Chapter 360: Balance Seal

Late at night, Chen Zhangrui brought Seeing Datou, Candied Fruit, Awl, Brick, Flower Shell, Tangerine, Wo Wo Wo Wotou, Hai Tang Guo… over a dozen core members of the Dark Star Bureau to Yuezhou Third Hospital.

These core members were selected by Chen Zhangrui. Xiao Zhenggong didn't feel reassured; he looked down on every single one of them. He wanted to come himself, but he couldn't leave the Dark Star Bureau.

He had already used the Balance Seal, and now he had to bear the price of the Balance Seal.

For a period of time going forward, if he wanted to continue maintaining his identity as the Balance Person, he had to obey every arrangement from the Bureau.

Besides these core members, Old Chen also brought along some team members with room to grow and training value.

Among them were Tang Yuan, Zhong Er, Light Bulb, and Star.

On the way, Candied Fruit couldn't help grumbling a few lines: "Isn't Candy Block high in standing and strong in ability? Doesn't the higher-ups praise her every day? Why isn't she coming?"

Awl sneered: "What the higher-ups mean is overall ability, not combat ability, but I feel that with your conditions, your overall ability shouldn't be worse than Candy Block's."

Candied Fruit's conditions were indeed not bad; in both looks and figure, she was far above Candy Block.

She snorted: "I'm a decent person."

Tangerine laughed: "The way you say that, is Candy Block not a decent person?"

Chen Zhangrui coughed: "He Jiaqing's level is not low. In this operation, everyone must strictly carry out the combat plan."

"Tang Yuan, you few are all future core members of the team. Tonight's mission is to observe and learn. Without my order, no one is allowed to participate in the operation. Understood?"

Tang Yuan was very excited; she cherished this learning opportunity.

Light Bulb was a bit nervous; he kept recalling the hospital's layout, wondering if something went wrong, whether he could find a suitable escape route.

Star was somewhat dejected, because Captain Chen said he was a future core member.

The core members before them all shared one common trait: their combat ability was very strong, but their ranks were not high.

Zhong Er Qin Minghui was staring blankly at a newspaper.

About to arrive at the hospital, Chen Zhangrui reiterated: "He Jiaqing's level is very high. Everyone must strictly carry out the combat plan."

Hai Tang Guo asked: "Captain Chen, the highest level of a Dark Energy User is seven levels. Is He Jiaqing level seven?"

Chen Zhangrui did not answer.

In the Dark Star Bureau's operating procedures, the highest level of a Dark Energy User was indeed seven levels.

Five hundred meters from the hospital, all team members got out of the vehicle and took their positions.

Seeing Datou lightly touched the button on his sleeve.

……

Candied Fruit and Hai Tang Guo took the elevator up to the inpatient building. They were dressed as nurses, holding thermometers and record books, walking together toward He Jiaqing's ward.

Arriving at the ward, the two of them didn't see He Haisheng, only He Jiaqing lying in bed.

Hai Tang Guo took out the thermometer and swung it three times—this was sending a message to Chen Zhangrui.

He Jiaqing is here, He Haisheng is not.

Chen Zhangrui contacted Flower Shell. Flower Shell grew eyes all over his body; the eyes extended from his body in all directions, observing every position in the hospital.

"Captain Chen, He Haisheng is smoking in the back courtyard. I saw him." Flower Shell spotted He Haisheng and sent word to Chen Zhangrui.

Chen Zhangrui had Flower Shell continue monitoring He Haisheng. At the same time, Seeing Datou and Brick took position in the corridor, Awl and Tangerine took position at the stairwell, Wo Wo Wo Wotou was a Roamer with quick steps—he led the others to take position downstairs.

According to the combat plan, Candied Fruit and Hai Tang Guo would act first.

Candied Fruit was a Restrainer, able to control He Jiaqing in the first instant.

Hai Tang Guo was a Slaver, able to quickly send He Jiaqing into deep slumber.

As long as this step was achieved, the two's mission was considered complete, and Seeing Datou and Brick would be responsible for the capture.

Seeing Datou carried a forbidden item—a hunting net. For cultivators below level seven, there was no possibility of breaking free.

Brick also had another forbidden item—a very handy brick. If swung directly onto He Jiaqing's head, it would send He Jiaqing into half a minute of faint.

If there was no chance to swing it directly, throwing the brick would also work. If it hit He Jiaqing's head, it could also send him into a faint. The faint time would be shorter, but the hit rate was very high—under normal circumstances, it could reach over eighty percent.

After the two successfully captured him, everyone would work together to send He Jiaqing back to the Dark Star Bureau.

If the capture failed and He Jiaqing escaped down the stairs, he would fall into Awl and Tangerine's ambush. If he escaped by jumping out the window, he would fall into Wo Wo Wo Wotou's ambush.

If the capture failed, Brick, Awl, and Wo Wo Wo Wotou all carried forbidden items with extremely lethal power. They would kill He Jiaqing on the spot.

Flower Shell monitored He Haisheng the entire time. They didn't need to capture He Haisheng, but they also couldn't let He Haisheng obstruct this operation.

Everything was ready. Hai Tang Guo came to He Jiaqing's side and took his temperature first. She had already activated her technique, sending He Jiaqing into slumber.

Candied Fruit appeared to be observing the data on the instrument panel, but had actually also activated her technique, binding He Jiaqing to the bed.

The two succeeded. Seeing Datou and Brick rushed into the ward.

Seeing Datou pulled out the hunting net, Brick swung up the brick.

Bang!

He Jiaqing exploded, bursting into a shower of flesh and blood.

Hai Tang Guo froze on the spot, covered in blood—part of it He Jiaqing's, part of it her own. She was injured, wounded by flying bone fragments.

Candied Fruit was a bit farther away, not seriously hurt, and hurried forward to support Hai Tang Guo.

Seeing Datou and Brick stood frozen in the ward, at a loss.

Awl and Tangerine heard the explosion, held their position at the stairwell, and waited for Chen Zhangrui's order.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the explosion in the ward, Chen Zhangrui included.

Only Flower Shell kept his eyes on He Haisheng.

"Captain Chen, He Haisheng escaped!"

Captain Chen was also stunned.

He Haisheng escaped…

His attention was not on He Haisheng; he was still thinking about that explosion in the ward.

This was also not within the combat plan.

"Which direction did he run?"

"The hospital's back door!"

Chen Zhangrui did not act rashly. He had the others stay at their posts while he went alone to capture He Haisheng.

He took a lighter from his pocket, flicked the wheel with his thumb, and the flame caught. Chen Zhangrui's speed suddenly became extremely fast.

This was a Wanderer's forbidden object. Driven by it, when Chen Zhangrui rushed to the back courtyard, he could still faintly see He Haisheng's figure.

He Haisheng burst out through the back door.

Dengpao and Zhong'er were observing at the back door.

Chen Zhangrui was not worried about Dengpao, but he was worried about Zhong'er.

If Zhong'er made a move against He Haisheng, he would die without question.

Zhong'er did not make a move. He watched coldly as He Haisheng fled the hospital.

Chen Zhangrui kept chasing He Haisheng, pursuing him for a street's length, when the lighter's flame went out.

He failed to catch up with He Haisheng.

He Haisheng's figure dissolved into thick smoke and vanished. Chen Zhangrui pocketed the lighter and returned to the hospital.

Nothing further happened in the ward. The room was left with only He Jiaqing's shredded flesh and blood.

But a great deal had happened in the hospital.

Hai Tang Guo and Mi Jian were sent for treatment, while Seeing Seeing Datou and Ban Zhuan set up a cordon.

The whole hospital heard the explosion. Many people were frightened. Ju Zi and Zhui Zi were liaising with the hospital administration, working hard to maintain order at the scene.

Chen Zhangrui sat in the ward, staring at the flesh and blood on the floor, lost in thought.

Is this He Jiaqing's flesh and blood?

Impossible — why would He Jiaqing blow himself up?

This should be a puppet.

But if it really was a puppet, how could I not have seen through it?

Did He Jiaqing escape long ago?

Why didn't He Haisheng run? Why did he wait until now?

Chen Zhangrui pressed his forehead, reviewing the entire mission in his mind.

After thinking for over ten minutes, Chen Zhangrui bent down, picked up a piece of flesh, and sniffed it at the tip of his nose.

There was the smell of blood, the smell of something scorched, and the smell of smoke.

Not the smell of burning — the smell of cigarettes.

Why would there be the smell of cigarettes on He Jiaqing's flesh and blood?

Chen Zhangrui was stunned for a long while. The clues slowly strung themselves together in his mind.

He Jiaqing had escaped long ago, but the Dark Star Bureau had not reacted at all, because a puppet was still lying in the ward.

But how could a puppet fool Chen Zhangrui? He was a high-level Peeper.

This was He Haisheng's doing. The puppet was covered in smoke, controlled by He Haisheng. It was precisely by means of this smoke that the puppet deceived Chen Zhangrui's eyes.

Once the operation began, everyone's attention was on "He Jiaqing." Only Hua Jia was tasked with watching He Haisheng.

After "He Jiaqing" exploded, even Chen Zhangrui forgot about He Haisheng, giving He Haisheng the chance to escape.

Let He Haisheng run if he wants — the Bureau's mission was to capture He Jiaqing.

But where do we find He Jiaqing now?

No one even knows when he got away!

Chen Zhangrui prided himself on having the most experience in the Dark Star Bureau.

He firmly believed that everyone he brought out was the best of the best.

Yet before the high-ranking figures of Pulo State, they had seemed so green. A battle plan that had appeared foolproof was, in fact, riddled with holes.

What should be done next?

……

"The next step — they should be celebrating."

He Haisheng lit a cigarette and tossed one to He Jiaqing as well.

He Jiaqing said, "Will they put out a warrant for you?"

He Haisheng shook his head. "No. Their target was to capture you, and if they couldn't capture you, to shoot you dead. Now that you're already dead, that mess of flesh on the floor is the proof —

they can take it for testing. The DNA of the flesh matches yours, the mission is complete, they won't do anything extra,

especially after making such a big commotion. The Outer States will do everything they can to smooth things over. As for what the truth really is, not too many people will care."

He Jiaqing sighed. "I haven't spent enough time in the Outer States. I still don't understand the people here well enough."

"Understanding them isn't hard. They're far simpler than the people of Pulo State. I'm not worried about the Dark Star Bureau — what I'm worried about now is the Border Commissioner.

Xiao Zhenggong is a Balancer. From the look of things, he's already used the Balance Seal. Our family's business is going to suffer for it."

"Then we'll just have to rely on Great-Aunt to handle it."

He Haisheng shook his head. "She can't handle it."

"How about you go back and take a look?"

He Haisheng gave a bitter smile. "Go back for what? To wag my tail at the Border Commissioner?

After wagging it for all these years, I've wagged enough.

Jiaqing, you were right. We have to live with dignity."

……

At the He family mansion, He Yuxiu pinched out her cigarette and looked at the hundred or so people in the great hall.

These hundred or so people included He family blood relatives as well as He family subordinates; gathered together, they were set to do something big with He Yuxiu.

For the entire day yesterday, the Garrison Commissioner had sent people to seal up the He family's businesses and freeze the He family's accounts at the various banks.

The Garrison Commissioner gave no explanation, and He Yuxiu, after inquiring through many channels, received some news.

This matter was connected to the Jiang Xiang Gang; two of the Jiang Xiang Gang's branch halls had been wiped out, and the Garrison Commissioner's side had sealed the He family.

"What the hell is the Jiang Xiang Gang? Their branch halls got wiped out — what does that have to do with us? On what grounds are they messing with the He family's business?" He Yuxiu was beside herself with rage.

She didn't know that Xiao Zhenggong was a Balance Person, she had no concept of Balance People, nor did she understand the power of the Balance Seal; she only knew that the He family's estate was about to be lost, that this estate could not be destroyed on her watch, and that she had to fight to win it back!

Those from the main branch with guts — several dozen showed up.

Those from the outer branches with backbone — quite a few also came.

He Yuxiu was now going to take these people, storm into the Garrison Hall, and demand an explanation from the Garrison Commissioner.

As everyone was preparing to set out, Lu Chunying ran to the residence and blocked He Yuxiu.

"Sister Xiu, listen to me — you absolutely cannot go!"

He Yuxiu stroked Lu Chunying's hair: "Girl, sis really likes you. Be good, go on home. Sis didn't tell you to come, and this matter doesn't involve you!"

Lu Chunying looked up at He Yuxiu; she knew what kind of way she should use to talk with He Yuxiu:

"Sister Xiu, I'll lay my words out right here — if you're going to storm the Garrison Hall, I'm going with you. If I chicken out, I'm Wang Ba Gaozi!

But you can't go today. The Chu family has already brought people to wait at the Garrison Hall. The moment you go, you'll be ambushed by Boss Chu.

If you don't believe me, let's go together — today I'm throwing my life away with you!"

"Boss Chu? Chu Huaijun? Why is he working for outsiders?" He Yuxiu couldn't understand it.

Ma Wu said: "Sister Xiu, the Garrison Commissioner promised Chu Huaijun that as long as they get the job done, half of the He family's business will be given to the Chu family.

The Chu family is now dead set on working for the Garrison Commissioner — Chu Huaijun will even send people to attack right at the He family's doorstep!"

PS: Chu Huaijun's father was once killed at the hands of the Garrison Commissioner, but he doesn't seem to care much about it.

(End of Chapter)