Chapter 11: The Murder Case in Ping'an Community (5)

After Brother Tian saw that Huzi had been subdued, he kicked Liao Yan aside and told one of his subordinates, “Clean this place up, don’t leave any fingerprints!”

“Take him to see the boss!” The underlings led Biaozi away.

“Brother Tian, what about these two...”

“Finish them off! Do I really need to teach you how to handle this? You want undercover cops knocking on our door? After tomorrow’s deal, even if they know it was us, they’ll have to find us first!” Brother Tian glanced at Liao Yan, who was bleeding and unconscious, and at the little girl still wailing.

...

The scene before Wu Zui’s eyes went dark, and the second memory appeared.

Now, Huzi was battered and bruised. Brother Tian hadn’t taken him to see any boss directly, but instead he was being strung up and beaten in the cargo compartment of a large truck.

“Speak! Where’s the goods?” Brother Tian shouted as he struck Huzi’s body with a wooden stick. Huzi’s tendons had been severed; his body was covered in wounds and he was barely holding on.

“Do you know... why... the boss... didn’t give you... the goods?” Huzi’s voice was weak and broken.

“Why?” Brother Tian asked instinctively.

“Because... I’m human... and you’re... a beast!” Huzi roared his final words, which sent Brother Tian into a furious rage.

“Damn you, traitor!”

Brother Tian cursed as he beat Huzi again and again with the stick.

“Brother Tian... he’s barely breathing!” One of the underlings quickly stopped him. They needed Huzi alive for the money; if he died, it would all be for nothing.

“Yanyan, Tiantian, I’m sorry!” These were Huzi’s last words that Wu Zui heard, before the next memory belonging to Brother Tian surfaced.

...

Small Conference Room

Xiao Ke’ai returned with the milk tea to find Wu Zui slouched over the table, pouting. She grumbled with dissatisfaction, “Eat and sleep, sleep and eat. It’s broad daylight!”

Ring—

At that moment, Wu Zui, who had been in a deep sleep for a long time, suddenly woke up.

A murderous aura so intense that even Xiao Ke’ai, the usually carefree and cute girl, felt a chill down her spine as if she were suddenly transported to the Arctic.

“M-m-master, are you alright?” Xiao Ke’ai looked at Wu Zui, whose eyes were bloodshot, and asked cautiously, fearing she might provoke his anger. He seemed terrifying now!

“I’m... I’m fine.” Noticing Xiao Ke’ai and the conference room, Wu Zui realized he was back. His expression calmed and he reassured her.

Wu Zui had encountered many ruthless criminals, even some who killed in perverse ways. But seeing a colleague tortured to death affected him deeply.

“Has the Special Detective Squad arrived?” Wu Zui glanced at his watch—already half past nine—then hurriedly asked Xiao Ke’ai.

“There are a bunch of unfamiliar faces outside. I’m not sure if it’s them!” she recalled and replied to Wu Zui.

“That’s them. Have them assemble!” Wu Zui steadied his emotions, his outward appearance calm.

“Okay!” Xiao Ke’ai’s eyes curved into crescent moons as she happily ran out. Seeing her full of positivity, Wu Zui’s mood eased a little more.

“Click.” Wu Zui lit three cigarettes, set them in the ashtray by the window, and let the smoke drift out.

A soft voice murmured, “The cigarettes are for you, but the vengeance is mine. May the breeze accompany you on your journey.”

...

Outside the Small Conference Room

Twelve people stood there, clearly different from the other detectives. Their marksmanship, teamwork, and execution skills far surpassed any of Lin Feng’s squads.

“Captain!” The moment Wu Zui opened the door, the twelve elite detectives saluted sharply.

“Listen up!

Mission Location: First floor, Bakery Workshop, City Center Mall.

Mission Target: All Bakery Workshop employees.

Authorization: Lethal force permitted.

Mission Requirement: Ensure the safety of other civilians while completing the mission!

Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir!” The twelve elite detectives shouted in unison and immediately went downstairs to prepare for action.

“Lin Feng, support them! Get the other shop owners out quickly, but don’t alert the enemy!” Wu Zui instructed.

“O-okay!” Lin Feng replied, a bit bewildered. Though he’d heard the legends about Wu Zui, he’d never worked under him before and now found Wu Zui incredibly intimidating.

“Master, I want to go too! Take me with you!” Xiao Ke’ai, seeing everyone else assigned a task, pouted and pleaded at Wu Zui’s side.

“No!” Wu Zui’s sudden shout startled everyone.

In Wu Zui’s eyes, the previously white-gold aura above Xiao Ke’ai’s head began to turn deathly white as soon as she asked to join the mission.

Exactly the same color as Wang Meng’s before his death!

Wu Zui refused her request without hesitation.

“Master, you yelled at me again! I don’t want to talk to you anymore, sob!” Xiao Ke’ai burst into tears and ran out.

“Stop her!” Wu Zui saw the aura atop her head turning deathly white even faster and shouted involuntarily. If Xiao Ke’ai really ran out, who knew what might happen.

“Wu, couldn’t you be a bit gentler with her? She’s just a girl,” Lin Feng hesitated, speaking to Wu Zui.

Seeing no one else move, Wu Zui went after her himself. Tracking the unique aura above Xiao Ke’ai’s head, he found her quickly. She was hiding in the station’s fire escape, quietly crying, her white dress now stained from sitting on the ground.

Wu Zui walked over, sat beside her, and spoke softly, “You want to join the mission?”

Xiao Ke’ai paused her crying, turned her back to Wu Zui, and sobbed even harder.

“It’s almost time to assemble. If you want to keep crying, go ahead. I’m heading out on the mission,” Wu Zui said, pretending to get up.

“You’re a liar, Master... You promised... if I beat Lin Feng... you’d take me with you…” Xiao Ke’ai sniffled, her words broken and soft.

“I’ll take you with me. Come, let’s go get the gear.” Wu Zui hesitated. If Xiao Ke’ai snuck off on her own, it would be even more dangerous. It was safer to keep her close.

“Really?” Xiao Ke’ai looked at Wu Zui suspiciously.

“Really,” Wu Zui replied helplessly.

“Yay! Let’s go, Master!” Xiao Ke’ai instantly broke into a smile, dragging the bewildered Wu Zui toward the armory.

Born in the year of the dog? How can she change her mood so quickly!

Inside the Armory

“Master, this is so heavy! It’s so stifling—can’t I not wear it?” Xiao Ke’ai pouted, whining as Wu Zui handed her the highest-grade, thick bulletproof vest.

“No! If you want to go, put it on!” Wu Zui’s face darkened as he rebuked her.

Wu Zui then grabbed a riot shield. With Xiao Ke’ai properly equipped and as long as she didn’t run around, she’d be safe unless she got shot in the femoral artery.

Run around? Not a chance!

“Click!” Wu Zui took out a pair of handcuffs and cuffed Xiao Ke’ai’s left hand to his right.

Run around? In your dreams!

“Master, what are you doing?” Xiao Ke’ai stared at her cuffed wrist, shaking it to make the cuffs clatter, then asked curiously.

It’s my first time being cuffed!

“So you won’t wander off. In a hail of bullets, you could lose your life at any moment!” Wu Zui replied coolly, looking into her big eyes.

“Are you worried about me, Master?” Xiao Ke’ai’s cheeks flushed, looking heartbreakingly lovely.

“Don’t overthink it! I just don’t want my first silly apprentice to get killed—it would be too embarrassing if word got out!” Wu Zui said, completely oblivious to romance.

No wonder he’s single.

“Master! You called me stupid!” Xiao Ke’ai blushed, then turned pale with anger, gritting her teeth as if she wanted to bite Wu Zui.

“Yeah,” Wu Zui agreed.

“Ahh! I’ll bite you!” Xiao Ke’ai lunged and bit Wu Zui’s arm.

“Ow, let go! Let go!” Wu Zui quickly shook off her teeth, rubbing his now-bleeding arm...

“Hmph!” Xiao Ke’ai snorted and tried to slip away, but Wu Zui yanked her back by the handcuffs. Seeing his stern face, Xiao Ke’ai instantly backed down.

“Master, I’m sorry...” The armory staff watched the scene with great interest.

...

City Center Mall

Lin Feng had already changed into plain clothes with the other detectives, sealing off all entrances and systematically evacuating each shop owner. The elite squad was ready to engage at a moment’s notice.

The drug syndicate had chosen this place as their base both because it was right under everyone’s nose and because the mall’s heavy foot traffic provided easy cover for escape.

Fortunately, thanks to the mall staff’s cooperation, all the nearby shop owners had been safely evacuated. The bakery’s security feeds had been hacked by a red-hat hacker, so the traffickers inside were unaware they were surrounded.

“Captain, do we move in?” came a voice over the elite squad’s private channel.

“One more shop. Wait for Lin Feng to get them out,” Wu Zui replied.

“Captain, you’re outside? Not going in yourself?” one member asked in surprise. Knowing Wu Zui’s reputation, he’d never back down from action. Now that he was demoted to regular detective, these big operations were rare opportunities. By their understanding, Wu Zui should be leading the charge.

“There’s a fool who keeps running around. I have to keep an eye on her! Be careful when you move in. I’m sitting this one out,” Wu Zui said, glancing at Xiao Ke’ai.

At that moment, the aura atop Xiao Ke’ai’s head was still deathly white.

“Hmph!” Xiao Ke’ai, ordered by Wu Zui to hide behind the riot shield, huffed in displeasure. She’d changed into a black trench coat, but the bulletproof vest still made her look clumsy and awkward.