Chapter 313: Don

"What did you say?"

The two police officers almost thought they had misheard.

He Zhen Tao widened his eyes, looking at Lu Yang in surprise.

At this moment, Lu Yang, who understood the whole story, was surprisingly calm: "I say, the matters you can't handle, we will handle; the cages you can't break, we will break."

The young officer's expression was somewhat complicated, but he said nothing.

Because sometime in the past, he too had harbored such ideals—to eradicate injustice, uphold righteousness, and eliminate threats to the people.

But some things are easy to talk about and hard to do; the problem here didn't arise in a day, but from a combination of many factors.

It is certainly not something an Army Lieutenant Platoon Leader can solve just by intervening.

The veteran officer gave a wry smile: "Young man, having ideas is good, but ultimately it's unrealistic. Today your commotion is so big, they will definitely relocate the women who were trafficked back as a group."

"Langlang Mountain is huge—so huge that even if you bring a whole Regiment to search, you might still not find anyone."

"I advise you, it's better not to waste effort and return to your unit early; things out there have been unsettled lately."

Lu Yang naturally knew what he meant by "unsettled," yet walking away like that left him unsatisfied.

All the veterans and rookies who went through this incident would not be content.

If it hadn't happened, that would be fine; since it has, we absolutely cannot just walk away.

Otherwise it would be aiding the villain, going against the noble ideals of soldiers.

Lu Yang: "Some matters, following your procedures, hit a dead end; but using our process might be better. Regardless of the outcome, I want to try my best. Just as you said, what if?"

"What if there are still innocent women like her, trafficked into the mountain, waiting to be rescued; even saving just one more saves an entire family?"

The two officers exchanged a glance, seemingly moved by Lu Yang's persistence: "You're right, but how exactly do you plan to proceed?"

"I can't reveal details yet, but we may need your assistance during the process."

"Fine, wherever we need help, just ask. This is my personal mobile number; we are willing to fully support you."

Lu Yang raised his hand in a salute; the other returned the salute, then he turned and left.

At that moment, they acted for the justice in their hearts, for the lofty ideal of serving the people.

After they left, He Zhen Tao sighed, feeling powerless: "Lu Yang, I know your heart is good; but at this critical juncture, shouldn't we first report to the Regiment?"

"Moreover, with our current capabilities we simply can't solve it. You know how vast that mountain is and how treacherous the paths are."

Lu Yang looked at him: "The Regiment Commander will agree; this is a good deed and can earn merit, he has no reason to refuse. Even if we fail, there's no loss; we at least tried, and our conscience will be clear."

"You really have a way?"

"Yes."

"What method?"

Lu Yang put an arm around his shoulder and whispered into his ear: "Instructor, where do you think the perpetrators who attacked the neighboring city's militia unit and stole weapons and ammunition might be hiding?"

He Zhen Tao shook his head: "How would I know? I'm not the Zhencha Daitui, nor a case officer of the Armed Police."

Lu Yang guessed: "I personally think the main roads are blocked, and the city train station is under military‑police inspection; if they hide, it must be in the mountains."

"Your analysis makes sense?"

"Then tell me, could they be hiding in Langlang Mountain?"

"This…"

He Zhen Tao hesitated, then shook his head: "That's unlikely; what are the odds of such a coincidence?"

"What if?"

Lu Yang gave him a sly, winking hint, but didn't state it outright, leaving He Zhen Tao baffled.

"No, what exactly are you trying to say?"

"It's rather coincidental: the militia lost a Type 56 Submachine Gun and our 81‑mm weapon, both using 7.62 mm rifle ammunition. Earlier, I happened to fire a few shots in the mountain and left behind several 7.62 mm casings…"

He Zhen Tao's mind flashed like a jolt of electricity: "You… you did that on purpose?!"

Lu Yang waved his fingers: "I did it to stop violent conflict and rescue the trafficked women; it was just a coincidence…"

He Zhen Tao squinted, suddenly feeling he couldn't read this kid: "Continue."

Lu Yang: "Let's take the case of the trafficked women as a bold hypothesis; do you think it's possible that a victim's family, to rescue their daughter sold into trafficking, raided the militia to steal guns, intending to fight fire with fire?"

He Zhen Tao frowned: "Logically it makes sense, but it's only your unilateral hypothesis."

"Then what if many hypotheses collide?"

"Many hypotheses?"

"A suspected case where a People's Armed Police commander's family was trafficked, 7.62 mm casings left at the scene, a father driven to desperation wanting to fight fire with fire, and a big mountain suitable for hiding suspects…"

"Sss…!"

He Zhen Tao inhaled a cold breath, almost freezing his teeth.

One coincidence is just a coincidence!

When multiple traceable coincidences line up, it's no longer a coincidence but a clue!

Multiple clues twisted together point the target here, making a mountain search inevitable!

In He Zhen Tao's mind, images already formed of SWAT teams with police dogs searching the mountain, Armed Police driving bomb‑disposal vehicles, helicopters hovering overhead.

This damn thing absolutely requires us to scour Langlang Mountain repeatedly before we can rest; those rotten things in the mountain can't stay hidden.

Seeing Lu Yang's harmless face, He Zhen Tao grew more and more unfamiliar, as if he didn't recognize him at all.

Clearly the clues were deliberately left by Lu Yang, yet he somehow remains detached.

Moreover, he forcibly linked two unrelated matters together.

Whatever monsters or demons there are, they will be exposed under the scorching sun and burned to ash.

He Zhen Tao was a bit worried: "What if, in the end, they don't catch the gun‑stealing perpetrators, will they cause us trouble?"

Lu Yang spread his hands innocently: "What does that have to do with us? The clues are theirs, the location was provided by the police; we're just passing through."

Moreover, successfully rescuing the trapped women and maintaining social stability and prosperity is precisely the responsibility they ought to fulfill.

If they later get on the news, that's also a great achievement; even if they don't catch the gun‑snatching criminal, at least they won't go back empty‑handed.

If you ask me, if they mess up later they'll have to bring a brocade flag to thank us.

Um… better not thank us, I'm feeling nauseous.

He Zhen Tao felt very guilty; even though the other side was willing to give, he didn't dare to accept.

The original intention was good, the goal was good as well, but the process was somewhat unethical.

It amounts to forcibly shoving a job that doesn't belong there into their lap.

Then pointing at the nose, he asked, "Do you intervene or not, do you intervene or not?"

You don't intervene, do you? Then we will have to step in!

Wait!

Why does he inexplicably feel that this matter looks so familiar?

It seems, perhaps, that something similar happened somewhere before.

"I'm still a bit worried, I'm afraid…"

"Don't be afraid, it's fine, I have experience."

"Huh?"

Lu Yang scratched his nose, quickly added, "I mean, I have more experience in quelling crime and protecting the innocent! Go report to the Regiment, and I'll see how the victim's condition is."

Having said that, he pushed open the ward door, went in to check on the woman, "How's it going, has the home phone been connected?"

Cheng Yuan Yuan was chatting with Kang Changyi, and judging by the mood the two were getting along well: "It's connected, they've already rushed here from their hometown. Thank you for rescuing me, especially thank you, Fei, Feiji Ge."

Even though it sounded a bit tongue‑twisting, she still expressed her gratitude sincerely.

Kang Changyi almost burst out laughing: "He's not called Zhang Feiji, he's called Lu Yang."

"Huh?" Cheng Yuan Yuan replied: "So, you deceived them?"

"Given the circumstances then, using a secondary account was more convenient; I did it for safety's sake, please understand."

"Oh, oh, oh, then you're quite clever, unlike me, I can't tell good people from bad, I have not a speck of social experience."

As Cheng Yuan Yuan kept talking, her head drooped, her eyes reddened: "If someone hadn't slipped me a note telling me the escape route, I fear I would have already, already…"

Kang Changyi quickly pulled out a tissue to comfort her: "Just out of school, who knows how vicious human hearts can be? This isn't your fault; kindness has never been wrong."

Lu Yang looked at the fellow's concerned expression and sensed something different.

However, his focus wasn't on that; he pressed on: "You mean someone helped you escape?"

Cheng Yuan Yuan nodded: "Yes!"

"Do you know who that person is?"

"Not sure, but it should be a woman; her name is very delicate."

"I think I know who that person is now?"

"Who?"

"The female teacher surnamed Zhang from Hope Primary School."

"It turns out to be her!"

Lu Yang squinted: "It seems I need to go back again and have a proper talk with the couple. I think they should be able to provide plenty of useful clues to the relevant authorities."

Kang Changyi was left bewildered, whereas He Zhen Tao, who had just finished a phone call and walked in, heard exactly what he needed.

At this moment, all the previous clues linked together, and he finally understood how Lu Yang intended to transmit those clues outward.

Aren't those two mountain‑area Hope Primary School teachers, who seem "detached" yet are constantly "deeply involved", the perfect messengers?

The two selfless Hope Primary School teachers, who have risen above petty amusements and are rooted in impoverished areas, wielding 7.62 mm shell casings to provide clues; that kind of impact is comparable to detonating a torpedo in a pond!