Arhat Fist

Hongyun City Public Security Bureau.

At around 11 a.m., Lin Yuan received a call from Officer Li and headed straight to the police station.

Led by a female officer, he arrived at the director's office.

Two people were seated inside. One was Officer Li, while the other was a fairly spirited-looking middle-aged man.

As expected, this man was Han Weiguo, Director of the Hongyun City Public Security Bureau.

When Han Weiguo saw Lin Yuan, he showed no airs. He warmly rose from his seat and walked over to him.

He threw his head back and laughed. "Lin Yuan, I've finally met you."

"Come, come, don't just stand there. Sit."

"Xiao Liu, pour Xiao Lin a cup of tea."

Once the tea was ready, the group got down to business.

"Xiao Lin, you're quite impressive. You've brought honor to our county. We were discussing holding an award ceremony for you and setting you up as an example for the entire county. That's a rare honor."

"Director Han, didn't Officer Li tell you yesterday?"

"Oh?" Han Weiguo glanced at Li Hui, then at Lin Yuan, pretending to be confused.

Li Hui spoke up. "Director Han, it's like this. Xiao Lin doesn't want to make such a big fuss. He'd rather keep a low profile."

"Hey, Xiao Lin, don't take this the wrong way. As a young person, you should show off when the occasion calls for it. Besides, this is a good thing. As a member of R County, you should set a good example for the people of the whole county, shouldn't you?"

Lin Yuan had already prepared what to say before coming, so he replied, "Director Han, I understand. I'd be more than happy to set a good example for the entire city. It's just..."

"Just what? Tell me. I'll resolve it for you."

"You know what people are like these days. What if the criminal I subdued in Binhai City has accomplices? If we make such a huge spectacle of this, what if they come after me for revenge? Even if I'm not afraid, my mother is still at home. The internet is so developed now—what if they follow the trail and come knocking on my door? Wouldn't that be..."

"Xiao Lin, don't worry. Something like that is practically impossible."

Lin Yuan furrowed his brows and continued, "You said it yourself—practically. That means it's still possible. In any case, I'm not taking that risk."

Han Weiguo leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the table again and again.

This reason truly left him with no idea how to refute it. After all, he couldn't thump his chest and guarantee that no one would come seeking revenge.

After thinking for a moment, Han Weiguo could only suggest a compromise.

"Xiao Lin, how about this? We'll hold the award ceremony on a small scale here at the bureau. There may be some written reports, but we won't reveal your real identity. We'll also mosaic your photo. What do you think?"

Li Hui immediately chimed in, "Exactly. That way, Lin Yuan's identity won't be exposed, while we can still promote the matter. It's the best of both worlds."

Han Weiguo looked at Lin Yuan and asked, "What do you think?"

Lin Yuan smiled. "Of course. As a member of Hongyun City, I should contribute to the city's civilized development."

"Good, good, good." Han Weiguo let out a sigh of relief and laughed. "Old Li, I told you. Xiao Lin is politically conscious after all."

"Then it's settled. We'll hold an award ceremony here at the bureau this afternoon. Oh, right, Old Li, while we're at it, let's also report what happened when Lin Yuan acted bravely at the barbecue stall last night. We'll try to apply for an Award for Bravery for him as well."

"Director Han, you didn't need to say that. I was already planning to do exactly that. I reckon there's a good chance the application will go through this time."

As they chatted, noon quickly approached.

Han Weiguo glanced at his watch, then said to Lin Yuan, "Don't leave at lunchtime. Eat here at the bureau. The cafeteria happens to be serving pork knuckles today. Old Li, take Lin Yuan to try Old Qian's cooking later."

"Sure."

With that, the two left the director's office, and Li Hui led Lin Yuan to the cafeteria.

The cafeteria wasn't very large. People in uniform were already arriving one after another, and they all greeted Li Hui when they saw him.

"You brat, you're never enthusiastic about working, but you're always first to eat."

Li Hui put on a stern face and scolded a young officer.

"And you—you think about eating all day. Have you even looked at how fat you've gotten? If a criminal comes running past you in the future, you won't even be able to catch him."

He scolded nearly someone every one or two steps.

Then he encountered a young woman who looked to be just over twenty. He habitually opened his mouth to reprimand her, but once he saw who it was, his stern face immediately turned into a beaming smile.

"Xiao Tian, what's this? You came to the cafeteria alone today?"

Tian Tian held a large pink bowl decorated with rabbits. She had kept her head lowered the entire time. Hearing someone apparently speaking to her, she raised her head and revealed a slightly immature yet utterly pure face.

"Y-you're... Captain Li. Hello," Tian Tian said nervously.

"Aren't you usually with Zhou Yue? Why are you alone today?"

"She wasn't feeling well today, so she took the day off."

"Oh, I see. How about you eat with us?"

Tian Tian glanced at him, then at Lin Yuan beside him. Not knowing how to refuse, she nodded.

People in the surrounding corners saw how kindly Li Hui treated Tian Tian and began whispering complaints.

"What a double-standard freak."

"It's because Xiao Tian is Director Han's relative."

"You can't really put it that way."

"If I were Captain Li and saw Xiao Tian, I'd practically rip out my heart and give it to her. How could I bear to scold her?"

"That's true. Hahaha."

"Heh. Men."

Li Hui led Lin Yuan and Tian Tian to sit at a corner table.

Actually, from the moment he stepped inside, Lin Yuan's five viscera had already begun to stir restlessly.

"Officer Li, I'm a little hungry. If I'm still hungry after eating, can I get more?"

Li Hui patted him on the shoulder and laughed. "What are you talking about? Now that you're on my turf, could I let you go hungry? Eat your fill."

"Then I won't hold back."

Lin Yuan picked up a tray and headed straight for the serving counter.

While Tian Tian was still calculating how much she should eat, Lin Yuan's tray was already piled high.

Tian Tian stared in stunned silence, even forgetting to take any food.

When he returned to the table, Li Hui saw the sight on his tray and immediately swallowed.

"You brat, don't waste it."

"Officer Li, don't worry. I hate wasting food more than anything."

With that, he began eating like a whirlwind. The food, piled high enough to topple over, visibly dwindled at an astonishing speed.

Sitting opposite him, Tian Tian lowered her head and ate slowly, occasionally raising it to sneak a couple of glances at him.

In no time, he had cleaned his tray completely.

Li Hui was dumbfounded. "You can really eat, can't you?"

Lin Yuan chuckled. "I only eat a tiny bit more than ordinary people."

You call that a tiny bit? More like an astronomical amount.

Lin Yuan carried his empty tray back and returned with another heap of food.

"Your cafeteria food really is excellent. No wonder so many people take the civil service exam. This food alone beats countless so-called listed companies." Lin Yuan sighed with emotion.

"You should see where you are. If the food weren't good, where would we get the strength to catch criminals?" Li Hui said, sounding rather proud.

"By the way, I'm curious. How many cases can your criminal investigation team solve in a year? Do you usually face much danger?"

Li Hui narrowed his eyes and looked at him with a smile. "What? Don't tell me you want to join our Public Security Bureau?"

"Haha, I'm just curious."

"Actually, if you could get in, all the honors you've earned would be a perfect halo around you. So, what do you think? Interested?" Li Hui asked in a coaxing tone.

"The civil service exam is so competitive now. Even if I wanted to join, I might not be able to pass."

"Come on, you could start as a police assistant. Our criminal investigation team happens to have a few openings this year. You could work first and take the exam gradually. As long as you pass the cutoff..."

At that point, Li Hui stopped and gave him a knowing look.

Tian Tian, sitting beside them like a little hamster, had originally planned to finish eating quickly and leave. But as she listened, she slowed down instead, perking up her ears and thoroughly enjoying the two men's secret conversation.

"Thank you for the offer, big brother. Let's just eat," Lin Yuan said with a laugh.

"Xiao Lin, don't think I'm joking with you. Our criminal investigation team is short of talented people like you. Otherwise, I wouldn't be telling you this."

"Officer Li thinks too highly of me. What talent? I'm just an unemployed young man waiting around to eat and die."

"Whatever else you may lack, you can at least fight."

"Just knocking down several punks last night was beyond what an ordinary person could do."

"Luck. It was just luck."

Li Hui dismissed this. "Do you know what kind of background Wang Hu has?"

Lin Yuan shook his head.

"He used to be the toughest fighter on Dongsheng Street."

"If they were ordinary punks, I might believe your nonsense. If you couldn't fight, I'd eat my next meal upside down. Besides, could an ordinary person beat that group into such a state?"

"And I saw the video of you in Binhai City."

After listening to Li Hui go on and on, Lin Yuan decided there was no point in pretending anymore.

Still stuffing his mouth with food, he gave Li Hui a thumbs-up and smiled. "Officer Li, you've got a sharp eye."

A look of curiosity appeared on Li Hui's face.

"By the way, kid, what style do you practice?"

"Tai Chi."

"When did you start training?"

"Six years ago."

"No wonder. Still, your practical fighting ability is terrifying. I once heard my teacher say that anyone who practiced Tai Chi for less than ten years would have very poor practical combat ability."

At those words, the usually careless Lin Yuan suddenly had a flash of light in his eyes as he looked at Li Hui.

"Officer Li, have you practiced too?"

Li Hui straightened his chest and said proudly, "I studied Shaolin Arhat Fist under an old master from a young age."

"Then you must be quite an expert, Officer Li."

Li Hui waved his hand. "After I started working, I gradually let Arhat Fist fall by the wayside. I only practice every now and then."

"How about we spar after we finish eating?" Lin Yuan suddenly said, brimming with excitement.

Shaolin Arhat Fist was a martial art he had heard a great deal about. If Shaolin was a gathering place for external martial arts, then Arhat Fist was one of the most representative styles among Shaolin's techniques.

Now that he had encountered it, his own itch to test his skills naturally began to flare.

Li Hui looked at the burning excitement in Lin Yuan's eyes. At his age, he had long since passed the stage of competing for superiority.

But he could understand Lin Yuan. When he was young, he had been exactly the same.

Training through the bitter cold of winter and the sweltering heat of summer—wasn't it all for the day he could finally put his fists and feet to use?

"All right, but let's agree beforehand: we'll stop at the first touch. They say a young man's fist is something to fear. Don't send me into early retirement."

"Officer Li, you're too modest. With your decades of Arhat Fist experience, I might not be able to withstand you."

At that moment, besides Lin Yuan's eyes shining brightly, Tian Tian's eyes—until then fixed on her food—were shining too. But hers gleamed with the light of gossip.