Chapter 38: Commendation

Late night.

Xiaoshan District People’s Hospital.

When Lin Qing arrived at the door of Teng Feiyu’s ward, he found Director Kou, slightly overweight, standing outside speaking with a middle-aged man with a square face and thick eyebrows.

“Lin Qing?” Kou Guoyong looked at him, sizing him up. “I heard you ran into an Anxinghui assassin. Are you alright?”

Lin Qing shook his head. “How is Teng Feiyu?”

“Mainly severe blood loss. He just finished a transfusion. He’s much better now.”

Kou Guoyong immediately introduced the square-faced man: “Director Chu, this is Lin Qing, head of our branch’s Group Seven.”

He then turned to Lin Qing: “This is Teng Feiyu’s father—Director Chu of Lin’an City’s Public Security Bureau.”

Lin Qing had seen Director Chu’s photo before and recognized him immediately.

“Group Leader Lin.”

Director Chu looked at Lin Qing and said softly, “I know everything. Thank you for saving Feiyu. He just told me that without you, he would have been dead for sure.”

He took a deep breath and said gravely, “I won’t waste words on thanks. If you ever need anything from me, just say the word.”

“He’s my subordinate. Saving him was my duty.”

Lin Qing didn’t refuse. “But I do have something I’d like to discuss with you, Director Chu.”

“Add me on WeChat,” Director Chu said, pulling out his phone. “Anything you need, just ask.”

After adding each other, Lin Qing pointed at the ward. “May I go in and speak with Teng Feiyu alone?”

Director Chu nodded. “Sure. He’s more alert now.”

Lin Qing walked into the ward.

Inside, Teng Feiyu sat silently on the bed, pale-faced, his shoulder wrapped in thick bandages, an IV drip running into his other arm.

“Group Leader…”

Teng Feiyu looked at Lin Qing and instinctively tried to sit up, but the movement pulled his shoulder wound—he winced.

“Stay lying down.”

Lin Qing sat beside the bed. “How does it feel to be alive?”

Teng Feiyu fell silent for a moment, then said sincerely, “Thank you.”

Lin Qing shook his head slightly. “Some things may seem more important than life, but you only get one life. Cherish it.”

Teng Feiyu fell silent again, then whispered, “I’m sorry… I know I dragged you all into danger.”

“Looks like you’re finally awake.”

Lin Qing nodded. “It’s nothing. In the end, you survived, Zhao Jiayi is fine, and I gained quite a bit. I should be thanking you.”

“But…”

Teng Feiyu lowered his head. “If I hadn’t been driven by this so-called sense of justice, you wouldn’t have been put in such danger…”

“You’re wrong,” Lin Qing said, shaking his head. “Having a sense of justice isn’t wrong. What’s wrong is how you acted.”

Teng Feiyu froze slightly.

“Reckless action is unacceptable,” Lin Qing said. “Only by staying alive can you ever achieve your ideals. Isn’t that the simplest truth?”

“…I understand,” Teng Feiyu said, taking a deep breath.

“Good. Consider this a lesson.”

Lin Qing glanced toward the door. “Has your father asked why the assassins targeted you?”

“No.”

Teng Feiyu shook his head. “But he now knows I was investigating the Yanhong Society’s underground fighting rings. He must have guessed.”

“During your investigation into the Yanhong Society, did you ever reveal that you’re the son of a bureau chief?” Lin Qing asked.

“No, how could I?” Teng Feiyu hesitated. “But someone might have pieced it together after probing.”

Lin Qing grunted.

After all, he came from a police family—he couldn’t lack such awareness.

“But, Group Leader…”

Teng Feiyu couldn’t help whispering, “Don’t you think it’s too coincidental? I just took my findings to Team Leader Xiao to request a search warrant—and tonight, assassins came to kill me. This…”

Lin Qing smiled.

“Didn’t you say Team Leader Xiao was just transferred here from another district? Young, promising—he wouldn’t stoop to dirty work. Why suspect him?”

Teng Feiyu fell silent.

Clearly, even he couldn’t convince himself with that excuse anymore.

“Still, he’s worth suspecting.”

Lin Qing nodded. “You were right before—logically, his chances of being a Yanhong Society informant are slim. But nothing’s impossible. Many things defy logic.”

“Group Leader, what should we do?” Teng Feiyu whispered.

“Nothing,” Lin Qing said calmly. “We have zero evidence. Suspicions alone are just slander—and invite trouble.”

In the past, Teng Feiyu would have argued. Now, he understood what Lin Qing meant.

After all, it was only suspicion. “Wait.”

Lin Qing said, “Next time you see Xiao Peidong, tell him you’re focusing on recovery. You’re taking a long leave. You won’t be doing patrols or worrying about anything else.”

Teng Feiyu fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

Lin Qing glanced at him. The young man had matured quite a bit.

Some things can’t be solved—you can only endure them or keep your distance.

The only thing you can do is keep improving and wait for an opportunity.

He was waiting too.

Waiting to earn six Third-Class Merits. Waiting to grow strong enough.

With enough power, if he confirmed it was Xiao Peidong, evidence wouldn’t matter.

People kill people without needing evidence.

“Feiyu.”

At that moment, the ward door opened. Director Chu’s voice came from outside: “Your branch’s Team Leader Xiao is here to visit you.”

Teng Feiyu’s eyes flickered, then he saw Lin Qing shake his head slightly.

He took a deep breath, his expression returning to normal—as if he knew nothing, as if nothing had happened.

“Little Teng.”

In walked Xiao Peidong, still in his patrol officer uniform, frowning with concern.

“How are you? I was on duty when I heard the news. I couldn’t get here right away, so I asked Director Kou to come first.”

“Team Leader Xiao,” Teng Feiyu forced himself to reply calmly.

Lin Qing stood up. “Team Leader Xiao is here too.”

“Group Leader Lin, you did an excellent job this time.”

Xiao Peidong clapped Lin Qing on the shoulder warmly. “If not for your unexpected performance, I wouldn’t have known how to face your sister or Director Chu.”

He suddenly grew solemn. “On behalf of our branch, I thank you. We’ll hold a full-scale commendation meeting for you—mobilizing the entire branch!”

“We help each other—that’s natural,” Lin Qing said. “Luckily, my shooting’s good. This time, it was just luck. Otherwise, it would’ve been messy.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Xiao Peidong sighed. “But your attack by the Anxinghui assassins—I suspect it was ordered by the Yanhong Society. They must’ve feared Teng Feiyu’s investigation.”

He scanned both of them, voice low. “If they sent assassins to silence him, then what he uncovered must be true. Otherwise, why rush to kill him?”

“What do you mean, Team Leader?”

Lin Qing looked at Xiao Peidong.

On the surface, he couldn’t tell if the man was acting.

“We must investigate thoroughly!”

Xiao Peidong’s face turned icy. “If the Yanhong Society hired those assassins, our branch must seek justice for you. I’ll apply for a Level-Two Search Warrant. After the commendation, I’ll lead the team myself to fully investigate the Qingtai Hotel and the Red Oak Boxing Gym!”

He said coldly, “If we confirm the Yanhong Society’s underground fighting rings, we’ll coordinate with the Public Security Bureau and root them out completely!”

Lin Qing was stunned.

Watching Xiao Peidong’s righteous, decisive attitude, he momentarily wondered—had he misjudged a good man?

But he remembered how, at Xiao Peidong’s swearing-in ceremony, the man’s attitude had flipped 180 degrees the moment he recognized Lin Qing as a talented individual—clearly shameless and deeply calculating.

This performance now seemed no more trustworthy.

As for personally leading the search?

If Xiao Peidong really was a Yanhong Society informant, leading the operation himself would be the best way to cover his tracks!

…

Two days later.

That was January 21.

Xiaoshan District Patrol Branch held a sizable commendation meeting. All patrol groups and every department attended.

Xiao Peidong went out of his way to honor Lin Qing, lavishing praise upon him.

This attitude made Lin Qing think—if he ever confirmed Xiao Peidong was the traitor, he might hesitate to kill him.

It wouldn’t even feel fair to let him off so easily.

After the meeting, he received his fifth Third-Class Merit, forty thousand yuan in bounty reward, and an additional five thousand yuan from the bureau’s commendation bonus.

His rank was promoted to First-Class Patrol Officer.

After Lin Qing helped Zhao Jia obtain high-energy sustained-release fluid through internal channels of the Patrol Bureau, she immediately transferred the money and her third-class merit to him.

“Six third-class merits—exactly enough to learn two combat techniques.”

Lin Qing looked at the newly confirmed merit update on his phone screen and felt a growing anticipation.

“I’ll learn it today. I still have two days left to pay off my debt for the Combat Technique ‘Agility’—as soon as I enter the first stage, I can get an advance.”

(End of Chapter)