Chapter 48: The Most Terrifying Danger

The next day.

February 8th, morning.

Xiao Peidong sat in his office, idly scrolling through that day’s news highlights, as if by accident, landing on a seemingly insignificant online report.

Hidden within this unremarkable news item was a coded message only he could decipher.

“Within three days, ROMANCE Bar?”

Xiao Peidong understood this was a message left for him by Zhou Yang, the woman behind the scenes who managed the underground fighting arena of Yuanhong Society.

—It meant she had arranged everything: within three days, if Lin Qing went to search that bar, he would “accidentally” stumble upon the terrifying fugitive who had escaped from Qinghu Island Prison.

Chu Tianyao.

A warrior whose strength rivaled that of the Chief Commander—let alone a team leader, even if Xiao Peidong unleashed his true power, he would die without a doubt.

Of course, he knew it was too coincidental that both siblings had run into Chu Tianyao.

But he had already prepared his excuse.

And… he had no other path left.

“I need to get ready.”

Xiao Peidong stepped out of his office, then walked with a smile to the door of the Deputy Commander’s office on the same floor and knocked.

“Come in.”

Lin Qing’s voice came from inside.

As Xiao Peidong entered the office, he saw Lin Qing standing before a mirror, adjusting his patrol uniform, while the executive assistant Zhao Jiayi stood on tiptoe, fastening the shoulder insignia onto his uniform.

The insignia bore two pairs of golden wing-shaped patterns and a single star.

—The insignia of a Level Three Patrol Officer.

“Team Leader Lin, your new uniform arrived?”

Xiao Peidong asked with a smile: “How does it fit?”

“Fine, a bit loose.” Lin Qing said.

“There’s nothing to be done—patrol uniforms are special; unless an exact size is unavailable, they’re never custom-made.” Xiao Peidong chuckled.

“Is it because the material is special?” Lin Qing asked.

“Yes.”

Xiao Peidong nodded: “The clothing, shoes, and undergarments are all made of special material—extremely durable. Patrol officers’ combat power far exceeds normal humans; when they unleash their strength, ordinary fabric tears easily and hinders performance.”

He smiled and added: “I heard this special material was developed by Dawn Group. One full uniform like this is worth tens of thousands outside.”

“I see.”

At that moment, Lin Qing had finished adjusting his uniform, and Zhao Jiayi had secured the insignia.

Lin Qing stepped back, studying his reflection in the mirror; against the sleek black patrol uniform, he appeared even more upright and composed.

He nodded in satisfaction and told Zhao Jiayi: “Alright, send orders to the entire patrol team—assemble at the branch as quickly as possible, ready for immediate deployment.”

“Got it.”

Zhao Jiayi walked to the workstation computer and began inputting commands.

Xiao Peidong couldn’t help but pause, unable to resist asking: “Team Leader Lin, why the sudden full-team deployment? Where are you going?”

“Emergency task. Sudden situation.”

Lin Qing looked at Xiao Peidong and said: “If you’re free, Deputy Commander, you’re welcome to join.”

“What’s the exact situation?” Xiao Peidong asked.

“It’s a request from the Municipal Public Security Bureau.”

Lin Qing said: “The police received a tip from a concerned citizen claiming to have spotted the fugitive who escaped from Qinghu Island Prison—Chu Tianyao. He was seen leaving Changshui Street, and there’s suspicion he has accomplices hiding him. The Municipal Public Security Bureau has ordered us to immediately proceed to Changshui Street for a search.”

Xiao Peidong froze: “They found Chu Tianyao?”

Impossible! His first thought was that this was false information.

He knew Chu Tianyao was only in Lin’an City because of the Boss’s orders and would obey only three commands from Zhou Yang, the woman of Yuanhong Society.

With Chu Tianyao’s strength, how could he possibly be spotted by some ordinary citizen? Yet Chu Tianyao was indeed now at ROMANCE Bar, waiting for Lin Qing to search it so he could strike.

ROMANCE Bar was on Dongmao Road; Changshui Street was where Yuanhong Society’s underground fighting arena was located.

Perhaps Chu Tianyao had been spotted leaving Changshui Street by chance? As for accomplices, maybe it was someone from Yuanhong Society assigned to escort him away?

“Wait…”

Xiao Peidong suddenly had an idea. He feigned confusion: “Changshui Street? I remember the last time we raided Yuanhong Society’s underground arena—it was on Changshui Street, right?”

“Yes. Perhaps Chu Tianyao is connected to Yuanhong Society?”

Lin Qing said: “This time I’ll search thoroughly—maybe I’ll finally uncover Yuanhong Society’s underground arena.”

Xiao Peidong fell silent for a moment, then smiled and nodded: “Your speculation makes sense. Let’s search again carefully—but Team Leader Lin, be careful. That fugitive Chu Tianyao is extremely vicious.”

“No problem. This time our target is only his accomplices hiding him.” Lin Qing waved a hand.

“Alright, I’ll go prepare and move out immediately.” Xiao Peidong nodded and turned to leave the office quickly.

As he stepped out, a look of wild triumph flashed in his eyes.

“Hahahaha…”

“Lin Qing is walking straight into his own death! He actually dares to go after Chu Tianyao?”

“Isn’t this giving me the perfect reason and opportunity to let Chu Tianyao act?”

“With Chu Tianyao’s terrifying strength, if he wants to strike, not even a full patrol team can stop him!”

Xiao Peidong hurried back to his office, pulled out a hidden backup phone, and swiftly sent a message to Zhou Yang.

Shortly after—

“This is even better than the original plan.”

Xiao Peidong crushed the phone into powder, unable to suppress a smile: “Walking into death—no one can stop him.”

…

Just ten minutes later, patrol vehicles sped out of the patrol branch courtyard, racing toward Changshui Street.

At this moment, the police had completely sealed off Changshui Street, checking every passing vehicle.

One after another, black patrol vehicles arrived swiftly and stopped within the sealed perimeter; from each, a line of uniformed patrol officers in identical black, crisp uniforms emerged.

“Group One and Two, search Qingtai Hotel—pay attention to the VIP elevator in the parking lot.”

“Group Three, assist the police in verifying the identities of all past individuals.”

“Group Four…”

Inside the lead patrol car, a sleek sedan-style vehicle, Lin Qing held his work phone and rapidly issued orders based on the patrol system’s AI assistant’s recommendations.

Beside him, Zhao Jiayi tilted her head, watching the window.

After putting down his work phone, Lin Qing picked up his personal phone and sent a message to Chief Chu of the Municipal Public Security Bureau—

【Thank you, Chief Chu, for going along with this charade】

Chief Chu replied immediately—

【It’s nothing】

Lin Qing said nothing more, put away his phone, and stepped out of the car with Zhao Jiayi.

Yes.

There was no concerned citizen’s tip—this was merely an excuse for a surprise operation.

Besides him, only two others knew the plan for this operation.

“Team Leader Lin.” Xiao Peidong approached and asked: “What’s the next move? Should we check Red Oak Boxing Gym?”

“Deputy Commander, hold off for now.”

Lin Qing suggested: “Since Changshui Street is fully sealed, why not proceed step by step, gradually narrowing the search area? What do you think?”

“Makes sense.” Xiao Peidong nodded slightly. “I’ll go assist then.”

Saying this, he turned and walked away.

He didn’t want to be splattered with blood when Chu Tianyao showed up and struck.

Lin Qing watched Xiao Peidong’s retreating back, said nothing, and scanned the surroundings, thinking inwardly: “Still not showing up?”

He intended to search the underground arena beneath Red Oak Boxing Gym, but couldn’t just storm in.

When his cousin led a team to raid Yuanhong Society’s venue, Chu Tianyao had severely injured them—raising suspicion of his connection to Yuanhong Society.

If Chu Tianyao, the Qinghu Island fugitive, was hiding in the underground arena, leading a team to raid it would be suicide.

Even with his greatly increased strength now, he had little confidence in a direct confrontation.

Fortunately, he had found a countermeasure.

That was why this showy search operation had been staged.

“Whether or not Xiao Peidong is a mole, a newly promoted patrol officer relentlessly pursuing Yuanhong Society is an undeniable threat—if ignored, problems will inevitably arise.”

“If Yuanhong Society truly has ties to Chu Tianyao, they’ll use this opportunity to have Chu Tianyao strike at me…”

Lin Qing observed the search site, thinking silently, and prepared himself.

Suddenly—

【Current Order Level decreased by 1.0】

At that moment, a line of blood-red text suddenly appeared before Lin Qing’s eyes!

A full level drop??

Lin Qing’s pupils contracted sharply.

This was unquestionably the most terrifying danger he had ever encountered in this life or his past one.

(End of chapter)