The Helpful Young Inspector

July 16. The weather was stiflingly hot. It was so muggy that people felt breathless. Anyone who understood knew this was a sign of an approaching storm. Morning. Li Hao was riding his bicycle with ease, one hand steering the handlebars while the other held a steamed bun. He leisurely pedaled toward the Inspectorate. Last night had been peaceful. There had been no sign of the Red Shadow, the Demon Hunting Squad hadn't summoned him, his teacher hadn't called, and Wang Ming hadn't harassed him… Even Black Panther had been exceptionally well-behaved, not making a single sound. Last night had been a rare good night. Cars whizzed past his bicycle one after another. Silver 7219. A familiar license plate. Li Hao munched on his bun and glanced over seemingly at random, wearing the vibrant smile befitting a young man. He recalled that a few days ago, on the day he reported the self-immolation case, this very car had shadowed him. He hadn't seen it for a few days, yet here it was again. *Are they getting that impatient?* Now they were even tailing him in broad daylight. Were they afraid he would run? Li Hao wondered—if he suddenly fled, wouldn't that be amusing? Of course, running now would be far more dangerous. It would disrupt Liu Long's arrangements and rob his teacher of precious time. Yes, time. At this moment, Li Hao wanted to stall as long as possible. Even if his teacher had reached Thousand-Battler, absorbing the energy of the blade still took time. The impact of the blade energy was too overwhelming; even his teacher probably couldn't absorb too much of it all at once. Growing strong required time. "Watch the flowers bloom and fall, charming and sweet…" Pedaling along while humming a tune, Li Hao appeared to be in high spirits today. … Inside the car. It was still the same man and woman. As the car sped past with its windows rolled down, both heard Li Hao's singing. It sounded awful! Leaving Li Hao behind, the car continued along the road. The woman in the passenger seat suddenly chuckled. "Humans really are pathetic sometimes." She was talking about Li Hao. He had no idea he was on the verge of death—and a likely gruesome one at that. Yet here he was, humming a tune. Truly pathetic. The middle-aged driver gave a faint smile. "It's normal. That's the tragedy of ordinary people." The car gradually slowed and pulled over. It looked as though it had broken down. The man got out, and the woman followed. With the vehicle parked at the curb, they waited for Li Hao. Higher-ups had issued a strict order: over these two days, disregard everything else and keep eyes locked on Li Hao. Under no circumstances could he leave their sight. Of course, once Li Hao entered the Inspectorate, they only needed to wait outside—arrangements were already in place inside. A short while later. The bicycle approached. Li Hao was still humming when he suddenly stopped mid-tune. He braked, turned toward the parked car by the curb, and flashed a simple, honest smile. "Need a hand, you two?" Li Hao was brimming with enthusiasm! "In trouble? Call an inspector!" Li Hao smiled brightly. "I'm Li Hao, a Third-Class Inspector with the Inspectorate. It looks like your car broke down. Need some help?" The pair exchanged glances, caught off guard. He really was… enthusiastic! They hardly knew whether to laugh or cry. What a naive fool. Did he have any clue who they were? The man looked at Li Hao, smiled, and said softly, "Thanks, but no need. We can handle it ourselves!" "Are you sure?" Li Hao propped his bicycle by the side of the road and walked over. Leaning over the vehicle, he asked, "What seems to be the problem? I used to fix cars. Inspectors are always glad to lend a hand. Of course, if I get it running, it'd be wonderful if you could drop by the Inspectorate and present a commendation banner… Hahaha, just kidding! It's fine if you don't!" Li Hao wore an embarrassed look, as if he wanted it badly but was too shy to say so directly. *All I want is a banner!* The woman couldn't help but chuckle. This kid barely had hair on his chin, and he was indeed childish. A commendation banner? She smiled. "Officer, you know how to fix cars?" Li Hao beamed, unable to hide his pride. "I sure do! You two are driving a nice car, so I figured you wouldn't mind ordering a banner… Ahem, I'm fairly new at the Inspectorate, and you know how it is—newcomers need opportunities to prove themselves… I might be getting promoted to Second-Class Inspector soon! I could use some honors… What do you say?" The two were genuinely flabbergasted and speechless! This kid went out of his way to help fix their car and brazenly asked for a banner just because he wanted a promotion! They actually knew about that part. Word was that Li Hao was going to be transferred to the Law Enforcement Team. If so, he really did stand a good chance of getting promoted. Yet his life was already hanging by a thread. Did he truly have no clue? What good was a promotion now? Even if you got it, you wouldn't live long enough to enjoy it! The man smiled warmly. "Then we'll trouble you, Inspector Li. If you can get it working, a banner is the least we can do." He felt a curious sensation. The target they were tailing was taking the initiative to chat and offer help. Perhaps… this would make completing their mission even easier. How interesting! From what he knew, Li Hao had no friends and no close family—a solitary loner. The higher-ups actually knew very little about him. If he established closer contact with the kid, wouldn't that allow him to supply better intelligence? Besides, with the inspector being so enthusiastic, turning him down repeatedly would only look suspicious. Li Hao didn't stand on ceremony either. He stepped forward, popped the hood, stuck his head in to inspect the engine, and touched various components. After a while, he walked a circle around the car and muttered in confusion, "It won't start? Could the engine have overheated…?" The man smiled. "Let me try again. It just stalled on us, and it wouldn't catch after several tries." "All right. It looks fine to me; the car is practically brand new…" After exchanging a few words, the man climbed in and turned the key. This time, the engine roared to life. There had never been anything wrong with it in the first place; they had only stopped to keep better tabs on Li Hao. The woman put on a delighted expression and said quickly, "Thank you so much, Inspector!" "No, please, I barely did a thing… A pity the banner flew away, but as long as you're safe, that's what counts. Solving trouble for the public is an inspector's duty!" Li Hao gave another rustic, honest smile! Seeming infected by his earnestness, the man got out of the car and said solemnly, "Don't say that. You were eager to help and stepped up right away. My wife and I only recently arrived in Silver City, so meeting you is quite the stroke of fate… Tell you what, we'll go order that banner right now and deliver it to the Inspectorate shortly!" "No, really!" Li Hao waved his hands frantically. "You don't have to do that!" Then, looking somewhat bashful, he whispered, "Well… if that's too much trouble, I can pay for the banner! I don't have many friends, otherwise I'd have asked someone… Ahem, you know, inspectors are only human, and every banner counts as an honor. If you don't mind, I can cover the cost!" The couple was thoroughly amused. How adorable! How thoroughly naive and pure! All for a banner—embarrassed, yet unable to resist? The man laughed. "Don't worry about it, Inspector Li. Don't mention money again—how much can a banner cost? You'd be slapping my face!" "Then… I won't be polite!" Li Hao appeared overjoyed, his smile brighter than ever. He glanced at the time. "Uh-oh, I'm going to be late! When you arrive, come straight to the Confidential Records Office to find me. If I'm not there, check the Law Enforcement Team. I'm transferring there soon… I'll be out on patrol more often in the future, so it's great making friends. Thank you both!" Li Hao eagerly hopped back onto his bicycle, beamed, waved to them, and pedaled swiftly away. Once he was gone, the woman sighed softly. "I have to say, someone like that is actually quite charming and cute. He has the heart of a child, a sincere heart… Unfortunately, you and I can never go back to that." The man nodded slightly. Even he had been affected by Li Hao's smile. Young people really were different. Volunteering to help, eager to assist—not everyone at the Inspectorate was like that. The woman asked, "Are we really going to deliver a banner?" "Of course!" The man chuckled, a cunning glint in his eyes. "Why wouldn't we? Our covers are clean. Going inside to take a look and learn more—an opportunity to enter the Inspectorate in broad daylight like that doesn't come easily!" He added, "With this pretext, even if we frequently loiter near the Inspectorate, who would suspect us? We'll have the perfect excuse: we're looking for Li Hao to take him to dinner to thank him for his help… Who would pay us any mind?" The woman thought about it and nodded. It was indeed a fine excuse! This was truly a pillow delivered right as they grew drowsy. They had previously worried that tailing Li Hao constantly might draw notice or suspicion. Now… they were actually much safer! … Around the same time. The Inspectorate. Li Hao arrived, wearing a broad, cheerful grin. "Tra-la-la, dum-dee-dum, today's a glorious day…" Humming a merry tune in high spirits, he waited for the little fish to take the bait. Instead of heading to the Confidential Records Office, he went straight to the Law Enforcement Team. Liu Yan's office. Liu Yan heard footsteps outside and the singing that gradually tapered off. She was somewhat surprised—why was this kid so happy today? *Knock, knock, knock!* The door pushed open. Li Hao grinned. "Sister Liu, here so early?" "Yeah!" Liu Yan leaned back in her chair with her long legs resting brazenly on the desk, looking thoroughly domineering. Puzzled, she asked, "You seem to be in a good mood today?" "You bet!" Li Hao squinted with a smile. "Sister, I was thinking… I'm just a green rookie, right? In all my years, I've never even slaughtered a chicken. The sight of blood makes my knees shake. I'm worried that if I run into a real crisis later, I'll be scared to death. So I've made up my mind—I'm going to steel my nerve!" What in the world? Liu Yan was baffled. Where were they supposed to find a place and an opportunity to steel his nerve right now? There wasn't enough time! As if reading her mind, Li Hao chuckled. "No need to trouble the Boss or you, Sister. I found my own targets! Two martial masters… or maybe one martial master and an ordinary person!" Li Hao grinned. "I came to ask you for a place, Sister, and maybe for you to back me up. I'm still a bit scared on my own. I was always a good student and never fought anyone. I'm worried that if blood starts spraying, I'll freeze up on the spot!" "..." Liu Yan stared blankly at Li Hao. Something was definitely off today. "You… found your own targets? Li Hao, are you trying to go rogue?" Could it be that because she told him yesterday that becoming a supernatural meant he could get away with breaking the law, he had actually taken it seriously? Liu Yan's expression turned cold! She had only said that with a sarcastic edge. Did this kid not understand that? Finding people to use as targets… to draw blood! Listen to that. Was that something a decent person would say? Liu Yan never considered herself a saint, but she believed in not inflicting on others what she wouldn't want done to herself! She knew the agony of being bullied with nowhere to seek justice! And now, it seemed Li Hao was turning into that kind of person. In an instant, her impression of him plummeted into the negatives, bordering on disgust! With an innocent, brilliant smile, Li Hao said, "Sister, two bad guys were tailing me. They're probably small fry sent by the mastermind behind the self-immolation case to keep watch! It's practically certain, but if you're not sure, we can interrogate them. Besides, anyone tailing me right now, apart from our squad, is definitely up to no good!" Li Hao smiled brightly. "Didn't I just reach the Ten-Slayer realm? Hitting wooden targets every day is boring and doesn't offer real combat experience. I figured I'd have them come over so I can practice on them!" "Arresting people?" Liu Yan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Making arrests now… wouldn't that startle the snake in the grass?" Li Hao laughed. "No need to arrest them! They're coming on their own! And Sister, do you really think startling the snake matters at this point? The other side probably already knows we're working together. Everything is out in the open; nobody has just said it out loud!" "So even if we grab them and kill them, they won't care!" Li Hao saw it clearly. The Red Shadow had known about Liu Long and the others for a long time. What was there to hide? Nothing had been hidden! Apart from Yuan Shuo, whom the Red Shadow didn't know about, Li Hao felt certain that Liu Long's bottom cards had long been exposed. Grabbing two minor pawns now—what harm would it do? The enemy wouldn't care in the slightest! *Still, I'll have my fun first and get some practice in.* Liu Yan didn't focus on the latter part, but asked in surprise, "They're coming on their own?" Did he take them for idiots? Tailing you was one thing, but walking right into the den? Did he think everyone was a moron? Li Hao chuckled. "Really! Those two were so enthusiastic. They agreed to come here and be my targets, and they even promised to bring me a commendation banner…" *Damn it all!* This kid was getting more absurd by the minute! Liu Yan was speechless. Did he take her for a fool, or did he think the enemy was brainless? Volunteering to be his targets, and bringing a banner on top of it… Why didn't he just say they were coming to hand over their heads? "Get out!" Liu Yan grew impatient. The kid had been perfectly normal over the past few days. Why had he suddenly lost his mind today? Was the pressure getting to him? "It's true…" "If you don't get out, I'll throw a grenade at you!" Li Hao felt helpless. It was true! Why wouldn't she believe him? Just then, the office phone rang. Liu Yan picked it up; it was a call from the front desk. As soon as she answered, the inspector on the other end reported, "Captain Liu, two people are outside saying they're here to present a banner to Li Hao! The Confidential Records Office said he was with the Law Enforcement Team. I checked around and heard he went to your office. Would it be convenient for Li Hao to come down for a moment?" Liu Yan: "..." Liu Yan stared blankly at Li Hao. What was going on? She hung up the phone, looked at him, and frowned. "Are you sure the ones delivering the banner are the people tailing you?" "A hundred percent!" Li Hao nodded repeatedly, grinning ear to ear. "They're so fast! Only a bit behind me. Talk about efficiency with that banner… tsk tsk, impressive!" Li Hao said happily, "Sister, I'll head down for a moment. Where do you think we should interrogate them? I'll bring them there." "..." Liu Yan was truly stunned. Good grief, he really… he really got them to deliver themselves to his doorstep, pick the spot, and stick out their necks for the blade? At this moment, she wondered if the people tailing Li Hao had screws loose. Otherwise, why would they walk right into Li Hao's hands to serve as his training dummies? With a strange expression, Liu Yan stood up. "I'll go with you…" "No need!" Li Hao shook his head. "Sister, just find us a spot!" "Then… take them to the basement!" Liu Yan was at a loss for words, adding, "You really don't need me to come down with you?" "Why bother? They'll walk in on their own!" Li Hao smiled. "Sister, just back me up later. I'm honestly a bit scared. It's my first time doing something like this. You know I used to be a good student, and even after joining the Inspectorate, I only did desk work in the Confidential Records Office. When it comes to blood… I'm really afraid I'll throw up and my legs will give out!" He exaggerated slightly, but it was grounded in truth. Seeing blood for the first time wasn't about catching a glimpse of a cut; it was about hurting and killing another human being. In such situations, shaky legs, guilt, panic, and terror were completely normal—unless someone was born malevolent with a predisposition for murder. And Li Hao genuinely wanted to test his mettle before confronting the Red Shadow. He was afraid! He feared that when the real battle began, he would tremble, his legs would turn to jelly, and he would cower. That was human nature! He didn't consider himself ironhearted enough to look upon corpses without batting an eye. When Xiao Yuan died, he had been gripped by sheer terror. In that moment, he hadn't even been able to move his limbs. His legs had gone so weak that all strength fled his body, and he could barely force out a scream. So when he rode past those two, an idea had struck him. Perhaps… it was time to steel his cowardly nerve. Liu Yan found her impression of Li Hao completely upended. In her eyes, Li Hao was a bashful young man, moderately talented but an utter novice who understood nothing and knew no real combat. She had honestly thought that on a real battlefield, Li Hao would be nothing more than dead weight; whether he could even stay alive was doubtful. Yet now, everything was turned on its head. Li Hao had found his own targets to practice on, claiming he wanted to steel his nerve… Was this still the Li Hao she knew? She had looked into his background. In the Confidential Records Office, he was an honest, obliging boy—early to work, late to leave, sweeping the floors, pouring tea, as well-behaved as could be. Yet what was he saying now? She was astonished! Even slightly shocked—could this kid have been possessed by a supernatural? "Li Hao…" "Sister, I'm heading down first. Why don't you wait for me in the basement?" "..." Liu Yan wanted to say something, but gave up and simply nodded. "Be careful!" "Don't worry, this is the Inspectorate!" Li Hao smiled. Once inside the Inspectorate, would two minor pawns dare to try anything? If they had that kind of courage, they wouldn't just be low-level scouts! … Downstairs. The man and woman had indeed brought a commendation banner. It was their first time stepping inside the Law Enforcement Team's building. They looked around, appearing entirely at ease. Ordinary people rarely had a chance to visit this place; riding on Li Hao's coattails, they had walked in openly. The receptionist paid them little mind. They were here to deliver a banner, and it was meant for Li Hao… The Law Enforcement Team wasn't very familiar with Li Hao yet. They had only heard he might transfer over from the Confidential Records Office. People were merely curious about what good deed Li Hao had done to earn a banner. "Brother, Sister!" Li Hao came downstairs, looking thrilled. "You two really came! It was such a small thing, I thought you were joking!" "Inspector Li!" The man stood up with a smile and greeted him. "How could we joke about that? Inspector Li is always ready to help and rescues people in distress! My wife and I nearly got into an accident this morning, and it was all thanks to Inspector Li's assistance…" He laid on the flattery thick! Everyone liked being praised, and didn't young people adore this sort of thing? "Hahaha… You're far too kind, Brother!" Li Hao was equally smooth-tongued. Chuckling, he said, "Let's not stand around talking here; it's embarrassing. My transfer hasn't even been finalized yet! Come with me, have a cup of tea. The banner… I'll gladly accept the banner, but since you're here, you must have some tea before you leave!" The pair exchanged glances, smiling. So polite! So welcoming! Since they were already here, looking around couldn't hurt. The two nodded and followed Li Hao. He led them down the hall toward the end of the first floor, chatting as they walked: "I'm a newcomer, and there are many veterans here. If they see us, they might… well, you know! Let's head down to the basement. There's hardly anyone there, so we can enjoy our tea in peace. I truly appreciate your help today!" Li Hao guided them down the stairs, his smile never wavering. "I forgot to ask, what's your family name, Brother?" "I'm Zhou He, and my wife's surname is Yuan." "Brother Zhou, Sister Yuan!" Li Hao's voice was sweet as honey! In an instant, the distance between them melted away. Soon, he led them to the basement level. The headquarters of the Demon Hunting Squad lay just ahead. Far from being dingy or gloomy, the basement was brightly lit. "It's right ahead. Not many people come down here. Brother Zhou, Sister Yuan, you look like successful business owners. If you ever need anything in the future, just say the word… Helping people solve their troubles is what I like best!" Zhou He kept smiling. What an honest, naive kid. The woman chimed in with pleasantries. Finding such an earnest inspector was truly rare. What a shame! The next moment, Li Hao pushed the door open, and the two stepped into the basement alongside him—the Demon Hunting Squad's usual lounge and activity area. Li Hao warmly invited them in, then closed the basement door behind them. This door… was anything but ordinary! It possessed top-tier soundproofing and defense; forget ordinary people, even explosives could hardly blast through it. Once shut, it required a passcode and fingerprint to open from the inside. Seeing Li Hao close the door, Zhou He felt a faint twinge of unease. Li Hao smiled as he locked it. "Better keep it shut, or others might think I'm slacking off!" Zhou He said nothing. Yet a moment later, Zhou He's expression shifted. He took in the furnishings of the room, his eyes narrowing slightly. This wasn't a reception parlor, nor was it a break room. It looked like… a massive staging ground! Workout equipment, firearms, ammunition—they had everything. It resembled an armory! Where were they? At this moment, Zhou He grew anxious. Was this a place an outsider like him should be entering? The woman beside him also turned pale. Her eyes fell upon the firearms racked against the wall, and even a small artillery piece. *Fuck!* Was this a place ordinary people could visit? Intense dread and apprehension instantly seized both of them. They had only come to curry favor with Li Hao—how had they ended up here? Meanwhile, Li Hao had completely secured the heavy door. He felt delighted! These two were so cooperative, not resisting in the slightest. How pleasant. Luring the prey straight into the trap felt wonderful. Taking advantage of Zhou He's momentary daze, Li Hao clapped him on the shoulder from behind and smiled. "Brother Zhou, no one's here. It's nice and quiet…" The next instant, he drove his knee up. A savage knee strike! *Crack!* With a sharp thud, Zhou He twisted his body with all his might to protect his vitals, but Li Hao's knee still slammed squarely into his lower back. Searing agony instantly tore through his entire frame! *Damn it!* Only one thought crossed Zhou He's mind: *I've been played!* And he had walked right into it himself! Beside him, the woman's face twisted in horror. Without a word, she reached deep along her leg, drew a dagger, and thrust it straight at Li Hao! … Deep in the basement, several figures stood silently, watching. Liu Long was among them! A complex, peculiar look filled his eyes. What a brilliant move—shutting the door to beat the dog, luring the prey into the cage! This… was truly hard to believe. Was Li Hao really cowardly? To Liu Long, the kid possessed daring beyond belief! Was this something a sane person would dare to pull off? "If this kid survives this ordeal… in the future… he's going to be a ruthless bastard!" Wu Chao, thin as a flagpole, remarked with a sigh. Chen Jian, the plump juggernaut, dialed back his simple grin. This kid… was wicked! Neither Yun Yao nor Liu Yan spoke today, only watching in silence. After a long pause, Liu Long murmured, "Quite the even match… One is in the Ten-Slayer realm, and while the other hasn't reached it, she's clearly trained! It seems the opposing side is genuinely formidable—even their scouts have a Ten-Slayer in their ranks!" A Ten-Slayer realm expert might not sound like much, but Liu Long knew that across Silver City's population of a million, martial masters and Starlight Masters in the Ten-Slayer realm numbered fewer than a hundred! One in ten thousand! Yet here was one, acting merely as a scout. Could Li Hao handle these two in his first real battle? Even if the pair had walked into his trap, one look showed they were no rookies, but seasoned veterans. At this moment, the five members of the Demon Hunting Squad watched intently. … In the center of the room. Having seized the initiative, Li Hao pressed the attack without hesitation! Tiger Pounce! His hands hooked into claws, merciless. This was no sparring match; Li Hao treated this as his coming-of-age ceremony, a celebratory trial for his breakthrough into the Ten-Slayer realm! The Red Shadow wanted to kill him… so he wasn't going to lie down and wait for death! He would kill two of their pawns first. Even if they were small fry, he would make the enemy bleed! *Squelch!* His hands tore directly into Zhou He's arms, ripping away large chunks of flesh. Blood sprayed everywhere, but Li Hao merely bared his teeth in a savage grin. Blood surged through his spleen with roaring fervor, thrilling him… and missing was even the slightest trace of fear! *You think I'm afraid of you?* *Even before the Red Shadow, your Grandpa Li dared to strike hard. What are you compared to that? You're just flesh and blood like me!* "Roar!" A tiger roared across the mountain forest, and the basement instantly became a battlefield—the battlefield of Li Hao's first true fight.