A Cauldron of Public Outcry

Kuaiyin's short-video algorithm made the video spread like a virus.

In just a few hours, the short video of Gao Wu killing a Demonic Cult believer had been reposted hundreds of thousands of times. There was no telling how many edited clips individual content creators had made from it.

Of the millions of comments beneath the video, most questioned the Public Security Bureau, while a small number openly cursed the Public Security Bureau for acting recklessly.

An important psychological mechanism of human society: sympathizing with the weak.

The Public Security Bureau's reputation had never been very good to begin with. Now that they had an opportunity, everyone took the chance to vent their pent-up resentment.

More and more people gathered around the video, and it quickly spread across all major online platforms.

The enormous traffic naturally sent a portion of viewers flooding into Gao Wu's personal account. In just a few hours, his follower count had skyrocketed to two million.

At a time like this, naturally plenty of people came out to feast on Gao Wu's traffic.

Classmates, neighbors, relatives—every sort of person claiming ties to Gao Wu emerged all at once, hoping to get a share of the enormous traffic.

Shang Qingjun, far away in Anjing, also saw the video. It only made her more worried.

A human life was at stake. No matter how sufficient the reasons, it was still a huge problem.

Fortunately, the footage from the scene could prove that Gao Wu had been forced to defend himself. With public opinion surging so fiercely, Little Wu should be able to receive fair treatment.

Her beautiful roommate was still replaying the video over and over. She grabbed Shang Qingjun's arm and said excitedly, "Our little brother looked so cool with that sword strike!"

Shang Qingjun was speechless. This girl's way of thinking really was abnormal! She was already overwhelmed with worry and had no mood to chat idly with her roommate.

"I'm going back to Dongjiang," she said.

"What use would you be if you went back?!" Her beautiful roommate shook her head. "You're neither a lawyer nor someone with connections. You'd only be worrying yourself sick if you went back.

"I thought you were usually pretty smart. How did you become muddleheaded when something actually happened? The fact that this video was allowed to circulate without restrictions tells you there must be a powerful force backing our little brother.

Her beautiful roommate showed a puzzled expression again. "With that kind of influence, they could just go to the Public Security Bureau and demand his release. I don't know why they had to put it online. Maybe they have a grudge against the Public Security Bureau and wanted to use this chance to make them lose face..."

She grabbed Shang Qingjun again and said seriously, "Our little brother will be out within two days, I guarantee it! Don't go back and add to the chaos."

Shang Qingjun fell silent. Her roommate's analysis made a great deal of sense...

The Dongjiang Public Security Bureau also noticed that something was wrong. They contacted the platform and requested traffic controls on the video, but the results were not very good.

By the time Han Juan learned of it, the short video had already completely exploded.

Han Juan did not like Kuaiyin, nor did she like the various online social platforms. She felt that the traffic gathered on such platforms lacked control, and ordinary people were stupid and easily led.

The interactive content on online platforms was even more crude and low-grade, made specifically to fool idiots. Yet the lower classes ate it right up.

"Officer, what do we do now?" a female patrol officer asked softly, somewhat uneasy.

Online public opinion was now aimed directly at the Dongshan Public Security Bureau, and she felt extremely unsettled. If things truly spiraled out of control, everyone from top to bottom would likely be dealt with.

"What are you afraid of!"

Han Juan sneered. "He does good deeds every day, and as a teenager he regularly went to nursing homes to help the elderly. What is he, a saint reincarnated? Do you believe that?"

The female patrol officer hurriedly shook her head.

"Even if he really is a saint, we are handling the case according to the law. What is there to fear!" Han Juan was very dissatisfied with her subordinate's incompetence and timidity. They were Public Security officers; investigating cases was a duty bestowed upon them by law.

It was not as though she insisted on doing anything to Gao Wu, but she could not tolerate being forced back by public opinion.

Videos could be faked, and testimony could be faked. If a suspect could escape guilt merely by producing a video, that would be the real joke!

She was a dignified Level Three patrol officer, yet she had to let a crowd of ignorant fools direct her investigation? That would be an even bigger joke.

It had not even been twelve hours since Gao Wu's arrest, yet people were already pleading for him one after another and stirring up momentum online. They truly had no regard for the law.

A human life was involved. Should they release him without thoroughly investigating? If there really was a problem, who would bear the responsibility? The keyboard warriors online?

So far, everything had followed normal procedure. There had not been a single improper operation.

Han Juan told her subordinate, "Go tell those people in the Cybersecurity Division to speed it up and verify whether the video is authentic..."

When she arrived at the separate holding room, Han Juan saw Gao Wu practicing the Nine Dragon Forms through the bars.

The Nine Dragon Forms were widely circulated, and many people practiced them. Han Juan knew them as well. Seeing that every one of Gao Wu's movements was perfectly executed, slow yet fluid, she felt they carried the effortless freedom of spring water flowing down a mountainside.

Gao Wu's limbs were especially long, and his physique was evenly muscled and powerful. Even his loose blue-and-white school uniform jacket looked refined on him. His features were deep and heroic. Though he was not exactly handsome, he was extremely pleasing to the eye and highly distinctive.

Han Juan sighed inwardly. No wonder so many people were speaking up for him. In this internet age, Gao Wu had the potential to become a massive online celebrity based on his looks alone.

Gao Wu saw Han Juan, but he still focused on finishing the Nine Dragon Forms. Only after he completed the final stance and exhaled a long breath of stale air did he smile and greet her. "Sister Han, you're here."

"Don't get too pleased with yourself. The blade of online public opinion cuts both ways; it isn't something you can manipulate," Han Juan said coldly.

"Uh, I don't really understand what you mean, Sister Han." Gao Wu looked innocent. His phone had been confiscated, and he had no means of contacting the outside world, so naturally he did not know what was happening out there.

Still, Gao Wu could roughly guess that Song Mingyue had posted the video online and built momentum for him.

Only someone with Song Mingyue's status and background would have the channels to release the video. With the wisdom of his past life, he was naturally not naive enough to believe that creating a public uproar would save him.

Law enforcement agencies were powerful and would not easily bow to public opinion. However, once there was enough attention, it could keep this patrol officer from acting recklessly.

After all, so many people were watching. She would not dare play any tricks. For him, that was enough.

Seeing Gao Wu remain calm, Han Juan felt a little helpless. This kid's mental fortitude was a bit too good. She put away her stern expression and said as sincerely as she could, "I'm not trying to make things difficult for you. As long as you cooperate with me, I guarantee I can help clear you of suspicion and get you back to school as soon as possible."

"Sister Han, I've been very cooperative. I even gave you the video." Gao Wu looked utterly serious.

"Then let me ask you: Zhang Hao had no grievance or enmity with you, so why did he insist on coming after you?" Han Juan asked.

"I don't know." Gao Wu shook his head. He had not figured out why Zhang Hao wanted to kill him either. Out of jealousy?

Running into a lunatic like that, he felt rather unlucky too.

Han Juan patiently said, "I know you must feel very wronged. But as a law enforcement officer, I can't listen only to you.

"If Zhang Hao's friends and family come asking questions, what am I supposed to say? On what grounds do I determine that he was a Demon God Believer? Because there was a corpse in his house? What if someone had thrown it into his home?"

Gao Wu looked innocently at Han Juan, his gaze clear.

Han Juan shook her head. She had no interest in asking any further. Gao Wu stubbornly insisted that he had nothing at all to do with the matter, and she could not use the Great Memory Recall Technique on him. If she did, she would truly have to bear responsibility.

There was also Tie Dalong's family, as well as the dead man's relatives and friends. Surely they could uncover something.

Watching Han Juan leave, Gao Wu turned his gaze toward the Boundless Merit Book before him. In only a few hours, his Merit had surged by more than thirty thousand, bringing the total to one hundred and thirty thousand.

Clearly, an enormous amount of traffic must have flooded into his personal account. Through that video of him saving someone, he had gained a great deal of Merit again. Perhaps the video of him killing Zhang Hao could also earn him Merit?

With such an enormous amount of Merit, even Gao Wu found it difficult to determine exactly where it all came from.

There was no need to focus on such details now. One hundred and thirty thousand Merit was enough for him to upgrade the Azure Dragon Divine Qi Incantation.

However, there were surveillance cameras in all four corners of the holding room. Gao Wu did not dare upgrade the Azure Dragon Divine Qi Incantation here. If any strange phenomenon appeared, it would certainly bring all kinds of trouble.

A comprehensive increase in his basic physical attributes meant that his body's baseline energy consumption had increased.

That evening, he had eaten only one steamed bun and a bowl of porridge. After practicing the Nine Dragon Forms once, he had already digested every bit of it.

Without enough energy to support it, cultivation would only consume the body's fundamental essence, which was harmful to the body.

Gao Wu lay on the hard single bed and silently recited the Azure Dragon Divine Qi Incantation fifty times. Finally, he curled up slightly and fell asleep in the Hidden Dragon Does Not Act posture.

He did not know how long he had slept when the cold forcibly woke him. He slowly opened his eyes and saw the glaring light scattering in from the corridor outside.

There were no windows in the room, so he could not see the sky. The surroundings were extremely quiet, without any sound to be heard. Gao Wu estimated that it was probably two or three in the morning, the coldest time of day.

There was no quilt on the bed, not even a blanket—only a hard plastic bed board.

And he had eaten little that evening. Now, hunger had left his chest pressed against his back.

Gao Wu sighed. A holding room was not a hotel; it was not a place for people to rest. Unable to sleep, he could only open the Boundless Merit Book.

The blank pages were densely filled with +1s, covering the entire page.

When he looked at the total Merit again, it had already exceeded one hundred and eighty thousand. Along with his excitement, Gao Wu felt a little dazed. Did killing a Demon God Believer really have such a good effect?