Chapter 562 343: Her

The following two days were immensely rewarding.

One after another, Qian Organization strongholds and hideouts around the towns of the northern Snow Realm were smashed and uprooted. Criminals were arrested one by one, and Rong Taotao couldn't have been more thrilled!

Fu Tiance was right about one thing: only by striking with lightning speed and overwhelming force could they achieve the greatest success.

For three whole days, Snow Burning Army soldiers and Soul Police conducted joint operations across the various towns of the northern Snow Realm. Excluding criminals who were severely wounded or killed during their capture, nearly 300 people were arrested!

And don't think for a second that this was a small number—this was an enormous criminal syndicate!

What was even more terrifying was how quickly the Qian Organization recruited new members. While the Free People Organization had its so-called beliefs and doctrines, the barrier to entry for the Qian Organization was frighteningly low.

Anyone looking to make a quick buck, with no regard for the law and no moral compass, was a potential recruit for the Qian Organization.

The public cheered as they watched the Snow Burning Army and the Soul Police deliver a one-two punch: first unearthing the entire network, and then eradicating it root and stem.

After all, while the Snow Burning Army usually operated outside of towns, some arrests inevitably took place within city limits.

Inevitably, some civilians witnessed the arrests. Over the course of three days, news of the Snow Burning Army and Soul Police dismantling the Qian Organization spread like wildfire throughout the northern Snow Realm. This uplifting development added an extra layer of joy to the upcoming New Year's Eve festivities!

These vicious criminals weren't just a scourge on the Three-Wall Area; murder and robbery were their "primary business." With this threat gone, people were ecstatic, and so was Rong Taotao. He was so happy, in fact, that he felt on the verge of a breakthrough.

That's right. Rong Taotao genuinely felt his Soul Power was about to level up. He could advance to the mid-tier of the Soul Captain rank at any moment.

On New Year's Eve, the Snow Burning Army and the Soul Police finally concluded the operation. The large-scale enforcement phase was over, but the long process of hunting down the remaining fugitives and crushing any chance of the Qian Organization's resurgence was far from finished.

Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei were finally on leave.

Put on their uniforms to go to work and rake in merits, then change their clothes to get off work and celebrate the New Year right here in Songbai Town...

'Where else could you find a gig this good?'

Rong Taotao was the perfect embodiment of terms like "beaming with joy" and "overflowing with cheer."

At this moment, wearing a winter hat and scarf, he was holding Gao Lingwei's slightly chilly hand as they walked down a bustling, crowded commercial street.

Gao Lingwei was also very happy, feeling relaxed in both body and mind. She held Rong Taotao's hand lightly, letting him guide her through the sea of people.

It was worth noting that even now, within the crowd, there were still officers dispatched by Soul Police Chief Ju, secretly protecting the pair.

But after the recent large-scale operations, Songbai Town was now almost unnervingly safe.

The town had never been fertile ground for Poachers to begin with. And after the recent events, what reckless fool would even dream of sneaking into Songbai Town now?

'Walk right into a trap?'

The Qian Organization members who hadn't been arrested in the first sweep were probably scattered to the winds, so desperate they'd rather hide in a snowdrift and eat snow than risk showing their faces.

Far too many Qian Organization members had been arrested this time; pulling on one thread unraveled the whole network. As a result, the members who had luckily escaped the dragnet were more likely to flee the Snow Realm, change their identities, and live out their days in hiding elsewhere.

'Besides, regarding these Soul Police officers secretly protecting them, I'm not even sure if they're stronger than I am...'

He and Gao Lingwei were no longer the people they once were.

'Strength, of course, is the foundation of everything!'

They had both advanced to the Soul Captain rank, and most of the soldiers stationed at Wan'an Pass guarding the Third Wall were only at the Soul Captain rank themselves. Moreover, both of their Soul Techniques had reached four stars, and as for their collection of Soul Pearls and Soul Skills...

Their rarity and efficacy were simply beyond comparison with that of an ordinary Soul Captain.

'Forget a Soul Captain, even if a Soul School showed up, I'd dare to take them on head-on!'

'I'd just make my flowers bloom and that would be that!'

'Oh, right~'

'It seems your Qian Organization doesn't have any Soul Schools left, does it?'

'Hehe...'

Of the Eight Great Coins, some were dead and others captured. These were eight "Great Coins" who had once been notorious and unrivaled, and the downfall of a full four of them was directly linked to him and Gao Lingwei.

'Four words: Complete and utter vindication.'

'And another four: Felt so damn good.'

At the thought, Rong Taotao's mood brightened even more. His hand, already holding hers, found the soft pads of her fingers and gave them a gentle squeeze.

Gao Lingwei turned her head and gave him a smiling glance.

Unfortunately, she was wearing a scarf that hid the lower half of her face, so Rong Taotao missed out on her captivating smile.

"This is it. This is the place your brother and sister-in-law wanted to meet," Rong Taotao said, tilting his head back to read the name of the mall.

Gao Lingwei said, "Mm."

"Come on, perfect chance to get some new clothes," Rong Taotao said casually. "We're so pathetic, only buying clothes once a year. Oh, right. First, let's find your sister-in-law and get my phone."

Fu Tiance had pulled the two of them straight out of a Snowfield training mission at their school. They had immediately joined the team and started the operation.

Rong Taotao had used Invisible Headphones and walkie-talkies, but his cell phone had been left behind in his dorm room at school this whole time...

This just went to show that Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei were definitely not your average college students.