"Report! All members of the third squad have regrouped, but they're not moving!"
"How long has it been?"
"Over fifteen minutes for each of them!"
"Details, please."
"According to the drone observation, there's no sign of a fierce fight, nor has there been any use of firearms. However, due to the distance and the uneven buildings, we couldn't observe the specific cause."
"Damn it! If it were in the city, I wouldn't worry about deploying ten, eight drones without being discovered!"
Ding Yizhen cursed twice, pondered for a moment, then resolutely said, "Get the car ready, let's head to the scene!"
In less than half an hour.
A Hongqi sedan stopped not far from Changchun Temple, adding to the already deployed three pickup trucks, making the already small open space even more crowded.
"Director Ding!"
"Director Ding!"
The remaining personnel at the site came over to greet him.
Ding Yizhen is not only the police bureau director but also holds the position of deputy mayor.
Others may call him Vice Mayor Ding, but for police bureau members, Director Ding feels more fitting.
"What's the current situation?"
Ding Yizhen took the binoculars, watching while asking.
"Captain Wang's squad is still inside, without any movement. It's still unclear what's happened. Just to be cautious, we've already scouted, and there are no residents nearby. All surrounding roads have been secured."
Another action team leader stepped forward to reply.
"Not bad, very thorough consideration."
Ding Yizhen nodded, thought for a moment, then once again used the binoculars to observe the terrain.
Pointing to the side door of Changchun Temple, he asked, "What about there? Have you tried it?"
"Not yet, all waiting for your order, Director Ding."
"Go inside and have a look, remember! We're here to figure out the situation, not for anti-terrorism!"
"Understood! Second Action Group, follow me!"
Ding Yizhen gazed into the distance, watching the action group quietly approach, expressionless.
Actually.
According to the higher-ups' requirements, they just needed to eliminate any potential security hazards at Changchun Temple, without the need for such an elaborate operation.
If it were someone else, Ding Yizhen might have done just that, but…
For someone like Elder An, a pillar of the country, he would never allow even the slightest unfavorable sign to appear under his watch!
In just a few minutes, the captain had led his team quietly to the side door.
Carefully checking the equipment a few times, the captain made two hand signals, and the team members immediately understood.
Ding Yizhen watched as they carefully unlocked the metal lock, then sealed the door again quietly, slipping inside without a sound.
The swift and skilled operation, even for someone like Ding Yizhen who excelled at the grassroots level, couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
If the Thief Saint saw this, he'd probably have set a date for washing his hands of the trade.
The first was Wang Shaohua, just one person, stuck in an old mountain Daoist temple — quite normal!
The second was two people, with experience not as great as their captain, making mistakes… understandable as well.
The third was four people, fully equipped and highly skilled, even an average anti-terrorism operation wouldn't get such manpower.
Even if there's something unclean as rumored online, even if it were four pigs, they should at least let out a squeal!
Therefore.
Ding Yizhen never put down his binoculars, waiting for signals from the members inside, but after three minutes...
Another three minutes passed...
No fight, no gunshots, not even a sound. Inside the Daoist temple, it's as quiet as a haunted mansion.
The door left slightly ajar didn't look like it was left open by the team, but more like the temple itself left it so, silently waiting for them to walk into the web, deeper and deeper, until immobilized, then started to feast.
"Could it be... something unclean really exists?"
The voice from the observation group member trembled when they spoke.
If there's some noise it'd be fine, but this kind of dead silence is what's truly terrifying.
He subconsciously looked at Ding Yizhen nearby, hoping for further instructions.
But at this moment, Ding Yizhen also appeared grave, unintentionally lighting a cigarette.
Spirits and ghosts?
Pure nonsense!
A more likely scenario is that there's a secret organization within this temple, occupying the location, with skilled members.
Otherwise… he couldn't explain it.
Seven living people, yet not a sound was made.
Moreover, there are incense burners inside... their lives are lives too!
Such a situation with hostages present is the most difficult to handle!
Otherwise, for this remote mountain temple, at the last moment, to send a beloved maid of Miss Dongfeng's, it's not impossible.
"Notify everyone..."
Ding Yizhen gritted his teeth, about to open the channel to speak.
But before he could finish, the side door began to creak open.
Creak~
The sunlight streamed in as the door opened.
Hmm?
Everyone at the scene was stunned, what's going on here?
Soon, upon recognizing who came out, an acquainted captain shouted, "Call the snipers! Call the snipers! Cease aiming! Cease aiming! It's Captain Wang Shaohua!"
In a rather subtle atmosphere, Wang Shaohua approached this area.
"What's going on inside now?" Ding Yizhen asked, frowning slightly upon seeing Wang Shaohua's somewhat flushed face.
"Director... Director Ding, he wants to tell you personally."
Ignoring his unusual complexion, Ding Yizhen's sharp gaze focused, picking up the phone. A few seconds later, a clear, cheerful voice came through the other end:
"Hello, Director Ding."
"Are you Daoist Master Ning An?"
"As expected, Director Ding thoroughly investigated this little temple of mine; it certainly saved me a lot of effort."
Laughter came from the other end of the phone.
"Speak, what's your demand for releasing our people?"
Listening to Ding Yizhen's decisive words, Ning An began to feel a headache.
Even the authorities view this as a gathering place for an evil organization, huh?!
However, turning to look at Captain Wang's former team members, Ning An chuckled, shaking his head:
"Director Ding, I'm afraid there's a misunderstanding involved here. How about we meet and talk?"
"Alright, do you want to come out or should I go in?"
"I'm afraid we'll have to trouble you, Director Ding, to come in. The temple has air conditioning, it's nice and cool."
"Alright, I'll be there."
Click!
The call hung up!
"Director Ding, this clearly has issues! You can't risk it!"
Director Ding's secretary, overhearing, immediately became anxious: "I'll contact personnel from the city right away; even if there are extremists inside, we can still flatten them!"
"Ptooey!"
"I said, this is an investigation! Not counter-terrorism!"
Ding Yizhen lightly spat twice, impatiently saying, "Besides, as the local official here, if I back off in the face of some risk, where do you suppose I put this old face of mine!"
Refusing anyone to accompany him, Ding Yizhen walked alone towards Changchun Temple, leaving a group behind watching eagerly.
Approaching Changchun Temple.
One step, two steps, three steps…
All was well, but just as he was about to step into Changchun Temple's main entrance, a clear laugh came, and the Little Daoist came out.
Everyone held their breath, with snipers being especially focused, ready to take counteractions at any slight misunderstanding.
However, beyond the expectations of everyone except Captain Wang.
Ning An did absolutely nothing, instead welcoming Ding Yizhen in with a laugh.
The enthusiasm resembled that of…
an ancient brothel madam?