Oh no, my computer!

"Well, if it isn't Captain Zhou! Still here this late? Working overtime?"

As Zhou Yi approached with a group of officers from the Public Security Management Brigade, Zeng Yuqiang showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, he taunted him with a sneer.

Zhou Yi ignored him entirely. He stepped forward, gently patted Hou Xiaoxin's frail shoulder, and said softly, "Go home with your parents. Don't worry. He wouldn't dare touch you, no matter how much nerve he scraped together."

Hou Xiaoxin nodded tearfully. Simply looking into his eyes and listening to his voice made most of her fear and helplessness melt away without her even realizing it.

The three guardians beside him-"Understanding," "First to Step Up," and "Duty-bound"-exchanged glances. See that? Our captain knows how to lay down the law. He all but pointed at Third Son Zeng's nose and called him a dog!

Zeng Yuqiang was seething. His cold gaze swept over Zhou Yi and Hou Xiaoxin, and he bared his white teeth. "Zhou, let's see how long you can protect her!"

Then he gave Hou Xiaoxin a sinister smile. "Nobody can save you. You have my word on that!"

You son of a bitch.

Zhou Yi could no longer resist the itch in his fists. In two long strides, he was in front of Zeng Yuqiang. Without another word, he swung his fists and delivered a furious beating.

Fuck, we already fucking let you go, and you're still running your goddamn mouth.

Just begging for it, aren't you? Huh? Aren't you?

"Stop!"

Zeng Xuehua had been waiting impatiently by the entrance for his older brother to come out. Hearing those familiar screams, he immediately sensed something was wrong and hurried over with his men.

The moment he came through the entrance, he saw Zhou Yi beating his brother and shouted in fury.

Zhou Yi stopped without a trace of concern, then took out a post-beating cigarette and put it between his lips.

"Understanding" immediately scurried forward, pulled out a lighter, and lit the captain's cigarette with a click.

"How dare you hit him!" Zeng Xuehua demanded angrily, pointing at Zhou Yi.

"Watch what you say. You claim I hit someone-do you have any evidence?" Zhou Yi took a drag and countered with a smile that never reached his eyes.

"If you didn't hit him, where did my brother's injuries come from?" Zeng Xuehua helped his brother up and demanded harshly.

"Maybe he fell just now. Maybe he already had them. Who knows?" Captain Zhou blew a smoke ring and answered casually.

"You... all these people saw it, and you're still trying to deny it!" Zeng Xuehua pointed at the officers behind Zhou Yi.

"Oh? Did you see anything?" Zhou Yi turned and asked.

"Didn't see a thing!"

"Neither did I."

"None of us saw anything."

"He fell on his own. I saw that."

The officers all chimed in.

At the sight, Zeng Xuehua was so furious he laughed. Pointing at Zhou Yi and the others, he nodded. "Fine. Fine. You're all something else. Just you wait!"

After throwing out that threat, he supported the groaning Zeng Yuqiang and walked out through the entrance.

"Come on. Get ready for the meeting."

Zhou Yi looked appreciatively at his three trusted lieutenants and his other loyal subordinates.

That little test had proved that his personal reputation within the Public Security Management Brigade had reached at least revered status.

Once everyone was united, leading the team became easy.

In a corner, two detectives smoked and chatted.

"Captain Zhou really is something. Honestly, I'm starting to envy those guys in the Public Security Management Brigade," one said admiringly.

"Our Captain Lu is no slouch either. A suspect who should've been held in criminal detention, and he fucking lets him walk just like that!" the other said with equal "admiration."

"He didn't have much choice. Apparently, Deputy Director Song gave the order."

"Deputy Director Song is openly going against the Director! Who do you think gave him the nerve?"

"Man, there's a lot going on beneath the surface. It's way beyond us. Best to keep our heads down and stay out of trouble."

"Do you think there really is nobody who can deal with scum like Zeng Yuqiang and Xie Zhaolong?"

"Captain Zhou isn't afraid of them, but you saw it yourself. Zeng Yuqiang still comes and goes as he pleases."

"Huh? Looks like Captain Zhou and his men have an operation tonight!"

"Don't worry about that. Hurry up and get your things together so we can clock out."

News of Zeng Yuqiang's release spread as though it had sprouted wings, reaching every street and alley in Dongji County in an instant.

Leaving aside County Magistrate Yan Xiangyu's fury.

And Director Lei Ming's blazing anger.

Brother Long alone completely lost it when he heard the news!

What the hell do you mean by this, Zhou Yi?

Huh?

You come down on me like a ton of bricks, but you roll over for Third Son Zeng?

So you think I'm easy to push around, do you, Xie Zhaolong?

No. You owe me an explanation.

Even if, well, you really can't handle it, I wouldn't mind giving you a hand.

Bottom line, that bastard Third Son Zeng cannot be allowed to get away scot-free.

Acting on impulse, Brother Long picked up his phone to call Zhou Yi.

But with his finger already on the button, he hesitated.

Maybe I should wait a little longer?

Something tells me there's more to this.

At the night market on the east side of Culture Road.

The tempting aromas of snacks and food could be smelled two streets away.

The open-air food stalls were packed and bustling.

"Did you hear? Third Son Zeng got his ass handed to him today. Captain Zhou beat him right there in the street until even his own father wouldn't have recognized him. Heh, heh, heh."

"Already heard. My third uncle was watching from the crowd."

"Unlike you guys, I saw the whole thing firsthand, start to finish. That includes the three carloads of thugs who showed up afterward and got surrounded and beaten by over forty cops. Fuck, that was satisfying! Captain Zhou especially-he was a fucking beast. He charged straight into the biggest groups with his baton, and anyone who resisted got two solid whacks. In no time, every one of those animals was on the ground!"

"Just hearing about it feels good. Come on, buddy, let's drink to that."

"You're celebrating too soon. Third Son Zeng was released a little after seven!"

Those words immediately put a damper on the lively atmosphere.

"Not surprising. My brother said the Criminal Investigation Brigade released him. Captain Zhou couldn't do anything about it, even if he wanted to."

"My brother also said Third Son Zeng was still running his mouth as he left, so Captain Zhou gave him another beating."

"What does your brother do?" someone asked curiously.

"He's an officer with the Public Security Management Brigade. He was part of the arrests at Lao San Department Store this afternoon," the young man answered proudly.

"Say, suppose-just suppose Captain Zhou became Public Security Director. Would Dongji become a better place?" a middle-aged man suddenly asked.

Nobody around him answered aloud, but in their hearts, every one of them said yes.

"Police cars! The Public Security Management Brigade's cars!" A sharp-eyed young man pointed at several police cars slipping past nearby without lights or sirens and lowered his voice.

"They're heading that way. Wait, could it be..."

"The Happy Forest Hotel?"

"Third Brother! Third Brother! Bad news! Zhou Yi took his men to raid Happy Forest!"

Exhausted and covered in injuries, Zeng Yuqiang had finally managed to fall asleep, only to be awakened by one of his underlings knocking on the door.

Beating me wasn't enough? Now you're raiding my Happy Forest too?

That bastard Zhou has gone too far!

Suddenly, Zeng Yuqiang's expression changed drastically.

Oh no, my computer!