Zhang Liunian took a portion as evidence, then searched other places. He found more information about missing persons related to Hong Fei. This time, however, it also recorded experimental data, confirming that these individuals were subjected to illegal human experimentation, a capital offense.
With the location and subjects of their experiments identified, the Tang family would surely fall.
As Zhang Liunian rejoiced, he also found a lease agreement for a farm. It was a photocopy, but it clearly stated that the farm owner was a man named Tai Hongjun, and his photograph was included.
Looking at Tai Hongjun’s photograph, Zhang Liunian felt a sense of familiarity. After careful recollection, a sudden realization struck him, and his expression turned to horror as he looked at the man preserved as a specimen by the doorway. His eyes widened instantly.
It matched. This man was the farm owner, Tai Hongjun, the very man who was undeniably dead.
So, this owner was a corpse. Then who was the real boss?
Could it be someone from the Tang family?
Yes, who else would dare to conduct such research so brazenly under the guise of anonymity?
It was a pity, though, that he hadn't found the experimental subjects, nor did he know where they had taken those people.
Cautiously leaving the basement, Zhang Liunian made his way out of the farm without incident. He looked around but couldn't find Master Huang.
Assuming Old Huang had returned home, he didn't search for him and instead went to the Ding family's residence.
What he didn't know was that as soon as he had descended, Master Huang had been discovered by the six researchers and taken to an experimental site.
"Spill everything you know, or we'll make you wish you were dead," threatened Researcher No. 2, holding a syringe and staring at Master Huang.
Master Huang looked at the unknown agent, his heart filled with anxiety. "I will not say anything. Absolutely not."
"Is that so? Soon you won't be so stubborn."
"..."
At 5:40 in the morning, the doorbell at the Ding residence rang.
"Comrade Liunian?" Ding Zhaoshan, fully dressed, opened the door. He was a bit surprised that Zhang Liunian would visit so early. He welcomed him inside, turned on the lights, and invited him to sit.
"Uncle Ding, I've come to ask you about your daughter's disappearance at ten years old and her subsequent recovery. I want to know how you found her and where she reappeared," Zhang Liunian said. Having found no experimental subjects at the farm, he was worried they would soon discover the situation and relocate the people. He came here before reporting the crime.
"How do you know my Xiao Yue went missing? Have you discovered something?" Ding Zhaoshan had also been investigating the Tang family recently, uncovering that the Tangs used missing or deceased individuals to run their factories and businesses.
"Yes, I have made some discoveries." Zhang Liunian did not disclose the specifics to Ding Zhaoshan, knowing that this was a critical juncture, and any misstep could lead to his efforts being in vain. He couldn't afford to say more than necessary.
Ding Zhaoshan did not pry further and answered his question, "Actually, we didn't find Xiao Yue back then; she escaped on her own. You know my Xiao Yue has innate divine strength. Although she was only ten, it wasn't impossible for her to escape. However, after escaping, her mind seemed to have deteriorated further, and she only seemed interested in handsome men."
At this point, Ding Zhaoshan felt rather embarrassed. If he hadn't held her back recently, his daughter would have already gone to find Zhang Liunian.
As he thought this, Ding Xiaoyue, hearing the voices, rushed out from inside and lunged towards Zhang Liunian, exclaiming, "Handsome man."
"..." Zhang Liunian quickly dodged to the side, wary of any physical contact with Ding Xiaoyue.
With a "bang," Ding Xiaoyue missed her target and fell to the ground. She was about to try again, but Ding Zhaoshan sternly ordered, "Stop, go back inside and get dressed."
"No," Ding Xiaoyue got up and moved towards Zhang Liunian, but Zhang Liunian kept moving away, step by step.
Ding Zhaoshan rubbed his forehead. He got up and personally dragged her back inside before returning. "My apologies, Comrade Liunian. That's just how she is; there's nothing we can do. Alas, to be frank, I suspect Xiao Yue's condition might be related to what happened to her over a decade ago. I remember she wasn't like this when she was younger; it only started after that."
Zhang Liunian remained noncommittal. He didn't care why Ding Xiaoyue had become this way. He just wanted to know if Ding Xiaoyue remembered where she had been in trouble, or if she remembered where she had been subjected to experimentation.
"Does she still remember what happened to her?" Zhang Liunian cut to the chase.
Ding Zhaoshan shook his head. "She doesn't remember anymore. However, we know where she reappeared: in the mountains near the South City Chemical Plant. There are five mountains there, which we call the Five Finger Mountains. She reappeared on one of the outer mountains. But Xiao Yue herself mentioned she might have been to the old Tang family mansion. Both locations are suspicious."
"Five Finger Mountains? The old Tang family mansion?"
Zhang Liunian murmured the names twice. He then asked, "Uncle Ding, have you heard about the Tang family's plan to research human brains?"
Ding Zhaoshan's body stiffened, and his voice lowered. "Could it be that you've discovered they are actually conducting such research? This is illegal. The authorities do not permit it. Are you asking this because this matter has something to do with my Xiao Yue?"
"I saw Xiao Yue's name among their experimental subjects."
Boom!
At these words, Ding Zhaoshan became visibly agitated. "Are you saying that when Xiao Yue disappeared years ago, she was kidnapped by the Tang family for experimentation?"
"That's right, and it was related to human brain development." Zhang Liunian was now largely certain that Ding Xiaoyue had suffered, otherwise, she wouldn't have memory loss. As for her obsession with handsome men, no one could say for sure whether it was innate or acquired.
"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous! Our Ding family has never been at odds with the Tang family. It's only in recent years that we've become rivals. How could they have targeted someone from my Ding family so early?" Ding Zhaoshan slammed the table in anger, his body trembling.
Hearing this, Zhang Liunian frowned slightly. What did he mean by "someone from their Ding family"? Did it imply that someone not from the Ding family was fair game?
Never mind; now was not the time to nitpick. He still needed to report to the police. "Uncle Ding, have you investigated anything about the Tang family during this time?"
Ding Zhaoshan, though furious, suppressed his rising emotions and replied, "We found several properties that do not appear to be Tang family enterprises but are, in fact, their businesses operating in secret. The evidence is all here. Take it!"
Saying that, he turned and handed a thick file to Zhang Liunian. Zhang Liunian took it and glanced through it. Indeed, it contained information about the farm.
Excellent, just when he was dozing off, someone sent a pillow.
They chatted for a few more moments, and then Zhang Liunian left for the police station.
"You mean you've found evidence of the Tang family's illegal experiments? Let us see." Officer Tu accepted Zhang Liunian's evidence and as he flipped through it, the weight of it grew. This was truly a major case, involving the disappearance of over a hundred people and evidence of their illegal and harmful research. If all of this was proven to be the work of the Tang family, the Tangs would truly be on the verge of collapse.