The Chief, leading twenty-odd police officers, descended and immediately surrounded Zhang Yang’s table.

The other patrons dining in the restaurant were startled by the sudden scene, quickly sidestepping to the side. Some of the more timid ones even fled the restaurant entirely, unwilling to return.

"Zhang Yang!"

Mi Xue nervously tugged at Zhang Yang’s sleeve. The situation she dreaded most had materialized: she feared the local police finally finding them.

If Zhang Yang had listened to her yesterday and left Lieshan, none of this would have happened.

Mi Xue was filled with regret, wishing she had insisted harder yesterday that Zhang Yang leave the area.

"I'll be fine, don't worry," Zhang Yang whispered, subtly taking her hand. Surrounded by police officers, it seemed as if neither he nor Su Zhantao even noticed their presence.

With a ring of officers closing in, Zhang Yang and Su Zhantao continued to slowly eat their breakfast. Not only were the other diners taken aback, but even the Chief leading the contingent looked somewhat astonished.

"Zhang Yang, you are being detained on suspicion of a serious case of intentional assault. You are under arrest!"

A police officer approached, glanced pointedly at Zhang Yang, and then drew his handcuffs, preparing to secure them.

"Wait a moment."

Zhang Yang suddenly waved his hand, causing the officer to stare at him in confusion.

"I’ll come with you, but you should think clearly: inviting me in is easy, but getting me out will be difficult," Zhang Yang remarked with a smile. Mi Xue, standing beside him, nearly fainted, shocked that Zhang Yang dared to speak so boldly now.

She hadn't paid any attention to the article Zhang Yang had posted yesterday; she didn't even know what he had written. Her mind at the time was entirely consumed with figuring out how to get him to leave immediately.

"Arrogance! Take him!"

The Chief barked an order from the side, and the officer swiftly clamped the handcuffs onto Zhang Yang’s wrists.

This time, Zhang Yang offered no resistance, allowing them to secure him. He cooperated fully, walking out with them, a faint smile still gracing his lips, showing no sign of fear.

"Zhang Yang!"

Tears streamed down Mi Xue’s face. She was already steeling herself to beg her father, no matter the cost, to rescue Zhang Yang.

"Mi Xue, relax. I guarantee Zhang Yang will be fine," Su Zhantao said, letting out a soft sigh as he watched her. He felt a pang of envy for Zhang Yang.

To have such a beautiful girl as Mi Xue devotedly following him—Zhang Yang was truly fortunate. Su Zhantao had always sought true love but had never managed to find it.

It wasn't that he lacked female companionship; those women were only interested in his wealth or status. Genuine affection was nowhere to be found.

"No, you don't understand. This is Lieshan, and the Yu family's influence here is immense!" Mi Xue shook her head, weeping even harder.

Unable to console her, Su Zhantao leaned in and whispered something to Mi Xue, his voice barely audible, meant only for her ears.

Upon hearing it, Mi Xue instantly froze, staring at Su Zhantao in disbelief.

"Su... Brother Su, are you telling the truth?"

"Of course, it's true. I have no reason to lie to you. If you don't believe me, ask Su Wei!"

Su Zhantao immediately puffed out his chest. Seeing Mi Xue’s persistent anxiety, he felt compelled to reveal his true status: with the Provincial Governor’s son present, ensuring one person’s safety was entirely manageable.

Initially, he had considered simply stating Zhang Yang’s identity outright, but Zhang Yang's attitude made him change his mind on the spot. Regardless, the outcome would be the same whether he or Zhang Yang made an appearance here.

"I believe you, Brother Su. Hurry, let’s follow them; don’t let them bully Zhang Yang!"

Mi Xue wiped her tears. Su Zhantao’s words provided a significant boost of confidence. She had truly been unaware of Su Zhantao's background. Had she known earlier, she wouldn't have worried so much.

At this moment, Mi Xue also felt a slight resentment towards Zhang Yang. He must have known Su Zhantao’s real identity and deliberately brought him along. This rascal made her worry needlessly for so long.

"Alright, let's go," Su Zhantao muttered, shaking his head helplessly. Even after learning his status, Mi Xue showed no surprise; her entire focus remained on Zhang Yang, which only amplified Su Zhantao’s envy and jealousy.

The Public Security Bureau was not far. Zhang Yang was taken directly inside and promptly led to an interrogation room.

The Chief himself came to conduct the interrogation. This was a matter personally directed by the future County Head, so the Chief dared not be careless. Furthermore, this Chief was an adherent of Deputy Secretary Yu.

"Behave yourself and tell us what happened yesterday—why did you injure so many people?"

Although the Chief was present, the questioning was handled by a police officer seated nearby, who slammed his hand on the table and shouted the demand.

"Did I? Injure people? How many did I injure?"

Zhang Yang smiled faintly, completely unconcerned. He even fiddled with the handcuffs, wondering if he could break them with brute force or if he could use his Bone Shrinking technique to slip his hands out.

Zhang Yang did know a bit of the Bone Shrinking technique. The Zhang family, in their former days wandering the martial world, had saved many people and received various gifts in return, including manuals detailing such cultivation methods.

"You—what is your attitude!"

The officer slammed the table again, then stood up, moving from his chair until he stood directly in front of Zhang Yang.

He intended to use physical intimidation—to give Zhang Yang a quick lesson, so to speak.

"You just said I beat up that many people yesterday. And you still dare to stand this close to me?"

Zhang Yang suddenly smirked. The approaching officer’s expression flickered, and his body froze unnaturally.

He had nearly forgotten, Zhang Yang’s reminder brought it back: those he beat yesterday had suffered terribly. The officer had personally taken their statements; some hadn't woken up by nightfall, and those who did had sustained multiple fractures.

According to their testimonies, these were the very people Zhang Yang had assaulted. While the officer harbored doubt—he couldn't believe one man could be that formidable, taking down so many and injuring them so severely—the fact that so many witnesses corroborated the same story made him uneasy. Coupled with Zhang Yang’s current remark, he began to feel genuine apprehension.

"Don't rush. I already told you: inviting me in is easy, but getting me out will be difficult," Zhang Yang smiled again. The time was about right; Su Zhantao was waiting outside, and he had no real worries about his confinement here.

"Outrageous!"

The Chief also slammed the table, roaring in anger. Just as he finished speaking, his mobile phone rang.

The Chief pulled out his phone, and upon seeing the caller ID, he immediately stood up, shot Zhang Yang a glare, and stepped out of the interrogation room to take the call.

Less than two minutes later, the Chief walked back in, his face utterly grim.

It had been Deputy Secretary Yu calling, ordering him to release the man immediately, explicitly stating he could not be kept in the bureau. Furthermore, he was to be handled with care, and the Deputy Secretary himself would arrive shortly.

This sudden reversal left the Chief thoroughly bewildered and inwardly resentful. He was the Bureau Chief, not some subordinate grunt. One minute, you order the arrest; the next, you order the release. What game was this?

Regardless of his internal objections, Deputy Secretary Yu’s command could not be ignored. He could only return and set Zhang Yang free.

"Zhang Yang, you are lucky. Your case has encountered new developments. You are free to go now," the Chief said, forcing down his anger. The surrounding officers looked on in utter astonishment.

"Chief, what is going on?" one officer immediately asked, only to be silenced by a sharp glare from the Chief, receiving no explanation.

What was going on? He didn't know either. It was an order from above; he could only obey. However, he truly failed to comprehend Deputy Secretary Yu’s command this time. Releasing someone moments after arresting them—not just him, but even the regular officers found it baffling. They had spent the entire night and considerable manpower apprehending this man, only to let him walk away without a word. Had their efforts all been in vain?

The officer reluctantly moved toward Zhang Yang to unlock the handcuffs.

"Wait a moment."

Zhang Yang suddenly raised his hand. The officer looked at him, surprised.

"Did you forget what I said earlier?" Zhang Yang asked quietly, holding up his hand. The officer looked somewhat confused and shook his head slightly.

"Inviting me in is easy, but letting me leave is difficult," Zhang Yang stated with a slow smile. Every officer in the room, including the Chief, gaped open-mouthed.

Insolent. Too insolent. They had never encountered anyone so audacious—daring to demand to stay at the police station when released. This was no longer just about Deputy Secretary Yu’s instructions; it was a direct challenge to the entire Public Security Bureau.

"Fine! If you refuse to leave, don't regret it! Lock him up!" the Chief roared in fury, slamming the door behind him as he stormed out. A knot of irritation was already tightening in his chest, and Zhang Yang’s behavior only fueled his anger.

"Chief, bad news! A lawyer named Hu is outside, claiming to be Zhang Yang's counsel. He demands to see his client!" an officer rushed in, breathlessly reporting to the Chief.

"What lawyer? He can’t see him!" The Chief, already boiling, immediately snapped back. The officer paused, staring blankly at the Chief, before quickly leaving again.

Unfortunately, within moments, the same officer was back, a look of bitter distress on his face.

"Chief, three reporters showed up outside too. They also want to see Zhang Yang. They want to question why the police smashed his luxury Mercedes-Benz and demand to know why we are holding the victim when the assailant turns out to be a police officer!"

This officer was young, probably in his early twenties. He spoke cautiously, constantly monitoring the Chief's expression. His Captain had sent him out; the Captain was downstairs dealing with the lawyer and the reporters right now. The young officer had no idea how the reporters had materialized so suddenly.

"What Mercedes-Benz was smashed? What about the assailant being a police officer? What is going on?" The Chief’s brow furrowed deeply. He was utterly confused, but hearing the words 'reporter' and 'lawyer' immediately sent a chill down his spine. He sensed something was terribly wrong, and it undoubtedly involved Zhang Yang.

Eighth update. For those reading in the morning, Xiao Yu has worked hard all night and will continue to work hard. If you enjoy the story, could you please take a moment to cast a couple of monthly votes for Xiao Yu? Seeing the monthly vote count rise while writing will bring immense joy. I beg you all. Continuing to write now; more updates follow!