Chapter 166 - 117: Director Bai, Please Be On Your Way

Chapter 166: Chapter 117: Director Bai, Please Be On Your Way

He had been searching for three whole days.

And yet, the moment he docked, the Snake Demon had leaped out from the middle of the river to wreak havoc once more.

This wasn’t just toying with him; the Snake Demon was clearly walking him, step by step, to the executioner’s block.

At that moment, Bai Lang couldn’t help but suspect.

’This Snake Demon is being manipulated by someone.’

’Such a precise attack, such a fiendishly perfect opportunity.’

’This is far beyond the intelligence an ignorant beast should possess.’

’As for whether it was the Lu Family...’

Bai Lang still felt it was unlikely.

The Lu Family was under his constant, tight surveillance.

The slightest sign of trouble from the Lu Family couldn’t possibly escape his notice.

Not one core member of the Lu Family had left their residence.

’Such precise control would be impossible from a distance.’

But now, none of that mattered.

The three-day deadline had arrived.

It was time for Bai Lang to present his head to Commander Bai.

At the docks, the merchants blocking the way and demanding an explanation were still clamoring.

The river wind was piercing, yet it couldn’t disperse the mix of anxiety and greed etched on their faces.

Seeing Bai Lang disembark, a crowd of people surged forward.

They all spoke at once, their spittle nearly flying onto his face.

"Director Bai, when exactly will our compensation be paid?"

"We supported you with all our might!"

"Director Bai, if you don’t do something, my Zhou Family is doomed!"

"Director Bai..."

THUD!

Before the Zhou Family Patriarch could finish, Bai Lang mercilessly kicked him in the torso.

How could Shopkeeper Zhou’s ordinary Flesh Body withstand the full-powered kick of an Inner Breath Realm Martial Cultivator?

The crowd heard a sickening crack of bone as the portly man flew backward like a broken ragdoll.

He was already spraying a mist of blood in mid-air before he slammed heavily onto the stone slabs.

The man convulsed twice, then went still.

The docks fell abruptly silent.

There was only the wail of the cold wind through the masts and the suppressed gasps of a few people.

Bai Lang slowly withdrew his foot, his gaze sweeping like a blade of ice across the deathly pale faces before him.

The merchants, who moments ago were filled with righteous indignation, now fell deathly silent.

Trembling, they retreated, automatically clearing a wide path.

Bai Lang led the men from the Water Patrol Bureau, stepping over Shopkeeper Zhou’s still-warm corpse and walking through the silent crowd.

The sound of his leather shoes on the stone slabs was crisp and chilling.

Only after he had walked far away did someone spit fiercely at his back.

"He can’t catch the Snake Demon, so he takes his anger out on us!"

"What a bunch of useless bastards!"

"If Director Lu were still here... it wouldn’t have come to this!"

"That’s right, Director Lu! We have to sign a petition to get Director Lu back in charge!"

"But before, we..."

"Who cares about that now? If Director Lu is willing to come back, we’ll go to his door and kowtow to apologize!

As long as this waterway is blocked, our goods rot in our hands for another day. We’ll all be ruined!"

"Right! We have to get Director Lu back!"

The sounds of their discussion drifted faintly to Bai Lang’s ears on the wind.

Bai Lang’s fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, but his face remained expressionless.

He only quickened his pace, as if trying to leave the voices completely behind him.

Returning to the Yin Mountain Water Patrol Bureau, the government office he had once taken over with such ambition now felt merely dark and oppressive.

"Bring Lu Huaisan out," Bai Lang commanded, his voice hoarse.

Before long, two soldiers from the Wolf Camp dragged Lu Huaisan out of his cell.

After a few days in jail, the once-sturdy man had grown considerably thinner.

His face was bruised, but his eyes were still calm.

Only when he looked at Bai Lang did a flicker of profound mockery cross his gaze.

Bai Lang avoided his eyes and said coldly, "Put him in the truck."

Lu Huaisan did not struggle, nor did he have the strength to.

He allowed the soldiers to shove him into the back of the middle truck, along with several other Wolf Camp soldiers.

Bai Lang got into the lead sedan and closed his eyes.

He had arrived with forty-five elites from the Wolf Camp; now only thirty-six remained, split among three trucks.

With his sedan, there were four vehicles in total.

They rumbled over the ancient bluestone roads of Yin Mountain County Town.

On both sides of the street, from behind the cracks of doors and windows, came prying eyes.

Pointing fingers and hushed whispers pricked like countless fine needles at his already tattered pride.

Bai Lang simply closed his eyes. Out of sight, out of mind.

The wheels rolled on, and they soon reached the city gate.

However, the sedan suddenly lurched to a screeching halt.

Bai Lang lurched forward, frowning as he opened his eyes. "What’s going on?"

The driver’s voice was tight. "Captain, the road ahead... it’s blocked."

Bai Lang looked up, his pupils contracting sharply.

The city gate was shut tight. Before and behind the gate’s archway,

dozens of Public Security Bureau officers had set up light and heavy machine guns behind sandbag fortifications.

The black muzzles were aimed menacingly at their small convoy.

In the cold wind, the uniformed figures stood ramrod straight, an aura of grim purpose filling the air.

Bai Lang’s face was black as thunder as he pushed open the door and got out.

He stepped onto the cold stone ground and walked to the front of the convoy.

"What do you think you’re doing?" Bai Lang’s voice was low, but it seethed with suppressed fury. "Rebelling?"

From among the ranks of Public Security officers, a middle-aged man with inspector’s insignia stepped forward.

His expression was stern as he met Bai Lang’s gaze without flinching. "Director Bai, we are here to take a suspect into custody. We ask for your cooperation."

"A suspect?" Bai Lang sneered. "There’s a Public Security Bureau suspect in my convoy?"

"Yes."

The inspector nodded, pulling a document from his briefcase and unfolding it. It bore the bright red seal of the Public Security Bureau.

"The suspect, Lu Huaisan, is implicated in multiple criminal cases within Yin Mountain County.

The evidence is conclusive. This is the writ of summons.

Please hand over the prisoner, Director Bai."