Chapter 313: Leaving Beijing

The decorative lanterns were just lit, and the neon lights flickered with seven-colored rays.

Jing Zeyang stared out the window, his gaze unfocused, his face blank.

Does he still remember when Lin Sicheng first arrived in Beijing, how polite and courteous he was when speaking with Ye Anning?

At that time, his attitude and tone toward Ye Anning did not seem much different from how he treated his cousin or Qin Ruozhi.

But the feeling he gave off today was as if the two had been in love for a lifetime, with feelings so deep they were etched into their very bones.

Especially Ye Anning, who appeared gentle, elegant, and refined, but was actually proud to her core. Yet, in front of so many people, she hugged Lin Sicheng's leg and sobbed uncontrollably?

How worried must she have been, how terrified must she have been?

To the point of being unswerving, pressing forward without hesitation?

And compared to that, what surprised Jing Zeyang even more was the attitude of Ye Anning's mother.

Did it only seem that way because Lin Sicheng was Wang Sanshu's student?

But a younger brother's student could not possibly make her come to the hospital in person with such status, let alone express gratitude to everyone present as an elder of Lin Sicheng.

And it was even more impossible for Ye Anning's father to have flown to Beijing from out of town specifically for this.

The key point was, this was their first meeting, right?

No matter how he thought about it, Jing Zeyang could not figure it out.

For a moment, he twisted his face as if he had a toothache: "It's too sudden!"

Qin Ruozhi was driving, and Jing Suxin was in the passenger seat.

Sudden?

Actually, not at all.

Since after the New Year, Ye Anning had visited Lin Sicheng's home more often than her own. The little trinkets Lin Sicheng's mother gave her filled an entire box.

The two families visited each other from time to time, and every time they gathered, Lin Sicheng's father would get drunk by Wang Sanshu, and then the two would drape their arms over each other's shoulders and call each other brothers.

Ye Anning often said that the most unfamiliar person between the two families was actually Lin Sicheng, who was the closest to both sides but also the busiest.

Qin Ruozhi and Jing Suxin had even asked in private: Would Uncle Ye and Auntie Wang disagree?

But Ye Anning said: This is the problem that needs worrying about the least.

They asked again, what was the problem that needed worrying about the most?

Ye Anning didn't speak at the time.

Later, they realized it was Lin Sicheng.

A young phoenix with a clear cry, holding pearls and jade, overflowing with talent, elegant and refined.

His ability, conduct, speech, character, personality, and even his physique and appearance... there was not a single point that wasn't outstanding, even excellent to the point of feeling unreal.

To put it bluntly: such a person had absolutely no need to climb the social ladder through anything. If he needed something, he would strive for it himself, and he could get it without even needing to strive very hard.

So-called background and connections were no longer a help to him, but a burden and a shackle.

Therefore, he had always been very polite, even courteous, to Ye Anning.

But to be honest, even a stone can be warmed up if held long enough, let alone a human heart.

No matter how steady or calm a man is, when his body or even his inner self suffers a massive trauma, he will feel exhausted, lonely, and even weak.

It was just like a lonely boat that had just encountered a storm and giant waves, drifting in the middle of the night on a vast, boundless, and pitch-black sea.

And the moment Ye Anning collapsed on his legs, scared out of her wits and crying heart-wrenchingly, it was like that glimmer of light on a lighthouse...

Huh, thinking about it this way, was Lin Sicheng's injury actually a good thing?

The only imperfect part was that a "Cheng Yaojin" had popped up halfway...

The two girls exchanged a glance and nodded with a tacit understanding.

Qin Ruozhi was driving and couldn't spare a hand, but Jing Suxin could.

She backhanded him with a slap.

Jing Zeyang covered his head, feeling baffled: "Sis, what are you doing?"

"You still have the nerve to ask? I let you follow Lin Sicheng, not only did you fail to protect him, but you also stirred up a bunch of messy trouble..."

Jing Zeyang felt more wronged than Dou E: "Sis, get this straight, there were over a dozen people, and they didn't just have knives, they had guns... I didn't chicken out, I charged right in at the time, but the Assistant of Cousin Lin held onto me for dear life, saying that besides being a burden and helping in the wrong way, I was of no use at all..."

The two of them certainly knew this logic; they were just looking for an excuse.

Jing Suxin slapped him again: "And where did Tang Nan Yan pop out from?"

Jing Zeyang dodged backward, arguing with justification: "The Public Security Bureau! Cousin Lin went for training, and she is in the Technical Inspection Department; isn't it normal to run into her?"

Jing Suxin sneered: "It is normal, but there are so many people doing technical inspections at the Public Security Bureau, and so many girls he ran into, why didn't anyone else get to know Lin Sicheng?"

Jing Zeyang froze for a moment, then suddenly realized.

If it weren't for himself, how would Tang Nan Yan have had the chance to know Lin Sicheng?

If he hadn't introduced Lin Sicheng to Yan Wenjing, why would he have gone to the Public Security Bureau for any training?

This beating was truly not undeserved.

After receiving two more slaps, Jing Zeyang covered his head with a look of grievance, but he dared not talk back.

Who the hell could have known that a thousand-year-old tree would actually blossom?

If you don't believe me, ask my cousin and Qin Ruozhi: if when Lin Sicheng first arrived... oh no, if three days ago you told them: Tang Nan Yan likes Lin Sicheng, they would have laughed their teeth out...

Really, this is more unbelievable than the end of the world arriving.

Jing Zeyang muttered, "Then what do we do now?"

Qin Ruozhi and Jing Suxin hummed in unison: "Let it cool!"

Actually, they weren't worried at all.

With Lin Sicheng's personality, Ye Anning spent so much "Water Mill" effort; does Tang Nan Yan have that kind of patience?

Even if she were willing, her family wouldn't be: are all the men in the world dead?

Ever since they were children, the two have been at odds, yet when has Tang Nan Yan ever gotten the better of her?

In her memory, the number of times Tang Nan Yan has cried can be counted on one hand, but every single time, it was because of Ye Anning...

Secretly changing her train of thought, Jing Suxin slapped him again: "You troublemaker!"

Jing Zeyang wanted to cry but had no tears: Who the hell did I provoke?

Immediately, he felt a jolt: Oh no!

Ye Anning wouldn't settle this account with me, would she?

No, I have to find a way to make amends...

Seeing exactly what he was thinking, Jing Suxin pointed a finger at him: "I'm warning you, don't overestimate yourself: even Auntie Wang has shown her face, and Uncle Ye will even be back tomorrow, so why would you need to add to the chaos?"

Right, there is also Tang Dabo and Third Uncle Tang.

Brother Yan is likely in for a miserable time.

That group of people who hired men to kidnap Lin Sicheng will only be even more miserable...

The incandescent light was abnormally bright; three Police sat opposite, two interrogating, one recording.

His police uniform had long since been stripped away; Chen Yongzhi was wearing a plain shirt, locked in an interrogation chair.

Having been in the police for seven or eight years, this was the first time he knew the feeling of wearing handcuffs and shackles.

Cold, heavy, like a Seat Mountain, pressing down so hard he couldn't catch his breath.

The interrogation continued; no matter what the opposite side asked, Chen Yongzhi just gritted his teeth and didn't say a word.

He knew very well that this was just going through the motions now, not even counting as an appetizer.

Therefore, he couldn't hold out.

The only reason he persisted was to see a leader of sufficient weight, so he could at least suffer a little less.

At the thought of what would happen next, the regret in his heart was like a tidal wave.

How did he get dragged into this?

It seemed to be the year he became an Inspector and started leading the Cultural Relics Group that he inadvertently met Ma Long.

At first, it was just eating and drinking, then becoming sworn brothers, and after that, foot massages and high-end clubs.

When one day Ma Long gave him twenty thousand yuan, he understood: there was no going back.

But he never thought the matter he committed would be so big, or that he would fall so quickly...

While pondering secretly, the sound in his ears seemed to have vanished; Chen Yongzhi subconsciously raised his head: Why did they stop asking?

Immediately, he was suddenly stunned: there were suddenly several more people in the interrogation room.

One of them looked a bit familiar; was he a Deputy Bureau Chief from some Municipal Public Security Bureau Branch?

Chen Yongzhi shuddered all over, his heart relaxing, but then, a trace of unknown fear surged up again.

Sure enough, the leaders had come.

But what happens after he confesses?

Just as he was thinking this, the Deputy Bureau Chief rushed forward and gave him two slaps, "Pa-pa!"

Chen Yongzhi was caught off guard, his nose bleeding profusely, dripping down his chin.

The Deputy Bureau Chief's face was gloomy, his eyes so fierce it was as if he wanted to eat someone, and his voice sounded as if it were squeezed out from between his teeth, permeated with a chilling coldness: "Two paths, choose for yourself!"

What two paths?

Chen Yongzhi struggled to tilt his head, avoiding the glare of the incandescent light. Vaguely, he saw two white caps and two people in plain clothes.

Ordinary jackets, ordinary trousers and leather shoes, clean and neat crew cuts.

At first glance, they were ordinary, but the two stood there like javelins?

Chen Yongzhi was as if frozen.

He had thought the leaders would come, and he had thought the inspectors would come, and he had even thought of the Discipline Inspection Commission, but he never thought that people from the Security Unit would come too?

But that wasn't right.

How could people like that use public office for private gain?

Suddenly, Chen Yongzhi's body couldn't stop trembling: If it was them, that was fine. If it wasn't, after these two people took him out of here, where would they take him?

His face turned deathly pale: "I... I confess..."

"You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!" The Deputy Bureau Chief gritted his teeth and delivered another fierce slap, "You cheap bone!"

The conference room was brightly lit, seven or eight heavy smokers each had one in hand, and the room looked as if it were on fire.

A dozen or so white caps surrounded the area, shadows flickered outside the window, and the steel helmets of the SWAT Detachment reflected a cold light.

No one spoke, they just kept smoking, their gazes stealing glances at their colleagues' faces from time to time.

The sky had fallen!

But most people didn't know why it had fallen?

And they didn't know who it was aimed at?

The Station Chief, the Instructor, or the Deputy Station Chief?

Just as they were secretly guessing, with a "Bang," the door to the conference room was pushed open.

A cold Wind blew in, and those sitting all shivered in unison. Then, two figures walked in side by side.

The Bureau Chief and Political Commissar of the neighboring district's Municipal Public Security Bureau Branch!

The Station Chief was just about to stand up when the two white caps stepped forward and pressed him back down.

Immediately, with a "Clang," a pair of handcuffs was thrown onto the conference table.

The Bureau Chief's face was cold, his eyes like knives: "Li Jun, will you cuff yourself, or shall I help you?"

"Swish," the Police Station Chief's face went as pale as dirt. He wanted to say something, but his throat felt like it was stuffed with a wad of paper.

After a long while, he bit down hard on the tip of his tongue: "Director Tong, what crime have I committed? On what grounds are you arresting me?"

"Li Jun, you don't know what crime you've committed yourself?"

The Director sneered, "I'm not afraid to tell you, actually I don't know either. But I will read you the order from the Municipal Bureau: anyone who dares to resist, shoot directly... did you hear that clearly?"

The Police Station Chief shuddered, his body began to tremble uncontrollably, and his lips were quivering.

The Director shifted his gaze to look at the two people beside the Police Station Chief: "Cuff them..."

Before the words had even faded, with a "whoosh," the Deputy Police Station Chief slid under the table.

His body trembled incessantly, his eyeballs rolled upward with effort, and white foam spilled from his mouth.

"When I was working in this line of business, you hadn't even taken off your pacifier yet, and you're trying to play this with me?" The Director sneered and reached out his hand, "Electric baton!"

A SWAT Detachment officer unbuckled the leather holster, but before he could draw it out properly, the Deputy Police Station Chief suddenly stood up, turned his head, and ran toward the window.

But just as he grabbed the windowsill and just as he lifted one leg, with a "clatter," a gun butt smashed through the glass and poked inside.

The Deputy Police Station Chief was knocked to the ground, and the Director's face darkened as he cursed, "Damn it."

Knowing full well that the outside was full of SWAT Detachment officers, this son of a bitch still dared to run?

It was clear he had lost his mind from panic.

One could imagine how big the matter inside was.

He couldn't wait any longer...

He took a sharp breath and took out his phone: "Team Leader Yan, make the arrests..."

The lights were dim and yellow, the place was dark and damp, and the air was filled with a musty smell.

The signal in the basement wasn't very good; the tall, thin man leaned against a narrow window, dialing numbers incessantly.

He dialed over and over again, but every time, at the end, there was only the prompt: "Sorry, the number you have dialed is not answering..."

Ma Long had a bad feeling.

It was normal for Jiu Gui's phone not to go through; after all, that son of a bitch had been beaten half to death and must have been caught by the Police.

But how could the phones of Chen Yongzhi, Station Chief Li, Instructor Liu, Deputy Station Chief Hu, and several Inspectors also not be going through?

One not going through was understandable, but it was impossible for the phones of every single Police officer at the entire Police Station to not go through.

Could they all be in a meeting, with their phones all confiscated?

It wasn't impossible; after all, for several years, Beijing hadn't seen a case of such a heinous nature.

But for some reason, Ma Long always felt that something bad was going to happen.

After hesitating for a moment, he switched to another phone and dialed a number: "Uncle, none of the phones are going through!"

"Can you get through to Xingsi's phone?"

"Yes, but he doesn't know a damn thing!"

There was a silence on the phone: "Wait!"

Afterward, the call was hung up, and after about three minutes, it called back in.

The call connected, and the voice was urgent and fast: "Ma Long, I'll fuck your mother!"

Ma Long was stunned for a moment: "Huh?"

"Huh your ass? The Municipal Public Security Bureau Branch isn't answering either. This clearly means something major has happened; nine times out of ten, someone has died..."

A trembling tone sounded from the receiver, "How did I instruct you: you can injure, you can maim, but don't kill anyone. How the hell did you handle this?"

Ma Long was stunned: "Dead? Impossible... Uncle, the few who escaped all said that the kid was like a war god possessed, he could fight like no other... When they ran, that kid was still standing there just fine..."

There was a pause on the phone: "What about those two female Police officers?"

Ma Long's heart skipped a beat.

Shan Shu had indeed instructed him not to touch those two female Police officers, but if you don't touch her, she wants to touch you?

You couldn't just stand there and let people hit you, could you?

But it seemed they hadn't been hurt, just barely...

"Bullshit, among those who hang out on the streets, who tells the truth? Maybe because they couldn't beat that kid, they got irritated and did something to one of the female Police officers..."

That was really possible?

Ma Long's heart jumped: "Uncle, I'll ask right now..."

"Ask your ass, what's the use of asking now?" The person on the other end was frantic, "Run, run right now, get out of Beijing first, then we'll talk..."

Ma Long nodded vigorously: "Okay Uncle, I'm leaving right now..."

"Change your number, don't use this phone, and don't call this number of mine, call the PHS..."

"Uncle, I know..."

After a few words, he hung up the phone, Ma Long's expression shifting between cloudy and clear.

Having dealt with the Police for so many years, he had gained some experience: either someone had died, or one of the female Police officers had met with an accident; it was also possible it was because of that gun Jiu Gui had.

The problem was, that was a fake gun, right?

But something major must have happened, otherwise even the higher-ups wouldn't be ignoring calls...

Guessing wildly, he quickly pried out the SIM card and dug out a new phone and a new number.

Then he kicked open the cabinet by the bed and pulled out a backpack.

Cash, bank cards, Identity Card.

Whether it was the cards or the documents, they were all real, but they were all new names.

There was also a gun, but Ma Long didn't dare take it...

After getting ready, he grabbed the car keys. Just as he reached the door, his expression suddenly changed.

"Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump..."

"Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump..."

Countless footsteps came from overhead, and even the floor beneath his feet was shaking.

Police?

How many people had come?

And how did they find this place?

His face turned deathly pale in a "whoosh," and Ma Long spun around abruptly; just as he lunged toward the cabinet, with a "thud," the iron door was kicked open.

Like wolves and tigers, seven or eight SWAT Detachment officers rushed in in the blink of an eye; Ma Long's hand had just barely reached the cabinet door where the gun was kept when a large foot stomped down fiercely.

Ma Long let out a miserable howl. Immediately, a hand grabbed his hair like a pair of pliers and yanked it upward violently.

Four or five High-intensity Flashlights shone over.

"Ma Long, nicknamed Maguan?"

Ma Long was both in pain and terrified: "You've got the wrong person!"

"Wrong person?"

"Clatter," everything in the backpack was dumped out, and with another "bang," the cabinet was kicked open.

The group of Police all jolted in unison, their expressions changing abruptly.

The one at the scene this afternoon was a fake gun, but this one was a real gun...

"Quick, report to Captain Xing..."

Cheng Nan, Jiu Gong.

This area belonged to the South Fourth Ring Road, a proper urban village. The narrow alleys were dense and tangled like a spider web, and the self-built buildings of the villagers were staggered in height, as chaotic as a maze.

In the village, there were garment factories, building material factories, and in the slightly more distant corners, there were even pig farms. The people who came to Beijing for work were from all over, from all walks of life; there was everything here, and people doing everything.

But Ma Shan still felt unsafe.

He had been stable for many years, and things had gone smoothly for many years, but Ma Shan could never forget those days years ago when he was hiding here and there, living in constant fear, living worse than a rat.

Since one is a thief, one must never underestimate the Police. Those who are careless either get a bullet or end up inside early...

The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became; he took out his mobile phone and dialed a number.

The phone rang six or seven times before it was answered, and an impatient voice came from inside: "Lao Ma, didn't I tell you not to call unless it's necessary?"

"I know, General Manager, but I just feel like something isn't right: the two people I usually contact, neither of them is answering their phones?"

"Lao Ma, what have you been doing all this time?"

The person on the other end was even more impatient, "I've said it eight hundred times, keep a low profile, don't be too arrogant; it went in your left ear and out your right."

"What kind of place is that? Beijing. Wielding knives and sticks in broad daylight, and you even brought out a gun? What is the concept of playing with guns in Beijing? If I were the Police, I would also investigate you until there was nothing left..."

"Don't even talk about the Municipal Public Security Bureau Branch; this time even the Municipal Bureau has been alarmed. If it were you, would you dare to answer the phone?"

Ma Shan's heart sank: "Aren't they afraid that if I get caught, I'll expose them?"

"Heh, expose what? Expose how many times you treated them to dinner, how many times you arranged club visits, how much money you gave in gifts, how many times you hired prostitutes, and how many recordings you made?

Lao Ma, don't be naive; these issues won't kill anyone. The leaders didn't tell you to hack people in the street, nor did they tell you to brandish a gun in Beijing..."

"Lao Ma, let's speak plainly: you want to tell me that if you go in, you'll expose me first, right? Fine, go ahead and expose me... at most, I just won't do business in Beijing anymore!"

Ma Shan's face turned red and then green.

He didn't dare to expose a damn thing.

If he didn't expose them, at worst he'd spend a few years inside; if he did, he wouldn't survive, and his family wouldn't survive either.

A sigh came from the phone again: "Lao Ma, no need to threaten me. Having worked together for so many years, you should know very clearly that I can lift you up, and I can press you down. You also know that I have always been clear about rewards and punishments..."

Ma Shan panicked and suddenly shivered: "General Manager, I didn't mean that..."

"I know, I'm just giving you a reminder: the matter isn't big, and it's far from the time for you to throw away your armor and burn your bridges... Furthermore, it hasn't reached the level of severity you imagine.

It's just that too many people were injured this time, and the commotion was too great; the nature of the incident is too egregious, so the Municipal Bureau has summoned the Person in Charge of every department to hold a meeting overnight. Such a major case occurred in their jurisdiction, and they know it involves you; who would dare to answer your call in the conference room? It's even possible they didn't even bring their phones..."

The voice on the phone paused slightly: "Just wait, by twelve o'clock at the latest, they will call you back..."

"General Manager, I understand!"

"Mm, hanging up!"

As soon as the call was disconnected, Ma Shan's face fell: "Fuck your mother!"

We're both thousand-year-old foxes, are you trying to play games with me?

Keeping me steady here, are you trying to use me as a test stone for the Police?

If I'm fine, then everything is great. If I get caught, you'll see whether or not you need to run?

No, I can't stay in Beijing...

Ma Shan stood up abruptly and shouted at the top of his lungs: "Er Tiao, Gangzi..."

"Shan Shu!" came a unified response, and four or five men stood up.

"Prepare the cars... leave Beijing!"

The few men responded in unison again.

Some packed clothes, some grabbed luggage; Ma Shan stood in the middle of the room, his eyes flickering.

Something must have happened, and it was something big. But he didn't know what exactly it was.

Just like the General Manager said, because a gun was used, the nature was too egregious?

But that was a fake gun; except for the gun stock which was dismantled from an old gun, it was just fitted with two steel pipes. It could only scare people; holding a stick would be more useful than that.

It shouldn't be enough to alarm the City Level, or even reach the level of holding an overnight meeting?

Did someone die, or perhaps a Police officer was injured?

It doesn't seem like it would go that far.

Unless, a Police officer died...

Ma Shan's heart skipped a beat, and he cursed, "Fuck his mother."

"Move your fucking asses faster..."

"Shan Shu, it's done!"

"Go!"

The moment the words fell, the subordinate standing beside him froze, his eye sockets suddenly widening, yet his pupils were straining to contract.

It was as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight?

No, why is there a red dot on Gangzi's forehead?

Ma Shan's face turned deathly pale, and he whipped around.

At the windows, two people were standing on the sill of each one.

Wearing steel helmets, holding long guns...

With a violent "Bang—" sound, the door was kicked open, and another squad surged in.

Still wearing steel helmets, with long guns.

Yan Wenjing gripped his pistol, looked at Ma Shan, and sneered, "Leave the capital? Where are you going to leave from?"

(End of chapter)