Gu Zhenhua remained where he stood, his posture straight and unmoving, as he waited for his soldier to return with the girl.
He could not yet determine whether she was a victim… or an accomplice. But one thing was certain, that girl was no ordinary person.
Even from the brief exchange he had witnessed, her movements had been steady, controlled. She had held her ground against a trained and ruthless fighter, despite clearly being injured and exhausted. For someone so young, such composure and skill were… unusual.
Lowering his gaze, he looked at the man pinned beneath his foot. The man's breathing was ragged, his body trembling from pain and exhaustion, yet there was still a flicker of stubborn resistance in his eyes.
Gu Zhenhua's voice turned cold, carrying a quiet but unmistakable authority.
"Tell me," he said, pressing down slightly, "who was that girl? And why were you trying to kill her?"
The man clenched his teeth. He was waiting for his master and senior brothers to come and save him. The moment he had heard the soldiers address this man as Deputy Company Commander, he had realized the gravity of the situation. Fear had already crept into his heart, but not yet despair.
There was still hope. So he spoke submissively, "I… I don't know," he said hoarsely, his voice broken. "She trespassed into our territory late at night… injured me somehow… then tried to escape. I was only… taking revenge."
Then, as if recalling something terrifying, his expression shifted, "That girl… she's not human!" he blurted out. "I saw it with my own eyes, she disappeared into thin air… and things appeared in her hands the same way! You must catch her… she could be one of those hidden sect members… a cultivator…"
For a brief moment, silence fell. Gu Zhenhua and the surrounding soldiers exchanged glances.
Then, almost unanimously, a trace of disbelief passed through their expressions.
In this new era, such talk sounded nothing short of delirious but seeing his cloth they found it expected from this man.
"He's lost his mind," one soldier muttered under his breath.
Gu Zhenhua did not respond. But his expression remained unreadable.
Footsteps approached. The soldier who had been sent in pursuit returned, halting sharply before him and saluting, "Report, Deputy Company Commander!"
Gu Zhenhua nodded once, "Speak."
"We lost the girl," the soldier said, his tone firm despite the admission. "She slipped away into the dark." He paused briefly before adding, "However, on my way back, I saw public security officers approaching the area. They should arrive at any moment."
Gu Zhenhua frowned slightly. That was unexpected. He had just been about to dispatch someone to summon them.
Before he could dwell on it further another soldier ran up, breathing slightly heavier, and snapped to attention, "Report, Deputy Company Commander!"
"Proceed."
"We inspected Warehouse Three, the one mentioned by the girl," the soldier reported. "There are twelve women inside, all being held captive. The men outside have confessed, they were preparing to traffic them."
For a fraction of a second Gu Zhenhua's expression changed. The calm in his eyes hardened into something sharp… and cold.
"Arrest them all," he said, his voice low but edged with steel. "Ensure they receive proper 'treatment' before being handed over to the public security."
A chorus of acknowledgments followed.
"Yes, sir!"
He gestured for the restrained man to be taken into custody, then turned and strode toward Warehouse Three himself.
The scene before the warehouse was already under control.
Several of his soldiers had gathered the captured men, nearly twenty, perhaps twenty-five in total. They were bound, forced to kneel or crouch under watchful eyes.
At Gu Zhenhua's silent approval, discipline gave way to retribution.
Fists struck and boots landed. Groans of pain rose into the night, mingling with desperate pleas and choked cries, but no one held back. Afterall these were not ordinary criminals, they were traffickers, predators. And in the eyes of these soldiers, such men deserved no mercy.
Not long after, the distant rumble of engines grew louder.
Headlights cut through the darkness as a public security jeep arrived, followed by several officers on bicycles. The officers dismounted quickly, moving toward the commotion with urgency.
But as they drew closer, they halted. Before them stood a group of uniformed soldiers. The situation was already… under control.
One of the leading officers stepped forward, his expression composed but alert. His gaze swept across the scene before settling on Gu Zhenhua, who stood at the center, clearly the commanding presence.
The officer approached and spoke in a measured tone, "Comrade, which unit are you from?"
Gu Zhenhua turned slightly, acknowledging him, "I am the Deputy Company Commander from the Baicheng unit," he replied. "We are currently stationed nearby for training."
Recognition flickered across the officer's face, "Ah... yes, I recall," he said, his tone easing into polite familiarity. "Welcome, Comrade. I am the Section Chief of the Taonan County Public Security Bureau."
He offered a brief nod before continuing, "We received an anonymous report earlier tonight, that the Hei Long Gang was preparing to traffic women here. We came to investigate and apprehend them."
Gu Zhenhua glanced toward the warehouse, where the rescued women were already being escorted out by his soldiers.
"Then it seems, you arrived just in time to take over." His voice remained calm, yet there was a faint, unmistakable edge of sarcasm beneath it.
The Section Chief caught the implication at once. A trace of embarrassment flickered across his face, though he quickly composed himself.
"Comrade," he replied with a restrained sigh, "I understand what you are implying. But the moment we received the report, we set out immediately."
His gaze shifted toward the group of men being subdued by the soldiers, their groans still echoing faintly in the night air.
"The Hei Long Gang has been a persistent concern for years," he continued. "However, they operated entirely in the shadows. Every time we attempted to trace them, they vanished like smoke. And given that this is a sensitive border region, we could not act rashly without sufficient evidence. One wrong move… and the consequences would have been severe."
Gu Zhenhua listened without interruption. Then, without comment, he extended his hand and handed over the ledger he had taken earlier from Li Shuying.
The Section Chief accepted it instinctively.
Gu Zhenhua's gaze settled on him, sharp and assessing, "Your bearing," he said slowly, "suggests you once served in the military. Even if you have left the army and joined public security, do not forget the principles the army instilled in you, serve the people, uphold justice, and act decisively when the time comes."
He gestured lightly toward the ledger, "This is the evidence you have been waiting for. Take it and act without delay."
For a brief moment, the Section Chief said nothing. Then he tightened his grip on the ledger and bowed his head slightly. "Understood, Comrade."
He opened it. Page after page turned beneath his fingers. With each line he read, the color in his face shifted, not to pale, but to a deep, restrained red. His jaw tightened, and a cold fury settled in his eyes.
These were not mere transactions. They were records of sufferings of lives bought and sold like livestock and of crimes layered upon crimes. By the time he closed the ledger, his expression had hardened completely.
"Thank you, Deputy Company Commander," he said in a low voice. "I will make sure these beasts in human skin receive the punishment they deserve."
His tone carried no room for doubt. Turning sharply, he issued orders at once, "Take control of the scene! Arrest everyone present, no one is to escape!"
The public security officers moved swiftly, coordinating with the soldiers to secure the captives and the rescued victims.
Without pause, the Section Chief gathered a small team, "We're going to the leader's residence," he said. "Search everything. Leave no corner unchecked."
Gu Zhenhua followed with several of his men. Initially, he had expected resistance. Men like this gang leader did not fall easily.
But as they entered the courtyard, silence greeted them. The faint smell of blood lingered in the air.
They stepped into the chamber and then, even Gu Zhenhua, seasoned as he was, halted for a fraction of a second.
The gang leader lay collapsed near the kang, his body twisted at an unnatural angle.
He was still breathing but his condition was… worse than death. Blood seeped steadily from his throat, dark and thick, staining the floor beneath him. Across his body, numerous cuts had been carved, precise, deliberate, forming strange, almost symbolic patterns upon his flesh.
The room fell into a heavy, suffocating silence. One of the officers drew in a sharp breath. Even the soldiers, hardened by discipline, could not completely mask the tension in their expressions.
Gu Zhenhua's gaze darkened. Slowly he stepped forward, his sharp eyes sweeping across the chamber, committing every detail to memory.
After a brief silence, he turned toward the Section Chief, "Administer first aid," he said in a steady, commanding tone. "Send him to the hospital immediately. And find out who did this."
The Section Chief nodded at once, about to issue orders when hurried footsteps echoed from the courtyard.
Three public security officers entered, carrying Laoda between them. His body sagged weakly, his head lolling to one side, his face pale and drenched in sweat.
One of the officers stepped forward and saluted lightly, "Chief, we found him lying outside the chamber. When we woke him, he could barely speak… but he claimed that a young girl attacked him."
"A young girl?" the Section Chief repeated, brows knitting together. He glanced at Laoda's sturdy, battle-hardened frame and let out a faint scoff, "Has he lost his senses?" he said dismissively. "Take him into custody as well."
"Yes, Chief." The officers dragged him away without hesitation.
Most present dismissed the claim as delirium born of injury.
But Gu Zhenhua did not. His thoughts returned, almost instinctively, to the young girl who had vanished into the night.
Could it really be her? If so… what had driven her to such extremes?
The condition of the gang leader was beyond ordinary retaliation. Even for a criminal of such depravity, the severity of the punishment inflicted upon him bordered on something deeply personal.
Gu Zhenhua's expression grew more contemplative.
Earlier, the girl had claimed she was targeted because she possessed evidence.
But now that explanation felt incomplete. She had her own purpose. A grievance, perhaps or possibly debt of blood.
Yet speculation would lead nowhere. For now, all he could do was wait for the public security bureau to uncover her identity.
The search continued through the night.
They also discovered the warehouse Eight's hidden gold, antique and jewelry from bygone years through the ledger. Every item was catalogued, sealed, and marked for submission to higher authorities.
Each piece of evidence tightened the noose around the Hei Long Gang.
By the time the final arrests were made and the compound fully secured, dawn had begun to break.
Gu Zhenhua than led his troops back toward the militia barracks.
Meanwhile, within the county, in a quiet, narrow alley Li Shuying stood before a group of boys.
Their clothes were worn, their faces thin. She looked at them, then turned her gaze to Zhang Junyi.
"Is it truly that simple?" she asked quietly. "They only want to go to school?"
Zhang Junyi nodded.
"Yes," he said. "But our Dong Tian Gang isn't just these few. We have more members, some younger than them."
He gestured toward the tallest among the group, "This is Hu Ge," he added. "He's the oldest among us. He takes care of everything."
Li Shuying's eyes settled on the young man.
He stood straight despite his worn appearance, his expression steady, carrying a quiet sense of responsibility. She gave a small nod.
"Hu Ge," she said, her tone calm yet sincere, "today, you and your brothers have helped me accomplish something important." She paused briefly, her gaze softening just a fraction, "So, you may ask anything of me within my ability, and I will help."
By now, Hu Ge had managed to steady himself, though the shock had not entirely faded from his heart.
No matter how he looked at it, the truth felt unreal. The person who had led them into tonight's operation… the one who had overturned an entire criminal gang in a single night… was this young girl standing before him?
A faint unease lingered within him. Yet, when he spoke, his voice was firm.
"You already heard Zhuzi," he said, glancing briefly at Zhang Junyi before turning back to Li Shuying. "We won't ask for money or anything else. We only hope you can arrange for these boys to attend school."
Li Shuying was momentarily taken aback. Her eyes lingered on Hu Ge. Not just responsible but also quiet selflessness that was rare even among adults.
After a brief pause, she asked softly, "What about you?"
Hu Ge shook his head without hesitation. "I don't need anything," he said simply. "Just help my younger brothers."
There was no false modesty in his tone, only sincerity.
Li Shuying studied him for a moment longer, then nodded.
"Very well," she said. "Zhang Junyi will handle the arrangements. I will provide the financial support."
She let her gaze sweep across the group of boys, her voice carrying a quiet certainty.
"All of you… will go to school."
Their eyes lit up and smiles broke out across their tired and weathered faces. Some of the younger boys could barely contain their excitement, their hands clenching into fists as if afraid this moment might slip away if they moved too quickly. For them, this was not merely a promise. It was a future.
Li Shuying turned her attention back to Zhang Junyi, "I haven't forgotten our agreement," she said. "We will discuss the it soon."
Zhang Junyi let out a light chuckle, relief evident in his expression, "Of course," he replied. "Thank you, Li Shuying." He than straightened slightly, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes, "Don't worry, I'll make sure every one of them is enrolled properly."
Li Shuying nodded in acknowledgment. Then, she turned to Heizi, "Thank you, Brother Heizi," she said sincerely. "Tonight, you have done me a great favor."
Heizi shook his head, a faint, weary smile forming on his lips, "No," he said quietly. "I've only helped myself… step out of that hell." He took a slow breath, as if truly savoring the air for the first time in years. "Now… I can finally breathe."
Li Shuying did not argue. Instead, she reached into her pocket and brought out the money she had prepared. A full hundred yuan. She placed it into his hands, "This is what I promised you."
Heizi's hands trembled as he received it. For a moment, he simply stared at the money, his vision blurring slightly. His throat tightened, but he forced himself to steady his emotions, ",Thank you… Comrade Shuying," he said hoarsely.
Li Shuying gave a small nod, "With this," she said, "you can take your family away from here."
Heizi nodded repeatedly, gratitude evident in every movement, thanking her again and again.
After exchanging a few final words, Li Shuying glanced toward the horizon and saw the dawn was breaking. She immediately sent everyone off and started walking towards the village.
The path to the village was quiet. Her footsteps were steady, but her body was beginning to feel the toll of everything she had endured. After nearly half an hour, she finally reached the entrance of the village.
She let out a slow breath. It's done, everything had been taken care of.
But as her gaze lowered, she saw her hand which were blood-stained and than her swollen face.
Her brows knit slightly. The swelling could be managed, there was ice in the refrigerator within her system space's kitchen.
But the bruises on her lips and cut on the hand, those would be harder to conceal.
She continued walking, her mind already turning toward solutions. Then suddenly her steps slowed and gaze shifted towards the Li family's main household.
And with it, a name surfaced in her mind.
Li Guofu.
If Master Kui had been the blade, then Li Guofu had been the hand that wielded it. Her eyes sharpened, a cold light flickering within them.
"Last time I let you off with a few punches…" she murmured under her breath, her voice low and dangerous. "This time… it won't be so simple"
Her gaze lingered on the house for a moment longer. Then she turned away and walked toward her own home.