Zhuang Yinghua was truly a decisive and efficient person. The meeting to arrange the arrest operation was remarkably brief, lasting only fifteen minutes. After clearly assigning tasks to each participant, it concluded without delay.
With a crisp and commanding "Move out," everyone filed out of the room.
Zhuang Yinghua strode ahead, leaving the office first. Xu Nian had to weave through the crowd to catch up. "Captain Zhuang, we’ve uncovered some new developments tonight. It’s quite urgent," he said.
Zhuang Yinghua halted, signaling the others to proceed downstairs, then fixed Xu Nian with a serious gaze. "What did you find?"
Xu Nian immediately handed over his phone, displaying an image.
A quick glance made Zhuang Yinghua frown. After making a call, he said, "I’ve already informed Director Liu, who’s holding down the fort at the branch office. He’ll handle it—no need to worry."
Relieved, Xu Nian followed Zhuang Yinghua downstairs.
After queuing to collect their firearms, Xu Nian’s team set off without any auxiliary officers—just the four of them in one car.
Qi Bai naturally took the driver’s seat, buckling his seatbelt as he remarked, "Captain Zhuang’s investigative speed is impressive. Just two days, and we’re already making arrests. This suspect, Lu Manqing, won’t be easy to pin down without solid evidence."
Wang Yu checked his gun and casually added, "This case is similar to the last one, yet different. The suspect is just as cunning, but Lu Manqing is far more bold and confident. Plus, he’s got two amateur accomplices. More people means more slip-ups. If Captain Zhuang ordered the arrest, the task force must have critical evidence."
"That’s good," Qi Bai said, watching as the task force vehicles pulled out one by one before stepping on the gas. "Hope this goes smoothly. Maybe Director Ren will be in a good mood and give us a couple more days off."
Jiang Yingyao tightened the lid of his thermos, ensuring it wouldn’t leak, and retorted, "With your habit of pulling all-nighters gaming during breaks, extra days off won’t help. What we need is a team-building trip to cure your sleep deprivation."
Xu Nian chuckled but stayed silent, while Wang Yu enthusiastically agreed. "That’s a great idea, Jiang. Our unit’s been buried in cases—we could use some downtime. How about a barbecue gathering?"
Wang Yu grew even more animated. "Oh, and we should invite Guan Xia. She’s helped us out plenty of times."
At this, Jiang Yingyao turned to Xu Nian. "Did you get approval from Director Ren like you mentioned last time?"
Xu Nian nodded. "He approved. The bonuses for both cases will be issued together. Once we wrap this up, I’ll ask Guan Xia for her bank details."
"Good," Wang Yu said. "Otherwise, I’d feel awkward seeing her after all her help without any acknowledgment."
Qi Bai, now merging onto the highway with the task force convoy, chimed in, "Yeah, I actually wanted to treat Guan Xia and her friend to dinner during my break, but it felt off. Now that this is settled, I’ll definitely call her after the arrest."
Wang Yu rolled his eyes. "Pretty sure your real target is her friend. Just ask her directly—don’t use Guan Xia as an excuse."
Qi Bai laughed awkwardly. "I just didn’t want to get rejected. Fine, I’ll be upfront about it."
The idle chatter made the long drive bearable, but Jianyang City was undeniably far—separated from Yongquan City by Lian City, lying further southeast. Even with rotating drivers, everyone was exhausted by the time they arrived the next afternoon.
After parking at Jianyang’s Tong’an District branch office, Zhuang Yinghua went inside to coordinate while the others stretched their legs around the courtyard.
The quiet yard soon buzzed with activity. The four of them wandered near their car before settling in the shade. The heat was oppressive, but after the marathon drive, even sweating felt preferable to returning to the vehicle.
"This weather," Qi Bai grumbled, wiping his brow. "I thought Yongquan City was hot, but Jianyang makes it look mild."
Wang Yu checked the forecast. "We just got unlucky. Jianyang had two straight days of rain before clearing up last night. Today was bound to be muggy."
Jiang Yingyao, unusually without his thermos, fanned himself with his phone. "Geographically, Jianyang’s closer to the equator, so it’s naturally hotter. But it won’t last. With Captain Zhuang’s efficiency, we’ll start surveillance soon."
Jiang Yingyao’s prediction was spot-on. Before the team under the tree could finish a cigarette, Zhuang Yinghua emerged with Tong’an District officers.
They piled back into the car and headed straight to the surveillance location without further stops.
Upon reaching the suspect Lu Manqing’s residential complex, the teams split up. Tong’an District officers secured the perimeter, while Xu Nian’s team was assigned to monitor an underground garage exit—Lu Manqing owned a vehicle, and this was a potential escape route.
Parking in the closest spot to the exit, Qi Bai killed the engine, rolled up the windows, and reclined the seats to avoid suspicion.
By evening, the garage gradually filled with returning cars, forcing the four to slouch or lie flat to stay hidden.
Only after 10 p.m., when the garage quieted, did they relax slightly.
Xu Nian checked his watch. "10:42 p.m. One hour and eighteen minutes until the planned arrest. The suspect could return anytime—stay sharp."
Qi Bai, fighting drowsiness, rubbed his face. "We’re covering Exit B, but his unit’s closer to Exit A. Odds are low he’ll come this way."
Xu Nian shot him a look. "Low, but not zero. If he slips past us, we’ll be infamous in both Yongquan and Jianyang."
The thought made Qi Bai shudder—they were the only non-Xicheng District team in the task force.
Wang Yu agreed. "Xu’s right. If we mess this up, Director Ren will have our heads before anyone else does."
Everyone thought of Director Ren, who was usually easygoing but became exceptionally stern when it came to serious matters, and a chill ran down their spines. Their expressions grew even more solemn.
To boost their confidence, the group eagerly recounted the surveillance plan laid out by Zhuang Yinghua during yesterday’s meeting.
Wang Yu said, "Zhuang set up three lines of defense. We’re the second line. The first is led by Zhuang himself with the First and Second Squads from Xicheng Precinct—they’re stationed along the suspect’s daily route home. The second line covers all underground parking garage exits, and besides us, there are others stationed outside. The third line is guarded by the Yong’an Precinct of Jianyang City at the residential complex’s entrances. Honestly, with so many of us targeting one person, even if he’s not at home, it’s nearly impossible for him to slip away."
Recalling the combat readiness of the Xicheng Precinct team accompanying them, they all nodded in agreement. Unless the suspect had weapons powerful enough to overpower them, escaping such a meticulous setup would be extremely difficult.
The three of them felt reassured, but Qi Bai couldn’t help indulging in a little fantasy. "What if… just hypothetically, the suspect suddenly becomes unstoppable tonight, breaks through the first line, and charges straight toward us at the second line? And we just happen to intercept him?"
The more Qi Bai thought about it, the more excited he became. "Isn’t that how it always goes in novels and TV shows? This suspect is a professional hitman—he’s not your average criminal."
Wang Yu curled his lip in disdain. "You said it yourself—novels and TV shows. Unless everyone under Zhuang’s command suddenly loses their brains, there’s no way we’ll get that kind of lucky break."
Xu Nian added, "If he can break through a dozen officers, it means he’s armed with something that can overpower us. Even if we do encounter him, we might not be able to stop him."
Jiang Yingyao didn’t bother analyzing—he simply gave Qi Bai a light smack on the back of the head. "What nonsense are you thinking about all day? You’re clearly sleep-deprived, letting your imagination run wild."
Qi Bai snapped out of it and stopped daydreaming, focusing instead on keeping a sharp eye on their surroundings.
Midnight arrived quickly. The four of them shed their earlier relaxation, their bodies tensed and ready to spring into action if needed—but in the end, they weren’t called upon.
Just five minutes past midnight, Zhuang Yinghua’s voice crackled over the radio: "Suspect successfully apprehended. Regroup and return."
Xu Nian picked up the radio and replied, "Copy that." Then he glanced at Qi Bai. "Let’s go. Your wish might come true—we’ll probably get a couple of days off after this."
Wang Yu stretched with a satisfied sigh. "As expected, we weren’t needed. Good. I hope every arrest goes this smoothly."
Qi Bai started the car and drove out of the underground garage, easily spotting the convoy and falling in line as they headed out of the city. Glancing at the rearview mirror, he remarked in surprise, "The Jianyang City team is really looking out for us—they’re even sending us off."
The other three turned to look. Sure enough, several vehicles from the Yong’an Precinct of Jianyang City were following behind them.
Wang Yu was equally surprised, but Xu Nian and Jiang Yingyao’s expressions darkened slightly.
Noticing the shift, Qi Bai and Wang Yu couldn’t help asking, "What’s wrong? Isn’t it a good thing that the Jianyang team is seeing us off?"
Xu Nian shook his head. "I’ve never been part of a cross-city arrest before, so I’m not sure, but something feels off."
Among their squad, Jiang Yingyao was the oldest and most experienced, so all eyes turned to him.
Jiang Yingyao said gravely, "I’ve been on a few, but usually we coordinate with local police stations—rarely do we involve the precinct, let alone get a send-off. If they’re being this cautious, it means they’ve uncovered something big."
Even the usually oblivious Qi Bai paled at that. All four of them flashed back to that forum—or rather, the shadowy organization they’d only just begun to uncover.
"No… no way, right?" Wang Yu said, disbelieving. "It’s 2024. We mobilized so many people for this arrest. Is this organization really bold enough to attack a police convoy? A whole convoy?"
Qi Bai also found it hard to believe. "Maybe they’re just being extra careful? Lu Manqing clearly has more than one life on his hands. The leads we’ve found suggest this could expose a whole network of people, so…"
He had meant to downplay their fears, but the more he spoke, the more plausible the scenario seemed.
Xu Nian touched the cold, hard outline of the gun at his waist and said firmly, "It’s just speculation, but for safety’s sake, let’s all stay alert. No one sleeps until we’re back in Yongquan City."
With this unsettling possibility hanging over them, they kept their eyes peeled for the rest of the journey. Even when exhaustion threatened to pull them under, they only allowed themselves brief naps, forcing themselves to stay awake.
Given the late hour, the roads were nearly empty, and the convoy moved swiftly, soon crossing through Jianyang City and approaching the border with Lian City.
They made a brief stop on the roadside, allowing the leaders of both convoys to exchange a few parting words before setting off again.
Lian City wasn’t a tourist destination—its population was smaller, but its area was just as vast. The four vehicles left Jianyang and immediately merged onto the main highway leading out of the city.
By now, it was nearly 4 a.m. The stretch of road wasn’t long, with only two traffic lights. Once they passed those, they’d reach the highway and skirt around Lian City, heading straight for Yongquan City.
As they neared the highway entrance, just before the second traffic light, Qi Bai grinned and said, "Now that we’re past Jianyang, the pressure’s off. Guess we were overthinking it. I mean, come on—it’s 2024. What kind of organization would dare attack a police convoy?"
The moment the words left his mouth, just as Wang Yu was about to respond, a deafening crash erupted.
A white SUV barreled into one of the lead vehicles transporting the suspect, sending it flipping violently across the road before it finally came to a stop, debris scattering everywhere.
The impact was so sudden that for a split second, everyone froze. Qi Bai instinctively slammed on the brakes.
A beat later, Xu Nian grabbed his gun, unbuckled his seatbelt, and moved to exit the car—but Wang Yu’s panicked shout stopped him.
"Xu Nian!"
Xu Nian looked up just in time to see another vehicle hurtling toward them.
He barely had time to grab onto something before everything went black.
