A Soft Knife

"Captain Yang? Where are the rest of your squad?" Zhou Yong asked teasingly.

"They all have cases to handle." Yang Wenqing was instantly on guard, but he still wore a businesslike smile.

"Doesn't your Major Crimes Unit even have a single patrol skiff for handling cases?" Zhou Yong asked again, patting the vehicle beside him as he spoke.

"Our Third Squad has limited authority. We usually deal with minor cases. Perhaps by the time I walk there, the Public Security Office will have already solved the case themselves, and we'll only need to register it." Yang Wenqing kept a low profile, but he was also testing him.

"I'll give you a ride. I received a police alert stating that the case in West City is somewhat complicated and requires two squads from our Operations Division to work with you." Zhou Yong made room and gestured for Yang Wenqing to board his skiff.

"Captain Zhou, do you know what case it is?" Yang Wenqing made as if to approach, but after taking two steps, he stopped to inquire about the case.

"Not sure. I only received orders saying the situation is urgent." Zhou Yong urged him again. "Captain Yang, you'd better hurry."

"The Police Alert Center reported a cultivator riot. Cases like this usually have clear targets, so why mobilize the Major Crimes Unit?" Yang Wenqing deliberately stalled. "Logically, the West City Public Security Station should immediately surround and capture the culprit. If that fails, they can issue a wanted notice. They aren't trying to shirk responsibility, are they?"

"Since the Police Alert Center notified us of the case, it would be a serious dereliction of duty if we didn't go!" Zhou Yong urged him again. "Hurry up."

Only then did Yang Wenqing board the skiff. Once seated, he deliberately raised his voice. "The West City Public Security Station has always operated apart from the branch bureau. If something really goes wrong this time and they want to dump the blame on us, there are other colleagues watching. I just wonder whether they'll have the nerve."

At those words, Zhou Yong's brows twitched in an almost imperceptible frown. He immediately urged the senior security officer in the driver's seat to pick up speed.

Neither of them spoke again after that.

Twenty minutes later, the skiff arrived at Fu'an Community in West City. The scene was outside a high-end entertainment venue called Drunken Immortal Tower. By now, security officers from the West City Public Security Station had cordoned off the area, while quite a few curious residents had gathered outside.

As soon as Yang Wenqing, Zhou Yong, and the others stepped off the skiff, they caught a faint lingering scent of scorched air and traces of disturbed spiritual energy.

The grand entrance of Drunken Immortal Tower had been shattered. The porch bore obvious scorch marks from flames and slashes from sharp blades, while several ice spikes were embedded deep in a decorative stone pillar nearby. A brief but extremely fierce spell battle had clearly taken place here not long ago.

After crossing the cordon, Yang Wenqing immediately spotted Li Gui, the director of the West City Public Security Station, dressed in a white uniform. He was speaking with several well-dressed, composed men, wearing a helpless smile.

When he saw Yang Wenqing and Zhou Yong arrive, Li Gui hurried over and quickly lowered his voice. "Captain Yang, Captain Zhou, you're finally here. This is what happened..."

He spoke at a rapid pace and explained the situation in just a few sentences.

The case truly was not complicated. A wealthy young master named Liu Sheng had gotten into an argument with someone at Drunken Immortal Tower that night. In a drunken fit of impulse, he had used magical artifacts to fight them, injuring several people on the spot. He had also accidentally killed a waiter who stepped forward to mediate. Including the other party's guards, five people had died.

After causing such a disaster, Liu Sheng had vanished with his attendants.

By the time Li Gui finished rapidly recounting the case, the three had reached the crime scene. Several officials from the County Administrative Office promptly gathered around. Yang Wenqing swept his gaze over them and relaxed only after finding no trace of official seal aura on them. That meant they were merely insignificant clerks.

At that moment, Li Gui's gaze moved between Yang Wenqing and Zhou Yong before finally settling on Zhou Yong. In an unquestionable tone, he ordered, "Captain Zhou, the situation is urgent. The murderer, Liu Sheng, escaped only recently and must still be within West City District. Immediately lead the brothers from the Operations Division in a grid search based on the clues provided by our Public Security Office. You must capture the criminal as quickly as possible!"

He gave the order with perfect naturalness, completely bypassing Yang Wenqing, who should have been the commander. After speaking, he turned to a police chief beside him. "You, go with Captain Zhou and tell him the intelligence we just obtained."

To this, Zhou Yong actually replied directly, "Understood, Director Li. We'll go right away!"

Without even sparing Yang Wenqing a glance, he turned and waved at the two squads he had brought. "Everyone, listen up. Follow me!"

The Operations Division personnel moved swiftly, boarding their skiffs. Amid the roar of engines, they vanished around the end of the street in the blink of an eye.

Just as Yang Wenqing was about to speak, Li Gui warmly grabbed his arm and said earnestly, "Captain Yang, leave the search to the brothers from the Operations Division. What we need now is to deal with the aftermath!"

Li Gui's words were entirely reasonable and came wholly from the standpoint of official duty, leaving no room for criticism. The County Administrative Office officials also echoed him. After all, so many people had died at once, and there were so many onlookers around. Within a day, the matter would likely become known to everyone.

And precisely because of that, if Yang Wenqing let the murderer escape, his position as acting captain would likely be in jeopardy. Yet he had no one under his command now, and whenever he wanted to head to the capture site, Li Gui kept him tied up.

At this moment, Yang Wenqing could only hope Wang Ren would not let him down, but this feeling of having no control made him deeply uncomfortable.

The group walked to the bodies of the five victims. Li Gui lifted one of the white sheets and lowered his voice. "Captain Yang, this is the most troublesome one."

Before Yang Wenqing could ask, he continued, "His name was Sun Yi, male, twenty-two years old. His father is Sun Ming, deputy director of the General Affairs Division at the County Administrative Office!"

As soon as Li Gui finished speaking, a minor clerk from the County Administrative Office immediately added, "Director Sun has already received the news, but due to the principle of recusal for relatives, he did not come to the scene. However, his wife will be arriving shortly."

Just then, a commotion rose outside the cordon. A middle-aged woman dressed simply yet unable to conceal her nobility approached surrounded by several attendants. The instant she saw the body beneath the lifted white sheet, her body swayed violently, and she nearly collapsed. Fortunately, an attendant beside her caught her.

"My son! My son!" The woman cried out in heart-rending grief, struggling to throw herself at the body.

Li Gui and the County Administrative Office officials immediately went to meet her. As they supported and comforted her, they deftly guided her attention toward Yang Wenqing.

"Madam Sun, please accept our condolences. This is Captain Yang Wenqing of the Major Crimes Unit under the City Defense Bureau. He is now fully responsible for this case." Li Gui introduced him in a sorrowful tone. "Captain Yang is exceptionally capable. He will certainly do everything in his power to bring the murderer to justice and give both Director Sun and you an explanation!"

The minor clerks echoed him from the side. "That's right, Madam Sun. With Captain Yang here, rest assured. The City Defense Bureau will never let your son die in vain!"

Madam Sun looked at Yang Wenqing through tear-filled eyes, her gaze full of grief and a hint of scrutiny. She seized his sleeve, her voice trembling yet carrying an unquestionable force. "Captain Yang, my son cannot die like this. The murderer... that bastard from the Liu Family must pay with his life!"

At that very moment, Yang Wenqing truly felt the viciousness of a soft knife.