Ning Shixuan jumped off the back of the bicycle and threw herself onto the man on the ground. "Uncle! Uncle! Are you okay? How are you feeling? I'll take you to the hospital."

Zhang Fengzhen rushed over, asking breathlessly, "Why did you run so fast? You’ve exhausted me! What happened to those guys? Did they make you chase them?"

I replied, "Yeah, I'm a long-distance running champion at school. I didn't expect people here to be so fragile. This was me acting in the interest of justice—they won't arrest me for that, right?"

Zhang Fengzhen said, "Probably not. The police won't make a big deal out of a small fight, especially since we're all associated. But those youths seem to be under Xie Lei's command. You're in trouble."

I feigned fear, "Oh no, this is terrible. Should I hurry back to the capital? I don't want to end up losing my life in Liangshan County before I even strike gold."

Zhang Fengzhen said, "No need to rush that yet. Forget about that for now. Quickly call an ambulance to get the hospital here. I've met Xie Lei once before; maybe I can mediate. At worst, paying some medical fees and treating him to a meal should smooth things over."

Asking me to treat them to a meal and pay for their medical expenses? Dream on. I managed to suppress a laugh; after all, Ning Shixuan's uncle’s condition was still unknown. Before I could call, Secretary Liu had already done so. Putting down the phone, he glanced at the four youths on the ground. "Why aren't the police here yet? We called them before we arrived."

At that moment, Ning Shixuan's uncle managed to stand up, supported by Ning Shixuan and her aunt. "Ouch, ouch, ouch! Those four really hit hard. All over ten yuan! In the end, I told them to eat for free, but they wouldn't stop attacking me..." Ning Shixuan's uncle seemed fine, likely just superficial injuries.

"Uncle, I'll take you to the hospital," Ning Shixuan urged anxiously. It seemed she was quite close to her uncle.

Ning Shixuan's uncle waved his hand. "No need, no need. Just some scrapes. I can put some medicine on them myself at home. Why go anywhere? Don't even think about coming out if you don't have a hundred yuan on you... They... What happened to those four?"

It was only then that Ning Shixuan took time to turn around, her face also full of confusion. "What happened to them?"

I casually remarked, "They probably tried to summon a spirit through jì tóng (spirit mediumism), but the spirit didn't show, and they ended up hanging themselves instead."

Ning Shixuan asked Zhang Fengzhen, "Did you two beat them? Thank you both; otherwise, my uncle would have been in a terrible state."

Zhang Fengzhen waved his hand. "Don't thank me. I don't have that kind of skill. Little Zhao did it himself. Thank him."

Ning Shixuan laughed, "It turns out 'Speak up if you need anything' really has the ability. It was right to ask you for help. I only wanted you here to bolster our courage, but I never expected you to be so formidable, beating them until their faces were bloody and torn... Oof..." Ning Shixuan was speaking smoothly when she suddenly saw the gruesome sight of the four lying there, faces bleeding, two knives stuck in their thighs. Perhaps she was squeamish about blood and rushed off to vomit.

Not long after, the police arrived. Seeing the scene, they immediately knew it was a brawl. Without another word, they handcuffed the four and took them to the hospital. The two who had been stabbed in the thigh accused me of being the attacker, and thus, I was booked as a felon. I figured this misunderstanding should clear up easily, so I offered no resistance and accompanied them back to the Liangshan County Public Security Bureau, located just across the street from the government offices. The County PSB and the local police station shared one building, displaying two signs at the entrance for one organization—perhaps responding to the national call for streamlined governance.

Zhang Fengzhen and Secretary Liu were too busy accompanying Ning Shixuan to the County Hospital to check on her uncle, so they didn't even realize I had been arrested. I was truly defeated by them; if they had stayed to vouch for me, I wouldn't have been taken to the PSB. Was it Ning Shixuan’s pitiful look that moved them?

I expected an all-night interrogation, but instead, after handcuffing me to the iron bars, no one checked on me again. What was going on? Did all police stations follow this procedure? The last time I was arrested in Capital City, they cuffed me in the backyard to sunbathe. This time, they cuffed me at the main entrance to be bitten by mosquitoes, though their bites couldn't pierce my skin.

I felt stifled. My status was here—Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Public Security. Although this position had always been kept discreet and not announced to the general public, my contributions to the public security system were well-known. I recalled spending a fortune supporting families of struggling officers; I had been quite pained back then. I never thought all that money wouldn't buy me a shred of conscience, even being cuffed in an interrogation room would feel better.

The jeep that brought me here went straight to the duty room to sleep after handcuffing me. Since they wouldn't let me rest, I wouldn't let them rest either. I shouted, "Hey! Someone! I was acting in the interest of justice! Why are you arresting the rescuer instead of those four thugs?"

My voice was loud enough that the County Government offices across the street could likely hear. People quickly emerged from the duty room. "What are you yelling about? Who has time in the middle of the night to sort out who’s right and wrong? We'll discuss it tomorrow after those four wake up. Whether it was justifiable intervention or rescuing someone, you injured people right now. Behave, or you’ll regret it."

Next time I engage in righteous intervention, I must run immediately, or I'll cause myself trouble again. My phone kept vibrating in my pocket with text messages. I addressed the officer on duty, "Excuse me, could you adjust my posture so I can check a text?"

The duty officer seemed prompted by my request. "Empty your pockets. We'll return everything tomorrow after we clarify the matter and find you innocent."

Several texts arrived, but I hadn't replied or read them. Soon, the phone rang. I knew it was Fang Yanmeng. Each of my women had a distinct ringtone. She must have gotten anxious when I didn't reply to the texts. I figured no woman would call me here at this hour unless it was truly urgent, ruling out any inconvenience in answering, otherwise, they wouldn't be sending texts in the middle of the night to soothe my empty heart.

Since I was cuffed while leaning against the bars, I couldn't reach my hip pocket for my phone. I had to negotiate with the officer again. "Boss, can I just take this call first? She has a terrible temper; I’m afraid she’ll fly over here if I don’t answer."

The duty officer grumbled while patting me down for my belongings. "Who the hell do you think you are, the Jade Emperor, and she's an immortal who will fly here if you don't answer? I want to see if she has three heads and six arms."

Saying that, the officer pulled out my phone and actually pressed the answer button. "Hello? Who are you looking for? This is the Public Security Bureau! The days of calling the police because you lost money are long gone! The owner is detained; do not call him for the next few days! Otherwise, we’ll arrest you too!"

I frowned as the officer spoke. This was bad. Who was Fang Yanmeng? Would she be intimidated by this officer? She might get angry and rush over tonight. However, they had made an agreement not to disturb me casually. Besides, everyone knew I wasn't afraid of an atomic bomb, let alone the police. Fang Yanmeng would probably wait until I resolved the situation before contacting her.

After hanging up, the officer started examining my phone intently. "Holy crap, a top-tier limited edition—the kind you only see pictures of but never in reality!"

It seemed this officer had some connoisseurship. Huanyu (the company) had successively released nearly ten limited-edition networked phones, all with direct satellite links and dedicated global networks, specifically designed for major corporations or business elites. Because the hardware and network signal were exclusive, and the issuance quantities were extremely scarce, they instantly became highly sought after. As for the type of phone we used, despite several upgrades, not a single one had ever been sold to the public. Coupled with its more comprehensive functions and more professional network, it was rated as the most cutting-edge phone online. Put simply, it was a super handheld computer, so advanced that even Intel and Old Bill (Gates) couldn't compare.

This officer was a bit dim-witted; even seeing me with such a phone, he didn't consider my actual identity. He just grinned, pocketed it, and said, "I'll give this to Director Xie tomorrow; he's guaranteed to love it."

I wasn't worried about the data inside being snooped on, nor about it being dropped or soaked. It could receive calls, but all other functions were locked. Without my password or fingerprint, no one could open it. That idiot probably hadn't noticed that yet.

The officer left with my wallet, which only had one dollar left, and my phone. I had originally considered ripping the handcuffs off and going back to sleep, but then I realized if things escalated, Li Qi would surely resent me for breaking my promise. Sleeping here was practically the same as sleeping in the barracks—just missing a thin mattress. Moreover, I found the air here much cooler than the stifling heat of the dorm. For the sake of a beautiful future, I endured. The government would surely send someone to bail me out tomorrow; after all, Ning Shixuan was a secretary in the NPC office, a reasonably high rank. So, I wouldn't worry about anything now and would take advantage of the cool air to sleep.