Chapter 696: with translation of chapter title

Lin Dongfan's forceful words were like striking a match in a room filled with gasoline, instantly igniting all the suppressed anger and humiliation in the memorial hall!

Supported by his steady arm, Mother Duan finally regained a bit of strength; hatred flared in her cloudy eyes, fixed firmly on Li Hengbo.

Li Hengbo's face darkened the moment Lin Dongfan appeared, as grim as if water could be wrung from it.

He watched the Duan family members protected by Lin Dongfan, saw the formerly fearful eyes rekindle with hope, and a surge of fury at being provoked and publicly humiliated nearly overwhelmed his reason.

But Li Hengbo is still Li Hengbo—a venomous snake who knows when to bare his fangs and when to endure.

He drew a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the urge to erupt, and slammed his golden cane hard on the ground, producing a dull thud that made hearts race.

"Lin Dongfan!"

Li Hengbo's voice sounded as if dragged from an ice cellar, biting with cold: "This is my Wu Zhou! Not a place for you to run wild, Jingcheng! The Duan family's affair is a Wu Zhou case, naturally handled by Wu Zhou's rules! You, an outsider, pointing fingers here, stirring trouble—what do you want?! Do you, Young Master Lin, really think you can interfere with local justice?!"

He started by labeling him.

He placed Lin Dongfan in the unfavorable position of "outsider" and "meddling in local affairs," seemingly warning him—this is a remote place where the emperor's reach is weak, so don't court trouble!

"Rules? Justice?"

Lin Dongfan snorted, his laughter dripping with undisguised mockery:

"You cripple, you talk to me about rules? About justice? Comrade Duan Xinhua has been missing for months—no body alive or dead—and that's Wu Zhou's idea of rules?"

"Duan Xiaobin, a young man, was silenced right on his own doorstep in broad daylight."

"Is this Wu Zhou's justice?"

"If this damn thing is Wu Zhou's rules, then screw those rules! If this is Wu Zhou's justice, then damn that justice—I, Lin Dongfan, will still interfere today!"

His voice suddenly rose, his eyes blazing like torches, sweeping over everyone present in Wu Zhou before fixing on Li Hengbo's face.

He pressed on with a counter-question: "I want to ask—who gave the murderer such gall to kill in broad daylight? Who behind the scenes treats human lives as grass and the law as nothing?!"

His words were ringing and powerful, striking straight at the heart, tearing apart the facade of peace Li Hengbo tried to paint!

"You... stop spouting baseless accusations and slandering people!" Li Hengbo's fingers trembled with rage; he hadn't expected Lin Dongfan to be so hardline, directly overturning the table.

"Whether I'm spewing slander, you know it in your heart!"

Lin Dongfan pressed step by step, giving him no chance to breathe: "You cripple, dare you swear before Duan Xiaobin's spirit that his death has nothing to do with you? Dare you?!"

The memorial hall fell silent; everyone held their breath, watching Li Hengbo.

Li Hengbo's face turned ashen.

He certainly wouldn't dare! How could he utter such a poisonous oath?

Just as he found himself caught between a rock and a hard place, a stern, low voice came from outside the memorial hall: "Young comrade, watch your words!"

Turning toward the sound, they saw Wu Zhou's top official, Li Zhenyang, escorted by his retinue, his expression solemn as he entered.

He wore a dark Zhongshan suit, exuding authority without anger; his gaze swept the memorial hall and finally rested on Lin Dongfan and Li Hengbo.

His appearance instantly silenced the local Wu Zhou residents like cicadas in winter, and even the Duan family's mourners instinctively lowered their sobs.

This is the aura Li Zhenyang has built over years of authority in Wu Zhou!

"This is a memorial hall, a place for the departed to rest! Making a racket—what propriety is that?" Li Zhenyang spoke first, labeling it "noise," trying to turn the serious accusation into a meaningless quarrel.

He first looked toward Mother Duan, his tone softening with an official "concern": "Family, mourn in peace; I have already ordered the City Bureau to set up a special task force to solve Duan Xiaobin's case within a deadline—I will certainly give you and Comrade Duan Xinhua an answer!"

His words sounded noble but evaded the core, talking only about "solving the case" while never mentioning the hidden mastermind behind it.

Having said that, he then turned his gaze to Lin Dongfan.

His eyes were deep.

With a barely perceptible scrutiny and warning, he said: "Comrade Lin Dongfan, I can understand your feelings, but investigations require evidence, and maintaining stability is more important. Some things must not be said rashly, some lines must not be crossed."

He was warning Lin Dongfan not to overreach, not to disturb Wu Zhou's superficial "stability."

Seeing his backer arrive, Li Hengbo straightened his spine instantly.

He leaned close to Li Zhenyang, lowered his voice, and spoke in a tone that seemed like a report but was actually full of provocation and self-promotion: "Uncle Li, you see, right? This Lin Dongfan is just here to stir trouble! He doesn't regard you, nor our Wu Zhou, at all! The Duan family incident is purely an accident, yet he insists on making a mountain out of a molehill—his intentions are despicable!"

Li Zhenyang listened, expressionless, giving no hint of pleasure or anger.

Lin Dongfan, however, smiled, looked at the two playing off each other, and spoke loudly: "Secretary Li is right—investigations need evidence, stability is paramount. That's why I'm here this time: to help Wu Zhou achieve 'stability'!"

He shifted his tone, fixing Li Hengbo with a sharp gaze: "Section Chief Li, you keep saying Duan Xiaobin's death was an accident and unrelated to you, right? Funny enough, I've just invited a 'guest' who might have a different 'take' on what happened in that alley that day. Why not bring him in, have him speak before Secretary Li and the fellow villagers?"

Saying this, Lin Dongfan gave Lao Ba a glance.

Lao Ba immediately pulled out his phone, as if to contact someone.

That instant, Li Hengbo's face changed dramatically!

"A guest?"

"What guest?"

"Could it be that the two who acted that day have been caught?"

"Impossible!"

"He clearly had made arrangements earlier, sending the operatives away!"

"Could it be..."

"An eyewitness?"

Li Hengbo's heart leapt up to his throat!

Li Zhenyang's brow twitched almost imperceptibly; he gave Lin Dongfan a deep look, thinking the Lin family's little rascal had indeed come prepared!

The atmosphere in the memorial hall, because of Lin Dongfan's seemingly plain remark, instantly tightened again to the breaking point!

Everyone's eyes fixed on Lao Ba's phone, waiting for the possible "guest" whose appearance might ignite everything!

Li Hengbo's arrogance, which had just risen again under Li Zhenyang's protection, was shoved to the brink of a cliff by Lin Dongfan's casual move!

Panic and viciousness intertwined in his gaze, nearly spilling over!

Lin Dongfan, meanwhile, remained calm and composed, as if merely inviting an ordinary friend. He knew the string had been pulled to its limit; now it was up to Li Hengbo and Li Zhenyang whether they dared to take his move!

The true storm was about to erupt on the surface of this seemingly tranquil memorial hall!