Just try laying a hand on her!

On the way back, his secretary Ge Tong quietly watched Zeng Xuedong's expression in the rearview mirror.

He looked no different from usual.

Yet only a trusted aide like Ge Tong, who had served at his side for over two years, could understand just how badly Deputy County Magistrate Zeng had lost his composure that day!

Zeng Xuedong knew perfectly well that he had not been calm enough.

But he could not-or rather, did not want to-control himself.

Normally, even the most difficult problems could be settled with a single phone call. Sometimes he did not even need to intervene personally; his younger brother, Zeng Xuehua, could take care of them with ease.

And now? Never mind Lei Ming-even someone like Song Chengquan dared to pay lip service to his orders while defying them behind his back.

That stark contrast instinctively stirred unease and anger in him, as though he were losing control.

That was why he had personally rushed to the County Public Security Bureau and barged into the interrogation room. That was why he had deigned to speak to Zhou Yi alone.

He claimed not to care about Zhou Yi's relationship with Xie Zhaolong, or what Zhou Yi had discussed with Yan Xiangyu. In truth, however, he was deeply wary of Zhou Yi.

Almost every card he could play was already on the table, while he still could not see what his opponent held in reserve.

Zeng Xuedong simply could not understand how someone like this had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

He had a vague, ominous feeling that the three-way balance of power between himself, Fu Pingjiang, and Yan Xiangyu in Dongji County might be completely shattered by Zhou Yi's arrival.

He therefore had to prepare early, just in case.

What came next would be a life-or-death struggle, with no holds barred.

Come on, Zhou Yi. Let me see what else you've got!

Collusion!

There was no doubt about it.

The four men-Zeng Yuqiang, Wang Tao, Ding Lin, and Jin Dalu-had initially resisted interrogation through silence, only to end up offering a coordinated story and every imaginable excuse. All of it pointed to one thing-

There's a mole among us!

"Us" meant the Criminal Investigation Brigade personnel responsible for the interrogations.

For the moment, however, there was no solid evidence.

Deputy Director Zhang Liping swept his furious gaze over the criminal investigators. But the anger in his eyes soon faded, replaced by profound disappointment.

When the water was too clear, no fish could live in it.

But if it grew too muddy, sooner or later it would become a filthy sewer harboring every kind of rot.

He was not the deputy director overseeing them, so it was not his place to investigate and deal with this directly. But he would certainly report it to Director Lei Ming.

Why not report it to Song Chengquan?

Well, there was a reason people said that corruption at the top spread all the way down!

Zhang Liping did not intervene, and Zhou Yi had even less authority to do so.

This was an internal matter for the Criminal Investigation Brigade. If anyone was going to handle it, it should be their captain, Lu Yaohua.

Speaking of which, Lu, why haven't you said a word?

That attitude of yours looks awfully suspicious!

Lu Yaohua's position was, I don't dare say a thing. I took dirty money from Zeng Xuehua.

But I had no choice. My pay isn't high, and besides supporting my wife, children, and elderly relatives, I have two mistresses to keep!

Meanwhile, Executive Deputy Director Song Chengquan also received a call from Zeng Xuehua.

"Song, we've been friends for so many years. Whatever happens, you have to help me this time!" Zeng Xuehua opened by playing on their friendship.

"I've already helped you! Do you think getting their stories straight was that easy?" Song Chengquan retorted, sounding displeased.

"You have to keep helping me!" Zeng Xuehua insisted, heedless of his objection.

"If I help you any further, do you think I'll still have my job as deputy director?" Song Chengquan raised his voice in agitation.

"Tell me, what if Lei Ming found out you'd been taking dirty money and had a stake in an underground casino..." Zeng Xuehua reminded him coldly.

"Are you threatening me?" Song Chengquan growled under his breath, angry and panicked.

"And if your wife and Li Wenli's husband found out about you and Li Wenli..." Zeng Xuehua continued with a sneer.

"How would you like me to help?" Deputy Director Song, having accepted reality, hurriedly interrupted in an exceedingly gentle voice.

"It's simple. Release my older brother immediately," Zeng Xuehua said flatly.

"Aren't you putting me in an impossible position? Lei Ming specifically ordered that he must not be released," Song Chengquan growled, shocked and angry.

"Oh, as it happens, I also have a couple of photos of you and Li Wenli in bed..." Zeng Xuehua remarked, seemingly casually.

"I know what to do!" Deputy Director Song said hollowly, then hung up.

A few minutes later, Criminal Investigation Brigade Captain Lu Yaohua received a call from Executive Deputy Director Song Chengquan.

"Release Zeng Yuqiang immediately!"

That single, simple order instantly changed Captain Lu's expression. He glanced cautiously around, then lowered his voice. "We can't do that, Director Song. The director-"

"Zeng Xuehua says you took a hundred thousand yuan from him. You figure it out!" Deputy Director Song cut him off impatiently, then hung up and switched off his phone.

Now the pressure was all on Captain Lu!

Lu Yaohua stood there thinking silently for a minute. In the end, he decided-to release him!

If the sky falls, someone higher up can hold it up. I'm only following Deputy Director Song's orders. Nothing wrong with that!

Seven that evening.

Zeng Yuqiang swaggered out of the County Public Security Bureau building, his feet splayed outward and his face smug.

He could have walked straight through the gates and climbed into the car waiting to take him home.

But when he saw Hou Xiaoxin and the parents who had come to pick her up, the arrogance ingrained in his bones flared up again.

"Little Xiaoxin, we meet again. Well? Surprised? Delighted?" Zeng Yuqiang spread his hands and walked over, brazenly looking over the girl's pretty face, pale and filled with fear.

"You think that Zhou fellow is so impressive? Too bad the Criminal Investigation Brigade isn't under his command. See? All I needed was one phone call, and they had to let me go like good little boys. So, little Xiaoxin, you're not getting away. Just wait for your Third Master to give you some loving. Hahaha..."

His wild, grating laughter echoed through the courtyard.

Looking at that hideous, vicious face, Hou Xiaoxin felt profound despair.

Why had she fought back with everything she had? Because she knew what a horrific, miserable end awaited her if she fell into the hands of this thug with his depraved tastes!

Her coworker Lingling had been raped in turn by Zeng Yuqiang and his men for two days and two nights. She had gone into shock from blood loss and was barely alive when she reached the hospital.

Although she had narrowly survived, she was left with physical and psychological wounds that would never heal. Even now, she still could not get out of bed and walk, and she was afraid to go outside or see anyone.

Lingling's parents and boyfriend had reported it to the Public Security Bureau, but the Criminal Investigation Brigade kept refusing to take the case. That very afternoon, a gang of thugs had broken her boyfriend's legs and dumped him in the street.

Such cruelty. Such lawlessness. Such darkness.

She wanted to escape this place, but unfortunately, Zeng Yuqiang had already set his sights on her.

If Zhou Yi had not suddenly appeared that day, she would never have escaped Zeng Yuqiang's clutches.

But even if she had escaped this time, what about the next?

Who would save her next time?

"Just try laying a hand on her!"

The ice-cold voice was like a blade, instantly slicing through Zeng Yuqiang's arrogant, grating laughter.