Chapter 290: Hammered a Hammer

Seeing that Third Brother, their leader, had already knelt, the street thugs also readily tossed aside their weapons... turned around, and fled into the alley behind them.

Among them all, Little Bit was the fastest runner.

These people had already figured it out: if the big brother dies, it's not the little brothers' fault; besides, that bastard only has one gun—he couldn't possibly shoot down so many people with a single bullet, could he?

I bet your gun doesn't have that many bullets!

Besides, this is an alley, not a main street.

Furthermore, it's pitch black night, not broad daylight.

How far can a handgun really shoot anyway?

These few kicked up their heels and sprinted into the alley, but they had barely run ten meters when suddenly more than ten figures leaped down from the alley wall ahead.

These newcomers wore all sorts of clothing; this time, the street thugs saw their attire clearly because they were looking inward from the light at the alley entrance.

After jumping down from the wall, these people were also quite polite; without saying a single extra word, they charged straight at the street thugs.

"Clang!"

Originally, Little Bit, who was running in the very front, held the advantage, since any incoming bullets would hit the slower runners first.

But now that people had appeared ahead, he would be the first to get beaten as well.

One of the runners in front, dressed in black combat gear, lifted his foot and kicked Little Bit squarely in the stomach.

Little Bit was indeed a bit small in stature, the attacker had used excessive force, and moreover, the snow on the ground had been compacted solid by people stepping on it during the day.

Little Bit, struck by that kick, flew backward a considerable distance before landing on the ground with a loud "Clang!"

That wasn't all; Little Bit slid across the snowy ground until he came to rest right alongside Third Brother.

Back again?

We two meet once more.

Third Brother glanced at his "loyal and righteous brother" sitting beside him, clutching his stomach in agony, and truly wanted to say: "The roads of the jianghu are long and fraught with danger; wasn't that rash? In such situations, it's best to give up resistance and just kneel obediently."

Little Bit clearly read this meaning in Third Brother's unyielding gaze, though even without looking, he could see what lay ahead.

Because right before his eyes, his own brothers were being knocked down one by one by rifle butts wielded by those charging figures.

It was truly one shot per street thug, clean, neat, and crisp.

This "clean, neat, and crisp" did not refer to these people's martial skills, but rather to their subsequent actions.

From the movements of those holding guns to maintain vigilance while stepping on the waists of the fallen brothers, to the swift and deft motions of searching the brothers' bodies for pipes, forks, money, and other items, they were even more efficient than damn Er Er Gazi, who specialized in picking pockets on their side.

Who exactly are the robbers here?

Could we have actually run into bandits!

Third Brother knelt while Little Bit sat clutching his stomach, watching as their gang members were handcuffed, their caps flipped over their faces, their jackets pulled up from behind to cover their heads, and finally their belts yanked out, leaving them to hold up their cotton trousers with their cuffed hands.

This entire sequence of actions left Third Brother utterly stunned; what kind of military unit had come to arrest them?

Could it be that we robbed some important figure?

Then he saw the individuals in black clothes draw knives from their waists, slice open the laces of their brothers' cotton shoes, and flick the shredded laces aside.

We're finished; this time we're definitely dead.

This is a huge incident!

These people are just too damn professional.

How so?

Because current cotton shoes are made of cloth and all require tying in a crisscross pattern.

Now that their shoelaces had been cut by these people, the shoes no longer fit snugly and would have to be shuffled along.

Walking could only ensure the shoes wouldn't fall off; running fast was out of the question, let alone fleeing.

Excluding Third Brother and Little Bit, it took less than two minutes for the other five to go from being knocked down to having their shoelaces cut and squatting on the ground.

Once those five were dealt with, they were ordered to squat with hands on their heads, after which several individuals walked over.

Third Brother thought these people would subject him and Little Bit to the same treatment, so he had already prepared to lie prostrate on the ground to avoid being kicked.

But these people, guns raised, didn't even glance at him; they merely stood around maintaining vigilance.

Instead, footsteps sounded from behind.

In winter, after a heavy snowfall, people walking on snow emit a "crunch, crunch" sound, which is quite pleasant.

But in Third Brother's ears, this sound had become the footsteps of a devil.

"Crunch, crunch"

"Crunch, crunch"

He finally realized what kind of people were standing at the alley entrance, and finally understood against whom he had spoken those harsh words.

When the footsteps stopped right in front of him, Third Brother still dared not lift his head to look; keeping his head slightly lowered, he peeked with his eyes, watching as the knees of the person before him slowly bent until they squatted down.

Once the person before him squatted, Third Brother, now with his back to the light, could finally make out the face of the bastard who had blocked their path and fired shots.

Damn your mother!

Big Scarface!

In the middle of the night, this is just too damn terrifying!

"Slap!"

Third Brother was struck dumb by the blow, feeling a stinging pain on his face; by his nature, he would have bared his teeth—who would dare hit Third Brother?

But now his kneeling knees forbade it, so Third Brother put on an obedient expression as he looked at the person before him.

"You're Third Brother, right?"

"Slap!"

"From the patrol team, are you?"

"Slap!"

"You've lost all human decency, right?"

"Slap!"

"You can't even buy your way out of this, right?"

Society's Third Brother took several slaps without uttering a sound.

Of course not—would you dare make a sound if a few guns were pointed at your face?

Third Brother looked at the scar-faced man and asked, "May I ask who you are? I don't recall offending anyone dressed like you. Even if you're going to kill me, let me die knowing why, right?"

"Justice!"

The embodiment of justice, the tiger of the Security Division, Deputy Chief of Jiaodao Kou Station, protector of the neighborhood!

Li Li Xuewu slowly stood up and looked down at the fat man before him: "When evil stirs in the darkness, you should already know justice is coming."

"..."

"Hm?"

This fat guy seems a bit unconvinced.

"Am I not just? Didn't my appearance just now seem majestic? Didn't you feel intimidated when you saw me?"

Third Brother turned to look at the little guy; the little guy's expression was still pained, but he nodded firmly.

"Justice, justice—you look very just."

Hearing the little guy say Li Li Xuewu was just, Third Brother nodded vigorously.

"Majestic, majestic—your presence is majestic! Seeing you terrified me so much I nearly fainted."

The little guy beside him also nodded frantically: "Yes, yes, yes—I was so scared I nearly peed myself."

Seeing the fat man humiliated and suddenly repentant, he could not help but lower his proud head.

Li Li Xuewu moved the "reason" he'd pressed against the fat man's forehead away.

"Just now I heard you speak in such polished phrases—you're cultured, huh? What's your education level?"

"No no no, I was just blabbering—I didn't even finish elementary school."

Third Brother felt the cold pressure lift from his head; his crotch felt wet, icy cold.

Fuck his mother—what kind of person is this? If you don't praise him, he'll pull out weapons. With your face, if I didn't call you just, I'd be betraying my own knees that just hit the ground.

"Hehehe."

Li Li Xuewu walked up to the little guy, looked at this social kid who looked sixteen or seventeen, and said: "Good. A little culture is a good thing—at least you know how to write the word 'law.'"

"Click."

Li Li Xuewu lit himself a cigarette, then waved at Yan Brother Jiecheng, who had driven the car over, signaling him to park behind these two.

"Section Chief?"

"It's fine—park right here."

Yan Brother Jiecheng jumped out and stood by the car door, unsure why Li Li Xuewu wanted the Jeep parked behind this seated and kneeling pair, but he obeyed.

The headlights were blinding; Li Li Xuewu shaded his eyes with his hand and asked Yan Brother Jiecheng with a smile: "Any new updates on the radio?"

"Yes—all arrests completed. Director Liu handled them."

"Oh oh oh."

Li Li Xuewu nodded, then smiled at the two before him: "I've got some time. It's late at night—you're not home sleeping, so you must be bored. Let's play a little game."

Third Brother stared at Li Li Xuewu like he was an idiot.

You've already caught us—why not tie us up? Why play games out here in the freezing snow?

What the hell are you playing? Don't criminals have rights?

Li Li Xuewu grinned, clicked the safety off his gun, then gripped the barrel.

"You sit too. Don't keep kneeling—your knees will get cold. You'll get rheumatism when you're old."

You're so kind—but can you at least let me stand up? My knees are cold, but isn't my ass cold too?

My crotch is still freezing!

Third Brother looked at Li Li Xuewu's face—he seemed serious—so he cautiously lifted one leg.

Seeing Li Li Xuewu still smiling encouragingly, he quickly pulled both legs in and sat down on the snow.

Fine, I'll die—let's see what this scar-faced bastard is up to.

"Ah, now that's better."

Li Li Xuewu gestured for the little guy to come closer, then said excitedly: "I love this game. I'd say I've lived my whole life for this game."

Li Li Xuewu gestured to the two: "Now, both of you, put your hands out on the ground."

The little guy looked at Third Brother—his face full of terror.

Third Brother, have we met a lunatic?

Of course we have—who else would play like this?

Though hesitant, Third Brother remembered this scar-faced bastard might actually shoot, so he trembled and placed his hands on the snow.

Seeing Third Brother do it, the little guy could only place his hand, still clutching his stomach, beside Third Brother's.

Seeing they obeyed, Li Li Xuewu grinned and continued: "This game is called 'Hammered a Hammer.'"

Fuck!

A dozen crows flew over Third Brother's head…

I was just fucking talking nonsense earlier!

We didn't mean to play the 'hammer game'!

'Hammer' doesn't mean this hammer—it means that hammer!

Li Li Xuewu paid no mind to their stunned stares; he tapped the gun butt lightly against the backs of their hands.

"Each time, I will ask one question; you two can race to answer, and whoever gets it right may withdraw their hand for this round."

"The remaining person must compete with me in hand speed; that is, if you can pull your hand away before my hammer strikes you, you pass."

"But there is one rule: my feints do not count; if my hammer has not landed, it does not count as passing."

"If neither of you can answer this question, then both of you keep your hands here, and we shall see whom I strike, or if I strike neither."

"Have you understood?"

"Understood, isn't it just a game of slapping blindly..."

"Ah! ~~~"

Little Dot had just nodded saying he understood, and even extrapolated the rules of the 'slapping blindly' game.

But before he could finish speaking, he heard his Third Brother beside him let out a pig-like shriek.

"Ah~~~ My hand~ My hand~~~"

Third Brother clutched his hand, lying in the snow and rolling about while howling.

Li Li Xuewu said impatiently, "Aiya, aiya, that's enough! It's not that serious; it's just bone pain in the hand. Come on, come on, let's proceed to the second round."

Third Brother lifted his hand and held it up to the large lamp behind him, revealing that his chubby hand back had swollen up extremely high.

Third Brother had a mind to curse a few words.

But seeing Li Li Xuewu staring wide-eyed at him and jiggling the gun in his hand, he could only place his hand beside Little Dot's.

Damn your mother!

So it's not your hand that's hurt, and you say it's 'not serious'? Why don't you put your hand here and let me knock it!

"Brother Brother Jiecheng... are we starting now?"

"Hmm?"

Li Li Xuewu looked at Third Brother with a questioning gaze, not knowing what he meant.

Third Brother pointed to the gun butt that had just struck him and asked again, "I mean, did your question 'Have you understood?' just now count as the start?"

"Yes."

Li Li Xuewu said with a completely serious face, "I said, each time I will ask a question."

"But you didn't say we were starting right then!"

Li Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes and asked, "Do you decide, or do I decide?"

"You decide."

"..."

"Ah!!!"

Third Brother once again clutched his hand, frantically puckering his lips and hissing through his teeth, looking at Li Li Xuewu as if he were a madman.

He dared not ask again, because if he did, Li Li Xuewu might utter another hidden question, and if he wasn't careful, he would get struck again.

Watching Third Brother place his hand, now swollen with a large red lump, onto the snow, Li Li Xuewu smiled and said to the young hooligan beside him, "You truly are a clever person; with your reaction speed, I even want to recruit you into my team."

"Hehehe."

Little Dot looked at Li Li Xuewu somewhat embarrassed, then looked at Third Brother with a hint of self-satisfaction.

Third Brother now dared not quarrel with Little Dot; he could only stare at Li Li Xuewu's hand, guarding against Li Li Xuewu striking unexpectedly again.

"Alright, our game is about to begin; are you ready?"

"Ready!"

"Ready!"

"Hahahahaha."

Seeing the two answer his question in unison, Li Li Xuewu nodded with a laugh and said, "That's how we play; it seems you both understand. Now, here is the first question."

Li Li Xuewu looked at the two people staring at him tensely, held up three fingers before his own face, waved them, and then quickly asked, "What does one plus one equal?"

"Three!"

"Three!"

"Hahahaha, guessed wrong, hahaha."

Li Li Xuewu laughed so hard he nearly flipped backward; he swayed for a moment before steadying himself.

The guard team members and security personnel on perimeter duty all pressed their lips together and turned their bodies away, unable to bear watching Little Dot and Third Brother, who stood dumbfounded.

Director Liu took a cigarette pack from his pocket, tapped one out, lit it for himself, and sat in the vehicle watching the commotion ahead.

He had known this kid was up to no good.

Watching Li Li Xuewu laugh uproariously, Brother Brother Jiecheng felt a chill run down his spine; if his wife hadn't taken him to the backyard to find Li Li Xuewu back then...

Yu Li was a good wife, a life-saving good wife.

"Quick! Quick! Quick!"

Brandishing the 'little hammer,' Li Li Xuewu gestured at the two and said, "You answered wrong; get ready!"

Third Brother and Little Dot stared blankly at Li Li Xuewu; what kind of person is this damn fellow?

"Wasn't it three just now..."

With a face full of regret, Third Brother slapped his own mouth, then fiercely slammed his hand onto the ground.

"Accept the loss when gambling!"

Little Dot, also trembling with fear, placed his hand beside Third Brother's.

"Ai, that's the spirit; we're just playing for fun."

Looking at Li Li Xuewu, Third Brother ground his back molars until they nearly shattered, already cursing endlessly in his heart.

You are having fun, but we two brothers are suffering disaster.

"Clang clang clang clang~~~"

Li Li Xuewu waved the "little hammer" back and forth over the backs of their hands, causing Third Brother and the other man's eyes to follow his hand's movement.

Suddenly, Li Li Xuewu pulled his hand back sharply, then slammed it down with force.

"Ah-ya!"

"Ah!!!"

Seeing Third Brother and Little Bit clutching their hands and crying out in pain, Li Li Xuewu glanced at the "little hammer" in his own hand, then cursed angrily at Third Brother, "What the hell are you howling about?"

Third Brother looked at Little Bit rolling on the ground wailing in pain, then looked at his own hand in disbelief, before splitting his face into a silly grin and exclaiming, "Hey! Hey! It didn't hit me! Hey!"

Yan Brother Jiecheng, watching the fat man's ecstatic reaction, felt a pang of cowardice and quickly pulled open the car door to climb inside.

It wasn't that he was afraid of Li Li Xuewu; it was just a bit cold outside.

Yes, just a bit cold, enough to make his legs tremble.

Especially when hearing that fat man's satisfied laughter.

"Alright, alright, enough howling for now, let's start the second question."

Li Li Xuewu said this to Little Bit, who was still prostrate on the ground, then shook the little hammer in his hand.

Tears of pain streamed down Little Bit's face; he was already skinny, with little flesh on his hands, so the gun stock had smashed directly onto bone.

The sensation of the gun handle smashing straight onto bone was indeed unbearable.

Wiping away his tears, Little Bit lost his earlier arrogance and looked at Li Li Xuewu with some fear.

Seeing the look in Little Bit's eyes, Li Li Xuewu asked with a smile, "Why are you looking at me? Don't think I won't hit you just because you're handsome."

Little Bit didn't know what Li Li Xuewu meant by "handsome," but he knew it was a complimentary word.

But was it wrong to be "handsome" now?

Ignoring Little Bit, Li Li Xuewu then waved two fingers on his left hand and asked, "What does one plus two equal?"

"Three."

"Three."

This time, the two had learned their lesson; instead of watching Li Li Xuewu's fingers to answer, they closed their eyes, thus both answering correctly and quickly.

"Good, this time you pass, let's move to the next question."

Li Li Xuewu paused for a moment before asking, "Who sent you two here to commit robbery?"

"Fu Changhua."

"..."

Little Bit looked at his Third Brother in surprise, his stunned expression looking quite pitiful.

He didn't know the answer to this question; it was out of scope!!!

After all, he wasn't the one who usually contacted that person.

Third Brother, having just answered, also froze, looking at the smiling Li Li Xuewu and momentarily at a loss for words.

Little Bit sighed, placed his hand on the ground, and prepared for Li Li Xuewu to strike.

But at that moment, Li Li Xuewu's gaze wasn't on Little Bit at all; it was fixed steadily on Third Brother.

Unable to withstand Li Li Xuewu's stare, Third Brother finally spoke up: "It was Fu Changhua who sent us."

Li Li Xuewu squatted in front of Third Brother, using the shadow cast by Third Brother's body, and stared into his eyes as he demanded, "I don't have time for anything else right now; tell me immediately where this person you mentioned is."

Seeing Li Li Xuewu's expression change, shifting suddenly from a giggling smile to seriousness, with even his tone of voice becoming gloomy and sinister.

The security personnel who had been watching the spectacle all knew that Li Li Xuewu had now reverted to being the "Tiger of the Security Department," wise as a demon.

The guards one after another turned their bodies or heads to look at Third Brother.

Even Director Liu couldn't help but get out of the car.

They were truly in awe of Li Li Xuewu; they had originally thought Li Li Xuewu was just humiliating these men for fun and amusement, never expecting Li Li Xuewu to make such a sharp turn in intent.

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

Third Brother, looking at the pistol pressed against his forehead, felt cold sweat instantly stream down from his temples.

Even Little Bit, sitting nearby and realizing something was seriously wrong, could perceive Third Brother's fear.

Thinking the game would continue, Little Bit cautiously withdrew the hand he had placed on the ground.

But as he withdrew it, he inadvertently saw Third Brother's hand trembling, and amidst the crisp winter air, there was a distinct smell of urine.

It wasn't that Third Brother lacked backbone; rather, with eyes fixed on the spot before him, he saw this madman's finger continuously tightening on the trigger.

Third Brother didn't know how many seconds he could endure, but he knew he couldn't contend with the person before him.

Just from the fact that he could lead so many people, from the fact that he could toy with them without anyone daring to object, and from his wanton and arrogant demeanor, one could tell he dared to pull the trigger.

He really dared to kill me.

Third Brother had already concocted the reason this madman before him would use to kill him: a criminal resisting arrest, shot dead by "justice."

"I really don't know."

Third Brother's voice clearly carried a tearful tremor as he stuttered, "Fu Changhua has considerable influence; he knows Eighth Master Zhu of the XC Zhu family. I only receive messages through Eighth Master Zhu. Truly, I've only ever seen him at a drinking table."

Li Li Xuewu holstered the gun in his hand back into the holster beneath his coat, then said, "Tell me the name, home address, and usual haunts of this so-called Eighth Master Zhu."

Third Brother shifted his slightly chilled lower body and stuttered, "I don't know his real name, but everyone in the underworld calls him Eighth Master Zhu; Fu Changhua calls him Zhu Zhu Laoba."

"He used to be a hooligan in the Xidan Market area and usually operates around there."

"He has a house in Damucang Jinyu Hutong, but that belongs to his mistress; he doesn't live there often. Every time we need to find him, we go through that mistress."

Staring into the eyes of the fat man sitting on the ground, Li Li Xuewu said, "I hope you haven't lied to me."

Third Brother grimaced in a bitter smile and said, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."

Li Li Xuewu continued to ask, "Do you know who else is robbing people in this area? Do you know their locations?"

Third Brother's face instantly changed color.

Getting him to reveal his handler was no problem, because he was certain that once the handler was caught, they would definitely be executed by firing squad.

But if he were to reveal his peers, his own family would be flayed alive.

Yet seeing Li Li Xuewu lurking in his shadow, staring at him like a venomous snake, Third Brother hesitated.

"Do you think that even if you preserve your code of honor, your peers will treat your family kindly?"

"Living in your den, sleeping with your wife, spending your money, beating your children..."

Every word Li Li Xuewu spoke struck Third Brother like a snake flicking its tongue, constantly threatening his innermost heart.

"There are..."

Little One, clutching the hand Li Li Xuewu had smashed, looked at Third Brother in disbelief as he confessed name after name, location after location.

In the past, Third Brother often said that to survive in this world, one must speak of loyalty.

And what Third Brother always had on his lips was stabbing two blades into his ribs for his brothers, earning him the title of Sect Master of the Stabbing Blade Sect.

But now, watching Third Brother continuously stab the very brothers with whom he had sworn life-and-death bonds, Little One's entire worldview collapsed.

Director Liu took his notebook and recorded everything the fat man said, then ran back to the command vehicle to call for reinforcements.

Li Li Xuewu glanced at the young thug whose spirit had completely collapsed and asked, "How old are you?"

Little One fearfully lifted his head to look at Third Brother, whose face was as gray as death, then looked again at Scarface, who had reverted to his initial cold expression.

"Six... sixteen."

Li Li Xuewu took out his cigarette case and gestured toward the young thug.

Little One looked at Li Li Xuewu and said, "I don't know how to smoke; I've never smoked."

"Heh heh heh."

Li Li Xuewu smiled and asked, "How many years have you been running with him?"

Little One glanced again at Third Brother, who was slumped on the ground, and then said, "Over two years."

"Did he ever tell you that surviving in this world relies on three things and five matters?"

Little One shook his head at Scarface, who had suddenly become very talkative.

"No, Third Brother only told me that surviving in this world requires loyalty..."

Speaking to the end, thinking of Third Brother's performance just now, Little One could not continue.

"Heh heh heh heh."

Li Li Xuewu chuckled for a moment, then said to Little One, "When I was your age, I also ran around in this world, just like you."

Little One looked at Li Li Xuewu and asked in disbelief, "Really?"

"Really."

Li Li Xuewu took a drag of his cigarette, nodded, and said, "Have you ever heard of the DC Five Tigers?"

Little One shook his head and said, "I don't know."

"Heh heh heh."

Li Li Xuewu nodded dejectedly and said, "That was many years ago; the underworld is just like that, one generation of newcomers replaces the old."

Little One seemed to have forgotten who caused the pain in his hand; looking at Li Li Xuewu's imposing manner, he asked, "So you really ran around like I did?"

"Heh heh heh."

Li Li Xuewu smiled and said, "I survived in this world relying on three things."

Little One perked up, kneeling upright and eager to hear how his senior had made it to his current status.

But they only saw Scarface counting on his fingers as he said, "First, cowardice; second, betraying peers; third, having no loyalty."

"Ah?"

Little One opened his mouth wide in surprise, looking at Li Li Xuewu as if he were a liar.

Li Li Xuewu smiled and continued counting on his fingers, "Let me tell you the five matters I relied on to survive in this world: breaking faith and abandoning righteousness, betraying brothers, eating from the bowl while scratching the outside, framing others, and taking care of sisters-in-law."

"Hahahahahaha!"

The people standing nearby on duty could no longer hold back; one person led the laughter, and the others all burst into giggles.

Li Li Xuewu, still squatting in front of Little One, smiled and said, "Haven't you heard that set of underworld rhymes?"

Little One, seeing the laughter around him, knew Li Li Xuewu was saying something bad, but he didn't understand why Li Li Xuewu was saying it.

Li Li Xuewu looked at Little One and said, "When brothers get beaten, I run away; I am the brother's capable helper; brotherly love is thicker than water, but when brothers are in trouble, I play deaf; when brothers are present I call them 'sister-in-law,' when they are gone I call them 'baby'; to be a brother means having loyalty, so when one gets beaten, everyone else just watches the show."

"Hahahahahaha!"

The people standing around on guard duty laughed themselves silly, having never known Li Li Xuewu was so humorous.

This time, Little One realized Li Li Xuewu was mocking Third Brother beside him, and he couldn't help but turn his gaze toward the former king.

At this moment, King Third Brother silently lowered his head, allowing the surrounding mockery to pierce his eardrums.

"So, how did you make it to where you are now?"

Just as Li Li Xuewu shook his head, smiled, and stood up, Little One stared with innocent eyes at Li Li Xuewu and asked this question.

Li Li Xuewu's body paused slightly as he rose, then he straightened his back and walked toward the passenger seat of the jeep.

As he pulled open the passenger door, Li Li Xuewu, with his back to Little One who was looking at him, said, "Do you know why I said earlier that I ran around like you, but when you asked me again, I didn't answer you directly?"

Little One shook his head.

It was as if he knew Li Li Xuewu was certain that he didn't know.

And Li Li Xuewu seemed to know that the sixteen-year-old "veteran of the underworld" was shaking his head while staring with innocent eyes.

"Because the initial me was just like you, but later I became different."

"How was it different?"

Li Li Xuewu did not know how to answer this question.

He could display his most cruel side when facing enemies, and his most cold-blooded side when facing criminals, but only when facing a lost lamb did Li Li Xuewu not know how to face him, or how to tell him that this world is cruel.

"Because when I was your age, I still had a chance to correct my mistakes, but you..."

Li Li Xuewu did not finish his sentence before climbing into the passenger seat, then slamming the car door shut with a loud clang.

"Let's go."

"Yes."

Yan Yan Jiefang shifted the car into reverse, preparing to back out onto the main road to continue his duty.

As the headlights slowly receded, the scene showed Third Brother and Little Dot being kicked down by the security guards and, following standard procedure, being searched and detained.

Even Little Dot, who had been kicked senseless, understood the words Li Li Xuewu had left unsaid.

He had no chance left.

With his eyes closed, Li Li Xuewu could still feel, through the front windshield, the gaze of the street thug pressed against the ground directed at him.

The vehicle slowly reversed; Little Dot grew farther and farther from Li Li Xuewu, just as Li Li Xuewu's own unrestrained and dissolute youth had drifted farther and farther away, until it vanished into the darkness of the alley.

And the black hole of time would endlessly swallow those who were lost and had lost themselves, including those who were not yet adults.

In this era, there were no protection laws to give them a second chance; everyone had to pay the price for their own mistakes.

The scars on Li Li Xuewu's face, the suffering he endured in the south, and the cold mockery his family received—these were the prices Li Li Xuewu had paid for his youth.

This was also the reason Li Li Xuewu cherished life, cherished the present, and cherished his family.

Director Liu, sitting in the back, patted Li Li Xuewu's shoulder as he sat in the passenger seat.

"You are a fine example; a prodigal son who returns is worth more than gold."

"Heh heh heh."

Li Li Xuewu gave a bitter laugh for a moment, then said, "I must thank you and Director Wang for not giving up on me back then."

Director Liu sat smiling in the back, hands clasped over his lap, eyes watching the streetlights passing by outside the window.

"Punishing someone is easy, but saving someone is very difficult; the reason I did not give up on you is that you have always possessed a kind heart."

Li Li Xuewu laughed self-mockingly, "How come I never knew there was such a thing as 'kindness' in my heart?"

"Hahaha!"

Director Liu was also amused by Li Li Xuewu's self-mockery, simply because he knew this little rascal all too well.

Whether Li Li Xuewu was bad or not didn't require Director Liu to say; one only needed to ask Old Zhang at the gate.

Since Li Li Xuewu was so bad, why was Old Zhang still willing to call him from the sun-baked wallside into the cool shade of the guardhouse to scold him?

It was simply because Li Li Xuewu's badness lay in his deeds, not in his character.

Someone who does bad things is not necessarily a bad person, but a bad person will certainly do bad things.

Bad deeds are also divided into those within the law and those outside it.

What Li Li Xuewu did was the kind of thing that made people furious yet also left them torn between tears and laughter.

Including Director Liu, all the neighbors knew that the Li family's second son was mischievous, but what they knew was merely that the child lacked attention.

Setting off firecrackers to splash excrement on someone and riding on someone's back to defecate are two entirely different matters.

"Zzz... zzz..."

Just as Li Li Xuewu and Director Liu were chatting idly, a call came through the radio.

"Calling Command Vehicle, calling Command Vehicle."

Li Li Xuewu picked up the radio and said, "Command Vehicle received, go ahead."

"Command Vehicle, Command Vehicle, this is Vehicle 2, this is Vehicle 2; the scheduled arrest mission is complete, the scheduled arrest mission is complete; requesting return to base, please advise."

Li Li Xuewu took the map handed over by Director Liu and glanced at it; Vehicle 2's location was very special, and besides the scheduled target, the person that fat man had just confessed to was not there either.

This might be related to the fact that the alley entrance faced directly toward the DC Sub-bureau.

"This is Command Vehicle; Vehicle 2, heed my order: proceed immediately to Vehicle 5's location to provide reinforcement. Acknowledge receipt."

"Vehicle 2 received, Vehicle 2 received; our vehicle will immediately proceed to Vehicle 5's location. Report ended."

After ending the conversation with Vehicle 2, Li Li Xuewu called Vehicle 5 on the walkie-talkie again, notifying them that Vehicle 2 was coming to provide reinforcement.

Thinking for a moment, Li Li Xuewu picked up the radio again, turned the dial, and called another command vehicle.

"Command Vehicle 2, Command Vehicle 3!"

"Received, received."

Old Chief Duan's clear voice came through the loudspeaker; currently, the one commanding the arrests at Beixinqiao was Chief Duan Youting.

"How is your mission progressing over there?"

"Almost done; just two left. Everyone else has gone to arrest the people mentioned in the subsequent reports."

"Received, received."

Having received the news, Li Li Xuewu did not hang up but continued to ask, "Do you have any comrades familiar with the area near the Xidan Market in the XC District?"

"Zzz... zzz..."

Just during this brief moment while Li Li Xuewu and the other were speaking, the radio signal was interfered with again.

This was quite normal; there were many radios in the city of Four-Nine, commercial, civilian, and public.

They were lucky that Li Li Xuewu and his team were using military-grade equipment retired from service; otherwise, the communication quality would have been even worse.

"Received, received."

The radio crackled with static for a while, after which Chief Duan Youting's voice came through.

"Shen Suo's brother-in-law is the instructor over there."

"Damn."

Li Li Xuewu did not transmit this curse through the microphone; instead, he smiled cheerfully at Director Liu, then pressed the radio button and said, "Received, received; I will contact Shen Suo."

"Received, received."

After finishing the contact with Chief Duan Youting, Li Li Xuewu raised his hand to check his watch; it was now past nine o'clock, and the streets were extremely quiet at this hour.

Director Liu turned on his flashlight, flipped through the notebook in his hand, took a look, and then said to Li Li Xuewu, "Basically done, just missing those few."

"Mm."

Li Li Xuewu looked at the street scene outside the car window, then said, "This is very normal. We have a purpose and a pattern; criminals do not. Many people aren't fools waiting there for us to catch them."

"Then what do we do?"

Director Liu looked at Li Li Xuewu in the front passenger seat and said, "If we don't catch him this time, the person might run."

"Heh heh heh, where can he run? Without an introduction letter, he can't even leave the city."

Li Li Xuewu shook his head and said, "You probably don't understand the psychology of criminals. These people are like rabbits."

"That's actually a vivid metaphor."

Seeing Li Li Xuewu's relaxed demeanor, Director Liu also set his mind at ease.

"They are like rabbits; as soon as they are startled, they think of running home."

Li Li Xuewu looked at the dark alley by the roadside and said, "Even if he committed crimes in the Northeast, he would crawl back to his home in the Four Nine City. This is the human instinct for refuge. Of course, he might have several homes."

"I understand."

Director Liu said, "A cunning rabbit has three burrows."

"Heh heh heh."

Li Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Those few burrows are all on the ground; they are rabbit holes. He can't get away."

Director Liu looked ahead and said, "This is also the reason you didn't rush to catch Zhu Zhu Laoba, right?"

Li Li Xuewu took out his cigarette pack, signaled to Director Liu, and seeing Director Liu wave his hand in refusal, he put one in his own mouth and lit it.

Satisfied, he took a drag before continuing, "In this world, as long as one is human, there will be attachments."

Speaking, Li Li Xuewu wiped the condensation on the car window with his hand and said, "These attachments can be lovers, money, children, parents, and so on, or even unfinished wishes."

"That's quite complex."

"No, no, no."

Li Li Xuewu shook his head, negating Director Liu's words, then said, "These things look complex, but they are actually very simple."

He opened the car window a small crack, and the smoke in the car was quickly sucked out through this small opening.

"They all say the human heart is complex; in my opinion, the human heart is the simplest thing."

Li Li Xuewu didn't need to turn around to know Director Liu was looking at him in surprise.

"A person living a life must have pursuits; with pursuits comes desire; with desire comes greed; with greed comes mistakes. And we stand at the turning point of human nature."

"Your analysis is quite thorough."

"Not thorough. I am merely analyzing from the perspective of criminal psychology; it is somewhat one-sided."

Li Li Xuewu adjusted the knob on the radio, restoring the command channel.

"We, standing at the turning point of human nature, only need to grasp these people's desires to catch them, interrogate them, and break through their psychological defenses."

Director Liu nodded and said, "I have talked with Director Shen about you. He said your interrogation skills are formidable, that you are an expert in this area, and that having handled several cases with you, the interrogation work was always done with ease."

"Heh heh heh."

Li Li Xuewu smiled happily at the praise.

Brothers:

From the 28th to the 30th of this month, monthly tickets are double.

Please help me vote for monthly tickets after the 28th.

I know everyone's tickets are saved for me. No words needed; I will add extra chapters next month.