Attending ex-girlfriend's wedding, arresting the groom's officer on the spot

"Three questions: First, why did the killer choose the undeveloped Eagle Valley to commit the crime? Second, what exactly is the 'secret' mentioned by the victim? Third, what is hidden behind the virtual number and anonymous remittance?"

He suddenly turned to Yang Sen: "How's the investigation of the campsite at the scene going?" "Ketamine was detected at the campsite, consistent with the anesthetic in the victim's body." Yang Sen pulled up his notebook. "The sleeping bag fibers and the saliva on the can pull tab all point to the same person. But the surrounding surveillance cameras have been destroyed. At present, we only know that the murderer drove a black pickup truck and disappeared through a hidden highway passage after the incident."

Zhang Kai added, "Judging from the degree of digestion of the deceased's stomach contents, his last meal was at a restaurant near the scenic area. I suggest checking all noodle shops and snack stalls, focusing on customers who ate alone on the day of the incident." Wang Shuai nodded in agreement, "At the same time, conduct an in-depth analysis of Li Pengcheng's social media accounts; the outdoor sports groups he followed may contain key clues."

The sunlight outside the window had suddenly become intense, but the atmosphere in the meeting room grew increasingly heavy. Lu Chuan pressed his red pen heavily on the three characters "Fallen Eagle Valley," the ink spreading across the whiteboard: "The murderer is familiar with the terrain and possesses professional counter-surveillance skills; this is definitely not a random crime. Next, we will divide into groups—Yang Lin and Yang Sen will continue to thoroughly investigate the physical evidence at the scene, focusing on the area surrounding the mine; Zhang Kai will follow up on DNA and fiber testing; Wang Shuai will lead a team to visit Li Pengcheng's social circle. Remember, every detail could be a breakthrough."

After the meeting, Wang Shuai stared at Li Pengcheng's photo on the whiteboard, the light in the young man's eyes overlapping with the pale body on the autopsy table. He gripped his notebook tightly and walked towards the door, the rustling of his shoes against the floor seeming like a silent urging from the deceased. Outside the criminal investigation building, the cicadas' chirping suddenly became deafening; a new round of investigation had just begun.

Wang Shuai rubbed his bloodshot eyes and pulled the thick stack of documents in front of him closer to his side. Sunlight streamed through the slightly dappled window of his office, casting dappled shadows on his desk piled high with files. This was the third day he had been tirelessly investigating clues since confirming the deceased's identity as Li Pengcheng.

He took a deep breath and dialed Zhao Yu, Li Pengcheng's college roommate. On the other end of the line, Zhao Yu's voice was filled with surprise and sorrow: "Li Pengcheng? How could this be… He used to be so active in school, we all called him 'Outdoor Maniac.' He especially loved off-roading, and every holiday he'd pack his bag and head into the mountains. He even participated in quite a few inter-university outdoor adventure competitions." Wang Shuai listened, rapidly taking notes in his notebook, and pressed, "Did he have any conflicts with anyone in school, or did he mention anything troubling him when he contacted you recently?" Zhao Yu paused for a moment, then said, "No, he's an outgoing person, very popular, with tons of friends in clubs. In the years since graduation, we've occasionally gotten together, and he always enthusiastically shares his outdoor experiences, never seeming to have any worries."

After hanging up the phone, Wang Shuai immediately contacted Zhang Yue, Li Pengcheng's former colleague. Zhang Yue sighed on the phone, "When Pengcheng was at the company, he was the life of the party. When we did outdoor gear reviews, he was always the first to step up, and no matter how harsh the environment, he could always complete the task with a smile. He was responsible and hardworking, and everyone got along well with him; he never argued with anyone. He also frequently organized outdoor activities for us, and everyone liked him." Wang Shuai wasn't satisfied and continued, "What about recently? Has he mentioned going to explore any special places, or that any strange people have contacted him?" Zhang Yue thought for a moment and said, "Recently, he did take on a big project to explore some undeveloped outdoor areas and do in-depth reviews, but he didn't say the specific locations. As for strange people, I haven't heard him mention them."

Wang Shuai decided to visit the outdoor sports club that Li Pengcheng frequented. Inside the club, the owner, Li Ming, was wiping down a pair of protective gear for a motocross bike. Seeing Wang Shuai enter, Li Ming put down what he was doing, his expression grave. "I heard about Pengcheng's situation; it's such a pity. He was a regular here, coming at least three times a week. His passion for off-roading and mountain climbing was truly ingrained. Every time he came, he would share the latest outdoor gear and routes with everyone, and also share his adventure stories; everyone loved listening." Wang Shuai looked around at the club's dazzling array of outdoor equipment and asked, "Has he ever had any arguments with anyone at the club, or done anything unusual?" Li Ming frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "No, he got along very well with everyone. But recently, he seems particularly interested in the undeveloped area of ​​Luoying Valley, constantly inquiring about related information, and even asking me if I knew anyone there familiar with the terrain."

As Wang Shuai left the club, his steps were heavy. After a day of interviewing so many people, all he'd gotten was information about Li Pengcheng as positive, enthusiastic about life, and extremely popular, but not a single clue of value to the case. But he knew he couldn't give up; every possible corner had to be thoroughly investigated.

He then went to the house of Grandpa Zhang, Li Pengcheng's neighbor. Grandpa Zhang was sitting on a small stool by the door, basking in the sun. Seeing Wang Shuai, he warmly invited him to sit down. After Wang Shuai explained his purpose, Grandpa Zhang shook his head: "That boy is so nice. He greets me with a smile every time he comes in and out. I know he likes to go out and play, and he's always carrying big bags and small bags. Sometimes when he comes back, he'll bring me some little trinkets from the mountains, like pretty stones or dried flowers. I haven't heard of him having any trouble." Wang Shuai patiently asked, "Grandpa Zhang, have you seen any strangers coming to see him recently, or heard him arguing with anyone inside?" Grandpa Zhang squinted and thought for a long time before saying, "No, he's usually alone. He doesn't have many guests, and even when friends come, they're always chatting and laughing."

As night fell, the city lights gradually illuminated the scene. Wang Shuai returned to his office and reorganized the information he had gathered that day. Although there were no direct clues to solve the case, Li Pengcheng's image as a passionate outdoor enthusiast became more vivid. His particular interest in Luoying Valley might be a breakthrough. Wang Shuai revisited Li Pengcheng's social media accounts, meticulously reviewing his recent posts and private messages. Finally, he found a clue in a comment from two months ago. A user with the online name "Deep Mountain Explorer" had left a comment under one of Li Pengcheng's articles about outdoor adventure: "The Luoying Valley area isn't as simple as you think. Once some secrets are revealed, it won't be fun." (End of Chapter)