Chapter 113: The Siblings Are Captured

When Chen Yanqing spoke, the operative beside him was startled. He glanced at Chen Yanqing, and the ugly look on his face told him this was no joke. Without wasting a word, he turned and ran to report.

Everyone else was startled as well. Only moments ago, Chen Yanqing had been speaking softly and admiringly to that delicate young woman. Yet the instant he turned away, his expression had become so grim.

One of the policemen beside him came to his senses and said in a low voice, “Then what are we waiting for? It’s only one woman. We could have arrested her just now. Why report this to the commander?”

Chen Yanqing glared at him and barked, “Shut up. Use your head. She must have accomplices. This woman isn’t the original homeowner—the homeowner was surely taken hostage by her accomplices. Don’t act rashly. Report to Commander Ning and let him decide what to do!”

With that, he turned and stared at the tightly closed courtyard gate, a trace of anxiety showing in his eyes.

Ning Zhiheng soon received the operative’s report and hurried over with the main force.

“Where are the criminals?” he asked Chen Yanqing the moment he arrived.

“They’re inside this residence!” Chen Yanqing pointed toward the courtyard gate in the distance. “The woman who opened the door just now isn’t the homeowner. I know the actual owner of this house!”

“You know her?” Ning Zhiheng looked at Chen Yanqing in surprise, but did not waste any more time. Turning to Shi Hong, he ordered, “Surround this entire compound. Bring everyone here. Prepare to make the arrest!”

Shi Hong acknowledged the order and immediately dispatched the men. The operatives spread out in every direction, sealing off the courtyard completely.

Seeing this formation, Chen Yanqing hurriedly said to Ning Zhiheng, “Commander Ning, the criminals have a hostage! You mustn’t act rashly!”

Ning Zhiheng’s expression turned cold. His eyes narrowed as he said icily, “Are you teaching me how to do my job?”

The chill in his voice instantly cleared Chen Yanqing’s head. His concern had made him lose his composure; he had forgotten that the man standing before him had never been known for mercy.

“No, no, that’s not what I meant!” Chen Yanqing stammered helplessly, unsure how to explain himself.

“What is the homeowner’s relationship to you?” Ning Zhiheng’s expression softened slightly, and his tone was no longer so severe.

In his agitation, Chen Yanqing had spoken without restraint. He quickly explained, “The homeowner is a single woman in her twenties named Guo Ruxue. We’re merely acquaintances. I saw her a few times when we officers responsible for household registration visited to investigate the census and verify the residents. We exchanged a few words, that’s all!”

Ning Zhiheng asked doubtfully, “Your police district has tens of thousands of households and countless residents. You’re a registration officer, yet after visiting her twice, you remembered her?”

Then, with a faintly teasing smile, he added, “Is Miss Guo very beautiful?”

Chen Yanqing flushed with embarrassment and answered softly, “Yes… yes, she’s very beautiful, and she’s a good person too!”

That explained everything. A graceful maiden, a gentleman’s desire. After seeing Guo Ruxue, Chen Yanqing had fallen for her. He had never confessed his feelings; it was only an unrequited love.

Ning Zhiheng understood Chen Yanqing’s feelings to some extent, but he had no time for such matters. He was not related to Chen Yanqing in any way, and he certainly could not allow his romantic feelings to interfere with the arrest.

He turned to Sun Jiacheng and said, “The longer we wait, the more complications may arise. Move at once. Go knock on the door and take down whoever opens it.”

Then he instructed Shi Hong and Wang Shucheng, “Brother Hong and Shucheng, take your teams and advance simultaneously from the two rear positions. Move quickly and try to take them alive. But if they put up stubborn resistance, show them no mercy!”

The three men nodded and immediately led their teams into position.

Ning Zhiheng turned back to Chen Yanqing and said, “You’re letting your concern cloud your judgment. To be frank, if your Miss Guo isn’t one of the criminals’ accomplices, then she is most likely already in grave danger. I won’t let her interfere with the arrest operation. Everything depends on her luck!”

Chen Yanqing’s lips moved, but in the end he said nothing. He knew that, from Ning Zhiheng’s perspective, apprehending the criminals came first. As for Guo Ruxue’s life or death, he was likely the only one present who truly cared. His heart sank, and all he could do was pray that the woman he admired would be protected by fate and remain safe.

Sun Jiacheng brought only one policeman with him to the courtyard gate. He stepped forward and knocked. Before long, the gate opened.

It was still Zuo Rou who came to answer. She looked at Sun Jiacheng with an expression of helplessness and said, “Commander, this is already your third search. How many more times are you planning to search?”

Sun Jiacheng smiled. “It’s like this. During the investigation just now, we forgot to ask about something, and a few matters were not clarified. We need to conduct another investigation.”

As he spoke, he naturally took a step forward and planted one foot on the threshold. Zuo Rou had no choice but to open the gate wide. There was nothing she could do but steel herself and deal with them once more.

Sun Jiacheng took the registry from the policeman behind him and asked, “Guo Ruxue?”

Zuo Rou nodded gently in acknowledgment.

“This investigation is a little different. Once it’s complete, the homeowner must sign the record. We forgot that just now, so we need you to sign it.” As he spoke, Sun Jiacheng handed over the registry.

The moment Zuo Rou reached out to take it, she suddenly felt him exert tremendous force. Just as the registry blocked her view, a powerful blow slammed into her ribs. The impact made her body jerk, and the intense pain caused her legs to give way. She collapsed to the ground.

Zuo Rou had practiced martial arts since childhood and possessed considerable skill. Unfortunately, as a woman, she was naturally at a disadvantage in physical strength, especially in close combat. That was why she had deliberately trained with a thin-bladed saber, increasing its destructive power and lethality to compensate for her lack of strength.

Yet against an expert like Sun Jiacheng, she would still have been outmatched in a face-to-face fight. To make matters worse, he had caught her completely off guard. She had no time to react before his heavy blow struck her vulnerable ribs, instantly robbing her of her ability to fight.

At that very moment, the operatives waiting outside the courtyard and the Zuo brothers, who had been watching from inside the rooms, charged toward the gate almost simultaneously. The operatives rushed in to capture the criminals, while the Zuo brothers charged forward to save Zuo Rou.

At the same time, Shi Hong and Wang Shucheng vaulted over the courtyard wall after hearing the commotion.

After knocking Zuo Rou down at the gate, Sun Jiacheng drew his pistol and fired at the approaching Zuo brothers. But he remembered Ning Zhiheng’s order to take them alive whenever possible. Unsure of his own aim and afraid of killing one of them, he did not fire at their bodies. Instead, he shot the ground.

The gunshot instantly snapped the Zuo brothers to attention. They each rolled backward, then sprang into a retreating leap and slipped back into the house with extraordinary agility.

By then, Shi Hong and Wang Shucheng had rushed in from opposite sides. Shi Hong smashed open a window with the butt of his pistol and vaulted into the house, followed by several nimble operatives. He kicked open a door and prepared to charge out and search the rooms.

Instead, he collided head-on with the retreating Zuo brothers.

Zuo Gang and Zuo Qiang drew their pistols and fired. Shi Hong had no intention of risking his life against them. They were trapped beasts with nowhere to run; there was no need to fight them to the death.

Shi Hong retreated into the room at astonishing speed. He and several operatives fired back simultaneously, and for a moment bullets flew in every direction.

By then, the operatives who had entered through the courtyard gate were blocking the entrance. Sun Jiacheng pressed his pistol against Zuo Rou’s head and shouted into the house, “People inside, listen carefully! You’re surrounded. There’s no way out! I’m going to count to three. If you don’t surrender, I’ll shoot your accomplice dead! I won’t delay!”

He did not pause. He immediately began counting at the top of his voice.

“One!”

After waiting a moment, he shouted, “Two!”

“This is your last chance! I’m opening fire!”

At that moment, the Zuo brothers inside could no longer stand by and watch their relative die before their eyes. They were also surrounded and truly had nowhere left to go.

Zuo Gang shouted helplessly, “Don’t shoot! We surrender!”

He threw down the pistol in his hand, and Zuo Qiang did the same. The two men raised their hands and slowly walked out of the house.

The operatives immediately rushed forward, forced them to the ground, and clamped handcuffs onto their wrists. The Zuo brothers possessed considerable martial skill, but they did not dare resist and could only submit to whatever the men did to them.

Zuo Rou, whose hands had also been cuffed, was pulled to her feet by two operatives. The three siblings were then pushed out through the courtyard gate.

Zuo Rou looked at her elder brother and called softly, “Brother! It’s all my fault. I was useless!”

Zuo Gang gave her a crooked smile. “Don’t say that. At least our family will die together.”

The three of them were shoved before Ning Zhiheng.

“Captain, we’ve captured them all!” Sun Jiacheng reported.

Ning Zhiheng nodded, then carefully examined the three people before him. His gaze lingered on Zuo Rou for a moment before shifting to Zuo Gang and Zuo Qiang.

He asked calmly, “Where is Guo Ruxue, the homeowner of this residence?”

Chen Yanqing, standing nearby, also shouted anxiously, “Tell us! Hurry! Where is Miss Guo?”

Zuo Gang hesitated before saying, “We don’t know. When we arrived, the courtyard was empty. We never even saw that Miss Guo.”

“Lies!” Chen Yanqing pressed him. “During the first two searches, this female thief claimed that she was Guo Ruxue. If you’ve never met her, how do you know the homeowner’s name? Tell us where Miss Guo is!”

Chen Yanqing’s mind was quick, and he clearly did not believe Zuo Gang’s words.

Ning Zhiheng turned to Liu Datong and said, “Have your men search this courtyard thoroughly. Look for anything suspicious, especially places where someone could be hidden. Also check whether any fresh soil has been disturbed in the yard. I suspect the homeowner may already have been killed. In any case, we need to find her alive or recover her body!”

The moment Chen Yanqing heard this, fury surged through him. His eyes reddened as he strode forward, seized Zuo Gang by the collar, and roared, “Tell me! Did you harm Miss Guo? You beasts! I’ll kill you with my own hands!”

Seeing how agitated Chen Yanqing was, the Zuo brothers were unable to conceal their surprise. It was obvious that the young man was deeply concerned about Guo Ruxue.

Could this fellow be the lover of the boss’s mistress? Had this young man put a cuckold’s hat on the boss?

Zuo Rou spoke from the side. “We’ll admit whatever we did. But Guo Ruxue really isn’t dead. Asking us won’t help!”

Those words immediately kindled a glimmer of hope in Chen Yanqing’s heart.