SFTD -Chapter 412 White Spots Reappeared (Part 53)

Wang Xuchao looked at the three of them with complete sincerity. There was no need for polite formalities—his concern was genuine, so genuine that even Chu Menghan and Huang Zhongsheng felt a little envious.

Zhou Hai glanced at Huang Zhongsheng and Chu Menghan before saying:

“Now we need to conduct a door-to-door search. He chose this place for a reason. At the very least, it fits his identity.

Captain Huang, do you remember that university professor who visited Dong Bin multiple times at the hospital before?

And also the phone cards being sold in front of the Agricultural College?

Aside from those known individuals, the only person we’ve never investigated is this professor. More importantly, Yang Duxiu doesn’t know that we know this teacher exists.

I suggest assigning a team based on Zhu Cuiwen’s description. Contact both the Agricultural College and the nearby University of Science and Technology and look for a professor between forty-five and fifty-five years old. Preferably someone teaching chemistry, pharmacology, or mechanical design.

Thin build, no more than sixty-five kilograms, gray-white long hair with a beard, height around one meter seventy to one meter seventy-two, and has been teaching for more than fifteen years.”

Huang Zhongsheng immediately instructed the officers beside him to write down every word Zhou Hai said.

This description combined both Yang Duxiu’s characteristics and Zhu Cuiwen’s testimony. Looking at Wang Xuchao and Chu Menghan beside him, and seeing they were waiting for further instructions, Huang Zhongsheng began assigning tasks without hesitation.

“Groups of four. Come forward in a moment and memorize the suspect’s appearance carefully. If anyone matches even two characteristics in age or appearance, check their ID and family information immediately.

We’ll start with the streets. Find Xu from forensics’ fluorescent green Alto. The license plate number is here—write it down when you see it.

Most importantly, ensure Xu’s safety immediately.

Da Mao, take four men and stay behind. Contact those two universities. I don’t care what time it is—I want information on everyone matching the description. Use whatever methods necessary. I’ll wait here for your good news.”

Chu Menghan waved her hand.

“Don’t make things difficult for them. I’ll go with you to get the records. This requires some pressure, otherwise it’ll be hard to get results quickly.”

Da Mao looked so happy he practically didn’t know how to express it and kept nodding vigorously.

Zhou Hai glanced at Chu Menghan and quietly said, “Thank you.”

Chu Menghan said nothing. She merely waved at Da Mao and the others.

“Stop wasting time. Screening this many people will take a long time. The sooner we find information, the smaller the search area becomes.”

After speaking, she walked out of the perimeter circle, but still turned back and quietly added: “Be careful.”

Zhou Hai knew those words were meant for him.

But there was only one thought in his mind right now—he couldn’t let Xu Biao become collateral damage because of this case. He had to find him as soon as possible. Xu Biao must have been terrified. Someone as timid and fearful as him… who knew how he was handling all this?

Turning around, Zhou Hai looked at Xiao Hu. The latter hurried over.

“Brother Hai, what do you need me to do?”

Zhou Hai stared directly into Xiao Hu’s eyes.

“I’ll join their search teams. I need you guarding the outer perimeter of this area. Record every vehicle entering or leaving. You’ll also need to coordinate closely regarding the suspect’s appearance and characteristics I just mentioned.”

Xiao Hu grinned.

“Don’t worry, Brother Hai. I brought everyone with me, along with the specialized vehicles. We’ll monitor the surroundings while setting up temporary surveillance cameras. That’ll make controlling this area much easier. At the very least, he won’t be able to escape.”

Zhou Hai nodded.

“And the manhole covers too. If anyone approaches them, notify Captain Huang immediately. This killer is extremely familiar with underground utility systems. I’m afraid he might escape through the tunnels.”

Xiao Hu froze for a moment at those words. Fortunately, they had already marked the underground pipeline exits, so checking them wouldn’t be difficult.

“Got it. You handle your side—we’re getting to work.”

With that, he led his men quickly toward a white van packed full of equipment.

Zhou Hai turned back toward Huang Zhongsheng’s group.

The teams had already been assigned. Four people per team, sixteen teams total.

Da Liu led four teams toward the southeastern residential district.

Da Zhao took four teams northeast.

Wang Xuchao headed southwest with four teams.

Xiao Zhan led the final four teams northwest.

The search began rapidly.

Zhou Hai checked his watch. It was already eight o’clock.

After thinking for a moment, he dialed the office number. He remembered Hu Nan hadn’t brought his cellphone. He wondered whether the DNA comparison results were out yet.

The phone connected on the second ring.

Hu Nan sounded somewhat excited as she quickly spoke into the receiver.

“Zhou Hai, I was just about to call you! The comparison results are out. Su Mule and Dong Bin are biologically father and son. Well? Surprised?”

Zhou Hai truly froze.

This was the last result he had expected.

He had always suspected Dong Bin was somehow related to Yang Duxiu, but he never imagined Dong Bin was actually Su Mule’s son.

From Su Mule’s perspective, he didn’t seem to know Dong Bin was dead.

Could this have been the method used to control him?

But back at Lotus Mountain, no one knew he had ever married or had children. Not even his younger brother or cousins knew about it.

Could there still be some hidden secret behind all this?

Suppressing his wandering thoughts, Zhou Hai hurriedly asked:

“But Su Mule was born in 1963, while Dong Bin’s records say he was born in 1982. That age gap is way too small.”

Hu Nan continued:

“The age gap is small, but it’s not impossible.”

Of course Zhou Hai understood that. But it also meant there were major gaps in their investigation during that period.

“Very little was uncovered about Su Mule’s background. He barely lived at home growing up. His brothers didn’t even know whether he had gone away to study or to work. As for Dong Bin, it seems no one ever investigated his records in Xinjiang.”

“Don’t worry. I already spoke with Dr. Nan and the others. They can access the relevant information there. We’ll let you know once we find out more.”

Zhou Hai nodded.

Although Xiao Hu had come over here, the Information Center still had plenty of experts. Their search efficiency was far faster than Huang Zhongsheng’s team.

“Alright. I’ll wait for your news.”

After hanging up, nearly all the investigators conducting the searches had already dispersed. No one remained beside Zhou Hai.

He checked his bearings and raised the tablet in his hand to examine the map.

The unmonitored zone on the map resembled a trapezoid. The residential compounds inside were irregularly distributed because the area had been developed long ago, making the terrain extremely complicated.

Some places suddenly rose a full story above ground level. Others had densely packed buildings with extremely narrow alleyways between them.

Especially the southwestern corner—countless cramped buildings were piled together chaotically.

Zhou Hai glanced over and headed in that direction.

It was already eight o’clock now. If they truly intended to search door-to-door, they absolutely couldn’t go past ten.

Two hours simply wasn’t enough.

After turning through a narrow lane, he arrived at the entrance of a residential complex.

There were no guards or security personnel. It was an open-access passageway where anyone could come and go freely.

Seeing flashlight beams flickering ahead, Zhou Hai quickened his pace and chased after them.