Chapter 106 - 103: Arrest! (2)

They had just arrived, panting for breath, and now they had to leave again. But no one complained. Instead, they moved even faster.

Every second...

...was a chance for the third victim to survive!

"Captain Qian, you stay here and wait for word from the support team."

Before leaving, Xu Huo had Qian Hua stay behind.

Qian Hua nodded without complaint and watched the police cars drive away.

The killer had left by car.

The car had a license plate, so the support staff could search the few surveillance cameras in this small city, even without the help of the Celestial Eye System.

But since they had a general direction and a precise time, finding the vehicle wouldn’t be difficult.

If Xu Huo, Wang Hu, and the others were heading in the wrong direction, Qian Hua could act as a reserve, ready to rush to the correct scene based on the support team’s instructions.

As the police cars disappeared from sight, Qian Hua looked away and sighed.

’I hope we make it in time.’

...

...

「The outskirts of Zhaozhou City.」

This area wasn’t far from the city center, so it took the police very little time to get there.

It wasn’t a developed area. Even though it was still within city limits, its prosperity was, at best, that of a small town in a prefecture-level city.

There weren’t many people on the main street, just a few walking here and there.

Both sides of the road were lined with single-story buildings that had been converted into hardware stores, auto repair shops, and the like.

Not far from there, however, was an area of self-built houses. One of the lots was quite large, enclosed by a fence. Inside stood a three-story, luxuriously decorated home.

This was one of Wu Jiahui’s vacant properties.

It was also the place she had first lived after graduating.

Her family was relatively well-off, and they had supported her by buying this property for her after graduation. The land itself wasn’t cheap, but the bulk of the cost had gone into the renovations.

But living alone in such a large house was quite lonely.

Now, however, was different...

"WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF!!!"

An unleashed dog barked at the intruders in its territory, baring its teeth with a look of pure vigilance.

BANG!

"Whimper..."

Xu Huo kicked it in a sensitive spot, momentarily disabling it. The dog lay on the ground, whimpering.

He gave a slight twitch of his nose.

The next second, a scent reached his nostrils with almost no delay.

’This is...’

’They’re really here!’

Xu Huo’s eyes narrowed. "Take two men and circle around to the back!"

Hearing this, Li Jianye nodded and pulled two officers from their small group.

After leaving people at the hospital and the training center, their current team, including those three, numbered less than thirteen. But it was enough.

CLICK.

Wang Hu drew his gun from his waist, smoothly chambered a round, and pressed himself against the wall, inching his way forward.

He took a look around, then gave a few hand signals.

A few officers understood immediately and nodded.

Not long after...

CREAK~

The moment the sound was heard, the officers beside him shot up and swarmed in!

"Freeze, police!"

"Hands up! Everyone, hands up!"

"On the ground! Everyone on the ground, hands behind your head!"

With intimidating shouts, several officers stormed the building.

The living room was spacious, but there was no one there.

[Wang Die’s Scent!]

Xu Huo took a sniff, then narrowed his eyes. He made a hand gesture, signaling the officers heading upstairs to stop and turn toward the bedroom on their side.

Wang Hu and the others paused, a flash of surprise in their eyes, but they didn’t waste any time. He gave a look to a few officers.

They took a few steps back, and the next second...

BANG!

A powerful kick shattered the flimsy lock, and the entire door burst open!

And it was because the door opened...

...that the metallic stench of blood assaulted their nostrils, filling their lungs!

’It’s...’

’Wu Jiahui!’

Her face was deathly pale. Her eyes were closed and she was limp as a rag doll, yet she was being held upright. Behind her was...

"Don’t move! Move again and I’ll kill her! Don’t come any closer!"

A middle-aged woman with disheveled hair, looking completely unhinged, held a knife. Trembling all over, she had her arm around Wu Jiahui, the blade pressed against her neck.

Her eyes were bloodshot as she stared intently at the police officers before her.

’This is...’

’Zhang Ru!’

"Don’t come any closer! One more step and she dies before I do!!!"

Zhang Ru trembled, all reason gone from her eyes, as she threatened the intruding officers.

"Don’t be rash! Don’t be rash!"

Wang Hu tried his best to de-escalate the situation.

Xu Huo’s gaze fell on Wu Jiahui’s thigh, and his expression changed drastically.

There...

...was a bloody hole.

A large amount of blood was gushing out!

"Let her go!"

Seeing Wang Hu raise his gun, Xu Huo swiftly pulled his hand down and led a few officers out of the bedroom.

The victim was unconscious, and there was a lot of blood on the floor. If the standoff continued, they could certainly arrest Zhang Ru, but...

...Wu Jiahui would definitely die!

Xu Huo didn’t want to see that happen, and neither did Wang Hu.

"Contact the hospital. Have them send an ambulance. Wu Jiahui’s in shock from blood loss. She won’t be able to take her far."

Xu Huo kept his eyes fixed on their target, whispering as he backed away.

"Zhang Ru’s identity is confirmed. More units are on their way here. If she runs out, she’ll run right into them. Just make sure she doesn’t take a new hostage."

Wang Hu didn’t argue. He nodded and led his men back.

A flicker of confusion appeared in Zhang Ru’s eyes. She didn’t know why these people would back off so easily, but that didn’t stop her from seizing the opportunity.

She struggled to drag her hostage as she moved outward, the knife wavering back and forth, slicing the skin on her neck and drawing fresh blood.

Xu Huo’s brows furrowed deeply.

Until...

Zhang Ru neared the living room entrance. Then, she suddenly shoved Wu Jiahui toward the doorway and bolted outside.

BANG!

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The instant Wu Jiahui fell, countless bullets ripped through the air.

Several bullet holes pockmarked the wall.

"Damn it!"

Wang Hu cursed, his expression dark.

She was smart. She ducked behind the wall, yanked open the main door, and ran out.

"Hm? She’s not taking the car?"

Watching Zhang Ru’s fleeing figure, Xu Huo paused and narrowed his eyes.

She ignored the car by the door and instead took off on foot.

"After her!"

Wang Hu waved his hand and led his men in pursuit.

"Captain Li, stay here."

Xu Huo calmly stopped Li Jianye, who had just rushed over from the backyard, drawing his gun to join the chase.

"What is it!?"

Li Jianye was anxious. He craned his neck to look at the officers in the distance, then turned back, sweating, to ask.

"There are other officers outside to help with the arrest. Zhang Ru won’t get away."

"Let’s stop Wu Jiahui’s bleeding first."

Xu Huo’s eyes were calm as he sorted out his priorities.

Hearing this, Li Jianye looked back and finally noticed the person lying on the ground. He now knew what he had to do.

Xu Huo knelt on the ground without hesitation, unbuckled his belt, and tied it tightly around the top of her thigh to staunch the blood flow. At the same time, he told Li Jianye to find some medical supplies for emergency treatment.

After a flurry of activity, the sound of an ambulance siren could be heard outside.

The two of them helped lift the victim into the vehicle and watched the ambulance speed away.

"Let’s go!"

Li Jianye let out a breath, about to contact people to go after Zhang Ru again.

However, Xu Huo’s hand once again rested on Li Jianye’s forearm.

"Don’t you feel like..."

"...something’s missing?"

’Something’s missing?’

’What could be missing!?’

’If we keep thinking, she’s going to disappear completely...’

Before the anxious Li Jianye could figure it out, Xu Huo shook his head. He raised a finger to his lips in a "shush" gesture.

He gestured toward the car to the side and then walked over quietly.

Li Jianye was confused and frowned, but he followed silently.

Xu Huo placed his hand on the trunk, and then...

POP!

The sound of the trunk opening echoed.

A figure appeared before the two men!

Li Jianye instinctively drew his gun and aimed it, but when he got a clear look, his face filled with shock.

"A... a kid!?"

What was in the trunk?

A person about four feet tall.

A person whose hands and feet were bound, mouth gagged, and had a chain around their neck!

"Mmph... mmph..."

Feeling the blinding light, the person looked up at the police officers, sobbing and choking.

Xu Huo narrowed his eyes and twitched his nose.

A foul odor hung in the air—the smell of a dog.

The person was tied up like a dog, with a dog collar around their neck.

"This is..."

Li Jianye was stunned. Staring at the pitiful person before him, he suddenly realized.

"The person with dwarfism!?"

Xu Huo didn’t speak. He scanned his surroundings, then took a deep breath.

"Take them with us!"