Solving the case: Combining the police dog's olfactory genes at the beginning

This news also shocked the victim's family, making the nature of the case even more egregious.

Luo Fei immediately decided to investigate Liao Mingkang's family: "Go to Liao Mingkang's roast meat shop. I suspect they have some kind of connection with Li Wenxuan's parents, and may even be accomplices."

On the way to the investigation, Zhou Xiaobei called: "Captain Luo, we have made an important discovery. Liao Mingkang's roast meat shop has moved many times over the years, and each time the location of the move matches the commercial area near the homes of the four victims, and the timing is also perfect."

Luo Fei pressed further, "Where is the shop now?"

“It’s in the central commercial street of Guohui Mountain,” Zhou Xiaobei replied, “which happens to be the villa area where Xiao Dingkun’s family lives.”

Even more surprisingly, Zhou Xiaobei added, "There's another discovery: Liao Anqian was once a student at that boxing gym and knew Li Wenxuan."

Yuan Bingyan speculated: "Liao Anqian may be helping his friend Li Wenxuan avenge his parents out of sympathy?"

Luo Fei shook his head: "The possibility is very low. It's unlikely that Liao Anqian would involve his parents in revenge. I feel like some information has been overlooked."

Suddenly, Luo Fei slammed on the brakes: "Bingyan, go to the stationery store up ahead and buy a pen, a drawing board, and a sheet of sketch paper."

At the same time, he called Zhou Xiaobei: "Find a photo of Liao Anqian from his time in the boxing team and send it to my phone."

Although puzzled, Yuan Bingyan quickly bought art supplies. Luo Fei took the easel, looked at the photo of Liao Anqian when he was young on his phone, and began to paint rapidly.

His pen moved swiftly across the paper, and soon a portrait of a young boy began to take shape. But surprisingly, Luo Fei was not drawing Liao Anqian, but a boy who bore some resemblance to him yet was also different.

“This is…” Yuan Bingyan looked at the person in the painting in surprise.

Luo Fei's expression was grave: "If I'm not mistaken, this is Li Wenxuan's younger brother, Li Wenhao. Liao Anqian is very likely Li Wenhao after changing his name!"

This discovery shocked both of them. If this conjecture was correct, then the Liao Anqian family's unusual behavior would have a reasonable explanation—they were Li Wenxuan's family members who had changed their names and identities and had been hiding in Jiangcheng for many years in order to seek revenge!
Luo Fei immediately ordered: "Reinvestigate the background of Liao Anqian's family! Focus on their household registration change records and identity documents!"

Luo Fei activated his special ability—the Eye of the Genius—and carefully compared Liao Anqian's walking posture with the footprints left in front of Li Wenxuan's tomb. After precise comparison, he confirmed that the two were almost completely identical.

"Liao Anqian was the third person to go and pay respects to Li Wenxuan," Luo Fei said definitively.

At this moment, Zhou Xiaobei sent a photo of Liao Anqian when he was 12 years old. Luo Fei immediately picked up his paintbrush and began to recreate the childhood photo. Yuan Bingyan watched quietly from the side, deeply attracted by Luo Fei's focused work, and couldn't help but admire his ability and handsomeness even more.

After finishing the painting, Luo Fei showed the results to Yuan Bingyan: "The current Liao Anqian is not the real Liao Anqian at all, but Li Wenxuan's younger brother, Li Wenhao. I suspect that Liao Mingkang and Qiu Sufeng are not themselves either, but Li Wenxuan's parents. This means that Li Wenxuan's family may have killed the real Liao Mingkang's family and taken their identities."

The two immediately drove to Liao Mingkang's roast meat shop in Guohuishan, Beijiang District. Upon arrival, they found Qiu Sufeng and Liao Mingkang busy in the shop. Luo Fei carefully observed them with his "Genius Eye" and discovered that both of them had undergone plastic surgery.

When Luo Fei and Yuan Bingyan entered the shop, Qiu Sufeng and Liao Mingkang immediately recognized Luo Fei. Luo Fei also used his special abilities to confirm the information above their heads, confirming that they were the real culprits behind the series of disappearances, including the kidnappers of Xiao Dingkun.

When Liao Mingkang saw Luo Fei, he remained unusually calm, as if he had long anticipated this day: "Officer Luo, you've finally arrived."

Luo Fei looked directly at him: "You are Li Wenxuan's parents, right?"

Liao Mingkang sighed and took all the blame: "Yes, I was the mastermind. Qiu Sufeng was just an accomplice, responsible for disposing of the bodies."

However, the information Luo Fei saw through his special ability showed that Liao Mingkang was trying to take all the blame upon himself, while Qiu Sufeng, although not directly involved in the murder, was an accomplice in disposing of the body.

"Yuan Bingyan, take them all back," Luo Fei ordered.

On the way back to the Jiangcheng City State Security Bureau, Lei Wanting called: "Luo Fei, how is the investigation into the Jiangcheng disappearance case progressing?"

Luo Fei replied, "Director Lei, the suspect has been apprehended; he's in my car."

Lei Wanting said with satisfaction, "Very good. I heard you had a fight with Vice Mayor Xiao? And you even said you wanted to arrest him?"

Luo Fei readily admitted: "Yes, I have evidence of Xiao Yuanfeng's illegal and disorderly conduct."

Lei Wanting paused for a moment, then said, "I authorize you to investigate Xiao Yuanfeng. But proceed with caution; he has a strong political background."

Luo Fei expressed his gratitude: "Understood. After we finish the cases we have, our next target will be Xiao Yuanfeng."

After hanging up the phone, Luo Fei looked at Liao Mingkang and Qiu Sufeng in the back seat of the car. Although this couple, who were seeking revenge for their son, had committed a serious crime, their plight was also heartbreaking.

Back at the National Security Bureau, the special task force members were all quite surprised to hear that Luo Fei had already apprehended the suspect. Luo Fei immediately summoned everyone back to stand by, and Liao Mingkang and Qiu Sufeng were temporarily placed in the National Security Bureau's detention cell.

After learning of the suspect's capture, Xiao Yuanfeng and his wife rushed to the National Security Bureau. Luo Fei immediately began interrogating Liao Mingkang, focusing on the whereabouts of Xiao Dingkun.

Inside the interrogation room, Liao Mingkang readily admitted to murdering four wealthy second-generation heirs and burying their bodies, but remained tight-lipped about Xiao Dingkun's whereabouts.

"Where is Xiao Dingkun?" Luo Fei asked seriously.

Liao Mingkang said expressionlessly, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Luo Fei secretly used mind-reading, but found that Liao Mingkang seemed to have been prepared, deliberately avoiding thinking about any information related to Xiao Dingkun.

"Don't expect to get any information from me," Liao Mingkang said coldly. "I killed those four people, and I confess. But I know nothing else."

During the subsequent interrogation, Liao Mingkang admitted that he was Li Wenxuan's father, Li Jianye, and his wife also admitted that she was Li Wenxuan's mother, Zhu Yueqin.

Meanwhile, Liao Anqian was temporarily removed from his post as police station chief on suspicion of identity fraud, pending an investigation. However, since there was no evidence to suggest his involvement in the kidnapping, he has not yet been arrested.

Xiao Yuanfeng thought that catching the suspect would quickly lead to his son's whereabouts, but he didn't expect Li Jianye to refuse to talk. He was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, and even asked the National Security Bureau to hand Li Jianye over to the Jiangcheng Criminal Investigation Team for trial.

"Luo Fei, hand him over to us!" Xiao Yuanfeng said excitedly. "I have a way to make him talk!"

Luo Fei immediately refused: "Vice Mayor Xiao, this is not in accordance with procedure. The National Security Bureau will handle the case according to law and will not use any illegal means." Luo Fei knew in his heart that if Li Jianye were handed over to Xiao Yuanfeng, the other party would likely use torture to extract a confession. But he also knew that no matter how Xiao Yuanfeng tortured Li Jianye, the other party would not reveal Xiao Dingkun's whereabouts.

The special task force conducted a comprehensive investigation into Li Jianye's whereabouts over the past two weeks and found that he had hardly left Beijiang District, and his activity trajectory consisted of a three-point line between his home, the farmers' market, and the roast meat shop.

The team members conducted a thorough search of his shop but found no trace of Xiao Dingkun.

“If Xiao Dingkun is hidden somewhere, he may have already starved to death,” Zhou Xiaobei reported worriedly.

This news made Xiao Yuanfeng even more anxious, but Luo Fei remained relatively calm. He checked Xiao Dingkun's photo and found that the information above the person's head still showed crimes such as gambling, prostitution, and indecent assault, indicating that Xiao Dingkun was still alive.

Luo Fei wasn't actually that concerned about Xiao Dingkun's whereabouts; in fact, he felt that such scum deserved to be torn to pieces by Li Jianye. Back then, Xiao Yuanfeng covered up his son's involvement in school violence precisely because he was worried about jeopardizing his own political future.

However, as a police officer, Luo Fei knew that the fundamental principles of the law could not be violated. No matter how many crimes Xiao Dingkun had committed, no one had the right to take his life without authorization. While Li Jianye's revenge for his son was understandable, it was legally unacceptable.

"Continue the interrogation," Luo Fei told the special case team members. "At the same time, expand the search area. Xiao Dingkun must be hiding somewhere; we must find him as soon as possible."

Yuan Bingyan asked softly, "Captain Luo, what if Xiao Dingkun has already met with misfortune?"

Luo Fei paused for a moment, then said firmly, "We must find the truth. The dignity of the law must be upheld, no matter who the victim is or what the perpetrator's reasons are."

Luo Fei's phone rang. He answered it, and the other person said directly, "Captain Luo, can we meet?"

“Okay, where shall we meet?” Luo Fei asked.

"Under the overpass is the place Officer He took you to." Li Wenhao's voice was calm but tinged with a hint of heaviness.

Luo Fei's heart skipped a beat; this was the very spot where Li Wenxuan had jumped off the bridge to commit suicide years ago. He immediately drove there.

Upon arriving at their destination, Luo Fei saw Li Wenhao standing alone under the bridge, looking up at the overpass as if imagining his brother jumping off it years ago.

"You've come." Li Wenhao didn't turn around; his voice was low.

Luo Fei walked up to him: "Why did you choose to meet here?"

Li Wenhao still looked up at the overpass: "I want to know what my brother was thinking before he jumped off."

Luo Fei remained silent.

Li Wenhao asked himself and answered, "It's despair. Despair for this world, and despair for family."

He turned around, tears welling in his eyes: "Do you know? After my brother was bullied, he didn't come here to commit suicide. He went home first, and I was home at the time."

Li Wenhao's voice began to tremble: "He told his father about being bullied, but he didn't expect to get a slap in return. His father scolded him for deserving it, saying that if he hadn't made himself neither male nor female, why would anyone bully him?"

“My brother swore, and my father hit him again.” Li Wenhao clenched his fist. “That slap made him completely despair of the world.”

Luo Fei sighed deeply: "When I needed my family's care the most, I received only scolding and violence."

Li Wenhao continued, "After my brother died, my parents learned the truth through his diary. It turned out that he had been bullied by several rich kids from the dance studio next door. Those people not only verbally abused him, beat and molested him, but even made him kneel on the ground and bark like a dog."

At this point, Li Wenhao's body trembled involuntarily, and his fists clenched until they turned white. Luo Fei could sense the anger in his heart, and thinking of the humiliation suffered by that boy, he couldn't help but feel indignant as well.

"Later, my parents received an anonymous letter." Li Wenhao calmed down a bit. "The letter said that my brother had been beaten by several people before he jumped off the bridge, and one of them was the son of the then deputy mayor of Jiangcheng."

Luo Fei understood: "The person who sent the letter must be Forensic Doctor He."

Li Wenhao nodded: "Only then did my parents understand why my brother's eyes were red when he came back. But instead of receiving care, he received disdain and blame from his family."

“After learning the truth, my father was so ashamed that he almost killed himself on the spot.” Li Wenhao’s voice choked with emotion. “From that day on, our family began our revenge plan.”

“My parents and I spent six months investigating the six people who bullied my brother back then, including the real Liao Anqian.”

He took a deep breath and continued, "My parents decided to fight for justice for their son with their own hands. They sold their house, moved to an island in Beihai, and opened a bed and breakfast. Their first target was Liao Anqian's family."

“Through plastic surgery and deception, we murdered Liao Anqian’s family and took their identities to return to Jiangcheng.”

Li Wenhao's voice was chillingly calm, "I changed schools under the identity of Liao Anqian and eventually got into the police academy. Xiao Dingkun didn't recognize me at all because we hadn't seen each other for many years and I was going through puberty."

“My parents learned about the lifestyles of the target families by opening shops near them and befriending their nannies.”

Li Wenhao explained, "We strike on special occasions like birthdays, bringing these people to our 'secret base' for revenge. We make them repent at Li Wenxuan's grave, and then..."

Luo Fei listened in silence. Although he felt conflicted about this act of revenge, he also understood that these perpetrators truly deserved what they got.

Li Wenhao suddenly pleaded, "Captain Luo, I need your help with my father. I want him to make the events of that year public through a live stream. Let everyone know the truth about my brother's suicide. I hope this incident will promote the improvement of the law and prevent similar tragedies from happening again."

Luo Fei pondered for a moment, then nodded solemnly: "I promise you. The public must know the truth about this matter."

Upon returning to the National Security Bureau, Luo Fei immediately interrogated Li Jianye.

In the interrogation room, Li Jianye appeared unusually calm: "Officer Luo, I am willing to reveal Xiao Dingkun's location, but on one condition."

"What are the conditions?" Luo Fei asked. (End of Chapter)