Due to the two new assault incidents, not just Guan Xia, but everyone had a knot of pent-up frustration in their chests.
Rarely, before Xu Nian could even respond, Wang Yu was the first to speak, her tone resolute: "Alright, I'll go book the tickets now. We'll take the earliest flight to Jianyang City."
As Wang Yu hurried away to arrange the travel, Guan Xia finally felt some strength return to her legs. She instinctively stood up, but then suddenly thought of something. She reflexively clenched her fingers, looking somewhat nervously at Xu Nian again. "Both Meng Lan and that girl were attacked. It's possible they were already targeted by that criminal organization, or it could be to retaliate against me. But is there another possibility? Could that criminal organization be so depraved as to retaliate against other people?"
As Guan Xia asked this, her gaze uncontrollably swept over the face of everyone present: Xu Nian, Pang Le, Ji An, Zhong Xiaoyu, Qi Bai, Jiang Yingyao, and Wang Yu, who had walked a bit farther away and was hastily using her phone to book tickets for everyone.
Guan Xia wasn't completely alone in the world, but she truly didn't have many close friends. They, however, were different. Their parents and loved ones were all out there. Jiang Yingyao even had a child now, not to mention Ping An, Ji An's goddaughter who had just been rescued by everyone and was still recovering.
With Guan Xia here, plus the undercover task force's action team ready to support at any moment, it wouldn't be easy for that criminal organization to kill them. But the relatives and friends of others wouldn't be so hard to target.
Guan Xia's terrified heart tightened once more. That criminal organization was so vicious. Would they, seeing they couldn't kill her and the others, choose to murder ordinary people to get revenge?
Could it be that at this very moment, someone's loved one was fighting for their life, perhaps even calling out someone's name, hoping for rescue?
Guan Xia's thoughts spiraled deeper and wider, until she felt as if she were wrapped in a damp, cold fog, her whole body turning icy.
However, having been through similar experiences before, although fear gripped her heart, Guan Xia could barely manage to stay calm. After looking at each person one by one, she fixed her eyes back on Xu Nian's face, waiting for his answer.
Xu Nian was just about to speak when Pang Le snorted coldly and said, "I can't speak for others, but my grandfather, my mom, and my little brother are not to be trifled with. Not to mention all my grandfather's disciples and their disciples. I believe even if Yao Qingyan and Lu Manqing came back to life and teamed up to attack, they'd just end up getting taken down themselves. But I do have one little worry—I'm concerned my grandfather might use excessive force in self-defense. Wouldn't want him to have to spend a few days in jail at his age."
Pang Le's tone, full of confidence, carried a hint of sarcasm. Perhaps her words were a bit exaggerated, but they were indeed a great morale booster for the others. Even the fear in Guan Xia's heart lessened a little.
Pang Le kept her hand on Guan Xia's shoulder. The early autumn night was a bit chilly, but Pang Le's palm was warm. That bit of warmth seemed to seep through the thin fabric of Guan Xia's clothes right into her heart, slowly driving out that cold, damp fog-like feeling from the inside out.
Xu Nian also immediately said, "Guan Xia, don't worry. Before we left Lijia Village, the task force had already considered this possibility. So, the others will be like Meng Lan and that girl—they'll all have covert protection."
Guan Xia had just let out a sigh of relief, but then she thought of Meng Lan, whose fate was still unknown, and her biological sister who was physically unharmed but had lost her biological father. Her heart tightened again. She looked at Xu Nian, seeming to want to say something but hesitating, ultimately keeping it to herself.
Yet, Xu Nian managed to read something from her expression. After a moment of silence, he explained, "Meng Lan was injured because the task force didn't anticipate Yao Qingyan would bring a gun to the assault. As for the death of your biological father... it was an accident."
"An accident?" Zhong Xiaoyu asked curiously. Everyone looked at Xu Nian.
Xu Nian nodded and said, "According to Director Ren, the task force colleagues actually didn't know why that middle-aged man suddenly showed up in the middle of the night. The assailant was disguised as a food delivery person. Plus, the residential complex where the girl lives has a mixed population. In their building alone, there are people working night shifts, live streamers... ordering food delivery in the middle of the night is very common. So initially, the task force colleagues didn't recognize the delivery person was actually a killer. It wasn't until they heard commotion from the girl's unit that they rushed in. They saw the middle-aged man and the killer struggling together; it looked like they had tumbled down the stairs. The middle-aged man had been stabbed multiple times, yet he still had his hands tightly around the killer's neck, refusing to let go. It was only after our people arrested the killer that the middle-aged man seemed to finally release his breath. He kept looking towards the staircase until he breathed his last. The task force colleagues hadn't even finished dialing the emergency number before he stopped breathing."
Guan Xia listened in silence, her feelings indescribably complex. She just felt that people were truly complicated. Capable of heartlessly abandoning one daughter to fend for herself, yet also capable of risking everything, even their life, for another daughter. Was he a bad person? Not entirely. But was he a good person? Not really that either.
After much thought, Guan Xia could only come to one conclusion: human emotions truly cannot be defined by blood ties. Perhaps if she hadn't been abandoned and had lived with that couple like the other girl did, they might have loved her wholeheartedly too, just like they loved her.
Thinking this, Guan Xia suddenly understood Meng Lan's persistent obsession all along. But at this point, such thoughts were useless. She simply hadn't had that luck.
Guan Xia's complex emotions only silenced her for a moment before she quickly pulled herself together. She looked towards Wang Yu, who had finished her tasks and was walking back, and asked, "Are all the tickets booked?"
Wang Yu hummed in affirmation. "The earliest flight to Jianyang City is at 7:05 AM. We still have time to grab some breakfast before heading to the airport."
Guan Xia instinctively glanced at her wristwatch: 3:52 AM. There were still over three hours before the flight, indeed enough time to eat before leaving.
However, considering safety, Guan Xia said, "Just now, while talking, I noticed Captain Chen never left the conference room. Plus, with forensic staff working overtime this late, there must be an urgent case needing solving. So, why don't we just tell Captain Chen and have breakfast at their precinct? I remember seeing instant noodles piled on cabinets in Xu Nian's office several times. I imagine Captain Chen's precinct has some too. Let's make do and just have some instant noodles."
At a time like this, naturally no one would fuss over such a simple breakfast. As Qi Bai agreed, he also looked at Guan Xia with some surprise and said, "Guan Xia, I've noticed you're becoming more and more like Captain Xu lately. Ignoring your voice and just looking at the content, what you said really sounds like something Captain Xu would say. Is this what they call 'one takes on the color of one's company'? But I've been following Captain Xu for years, and I'm not the slightest bit like him."
Qi Bai was truly a master at lightening the tense mood with a quip. As soon as he spoke, everyone couldn't help but smile, except for Xu Nian, who gave him an annoyed slap. "Can't you talk properly? Just say the first half of what you mean and leave it at that. Did you really have to add the second part?"
Jiang Yingyao patted Qi Bai's head with a kindly expression and said with a laugh, "Why wouldn't you be like Captain Xu? It's the difference in intelligence, of course. If you had even one-tenth of Guan Xia's talent, let alone half, you might be a disciple worthy of Captain Xu."
Hearing the word 'disciple', Guan Xia looked at Qi Bai, then at Xu Nian, and indeed thought they weren't alike. On the other hand, Wang Yu's way of doing things sometimes resembled Jiang Yingyao's. It seemed Wang Yu was both diligent and had a bit more talent, which was why she had truly inherited Jiang Yingyao's skills.
Naturally, Captain Chen did not refuse their plan and offered his full support. He not only contributed instant noodles but also braised eggs, chicken legs, and ham sausages, providing them with an exceptionally hearty breakfast.
Since their flight was very early, they completely missed the morning rush hour. So, after breakfast, Guan Xia and the others even had a little time to rest. It wasn't until the alarm set by Wang Yu went off that everyone hastily smoothed their slightly messy hair and hurried back into the car.
On the way to the airport, new updates came in. Just as Guan Xia had predicted, it wasn't only her who had faced retaliation; the relatives and friends of others had also been attacked.
However, thanks to the earlier incident, the subsequent attacks were all nipped in the bud. Some people didn't even know someone had tried to break in to harm them while they slept. The task force had evidently reaped a major harvest, arresting over a dozen criminals overnight. Most gratifyingly, there was a high likelihood of following the clues to catch even more.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, except for Pang Le, whose expression remained indifferent, showing she truly wasn't worried about her family at all.
Guan Xia couldn't help but glance at her, curious about her family. She wondered just how formidable Pang Le's grandfather, mother, and younger brother were for Pang Le to be so composed.
Perhaps Guan Xia's gaze was too obvious, as Pang Le easily noticed it. She looked at Guan Xia and said, "Curious? Well, that's understandable. We've known each other for about three years, right? You've never met my parents or my brother. Once we're done with this case, I'll take you home for a visit. You like me so much, you'll definitely like my mom. She's even more straightforward than I am and incredibly warm-hearted. Anyone who's dealt with her without ulterior motives really likes her. Take my dad, for instance. He's so scholarly and gentle, couldn't even take one punch from my grandfather, yet he persistently pursued my mom, coming to our house again and again until he finally won her over."
Guan Xia felt a sense of yearning listening to this. She tried to imagine it and thought a life combining those two personalities must be very interesting.
Guan Xia readily agreed, "Alright, once everything is settled, I'll definitely go home with you."
Their flight to Jianyang City took off on time at 7:05 AM and landed punctually at 9:10 AM. However, this trip was different from previous business trips; members of the task force were actually there to meet them at the airport. Guan Xia recognized them—several police officers she had collaborated with before in Shangshuang City.
The leader was a young female officer she had worked with on a surveillance mission. After just half a month apart, she had tanned several shades darker, yet even that couldn't hide the dark circles under her eyes. She flashed a bright smile and shook Guan Xia's hand. "Hello, Expert Guan. We meet again. I hope our cooperation will be as pleasant as last time."
Guan Xia also extended her hand for a firm shake. "Hello, Captain Zhang. We're all gathered here for the case. I'm sure our cooperation will be pleasant."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, once Guan Xia and the others got into separate cars, she couldn't wait to ask the young female officer, "By the way, Captain Zhang, any movements here in Jianyang? Have the fingerprint comparison results come out? And Wu Yang hasn't fled, right? Is he still under our surveillance?"
Pang Le and the others were also anxious about these questions and looked at the young female officer upon hearing them.
Captain Zhang, who had a square-round face and already had frown lines between her brows despite her youth, knitted her eyebrows and said, "The fingerprint comparison results are out—it's a match. And half an hour ago, we already brought him in. As for other movements..."
Captain Zhang paused slightly. Guan Xia's attention had initially been completely captured by the news that Wu Yang had been arrested, but with Captain Zhang's subtle pause, it snapped back instantly, and she stared at her nervously.
Captain Zhang pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. "Maybe it's retaliation from that organization, or a final desperate struggle. Starting from a little after four in the morning, crime rates have suddenly spiked across more than half of Dingyuan Province, especially in Jianyang City. Many of our colleagues are so busy they wish they had three heads and six arms. The higher-ups are also worried about your safety, afraid you might be attacked as soon as you land, so they specifically sent us to pick you up."
Guan Xia's heart sank upon hearing this. It was unexpected, yet not entirely surprising. After all, for such a large criminal organization, it would be more suspicious if they simply surrendered without a fight. This kind of large-scale action actually fit their stereotypical impression of the group. However, the smooth capture of Wu Yang did surprise Guan Xia a bit.
Guan Xia couldn't help but ask again, "Are you sure Wu Yang has been caught? Was he on the way back when arrested, or has he already been put in an interrogation room?"
Captain Zhang understood Guan Xia's feelings well and wasn't offended, just confirmed firmly, "He has indeed been brought back. We saw him being escorted into the branch station with our own eyes before we set off. He's probably sitting in an interrogation room by now, undergoing intensive questioning by experts from the Provincial Department."
It was all so smooth. Even with Captain Zhang's repeated assurances, Guan Xia exchanged a look of surprise with Pang Le.
Captain Zhang didn't continue updating them on the case progress. Instead, she glanced at the time and said, "Let's get going. If nothing unexpected happens, you'll soon experience firsthand what I mean by a sudden spike in crime rates."
These words made Guan Xia's heart sink again. She easily understood Captain Zhang's implication.
Given the urgency of the case, they would undoubtedly head straight for the Jianyang City Public Security Bureau. If they could encounter a crime scene within just a few dozen minutes on the road, then the crime rate had indeed risen to a terrifying level.
In fact, Captain Zhang wasn't exaggerating. Just twenty minutes after their car left the airport parking lot, while waiting at a red light, they witnessed a murder.
At first, no one thought it was a murder; it just looked like an ordinary traffic accident. After all, at a large intersection, two cars colliding, and people getting out of the victim's car to confront the driver of the at-fault vehicle was perfectly normal. Even Guan Xia, who didn't drive, had witnessed such scenes several times.
As the verbal assault continued, the owner of the at-fault vehicle suddenly pulled out a knife. As if driven to madness by the circle of people shouting at him, he stabbed three people in quick succession before the traffic police could arrive, his movements so swift that no one had time to react.
In fact, Captain Zhang had already gotten out of the car. Seeing that the traffic police wouldn't arrive anytime soon, he intended to lead his team over to mediate. But just as they were halfway there, something happened that no one had anticipated.
What puzzled Guan Xia the most was that the moment she saw the two vehicles collide, she had activated the system's shared vision. The driver's soul was clearly an ordinary, unstained white light orb. Yet this very ordinary person had suddenly taken up a knife and killed.
At first, Guan Xia wasn't entirely sure about linking this to that criminal organization. It wasn't until the driver of the accident was apprehended and Guan Xia also got out of the car to approach the scene. The instant she saw the wounds on the three victims, she confirmed it. This perpetrator, whose soul light had been white just moments before, was indeed a member of that organization.
Pang Le, following beside Guan Xia, leaned in to look at the wounds and said, "Looks like that group really does have unified training. See the location of these wounds and the clean efficiency of the strikes. Doesn't seem self-taught."
Guan Xia silently observed the two bodies already devoid of life signs and the sole surviving victim who was breathing more out than in. She instinctively took a deep breath. No wonder Captain Zhang's face was etched with a complex mix of exhaustion, helplessness, and anger. So the case had progressed to such a tricky stage. It seemed both like retaliation from that organization and a final, desperate struggle.
