Chapter 1015: Want to escape? No way out

Night fell like a heavy black cloth, shrouding the upscale residential area of Wuzhou City.

Below Fu Xinping's building, three unremarkable black sedans sat quietly, lights off, yet like crouching beasts, they locked onto the direction of the unit building's entrance.

Inside the car, Lin Dongfan held an unlit cigarette between his fingers, his eyes sharp as an eagle, staring through the window at the unit building's main door.

Beside him, City Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Shi Liantang flipped through the documents in his hand, his tone solemn: "Mayor Lin, Chen Cheng's testimony has been verified; Fu Xinping is suspected of bribery, shielding criminal forces, and abuse of power, the evidence chain is complete. The partial violation leads concerning Meng Qinghe have also been simultaneously transferred to the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission."

"How's it going over there, Deputy Director Yang?" Lin Dongfan asked.

"Deputy Director Yang has already stationed people at the highway entrance and train station; all the city's transport arteries are under surveillance, he can't escape."

Shi Liantang replied, the several discipline inspection workers beside him stern-faced, already ready to act at any moment.

Just then, a disturbance came from the unit building's entrance.

Fu Xinping wore all-black sportswear, a baseball cap on his head, a mask over his face, and carried a bulging black backpack, hurrying out of the hallway.

He kept looking back, his eyes full of panic, his steps unsteady.

Just now he received a tip-off: Luo Xiang not only failed to persuade Lin Dongfan ideologically, but fully supported the special task force, and Chen Cheng had even sold out his superiors completely.

He had little time left for himself.

Meng Qinghe's side was unreachable, evidently he could not even protect himself.

Fu Xinping dared not delay, quickly gathered cash and his passport, only wanting to flee Wuzhou as fast as possible and find a place where no one knew him to hide under an assumed name.

He had just reached the community gate.

The three black sedans suddenly switched on their headlights, a blinding beam shooting straight at Fu Xinping, instantly making him unable to open his eyes.

"Who?!"

Fu Xinping shuddered all over from fright, instinctively wanting to turn and run back.

The car doors opened, Lin Dongfan and Shi Liantang, accompanied by several discipline inspection workers, quickly stepped out, forming a semicircle that blocked all his escape routes.

"Fu Xinping, don't run."

Lin Dongfan's voice was calm yet carried an undeniable authority, like a heavy hammer striking Fu Xinping's heart.

Fu Xinping removed his mask, his face ashen as paper, cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

Looking at Lin Dongfan and Shi Liantang before him, and the stern-faced discipline inspection workers behind them, the last sliver of hope in his heart shattered completely.

"Lin... Mayor Lin, Secretary Shi, what are you doing?" Fu Xinping forced himself to stay calm, trying to buy time: "It's so late, how could you be here? Is there some misunderstanding?"

"A misunderstanding?"

Shi Liantang stepped forward, raising the investigation notice in his hand: "Fu Xinping, we have received a report; you are suspected of serious violations of discipline and law, and we are now conducting a review investigation according to law—please cooperate!"

"I didn't do it! I'm being framed!"

Fu Xinping jerked back a step, clutching his backpack tightly with both hands, as if grasping at a last straw: "Do you also believe that madman Chen Cheng's words? He's just spouting nonsense to get a reduced sentence! I want to see Deputy Mayor Meng!"

"Meng Qinghe himself can't even protect himself—do you think he could still save you?"

Lin Dongfan snorted coldly, his voice icy: "Fu Xinping, now that it's come to this, you still want to quibble? Five years ago you shielded Chen Cheng when he broke Sun Bingliang's leg, forged an agreement to seize land."

Over these years you have taken bribes from Chen Cheng amounting to as much as five million, and used your position to act as a protective umbrella for his illegal mine; even through Meng Wanqing's livestream, you conducted covert bribery.

Have you forgotten these things?

Each of Lin Dongfan's words was like a dagger, piercing Fu Xinping's facade.

Fu Xinping's lips trembled from nervousness, yet he could not utter a single rebuttal.

Everything Lin Dongfan said is true, item by item; Chen Cheng's testimony spells out the details clearly, leaving him no way to deny.

I... I didn't...

Fu Xinping, eyes welling with tears from tension, still made a last struggle, his steps continually retreating until his back hit the community's iron gate—nowhere left to go.

"Fu Xinping, face reality." Shi Liantang's tone stern: "Voluntarily cooperating with the investigation and confessing truthfully is your only way out; stubborn resistance will only add to your guilt."

Fu Xinping looked at the people before him, then at the flashing police lights in the distance. He knew Yang Qing's people had already arrived—today he could not fly away even with wings.

Despair washed over him like a tide, his legs went weak and he nearly collapsed to the ground, the backpack in his arms falling open and spilling cash, passport, and several bank cards.

"No... I can't go with you!"

Fu Xinping suddenly went berserk, charging toward the nearby green belt, hoping to scale the wall and escape.

But after just two steps, two discipline inspection workers rushed forward and seized him. Fu Xinping struggled desperately, shouting and cursing, like a trapped beast, yet could not break free.

"Take him away!"

Shi Liantang gave the order.

The discipline inspection workers produced handcuffs and locked Fu Xinping's hands.

Fu Xinping slumped his head helplessly, his face full of regret and despair, no longer bearing the former authority of a City Bureau leader.

Lin Dongfan watched as Fu Xinping was escorted onto the police car, his expression unchanging.

He bent down, picked up the backpack from the ground, and handed it to the nearby worker: "Keep it safe, as evidence."

"Mayor Lin, should we go inside to search now?" a discipline inspection worker asked.

Lin Dongfan shook his head: "No need."

He glanced at the window of Fu Xinping's home: "First take him to the Discipline Inspection Commission detention point for interrogation and evidence gathering. As for searching the residence, we'll wait until tomorrow when the paperwork is complete, then proceed according to law."

Shi Liantang nodded, indicating agreement.

The police car slowly drove away from the community, its lights cutting through the night sky.

Lin Dongfan stood where he was, watching the police car recede, and let out Along breath.

Fu Xinping was caught, Meng Qinghe came under the scrutiny of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission, and this anti-corruption, anti-crime storm sweeping Wuzhou finally secured a key victory.

But this is not over.

Next, there is still more important work to be done.

We must thoroughly investigate the criminal networks of Fu Xinping and Meng Qinghe, recover the illicit gains, give an account to the harmed populace, and restore Wuzhou to a clean and upright political ecosystem.

"Historian, let's go." Lin Dongfan turned and said: "Let's go back and conduct an overnight interrogation, strive to break through as soon as possible, and dig out all hidden problems."

Shi Liantang replied: "Good!"

The two walked side by side into the car, the black sedan started up again, and drove toward the direction of the municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Lin Dongfan walked and said: "There's another person; you must keep a close watch on him."

"Who?" Shi Liantang asked.

Lin Dongfan replied without hesitation: "Former leader Wang Qigang, he was demoted four ranks in succession and transferred to a non-leadership position in the provincial People's Congress. Although he left the leadership post, he once presided over Wuzhou for many years. The corruption case involving Meng Qinghe and others is likely inseparable from him; we must guard against his escape."