Chapter 25: The Lament of a Minor Character
The wail of police sirens echoed through the complex, and moments later, hurried footsteps resounded in the stairwell.
"Don't move!"
"Get down!"
"Release the hostage!"
A swarm of police officers burst into the room, their faces stern, some even betraying a hint of nervousness. They encircled Yang Haoran, roaring threats and warnings at him.
A wall of dark muzzles was aimed squarely at him. There was no doubt that if he dared to make the slightest move, he'd be riddled with holes like a sieve.
On the surface, the entire New Beginning Realm appeared peaceful, but beneath, treacherous currents surged. Thus, in any city within the New Beginning Realm, police officers always responded to calls fully armed and ready. Even Lecheng, a mere speck of a town within the New Beginning Realm, was no exception.
Facing down the grim row of muzzles, Yang Haoran's face was ashen. Never in his life had he encountered such a scene. To say he wasn't nervous would be a lie; one wrong move here, and he would be doomed for eternity!
"Officers, sirs, what is this. . . I mean, I. . . " His nervousness made Yang Haoran stumble over his words.
"I'm unarmed, what have I done? What hostage are you talking about? " Yang Haoran exclaimed, growing anxious.
Bang!
The answer was a gunshot. The bullet didn't strike his body but served as a warning shot.
Yang Haoran's heart jolted. Only then did he realize he was still holding Jiang Zhenzhen, and his lower body felt strangely cool. Glancing down, he seemed to understand. He quickly lowered Jiang Zhenzhen to the ground, offered an embarrassed smile, and began to explain: "Misunderstanding, this is all a misunderstanding, officers. This is truly a misunderstanding, do you believe me?"
As his words fell, Jiang Zhenzhen was already on the floor. He slowly stood up, pulling his trousers back up. Just then, a fragrant breeze wafted past, and he felt a sharp pain in his crotch—a vicious kick!
Thump!
Yang Haoran's face contorted. The intense pain made his eyeballs almost pop out of their sockets.
"Believe your ass! You pervert, breaking in and doing *this* to this girl? I'll make sure your 'tool' of crime is utterly useless!"
Yang Haoran only heard the furious voice of a female police officer, followed by a relentless barrage of heavy blows to his groin. In such a situation, how could he possibly care about anything else? He hurriedly shielded his crotch with both hands, anxiously explaining: "My little brother didn't do anything! He didn't even react! He's innocent! You've misunderstood! You've truly misunderstood!"
No one listened to Yang Haoran's explanations. As the female officer mercilessly kicked his groin, the other officers swarmed in, successfully apprehending the "intruder" and "perpetrator."
Yang Haoran was led out of the small room. Soon after, an ambulance arrived downstairs, taking away the unconscious Jiang Zhenzhen and the middle-aged man.
It was still early, just past dawn, but a considerable crowd had already gathered downstairs, mostly elderly men and women. They clustered together, watching the spectacle. Unaware of the true situation, they pointed fingers at the escorted Yang Haoran, whispering amongst themselves.
"This young man is terrifying! He actually used an electric saw to break down the door and commit murder. Killing two people wasn't enough; he even defiled the woman's corpse! He's absolutely deranged!"
"That middle-aged man who died, I've seen him around the complex a few times. He was definitely one of ours. That little girl must be his daughter; I'd never seen her before, maybe she just came back recently. So pitiful, to die so young, and to be defiled too. *Sigh*, maybe it's for the best. If she were still alive, how could she ever marry? Who would dare wear those 'worn-out shoes'?"
"Last night, I heard the girl screaming terribly. I thought it was just domestic abuse and decided to let it be; after all, it's not my place to interfere in other people's family matters. I never imagined it would be like this! If I had known, this old woman would have risked my life to stop that villain!"
"You know, the one who called the police was my husband's sister's nephew's son. Don't let his age fool you, that kid is smart and knows the law. He heard the commotion, ignored his parents' objections, and insisted on calling the police. That's how this pervert was finally caught."
"Oh, I know that kid you're talking about. His parents spoil him rotten. He often calls in fake reports as a game, and no matter how many times they lecture him, he never changes. But this time, he's really changed! He actually didn't make a false report and even rendered a great service. Though he couldn't save that father and daughter, he successfully helped capture this murderous pervert. Without him, who knows what other chaos might have erupted? Maybe my family would have been next, after all, my daughter is so beautiful, even at forty, she doesn't look old at all, much younger than this old woman."
In the midst of the pointing fingers and whispers of the elderly men and women, Yang Haoran was escorted back to the police station like a criminal, even enduring a thorough beating. Jiang Zhenzhen and the middle-aged man, however, due to their unconscious state, were treated like patients and sent to the hospital. Far from being beaten, they were handled with extreme care even when being loaded into the ambulance, for fear of causing them further injury.
It was already afternoon when Yang Haoran was finally released from the police station. His release, in no small part, was thanks to both Jiang Zhenzhen and the middle-aged man regaining consciousness.
Upon waking, both naturally underwent questioning from the officers. Yang Haoran, held in custody, was likewise subjected to interrogation. Through the combined accounts of the three, one conclusion was reached: Jiang Zhenzhen's apartment was haunted, and Yang Haoran, as a 'master,' had been there to help her.
The police station, of course, found this outcome unbelievable. Ghosts and hauntings? Utter nonsense.
However, one thing was certain: Yang Haoran was not an intruder or an assailant. The unconsciousness of both the middle-aged man and Jiang Zhenzhen was also unrelated to Yang Haoran. It was merely a misunderstanding, not a case of home invasion. At most, it was a disturbance of the peace—and it was the three of them disturbing the peace. Consequently, Yang Haoran was justifiably released.
Yang Haoran limped out of the police station, his face a canvas of bruises and purples. Beside him walked a female officer, tall and shapely, her police uniform lending her an air of elegance. Coupled with her pretty face, she presented a stark contrast to Yang Haoran in every conceivable way.
This female officer was none other than the one who had viciously kicked Yang Haoran's groin at Jiang Zhenzhen's apartment. Perhaps it was out of guilt, or perhaps she feared Yang Haoran would escalate the matter, but she personally escorted him to the station entrance. Yet, from her grim expression, it was clear she was far from pleased about it.
"The matter has been cleared up. You can go," the female officer said, her face stiff, as she cautioned Yang Haoran. "But I must remind you, you're thirty years old; you should know what to say and what not to say. Don't let your mouth get you into trouble."
It was less a reminder and more a threat. Yang Haoran felt deeply, intensely annoyed. He even had an impulse to rush over and slap the woman a few times.
However, he didn't. Not only did he not, but a seemingly natural smile appeared on his face instead.
He wanted to say something, but the female officer didn't give him the chance. She spoke indifferently: "While you weren't a home invader, your charlatanry still deserves a beating. If you continue with your ghost-mongering, I can assure you, you'll definitely be back in here for 'tea,' and that day won't be far off."
As her words finished, the female officer quickly walked away, not sparing Yang Haoran another glance, as if she found standing with a charlatan like him utterly repulsive.
Watching the female officer's retreating back, the seemingly natural smile vanished from Yang Haoran's face, replaced by an expression of cold indifference.
These officers had beaten him black and blue without distinguishing right from wrong. Especially that female officer, whose blows were the most brutal and whose assault lasted the longest. And what was the final outcome? He didn't even get an apology; he was simply chased out of the station and even threatened. Anyone who went through what he did would surely feel a burning resentment.
Yang Haoran had experienced much over the years, so he usually didn't show his inner emotions on his face, nor did he easily lose his temper. But this didn't mean he had no anger.
At this moment, he was seething with frustration and anger. Yet, he remained rational. He didn't rant or rave, nor did he foolishly spout threats. He knew perfectly well that if he did, it wouldn't vent his resentment; instead, it would only invite more trouble.
Uttering threats required absolute strength. When a powerful person made threats, it would impose immense psychological pressure on the opponent. But if one lacked strength and still made threats, they would only become a laughingstock, humiliating themselves further.
Above the police station hung a massive police emblem, uniquely designed. It consisted of a shield flanked by two long spears, and between the spears, the character "Le" (Le) was inscribed. This character represented the Lecheng police force of the New Beginning Realm.
The emblem was an inanimate object, yet it subtly exuded an invisible pressure. Yang Haoran, his face cold, stared intently at the massive emblem above the police station, his thoughts a mystery.
A moment later, he retracted his gaze, his cold eyes revealing a newfound determination. It was as if, in that brief interval, he had come to understand certain things and had made a significant decision.
In his view, the reason for his current sorry state was, at its core, his lack of true power. If he possessed the abilities of that young man who had dealt with the rotting old woman, would he still be in this miserable condition now?
The answer was, of course, no!
If he possessed the abilities of that mysterious youth, becoming an expert like him, he wouldn't have been scared witless by the rotting old woman, nor would he have been arrested by the police as a criminal and filled with so much suppressed anger.
At this moment, a powerful desire to change surged within him. He wanted to become an expert like that mysterious youth, to shed his identity as a charlatan.
In the past, he had also wanted to change himself, but he had no path. Now, however, he felt an opportunity had appeared before him. He didn't want to miss it. Even if it demanded a huge price, he wanted to seize this chance!
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