Chapter 724: Mortal Lord Turns the Tables

The fluorescent light in the interrogation room suddenly seemed glaring to Liu Shu's eyes.

Lin Dongfan's question, 'Who could benefit from Li Hengbo's death?', was like a cold scalpel, precisely dissecting the case's darkest and most likely core.

If it was really Secretary Li directing and acting himself……

Liu Shu didn't dare think further, but his thoughts ran uncontrollably in that direction, feeling a chill surge from his soles to his head, cold sweat seeping from his palms.

He had worked in the Public Security System for thirty years, seeing too much of humanity's dark side.

But if it was really Li Zhenyang silencing witnesses and protecting himself, even sacrificing his own daughter, then this man would be too terrifying.

What's even more terrifying is.

As Li Zhenyang's most trusted aide, how many 'inconvenient' matters have I handled for him over the years? If Li Zhenyang could abandon his own daughter, what about me?

Could it be that one day I, too, become a sacrificed pawn?

"Chief Liu?"

Lin Dongfan's voice pulled Liu Shu back from his terrifying thoughts to reality.

"Your complexion doesn't look good." Lin Dongfan looked at Liu Shu's pale face, his tone calm as if stating a fact: 'Have you thought of something that makes you uneasy?'

Liu Shu took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

He stared at Lin Dongfan.

Trying to find a crack in that man's eyes—was Lin Dongfan deliberately misleading me, driving a wedge between me and Secretary Li? Or was he stating facts, and I had all along been kept in the dark?

"Mr. Lin." Liu Shu's voice hoarse: 'What you just said are all guesses, with no evidence.'

"Evidence is for you police to find." Lin Dongfan lightly emphasized: 'When the birds are gone, the fine bow is stored; when the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked. You're a smart person—do you still need more explanation?'

"!!!"

Liu Shu once again fell into silence.

The sarcasm, both inside and outside Lin Dongfan's words, was like unleashing a ultimate move, slapping a big palm hard onto Lao Liu's old face.

Whether Lao Liu is a fine bow or a hunting dog.

The final outcome is the same.

Cannot escape death!

If Li Zhenyang really is the mastermind behind the scenes, then I, as someone who knows the truth, will sooner or later become the next target to be purged……

"Chief Liu."

Lin Dongfan suddenly stood up, this action made the two young police officers by the door instantly tense, hands on their waists.

But Lin Dongfan did not leave his position.

He placed both palms on the table, turning the tables, like a solemn interrogator, looking down at Liu Shu sitting opposite.

His voice lowered considerably:

"You're a smart person; you should know that picking sides is truly a technical skill! Leaving yourself five escape routes does no harm."

Having said that, Lin Dongfan straightened up.

He also gave Liu Shu a slight smile: 'I've said everything I needed to say. If Chief Liu has no other questions, may I leave? It's almost dawn, I still need to go back and catch some sleep.'

"!!!"

Liu Shu stared at him for a full ten or so seconds.

Finally, he waved his hand: 'Send Mr. Lin out.'

"Chief Liu!" a young police officer couldn't help but say: 'He's a suspect……'

"I said, send Mr. Lin out!"

Liu Shu's voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable authority.

The two police officers dared not say more, escorting Lin Dongfan out of the interrogation room.

The door closed.

Only Liu Shu remained in the room.

He slumped in the chair, hands covering his face, taking several deep breaths.

Lin Dongfan's last words echoed in his mind like a curse: 'Picking sides is truly a technical skill……'

Yes.

Liu Shu's current position rests entirely on Li Zhenyang's promotion. He is Li Zhenyang's sharpest blade in the Public Security System, and one of the few who know Li Zhenyang's secrets best.

Before, he thought this was trust.

Now he realizes he is merely a tool.

If Li Zhenyang really is the mastermind behind the scenes, then I, this 'knowing-too-much' aide, become the greatest liability.

We must uncover the truth!

Liu Shu sprang to his feet, grabbed the car keys on the table, and rushed out of the interrogation room.

He was going to the hospital.

Li Zhenyang and Li Hengbo were being rescued at the Municipal First Hospital; he wanted to go himself to ask Li Zhenyang—using the most tactful and indirect way—to sound him out.

At least, to know exactly which cliff edge he stood on.

……

Seven in the morning, Wu Zhou City First Hospital.

The intensive care unit corridor was brightly lit, filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant and medicine.

Several plainclothes police guarded outside Li Hengbo's ward, while at the entrance to Li Zhenyang's ward stood several staff members of the Municipal Party Committee Office.

When the leaders entered the hospital, the subordinates' reactions were all very proactive.

Liu Shu hurried over, meeting in the corridor the Municipal Party Committee Secretary Fang Zhanhong—Li Zhenyang's most capable assistant, and also an old acquaintance of Liu Shu's for many years.

"Secretary Fang." Liu Shu stepped forward, lowering his voice: 'How is Secretary Li's condition?'

Fang Zhanhong, over forty, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, his usually steady face now also showed fatigue and gravity: 'External injuries are not serious; he got seven stitches on his forehead, a mild concussion, and a fractured left arm. But Secretary Li's emotions…… are currently not stable. The death of Shu Ting has dealt him a heavy blow.'

Liu Shu nodded, hesitated a moment, and asked: 'May I go in to see Secretary Li? I have some work-related matters to report.'

Fang Zhanhong's eyes flickered with a complex expression, and after a moment he still nodded: 'Go ahead, but don't talk too long; the doctor said Secretary Li needs to rest.'

'Understood, thanks.'

After saying thanks, Liu Shu pushed open the ward door.

This was a VIP single-occupancy ward, fully equipped, but at the moment it exuded a deathly silence and oppression.

Li Zhenyang half-leaned on the hospital bed, his head wrapped in gauze, his left arm in a cast, his face deathly pale. He stared at the ceiling with empty eyes, as if his soul had been sucked out.

'Secretary Li.' Liu Shu called softly.

Li Zhenyang slowly turned his head; seeing Liu Shu, his eyes showed no emotion, only a dead, dark emptiness.

His voice hoarse like sandpaper rubbing: 'What is it?'

'I…' Liu Shu opened his mouth; the words he had prepared suddenly got stuck in his throat at the sight of Li Zhenyang's state.

But he forced himself to speak: 'Regarding last night's car accident, there are some doubts I'd like to report to you.'

'Speak.'

In the bank account of the at-fault driver, Chen Dazhi, a transfer of two million arrived yesterday afternoon. The remittance route was concealed, but the Technical Section preliminarily judged that the source might be linked to overseas forces.

Liu Shu spoke while carefully observing Li Zhenyang's reaction.

Li Zhenyang's expression showed no change; he merely gave a faint 'hng'.

'And…'

Liu Shu steadied himself, his voice lower: 'The Technical Section found traces of an encrypted communication app on Chen Dazhi's phone. That app is said to be a tool commonly used by overseas intelligence personnel.'

Li Zhenyang finally showed a reaction.

He slowly turned his head, fixed Liu Shu with a sharp gaze, and asked: 'What do you want to say?'

Liu Shu's heart pounded.

But the arrow was on the string; he had no choice but to let it fly.

He forced himself to probe: 'I've been thinking…… this car accident might not be a coincidence. Could it be that someone is using the opportunity to silence Li Hengbo, to kill him? After all, he knows too much…'

The ward fell into dead silence.

Li Zhenyang stared at Liu Shu for a full half minute; his eyes were like a knife, slicing open Liu Shu's pretense inch by inch.

Then he suddenly laughed.

That smile was icy, mocking, and tinged with an indescribable sorrow.

'Chief Liu.' Li Zhenyang said slowly, 'How many years have you followed me?'

'Ten…… twelve years.' Liu Shu's forehead broke out in a cold sweat.

'Twelve years!'

Li Zhenyang, disregarding his injuries, threw off the covers and got out of bed.

Face to face, he stared at Liu Shu: 'I promoted you, trusted you, and handed over the most important public security system to you. I thought you would at least understand me.'

He paused briefly.

Li Zhenyang's voice suddenly turned cold: 'Are you now doubting me? Doubting that I, a father who just lost his daughter, would sacrifice even my own flesh and blood to silence someone?'

'No…… not……' Liu Shu stammered: 'I just feel there are too many doubts, and I wanted to ask you for guidance on the next steps of the investigation…'

'Slap!!!'

A loud slap landed heavily on Liu Shu's face!

Although Li Zhenyang's left arm was fractured and in a cast, hanging awkwardly from his neck, his right arm was unimpaired; this slap sent Liu Shu stumbling, his face burning with pain.

'Get out!'

Li Zhenyang's voice was icy, devoid of any warmth.

Liu Shu covered his face, his eyes full of shock and humiliation.

He wanted to explain, to defend himself, but seeing Li Zhenyang's eyes blazing with anger and grief, all his words choked in his throat.

Finally, he bowed deeply, turned, and retreated from the ward.

The door closed.

In the hallway, Fang Zhanhong saw the palm print on Liu Shu's face and his lost, dazed expression, and couldn't help but frown slightly. He said nothing, merely patting Liu Shu's shoulder to offer comfort.

Liu Shu stumbled out of the hospital, got into his car, but did not start it right away.

He slumped over the steering wheel, his body trembling slightly.

That slap not only took away the feeling in half of his face, but also the loyalty and trust he had felt for Li Zhenyang over twelve years.

Li Zhenyang denied it.

A father who had just lost his daughter, faced with his subordinates' suspicions, displayed unprecedented anger and grief, as if he had been insulted.

All these reactions were too real!

Could I have guessed wrong?

Li Zhenyang is not the mastermind behind the car accident?

Thinking this over, Liu Shu felt a bit lost again, unable to figure out where the problem lay. The mastermind wasn't Lin Dongfan nor Li Zhenyang—so who could it be?