In the corridor, the thick walls blocked the sunlight, leaving it somewhat dim.
Captain Liu sized Ning Chuan up and said with a studied air of indifference, "Although the possibility is practically zero, duty requires me to ask.
Do you have any evidence that can prove your innocence?
I won't wrong an innocent person, but I won't let a criminal go either!"
"I already told you, it was a private gift!"
Ning Chuan snorted coldly.
Even if these two police officers weren't with the Wei Financial Group, they were definitely working with it.
Handing the recording over to them would be no different from walking straight into their net.
"No evidence, and you're still this arrogant! Hold out your hands!"
The young officer sneered.
He unfastened the handcuffs from his waist and stepped forward to subdue Ning Chuan.
But when he met Ning Chuan's dark eyes, his heart trembled.
It was as if a ruthless, bloodthirsty ferocious beast had fixed its gaze on him!
Most of his body instantly stiffened, frighteningly cold and completely beyond his control. He couldn't even speak.
Captain Liu had shot and killed criminals before, so he was in slightly better shape, but his forehead was also covered in cold sweat.
Killing someone and fighting a life-and-death battle were entirely different!
The former could, at most, make a person ruthless and bloody.
Only by facing the threat of death in a life-and-death battle and drawing infinitely close to its brink could a person's spirit, will, and bearing grow.
Ning Chuan had fought only one life-and-death battle.
But the gap between the two sides in that battle had been too great.
Every second before he beheaded Zhao Weiping, Ning Chuan had been dancing on the edge of a cliff of death. One wrong move, and he would have fallen into an endless abyss.
It was no exaggeration to say his spirit and will had been tempered harder than a special alloy!
"Are you trying to resist arrest?"
Captain Liu was the first to recover. His face darkened as he drew his handgun and aimed it at Ning Chuan's forehead.
The young officer hurriedly followed suit.
Two dark gun barrels were pointed at him from close range!
Ning Chuan's eyes remained calm. "If you'd watched the video of me killing Zhao Weiping, a Third-Rank Martial Artist, you wouldn't be pointing guns at me.
"That's right, I'm only at the Awakening Stage. I'm nowhere near as fast as a bullet.
But it takes a person about 0.2 seconds to pull a trigger once.
In that time, I can easily make three cuts.
At this distance, neither of you is a full-fledged martial artist. You can't dodge."
Ning Chuan spoke unhurriedly, as if stating an irrefutable truth.
His hand rested on Silver Blood's hilt.
In an instant, the two officers, who had watched the live broadcast of Ning Chuan beheading Zhao Weiping, felt a chill through body and soul.
"I'm asking you, are you trying to resist arrest by Federation police?"
Captain Liu roared.
It was as though only by doing so could he keep his gun hand from shaking.
Ning Chuan looked at the two of them and said coolly, "First, I'm only a suspect in the case, not a criminal. The word 'arrest' is inappropriate, so naturally there's no question of resisting arrest.
Second, I'm seventeen years old and still a minor.
Federation law clearly states that the police may take minors into custody, but are forbidden from using handcuffs, electric shackles, or other such devices in the process."
"Kid, wouldn't have guessed you knew the law so well!"
Captain Liu gave him a smile that didn't reach his eyes and took the opportunity to slip his handgun back into the holster at his waist.
The young officer looked embarrassed and hurriedly put away his handcuffs and handgun.
"A wise choice. One second slower, and I would have chopped off your heads. Two police officers pointed guns at a minor without cause. At most, the court would rule that I used excessive force in self-defense."
Ning Chuan let go of the hilt, his expression cold.
"Don't break the rules again. Next time, I might not be able to keep my temper in check!"
These two were connected to the Wei Financial Group. He had to make them afraid and force them to follow procedure strictly.
Otherwise, they might deliberately frame him.
The two officers exchanged a glance, their expressions both changing.
Captain Liu snorted coldly. "Come to the station with us to assist with the investigation. The police car is downstairs."
"Lead the way."
Without going into his home, Ning Chuan stepped back into the elevator.
A quarter of an hour later.
The three arrived at the police station in the old city district.
Qingshan City was divided into nine districts and four counties, each with its own police station.
The last time, Ning Chuan had gone to Qingshan City's police headquarters, which held the most authority.
"Hand over everything you're carrying!"
Once inside the police station, Captain Liu felt reassured and became forceful again, barking the order at Ning Chuan.
Ning Chuan took out his phone. "I'm a Federation citizen. Before being detained, I have the right to contact my private lawyer to arrange bail."
Federation law stipulated that a suspect could ask a lawyer to apply for bail before being found guilty.
As long as a judge approved and the corresponding bail was paid, the suspect could leave the detention center.
"Go ahead and call. If you manage to get out on bail, I'll take your surname!"
Captain Liu smiled disdainfully.
Normally, it wasn't difficult for a minor to get out on bail after a first offense of theft.
But he knew who had arranged for the young man before him to be brought in.
The Wei Financial Group!
No judge would issue a bail order.
Of course, Ning Chuan didn't have a private lawyer. That was just an excuse.
Ning Chuan found the contact information Lu Zhan had left him, sighed, tapped his phone screen, and placed the call.
He had only received that promise yesterday!
He had also considered contacting Gu Tianyu.
But in the end, he decided against it.
The ones trying to deal with him weren't the two petty officers in front of him, but the Wei Financial Group!
Beep, beep, beep...
After a brief ringing tone, the call connected.
Ning Chuan skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point. "Uncle Lu, the Wei Financial Group framed me. I'm being held at the Anmin Police Station in the old city district."
"I see."
A level voice came through.
After a pause.
"Wait there."
The call ended immediately afterward.
Ning Chuan lowered his phone.
Captain Liu glanced over and couldn't help snickering. "Uncle Lu? None of Qingshan City's well-known criminal lawyers is named Lu. I really thought you had connections!"
Captain Liu thought no further about it.
He licked the corners of his mouth, his gaze falling greedily on the cloth bag in Ning Chuan's hand.
"Count the drink bottles and sheets of paper in the bag carefully. Don't miss any, or this student Ning might accuse us of breaking the rules!"
Captain Liu turned to the young officer and spoke with a serious expression.
The young officer caught his meaning at once and nodded. "Yes!"
Under normal circumstances, of course they wouldn't have dared do this.
But the Wei Financial Group had set its sights on this man. He couldn't possibly have another chance to make trouble for them.
Ning Chuan watched indifferently, without a word.
Since Lu Zhan had agreed to save him, he would be fine.
"Don't sit there sulking. Look on the bright side. You might never get out in this lifetime, and those worldly possessions are no use to you anyway."
Captain Liu laughed mockingly as he led Ning Chuan toward the holding cell.
"Get in."
Ning Chuan watched the door gradually swing shut, his eyes growing colder and colder.
It wasn't because of Captain Liu.
That man didn't even count as a blade.
The ones Ning Chuan was truly angry with were Wei Bohu and Wei Qiance.
Their earlier threat about the arena had been one thing.
At most, he would have taken a beating and suffered some injuries.
But this time, they were clearly out to cripple him.
Even if he handed over the Mountain and Sea Genius Training Camp slot, the father and son would surely have another move waiting for him. They wouldn't let the matter rest.
Most importantly, he had never provoked them.
He had merely refused to let them force a sale for one million!
At that thought, Ning Chuan's anger gradually faded.
In its place, a killing intent as frigid as a blizzard surged wildly in his heart.
As long as he had the chance, he wouldn't hesitate.
Ning Chuan himself hadn't realized that after killing Zhao Weiping, he had shed a shackle and gained a measure of wildness.