Chapter 170: The Song Family's Forbidden Art—The Hound’s Nose

Huang Xiaotao suspected that Kong Hui might be connected to several other cases—not necessarily as a perpetrator, but as someone who helped criminals by surgically altering their appearances. The real culprits could be long gone, walking free with new faces.

Of course, it was only a suspicion. A full investigation hadn't yet been conducted.

I asked, "Then what about the ones we already caught?"

"Don't worry," Huang Xiaotao reassured me. "I double-checked every one of them. All original faces."

She added, "Captain Lin caught wind of something and told me to back off. Said the case would be handed to the SWAT Anti-Terror Division. I didn't agree."

Just then, a high-level character strolled over in-game and one-shotted Huang Xiaotao's avatar. After respawning and running back, she raged in chat:"Damn it! Can't even chat safely in town these days. This online environment is toxic! Do they think I'm too broke to afford decent gear?!"

I said, "Take a look at who that was."

The player who killed her had the username "ZhangKangMei." After asking a few questions, Huang Xiaotao realized it was Wang Yuanchao.

"Wang Yuanchao! Are you venting all your pent-up frustrations? Killing everyone in-game—bet you're a total loser in real life!" she snapped.

Wang Yuanchao was silent for a moment before finally typing:"Sorry. Misclick."

Huang Xiaotao asked, "Found anything yet?"

She'd been digging into Kong Hui's background, while Wang Yuanchao was still following leads. He replied, "I spoke to some of Kong Hui's old classmates. Apparently, he tried to talk to Xu Xiaohui that day, but she ignored him. They said his expression turned really strange afterward."

"That's it?" she asked.

"That's it."

I said, "The case is actually pretty simple. Kong Hui isn't the same insecure kid he used to be. He has a career, money, and a good-looking face now. He thought he finally had the confidence to pursue Xu Xiaohui. But when she still treated him the same way as before, it crushed his ego."

"All this… over rejection?" Huang Xiaotao asked, puzzled.

"To him, it was a mental scar that never healed," I explained. "Turning a beautiful girl into something grotesque—it's his twisted message: You rejected me, so I'll make you die ugly, pitiful, and forgotten."

"Psycho…" she muttered.

"I suspect he operates a secret clinic on the side. That's probably where he did the surgery on Xu Xiaohui—and maybe for other shady clients too."

Huang Xiaotao responded with three exclamation marks in the chat:"You're amazing, Song Yang! If we can find that hidden clinic, we can pin this on him—and uncover his client list."

"But we're all being watched," Wang Yuanchao said. "How do we even move?"

"Where was Xu Xiaohui found again?" I asked.

"Near a highway."

"Then we'll start there. I'm going to use a forbidden technique."

"Great!" Huang Xiaotao replied. "Midnight, we meet at the scene. No contact before then. Do something random to throw off anyone tailing us."

In what was probably a moment of cathartic joy, she launched a sneak attack on Wang Yuanchao's avatar to avenge her earlier death. But he was playing a tank class—high HP, tough armor. She barely scratched him.

"You've been grinding levels?" she asked, stunned.

Without a word, Wang Yuanchao countered with a massive strike that sent her avatar flying. I quickly logged out.

Wang Dali noticed my screen. "Yo, Song Yang, gaming now? Since when were you so free?"

"Trash game. I'm heading to the library," I replied.

"I'll come too. I met this cute girl at the library. Gotta see if she's around today."

I decided not to bring him along tonight—too risky. We spent the afternoon at the library. His crush wasn't there, so he grabbed a copy of The Complete Works of Gu Long to pass the time.

I was surprised. Wang Dali usually wouldn't read unless the pages were made of fried chicken.

After dinner, around 10 PM, I told him I had to step out. He lit up. "Another case, huh?"

I put a finger to my lips and said mysteriously, "A date with Sun Bingxin. Don't tell Huang Xiaotao."

He gasped. "Bro! You're two-timing? That's low, man!"

I left campus, hailed a cab, and arrived at the agreed location—a barren lot near the highway. I walked around until I spotted Huang Xiaotao and Wang Yuanchao.

"You're early," Huang Xiaotao said. "Shall we begin?"

Just then, someone behind me shouted my name. I turned around—and there was Wang Dali, panting as he ran over.

"You liar! You are working a case! Why didn't you bring me?!"

"What are you doing here?" I scolded.

"You think you can ditch your trusty sidekick?" he replied shamelessly.

Huang Xiaotao looked around cautiously. "You weren't followed, were you?"

He glanced back. "Nope!"

I pulled out a small vial, inside which was a silver needle soaking in a strange fluid—a concoction I'd recently brewed. Didn't expect to need it so soon.

"Everyone spread out," I said. "What I'm about to do… might look a little crazy."

I took a deep breath and stabbed the needle into the back of my neck.

At first, there was only pain. Then a surge of putrid smells hit me like a punch to the nose. My vision warped. I dropped to the ground, twitching uncontrollably, drooling from the mouth.

"Song Yang, what's wrong?!" Huang Xiaotao asked, alarmed.

Sweating and trembling, I croaked, "I'm fine. Just… give me a moment."

The formula—made from bee venom and rare herbs—was applied to the Fengfu acupoint at the base of the skull. It activated the olfactory centers of the brain, multiplying my sense of smell a thousandfold—far sharper than any police dog's.

This technique was called the Heavenly Hound Tracking Art. Because the drug bypassed the bloodstream and went straight to the nervous system, the side effects were extreme. It was one of the Song family's forbidden techniques—rarely used.

It made me drool, dizzy, and unable to stand. Like a dog sniffing the ground. Hence the name.

Once my nose fully activated, I could distinguish the gas fumes, dirt, weeds—every smell became intense and painful. I felt like my nose had swollen.

After five minutes, I adjusted enough to stand up. Huang Xiaotao asked, "What the heck was that?! You scared me half to death."

"I'm going to track Xu Xiaohui's scent. Don't move around. And no smoking, Uncle Wang."

"Got it!" they all replied.

I sniffed the air carefully. Suddenly, a strange odor hit me. It came from Wang Dali—a faint but unmistakable scent of decay.

Something wasn't right.

He'd been sticking to me all day—almost like he was monitoring me. And his behavior… felt off.

I activated my Phantom Eye and examined his face closely.

There. A seam along his hairline.

"Why are you staring at me?" he asked. "Am I that handsome?"

I forced a smile. "Yeah. Real heartthrob."

I moved over to Wang Yuanchao and whispered, using hand signals behind my back. He got the message.

Wang Yuanchao casually approached Wang Dali, then—

BANG!

The gunshot rang out, smoke rushing into my hypersensitive nose. I spun around to see Wang Dali on the ground, clutching his leg.

Huang Xiaotao screamed, "Wang Yuanchao! Are you insane?!"

He lowered the gun, face grim."That's not Wang Dali."