Local reporters and media are weapons, tools, and the mouthpiece. But outside reporters? They are trouble-makers, disruptors, class enemies, and irreconcilable foes. These two principles hold true in any country across the globe.” This is what they call, “Don’t air your dirty laundry in public,” “Report the good news, hide the bad,” and “Silencing the people is more dangerous than controlling a flood.”

Silencing the people is more dangerous than controlling a flood? Anyone seeing this idiom might ask, Hong Chang, did you get it wrong?” The original meaning of this idiom is, “Preventing the people from speaking out will surely lead to great harm”; stopping popular criticism is a hazard more severe than a breach in the riverbanks! But this is the reality: in the eyes of certain rulers, stopping the common folk from speaking is more crucial than preventing a dike from breaking. If they don't shut the mouths of these troublemakers,” they risk losing the seats beneath their bottoms.” If forced to choose between a devastating flood and their official positions, they would invariably choose to let the populace suffer just to preserve the latter!

Tianlu County is currently in such a state. The leadership is stagnant, viewing their posts purely as means of accumulating wealth; the common people are resigned to their fate—some sighing in frustration, others falling into corruption. The [Central] government is kept in the dark, believing the local situation is one of perfect harmony. Provincial and municipal leaders, though aware, simply let things be, since Tianlu County's development is “stable…” and isn't causing trouble upstairs.

When interests become intertwined,” the state apparatus transforms into a machine for plunder. The leaders of Tianlu County have locked down their small domain into an impenetrable fortress.” They “attract investment,” bringing in legions of pyramid scheme practitioners, operating a system of ‘farming’ for enforcement fees, collecting protection money.” Working in unison, they amass fortunes from this “economic cult,” forming a grotesque, self-sustaining ecosystem.

Wang Zhuo’s executive van moved forward at a leisurely pace, with Zhao Aiguo’s minivan tailing closely behind the van, maintaining only one car length of distance. Lu Weimin had just told Zhao Aiguo that they planned to service their vehicles in the county, grab a meal, and then depart. Zhao Aiguo was only half-convinced, but based on his years of experience, he could tell this group wasn't comprised of reporters, so he didn't press the matter. The superior’s order was to deal with all incoming journalists, but it didn't stipulate intercepting and interrogating every visitor from out of town; he understood the necessary nuance.

Inside the executive van, Lu Weimin had taken the wheel. Driver Shi Qianshan, whose specialty was spotting pyramid scheme hideouts, was now directing Lu Weimin’s driving. Every time a suspicious detail was noticed,” he would instruct Siyuan to log it on the computer. Wang Zhuo, however, had no intention of wasting time on such minor details. He had already secretly maximized his X-ray Vision, gaining an intimate understanding of all environments within a one-kilometer radius. Upon spotting any suspicious crowds, he began to scrutinize every face one by one.

Activating his X-ray Vision, he was shocked by the extent of the depravity hidden beneath Tianlu County’s placid surface.” Within the circular area defined by a one-kilometer radius—that urban zone of 0.785 square kilometers—there were at least ten pyramid scheme dens, often housing dozens or hundreds of people whose living conditions were appalling.

As the car advanced,” dens vanished behind them only to be replaced by new ones ahead.” Wang Zhuo had initially thought he could use the one-kilometer radius as a diameter, observing for a while then resting, but he found that merely identifying the faces within the obvious dens was overwhelming. Maintaining the vision for much longer,” he realized, would certainly exhaust his special ability again.

What a load of crap! Wang Zhuo instantly felt frustrated. There were simply too many pyramid schemers in Tianlu County; the locations were one after another, an absolute plague! Just as he was suppressing the urge to curse his mother,” his eyes suddenly lit up. In a street-facing residential building, he spotted a somewhat familiar figure.

The last time Wang Zhuo saw Ji Guang was over two months ago, in early March.” At that time, Ji Guang was fair-skinned and clean-cut, bearing a slight resemblance to the actor who played Tang Sanzang in the Journey to the West TV series. He wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, appearing refined and scholarly, carrying himself with an air of calm ease.” He was a handsome, campus-heartthrob type. But the person he saw now was clutching a cigarette, puffing clouds of smoke, his face haggard yet intensely agitated, his skin a sickly waxy yellow, and his body noticeably thinner. If it weren't for a small, hard-to-notice mole just above his right eyebrow, Wang Zhuo would have completely missed him!

“Stop the car, stop the car, quick!” He hastily reached out and patted the back of the driver’s seat. “What’s wrong?” Lu Weimin quickly hit the brakes. The minivan trailing behind nearly rear-ended them. The driver slammed on his brakes, almost throwing Zhao Aiguo off balance, and the vehicle immediately erupted in a cacophony of curses.

“I think I just saw Ji Guang!” Wang Zhuo said hesitantly. “It was in that building we just passed; someone walked past the window, I felt sure it was him.” In reality, Ji Guang had been sitting on the sofa chatting with two other people and hadn't walked near the window at all, but Wang Zhuo was absolutely confident his ability wouldn't be exposed because once they found the person, no one would pay attention to that minor detail anyway.

“Is it that building?” The driver peered outside, frowning. “I don’t sense anything suspicious.” Wang Zhuo shook his head. “There are also high-level pyramid schemes; they’re more discreet. The victims stay in hotels and drive sedans.” Lu Weimin made an immediate decision: “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go take a look.”

The van sharply turned and pulled over to the roadside, leaving the driver alone to watch the vehicles. Wang Zhuo strode ahead, with Fu Xinran and Siyuan closely following. Lu Weimin walked at the rear, appearing casual but meticulously observing the surrounding environment.

By now, Wang Zhuo was certain that Tianlu County was a veritable breeding ground for pyramid schemes. If he were told the local leaders were unaware of this, he wouldn't believe it even if beaten to death. Since these schemes had taken root, blossomed, and borne fruit here,” it meant the relevant officials were not only negligent but actively aiding the oppressors. Therefore, resolving the issue through official channels would be incredibly difficult; it was best to just find the person and take him away directly.

Rounding to the back of the building, Wang Zhuo cast a feigned glance and announced, “Unit Three, Fourth Floor!” Perhaps they were about to find Ji Guang. Fu Xinran and Siyuan were nervously excited and paid no attention to how quickly he had determined the unit number. Wang Zhuo strode ahead, forcing the two women to jog to keep up. By the time Lu Weimin rounded the corner of the building, Wang Zhuo had already entered the stairwell.

On the main street, Zhao Aiguo and his men thought these outsiders were getting out to eat at a street-side restaurant. Instead, they made a detour, passing the restaurant entrance and following an alley to the back of the building. This made Zhao Aiguo anxious. He quickly shouted, leading his followers out of the car and sprinting after them.

In a small place like Tianlu County, the police force is extremely limited. Even though Zhao Aiguo was merely a local beat cop, holding the lowest rank, he was still a figure of some standing in such a small county. The four young men accompanying him were usually idlers, but when trouble arose, the police leadership would assign Zhao Aiguo to gather manpower, essentially making them his cronies—the ones he ‘covered’ for.

When the five men rushed to the back of the building, even Lu Weimin, who was at the rear, had vanished. Zhao Aiguo stomped his foot in anger, quickly pointing at the unit doors with his hand and cursing, “All of you, split up and search! Contact each other on the walkie-talkies!” Agile figures quickly dove into the unit entrances. Zhao Aiguo stood below, one hand on his hip, the other already holding a black walkie-talkie.

Meanwhile, Wang Zhuo and the women had reached the fourth floor of Unit Three. Lu Weimin stood on the landing between the third and fourth floors,” cautiously revealing half his face in the window, watching the commotion below.

Apartment 402 was a small unit with two rooms and one living room. There were only four people inside. One was sleeping on the sofa in the living room, while the other three, including Ji Guang, were chatting in one of the bedrooms. After Wang Zhuo knocked, the sleeper on the sofa didn't stir, but Ji Guang and the others became alert, swiftly stubbing out their cigarettes and tiptoeing back to the living room.

Using his X-ray Vision through the door and walls, Wang Zhuo kept a constant watch on the situation inside. He saw a short, thin man quietly approach the security door and press his ear against it, while the others stood silently in the living room, watching the short man’s reaction. Wang Zhuo couldn't help but sneer coldly. If these people weren't engaged in something shameful, why would they be so wary?

He knocked a few more times. The people inside showed great composure, still offering no response. Just then,” Lu Weimin signaled to him and whispered, “Someone is coming up.” “Fall back!” Wang Zhuo glanced at the young man sprinting up from the second floor toward the third. He spread both arms backward, pushing Fu Xinran and Siyuan away protectively. Immediately after, he stepped back, raised his right leg high,” and delivered a kick to the security door!

With a loud BANG, the short man behind the door was jolted backward, stumbling onto the living room floor. Wang Zhuo hadn't used full force with this kick, intending only to make the man move aside. It was with the second and third kicks that Wang Zhuo put real effort into it.

BANG! BANG! With two consecutive violent kicks, the security door couldn't withstand the immense impact; it was already slightly warped and twisted. But there was an even more vulnerable spot: cracks had appeared on the wall where the door was installed, and the entire door was leaning inward!

The young man had just reached the landing between the third and fourth floors when Lu Weimin blocked his path sideways. Knowing he was no match for Lu Weimin, he strained to peek upstairs at the situation, then took a few steps back and called for backup on his walkie-talkie. Lu Weimin smiled dismissively, not bothering to pay him any mind.

“Poison!” Wang Zhuo delivered a final, fatal blow to the security door with his right shoulder.” The four people inside watched in horror as the door crashed into the living room. Dust filled the small apartment, followed by the sight of a figure striding in like a Terminator!

“W-Wang Zhuo?!” Ji Guang was instantly stunned, never imagining the person appearing would be Wang Zhuo, his girlfriend's boss! Wang Zhuo said nothing, merely glancing at him before smoothly moving aside to clear a path, letting Fu Xinran and Siyuan enter. “Xiao Bai?” Fu Xinran could scarcely believe her eyes. The Ji Guang before her seemed like a different person—his hair a mess, his complexion waxy yellow, his body thinner by at least a whole size. In his right hand, he still held a stubbed-out cigarette, its filter stained a burnt yellow on his index and middle fingers!