Chapter 47: Coming to a Close
Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Coming to a Close
Yang Wenqing took the written confession from Wu Yan and quickly flipped through it.
The confession not only detailed Liu Sheng’s rampage at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, but more importantly, it revealed what happened next. Under immense psychological pressure and desperate for a sliver of hope, Liu Sheng had confessed everything about his father, Liu Hong. He detailed how his father had met him after he fled the scene, provided him with funds, forged his identity papers, and planned his entire escape route.
This was far more than simply harboring a fugitive; it was active complicity, an attempt to help a murderer escape justice. Even more damning, Liu Sheng had vaguely mentioned that his father seemed to be aware of some illicit activities within the family business—and might even be the one orchestrating them.
Yang Wenqing closed the file and exchanged a look with Wu Yan. They both understood the weight of this confession. If Vice Director Gao intended to use this opportunity to dig deeper, the Liu family would face not just the loss of a son; their entire family enterprise could be implicated and even brought to ruin.
"Let’s go. We’ll report to Vice Director Gao."
Yang Wenqing stood up, holding the confession file in his hand.
Wu Yan nodded. The two of them walked out of the Third Squad’s office, one after the other, and headed straight for Vice Director Gao’s office.
After they knocked and entered, they found Vice Director Gao sitting on the sofa, brewing tea. When he saw them enter, and especially the file in Yang Wenqing’s hand, a faint smile touched his lips.
"Come, sit!" Vice Director Gao’s voice was calm.
"Vice Director Gao." Yang Wenqing presented the confession file with both hands. "Liu Sheng has confessed. This is the detailed statement. The situation is a bit more complicated than we expected. It involves his father, Liu Hong."
Vice Director Gao took the file but didn’t immediately read it. Instead, he gestured for the two to sit, unhurriedly poured each of them a cup of tea, and only then did he pick up the file and begin to read it carefully.
The office fell silent, filled only with the faint rustle of turning pages. Yang Wenqing and Wu Yan sat quietly, not touching their tea, awaiting Vice Director Gao’s instructions.
After a long while, Vice Director Gao put down the file, his face unreadable. He tapped his fingers lightly on the confession and said slowly, "This Liu Hong is truly foolish. A father’s love for his son is understandable, but this is perverting justice for personal gain..."
He adopted a pained expression, then said to the two of them, "Drink your tea. It’s not bad."
Yang Wenqing and Wu Yan immediately picked up their teacups and drank.
Vice Director Gao mulled it over for a moment, then looked at Wu Yan and asked, "Are we certain the killing was unintentional? Not premeditated?"
Wu Yan quickly put down his teacup and answered, "I’ve used every interrogation technique I know. He refuses to admit to any premeditation."
Vice Director Gao nodded and added, "An unintentional killing, but a heinous one. The key issue is Liu Hong harboring him and aiding his escape..."
He paused, looked at Yang Wenqing, and said, "Since we have a lead, we can’t turn a blind eye. Here’s what we’ll do: first, build an airtight case for Liu Sheng’s murder. Prepare a solid indictment. As for Liu Hong, bring him in for detention and start gathering statements and evidence from others."
"Yes, Vice Director Gao." Yang Wenqing also put down his teacup.
"Go on, then. Handle it cleanly." Vice Director Gao waved his hand, picked up his teacup again, and a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.
Yang Wenqing got up and left with Wu Yan. Back in the office, he called Liu Rong over and instructed Wu Yan, "From now on, Ah Rong will be with you. You two handle this case together." As he spoke, he took an arrest warrant from his drawer, used the Array on his badge to imprint it with his aura, and then handed the warrant to Wu Yan. "Bring Liu Hong in first."
As Wu Yan took the arrest warrant, Yang Wenqing added, "Wait for me tonight. We’ve been colleagues for so long, but we’ve never had a meal together. It’s my treat tonight."
Hearing this, both of them looked surprised, but they didn’t refuse. Nor could they.
...
As evening fell, Yang Wenqing finished the backlog of paperwork on his desk, stood up to stretch his stiff muscles, and then strolled over to the interrogation room area. Through the one-way glass, he saw Liu Hong, who was now in custody.
In just half a day, the Patriarch of the Liu family, who had seemed so distinguished on the street earlier, now looked as if he had aged ten years. He sat alone in the cold interrogation chair, his hair slightly disheveled, and the fine clothes that had once fit him perfectly were now wrinkled.
He wasn’t making a scene. He just sat with his head bowed, hands on his knees. His once-straight back was now slightly hunched, and his entire being exuded an aura of defeat and dejection.
Yang Wenqing didn’t go in. He just called for Wu Yan and Liu Rong, then led them out of the station. They crossed two streets and arrived at a restaurant called Full House Pavilion. The decor wasn’t luxurious, but it was clean and tidy.
Yang Wenqing had booked a small private room overlooking the street in advance. It wasn’t large, but it was quiet enough, and closing the door shut out the noise from outside.
A waiter enthusiastically showed them to their seats. Yang Wenqing pushed the menu in front of Wu Yan and Liu Rong. "See what you want. Order anything."
Wu Yan and Liu Rong made a show of refusing, but then didn’t stand on ceremony any longer. They ordered a few home-style stir-fried dishes, plus a pot of the restaurant’s signature rice wine.
The three of them made small talk while waiting for the food to arrive. Once the dishes were served and they were a few drinks in, the atmosphere in the private room became much more congenial. Yang Wenqing put down his chopsticks and took a case file from his Storage Bag—a new one created by Liu Qin. He tapped a finger on the cover and looked at Wu Yan. "Do you remember the Chen Dayong case? The body dumped in the Port District?"
Wu Yan nodded. "For the past month, I’ve been investigating those smuggling gangs whenever I have free time, but I haven’t found any leads."
Yang Wenqing tapped the file in his hand again. "This case might be connected to the father and son from the Wang family of Zhenyuan Mining. But that’s just a guess, so I can only officially open an investigation into the Wangs on suspicion of smuggling."
He pushed the case file toward Wu Yan. "Old Wu, you’re experienced. I’ll need you to put extra effort into this. No need for direct contact for now. Just keep an eye on the Wang father and son covertly. See if they’ve had any unusual activity recently, or if they’ve met with any suspicious people."
Wu Yan took the case file. He didn’t ask any more questions, just replied steadily, "Understood, Captain. I’ll be discreet."
Yang Wenqing then looked at Liu Rong. "Ah Rong, you’ll assist Old Wu. Also, I have another assignment for you." He paused before continuing, "I want you to find a way to check the warehouses in the city... especially in the Port District. Focus on the ones with lax supervision or those that might be illegally leased. Pay close attention to any unusual cargo, like spirit materials or ores with the Yin Attribute."
Liu Rong nodded. "Yes, Captain!"
"Good," Yang Wenqing said with a satisfied smile, picking up his wine cup again. "There’s no rush on these things. Just proceed covertly and be mindful of your own safety. Report any findings to me immediately."
The dinner ended, and the three went their separate ways. Yang Wenqing strolled alone down the streets as night deepened.
Returning to Apartment 305, Building 3 of Dongning Community, he found the room silent. He habitually walked to the center of the living room to check the condition of the Solid Yuan Array and found that its silver powder was almost completely consumed, leaving only a thin layer of grayish-white dust.
Yang Wenqing calculated mentally, ’I’ve been so busy these past few days that I haven’t had time to prepare the cultivation Array for the Second Refinement. Tomorrow should be free, so I can go gather the materials for the Array. It’ll be another significant expense, but my income has been good lately. I’ve already got fifty or sixty thousand saved up.’