Mad Detective
[Author: Kuang Hai Wang Hu]
[TL: Spades]
[PR: Blitz]
[QC: Lumi]
Chapter 13 — Where's the Brake?
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If life were only like our first meeting, why would the autumn wind mourn the painted fan?
In his original world, Zhao Yu had once experienced a passionate, whirlwind romance…
At 18, he fell for her, also 18!
Her name was, Yao Jia!
Yao Jia was stunningly beautiful, radiant beyond compare, like a celestial fairy untouched by the dust of the world. Her flowing hair left Zhao Yu spellbound, utterly captivated.
Their love was intense, fervent, leaving the sweetest memories in those youthful days. But, like most tear-jerking Korean dramas, their story ended in tragedy.
Young and hotheaded, Zhao Yu was no stranger to brawls. During one fierce fight, Yao Jia got caught in the crossfire, stabbed in the leg, leaving her permanently disabled.
Her parents beat Zhao Yu senseless before taking their daughter far away. From then on, they were forever apart, never to meet again. Even as Zhao Yu lay on the execution table, watching poison drip into his veins, he still whispered Yao Jia's name.
Like a horse longing for the north wind, Yao Jia's name haunted him until death…
Who could've known, who could've possibly known?
The woman he thought gone forever now stood before him, and she was the very person whose bag had been stolen!
Seeing Yao Jia again, Zhao Yu felt like he was in another lifetime (which, technically, he was)!
The Yao Jia before him wore a pink dress, her long hair tied high. Though more mature, she was still flawless, her grace ethereal. Even with her bag stolen, her movements were elegant, endlessly captivating…
"Catch the thief! Catch the thief! My bag!" Yao Jia rushed past Zhao Yu, face full of panic, not sparing him a glance. Deep down, it seemed she didn't expect him to help.
"Hey!?"
Zhao Yu snapped out of his daze.
'Wait, if Yao Jia's bag got stolen, this is serious! What am I standing here for?'
He craned his neck to look. The thief had already fled far. Chasing on foot would be tough.
But the street was packed with cars, no room for even a bicycle, let alone a vehicle.
'What now?'
Turning, Zhao Yu's eyes landed on the towering, camel!!
'Got it!'
Without thinking, he snatched the reins from the handler and leaped onto the camel's back!
"Hyah!"
He'd ridden horses at a stable before. Clamping his legs, he slapped the camel to move. But no matter how he urged, the camel stood firm, unmoving.
"Big guy, what're you doing?" the handler yelped, "Get down! This won't do!"
"Quit yapping, I'm a cop!" Zhao Yu roared, "Chasing a thief, can't you see? I'm commandeering your camel, tell me how to make it run, now!"
His fierce shout spooked the handler, who, with some quick maneuver, twisted the camel's rear. The beast lurched, hooves flipping, charging forward!
The sudden jolt nearly threw Zhao Yu off. He grabbed the hump tightly, clinging for dear life.
Clop, clop, clop…
The camel was a beast, racing with gusts of wind, more thrilling than a motorcycle.
"Senior, you…" Li Beini stood stunned, finally shouting, "Be careful!"
Her voice couldn't catch up. The camel's hooves flew, swiftly overtaking Yao Jia, who was chasing the thief.
Yao Jia gaped, staring at the camel and Zhao Yu wobbling atop it, feeling like this scene belonged to another world!
The camel galloped along the sidewalk. Though the path was narrow, the camel was agile, not slowing a bit, and soon closed in on the thief.
At first, the thief thought he'd escaped. But glancing back, he saw the massive creature charging at him, eyes nearly popping out as he sprinted harder.
As the camel neared, the thief spotted an alley and slipped inside.
Zhao Yu yanked the reins, and the camel swerved, barreling in after him.
The alley was lined with small stalls selling pots, pans, snacks, even fortune-telling.
The thief, nimble, weaved through the stalls with ease. But the camel couldn't dodge, crashing through everything in its path, sending pots, chairs, and tables flying!
In an instant, dishes shattered, stools snapped, and even a blind fortune-teller scrambled up a wall in panic.
The alley erupted into chaos.
Yet the camel didn't slow, finally catching the thief near the alley's end. By then, the thief was gasping, panting louder than the camel.
But just as he caught up, Zhao Yu hit a snag, crap! I forgot to ask, where's the brake on this thing?
How, how do I stop!?
"Whoa! Whoa!"
He tried every traditional stopping trick, but the camel ignored them, galloping on, lightning-fast. In a blink, it overshot the thief by several lengths.
"Huh?"
The thief looked up, saw the camel rider wasn't grabbing him, and turned to hobble back, too exhausted to run.
Damn it!
Zhao Yu felt like two crows were cawing past his ears. With no choice, he yanked the reins hard, swinging the camel in a wide arc at the alley's mouth to circle back.
"No way!"
The thief's heart sank, mustering strength to speed up again. This time, Zhao Yu gave no quarter. As the camel passed, he leaped off, soaring in a graceful arc, and crashed onto the thief.
The thief was knocked senseless, too dazed to resist. When Zhao Yu stood, the thief raised his hands in surrender.
But Zhao Yu was pissed, not caring about surrender. He socked the thief, giving him a black eye, blood gushing from his nose like a faucet.
Damn you!
Keep running!
Zhao Yu slapped him hard, then plopped down, feeling like his bones had rattled loose. The camel, oddly perceptive, stopped on its own, turning to look at Zhao Yu.
Zhao Yu gave it a thumbs-up, "Thanks, buddy!"