...
「Yangcheng.」
Outside this run-down neighborhood, Shen Fei, bracing himself against the excruciating pain of a broken bone, hobbled in a desperate flight. He summoned all his strength and speed for the effort.
These people, they're definitely here for me! This Zhang Qingyuan... he really is a gang boss!
Monstrous waves had arisen in his heart, like overturning seas and rivers. My luck lately has been incredibly bad. He had not only defrauded a gang boss, but this particular boss was exceptionally vengeful and serious. He had actually sent dozens of people to Yangcheng to kill him. If he hadn't been living on the third floor, he probably would have been caught by those hulking thugs already.
It's over; it's really over. I hid so well, and yet they found me. Their methods and power are definitely not something an ordinary person like me can contend with! What should I do now...
After running a difficult kilometer, Shen Fei leaned against a trash heap, gasping for air. An agonizing pain pulsed from the fracture in his calf. Cold sweat and hot sweat mingled as they streamed down his forehead. His face was etched with despair.
No! I can't just sit here and wait for death! Now that I'm sure the other party is a gang boss, I might as well report him first!
「Several minutes later.」
The terrified Shen Fei struggled to stand up, supporting himself with a wall. He decisively headed toward a police station in Yangcheng.
In this world, one person's power is ultimately limited. When encountering such situations... the best course of action is to seek help from the police.
...
「Four o'clock in the morning. Yangcheng, a certain police station.」
Zhou Qin, a veteran police officer with thirty years of experience, was taking notes with his apprentice, Wang Qian, pens in hand, heads bowed in routine recording.
"You're saying..."
Zhou Qin slowly lifted his head, looking at the disheveled, distraught person reporting the incident before him. He paused, then asked, "You've been chased by a gang boss all the way to the police station?"
This person reporting the incident, who was none other than Shen Fei, nodded vigorously. Tears and snot flowed freely in his agitation. Heaven only knew the countless "life-and-death crises" he had faced on his way to the station. Fortunately, his vigilance helped him arrive safely and without incident.
"Officer, you have no idea, they were insane!"
He took a deep breath and then, like beans spilling from a bamboo tube, poured out everything that had happened to him that day. Zhou Qin, listening across from him, looked stunned.
「Ten minutes later.」
Zhou Qin's face was etched with frustration. Seeing that Shen Fei was still rambling, he quickly stopped him, "COUGH, COUGH, we're just taking a statement here. You only need to mention what's relevant to the case."
"As for nearly choking on water at home, getting hit by a flowerpot, being hit by a car, or stepping on a watermelon rind—you don't need to mention those."
Shen Fei finally came to a halt. He took a deep breath and said very earnestly, "Officer, I want to report a crime! I've discovered a gang boss, and he wants to kill me!"
As soon as the words were spoken, Zhou Qin and Wang Qian exchanged glances, their expressions growing serious. A case this blatant, in broad daylight under a clear sky... It's been a long time since something like this happened!
"Tell me more about it."
"This gang boss is based in Jin City and is currently in a nursing home. He goes by the name Zhang Qingyuan and appears to be an ordinary, unremarkable old man."
Shen Fei took a drink of water and revealed everything he knew. "But in reality, he's a notorious villain, a lawless rogue, responsible for countless cases."
"His son, Zhang Tianmin—just last year alone, he took thirteen lives!"
"He... just yesterday, he personally killed a man named Mr. Li."
"Said he was going to put him in a barrel, fill it with cement, and sink him in the sea..."
As Zhou Qin listened, his expression grew increasingly solemn. If what Shen Fei said is true, this would be an unprecedented case!
Adhering to caution, after he and his apprentice Wang Qian finished taking the statement, Zhou Qin arranged for Shen Fei to stay temporarily at the guesthouse.
"Sir, do you think... what he said is true or false?"
The freshly graduated Wang Qian blinked as he looked at the statement he had taken, his expression somewhat excited.
Zhou Qin frowned and didn't jump to conclusions. "Since he has reported it, let's file the case first."
"His mental state seems a bit off. Let's check the information and investigate these two, Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Tianmin."
"Also, pull Shen Fei's file and check his background."
As a veteran police officer, he had rich experience and didn't immediately believe what Shen Fei had said.
「Two hours later,」
The Yangcheng police department sent over an electronic file on Zhang Qingyuan. After Zhou Qin looked through it, however, his brows furrowed even more.
A seventy-eight-year-old man?
In the file, Zhang Qingyuan was described as frail and having good social relations. He had no criminal record. In the social credit rating, he was also classified as a good citizen—the harmless type.
"Sir, could it be that this Zhang Qingyuan has hidden his true nature very well? That he is actually a vile criminal?" Wang Qian couldn't help but ask.
Zhou Qin shook his head. Intuition told him it couldn't be that simple.
"Shen Fei's mental state seems very off. Get ready; we'll do a drug test."
"By the way, when can we get Shen Fei's file?"
Based on the brief interrogation, he strongly suspected Shen Fei suffered from persecution delusions and had invented a false threat. Yet, the information Shen Fei provided about Zhang Qingyuan was very accurate. Even his knowledge of Zhang Qingyuan's son, Zhang Tianmin, was spot-on. This fueled his suspicions.
There's something off about this case...
Zhou Qin took a deep breath and waited patiently.
...
「The next day, at eight in the morning.」
After a busy night, Zhou Qin finally obtained Shen Fei's file. It showed that Shen Fei had a history of multiple fraud cases!
The drug test results, however, showed that Shen Fei was normal; he showed no signs of having taken any drugs.
So, Zhou Qin found Shen Fei again for another round of questioning.
"Officer, Officer, you must protect me! There are dozens of people outside trying to kill me..." Shen Fei started shouting in terror again as soon as he saw Zhou Qin.
Zhou Qin frowned and said in a stern voice, "Shen Fei, I advise you to be honest. You should know the consequences of filing a false report!"
Shen Fei was taken aback but still said excitedly, "What I said is all true! Zhang Qingyuan, he really... on the phone..."
At this, his face changed drastically, and he suddenly covered his mouth. He dared not continue. A few more words... and I might just land myself in deep trouble.
But Zhou Qin keenly picked up on this, questioning again, "A phone call? What phone call?"
According to the file, Shen Fei and Zhang Qingyuan didn't know each other at all; it was impossible for them to have each other's phone number.
However, despite Zhou Qin's further inquiries, Shen Fei just mumbled evasively and wouldn't say another word.