Chapter 9: Capturing the Criminals—Gu Hansheng Takes Action

The security guard frowned at those words as well.

"Yes, just now a young lady hurriedly abandoned this tricycle at the entrance of the police station, then darted into that alley over there. I have no idea what she was so anxious about."

Gu Hansheng stroked his chin.

"A young lady... a fortune-teller... how interesting!"

With that, Gu Hansheng waved his hand.

"Uncle Zhang, you go ahead with your work. I’ll go have a look over there, see what this fortune-teller is really up to."

He rolled up his sleeves and jogged into a nearby alley.

...

At that moment, the criminal thrust his knife straight toward Shi Yi.

Behind her, Liang Zhuoqun snatched up a stone from the ground and charged forward, smashing it against the criminal’s head.

In the next instant, Shi Yi seized her chance, swung the stick in her hand, and struck the criminal hard in the stomach.

"Ah—"

The criminal wailed in agony.

"You two... I'll see you dead!"

Snarling, the criminal struggled up from the ground, tightly gripping his fruit knife.

Shi Yi’s mind went completely blank; she had no experience facing a criminal.

Suddenly, the man charged at her as if his life depended on it, and she froze in place, staring at the gleaming blade and instinctively shutting her eyes.

No way—was she really going to die here, in this alley?

Just as she braced for the knife to turn her into a human sieve, a cold voice rang out from the mouth of the alley.

"Drop the knife—police!"

The criminal was startled by the sudden shout and hesitated.

In that instant, Liang Zhuoqun saw his chance. He rushed forward, picked up the stone from the ground again, and struck the man on the neck with a loud crack.

Gu Hansheng, standing at the entrance of the alley, narrowed his eyes and dashed forward like lightning, stomping down hard on the criminal’s wrist.

"Ah—"

A piercing scream split the night.

The knife flew from the criminal’s hand, landing far away. Then, Gu Hansheng swiftly seized him, twisting both arms behind his back and pinning him against the wall.

"Don’t move!"

"Let me go! Let me go! I have to avenge my brothers! That wretched police officer sentenced all my brothers to death! I swore the first thing I’d do after getting out was to kill him—even if it costs me my life—let me go or I’ll kill you, too!"

The criminal struggled fiercely, spitting out threats.

"Behave yourself!" Gu Hansheng’s grip was ironclad, his professional technique ensuring the man couldn’t break free.

But he’d only come out for a night run and didn’t have handcuffs with him.

Glancing at Shi Yi, who was still standing dazed to the side, Gu Hansheng called out loudly, "Don’t just stand there—go find the police!"

Shi Yi stood in a stupor for a moment, then nodded blankly.

"Okay!"

With that, she turned and ran. Thankfully, this was just a back alley behind the police station—one street over and she’d be there. Rather than calling emergency services, she might as well go in person.

Shi Yi summoned all her strength and dashed to the station’s entrance.

She saw the security guard dragging her tricycle into the station, but she had no time to worry about that now. Standing outside the gate, she shouted loudly, "Security uncle! Security uncle! There’s a criminal attacking a police officer in the alley—hurry and call for backup!"

Her voice rang out, and before the security guard could react, several police officers inside, just about to clock out for the night, heard her words. Their expressions tightened instantly.

"Where, young lady?" one of them asked.

Shi Yi quickly pointed at the alley behind her.

"Right there, in that alley!"

"Quick, quick—on duty!"

In a flash, the officers ran back inside, summoning their colleagues. Soon after, a group of uniformed officers emerged, carrying riot gear and charging in the direction Shi Yi had indicated.

Seeing the police already rushing to help, Shi Yi finally let out a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness, thank goodness that man had arrived in time. Otherwise, with just her and an injured Liang Zhuoqun, subduing the criminal would have been all but impossible.

The criminal had fought like a cornered beast, clearly determined to take them down with him.

"Security uncle, that’s my stuff—please don’t confiscate it..." Shi Yi called out as she saw the guard about to haul her tricycle into the station’s backyard.

The security guard glanced back at her. In the darkness beneath the streetlamp, he couldn’t see her expression clearly.

He suddenly smacked his forehead in realization.

"So this tricycle is yours?"

Shi Yi nodded. The security guard was getting on in years—no wonder he hadn’t recognized her.

"Yes, it’s mine. I was in such a hurry to help in the alley that I left it at the door. I’m really sorry. Could I have it back?"

Shi Yi pleaded anxiously—the tricycle was her livelihood. If it were confiscated and she had to pay a fine, she’d be beside herself.

The guard hesitated for a moment, then, seeing her predicament, sighed and hauled the tricycle out again. He opened the gate and placed it in front of her.

"Young lady, don’t be so reckless next time. With arms and legs as thin as yours, facing criminals, you’d only get yourself killed. Learn to ask for help."

The guard lectured her earnestly. Shi Yi nodded, a little embarrassed that she’d forgotten to seek help when she was already at the police station.

"I understand. Thank you, security uncle."

Meanwhile, a group of officers charged into the alley, loud and urgent.

They took the criminal from Gu Hansheng and fastened the handcuffs tightly on him.

"Don’t move. Keep quiet. You’ve just been released, and you’re already committing another crime—you’re in serious trouble now!"

"Add assaulting an officer to your charges—do you know how serious that is?!"

The criminal, surrounded by police, showed no fear. He spat viciously on the ground.

"If it hadn’t been for that damned girl, I’d have killed that cop! I swear, if I ever get out again, I’ll kill her for sure!"

Even facing the end, he was still cursing and threatening.

Gu Hansheng scowled, glancing at Liang Zhuoqun clutching his arm nearby.

"Are you alright?" Gu Hansheng asked.

Liang Zhuoqun had been ambushed on his way home from work, the criminal slashing his arm. Now, blood was streaming down, dripping onto the ground—a grisly sight.

Looking at Gu Hansheng in the dim glow of the streetlamp, Liang Zhuoqun finally saw his face clearly. Ignoring the pain in his arm, he exclaimed in surprise,

"You... it’s you..."