Chapter 11: The Vanished Woman (4)

Teng Fei said, “It was around noon, I don’t remember the exact time. It was a shop near the entrance, but I don’t recall the name.”

Tang Xiaochuan nodded. “Alright, continue.”

Teng Fei spoke while drawing. Sometimes he paused as if trying to recall details, and other times he sketched quickly. The final route he marked was somewhat winding but generally aligned with the path leading into the mountains.

At a certain point, he drew another circle. “That night, we camped around here, though I don’t remember the exact coordinates.”

“What happened after you arrived at the campsite?”

“We went to sleep. What else do you think happened?”

Tang Xiaochuan chuckled awkwardly. “Did you make a fire?”

“No. It was difficult to start a fire there, and I usually avoid it for safety reasons. I carried a flashlight, food, and a small tent. It was just a simple overnight camp.”

“Did anything unusual happen that night? Did you hear anything?”

“Besides the sounds of animals and the wind…” Teng Fei spoke slowly, “and my own snoring.”

“Teng Fei, be serious,” Feng Shaomin said coldly.

“This is a writer’s way of describing things. When I hike, I sleep deeply from exhaustion. Besides, I had a slight cold that night.”

After a pause, Tang Xiaochuan asked, “So, the next morning, you found that Liu Yuwei was missing?”

“Yes. At first, I thought she had gone to collect morning dew. The night before, I had a cough and casually mentioned that making tea with morning dew might help. I didn’t think much of it and assumed she was nearby gathering dew. All our belongings were still there and untouched. But then I realized something was wrong. I searched within a one-kilometer radius and found nothing. That’s when I contacted the rescue team. Eventually, we found one of her shoes near the waterfall…”

At this point, Teng Fei stopped talking. He seemed deeply saddened, resting his forehead on his fist, his body motionless.

Since there was nothing more to ask at this moment, Feng Shaomin, being a meticulous investigator, asked him to draw the route again. After confirming there were no discrepancies in his map, they let him go.

Back in the office, the atmosphere was somber. Han Changlin leaned against the desk, studying the two maps Teng Fei had drawn. The routes were slightly different, but the coordinates of their campsite matched.

Looking at the team, Han Changlin said, “At least we’re not completely without direction.”

If Teng Fei had killed Liu Yuwei, then all the suspicious points seemed to avoid implicating him. But if he hadn’t killed her, his actions still seemed questionable.

Han Changlin believed that as a writer, Teng Fei could fill in gaps with his imagination, making his account appear airtight. However, every action leaves a trace.

Slowly putting down the map, Han Changlin issued instructions, “Old Feng, Xiaochuan, you two take separate actions. One of you go to the insurance company to verify the details of Teng Fei signing the policy for Liu Yuwei. The other, confirms whether the doctor Teng Fei mentioned, Song Ren’ai, actually exists.”

“Understood, Captain Han,” they responded.

“Xiao Zhao, Xiao Meng, you two investigate the cigarette purchase that Teng Fei mentioned before entering the mountain.”

“Got it, Captain Han,” they replied in unison.

After a brief silence, Han Changlin picked up the map again, his voice firm and resolute, “This map is the key breakthrough. If we want to find real evidence, we must locate Liu Yuwei’s body.”

A body is the most direct evidence. Finding it would mean uncovering the most crucial clue.

However, Liu Yuwei had been missing for seven months. Where was she? Or was there truly nothing left behind? After all, that mountain valley was full of uncertainties.

Searching for evidence in Qindongzi Canyon would be like finding a needle in a haystack. Moreover, the rescue team had already conducted a thorough search back then. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have concluded that Liu Yuwei had died in an accident.

Everyone understood how difficult this task would be. Han Changlin was no exception. As he scanned the room, seeing the uncertain looks in everyone’s eyes, he issued his command, “This mission must be completed.”

His tone was firm, and everyone nodded seriously.

Tang Xiaochuan said, “Captain Han, with the map Teng Fei drew, I believe we can find something.”

“Meeting adjourned,” Han Changlin said. “I’ll contact the Qindong City Public Security Bureau and request their assistance.”

“Everyone, get to work.” With that, Han Changlin waved his hand and left.

The next morning, Meng Siqi and Zhao Leiting arrived at the entrance of Qindongzi Canyon. As soon as they stepped out of the car, Meng Siqi was hit by a wave of fresh air. Before them lay rolling green mountains and clear waters. In the distance, white mist swirled like a dream, giving the scene an ethereal beauty. Just from this view, one could sense the allure of Qindongzi Canyon.

The entrance was merely an open-air parking lot with a gas station nearby. A few small shops were scattered around the area.

Carrying photos of Teng Fei and Liu Yuwei, the two went from store to store asking questions. Finally, at a small convenience store, the owner recognized the people in the photos. She confidently said, “I remember him.”

“Why are you so sure?” Zhao Leiting asked.

“That day, this young man came to buy cigarettes but accidentally knocked over a shelf full of pear juice. The glass bottles shattered everywhere. I asked him to pay for the damages, but he insisted it was because my shelf was unstable. We got into an argument. Then, a girl—probably his girlfriend—stepped in and said something.”

“You mean this girl?” Zhao Leiting showed her a picture of Liu Yuwei.

The store owner studied the photo for a moment before nodding. “Looks like her. It’s been a long time, so I don’t remember the girl clearly, but I think it was her.”

“And then what happened?” Zhao Leiting asked.

“Where was I?” the owner asked.

“You were saying the young man argued with you, but the girl intervened.”

“Oh, right.” The owner continued with interest, “The girl just said something like ‘Let it go.’ To his credit, the young man listened to her immediately and even paid me extra…” She went on, mostly expressing how deep of an impression the young man had left on her.

They asked about the time and what the two were wearing, but since so much time had passed, the store owner only remembered that it happened around noon. Meng Siqi took detailed notes, filling an entire page.

After leaving the store, Zhao Leiting said, “Don’t you think Teng Fei was being a little too deliberate?”

“You mean he intentionally picked a fight with the store owner to make himself memorable? But why?” Meng Siqi asked.

“To prove he went to the canyon?” Zhao Leiting speculated.

“But he doesn’t really need to prove that,” Meng Siqi said, flipping through her notes. “People who knew Liu Yuwei and Teng Fei could already confirm they went to Qindongzi Canyon.”

Zhao Leiting nodded. “That’s true.” Then, shaking his head, he said, “Forget it. We’ll figure it out once we search the mountains.”

Besides investigating the store, they had another task—finding someone familiar with Qindongzi Canyon.

This was easy. With a recommendation from a staff member at the outdoor sports store where Teng Fei used to work, they found an experienced outdoorsman, a teacher named Li Ping. He was also an avid hiker and had visited Qindongzi Canyon multiple times.

Three days later, early in the morning, several police vehicles arrived at the parking lot of Qindongzi Canyon with sirens blaring. Seven or eight investigators stepped out, accompanied by four police dogs.

Meng Siqi and Zhao Leiting rode in one of the cars and had picked up Li Ping on the way.

As soon as she stepped out of the car, she saw a line of officers standing in formation, all dressed in standard uniforms. The imposing presence of these well-trained officers, along with the fierce, towering police dogs, took her by surprise. It was clear they meant serious business.

She was a bit afraid of large dogs. These police dogs, with their tawny and black coats, looked as fierce as wolves. Especially when their dark eyes glinted at her, she felt a chill. However, they sat still in their spots, their disciplined behavior making them seem almost gentle.

Meanwhile, Han Changlin was deep in discussion with a man she didn’t recognize. She guessed he was the representative from the Qindong City Public Security Bureau, who had come to assist in the investigation. Since the incident had occurred in Qindong City, this cooperation between departments made sense.

As Han Changlin spoke, his gaze briefly landed on Meng Siqi before he quickly wrapped up his conversation and walked toward them.

Zhao Leiting said, “Captain Han, let me introduce you. This is Li Ping, an expert in outdoor sports.”

Li Ping extended his hand. “Captain Han, I’ve heard a lot about you. I wouldn’t call myself an expert—I’m just a hiking enthusiast who’s been to this canyon a few times.”

After some brief introductions, Han Changlin asked, “Mr. Li, what do you think of the route the suspect provided?”

Li Ping, in his thirties, had a refined and steady demeanor, befitting his role as a teacher. He held the map they had given him earlier and explained, “Captain Han, I’ve looked at the map, and it roughly matches the common hiking route. If one of the two travelers was an inexperienced female hiker, they wouldn’t have taken any other path. As for the accuracy of the map, once we enter the canyon, I’ll assess the situation and provide guidance accordingly.”

“Alright, that couldn’t be better.”

Meng Siqi tightened her hiking boots, wearing a thick sports jacket over her police uniform, which Zhao Leiting had strongly recommended. It wasn’t until she entered the mountain that she realized how valuable that suggestion was.

The so-called mountain route was more of a path filled with thorns. There was no clear trail, only dense branches, brambles, vines, and leaves. Every step meant brushing against sharp thorns and insects. She still couldn’t understand what thrill hikers found in this.

Only now did she realize the foresight of Feng Shaomin when he had previously advised her not to go. He had said, “Why would a young woman go into the mountains?” Back then, she thought he was biased, but after entering the forest, she understood that it wasn’t prejudice at all.

Fortunately, with a large team ahead, the path was somewhat cleared. Even though it was just the beginning of the route, Han Changlin was cautious, instructing everyone to widen the search area. The team was divided into three groups for a thorough search.

If there was anything enjoyable about this experience, it was the refreshing scent of flowers and the crisp mountain air—something that could never be felt amidst the city’s concrete jungle.

Along the way, the police dogs made some discoveries, but they were all animal remains.

Walking beside Zhao Leiting, Meng Siqi asked, “Do you think these police dogs will be able to find the body?”

Zhao Leiting chuckled. “These dogs aren’t ordinary. They are Kunming Wolfdogs, specially trained for endurance and with highly sensitive noses. Even bones buried underground can’t escape their detection.”

“Really? That impressive?”

“You’ll see for yourself.”

Encouraged by his words, Meng Siqi quickened her pace. What was originally a two-hour hike took much longer due to the search process. After covering only half the route, she already felt drained, slowing down and resting frequently.

Zhao Leiting, keeping pace with her, smirked. “Didn’t you insist on coming along? Are you sure you can handle this?”

Despite her exhaustion, Meng Siqi had a solid physical foundation, having trained at the police academy. The only issue was that she didn’t know how to manage her stamina efficiently, which made her appear even more exhausted. Gritting her teeth, she retorted, “Oh, come on, you’re panting too.”

Zhao Leiting simply smiled without saying anything.

After another stretch, Meng Siqi paused again, resting against a tree with dense foliage to conserve her energy.

Suddenly, Zhao Leiting rushed toward her. Before she could react, he grabbed her arm.