Chapter 16: The Search

Bai Yiyi shot straight up into the sky, rocketing dozens of meters into the air. From there, he surveyed the scene: mountains of shipping containers stacked neatly in rows, rising and falling in a vast, undulating landscape.

Over a hundred people bustled along the narrow paths between them, like ants scurrying about, utterly failing to disturb the silent man-made peaks.

This was the first time he’d flown this high since turning into a bird. It felt as if an extra air sac had formed in his chest, supplementing his lungs with a dual-breathing system that let him soar through the thin high-altitude air without a hint of breathlessness.

Currents of wind buoyed his body upward. His dumpling-shaped form streamlined itself, feathers ruffled by the rushing gusts, while his tail feathers instinctively controlled his direction and altitude.

What he sensed now—a profound spatial awareness and utter freedom—was something humans rarely experienced.

The thrill of spreading his wings and soaring through the vast heavens was indescribable. No wonder, from ancient times to the present, countless sages and geniuses had racked their brains inventing flying machines, all to fulfill the dream of free flight.

Drawing on the keen observational skills of an artist, Bai Yiyi committed the panoramic view to memory, getting a rough sense of the yard’s layout. At least he wouldn’t get lost in this forest of steel and concrete.

Circling back for a closer look, he spotted his owner even from this distance. Captain Yan stood with his hand shading his eyes against the glaring sun, staring up at him intently in the sky. Was he afraid he’d fly off midway?

No, there wasn’t a trace of anxiety on his face. He remained perfectly composed, radiating trust. He had such faith in him, even now when he was just a bird.

Suddenly, Bai Yiyi felt anchored. No matter how vast or wide the world was, that steadfast gaze from his owner was more reliable than any leash. Even if he were the legendary Kunpeng, capable of traversing ten thousand li in an instant, he’d gladly clip his own wings to perch forever on that man’s shoulder.

A mix of tenderness and exhilaration surged through him. With his heart pounding, Bai Yiyi dove into the search, brimming with energy as he darted up and down the container mountains, inspecting each one.

He had to admit, his sense of smell had sharpened dramatically since becoming a bird. Those containers that looked airtight from afar weren’t as sealed as they seemed—especially around the edges, where years of handling had caused dents and gaps. A quick sniff up close revealed their contents plainly.

Leather scents, fabrics, plastics, medicines—all distinct. Some had sat too long, reeking of mildew. Less than an hour in, the fumes made his head spin and his vision blur. He had no choice but to head back for a breather, taking the opportunity to imprint the sample scents firmly in his memory once more.

Time dragged on, from morning through noon and into the sweltering afternoon. The search zones shifted with the crowds. Suspects were ruled out one by one—sometimes it felt like the next one would be the jackpot, other times like it was forever out of reach.

Everyone who’d arrived last night—the people and the dogs—was utterly exhausted. A sleepless night followed by a blistering day with temperatures hitting 38 degrees Celsius had worn down even these iron-tough officers. They began rotating rests, slowing progress to a crawl.

Two members of Team 2 had been going nonstop for over ten hours. Finally, it was their turn to rest. One sat down right there, leaning against a nearby container and gulping water while tilting his head back. By chance, he glanced up and spotted the white dumpling bustling around on a freezer three containers high.

“Where’d that bird come from? Looks like it’s searching too, circling each one… Hey, it just dove into the exhaust vent!”

“I heard Captain Yan brought a bird to help with the task.”

“No way… That’s bullshit. What can a bird do? It’s not a police dog.”

As they debated, the white dumpling popped back out in a flash and vanished from sight.

His companion leaned against the metal wall with a swig of water to wet his throat, gossiping idly. “It’s true. Liu Bin from Team 1 told me. Some kind of fringed bird named… Dumpling or Tangyuan? Insanely good nose on it. Not sure if that’s the one, though.”

“No idea if its nose is that great, but house pets? What kind of obedience IQ do they have? My father-in-law had a parrot once. It could mimic speech like a pro—smart as hell, right? But it never actually understood commands, so…”

He trailed off mid-sentence as the white dumpling flew back, hovering right in front of that same white freezer. It let out a series of crisp “cheep-cheep” calls.

The two men stared in astonishment, finally getting a good look. Snowy white all over, with a grayish-black mop of feathers on its head like a pot lid. An exotic ornamental canary, nothing more.

But the little thing hovered there chirping nonstop. Could it… have actually found something?

Before they could process it, hurried footsteps approached. They turned to see Deputy Detachment Captain Yan Tuo jogging up with a few colleagues, followed at a panting distance by their own Captain Zhao Guangren.

The pair scrambled to their feet. “Captain Zhao.”

Zhao Guangren huffed heavily, nodding curtly in acknowledgment. His full attention locked onto Yan Tuo.

Bathed in the sunset glow, the tall, handsome man couldn’t suppress a grin tugging at his lips. He tilted his chin up and called out, “Tangyuan, come back. I’ve seen it.”

The white dumpling swooped in obediently, landing steadily on his right shoulder. Exhausted, it shifted from standing to squatting, half-sprawled out, beak parted as it panted. Only its bright little eyes still sparkled, darting about with what looked suspiciously like smug satisfaction.

Whoa… Had it really found it? This was straight out of fantasy.

No time for dwelling—the results were laid bare.

Two members from Team 3 hopped onto the forklift platform and rose into the air. In seconds, they popped the door lock. The forklift backed up to swing the door open, then advanced to let them inside.

Less than ten minutes later, several large bags of white powder hidden amid medicine crates were hauled out. Weighed on the scale: 11.368 kg.

This shattered the city’s record for largest single-drug seizure—a massive case cracked.

Zhao Guangren’s teeth ached a bit. He should be relieved, offering a grateful smile and some praise. But he couldn’t muster it—not on his face, not from his mouth.

Team 2 plus the entire Police Dog Squadron had toiled all night without a single lead. Swallowing their pride to beg the deputy detachment for help was humiliating enough. But after all that—a hundred-plus people—and still outperformed by Yan Tuo’s pet sparrow? That slap stung.

Especially after his own snide remarks in the car…

Seeing his subordinates’ dumbfounded faces, realizing they’d been mere meters from the target without a clue, soured his mood further. He shot them a glare, then busied himself “inspecting” the drugs to avoid facing that owner-and-pet duo.

Truth was, he was overthinking it. Yan Tuo didn’t care one bit. No one believing in Tangyuan was perfectly normal—who’d think a pet bird could outsmart the animal kingdom’s brainiest dogs?

Besides, the stacked containers’ height made flying birds far handier than police dogs or humans with lifts. Tangyuan’s big win boiled down to luck, timing, terrain, and talent.

Right now, Yan Tuo gently cradled the dumpling in his palm, stroking its little head and brushing dust from its wings. Once home, he’d definitely give it a proper bath—this was one clean freak of a bird.

The onlookers crowded in, marveling and showering it with unique compliments. After this, Divine Bird Tangyuan’s fame wouldn’t just spread through the city bureau—it’d echo across J City’s entire police force.

Yan Tuo’s heart swelled with joy and worry. Joy that the white dumpling had been so reliable, following orders from start to successful finish—too impressive, too lovable.

Worry over how to reward it properly. Good deeds deserved rewards, but what did this guy lack? It ignored bug feasts, toys, and snacks piled high. What now?

Maybe have Hongqing bring Manyu over again? Give the white dumpling a chance to reclaim his manly glory and get some proper loving?

Bai Yiyi had no idea what terrifying notions swirled in his owner’s mind. He’d tuned out the endless flattery and palm-rubbing. He was lost in massive shock and delight.

Just seconds ago, the system’s childish voice had squealed in near-pitch-shifted ecstasy, babbling incoherently in his head: “Yiyi… Bai Yiyi, 62 points… You’ve finally passed! Ahh, it’s been so long since I’ve felt this charged up. Yiyi, wanna turn back human now? Right now? Or…?”

Bai Yiyi was stunned. His eyes stung; he nearly burst into joyful tears.

Heaven above, he’d finally passed. It had been no easy feat… Cheep-cheep.

Of course he wanted to turn human—but not here, not now. Turn bird-to-man amid a pack of burly uniformed cops? Might as well die.

For the first time, Bai Yiyi desperately wanted to escape his owner’s side, hole up alone for an hour, and savor being human again.

So he squeezed his bird eyes shut, flopped over dramatically in Yan Tuo’s palm, and pretended to doze off. Message clear: This bird’s wiped out, needs sleep. No more praise from you mortals—wrap it up and head home so everyone can go their separate ways.

The owner was indeed thoughtful. He knew it hated seeing strangers, and now it lay sprawled in his hand like a puddle of mud, striking a sleeping pose—which made everything go even more smoothly for it.

Yan Tuo gave a slight smile to the people gathered around him, then raised a finger to his lips in a hush gesture.

At a search site bustling with over a hundred people, everything suddenly fell silent all because of one sleeping bird. Everyone finished their tasks and quickly dispersed.

By the time they got back home, it was around eight in the evening. The Bai Yiyi who had been feigning sleep immediately perked up with renewed vigor. He flew straight to the bathroom sink on his own and let out two sharp chirps, signaling that he wanted a rinse.

Yan Tuo was sweltering too, especially after a full day battered by the salty sea breeze at the port—his clothes were caked with sweat that carried a briny tang. After a moment’s thought, he didn’t personally tend to the little guy’s bath. Instead, he grabbed a large glass cup to serve as a tub, filled it with clear water, and set the white dumpling inside to soak.

In two shakes, Yan Tuo stripped down bare and started rinsing off under the nearby showerhead.

???

Together?

Bai Yiyi froze stiff in the cup, though he couldn’t stop his eyes from peering outward through the glass.

With that size, was his owner actually a black man disguised in yellow skin?

Didn’t he know that tonight he could turn back into a human? Wasn’t he afraid of stoking this fire, only for Bai Yiyi to take advantage while he slept and do this or that to him… hey?

The night had never dragged on so endlessly.

They barely finished the bath. After sharing a bowl of Yan Tuo’s braised beef noodles, Bai Yiyi’s mind was entirely consumed with how to safely shift back into human form. Even his usual mooching of the Wi-Fi afterward brought him no joy.

He finally waited until the heartthrob had drifted off to sleep, but still worried it wasn’t deep enough. He forced himself to stay awake for another half hour before flying into the bathroom to summon the system.

~~~