’t about life or death—it was just unbearably disgusting.

By noon, the group took a break. However, Meng Siqi refused to sit down, fearing another surprise encounter with a mountain leech. She chose to stand while eating her dry rations and drinking water.

As she took a sip, her eyes widened. She watched as Feng Shaomin and a few other investigators removed mountain leeches from their ankles and wrists. The leeches curled up instantly before being tossed far away.

They cursed under their breath but seemed unfazed, treating it as casually as squashing a mosquito. Yet, their skin was left with fresh, bleeding wounds.

At that moment, Meng Siqi felt a chill run down her spine. Every inch of her body suddenly felt uncomfortable and itchy.

Without much rest, the team resumed their journey. Around one in the afternoon, they finally reached the endpoint marked on Teng Fei’s map.

Although covered in fallen leaves and tangled vines, Meng Siqi immediately spotted a rotting tent buried in the dirt. This must have been where Teng Fei and Liu Yuwei camped that night.

Honestly, she couldn’t imagine sleeping in a place like this. The sheer number of insects alone was horrifying. What was Liu Yuwei feeling that night?

The investigators cleared away small branches and vines, revealing a more open space.

It was actually a relatively flat area. With some preparation, it could have been a decent campsite.

In her mind, Meng Siqi pictured Teng Fei cutting away the undergrowth to set up their tent while Liu Yuwei stood nearby watching him. She must have been exhausted too, yet filled with happiness.

“We found something!”

“Captain Han, there’s a discovery!”

The investigators uncovered several items: a flashlight, cigarette butts, an empty can, a small machete, and a women’s digital watch.

“This should be Liu Yuwei’s watch.” Feng Shaomin wiped the dirt off the watch and said, “She was wearing a similar one in her photos.”

“That confirms it,” Han Changlin said. “This was their campsite.”

Zhao Leiting and another investigator checked the tent. Though tattered, it might still hold some clues.

“Hey!” Zhao Leiting suddenly exclaimed. He picked up a filthy, crumpled item.

Meng Siqi was about to step forward for a closer look when Zhao Leiting said, “Captain Han, it’s a condom.”

Meng Siqi’s footsteps halted instantly—there was no need to look any further.

“This guy… and he said nothing happened that night,” Tang Xiaochuan sneered.

Feng Shaomin shot him a look. “Why do you care about that?”

Meng Siqi noticed that no one seemed particularly interested in this piece of evidence. The reason was obvious—the item had been left for too long and had no forensic value anymore.

At this time, DNA technology was not widely available and couldn’t be used as an investigative tool. A decayed condom wouldn’t prove anything, other than the fact that Teng Fei and Liu Yuwei had indeed spent the night there.

With most of the search completed, Han Changlin stood with his hands on his hips, deep in thought. Feng Shaomin stepped forward and asked, “Captain Han, are you suspecting that Liu Yuwei was killed here that night?”

Meng Siqi overheard and pondered. That night was indeed the perfect time for a crime. If Liu Yuwei had been murdered then, Teng Fei could have deliberately misled the investigation by tossing one of her shoes near the waterfall pool.

Han Changlin had likely considered this possibility long ago. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have ordered such a thorough search along the way. His voice rang out loud and clear: “Everyone, listen up. We’ll take this site as the center and conduct a meticulous search within a one-kilometer radius. Keep your radios on and report any findings immediately.”

Carrying a body through this dense, thorny forest would have been difficult, even for someone as strong as Teng Fei. One kilometer was likely the limit of how far he could go.

With that, the team split into four groups to conduct a grid search. Meng Siqi’s group headed south, led by Feng Shaomin, with Zhao Leiting, another investigator, and a police dog trained for the job.

After covering about three hundred meters, the sound of rushing water grew louder. It was likely the waterfall Teng Fei had mentioned. As they pressed on, the police dog worked diligently, sniffing every inch of the terrain as instructed by the investigators.

Meng Siqi was the only one without a radio. The others had them, and static crackled through the devices as teams checked in. Han Changlin’s voice came through, “Old Feng, report your status.”

Feng Shaomin responded, “Captain Han, we’re approaching the waterfall. No findings so far.”

“Understood. Keep searching.”

As the police dog continued its thorough work, Feng Shaomin suddenly pointed. “What’s that?”

Everyone was tense. Following his gaze, Meng Siqi spotted something reddish amid the grass.

Zhao Leiting was the first to push aside the leaves and pick it up. It was a mud-covered, flattened drink bottle.

Brushing off the dirt, Feng Shaomin examined it. “It’s probably not left by the suspect. It might have been discarded by someone else.”

A false alarm.

They pressed on and soon reached the waterfall. Standing at the edge, they all seemed lost in thought.

The waterfall wasn’t particularly dramatic—just a gentle cascade formed by a mountain spring. Looking down, the pool at the base was a deep, emerald green, suggesting significant depth.

During the initial investigation, the rescue team had searched the pool and the downstream area thoroughly, recovering only a single shoe. If Liu Yuwei had truly fallen in, it was possible that something had happened to her in the depths of the pool.

But why would she come near the waterfall in the first place?

Meng Siqi studied the terrain. If she had fallen into the deep pool, there was only one likely explanation—she had been trying to cross the water.

Across the stream, the forest was lush and green. Something caught Meng Siqi’s eye—a striking patch of red among the foliage, contrasting sharply with the greenery. A cluster of flowers?

Could Liu Yuwei have attempted to cross the water to pick flowers?

She recalled Teng Fei mentioning that Liu Yuwei might have come here to collect morning dew. If that were true, she might have also noticed the flowers.

“What kind of flowers are those?” Zhao Leiting pointed at the red patch.

Everyone turned to look, sinking into deep thought.

The static on the radio continued, now sounding like an eerie lull in the midst of tension.

Then suddenly, a voice burst through like a thunderclap:

“Bones…”

“Human bones!”

“A major discovery!”

“Less than a thousand meters to the north—”

Han Changlin’s voice followed immediately, filled with urgency. “Forensic team, get there first! We’re on our way!”

The revelation sent a jolt through everyone. Feng Shaomin’s voice carried rare excitement. “We finally found it! Let’s move!”

Teng Fei had indeed misled the search, hiding the body in the north while drawing attention to the waterfall in the south. A chill ran down Meng Siqi’s spine.

With a critical clue uncovered, everyone’s pace quickened. Meng Siqi barely noticed the thorns scraping her skin as she ran alongside them, heading north.

By the time they arrived, the site was already surrounded by officers. Panting, Meng Siqi lagged slightly behind, bending over to catch her breath. She had never seen human remains before, and the thought unsettled her. But she forced herself to step forward.

Through the gaps between people, she saw the scene—an excavated pit, with skeletal remains lying outside. The bones weren’t stark white but stained a dark hue from damp soil and decaying leaves. Tattered bits of fabric clung to them. Inside the pit, investigators continued digging for additional fragments.

Two forensic experts in police uniforms were methodically assembling the bones, already laying out a rough human shape.

Han Changlin squatted by the skeleton, carefully examining the key evidence.

The wind rustled ominously through the trees. It was late afternoon, and the sunlight had grown stingy, barely filtering through the dense foliage. The rustling leaves created an eerie sound, heightening the sense of unease.

Meng Siqi pressed her lips together and stepped back, waiting for the forensic analysis.

Then, she heard one of the forensic experts murmur, “Captain Han, something’s off about the pelvis.”

“What do you mean?”

“This looks like a male pelvis.”

The air suddenly fell silent. Han Changlin did not respond immediately.

After a long pause, he finally asked, “Are you sure?”

“This is definitely a male pelvis. The characteristics are too obvious. Look, the pelvis is narrower, and the pelvic cavity structure is elongated. Also, check the shape of the pubic bone. It clearly belongs to an adult male.”

Another forensic expert added, “There are signs of blunt force trauma on the skull. This person was likely killed with a blunt object and then buried here. Also, judging by the level of decomposition on the bones, this person didn’t die seven months ago. It’s likely been much longer.”

Deputy Captain Qi of the Qindong City Public Security Bureau happened to be present. Han Changlin immediately asked, “Deputy Captain Qi, have there been any missing persons in the canyon area over the past few years?”

“There have been quite a few missing persons cases that remain unsolved, but I can’t say for sure,” Deputy Captain Qi replied as he dusted the dirt off his hands and looked at Han Changlin. “Captain Han, I wanted to discuss this with you. Could our team take this skeleton back for further investigation?”

Han Changlin hesitated for a moment before nodding. “That should be fine. Since the body was found in Qindong City, it might help you solve a case.”

“That’s right,” Deputy Captain Qi agreed.

Zhao Leiting stepped away from the crowd. Meng Siqi noticed the complicated emotions on his face—relief mixed with disappointment.

Discovering the remains was an unexpected breakthrough. It could be the key to solving another unsolved case. However, Liu Yuwei was still missing without a trace.

*

By the time they returned, it was already ten at night. Meng Siqi dozed off in the car. After dropping off Li Ping at home, she turned to Zhao Leiting and said, “Just drop me off at the station. It’s on the way.”

“You think you’ll sleep well at the station?”

“I just don’t feel like going home tonight.”

Everyone was exhausted. Zhao Leiting yawned as he gripped the steering wheel and headed for the station.

The next morning, Feng Shaomin suggested searching the waterfall area again, but Han Changlin rejected the idea. Feng Shaomin didn’t insist. Everyone understood that the rescue team had already conducted a thorough search of the waterfall and downstream areas. Searching again would be like looking for direction in a place where there was none.

Additionally, the waterfall and its downstream area covered a vast range. Conducting another search would require requesting significant resources, which were already scarce.

A week later, the investigation seemed to hit a dead end. During this time, Meng Siqi and Zhao Leiting visited Liu Yuwei’s orphanage and dug into Teng Fei’s past, but none of it led to useful clues.

The trail had gone completely cold. While several smaller cases were progressing smoothly, the members of Second Unit couldn’t shake their growing anxiety.

That evening, Han Changlin unexpectedly invited everyone to dinner. The group gathered at an open-air food stall bustling with customers. A case of beer sat on the table, and everyone grabbed two bottles.

Meng Siqi initially asked for tea but suddenly had the urge for a drink, so she ordered a glass of beer instead.

As plates of grilled skewers were brought to the table, Han Changlin said, “It’s been a while since we’ve had a meal together. I should have done this sooner. You’ve all been working hard lately.”

Everyone clinked their glasses. Zhao Leiting grinned. “Captain Han, how can this be called hard work?”

“Exactly. This is our duty,” Tang Xiaochuan chimed in.

“I propose we don’t talk about the case tonight. Let’s just enjoy ourselves,” Zhao Leiting said, taking a sip of his beer.

“Good idea,” Han Changlin agreed, then turned to Zhao Leiting with a teasing smile. “You’re twenty-five this year, right? I heard you still don’t have a girlfriend.”

“Come on, Captain…” Zhao Leiting, uncharacteristically flustered, quickly poured Han Changlin another drink. “Can we not talk about this?”

Han Changlin laughed. “Leiting, your brother Feng here knows a lot of great women. Why don’t you ask him for help?”

On the other side, Feng Shaomin set down his glass. “Tell me, what kind of woman do you like?”

Zhao Leiting’s face turned even redder—whether from the alcohol or embarrassment was unclear. He stood up, downed an entire glass of beer, and said, “I’ll apologize first. I won’t trouble Brother Feng with this. I don’t trust his taste.”

“Hah!” Tang Xiaochuan burst out laughing.

Meng Siqi couldn’t help but chuckle as well.

“If you don’t say what you like, how do you know my taste is bad?” Feng Shaomin challenged.

Zhao Leiting avoided eye contact and glanced at Tang Xiaochuan and Meng Siqi. His gaze lingered on Meng Siqi’s bright, laughing face. Abruptly, he said, “Fine, I’ll say it. I like women like Meng Siqi.”