Fortunately, heaven favors the persistent. By the cement road east of the village entrance, we found clear tire tracks. Following them led us to a road with surveillance cameras.
We contacted our colleagues at the nearby traffic management bureau, who quickly identified a license-plate-less Volkswagen.
The surveillance system showed the car's last known location was a remote industrial zone about 9 kilometers away.
Researching the area, I discovered this industrial zone was once prosperous. However, a large-scale infectious disease outbreak years ago wiped out the population, leading to its abandonment.
Even now, no one dares to take over the industrial zone. Rumor has it that ever since that incident, anyone who tries to manage it encounters trouble, even government units. Shortly after entering the zone for inspection, they are taken by something strange. Those who miraculously escaped later hanged themselves within days.
Gao Mingqiang commented, watching the news records, "This industrial zone is too weird!"
"Yes, but those are just rumors. Don't forget what we do!" I knew Gao Mingqiang was about to enter his timid mode. I didn't want to scold him, so I just reminded him.
Gao Mingqiang dared not say more, understanding my personality and my dislike for talk of the supernatural. Zhang Keying, however, paid no mind and summoned all the police officers to the site. With the director's daughter giving the order, no one could afford to be negligent.
We soon arrived at the industrial zone. As soon as the officers disembarked, they quickly armed themselves with their personal equipment and began a fan-shaped search, spreading out around the perimeter of the zone.
"Everyone maintain stealth and avoid making too much noise, so as not to alert the criminals! Also, watch for any calling signals or strange sounds nearby!"
"Understood!" Under my instructions, everyone quickened their pace. With over fifty officers, if paired up, we could thoroughly surround the entire industrial zone.
Since everyone was armed, I believed there wouldn't be too much of an issue. I instructed them to spread out as much as possible to ensure every inch of the industrial zone was covered.
Zhang Keying and I were paired together. After a considerable walk, we suddenly spotted an old factory building in the distance. Many of its windows were shattered, and the massive iron gate was rusted shut, secured by chains. However, the chains clearly showed signs of being cut. As I moved closer to examine the dust scattered on the ground, Zhang Keying understood immediately.
Raising our weapons, we cautiously slipped through a gap in the gate and into the factory. Xiao Niu was still following us, but I didn't want it to get too far ahead, recalling the incident with Da Hei.
However, Xiao Niu seemed unfazed. It tugged my hand and eagerly rushed forward, having just sniffed Wu Jingshuo's used clothing.
It led us to a workshop. To prevent any surprise attacks, I told Keying to maintain a certain distance from me.
We looked around. In fact, I had already called for backup.
With that, I yanked open the workshop door. Xiao Niu rushed inside as if possessed. Perhaps after the Da Hei incident, Xiao Niu had become fearless.
At the moment Da Hei exploded, Xiao Niu was right beside me. I couldn't tell if it was my imagination, but I thought I saw a tear in its eye.
Although its name was borrowed from a TV show, it didn't matter; it was just a name. Xiao Niu's abilities were certainly not as ordinary as its name suggested.
It soon led us behind some machinery, where we indeed found something. It wasn't Wu Jingshuo, but several tattered, blood-stained pieces of clothing. Xiao Niu barked insistently near the clothes, indicating they belonged to Wu Jingshuo.
It seemed Wu Jingshuo was indeed injured. The villager from before hadn't lied; he had actually witnessed the fight but was too afraid to report it.
I let Xiao Niu press on. It sniffed the clothes again, its head shaking vigorously. After a moment, it bolted. As we exited the workshop, we found ourselves in the factory's former office area, presumably where the clerks and the boss worked. We moved quietly to avoid detection.
Entering the office, we found it covered in dust and cobwebs. Judging by its condition, it had been abandoned for at least three years, consistent with the information we had.
Zhang Keying and I used our batons to clear away the cobwebs and stepped across the dirty floor. The computers were still there, but when I tried to turn them on, I discovered there was no power.
At that moment, Xiao Niu barked a few times from a corner. We hurried over. There was no one there, only a severed arm lying on the ground. No wonder Xiao Niu reacted so strongly.
As we walked, we had noticed bloodstains on the floor. I crouched down to examine it. The arm appeared to be Wu Jingshuo's. It was highly likely he had met his end, or at least suffered a severe injury. After all, losing an arm suddenly and not receiving timely medical attention within ten minutes would almost certainly be fatal.
Suddenly, from a restroom inside the office, we heard a shout.
We burst in to find Wu Jingshuo, covered in blood, sitting in front of a toilet.
He gasped and pleaded, "Please, save my son!"
"Wu Jingshuo!" I exclaimed, immediately calling for an ambulance. But after he spoke, his body trembled, his eyes widened, and he breathed his last.
Zhang Keying turned away. I had to close Wu Jingshuo's eyes, which had remained open.
He must have witnessed something, likely the clue to Officer Wu's disappearance. But Wu Jingshuo was dead, his right shoulder bleeding profusely, his skin turning pale.
When our team arrived, we could only transport the body.
We continued our search of the surrounding area but found no one. After nearly eight hours of searching, Zhang Keying had reminded me countless times, but I hadn't given up.
I didn't know how far I had walked. The abandoned area was vast, overgrown with weeds, and dotted with derelict buildings. I persisted until my vision suddenly darkened, and I collapsed on the ground.