Two days later.

“How is this possible!” Qi Zhenxing stared wide-eyed at the thick stack of briefings in his hands. “Zhang Yi’ang caught Zhou Rong’s entire gang, two robbery murderers, Zhu Yifei’s criminal organization, and two criminals hiding corpses at home—all in one day?” These past few days, Qi Zhenxing had been in Beijing attending training. During that time, he had already learned from Director Zhao’s phone calls that Zhang Yi’ang had solved multiple major cases, and all on the same day. He, along with Li Qian, plus two small patrol officers from the police station and a tow truck company driver—five people total, unarmed, had captured over ten armed criminals, creating an unprecedented case-solving record for the entire country.

“Right. The day after Director Zhang solved the cases, superior public security organs and government leaders all came. This time Director Zhang single-handedly penetrated deep into the criminals’ den, and even suffered serious injuries during the arrest.” Director Zhao had completely changed his previous prejudice against Zhang Yi’ang. At this moment, his face was also radiant with glory. Although this was again Zhang Yi’ang’s achievement, the entire San Jiang Kou Public Security Bureau had greatly basked in the glory. He, as the office director, also served as the Public Security Bureau’s spokesperson. In the past, he never had opportunities to make public statements. These past two days, he had written through one pen just on briefings alone. Facing inquiries from leaders at all levels, he described the case details eloquently, as if he and Director Zhang had worked hand-in-hand to capture the criminals.

Qi Zhenxing remained silent. At this moment, he should be happy—after all, it was a great joy for the entire unit. But during these critical days, he had been on a business trip, completely absent. Those at the unit, even if they didn’t participate in the arrest, could say they participated in some logistics work, providing assistance for the final successful arrest. Even Director Zhao acted as if he were from the Criminal Investigation Team. But Qi Zhenxing had been training in Beijing the entire time. Everyone knew this case-solving had nothing whatsoever to do with him, the top director.

“How is Zhang Yi’ang’s injury?” Qi Zhenxing saw in a situation report written by Director Zhao that Zhang Yi’ang was hit by a Type 64 pistol, and if the muzzle had deviated five centimeters, it would have hit the femoral artery, posing considerable life danger. Although he had always been dissatisfied with Zhang Yi’ang, seeing the honor Zhang Yi’ang had risked his life to earn, he couldn’t help but feel some admiration.

“Director Zhang is still in the hospital. Rest assured, he’s fine. The bullet just hit the flesh of his buttocks. The doctor said it will only leave a scar in the future, with absolutely no effect on bodily movement.”

“Didn’t you write that he nearly injured the femoral artery, in life-threatening danger?”

Director Zhao smiled: “Exaggerated writing technique.”

Qi Zhenxing nodded reluctantly. Seeing Director Zhao had also sided with Zhang Yi’ang—a bullet hitting the buttocks, yet daring to say it was only five centimeters from the femoral artery with life-threatening danger. How shameless. Why not say if the muzzle had deviated half a meter, it would have hit the heart causing instant death?

Now the entire unit was immersed in the joy of great success. What could he do? He had even complained about Zhang Yi’ang to Zhou Weidong. Now Zhou Weidong’s arrest was only a matter of time, and Gao Dong would naturally be the biggest beneficiary of Zhou Weidong’s downfall.

Qi Zhenxing sat alone in his chair pondering bitterly how to cope in the future. Suddenly his eyes brightened. Director Zhao had direct conflicts with Zhang Yi’ang, yet could transform himself to wave flags and shout for him. Why couldn’t he swallow his pride and have a good talk with this younger brother Zhang Yi’ang, letting bygones be bygones?

Looking at Zhang Yi’ang again—wholeheartedly devoted to work, risking life and limb when solving cases, completely sincere as a person—Qi Zhenxing truly liked him more and more. He immediately decided: I’m acknowledging this brother!

In an independent ward at San Jiang Kou First People’s Hospital.

Because his buttocks were injured, since being sent to the hospital Zhang Yi’ang could only lie on the bed like a large turtle with all four limbs spread out, head tilted to one side, listening to Wang Ruijun describe the interrogation process of these groups of people.

In Zhou Rong’s gang, including Zhou Rong himself, multiple people had been arrested with zero confessions so far. However, they were caught at the crime scene with ironclad evidence. Confessing was just a matter of time.

Fang Chao and Liu Zhi admitted to multiple explosions and robberies, but denied killing Lin Kai, insisting he died in the car on his own. They also denied killing Liu Bei, saying Liu Bei’s corpse was switched by Brother Gang and Xiao Mao.

Brother Gang and Xiao Mao admitted to killing Li Penggai but denied killing Liu Bei, saying Liu Bei’s corpse was snatched from another person.

This person’s identity was extracted from Zhu Yifei’s accomplices—it was precisely the currently still-fleeing Huo Zheng.

In short, each party had more or less admitted to some crimes. But how these originally completely unrelated groups of criminals came together—they themselves didn’t know, and after several days of interrogation, the police were also confused. The follow-up work of verifying criminal facts item by item would keep the interrogation team busy for months.

Wang Ruijun gave a rough briefing of the current results and pointed out the key point in finally solving the case: “If not for you, Director, penetrating deep behind enemy lines, risking your life, severely wounding Zhou Rong’s gang while seriously injured yourself, then regarding these people, we couldn’t have caught a single one. An extremely serious mass murder case might even have occurred!”

To this, Zhang Yi’ang didn’t deliberately deflect his contribution to the case. This critical moment’s decisive strike was precisely done by him stepping forward out of a people’s police officer’s sense of justice. The wound on his buttocks was even more ironclad proof. Even those groups of criminals couldn’t help but sigh during interrogation—they had never seen a Public Security Deputy Bureau Director-level leader who, for solving cases, could penetrate deep alone and confront armed criminals with his own strength. “Losing to Zhang Yi’ang’s hands, I, Zhang Debing, also accept it.” “I, Zhu Yifei, still underestimated the mainland Public Security.”

Zhang Yi’ang carefully analyzed the case details again and asked: “Has Zhou Rong’s gang confessed to anything involving the current Executive Vice Director Zhou Weidong?”

“Zhou Rong’s several core members still refuse to speak until now. However, in the confessions of their subordinates, Zhou Weidong was mentioned as Zhou Rong’s protective umbrella.”

“Is there evidence?”

“The biggest evidence is in the USB drive. The USB drive has already been handed over to superiors. It implicates many officials. However, reportedly people from the Ministry of Public Security and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection have already come for a joint investigation. No one on the USB drive’s list can escape. I heard from friends in the government that Luo Ziyue was taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission from his home in the middle of the night yesterday. These are all economic crimes. Several of Zhou Rong’s core members still have zero confessions. I guess it’s mainly because of Director Lu’s disappearance.”

Zhang Yi’ang looked at his expression and had already guessed the result: “Director Lu was killed by Zhou Rong, right?”

Wang Ruijun nodded sadly.

According to a confession from one of Zhou Rong’s subordinates, a year ago, the superior Discipline Inspection Commission received an anonymous tip about San Jiang Kou Mayor Luo Ziyue’s corruption. It included many photos from different times and places of Luo Ziyue and Zhou Rong entering private venues. After the superior Discipline Inspection Commission sent people to investigate Luo Ziyue, they couldn’t find conclusive evidence of his corruption and could only give him a warning, admonishing him to maintain distance from businessmen. Afterward, Zhou Rong and Luo Ziyue secretly investigated who took the photos and discovered San Jiang Kou Public Security Deputy Director Lu Zheng had been following them long-term. Because they didn’t know what other cards Lu Zheng held, to eliminate future troubles, Luo Ziyue suggested Zhou Rong send people to eliminate Lu Zheng.

Zhou Rong arranged for his most capable subordinate Zhang Debing to handle Lu Zheng. Zhang Debing found recently released prisoner Xiao Fei, promised him one million to kill someone. Xiao Fei didn’t dare kill, so he found fugitive Li Feng, who ultimately also didn’t act. Zhang Debing, seeing hiring someone to kill Lu Zheng had failed, and to prevent leaks, killed Xiao Fei. Then on a certain night when Lu Zheng was following Luo Ziyue, he personally killed Lu Zheng, tied him with stones, and dumped the body in the river.

This matter was told by Zhang Debing’s subordinate. It involved a major criminal homicide case. The interrogation team was still questioning Zhang Debing. He knew that once he confessed to this matter, it would be the death penalty, so he refused to admit it until now. However, Wang Ruijun believed in a few days, as long as other people’s interrogations had more breakthroughs, Zhang Debing would inevitably not withstand the pressure and confess everything thoroughly. At that time, facing confirmed criminal homicide cases, Zhou Rong, Hu Jianren, and other core organizational members would also successively break down.

Besides Zhou Rong’s own group, Lang Bowen also counted as Zhou Rong’s underling. Many past criminal activities were mainly done by Lang Bowen. However, when police went to find Lang Bowen, he had already disappeared. The company was currently managed by his younger brother Lang Botu. Although Lang Botu was also close to Zhou Rong, currently existing evidence hadn’t implicated him yet.

Zhang Yi’ang pondered for a while. A series of major cases were solved, numerous criminals caught, but one case remained confusing.

“Did Zhou Rong’s group confess to killing Ye Jian?”

“No. They all denied Ye Jian’s murder was related to them. They all said Ye Jian was Zhou Rong’s best friend—impossible for him to harm him.”

Zhang Yi’ang frowned: “Did you ask thoroughly?”

“We used various interrogation techniques to ask. I told Zhou Rong, ‘Stop pretending, Hu Jianren already admitted Ye Jian’s killing was ordered by you.’ Zhou Rong countered that we police couldn’t be more professional at extracting confessions—how could he possibly kill Ye Jian? I told Hu Jianren, ‘Stop pretending, Zhou Rong already admitted Ye Jian’s killing was ordered by you.’ Hu Jianren also said we couldn’t be more professional—Zhou Rong would never allow subordinates to touch Ye Jian. I said the same thing to Zhang Debing. His answer was the same as theirs. When I interrogated, I felt Ye Jian’s murder truly had nothing to do with Zhou Rong. This morning confirmed this point even more.”

“What happened this morning?”

“This morning someone discovered Lu Yibo’s body by the river. He’d been dead for several days. The method was very similar to Ye Jian’s murder. These past few days Zhou Rong’s group were urgently searching for the USB drive. How would they have the mind to find someone to kill Lu Yibo?”

“You said Lu Yibo is dead?” Zhang Yi’ang suddenly bounced up from the hospital bed.

“Yes.”

“Lu Yibo died and you’re only telling me now!”

Zhang Yi’ang directly got up and off the bed, grabbed the left and right crutches from the side, and limped toward the door. Wang Ruijun quickly went up to support him: “Director, where are you going?”

“To Lu Yibo’s murder scene!”

“You… you’re injured. Please don’t pull the wound. We’ve already sent people to investigate. You don’t need to go personally.”

“I don’t need to go personally?” Zhang Yi’ang glared at him furiously. “Which damn bastard killed Ye Jian to frame me? I’m still afraid I can’t find him out? He really has the guts to do it again. I must dig him out!” Wang Ruijun kept urging him to calm down. The doctor wanted him to rest in bed for at least half a month without getting up. This case could be handled by them. But how could Zhang Yi’ang endure this anger? Just after taking office in San Jiang Kou, he was framed. He dreamed of finding this killer. He shook off Wang Ruijun with one motion, pushed open the ward door, his two crutches supporting his body as he walked extremely fast. Behind him, nurses chased shouting loudly “The patient is running away, the patient is running away!” No one could catch up to him.