Although the system's assistance had minimized the difficulty of this assault incident, it still caused some injuries to the police officers responsible for the arrest.
This was what Guan Xia noticed after the onlookers had been completely dispersed and the blocked traffic had started flowing again.
She and Pang Le watched in surprise as Qi Bai pressed his hand against a wound on his arm, which was still bleeding. It seemed he had been injured for a while, as a significant area of his clothes was stained red.
After the initial shock, all four people who had stayed in the car got out. Guan Xia instinctively glanced at Xu Nian first, then looked at Jiang Yingyao and Wang Yu, who were still handling the cleanup on the side. After confirming that all three of them were unharmed, she turned to Qi Bai and asked, "How did this happen? Is it serious? Have you called an ambulance? You've lost so much blood; you should go to the hospital for stitches first."
Qi Bai tried to move his arm nonchalantly, pretending it was nothing, but he hissed in pain after just one slight movement. With a slightly twisted expression tinged with embarrassment, he said, "It's nothing, just a minor injury, really. Just a flesh wound. If you don't believe me, ask Captain Xu. I was just unlucky, got slashed once. No tendons or bones were hurt. A few stitches and a couple days of rest, and I'll be fine. It's much lighter than the fracture last time."
Although Qi Bai spoke as if it were nothing, everyone looked at Xu Nian. Only after Xu Nian nodded and said, "It really is a minor injury," did they all let out a synchronized sigh of relief.
Zhong Xiaoyu strolled over, peeked at the wound through Qi Bai's fingers, and tutted, "Young man, your skills aren't up to par. Even after Guan Xia gave such clear instructions, you still couldn't react in time and got cut. Looks like once this case is over, your Captain Xu is going to drill you to death."
Qi Bai indeed glanced nervously at Xu Nian before pouting helplessly and saying, "Running around all over the place lately has improved my stamina, but my actual combat skills have really slipped. No need for Captain Xu to keep an eye on me; I'll go train extra hard myself when we get back."
He seemed to feel somewhat embarrassed. As he spoke, his face even reddened, probably thinking that Guan Xia had already pinpointed the suspects, yet he was the one who messed up during the action.
Guan Xia timely shifted the topic, looking around at the other support personnel while asking, "Is anyone else injured? Were all the suspects caught?"
Xu Nian, who had been thoughtfully watching Qi Bai, immediately shifted his attention upon hearing Guan Xia's question and replied, "Only Qi Bai got slashed. Everyone else is completely unharmed. All suspects were caught. Besides the four you mentioned earlier, there was another assailant. His skills were clearly not ordinary; Qi Bai's wound came from him. It took four or five of us working together to subdue him quickly."
The fact that it took four or five people to subdue the assailant, who still managed to injure Qi Bai, surprised Guan Xia even though she had been mentally prepared.
Pang Le said, "It seems Guan Xia's earlier guess was spot on. Someone this skilled is definitely not a small fry. Probably a professional killer, just like the silenced Lu Manqing from before."
As Pang Le spoke, he turned to look at Qi Bai and added, "Then Qi Bai really is lucky to only get slashed. After all, people from that organization prefer one-hit kills. If the backup hadn't arrived quickly, with just our few people, it's not certain we could have subdued him."
If Guan Xia, who had no self-defense ability at all, weren't there, the other seven might have had a chance if they fought desperately. But with Guan Xia present, she was everyone's weak spot. They had to abandon any risky actions. Fortunately, the task force's action team was ready to support at any time, so they didn't actually need to take risks.
Taking another look at Qi Bai, who was still bleeding, a sense of relief surfaced in everyone's minds. Then Guan Xia asked again, "Even though it's just a minor injury, with this amount of blood loss, he needs to get to the hospital for treatment quickly. Should we head out now? After the wound is dealt with, we can go to the district substation to investigate the case as soon as possible."
As soon as Guan Xia finished speaking, Qi Bai hurriedly said, "No need. I already had Captain Xu ask earlier. The Nancheng District Substation we're going to has a forensic doctor working overtime tonight. For a wound like this, the forensic doctor can just stitch it up. Let's not affect our investigation plan."
Guan Xia looked inquiringly at Xu Nian. Xu Nian, receiving her look, nodded again and said, "He made me ask as soon as he got injured. There really is a forensic doctor on overtime, a seasoned one at that. Handling this superficial wound of his will be easy."
Knowing that Xu Nian, as the captain, wouldn't joke about his team member's life, Guan Xia said, "Okay. There are just two intersections left. Let's go now. If he keeps bleeding, Qi Bai might become anemic."
So, the group left the cleanup to the support personnel, and the others jogged back to the car, driving almost as if flying. They arrived at the Nancheng District Substation in just four or five minutes.
Everyone crowded around Qi Bai to go to the forensic room to treat the wounds. During the waiting period, Guan Xia leaned against the corridor wall and suddenly remembered something. She asked the system in her mind, "By the way, system, when you activated before, you mentioned this world is a fusion of detective novel worlds. Since it's detective novels, there must be male and female protagonists. Among the people I know, are there any protagonists?"
As she asked, Guan Xia speculated in her heart. Among the group she knew, after spending a long time together, she had subconsciously overlooked it, but upon careful thought, each one was outstanding. Even Qi Bai, who sometimes seemed a bit silly, was among the excellent ones compared to his peers, not to mention Pang Le, who had won a world championship at a young age, and Xu Nian, who was already captain of a criminal police squad before turning thirty.
Images of the others floated through Guan Xia's mind one after another. She thought and thought, always feeling that even if they weren't protagonists, they were supporting characters with significant roles.
Almost instantly, the system interface popped up in Guan Xia's mind, with lines of text rapidly flashing by.
Guan Xia read word by word with keen interest. At first, she was in a pleasant mood, but as she continued reading, it uncontrollably turned sour.
There were indeed male and female protagonists around her, as well as supporting characters. But contrary to Guan Xia's expectations, the ending was not as beautiful as she had previously imagined. After all, it was detective fiction—there was justice, evil, salvation, and also sacrifice.
Guan Xia's eyes lingered on the last few names listed under 'sacrificed' for a long time, unable to look away. Although ultimately good triumphed over evil, it was a tragic ending.
Guan Xia instinctively glanced at Ji An, then subconsciously looked for Xu Nian's figure. Not finding him, she realized Xu Nian had accompanied Qi Bai into the forensic room to have his wound treated.
Perhaps because Guan Xia's expression was unusually noticeable, both Ji An and Pang Le quickly noticed and turned to ask her with concern, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
Guan Xia shook her head. Ji An walked over, felt her forehead, and touched her cheek. Lowering his voice further, he asked again, "Were you frightened? Have something sweet to calm your nerves. Later, after we understand the case details, we'll go check in at the guesthouse to rest."
Ji An said, pulling a piece of candy from her pocket and pressing it into Guan Xia's hand. Guan Xia instinctively unwrapped it and put it in her mouth before she realized that, at some point, it seemed everyone around her had developed the habit of carrying candy.
Guan Xia had indeed been frightened by the tragic ending described by the system, but it was ultimately just text. Seeing Ji An standing vividly before her, eyes filled with her reflection, and soothed by the sweet treat, Guan Xia's tense emotions gradually calmed. She asked curiously, "A guesthouse? Are we staying at a guesthouse this time?"
Ji An gave another comforting pat on Guan Xia's back before replying with an "Mm-hmm." "Before, it was for convenience, and since there was no real danger, we stayed in a hotel. But this time is different. We might encounter another attack at any moment. So Wang Yu applied for us to stay at the military district guesthouse. It's very close, just a ten-minute drive."
Guan Xia sighed with a touch of awe, "A military district guesthouse." It sounded incredibly secure.
Pang Le also sighed in agreement, then asked, "Doesn't the police department have its own guesthouse? Why are we staying at a military one?"
Ji An explained, "Because the public security system has a lot of personnel traveling on business, theirs is always fully booked. They could probably squeeze the few of us in, but it would be hard to get rooms together. We might even end up scattered on different floors. For the sake of convenience and safety, the special task force arranged for us to stay at the military district guesthouse. At the very least, we won't have to be on edge while resting."
Guan Xia said, "The special task force's arrangements are really thoughtful."
"Well, we're capable," Zhong Xiaoyu said with a smile. "As long as you're competent, others will solve potential problems for you before they even become a bother."
Pang Le nodded in profound agreement, as if she deeply understood the sentiment. Guan Xia, however, only managed a faint smile. Although the chatter of the group diverted her attention, looking at Ji An, she couldn't help but recall the plot summary of one of the detective novels the system had told her about.
In that story, Pang Le was the female lead, Lu Tingfeng was the male lead, and everyone in the team except Guan Xia were supporting characters revolving around Pang Le and Lu Tingfeng. Wu Yang's criminal organization also existed, but Meng Lan's name was absent; she had become an insignificant member among the organization's countless followers.
Unlike the current situation, in the novel, Wu Yang's organization was discovered when Pang Le was 28, which was three years later.
Lu Tingfeng accidentally obtained a clue related to his sister's case and, through relentless pursuit using every means at his disposal, eventually uncovered that behemoth of an organization.
During the investigation, he gradually discovered that the case Ji An was investigating was also connected to that organization. Knowing that they alone were like ants trying to shake a tree or a mantis trying to stop a chariot, Lu Tingfeng proactively sought help from his former superior, Director Ren. Later, Xu Nian's squad was also drawn into the struggle against the organization.
Pang Le, in the novel, was the unlucky one who caught the eye of a psychopath within the criminal organization. She repeatedly escaped and fought back, accidentally crossed paths with Lu Tingfeng, and by chance joined the investigative team. With her exceptionally high combat skills, she occupied a crucial position within the squad. One could say that except for Zhong Xiaoyu, she had saved everyone in the team at least once.
Yet, despite being a team with ample wisdom, strategy, and combat prowess, their story ended with three deaths, one permanently disabled, and four injured.
According to the story summary provided by the system, Xu Nian, Ji An, and Qi Bai sacrificed their lives. Jiang Yingyao suffered damage to his spinal cord nerves. Although the others survived, they were seriously injured and took half a year to recover. The entire squad was nearly wiped out.
Of course, the criminal organization centered around Wu Yang was uprooted. He, along with his closest associates, were sent to hell by the investigative team.
The crucial shot that killed Wu Yang was fired by Pang Le. She had aimed for his leg and shoulder, but somehow the shot at his leg missed, while the one aimed at his shoulder cleanly hit Wu Yang's heart, giving him a death ironically similar to many of the victims killed by his own organization.
Guan Xia was so absorbed in her recollection that she didn't even notice when Qi Bai finished having his wound treated and Xu Nian came out of the forensics room. It wasn't until Xu Nian called her name several times and Pang Le gently nudged her arm that she snapped back to reality. She looked at Xu Nian, then at Qi Bai, and asked a bit belatedly, "You're done? How did it go? What did the foren... doctor who stitched Qi Bai's wound say?"
Guan Xia hadn't paid much attention to this before, but after reading the novel summaries provided by the system, she felt the phrase "forensic doctor stitching a wound" sounded inauspicious, so she changed the wording at the key moment.
The others might have also found the idea of being stitched up by a forensic doctor a bit odd, so they adapted well to Guan Xia's word change, especially Qi Bai, who gave her a somewhat grateful look. He then gently moved his arm and said, "It's just a flesh wound. They disinfected it, put in six stitches total, and sent me on my way. Just told me to avoid getting it wet, refrain from strenuous activity, and watch my diet. That's all."
Guan Xia had been deeply unsettled by Qi Bai's injury earlier, but knowing his original fate, she now felt that escaping with just a flesh wound was incredibly fortunate. She nodded and said, "That's good. But what Xiaoyu said earlier was right. When you have time later, you really should train properly. And Xu Nian and Sister Ji too, and Brother Jiang. When there's time, everyone should train."
Being suddenly named like that, Xu Nian took it in stride, but Ji An and Jiang Yingyao couldn't help but exchange a glance, finding it a bit strange.
Pang Le also thought it was odd. She put an arm around Guan Xia and asked with a peculiar expression, "Why bring this up all of a sudden? Do you have a premonition about something? That someone might get hurt?"
Guan Xia was already feeling that her previous comment was inappropriate and was planning to say something to amend it. Coincidentally, Pang Le very cooperatively provided a reasonable excuse. Hesitating for only a second, Guan Xia took the opportunity to nod and said, "Yes. I didn't feel it before, but ever since Qi Bai got hurt, I've had this bad feeling."
As she spoke, Guan Xia meaningfully glanced at Xu Nian, Ji An, and Jiang Yingyao again, fully conveying the importance she placed on this premonition.
Guan Xia's intuition had always been sharp and accurate. Even Qi Bai, who hadn't been too concerned before, now looked serious. Xu Nian immediately said, "Alright, we'll be careful. When we have time later, we'll definitely step up our training."
Guan Xia waited for Xu Nian to finish, then looked at Ji An until she also gave a solemn promise, before letting out a slight sigh of relief.
Due to the tight schedule, as soon as Qi Bai's wound was treated, there was no time to rest. Led by Xu Nian, the group briefly communicated with the local precinct's criminal investigation captain and then filed into the similarly decorated meeting room of the South District Precinct.
When they entered, the conference table was already piled high with files and case materials. It seemed the South District Precinct had been notified beforehand and took it seriously, managing to gather all relevant documents in such a short time.
Once everyone had settled into their chairs, Guan Xia couldn't wait to ask, "Captain Chen, I'd like to know, in the 0523 Rainy Night Murder case, did the perpetrator leave any crucial evidence at the crime scene?"
This was the question on everyone's mind. Upon hearing it, they all turned their tense gazes toward the tall, lean middle-aged detective.
Captain Chen had been organizing the documents in his hands to distribute, but he paused at the question. Meeting the group's expectant looks, he replied, "Yes. A relatively clear bloody fingerprint."
