Chapter 106: Chapter 89: New Martial Skill, Brother Hao in Trouble
"Those three sons of bitches are probably off to work a case again..."
Chen Xiao was still grumbling when he gradually realized something was off. He turned his head and saw Ruan Hui had already reached the last step in front of him.
"It seems Captain Yang’s men have foul mouths."
Ruan Hui paused, a playful look on his face as he watched the two of them, as if he’d found some interesting toys.
Lu Chao’s gaze hardened. Chen Xiao’s expression froze.
STEP, STEP!
The next instant, before the two could speak, a steady and serious voice sounded from behind them.
"Can’t compare to Captain Ruan."
Yang Wangtao’s hair, parted in a neat seventy-thirty split, was impeccably combed. His square face was calm as he said, "I hear there’s a lead on the Qiu Shan case."
"I imagine Captain Ruan must have been quite busy the last few days."
His words were pointed, a veiled jab at Ruan Hui for secretly swapping their assignments.
In that instant, many of the surrounding patrol officers slowed their pace, perked up their ears, or simply hid in corners to watch quietly.
The thick tension in the air was palpable. The playful smile on Ruan Hui’s face slowly faded.
He then glanced at Lu Chao and Chen Xiao before taking another step, brushing past the three of them.
"Making it back with everyone safe and sound... Your Third Squad is really lucky."
"A pity..."
He stood beside Yang Wangtao and said flatly, "I’m just afraid that luck won’t last."
STEP, STEP!
With that, his footsteps faded into the distance.
Lu Chao stood his ground and glanced back. The information from his intuition was displayed clearly.
[Carbon-Based Human]
[Life Energy: 67 (Healthy)]
’It went up again, just as I thought.’
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. He always felt there was something strange about Ruan Hui.
That look in his eyes just now seemed to hide some kind of trick, subconsciously reminding him of the provocations from Guo Yun, Fang Jingyi, and the others back then.
He pondered but came to no conclusion.
Yang Wangtao walked over. Although his expression was serious, his tone was gentle as he looked at the two with concern. "How have you been resting lately?"
"Thanks to you, Captain, not bad at all."
Pushing aside his stray thoughts, Lu Chao offered a faint smile.
The three of them tacitly dropped the earlier incident and proceeded to the second floor, returning to their squad office.
Along the way, Chen Xiao remembered their earlier conversation and quickly asked about Qiu Shan’s group.
"Based on the intel from Geng Xiao, the Superpower Bureau captured several members of the Rebels in the inner circle of the city."
Walking into the captain’s cubicle, Yang Wangtao habitually straightened his desk, stacking the documents neatly as he spoke. "According to the interrogation, Qiu Shan’s group might also be Rebels. They came to our Ring City to complete some kind of mission."
"The initial speculation is that they plan to assassinate a certain council member."
At these words, Lu Chao and the others were visibly shaken.
’Assassinate a council member?’
They had only been out of the city on an aid mission, yet they felt as if they had missed a great deal.
"For this matter, just wait for orders. There’s no need to rush."
"It probably won’t be long before we start closing the net."
Yang Wangtao slowly sat down, his posture ramrod straight.
His unhurried tone put Lu Chao and Chen Xiao at ease. They both nodded slightly and asked no more questions.
「...」
That evening, a streetcar trundled along slowly.
Lu Chao, having changed into casual clothes—a black hoodie and jeans—found a window seat.
He put the day’s events out of his mind.
He didn’t know when the operation to capture Qiu Shan’s group would begin, but his study of the Fierce Roar Skill was going quite smoothly.
After registering, he had quickly watched the complete instructional video in the training room and memorized it all.
Instead of rushing back to train, he took the streetcar to North Street again.
Looking out the glass window, the Dreamfire Bar in the center of the district was particularly conspicuous, still a blaze of neon lights.
He hadn’t come for any other reason today. The lockdown of the city’s entrances and exits had created a sense of urgency, and he wanted to ask Zhou Qiang to continue searching for the Cyan Spirit Grass so he could purify and consume the Magic Power crystal sooner.
He then stepped off the car and walked out of the station.
The SIZZLE of grilling meat could be heard as smoke from the street vendors’ barbecue stalls drifted and mingled with the multicolored neon lights.
Lu Chao strode purposefully forward, brushing past the men and women coming and going as he headed straight for the bar.
"Brother Lu."
"Brother Xiaochao."
Respectful greetings sounded one after another at the entrance.
But Lu Chao paused, realizing something was wrong.
The bar wasn’t open to the public tonight. The entire first-floor hall was empty, devoid of customers. In their place were a dozen or so men from the Hongyi Society. Some sat on the edges of the booths with grim expressions, while others stood guard in the various aisles, their eyes watchful.
The security guards at the door also had serious faces. Although they greeted him respectfully, they seemed hesitant to speak, stammering as if they wanted to stop him from entering the bar.
"Hm?"
Frowning slightly, Lu Chao looked at the guard blocking his path.
"What happened?"
The atmosphere was even heavier than during the last conflict with the Iron Blood Gang, giving him a bad feeling.
"Sorry, Brother Xiaochao."
The guard’s expression stiffened, and he gave a wry smile. "I really can’t say. Brother Hao specifically told us not to, he was afraid you’d worry..."
Hearing this, Lu Chao’s brow furrowed. He felt more and more that something was seriously wrong.
He ignored the guard’s attempt to stop him and strode into the bar.
Seeing this, the expressions of the Hongyi Society men in the hall changed slightly. Someone barked an order and made a move, even reaching for the pistol at his waist.
"Don’t, don’t do it!"
"That’s Brother Xiaochao!"
The guard who had tried to block him shouted hastily, and other men who recognized Lu Chao also moved to stop them.
Only then did the other Hongyi Society men realize their mistake. Their expressions turned solemn, knowing they had almost caused a friendly-fire incident, and they quickly stopped.
The commotion seemed to attract attention. Soon, the office door at the end of the second-floor hallway was pushed open, and a man walked out.
Seeing the situation, he quickly spoke.
"What are you doing here, kid!"
Zhou Qiang, dressed in a black suit, looked grim as he leaned against the railing of intricately patterned tiles, his tone low and helpless.
Hearing the voice, Lu Chao finally stopped and looked up at him.
"Brother Qiang, what on earth happened?"
He asked in a low voice, his gaze sweeping over the unfamiliar Hongyi Society men around them.
A gun had almost gone off. This level of tension, as if they were facing a formidable enemy, made him even more worried.
For a moment, the atmosphere was silent. The bar’s lights were still a kaleidoscope of colors.
Many of the Hongyi Society men fixed their gazes on him and Zhou Qiang. In the corner, Xiaoyang, dressed as a waiter, also watched with flickering eyes, feigning curiosity.
Finally.
"Let him come up."
A slightly weak voice drifted down from the second floor. Hearing it, Lu Chao’s expression changed.
Without hesitation, he charged up to the second floor.
Inside the open office door, a screen blocked his view. Two other combatants, with guns at their waists, stood guard on either side with vigilant expressions.
Through a gap in the screen, he could faintly make out the figure of a doctor in a white coat, as well as the rustling sounds of bandages and wound dressings being changed.
Seeing this, Lu Chao’s heart sank.
The next instant, he ignored the protests from Zhou Qiang and the others and rushed inside.
