Chapter 342: The Divine-Legged Zhang

Bang! Bang!

Scattered gunshots rang out from time to time.

"Highly likely.

"Lu Qiao is ready to risk his life with someone now; he may not necessarily care about a small favor like mine."

At this, Hong Zhiyou jumped off the bed and quickly dialed Lin Tian:

"Little Lin, go check on Beiyang University and find a way to bring Xiaohui back."

"Don't worry, Lin Tian is very sharp; he will definitely take good care of Xiaohui," Wanqiu comforted him.

The next day.

Hong Zhiyou arrived at the station.

Before he could even enter his office, he was pulled aside by Li Ya, who had been waiting at the entrance of the lobby.

"Brother, have you heard?" Li Ya asked while sipping soy milk.

"Heard what?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Lu Qiao gave the order to open fire last night. Six students and three drifters were killed; the nine corpses are laid out at the entrance of Beiyang University as a protest," Li Ya said.

"It wouldn't be your people again, would it?" Hong Zhiyou raised an eyebrow at him.

"That's not it.

"It's just that these methods are far too extreme. Killing is one thing, but leaving the bodies on display—he truly doesn't care about the students or public opinion," Li Ya frowned and said.

"When heaven wants to rain, a mother wants to remarry.

"He has first-level authorization from the Ministry of National Defense; even Chen Zhangjie has the authority to question and investigate, so isn't firing a few shots quite normal?

"Forget about him."

Hong Zhiyou shrugged and said.

"He isn't just targeting the students, is he?

"Brother, I heard he even dragged Miss Wanqiu in for questioning. Isn't that going too far?

"You must remember, you once saved his life."

Li Ya laughed.

"Just a few questions, she's completely unharmed," Hong Zhiyou didn't take his bait.

"By the way.

"Lu Qiao asked me to give you a message: prepare more changes of clothes, quilts, and such."

He thought for a moment and said.

"What does that mean?" Li Ya was confused.

"Who knows?" Hong Zhiyou smiled.

He knew Li Ya had lost his patience and wanted to make a move.

But these words and this task were not something just anyone could speak of; the reason was simple: Lu Qiao had been personally released from prison this time by Yu Jishi of the Military Affairs Bureau.

It was highly likely he was acting under a secret order from the Leader.

If one were to kill Lu Qiao, there was no telling how many people would lose their heads along with him.

Hong Zhiyou could sit back, watch, and even secretly assist Li Ya's operation, but there could be absolutely no cooperation on the surface.

Otherwise, it would be handing others a weapon and inviting trouble for himself later.

Upon reaching the station chief's office, he wiped the desk as he usually did.

Soon, Wu Jingzhong arrived at the office.

"How is Mu Wanqiu?" He asked as soon as he entered.

"Lu Qiao's attitude is very arrogant, but everything Wanqiu confessed was what we had prepared; there will be no threat," Hong Zhiyou replied.

"What unmitigated gall, investigating me!

"Didn't he kill people last night?

"Go find some American reporters to stir this up and make him get out of the Pingjin area as quickly as Chen Jicheng did."

Wu Jingzhong cursed loudly.

"Teacher, I learned from Li Guifen last night that Lu Qiao suffers from severe tuberculosis and heart disease; I'm afraid he won't live for many more years.

"He didn't take money or want a house when he returned this time.

"It's clear he's ready to risk his life.

"He has explicitly stated that he wants you to resign to save face.

"How should I put it? He has gone mad—no, to be precise, he is a mad dog, biting whoever he sees until they die."

Hong Zhiyou deliberated slightly and gave his own opinion.

"Understood.

"This is a fight to the death with me," Wu Jingzhong nodded and said.

"Perhaps that is why the Leader values him; a man who is about to die simply does not care about public opinion.

"When the time comes, all the blame will fall on Chen Zhangjie and you."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Take him out?" Wu Jingzhong's brow furrowed.

"No.

"Poisoning, shootings, these actions would be a slap in the face to the Leader; it definitely won't do," Hong Zhiyou shook his head.

"Then we have a problem.

"I can't touch him, and if I let him keep causing trouble in Jinhai like this, I really will lose my position," Wu Jingzhong frowned.

"Teacher.

"We cannot kill him.

"But what if Lu Qiao dies of illness himself?

"He has heart disease, a very serious heart disease."

Hong Zhiyou looked at Wu Jingzhong, a faint, cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Hmm, died of illness.

"Then let him sacrifice himself for the country and show loyalty to the Leader.

"Remember, the plan must be meticulous.

"At a time like this, there can be no mistakes; I would rather let him cause trouble for a few more days than rush and make an error."

Wu Jingzhong nodded, approving of this idea.

Just as they were speaking, Yu Zecheng hurried in: "Teacher, Inspector Lu is here; he is in the lobby downstairs."

"What is he here for?

"Just let him come up," Wu Jingzhong said.

"Teacher, he looks like he has come with ill intent; accompanying him are inspectors from the Guard General Headquarters.

"Do you want to go down and greet him?"

Yu Zecheng asked.

Wu Jingzhong frowned. The National Guard General Headquarters was reorganized from the former Attendant Office Guard and was under the direct command of Yu Jishi, belonging to the absolute "Imperial Guard."

These inspectors were like sword-wielding guards wearing yellow vests.

Lu Qiao had indeed come on orders.

Trouble!

"Then let's go."

Wu Jingzhong glanced at the two of them and strode downstairs.

Arriving at the lobby.

Lu Qiao, in full military uniform, stood with his hands behind his back.

"Qiao, long time no see!" Wu Jingzhong took the initiative to step forward, reaching out with a smile to greet him.

"Station Chief Wu.

"Long time no see," Lu Qiao couldn't even be bothered to take off his gloves, shaking hands very casually.

"Qiao, why don't you stay at the station this time? Your office is still kept for you, and I've even prepared coffee beans for you," Wu Jingzhong said with a forced smile.

"No need, the Garrison Headquarters is safer.

"My visit this time is primarily on orders from the Ministry of National Defense and the Military Affairs Bureau to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the relevant personnel at the Jinhai Station.

"Station Chief Wu, I may need to occupy your precious space for questioning."

Lu Qiao wore an official expression, completely ignoring the "ladder" Wu Jingzhong had extended.

"Fine.

"Inspector Lu, please do as you wish.

"Zhiyou, you are responsible for making the arrangements."

Wu Jingzhong couldn't be bothered to keep offering warmth to a cold shoulder and turned back toward his office first.

"Heh, still putting on airs with me," Lu Qiao gave a disdainful smile.

"Where is Li Ya?"

He looked at Hong Zhiyou and Yu Zecheng.

"He's probably hiding in his office, shivering," Yu Zecheng said.

"Brilliant!"

"Don't let a single one escape."

Lu Qiao pointed at him, though it was unclear who he was referring to.

They arrived at the third-floor office.

The inside had already been tidied up completely.

"Old Lu, care for a cup of coffee?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"No, I've quit."

"I intend to interrogate and question them one by one."

"You two head down first, and send Li Ya in."

Lu Qiao's face stiffened; he took a thick stack of documents from his attendant and slammed them onto the desk.

"Understood."

Hong and Lu exchanged a glance and quickly retreated.

Operations Team office.

Li Ya bit his lip tightly, gazing at the morning sun and the blue sky with white clouds, breathing greedily.

He knew.

After today, these things might all become luxuries.

"Captain Li, Inspector Lu wants you to go to the third-floor office for questioning." Hong Zhiyou walked in.

"Zhiyou, am I finished?" Li Ya asked.

"Captain Li... sigh." Hong Zhiyou patted his shoulder and sighed.

Jianfeng no longer trusted Li Ya.

Moreover, Lu Qiao had come under orders; the possibility of Jianfeng intervening was almost zero.

Once Lu Qiao decided to strike a fatal blow.

The best Li Ya could hope for was to end up in prison.

"Sigh."

"My fate is the nation's fate."

"People like us, loyal and brave for the country, are being wronged and humiliated."

"Yet a villain like Lu Qiao keeps getting promoted and holds power over the loyal and virtuous."

"It is truly ridiculous to the extreme."

Li Ya trembled all over and let out a bitter laugh.

"Here we go again."

"The nation's fate is much more miserable than yours; at least you're just letting your own people ride on your head to defecate, while the National Government has a bunch of foreign daddies riding on its head."

Hong Zhiyou shook his head with a mocking smile.

"I'm off."

"If I meet my end, don't forget to pour a cup of wine on my grave during the Qingming Festival, brother."

Li Ya gave his instructions and walked toward the stairs.

He arrived upstairs.

There were armed soldiers guarding the door.

Inside, two inspectors from the Military Affairs Bureau stood to the left and right of Lu Qiao.

"You're here." Lu Qiao pointed at the small stool in front of him.

He sat on a leather sofa.

Li Ya sat on a low stool without a backrest.

This was not questioning.

It was humiliation.

The scene was unspeakably ironic.

"Li Ya, do you know why you were called here?" Lu Qiao asked.

"I don't know," Li Ya said.

"I now suspect you are a Red Agent."

"These are the testimonies from Tang Dachun, Xiao Yunxian, and others; both human and material evidence are complete."

"What else do you have to say?"

Lu Qiao asked with a condescending smile.

"These are all fake; Lu Qiao, you are framing me." Li Ya turned his head away and said coldly.

"Framing?"

"You're wrong; I called you here to notify you."

"I am dealing with you now; there is no need for a confrontation, and you have no chance to argue."

"I now declare that you are a Red Agent."

"It's that simple."

Lu Qiao folded his hands and sneered with contempt.

"Lu Qiao, you, you must not mess around."

"I want to report this to headquarters; I am applying for the intervention of the Military Law Department, the Military Court, and the Inspection Office," Li Ya shouted.

"You're overthinking it."

"I could have secretly executed you today according to the old rules of the Juntong Bureau."

"But that would be letting you off too easily."

"I want you to taste the life of a prison cell, being beaten by inmates every day."

"I want you to watch how I send those disgusting fellows like you to the guillotine."

"Enjoy it well."

"Guards, take him away; lock him in the Shuitun Prison first."

Lu Qiao looked at Li Ya with a playful expression.

"Lu Qiao, the Party and the State will be destroyed by a shameless villain like you," Li Ya screamed.

"Funny."

"As if you were so clean yourself."

"Tired of playing with female college students, eating big fish and meat three times a day, reselling white sugar, making dirty money."

"What haven't you done, Li Ya?"

"Don't keep putting on the airs of a saint; you are dirtier and more shameless than anyone."

"Talk about integrity?"

"Pah!"

"You don't deserve it!"

Lu Qiao leaned forward and spat on Li Ya's face.

"You!"

Li Ya was furious to the point of death, yet he had no way to refute it.

Soon, two inspectors dragged the disheveled Li Ya into a car under the watchful eyes of everyone in the station.

This move shocked even Wu Jingzhong.

Such prestige was comparable to the time Boss Dai came to Jin for an inspection.

"Inspector Lu, who should we call next?" the inspector asked.

"No rush."

"To take down Wu Jingzhong, relying on just one Mu Liancheng is not enough; let him enjoy himself for a few more days."

"Yu Zecheng..."

Lu Qiao pondered for a moment; both were difficult to handle.

Yu Zecheng had many loopholes.

But unlike Li Ya, he couldn't find enough human evidence, material evidence, or documents.

Lu Qiao was not bluffing Li Ya.

With the documents and evidence he had collected, it was completely enough to secretly execute Li Ya.

But there was insufficient evidence to deal with Yu Zecheng.

He had a plan, but it couldn't be verified for the time being.

There was no rush.

"Forget it, that's all for today; let's return to the Garrison Headquarters first."

Thinking of this, Lu Qiao gave the order.

Watching Lu Qiao's car drive away.

Wu Jingzhong finally let out a long sigh of relief.

"Li Ya."

"A man of Jianfeng, holding the rank of Colonel, a 'hero' commended by the Generalissimo for the international spy case, was just taken away by Lu Qiao just like that."

"Hong Zhiyou, who do you think Lu Qiao will take away next?"

He looked at Hong Zhiyou and asked with concern.

"Don't worry, Master."

"You are a General, he cannot touch you."

"As for Yu Zecheng, he cannot find any witnesses or evidence."

"Li Ya can only vent his anger on Li Ya."

Hong Zhiyou comforted him.

"We must be on guard; that smiling tiger is out to eat people," Wu Jingzhong said.

"Yes."

"However, I am more inclined to believe he will strike hard at the student issue; only then can he severely damage you and Officer Chen," Hong Zhiyou analyzed.

"Let's see."

"By the way, has the murderer who killed Li Erbao been caught?"

"I thought about it all night; the timing of Lu Qiao's return is too coincidental."

"I highly suspect that criminal organization has ties to Lu Qiao."

"We cannot just guard against Lu Qiao; we must also ferret out this gang of desperadoes as soon as possible, otherwise, no one will be able to sleep soundly."

Wu Jingzhong said, folding his arms.

"Yes."

"I have already stepped up efforts to mobilize the workers at the Cao Gang docks to search everywhere," Hong Zhiyou said.

Just as they were speaking.

Xiao Guohua knocked on the door and walked in:

"Station Chief, Secretary Hong, there is news from Mi Zhiguo's side."

"According to witnesses in the alley, someone saw the murderer."

"The police station had a sketch artist draw the person."

"Please take a look."

He opened the portrait.

Inside was a middle-aged man with a sinister expression and thin, long cheeks.

"Looks like a tough character."

"With such nimble blade skills, he shouldn't be hard to find."

"Zhiyou, take this and ask Mrs. Yu, as well as those old blade-wielders of the Cao Gang."

Wu Jingzhong decided decisively.

Hong Zhiyou made a phone call and arranged to meet directly at a restaurant.

Cuiping, Zhou Yan, and others all arrived.

Upon seeing the portrait, everyone had a look of unfamiliarity.

It wasn't until Lin Tian saw it that he exclaimed, "I know him."

"Who is it?"

Hong Zhiyou asked.

"His name is Zhang Jingui."

"In the underworld, his nickname is 'Divine Leg Zhang,' and he is from the same school as my master, Yanzi Li San."

"It's just that my master finished his apprenticeship early and is quite a bit older than him."

"By seniority, I have to call him Master Uncle."

"Zhang Jingui is lecherous; he used to be a flower-plucking thief, and after being wanted in the Baoding area, he disappeared without a trace."

"No one knew where he went."

"I didn't expect this great fiend to return."

Lin Tian said with a look of horror.

"I have also heard of this person, 'Divine Leg Zhang,' who comes and goes without a trace; his light-body technique is extremely remarkable."

"Moreover, he is skilled at using a pair of butterfly knives."

Zhou Yan nodded and said.

"According to Guo Shuwen's autopsy report, he was killed by a specific plant poison from Southeast Asia."

"Which means it is highly likely that 'Divine Leg Zhang' has been hiding in Southeast Asia all these years."

Hong Zhiyou added.

"Hmph, no matter how formidable, he is just a lecher."

"If I find him, I'll kick his skull in with one foot."

Cuiping was extremely disgusted by such trash.

"Cuiping is right."

"The top priority is to immediately mobilize the people from the Cao Gang and the police station to search the major flower houses in the city; perhaps we will find the whereabouts of 'Divine Leg Zhang'," Zhou Yan said.

"No."

"If the other party is truly connected to Staff Officer Huang Yunxian, the police station and the Cao Gang might leak the news."

"Leave this matter to me."

Hong Zhiyou said for the sake of caution.

He could use the workers from Renji, or the beggar gang.

Especially the latter, who had received many favors from him and were extremely useful for gathering intelligence.

"Good."

"Find 'Divine Leg Zhang' and root out the black hand behind him," everyone agreed unanimously.

(End of chapter)