Life never follows a predetermined path; no one knows when misfortune might strike.

The first-year students at the affiliated high school had started their winter break, making the campus feel emptier. The second and third years wouldn’t break until near Spring Festival. Jiang Mu had climbed to within the top thirty in her grade rankings in the latest test, thanks to her math scores pulling up her overall performance. Yet somehow, she couldn’t find a way to share this good news with Jin Chao.

Saturday evening, while Zhao Meijuan had taken Jin Xin to the bathhouse again, Jiang Mu returned home in the darkness. She had barely set down her backpack when she received a call from Little Yang, his voice urgent: “Something terrible happened—Lightning’s been taken.”

Jiang Mu dropped her backpack, ran out of the complex, and caught a taxi to Flying Speed. Little Yang was waiting at the auto shop. Only after she arrived did she learn that Jin Chao had been gone for several days, Iron Rooster was out collecting a customer’s car, and San Lai happened to be away that day. When Little Yang had gone to the shop down the street to buy cigarettes, Lightning had been lying at the shop entrance as usual. While he was paying, he heard a dog barking, and by the time he returned with his cigarettes, Lightning was gone—he only saw a van speeding away at the end of the street.

Jiang Mu was stunned. Her instincts told her this wasn’t simple—no one would target a dog without reason.

Just then, Iron Rooster returned with the car. She ran to his car and asked: “Where’s Wan Ji Auto Shop?”

Iron Rooster listened as Little Yang recounted the events, then said worriedly: “I know where it is, but there are several Wan Ji shops in Tonggang. Even if they took Lightning to one of their shops, we don’t know which one.”

“Then we’ll check them all.” With that, Jiang Mu got into the back seat. Little Yang locked up the rolling door and got in the passenger seat. Iron Rooster turned the car around and headed for the nearest Wan Ji location.

The car stopped in front of Wan Ji, its shop sign still lit. Two apprentices were cleaning up when they saw Iron Rooster enter with a man and woman, greeting them with sneering voices: “Didn’t you say you’d never set foot in Wan Ji again? How dare you show your face?”

Iron Rooster glared at the boy and asked: “Has anyone from here been to Flying Speed?”

The boy, who looked about Jiang Mu’s age, replied with a sleazy attitude: “Why would we go to Flying Speed? Oh, your shop hired a girl?”

Jiang Mu frowned as Iron Rooster, not bothering to argue, rushed into the repair bay and office with Little Yang to search. She stood in the entrance, studying the apprentice—his dirty jacket and baggy corduroy pants with reddish stains on the cuffs looked like they hadn’t been washed in years.

After searching without success, Iron Rooster took them to the second shop, which also yielded nothing. Jiang Mu asked anxiously: “Are there any more Wan Ji shops in Tonggang?”

Iron Rooster told her: “There’s one more big one, but it’s unlikely—Crazy Jin works there. I already called him.”

“Can we call the police?”

Little Yang said helplessly: “It’s unlikely the police would search all of Tonggang for a dog.”

Iron Rooster could only drive back. Jiang Mu sat in the back seat, her heart suspended. Though Tonggang wasn’t a big city, finding a dog here was like searching for a needle in the ocean.

Lightning had been part of her life since she was little, from his wobbly first steps to growing into a magnificent dog. She’d never had pets before; Lightning was truly her first. She didn’t know if other dogs were as understanding as Lightning, who would accompany her when she was scared, comfort her when she was sad, and bounce around with her when she was happy. Whenever she came to Flying Speed, Lightning always greeted her with the greatest enthusiasm, seeing her off to the roadside when she left. Many times, when she looked back after getting in the car, Lightning would be standing there wagging his tail until she was out of sight.

To Jiang Mu, Lightning was family. From the moment she and Jin Chao decided to keep him, she’d resolved never to abandon Lightning, no matter where life took her. Facing the fact that Lightning had been suddenly taken, Jiang Mu couldn’t remain calm.

Little Yang suggested printing some “lost dog” posters, but Jiang Mu knew Lightning hadn’t just wandered off—he’d been deliberately taken. Posters wouldn’t help.

As they drove back toward Flying Speed, Jiang Mu’s eyes remained fixed outside the window, tensing at every dog they passed. As night deepened, everything became more blurred, street scenes merging into neon streaks. Suddenly something clicked in her mind, and she tapped the front seat backrest, telling Iron Rooster: “Let’s go back to the first shop.”

Iron Rooster turned the wheel, cutting through an alley back to the first shop. The boy in corduroy pants looked surprised: “You’re back again?”

Jiang Mu rushed up to him and demanded: “Show me your hands.”

The boy looked at her sideways: “Who are you?”

Jiang Mu’s eyebrows drew together as Iron Rooster grabbed the boy’s wrist without a word. Jiang Mu said to him: “Check if that’s paint on his sleeves.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the boy started struggling and cursing: “What are you doing? Are you crazy?”

Little Yang came to help, and another man from the shop approached, shouting: “Iron Rooster, you came back to cause trouble?”

But by then, Little Yang had already sniffed the boy’s sleeve, his expression changing: “It smells like blood.”

Jiang Mu looked up and asked Iron Rooster: “Are there any places we haven’t checked in this shop?”

Iron Rooster released the boy and moved to rush inside, but two thuggish mechanics came down the iron stairs, one holding a socket wrench and threatening Iron Rooster: “You think Wan Ji is your home? Coming and going as you please? Try taking one step inside.”

Jiang Mu’s blood was boiling. Her fists clenched tight as she thought about Lightning possibly being held somewhere inside. She couldn’t help but shout: “Lightning! Lightning…”

There was no response. The man with the socket wrench walked up to Jiang Mu: “What are you yelling for? Calling spirits? I’m thunder to your lightning.”

Jiang Mu turned to glare at him fiercely. The man raised his socket wrench, saying: “Why are you looking at me like that? Beg me nicely, and maybe I’ll help you find your thunder.”

As he moved to brush the wrench against Jiang Mu’s face, she was about to dodge when suddenly a shadow loomed behind her. A hand gently removed the wrench, and a man’s voice spoke: “Ning Huo, I arrive to find you harassing a young lady. Did Manager Wan’s heart-to-heart not sink in last time?”

Jiang Mu whirled around to see Crazy Jin had arrived with two others. Ning Huo asked in surprise: “What are you doing here?”

Crazy Jin pushed Jiang Mu inside, saying: “Business exchange—seeing why your shop’s performance keeps lagging.”

After being pushed in, Jiang Mu immediately ran upstairs, but Crazy Jin called from behind: “Come down, search the back if you’re looking.”

Jiang Mu stopped abruptly, and then ran down and toward the back area. The mechanic in corduroy pants blocked her way. Jiang Mu looked back at Crazy Jin’s group. The burly Crazy Jin stared at the boy with a menacing expression: “Looks like you’re asking for trouble. Daring to block Brother Jiu’s people? Don’t want those hands anymore?”

The boy froze, and Jiang Mu darted past him toward the back of the shop. Iron Rooster, familiar with the layout, led her to the back door. When they pushed it open, they were confronted by a large bloodstain on the ground.

Jiang Mu’s mind instantly began buzzing. Crazy Jin and the others arrived and looked, cursing under their breath: “Fuck.”

Jiang Mu called Lightning’s name everywhere but received no response. By now she was beyond fear, rushing back to confront the group: “Where’s the dog? I’m asking you, where’s the dog?”

Ning Huo maintained his indifferent attitude: “What dog? Is it illegal to kill a chicken on our property?”

Jiang Mu was shaking with anger. Jin pushed her behind him and confronted Ning Huo: “Where are Xiao Bian and Da Guang living now?”

Ning Huo stared back expressionlessly: “Don’t know.”

Crazy Jin said with a cold smile: “Fine. Nobody’s leaving until this is cleared up.”

He pulled out his phone to make a call. Meanwhile, Jiang Mu felt waves of chills. The blood in the backyard wasn’t completely dry yet—Lightning might have been there when they first came to the shop. She didn’t dare imagine what had happened in those ten-plus minutes. All that blood, what horrors had occurred? Everything made her expression grow increasingly terrible.

A few minutes later, Crazy Jin told Jiang Mu the dog might be in Wu Shi Village, though he wasn’t sure of the exact location.

Jiang Mu contacted San Lai, who had just returned from his mother’s house. After hearing what happened, he went straight back to his shop to get Xi Shi and rushed over. Among Xi Shi’s four children, Lightning was her least favorite—even feeding him milk as a puppy depended on her mood. But strangely, when Xi Shi rushed into the backyard and smelled the bloodstains, she became suddenly agitated.

As Ning Huo and his people started contacting others, Crazy Jin knocked away his phone and sat in the shop watching them.

Iron Rooster and San Lai immediately drove two cars to Wu Shi Village. It wasn’t far from Tongren Li—an old district of concentrated single-story houses with narrow alleys. Xi Shi bolted from the car as soon as they arrived. San Lai held her leash while Jiang Mu and Iron Rooster followed behind.

Wu Shi Village was huge, divided into Villages One through Five. Despite the winter cold, everyone was sweating. The men stopped at a street corner to smoke, and Xi Shi was panting with her tongue out, but even exhausted, she kept pacing, drooling.

Though Jiang Mu hadn’t had a drop of water for hours and was too tired to run, thinking of that pool of blood, she didn’t want to waste a minute. She took the leash from San Lai and rushed down another alley.

After about ten minutes, Xi Shi strangely circled back to the same area, going round and round. Jiang Mu sensed something was off and stopped at each gate with her.

Finally, at an iron gate with a faded “Fu” character pasted on it, Xi Shi suddenly became extremely agitated and started barking frantically.

Jiang Mu immediately pounded on the gate, shouting, “Open up! Open up!”

Their commotion drew neighbors to watch. Iron Rooster and the others at the street corner heard Xi Shi’s barking and stubbed out their cigarettes, following the sound into the alley.

The gate opened and someone poked their head out impatiently: “Who is it?”

As the gate opened, Xi Shi’s barking grew more ferocious. Jiang Mu recognized him—the crew-cut man who had caused trouble at Flying Speed, known as Little Flat. She asked, “Is Lightning inside?”

Little Flat was surprised to see Jiang Mu and moved to lock the gate. Jiang Mu stuck her foot in to block it, but Little Flat didn’t care—seeing more men coming down the alley, he yanked the gate hard. The gate caught Jiang Mu’s leg, making her pound the door in pain.

Iron Rooster and the others rushed over and rammed the gate open. When it burst open, everyone froze. Under the persimmon tree in the courtyard hung a blood-soaked dog, rope around its neck, its black fur dripping with blood. Its mouth was bound tight with hemp rope, its eyelids drooping, showing no signs of resistance. Even with Xi Shi’s frantic barking, it gave no response, unclear whether alive or dead.

At the sudden sight of this bloody, cruel scene, not just Jiang Mu but even the tough men behind her were shocked.

Iron Rooster kicked Little Flat, cursing: “You’re worse than animals!”

Da Guang came out of the room, taunting: “It is just an animal. Since you’re here, want to share some dog meat?””

Little Yang, usually timid, was suddenly provoked by this scene and started fighting with Da Guang. The courtyard erupted in chaos. Jiang Mu shouted shakily to San Lai: “Scissors… we need scissors…”

Ignoring the blood, she desperately supported Lightning while San Lai rushed into the rental house to find scissors and cut the rope. Jiang Mu immediately gathered Lightning in her arms.

Little Yang, covering his head from Da Guang’s blows, shouted hysterically: “Brother Jiu won’t let you get away with this, just wait…”

Da Guang roared: “Let him come! He ruined Wan Ji’s business and wanted to mess with the alliance’s interests. Manager Wan won’t tolerate him. Do you think he can do anything for us? Hasn’t he had enough prison food?”

The night was windless and still. Jiang Mu stood under the persimmon tree holding the bloody Lightning. The bottomless lake in her mind suddenly drained, revealing the black hole at its bottom, walled in by countless iron cages. Beyond those cages lay a world she had never touched—a world that terrified her, a world full of evil, a world welded shut by law.

Her mind seemed struck by lightning, waves of ice attacking her heart, raising chills from deep within.

San Lai called out: “Xi Shi, go!”

Xi Shi and Da Guang were old acquaintances. She immediately lunged at him. Da Guang, frightened of Xi Shi, forgot about Little Yang and ran around the courtyard. San Lai called Jiang Mu’s name twice before she mechanically turned her head to hear him say: “I’m getting the car. Take Lightning to the alley entrance.”

Jiang Mu nodded unconsciously. Just as San Lai rushed out of the courtyard, Lightning suddenly made a weak whimper in Jiang Mu’s arms. She instantly realized Lightning was still alive. With tears in her eyes, she looked at him, crouched down to take off her coat and wrap it around him, then limped toward the alley entrance, constantly telling him: “Hold on, Lightning, it’s okay now, I’m taking you away, we’re leaving now, we can go home…”

She spoke to Lightning incoherently. Lightning barely opened his eyes, whether from her scent or voice, he recognized Jiang Mu and whimpered painfully, as if telling her what he’d been through. Jiang Mu couldn’t help crying: “I know, I know, I’ll take you to the hospital, we’ll make it better at the hospital…”

Lightning wanted to wag his tail for her, to respond like before, but he seemed to have used up all his strength—his tail moved slightly then drooped.

San Lai pulled up in the car, got out to take Lightning from Jiang Mu, and put him in the back seat, calling his veterinarian friend while driving at top speed.

Lightning’s life force was very weak. Jiang Mu carefully stroked his fur around his wounds, calling his name. He could barely respond occasionally and eventually stopped moving altogether.

Jiang Mu had never been so scared, terrified of watching a vibrant life slip away beside her. Her body kept shaking, eyes fixed ahead, no longer daring to urge San Lai to hurry.

Fortunately, Tonggang had no traffic at night. They quickly reached a pet hospital, and Jiang Mu carried the now-unresponsive Lightning, rushing in after San Lai.

Everything was chaotic—she didn’t even see the doctor’s face clearly before Lightning was taken from her arms.

After examining Lightning, the doctor immediately arranged surgery. There weren’t many renowned pet hospitals in Tonggang. Through his work, San Lai knew several veterinarians, and this friend was among the better doctors in Tonggang. If he couldn’t help, Lightning wouldn’t make it.

San Lai couldn’t stay long—Xi Shi was still in Wu Shi Village, and Iron Rooster’s situation was unclear. He had to return immediately but was worried about leaving Jiang Mu alone, so he contacted Crazy Jin to come quickly.

Shortly after San Lai left, Crazy Jin arrived at the pet hospital. Seeing blood-covered Jiang Mu in the hallway shocked him—the young girl sat alone on a cold plastic chair, her whole body shaking, whether from cold or fear, he couldn’t tell.

He sat across from Jiang Mu, unable to find comforting words for a long time. He wasn’t good at consolation anyway—saying “accept it” seemed wrong since the dog wasn’t dead yet, but being optimistic might backfire if the dog died later.

After consideration, Crazy Jin, being straightforward, simply asked: “Little sister, want some beer to calm your nerves?”

Normally, Jiang Mu never touched alcohol, but now she couldn’t control the waves of chill in her body. She nodded to Crazy Jin, who immediately ran to the convenience store next door and returned with a bag of cans, opening one to hand to her.

The night deepened. Jiang Mu’s stomach remained empty, but one sip of beer warmed her stomach and cleared her thoughts. She silently squeezed the can, then suddenly asked in a dejected voice: “Do you think Lightning will die?”

Crazy Jin couldn’t answer this question. If it were a cat, he could joke about having nine lives, losing one but having eight left. But Lightning was a dog, so he could only improvise: “Probably not. He’s been with You Jiu so long, he must take after him—tough to kill.”

Jiang Mu kept her head down, hair hiding her face, and asked in a muffled voice: “How long have you known him?”

“Who? You Jiu? Let me think… seven or eight years since we started working on cars together.”

Perhaps from fear or anxiety, Jiang Mu kept squeezing the beer can, making it crackle in the silent hospital. She and Crazy Jin drank in silence across the hallway. Whether from the alcohol taking effect or not, the fog inside her suddenly ignited.

The can’s crackling stopped abruptly. Her silhouette hidden in her hair, expression unclear, her voice squeezed out of her throat: “Has Jin Chao… ever killed someone?”