{Chapter: 226 I suggest sending me a reward!!}
As soon as his words fell, the doors of several police cars burst open, and a wave of uniformed officers swiftly stepped out. Their presence was overwhelming, a sea of black and white uniforms with weapons holstered and eyes fixed sharply on Lin Yuan.
The atmosphere grew tense in an instant. The flashing red and blue lights from the patrol cars cast eerie reflections across the scene, illuminating the wary faces of Lin Yuan's subordinates. Though they were trained and well-armed, it was undeniable—they were now outnumbered.
Despite the pressure, Lin Yuan remained composed, a faint, confident smile playing across his lips. He stood with his hands behind his back, looking perfectly calm under the scrutiny of dozens of police eyes.
"What a strange question, Director Luo," Lin Yuan replied in a lighthearted tone, completely unfazed. "My men and I are, of course, good citizens. Brave and responsible members of society. We are here for a just cause."
He spread his arms slightly, like a host addressing guests. "We've received word that two extremely dangerous fugitives—both classified as S-Class criminals—were hiding in this location. Naturally, as responsible members of the community, we came to assist in their capture. After all, when individuals that are dangerous are at large, the law allows for their apprehension—dead or alive."
His statement was calm, yet the implications were razor sharp.
Chen Meng, his expression unreadable, stepped forward and silently pulled out two photographs from the inner pocket of his coat. He held them up for Lin Yuan to see.
"You're referring to these two individuals, aren't you?" he asked coolly.
The photos clearly showed Ye Feng and Gu Qingshan.
Lin Yuan clapped his hands and laughed, his tone theatrical. "That's right! Those are the ones! I see we're all here for the same reason, then? Patriarch Chen, Director Luo—you two have come to hunt down these villains as well, haven't you? What a coincidence!"
Luo Yinghao's face darkened. His tone was curt and laced with irritation as he responded. "That information is outdated. The status of these two individuals has been downgraded. They're now only Grade B criminals. They are to be arrested, not executed. And more importantly, private citizens are not permitted to interfere in such matters. Apprehending them is the responsibility of the Xiling District Special Police Unit—and no one else."
Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "Oh? They're not to be killed?" He paused and sighed dramatically. "Well then… it seems I may have been just a little too late."
As he finished speaking, one of his subordinates appeared beside him, dragging something from upstairs. With a grim expression, the man suddenly tossed a broken body down the stairs and out the front door.
The corpse landed with a sickening thud in front of the crowd.
All eyes widened.
It was Gu Qingshan—his body mangled, blasted apart, and clearly lifeless. He had been cleaved in half at the waist, a gruesome sight that sent ripples of discomfort through both the police and Chen Meng's entourage.
Both Chen Meng and Luo Yinghao stiffened, their faces growing visibly grim. Yet Lin Yuan paid no mind to their expressions. He simply sipped his tea with elegance and gave a faint smile.
"When Gu Qingshan was officially designated as a top-priority criminal, I took the initiative to eliminate him," he said calmly. "Surely that's not a crime? If anything, it was a public service. Don't you agree, Director Luo?"
He paused, raising his eyebrows mockingly.
"I expect to be issued a commendation, at the very least. Maybe a medal? A cash reward, perhaps?"
Luo Yinghao remained silent, gritting his teeth, unwilling to take the bait.
Chen Meng's eyes darkened further as he spoke coldly. "Where is the other one?"
There was no need to mention a name. Everyone present knew who he meant—Ye Feng.
Just then, as if answering the question himself, a familiar voice rang out from upstairs.
"Uncle Chen Meng?!"
It was Ye Feng. His voice was filled with hope and relief. Having been cornered and nearly executed moments earlier, the arrival of Chen Meng and the police was nothing short of salvation. His expression was jubilant as he rushed to the staircase, clearly believing he had escaped death.
Seeing Ye Feng still alive, Chen Meng gave Luo Yinghao a subtle nod.
Catching the signal, Luo Yinghao immediately barked an order. "You five—go upstairs and secure Ye Feng. Bring him down safely."
The officers moved quickly, pushing past Lin Yuan's men as they ascended the staircase with practiced efficiency.
Then Luo Yinghao turned to Lin Yuan again, his expression hard. "There's no need for your men to take any further action. This situation is now under the control of the Xiling District Special Police. Stand down."
He paused before delivering the final blow. "Also, while Gu Qingshan was indeed a vicious criminal, Ye Feng is another matter entirely. He was merely misled, tricked into helping a villain. After thorough review, I have decided to revoke Ye Feng's arrest warrant. He is no longer wanted. As far as the law is concerned—he's innocent."
Luo Yinghao's voice was firm and authoritative.
In truth, he had pivoted as soon as he saw Gu Qingshan's mangled corpse. With the real criminal now dead, he wasted no time in shifting the narrative to exonerate Ye Feng. To him, protecting Ye Feng was more important than pursuing facts.
As Ye Feng was surrounded by five or six officers upstairs, Lin Yuan's men visibly tensed. Several of them gripped their weapons tightly, eyes filled with murderous intent. They were only waiting for the order to execute Ye Feng on the spot.
But the police officers were quicker. In an instant, they raised their firearms and aimed directly at Lin Yuan's subordinates. Fingers hovered near triggers.
A hair's breadth away from violence.
The standoff was tense—silent, but seething with potential chaos. It felt like the entire air had been compressed into a powder keg, just waiting for the smallest spark to explode.
One wrong move, and the place would erupt into bloodshed.
*****
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