Chapter 480

An Jing smiled slightly: "Take off their clothes and see if they're human or ghosts."

"Just call Tang Lin," Zhou Andong said, looking at the vendors testifying, "Not for ourselves, but for their courage against power—tear away the black cloth covering this place."

The officers beside them turned pale at the two's words.

"Enough, get out now!"

Zhou Andong chuckled: "I, the victim, have become the criminal."

An Jing left quickly; Zhou Andong was taken to a small dark room.

Zhou Andong was no stranger to places like this; he naturally found his spot and sat down.

The chief sneered: "Looks like a repeat offender—knows exactly where to sit."

Zhou Andong ignored him. The chief asked: "What's your name? Where are you from?"

Zhou Andong leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, as if he hadn't heard the chief's questions.

"Kid!" The chief grew furious at Zhou Andong's demeanor, "Cooperate, or you'll regret it."

Zhou Andong opened his eyes and sneered: "I'm just that kind of person—used to good times, now I actually want to suffer a bit."

Zhou Andong's unmasked mockery completely enraged the chief.

"Wang Tao, cuff him."

The officer taking notes pulled out handcuffs and cuffed Zhou Andong.

The chief pulled open a drawer behind his desk, took out a thick book and a hammer, and walked to Zhou Andong.

"Last time I ask you: What's your name? Where are you from?"

Zhou Andong grinned, taunting: "Go ahead."

"Fine," the chief said coldly, "Hope your mouth stays this hard."

He placed the book on Zhou Andong's chest: "Hold it."

The officer beside him pressed down one corner of the book.

The chief grinned wickedly, raised the hammer—when suddenly the interrogation room door burst open.

"Chief!"

The chief had just raised the hammer to strike when interrupted; his momentum vanished, nearly wrenching his back. He roared: "What is it?"

The entering officer said: "Sun Ju called—tell you to pick up."

With a bang, the chief threw the hammer on the desk: "Wait for me." He stormed out.

He entered his office, picked up the phone: "Sun Ju!"

A low male voice came through the receiver: "Are you handling a robbery case?"

The chief smiled: "It just happened—how did you know?"

Sun Ju said: "The branch is taking over. You're done with this case."

"Beep-beep-beep…"

The dial tone echoed. The chief's heart sank—he felt a terrible premonition, panic rising.

After a long while, he slowly put down the phone, slumped into his chair, opened the drawer, pulled out cigarettes and a lighter, and lit one.

Smoke spread through the small office. The door opened again; the vendor's head poked in. Seeing the chief inside, he grinned and pushed the door open.

"Brother-in-law!"

Seeing his brother-in-law, the chief's anger flared: "How many times have I told you? If you want to do business, do it honestly—no shady tricks. You never listen, and now you've got trouble."

The vendor sneered: "It's just some country bumpkin—you could crush him in a minute?"

The chief snorted: "The branch is taking over this case."

"What?" The vendor froze. "The branch?"

The chief nodded, took a deep drag: "Tell me the truth—did you really steal the money, or was he framing you?"

"I swear!" The vendor raised his hand, swearing fiercely, "If I'm lying, I'll never find a wife in this life."

The chief glared at him: "Then what about the witnesses? They all saw you steal."

"Fucking desert!" The vendor cursed, "Don't you know Old Cricket? Our families are mortal enemies. That Second Squire too—his father died, his mother went mad—all because of us."

"And Zhang Shiping—his brother and my brother were classmates, both sent down to the countryside. One night they went out, got surrounded by wolves. My brother barely escaped; his brother was eaten alive—only his head remained."

"Some bastard told him my brother knocked him out to lure the wolves, letting my brother run away. So for years, he's hated our family…"

At that moment, the sound of an engine came from outside, followed by the thud of car doors slamming shut.

The chief turned to the window—his face changed. That unease surged again: "Sun Ju came himself."

He suppressed his dread, stood up quickly: "Remember—say exactly what happened. No embellishment, no hiding anything—not even your extortion. But don't mention our relationship."

The vendor stared blankly: "I have to admit to extortion too?"

"Idiot!" the chief cursed. "The branch is involved, Sun Ju came himself—do you still dare hide anything? Think: which is worse—extortion or robbery?"

Even now, he didn't understand how this case had reached the branch—and why Sun Ju had come personally.

Sun Sun Chengguang's face remained grim: "Yu Yu Xuelin, where are the suspect and the victim?"

The chief—Yu Yu Xuelin—glanced at the young people beside Sun Sun Chengguang, forced a calm smile: "This is the victim. The suspect is in the interrogation room."

"Liar!" An Jing's face turned icy. "This man is the robber. Where is Zhou Andong?"

Sun Sun Chengguang's expression darkened further: "Yu Yu Xuelin, you dare play dumb in front of me?"

"Absolutely not!" Yu Yu Xuelin's forehead broke into cold sweat. He pointed at the vendor: "His name is Zhu Zhang Lifeng—he's been vending at the square for two years. Just an hour ago, he…"

Sun Sun Chengguang cut him off coldly: "You don't need to say more. I'll investigate. Take me to the interrogation room."

Yu Yu Xuelin felt doom descending. He swallowed hard, lifted heavy legs, and turned toward the interrogation room.

Sun Sun Chengguang said to one of the officers: "Cuff this Zhu Zhang Lifeng."

In the interrogation room, Zhou Andong was dozing. Hearing the door open, he turned his head—several people entered: An Jing, Tang Lin, and Zhang Zuo were all there.

"Cough… cough cough… cough…"

Zhou Andong burst into violent coughing, gasping for air, his face flushed red.

An Jing rushed over, supporting him, gently patting his back.

Zhou Andong whispered weakly: "They… they put a book on my chest and smashed it with a hammer. Now my chest hurts—I can't breathe."

Everyone's faces changed. Their eyes naturally turned to the book and hammer on the desk.

"Fuck!" Yu Yu Xuelin cursed inwardly, his face ashen.

Why place a book? Because it leaves no trace—even hospitals can't detect it—but causes immense pain.

He hadn't done anything—but because no injury showed, and the torture tools sat plainly on the desk, he was left speechless.