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墨書 Inktalez
Everything in front of Zhang Xin was swaying and blurry, but she could vaguely recognize that it was the hall of the Zhang Family. The continuous calls of "Sister" from Cui and Chen Master echoed in her ears.
Accompanied by the creaking sound, the hall door opened on its own, and a cloud of smoke surged into the room. Within the smoke were the bloodied Cui and Chen Master, whose head bore a bullet hole. They emerged from the mist, getting closer and clearer...
This was Zhang Xin's dream.
At this moment, Zhang Xin was sleeping in Zhang Zhaolin's arms, her face pale, drenched in sweat, her eyelids twitching, and her body trembling violently.
Mei, who was standing nearby, noticed something was wrong with Zhang Xin. She shook her gently and kept calling out, "Sister, what's wrong? Sister, wake up!"
Zhang Zhaolin, holding Zhang Xin, also shook her vigorously, calling out, "Xing Er! Xing Er!"
Zhang Xin finally woke up, surprisingly without fear.
"Xing Er, did you have a nightmare?" Zhang Zhaolin spoke to his daughter in an extremely gentle tone but was less courteous to the maid Mei. He sternly reprimanded her, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and get a glass of water!"
"Yes!"
Mei hurriedly went to a nearby table to fetch a kettle and a bowl.
Zhang Xin said to Zhang Zhaolin, "Father, I dreamed of Cui and Chen Master."
Zhang Zhaolin replied coldly, "They didn't protect you well; they deserve to die!"
Zhang Xin expressed her disappointment slightly: "Cui died for me. When I was running towards Sanli Pavilion, Chen Master kept pulling me back, not letting me go... I want to see them."
"You take care of yourself first; you can go wherever you want afterward. Father will accompany you!"
At this moment, Mei was already standing by with a bowl of water in hand.
Zhang Zhaolin brought a bowl of water and fed it to Zhang Xin, saying, "Look at you, sweating so much. Drink some water and sleep peacefully. Mei and I will keep watch here."
Zhang Xin nodded and drank the water that Zhang Zhaolin offered.
……
Wang Junpeng led a team of police officers to the most crowded area of the morning market. Two officers rushed to the wall, applied glue, and posted a wanted notice featuring a portrait of Guo Zhuanghuai. The onlookers began to discuss among themselves.
"So this is the human trafficker who steals children!"
"This person not only steals kids but also dares to snatch them in broad daylight!"
"People like this should be arrested and executed!"
"Exactly!"
Wang Junpeng stood in front of the wanted notice, exuding authority. "Everyone, please be quiet! Quiet down!"
The crowd fell silent.
Wang Junpeng continued, "Take a good look at the person on this wanted notice. His name is Guo Zhuanghuai. Not only does he steal children, but he also uses these kids for human experiments. There was once a child who managed to escape and return home; that child had been so tortured by people like him that it was hard to recognize them when we found them! A person like this living in our world is nothing but a beast. If anyone sees his whereabouts, please report it to our police station. We will strive to capture this monster as soon as possible and restore peace for everyone!"
The crowd responded with enthusiastic applause.
The wanted notice for Guo Zhuanghuai was posted all over the streets and alleys of Shanghai Beach.
Various newspapers featured headlines reporting the manhunt for Guo Zhuanghuai.
Finally, someone provided a lead on Guo Zhuanghuai. Wang Zhiyuan, following this lead, rushed to a dilapidated alley with a team of police officers and burst into a room on the second floor of a building in the alley.
A Shanghai Woman nearby shouted in panic, "What are you doing? Who sent you to search my house?"
After searching the empty room, Wang Zhiyuan came out and showed the arrest warrant to the Shanghai Woman. "Guo Zhuanghuai used to live here. Where has he gone now?"
The Shanghai Woman replied, "How would I know where he went? That deadbeat still owes me three months' rent!"
And just like that, the lead was lost again.
Tao Gongjin sensed that the situation was serious and went to Zhang Zhaolin's home to discuss the next steps face-to-face.
Zhang Zhaolin suggested, "That Guo Zhuanghuai will eventually become a threat. If we can avoid him, it would be best to eliminate him."
Tao Gongjin hurriedly responded, "That won't do! This person is bold and meticulous, skilled in his work, experienced, and ruthless. He can accomplish things that others cannot."
"Then we should keep a tighter rein on him! Don't let him go to the casino anymore to avoid further complications!"
Tao Gongjin nodded in agreement. "Understood."
Suddenly, Zhang Zhaolin added, "And about your son. He is now a key player in the police department. If this continues, he might become our rival in the future."
Tao Gongjin proposed, "Why not give the police department a call and ask the Sheriff to halt any cases he has?"
Zhang Zhaolin hesitated. "It's not that I don't want to! Previously, my daughter approached him voluntarily; I had reason to ask the Sheriff to stop his cases. Now it seems difficult."
Zhang Xin came down the stairs and quietly listened as she heard her father talking with Tao Gongjin. Neither Zhang Zhaolin nor Tao Gongjin noticed her presence.
Tao Gongjin sighed, "As a father, I know that child's temperament too well. Once he sets his mind on something, he will see it through to the end. I have no choice but to seek your advice."
Suddenly, Mei's voice interrupted the discussion between Zhang Zhaolin and Tao Gongjin. "Sister, why are you coming downstairs?"
Tao Gongjin and Zhang Zhaolin turned to look in the direction of the voice and realized that Zhang Xin was already standing at the foot of the stairs.
Zhang Zhaolin asked, "Xing Er, didn't Father promise to take you to see the emerald tomorrow?"
Mei came down from upstairs and walked over to Zhang Xin, draping a coat over her shoulders.
Zhang Xin replied, "I was feeling bored in my room, so I decided to walk around."
Zhang Xin seemed to be answering both Mei and Zhang Zhaolin. After speaking, she turned around and went back upstairs.
...
In the café, Guo Zhiqian sat alone by the window, sipping coffee.
Cheng Yuyao brought a cup of coffee from the front desk and sat across from Guo Zhiqian. "Are you waiting for someone again?"
"The person I'm waiting for probably won't come!"
Guo Zhiqian unfolded a newspaper, which prominently featured a headline about the manhunt for Guo Zhuanghuai.
Cheng Yuyao said, "I already know. However, he will appear tonight. Do you want to join us in capturing him?"
Guo Zhiqian looked at Cheng Yuyao and replied, "He is my father. If it weren't for the urgency to save lives, I wouldn't confront him."
Cheng Yuyao felt disappointed. She picked up her coffee, took a gentle sip, and held the cup in her hands. "I thought you would go with us."
"I'm sorry," Guo Zhiqian replied apologetically.
Cheng Yuyao stood up in disappointment and walked back to the bar.
Later that evening, Guo Zhuanghuai appeared again from the top floor of the Dow Pharmaceuticals Building.
This time, it was the Cheng Sisters who followed Guo Zhuanghuai. The Cheng Sisters used their lightness skill to easily leap between buildings, trailing Guo Zhuanghuai. He sensed someone following him again and calmly turned around.
Guo Zhuanghuai shouted, "I know you are Thorned Rose; you don't need to chase me anymore. Show yourselves!"
At his shout, the Cheng Sisters exchanged glances while hiding behind another building and stepped out together, leaping onto the rooftop where Guo Zhuanghuai stood. The rooftop was spacious and flat, and both sides faced each other, clearly prepared for a decisive battle.
Cheng Yuyao said, "Guo Zhuanghuai, you impersonate us and engage in all sorts of shady dealings. It's time to settle this score."
The Cheng Sisters exchanged glances, drew their short knives, and attacked Guo Zhuanghuai from both sides. Guo Zhuanghuai stood his ground, neither dodging nor evading; he countered their attacks methodically as they came.
Guo Zhuanghuai was more skilled than the Cheng Sisters, and from the moment they clashed, the Cheng Sisters found themselves at a disadvantage. Within just a few exchanges, Cheng Yuyao's short knife was snatched away by Guo Zhuanghuai.
"With you gone today, there will be one less worry in the future."
Guo Zhuanghuai wielded the short knife he had taken from Cheng Yuyao and relentlessly slashed at the Cheng Sisters, each strike aimed at vital points. The Cheng Sisters were forced to retreat repeatedly. Soon, they were pushed to the edge of the rooftop; even working together could not turn their defeat into victory. In a moment of desperation, Cheng Yuyao used a Thorned Rose Dart to stab at Guo Zhuanghuai, who sidestepped to avoid it. Seizing this brief opportunity, Cheng Yuwan aimed her dagger at Guo Zhuanghuai's throat. He stepped back while simultaneously spinning around, thrusting his short knife back at Cheng Yuwan. With this move alone, Guo Zhuanghuai regained the upper hand.
Taking advantage of Cheng Yuwan's evasion, Guo Zhuanghuai's left hand transformed into a claw as he reached for the abdomen of the Cheng Sisters. They were already at the edge of the rooftop and hurriedly pulled back their stomachs; however, Guo Zhuanghuai's right hand swung his short knife toward their faces. The Cheng Sisters leaned back—behind them was a drop of several dozen meters. Taking advantage of their inability to counterattack, Guo Zhuanghuai jumped up with both feet and kicked them off the rooftop.
The Cheng Sisters fell from the rooftop.
As the Cheng Sisters descended from a height of over ten meters, Cheng Yuwan threw a rope that caught onto a power line by the street, while simultaneously grabbing her sister's wrist.
"Sister, are you okay?"
"I'm fine!"
As the Cheng Sisters slid down the rope to the ground, Guo Zhuanghuai swooped down like an eagle. Just as the Cheng Sisters landed, they had no choice but to continue fighting against Guo Zhuanghuai.
The battle between Guo Zhuanghuai and the Cheng Sisters grew increasingly intense. Just when the Cheng Sisters were struggling to keep up, Cheng Shuhua came running from a distance, shouting, "Guo Zhuanghuai, today is your day of reckoning!"
While running, Cheng Shuhua drew her Long Knife and leaped into the fray.
With Cheng Shuhua joining in, Guo Zhuanghuai found himself surrounded on three sides, losing his initial advantage and barely managing to defend himself.
Guo Zhuanghuai said, "Three of you against one, aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"
Cheng Shuhua replied, "You tarnish our reputation, commit murder and robbery, and do all sorts of evil. Even if ten people fought you alone, we wouldn't feel ashamed!"
With that, Cheng Shuhua swung her Long Knife directly at Guo Zhuanghuai's face. In a panic, Guo Zhuanghuai kicked aside the weapon dropped by Cheng Yuyao and turned to flee. At that moment, the Long Knife sliced through Guo Zhuanghuai's shoulder.
Guo Zhuanghuai fled quickly, with Cheng Shuhua and the Cheng Sisters hot on his heels.
Guo Zhuanghuai made a sharp turn at the street corner and then ducked into an alleyway, peeking out at the street outside.
Cheng Shuhua and her daughters stopped at the mouth of the alley, looking around but unable to see Guo Zhuanghuai anywhere.
Cheng Yuwan anxiously said, "Mom, he's gone."
"Perhaps he's hiding. Let's search around," Cheng Shuhua said.
At the entrance of the alley, Cheng Shuhua and her daughter spread out, and it was then that Guo Zhuanghuai noticed the knife wound on his shoulder. He endured the pain, took out some medicinal powder he carried with him, and sprinkled it on the wound. Then he tore off a large piece of cloth from his collar to bandage the injury.
At that moment, a voice came from behind him: "Dad, you should turn yourself in!"
Hearing this voice, Guo Zhuanghuai suddenly stopped bandaging, turned around, and gripped his short knife tightly, ready for defense.
It was Guo Zhiqian's voice. Guo Zhiqian stood just a few meters in front of Guo Zhuanghuai: "If you let Zhou Junsheng go, I believe the police will treat you leniently."
Guo Zhuanghuai remained silent, holding the short knife in his mouth as he continued to bandage his shoulder. Guo Zhiqian couldn't stand it anymore and walked over to help him but was pushed aside.
After quickly bandaging his wound, Guo Zhuanghuai took the short knife and walked forward: "I am not your dad; you are not my son!"
Guo Zhiqian helplessly watched Guo Zhuanghuai's back as he walked away.
That night, Guo Zhiqian was filled with thoughts and couldn't sleep all night. He went to Newport Orphanage and sat on the rooftop until the morning light painted his serious face bright red.
Mr. Bond approached him from behind.
"Guo Zhiqian, do you have something on your mind?" Bond asked.
In front of Bond, Guo Zhiqian had no secrets: "Yes, Mr. Bond."
Bond sat down next to Guo Zhiqian and speculated: "Is it about your father? I've seen reports about him in the newspaper recently."
Guo Zhiqian nodded: "My father has done too many bad things; I don't even know how to persuade him to turn over a new leaf. Sometimes I think maybe I should just let him be; I can only focus on myself and live without regrets. But I always think of him; there's always a sense of guilt. He has committed so many wrongs that even if I spent my entire life trying to redeem him, it would be hard to make up for the sins he has committed alone."
"Mr. Bond" asked "Guo Zhiqian": "If the one doing wrong is not you, why do you seek atonement instead of stopping him?"
"I have tried to stop him, but he doesn't listen to me."
"Of course he doesn't listen to you. He is a great evil, and your few kind words will only fall on deaf ears."
"Guo Zhiqian" was filled with distress: "He is my father; what else can I do besides advising him?"
"You can arrest him, take him to the police station, and let the law of China punish him. Even if he faces the death penalty, you should do it," "Mr. Bond" said. "Isn't there a saying in China about 'justice over familial ties'? Your father is a great evil; if you cannot stop him, more people will suffer because of him."
"I understand all this, but I just can't bring myself to do it."
"Mr. Bond" patted "Guo Zhiqian" on the shoulder: "You are in conflict right now. Once you come to terms with it, I believe you will make the right choice." He then asked, "I'm about to make breakfast for the kids; would you like to come help?"
"Guo Zhiqian" nodded as he looked at "Bond," who was about to leave.
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