Chapter 2177 - 1183:

Yang Xiao was speechless upon hearing this, feeling that his sincerity had been misplaced.

He thought he was dealing with a master, but he turned out to be a bit part player with only three seconds of glory before going offline.

It seems there’s no shortcut, everything will have to rely on themselves.

Actually, Yang Xiao already thought of a way to deal with that Ghost, provided the Ghost comes to find him tonight.

Achieving this is quite simple; he plans to invite Sun Ying back to the mechanic factory, and tonight have Sun Ying cooperate with him, being his girlfriend for one night.

The two will show affection all around the Cultural Palace to provoke that Ghost, to make Zhou Wenqing come and find him.

However, when Yang Xiao expressed the desire to take Sun Ying away, she exhibited strong resistance, even Ye Zheng’s persuasion was futile, so in the end, they had to give up.

Actually, using someone else to provoke the Ghost would work too; the main reason Yang Xiao wanted to use Sun Ying was that it seemed somewhat perverse, similar to a specific genre in Japanese films.

Of course, Yang Xiao wasn’t sure if such films actually existed, as he hadn’t watched them.

After leaving the village, Yang Xiao and his team hurried back, and finally reached the mechanic factory before the sun set.

The bumpy journey goes without saying, Yang Xiao and Ye Zheng returned to the security department office, Captain Zhou wasn’t there, the room was filled with their own people.

According to Zhao Xuejun, Ma Jing’s body has been found, indeed in the workers’ canteen, but in a very remote location, inside a vegetable storage room right at the back.

That place was originally seldom visited, it was someone who smelled a stench of blood and went inside to discover the body, which was already showing signs of decomposition.

After waiting less than ten minutes, Captain Zhou rushed back after receiving the news, and Yang Xiao immediately explained the whole situation to him, leaving Captain Zhou astonished.

Captain Zhou hadn’t expected that after circling around, they would end up back at the starting point.

Qian Shouyi was right, Zhou Wenqing was indeed the murderer, it was he who attacked the two female workers at the mechanic factory.

Their preconceived notion of him was correct, this guy was not only a weirdo but a complete pervert, had the militia not caught him, who knows how many more would fall victim to him in the future.

In retrospect, the three blood-stained words "I’m innocent" left by Qian Shouyi on the wall are now glaringly ironic.

Because it was through coercive confession that Qian Shouyi caught the real culprit Zhou Wenqing, and in trying to exonerate the real culprit, they inadvertently caused Qian Shouyi’s death, leaving Captain Zhou with mixed feelings.

"Captain Zhou, where is Captain Zhai?" Yang Xiao suddenly asked.

"He is leading a team to the lakeside to dig up Zhou Wenqing’s ashes, as someone from the former factory militia recalls that Qian Shouyi headed towards the lake with the ashes that night," Captain Zhou said.

"No need to dig further, have them all return, it won’t help even if they find it," Yang Xiao shook his head, the problem now is not restoring Zhou Wenqing’s reputation but how to deal with it.

Captain Zhou hesitated for a moment, appearing to have something to say.

"Captain Zhou, is there something you’d like to say?" Yang Xiao curiously asked.

"Liberation, the situation has changed. The higher-ups have learned about Qian Shouyi’s death, and that it happened in the security department’s confinement room."

"They are also aware of the casualties in your stationed team, the higher-ups are furious and demand immediate cessation of all actions, to hold steady and await the arrival of a new investigation team. They will take over all operations."

"The investigation team has already set off from the province, reportedly with very skilled experts, expected to arrive before dawn tomorrow," Captain Zhou said.

Yang Xiao wasn’t flustered facing the Ghost’s threat, but this time he felt anxious.

Once the new team arrives, it would mean he loses command, he, along with Ye Zheng and Zhao Xuejun, will be immediately controlled.

If that happens, it’s all over; they simply won’t have time to negotiate with the investigation team.

Yang Xiao knows that the current plan is to persuade Captain Zhou and Captain Zhai, to get them to cooperate with him for one last effort tonight.

"Captain Zhou, we’ve already found a way to deal with it, and I’m at least ninety percent confident that we can handle the Ghost tonight," Yang Xiao said earnestly.

"Tonight?" Captain Zhou raised an eyebrow, looking at Yang Xiao in surprise.

"Yes, tonight, but I need your cooperation," Yang Xiao continued, "Captain Zhou, you’re aware of how fierce the Ghost is; if we don’t deal with it quickly, once the investigation team arrives, the situation will become even more dangerous, and tonight that Ghost will kill again. I’m the only one who can keep everyone safe."

Looking into Yang Xiao’s eyes, Captain Zhou pursed his lips slightly, a hint of hesitation in his gaze, and at this point, Ye Zheng stood up too, "Captain Zhou, I believe in Ma Jiefang too, please believe in him, tonight... we can finally resolve this headless case!"

"Yes, Captain Zhou, give us another chance!"

"Captain Zhou, no one wants to give up halfway, so many have died!"

...

Everyone began persuading Captain Zhou, all helping Yang Xiao to secure the opportunity for tonight, as everyone understood they must fight; once the new investigation team arrives, they will all be scrutinized.

Originally reluctant, Captain Zhou was moved by the scene, deciding firmly as he gritted his teeth, "Alright, I believe in you, Liberation. I’ll accompany you, just tell me what to do!"

"I need a few things." Yang Xiao picked up a pen and paper from the table, wrote a few lines, and handed them to Captain Zhou.