After so casual conversation, everyone gathered inside a large tent filled with various instrunts and bustling with activity. In the middle was a table with a large map on it. Luo Zheng walked over and saw it was a military map, marked with nurous symbols. Surrounded by others, the Major explained, "The red areas indicate places not yet searched, while the green areas indicate places that have been searched. This is over five hundred kiloters of mountainous terrain. To the west are all mountain ranges, with many caves, rivers, and forests. The geography is complex with plenty of hiding spots. Our Special Forces and reconnaissance units, in cooperation with the police, are conducting the search."
"I don't need to hear objective reasons, take to see the household where the victims were found." Luo Zheng said calmly while intently studying the map. Judging by the height markers, the surrounding mountain ranges were towering, with the highest peaks over two thousand ters. There were also nurous irregular gorges and valleys, and many rivers of varying sizes. Hiding soone in this kind of terrain was too easy; one could simply find a cave to hide in. His expression involuntarily turned grim.
The Major responded promptly, asking, "Shall we head out now?"
"What is this place?" Luo Zheng pointed to a massive gorge on the map and asked.
"Ten Thousand Waterfalls Valley," the Major explained quickly, "It's twenty-three kiloters long, six hundred ters wide at the broadest point, and about a hundred ters wide at the narrowest, with a depth of over three hundred ters. A river flows below, and waterfalls of varying sizes fall from above. There are said to be ten thousand waterfalls, hence the na. It's the rainy season recently; the river swells, the waterfalls are larger, mist rises, and the humidity is heavy. The temperature is quite low, making it unbearable for anyone to stay long. This place is desolate. Our helicopters have searched it, and ground forces as well, but we've found no clues." The Major hastily explained.
"Oh?" Luo Zheng pondered for a mont before continuing to ask, "How many caves are there, where are the densest clusters? What's the situation inside the caves?"
"Concentrated here," the Major pointed on the map, "but there should be many undiscovered ones in other areas. Many places here are seldom visited by humans, so much of the situation isn't known to outsiders. According to the intelligence we have, the caves vary in size and depth. So are dry, so damp, and so have interconnected caves or even connect to underground rivers, making them very suitable for hiding people."
"What's your judgnt?" Luo Zheng asked in amazent.
"My judgnt is that the enemy is hiding inside so cave, waiting for us to run out of patience and withdraw before making their move. They can wait us out, so after discussion with the police, the Military agreed to focus on searching the caves and involve local mountain residents to assist." The Major hurried to explain.
Luo Zheng felt uncertain and didn't know if this approach was reasonable, but he didn't reject it. He thought for a mont and then urged the Major to lead the way to see the family of the mountain residents who were killed. The family's house was on a hillside, gently sloping, with only this one household. It took about an hour's trek to reach it.
The house was built with wood and stone slabs, very simple but not small. There was a compact yard at the entrance with corn cobs drying and so firewood piled up. Luo Zheng went over and took a quick glance, imdiately noticing a pool of bloodstain on the yard, and sothing dawned on him, his face turning cold as anger surged, striding quickly toward the house. There was also a bloodstain at the doorway, with blood on the wooden door.
"Those inhuman bastards spared not even the two children. The bodies have already been taken for cremation." The Major explained, his face also filled with icy coldness.
Luo Zheng said nothing, continuing to go inside, checking each room. A rough outline of the perpetrator's actions ford in his mind. Glancing at the Major, who caught his intention and explained, "When we found them, it was already half an hour later. The two children were killed outside. The hoowner heard the commotion, ca out, and had his throat slit. Clearly, soone was waiting at the door. Everyone died with terror in their eyes."
"These beasts, this is our sha. The sha must be washed away with the enemy's blood." Mountain Eagle said furiously, his face iron-cold as he scanned around, searching, but unfortunately finding no valuable clues.
"The forensic at the scene found nothing left behind. The opponent is an expert, capable of killing in one strike. All the brothers are bottling their anger, refusing to stand down until these beasts are completely eliminated, or they can't bear to wear this military tiger skin." The Major explained nearby, his expression severe like frost, also extrely angry.
As a passionate soldier, no one could witness such atrocities and remain calm. Luo Zheng kept a cold face and said nothing, glancing around. This was a poor family with no decent clothes, no proper furniture, not even any household appliances. A family like this suffered such a tragic fate; not avenging them would be a sha as soldiers.
After searching for a while without finding any clues, Luo Zheng went outside, envisioning the killer's scene in his mind. Observing the surrounding terrain with an iron-cold expression, he pondered which direction the killer might have escaped to. His gaze slowly fell on the Major, and he asked, "How far is it from here to Ten Thousand Waterfalls Valley?"
"Straight that way for about two hours." The Major pointed in a direction and said.
"Alright, have your team withdraw." Luo Zheng said, looking towards the direction indicated by the Major.
The Major was surprised, full of curiosity wanting to ask why, but swallowed the words back, leading the team to withdraw. Mountain Eagle approached Luo Zheng from the room in suspicion, speaking softly, "Do you have a plan?"
"Hmm, to beco vice-chairman of the Sanhe Martial Arts Hall and the new leader of the Death God Killer Organization, Shijing Teng is no ordinary mind. The Major and others unanimously believe Shijing Teng is hiding in a cave. With Shijing Teng's cunning, he'd naturally think of that, too. So, Shijing Teng has two choices: hide in the cave and wait for the search to be over, or do the opposite and act contrary in this battle of wits. What do you think Shijing Teng would choose?" Luo Zheng countered.
"Hiding in a cave is easily guessed and discovered. Shijing Teng supposedly shouldn't hide in a cave, but with so many caves, randomly finding one to hide in makes detection difficult. Not ruling out Shijing Teng choosing a cave, of course, nor ruling out him hiding elsewhere, the real and the fake are hard to guess. What's your view?" Mountain Eagle pondered aloud.
"Why did Shijing Teng kill?" Luo Zheng continued asking.
"Hmm?" Mountain Eagle was startled, not having considered this question. Following this line of thought carefully, sothing indeed was odd. While fleeing, keeping tracks hidden should have been the priority. Why kill and expose himself – was it really to snatch a bit of pitiful dry rations? Mountain Eagle looked at Luo Zheng in confusion, his iron face growing more solemn.
"With the Death God's capability, there's no need for any supplies or equipnt to survive perfectly in this forest. Why deliberately kill and expose himself?" Luo Zheng continued, looking into the distance with eyes gleaming with wisdom, his solemn face revealing a mont of sudden realization.
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