Over ten minutes later, armed patrol vehicles drove into the lakeside park. After sweeping the area, the patrol officers confiscated all firearms and equipment left at the scene and hauled the corpses onto tow trucks.
An officer walked up to the squad leader, saluted, and reported, "Captain Qian, we've verified that all the dead at the scene were armed criminals."
Captain Qian gave a low grunt and asked impassively, "Have their identities been confirmed?"
"Preliminary identification shows they're an outside mercenary crew that slipped into town. The ringleader is named Suo Pingtou, with a prior criminal record. I checked against our files, and his entire crew is right here—not a single one missing."
Captain Qian sighed with admiration. "The younger generation is truly formidable. Captain Nian... Brigade Captain Nian is blessed indeed." He then instructed, "Make sure that once the gear is processed, Captain Nian's side gets a share too."
The officer immediately acknowledged the order.
"Is everything handled? If so, pull out."
"Yes, sir!"
A few minutes later, the armed patrol vehicles drove away, leaving behind only the lake and reed marshes swallowed by the night.
Meanwhile, Chen Chuan had already returned to the training hall on Xiuyi Street. When he walked through the entrance, the security guard noticed nothing unusual and smiled, greeting him about getting back so early today.
Heading upstairs, Chen Chuan placed the Xuejun Saber on the weapon rack and dialed Gao Ming's number. He said nothing, letting it ring a few times before hanging up.
Within minutes, his phone rang. He picked it up, but the voice on the other end was Nian Fuli's: "Xiao Chuan, were you ambushed by armed assailants?"
When Chen Chuan had left the park, he had called the constabulary on his way back. He knew that as a captain, Nian Fuli would inevitably find out, and he had never intended to hide it.
"Yes. They were gunning for me. Uncle, there might be some trouble brewing lately, and I need a little time to deal with it."
Nian Fuli said solemnly, "I understand. Xiao Chuan, remember, you're a child of the constabulary."
Chen Chuan nodded. "I know, Uncle."
In his office at the constabulary, Nian Fuli hung up the phone. After a moment of thought, he pulled over an official document, signed it, and told the officer on duty outside, "Fetch Xiao Wu."
Moments later, a sharp, capable young officer entered the office and saluted. "Master."
Nian Fuli handed the document to Xiao Wu and instructed, "Mobilize a squad from the department and head to Quanzhou District. The orders are written in there. The local precinct will cooperate with you."
"Understood!"
Xiao Wu stepped forward, took the document, saluted again, and backed out of the office, closing the door behind him.
Over at the training hall, Gao Ming rushed to meet Chen Chuan as soon as he received his signal.
Chen Chuan poured Gao Ming a cup of tea before speaking. "Someone attacked me just now, but I dealt with them. The constabulary should already be processing the scene."
Gao Ming asked for the details, then remarked, "No problem there. Openly carrying firearms in Yangzhi City automatically grants ordinary citizens the right to use lethal force against perpetrators, and with the constabulary—"
Chen Chuan said, "So what comes next is—"
Gao Ming pushed up his glasses. "Yes. Since those thugs couldn't get rid of you, Cousin, they'll either refuse to accept defeat and try again, or they'll deploy someone with a decisive advantage in combat prowess—someone they believe you cannot possibly resist—hoping to eliminate you before you go into hiding.
"However, this is also our opportunity. An expert like that won't lack background and connections. Whether captured alive or killed, they will lead straight to the puppet masters behind them."
Chen Chuan continued, "So after that, it will be—"
"Right. The key lies in—"
Chen Chuan nodded slowly. Even if events did not unfold strictly according to their deductions, it did not matter. He and Gao Ming had prepared several contingency plans to handle different scenarios.
The Mutual Aid Society wanted to control the board, but he was doing the same, steering things toward the outcome he desired.
Just an hour later, the news that the armed ambush on Chen Chuan had failed—and that the entire squad had been wiped out—was delivered to Shao Xiaobie. Upon hearing the report, Shao Xiaobie kicked his desk over and unleashed a barrage of curses at the mercenaries' utter incompetence.
He paced restlessly around his office, spewing profanities.
He had previously volunteered to handle the entire affair, thumping his chest and boasting that he could get it done. But now he had fumbled it, and worse, he had alerted the target.
After pacing for a long while, he sat down, called over the butler in charge of managing the job, and said with a dark expression, "Can we send more men? None of that subpar trash—I need someone who can actually get the damn job done!"
Knowing his temper, the butler answered patiently, "Young Master, Suo Pingtou's crew rarely fails. Their annihilation means it was either an unforeseen mishap or the target's strength far exceeded expectations. I've reviewed his files, and it's quite likely we underestimated him from the start."
Shao Xiaobie waved his hand impatiently. "Stop wasting my time with that nonsense! Find me someone—find someone to finish this off!"
"Young Master, that won't be easy," the butler said. "Suo Pingtou and his men worked with us several times and were trustworthy. Hiring others might just mean they take the money and run. Furthermore, the constabulary has stepped up inspections lately. If we want someone else to take the contract, we'll have to wait a while."
"Then raise the bounty! If we pay high enough, why wouldn't someone take it?"
The butler explained, "Word travels fast in those circles. With Suo Pingtou dead, anyone willing to take the job will only grow more cautious. I'm afraid we still have to wait."
In truth, there were things he found awkward to say openly. None of those armed crews were easy to deal with. If you raised the price outright, they would instantly see how desperate you were, and they would hold out to see if you would raise it even higher. With everyone sitting on the fence, nothing could be settled on short notice.
"How the hell long do we have to wait?"
"From putting out the word to someone taking the contract, at least ten days to half a month."
"That's too late! I can't wait that long! School is about to start, damn it!"
Shao Xiaobie could never wait that long. Once the term began, Chen Chuan would be living inside the academy. The academy administration was clearly backing Chen Chuan—how else could he have pulled off everything he did? Striking at him inside the academy was out of the question.
Moreover, once the semester started, Chen Chuan might apply for his defense license exam. He might even take the test alongside Wei Jun. How awkward would that be?
"If you are in a hurry, Young Master," the butler suggested, "our only option is to use locals."
"No! Absolutely no locals!"
Shao Xiaobie rejected the idea immediately. Using locals would make it all too easy for investigators to trace the trail right back to him. While others might get off scot-free, he could end up taking the fall. Taking the hit while doing someone else a favor—he wasn't that stupid.
Suddenly, an idea struck him. He slapped the table and pointed a finger. "Wait! His family! If we can't touch him, we go after his family first!"
"Young Master, this student was raised by his aunt and uncle," the butler said. "His uncle, Nian Fuli, is a constabulary captain, and the family resides in the constabulary residential compound. Young Master, please exercise caution."
"Fuck!"
Shao Xiaobie cursed again, knowing that avenue was closed.
The constabulary was extremely tight-knit. Due to the hazardous nature of their work, all officers' families lived within the constabulary residential quarters, guarded by dedicated armed personnel. Outsiders could not even set foot inside. Even if someone managed to break in, any major incident would incite the entire constabulary into an all-out revolt. That was a backlash he could never withstand.
The butler spoke up again. "Young Master, using locals doesn't mean we have to show our faces, nor does it require us to do anything directly. That way, nothing can trace back to you."
Shao Xiaobie sat up straight. "Go on."
The butler explained, "Aside from this student's records and files, I had someone make further inquiries. Recently, he had a clash with the Blood Mark Gang. Zhuo Bao, one of their Five Claws, supposedly had a hand chopped off by him. Zhuo Bao even tried to file a lawsuit over it, and the matter still hasn't been resolved. We can leak the information that Chen Chuan is in the southern district to Zhuo Bao."
Shao Xiaobie was skeptical. "The Blood Mark Gang? Aren't they at war with the Iron Chain Gang right now? Do they even have the bandwidth for this? Besides, why would Zhuo Bao listen to you? He'll just go because you tell him to?"
"Zhuo Bao is a madman with an extremely unstable mind," the butler said. "Yet he is fiercely vengeful and never forgets anyone who harms him, let alone someone who took his arm.
"He has been fitted with a new hand implant, and the anti-alienation drugs he uses are supplied by us. This time, we can lace his medication with a little extra ingredient, paired with psychological suggestions. He won't be able to hold himself back.
"With the Blood Mark Gang's numbers and firepower, a surprise raid might just succeed. And even if he fails, the Blood Mark Gang won't let the humiliation slide once their face is lost. None of it will have anything to do with us."
"Good idea."
Shao Xiaobie loved schemes that required no effort on his part—only egging others on. What was more, if the Blood Mark Gang stepped in, the earlier failed hit could easily be pinned on them as well.
"Let's do it that way. I don't care how you do it, I just want results as soon as possible."
The butler bowed respectfully. "Young Master, I'll attend to it right away."
"Go, go! Hurry!"
The butler's execution was remarkably efficient. Barely a day later, Zhuo Bao received intelligence regarding Chen Chuan, along with photographs of Xiuyi Street noting that Chen Chuan was staying there.
Zhuo Bao was acutely sensitive to the name Chen Chuan. Because of this kid, he had lost an arm and become the laughingstock of the gang. People mocked him for falling to a first-year Wuyi student, claiming he was declining with age and ought to hand over his seat to his subordinates.
Although he had now been fitted with a cybernetic arm that appeared even sturdier than his original limb, the thorn remained lodged deep in his heart.
After ingesting the newly delivered anti-alienation medication, he felt as though a fire were raging inside him. That name repeatedly battered his nerves and eroded his sanity.
With a sharp crack, his implanted hand crushed the glass tumbler into powder. The surrounding henchmen watched him with nervous apprehension.
Zhuo Bao lifted his head and realized he was sitting in a bar. He frowned. When had he come here? What had he been doing earlier? He couldn't remember, nor did it matter.
He stood up, his voice dripping with malice. "Follow me."
The surrounding lackeys scrambled to their feet. They had just been summoned out of nowhere by Zhuo Bao, only to watch him knock back drink after drink. Ever since he lost his arm, his temper had grown increasingly volatile. None of them dared question him, only keeping quiet company at his side.
Zhuo Bao got into a car, and the burly gang lieutenant following him climbed in as well, shutting the door. "Boss, where to?"
Zhuo Bao rubbed his temples, his expression grim and cold. "Number Seventeen, Xiuyi Street. Tell the boys to pack heavy heat."
The lieutenant's heart seized. "Heavy heat" meant firearms. This was inside the city limits...
Yet he dared not defy Zhuo Bao's command. The only reason he had survived by Zhuo Bao's side for so long was that he did exactly as he was told, without the slightest hesitation.
"Understood, Boss. I'll tell the boys to pack heavy heat right away."
Chapter 176