Blazing Armor

After calming down, Ren Yi gradually started feeling the pain, coming from his ribs, his ankle, and both of his scraped palms.JbEEPNcQsBGvrIeZztPCezJYmNaFlB

AOjTPBfGyKrwSPD

But he didn’t say a word, because he could clearly see blood dripping from Gong Yingxian’s arm—drop by drop, falling onto his freshly changed clean pants. Yet, Gong Yingxian’s face remained calm, as if nothing had happened.KjNlBrtUVyfiKfVGdzjLubvXwxkPsA

DEJaKXhxJuDasel

Ren Yi couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Can you still drive? If not, I can take over.”TvyQlJKsIcUEbIEurPQQxscwZUrVOh

BtvOJkMCwvmjdxc

Gong Yingxian didn’t respond.gInzFsRQjxBpMwUVLSZSGCWaoqBJhT

ZGEepFPSVkmumiI

“Maybe we should stop by a hospital nearby and get you treated. You went to the hospital a few days ago and came out just fine, stop acting tough.”MmknqAsMHbTospENHxlnSuCddFSoAe

ZwvazJXoQTMWdmJ

Still, Gong Yingxian stayed silent.QYnNCWfAQCIqKGRLGMcHjXcGlszsxd

BimwhYbttrQMEeB

Ren Yi raised his voice. “You have all sorts of random stuff in your car, but not a first aid kit?”HFsmotBRGiLQhdfLZPtYzkyJdqAirZ

OZBDaXMbCKqMBOn

Gong Yingxian shot him a sideways glance. “I do have a first aid kit. I also told you I’d handle it myself, but then you threatened to report me to my superior. Is your memory really that bad?”TpTEkOkSAAduFbSypIIMFuYUUwHpmV

ItvIwXjvpaXRBOV

Ren Yi laughed in frustration. “I’m doing it for your own good. What are you going to do with a first aid kit? Stick on a band-aid? This needs proper cleaning, disinfecting, maybe even stitches, and to be safe, you need a tetanus shot. Only a professional doctor can deal with that.” He spoke so fast that his breathing became labored, aggravating his ribs, causing his face to twist slightly in pain.UwGEcjbNjuPsJdoUpxsEmFIRLtPmLs

UcsqqYIJpjqmnMv

“Then shut up. We’re almost there.”bRMBzwZOAKoysotNvcTdxQxdAjBhkr

EaDqGfsJxqusozs

A few minutes later, the car drove into a villa complex and parked in front of a massive, standalone mansion.vRxLdkLSMPXDewKDMajvUGKxIQbmOa

cJqgcmskCmeBxci

Ren Yi whistled. “So, this is your place.” Although he’d already heard from Fu Kai that Gong Yingxian’s family wasn’t ordinary, seeing it in person was far more surprising. He didn’t even know Beijing had places like this.PyllTjcMvEKMVLdWDXthoSeeNWHArA

dkBUxbxYXSHJGMy

As soon as the car stopped, the front door swung open, and an elderly gentleman in a sharp suit quickly descended the steps, followed by a middle-aged couple.vqmvRkBUtmjMUAoGoucZPPRDuoGKmP

HmecdVMGfWmBefV

“Young master!” The old man rushed toward Gong Yingxian anxiously. “What did your message mean? Are you hurt?”QxmcuRmzOajRvtZCDKkYdrhYiFTAbi

TXrctKGFTPrvbZL

Gong Yingxian raised his arm slightly.lbrLzKLHKvjaWrJFAwYDQShxgkqVuu

PZMlipoIQaXZxxl

“Oh my god…”LuPgOcpjsNENSKsJwqosAsSDNSOvGR

OKleZGbLhfqunmv

The middle-aged man came over. “Young master, come inside and let me take a look.”pBMeMotSDTOpxdrSOoNQLWSJsuMHgt

MNiXRUGuiSFMlyx

Gong Yingxian took a couple of steps, then suddenly stopped and turned around.SmslvniYzKtMxXaPigbERkykpMddVa

pmSbpdBDMENHLhk

Ren Yi had just gotten out of the car.BrdCCwECmdIMHuxjnNvfAlYvPsAILo

jHiqOIJytxWhCBF

Everyone turned to look at Ren Yi in surprise.VcrUvFmPbVRYFbzlddOtMlguGKbcyz

QILFJwtlqnZxZEt

Gong Yingxian pointed at Ren Yi and said, “Get him cleaned up first,” before turning and walking away.WolfRxRkzayhLNwycMxjdoBBYpIEJK

BykyvbeJAMUVHhb

Ren Yi frowned. As a normal human being, he wasn’t used to being stared at as if he were an alien.BilGpSbBfkZsLGomPFfkoBRyVjpgnu

CtwsyjTNdJEqAtH

The elderly gentleman walked over to Ren Yi. “And you are… may I ask your name?”QXHVRcXMbRkHnhkFvEZxPJmtpNHxQv

nlmLsLgKjZchYpj

“Hello, my surname is Ren. Ren Yi, I…” Ren Yi hesitated, unsure how to describe his relationship with Gong Yingxian. Colleagues?aJYsPKldHMHXTZNIMsujwbupoUVEKz

TXcWnrokzYzphwB

“My surname is Sheng. You can call me Uncle Sheng,” Sheng Bo’s tone carried an unmistakable excitement. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Ren. The young master actually brought a friend home—oh my, the young master brought a friend home!”BWWOqzvgajisdWOPicjOBOlbjMOPxj

FnDKoqcHbBbpWzY

“We’re not friends…”KAZsskSvTTqCabHaDhmvYgijdWqwFW

oFppjrrcHmUbysK

Sheng Bo enthusiastically grabbed Ren Yi’s hand. “Mr. Ren, would you mind cleaning up first and changing into a clean set of clothes?”GZMDVBCHuZkNNgVmTERSsETZaxmmiB

fgcjzFEsAdlqlBz

“Oh, sure.”KpcuHVMoqnHgToEdBRaSDFbUfJrHmk

jKMOlpgPYtmRvTO

Sheng Bo waved at the middle-aged woman with a cheerful tone, “Quick, get things ready! The young master brought a friend home!”lxSSysjKqzbnWqiskajnxUCaJYmphB

fKatwaFRllgNEEp

“I’m not—”TqTRXheWfSLFaVpKsvLgcBugnmhyQg

rmlBdKDVREbVLHY

Ren Yi was pulled inside the house by Sheng Bo, who handed him a fresh set of clothes. As someone who typically wore training gear, Ren Yi didn’t care much about clothes, but just feeling the soft fabric, which gleamed subtly under the light, told him these clothes were expensive.hywuFoWzQBonBxWDLYOlkhtKJxuutc

LTJZPtLUBwdRWHB

While changing, he checked his ribs in the mirror. They were already bruised, but when he pressed on them, it didn’t seem like they were broken. He wasn’t sure if there were any fractures, though.PsGEBJxmwDREusSfLOEwwOJJvMaTEG

ZsWJbZcEjqXQqBp

After changing, Ren Yi hobbled out. Sheng Bo was waiting outside with a warm smile. “Mr. Ren, did you injure your foot too?”vAhsOChJTanSIFhzYHfAYkFoZXPopM

AsDYPiOqRRxBlFv

“It’s nothing, just twisted it.”FpujliPxHcicxucaQMCdVHCfaAmMIl

ZxyjheZFjHcxrym

“Dr. Wang is treating the young master right now. He’ll be done soon. Let me take you inside to wait. You must be hungry, right? Would you like something to eat?”cenaWOOHpxcCXSuWQXmTMuJRbRUoJI

ZVrjyiFvldmqsam

“It’s late, I don’t want to trouble anyone.”HrhINBAPBJobhIIFiycYbkZhcaAGVG

ELntIfKSjXbrUYm

“Oh, not at all, the kitchen’s always staffed.”GKYRjozlBfhCmWXbaDnjURwrdifHwj

OXhJsbkeWvxwcng

“Well, anything’s fine,” Ren Yi admitted he was indeed hungry. Remembering the salad he ate in Gong Yingxian’s car, he casually added, “As long as it’s hot.”pkgvGxRkXhkvpfAHNwkRjWhPoTDSne

NIQDRiNpycAbdKd

“No problem.”wfWZSkicSkiYVqQamuynKrlOCvJjrB

WnbeaWaqoJbVVqt

They walked through a spacious, luxurious living room, then went upstairs, finally arriving at the end of a long hallway. Sheng Bo pushed open a door, revealing what looked like a mini-clinic, complete with various hospital-grade equipment.uQWFCucLnHZbdZjipbYgYiplodRLjy

GFoYOkdjyHTtxbd

Sheng Bo explained, “The young master doesn’t like going to the hospital, so he hired a private doctor.”HwfCmsfJpuJBNuagajuJMpwDSWoVHh

ARFiUBmuKOqozkI

Ren Yi thought to himself: How extravagant.beNPXlYPmGNwEKoXIiYCTHZqrynjzP

QBBKnJUpbBllnAC

Gong Yingxian was sitting on the hospital bed, getting his wound treated by Dr. Wang. He had changed into a light gray loungewear, with a few strands of hair falling over his forehead, finally giving him a bit of a down-to-earth appearance.ZQpBxBumhCsVboxWDQLuQzeMgxSOdk

SPucUkVoJRZFCPq

Dr. Wang glanced back at Ren Yi: “Sorry, could you wait a moment? I’ll be done soon.”RGlkwwUwZEpsCZettTvTKEIOWkIomJ

lfhAxFuVJutHncd

“No problem.” Ren Yi sat on the side, legs crossed, watching Gong Yingxian. “Dr. Gong, your place is way too extravagant.”wMxZnkVFlIhnBNNSTZovvawMNmDQrV

qDjUtYDDzCqHFLf

Gong Yingxian showed Ren Yi his arm, which had a row of Steri-Strips on it. He said irritably, “I have these in my car too.”WAaGBriBPemaMQdMbGcZxfBobjAlox

wDTXZSsPXXkpdtf

Ren Yi smirked, “Even small wounds are still wounds. Did you get a tetanus shot?”sZQnfGysakoZXYwjYhlkmUezyACskG

DRnblQxAalxTqZn

Dr. Wang answered for Gong Yingxian: “Yes.”VRoHjZWLPcWIANpynbKIawDtwqsPbx

HxvdzYdtWGZrtsk

Gong Yingxian said, “Check his ribs.”MMCElLhKfQyOgBrxujriuGCluYcXsr

DhXpWroeSrWuxHB

Ren Yi was surprised. How did he know his ribs were injured?NojPGeySGTurPyTSLqSfKGNyQlssat

LHhjtlMEhGZSfUr

Dr. Wang walked over, lifted Ren Yi’s shirt, and examined him, then felt around: “It doesn’t seem too serious. Let’s take an X-ray to be sure.”iUWBuITQYRBAAszHQfWwGIAXKVAnVc

NnGhJByCaaVDrvQ

“You can take X-rays here?” Ren Yi couldn’t help but click his tongue.WMDMJgOChNLPheOTGmYnjvkSHgRCGy

RJjiappcVrvUHgI

“We have some basic equipment here.”VGvVpPLxlAefHpqFCbARbDLSrBmfOs

auCLvoWpogqQHOz

Ren Yi was taken to a small room next door and had an X-ray.RUuTBLoKfKtaIksMKPdwgTBWgkHzOk

erzcJNHvghOhmmM

Dr. Wang shook the film: “It’s fine, no bone injury.”NaJcPWncyJJTMzPOJkDsEdAuvCTavJ

egPSILdmDBSzVjq

Ren Yi breathed a sigh of relief.ZbuZKmqZTsvmSQvCvUUtZnadLiBoOI

hCgnRcQaGuncKAh

Dr. Wang treated his sprained ankle and scraped palm, and gave him some anti-inflammatory medication.NkPtYnpZlVMeshoiCqGANykXdvuJtd

XeqNEBCEsDaHAwB

Just then, Uncle Sheng returned with a beaming smile: “Young Master, Mr. Ren, let’s go to the dining room and have something to eat.”FTIUzbafbwZellxSWyvslNeYhMBzPu

hOssLedFFjbrbUH

They went to the dining room, where one side of the table was filled with several hot dishes, beautifully presented and looking exquisite—far too much for a late-night snack. The other side of the table only had a sandwich and a glass of water.MmjxedwtirGgrIJYLwdCKmWviSbGQM

NWUeCRaoMFCEbAx

Ren Yi looked at Uncle Sheng, feeling a bit awkward. Uncle Sheng whispered, “It’s alright. Young Master doesn’t like eating hot food and isn’t used to eating late at night. Please, have a seat.”pKRWcUfUIJcJKjdaewtoEydQyDozYD

IAjGlEMIRXZvhdS

They both sat at the table. Ren Yi glanced at Gong Yingxian, who was also looking at him.WkyDkCwoWKgAgYQfkVPFlKtFMOcCll

SDVzSIOIQxPQgHa

It was like a staring contest, neither willing to look away first. Gong Yingxian took a bite of his sandwich while Ren Yi grabbed a hot rib and put it in his mouth.GmEYpfVeHHLENkzSkjTqTrNpxCrNgf

bLjMcfkWrgqTCnI

The freshly steamed rib burned Ren Yi, making him open his mouth and search for water. Uncle Sheng quickly handed him some water.uCZTlEynCWHIxCGqWTsqAXcxCceJou

ODFsNhwSQoyMcrz

Gong Yingxian’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly into a smile. He relaxed back into his chair, clearly tired.qHBvXzlOAXeidfIFXLEBkGGgtxGZmo

araVrUxsiRwxiTZ

Despite his scalded upper lip, Ren Yi started eating heartily. “With such good food, you’re eating that?”clgQJAlwxqaemqKULnYuybXdtzmtWi

lOutDXLETGVsigY

Gong Yingxian calmly said, “After you finish eating, go rest for a while. Someone will take you back to the squad tomorrow morning.”NEGwUCsbNVTKOCoeHfEiHyYWLQHjbk

TgKJLgYRcWMjheE

“What about you? Are you going to interrogate that guy at the station?”CAHxgDwbLIVEZAXIrWbEAlkWjCosYe

eMmZBrwyzWcSIVO

“Of course.”JDnZYTIrhLqUsvkbPnDsOKGrByIyAD

UvAnjkpSisfjSuN

“I’m coming with you.”nCMfDOSLbhEJDleNenaBmWhUNJECYO

ngcFEpWpdGGfULE

“Your job is to assist with the fire investigation. The rest is police work.”vqOgBmuZrdJrOvvLtjcaUlcvrkfarA

wrMNdZpBZBwhOQC

“I’ve already been involved this much. Do you think I can just stand by and watch?” Ren Yi insisted. “I’m coming too. I want to know right away if that bastard is the arsonist.”YIDjSpnRzKzLVeVIyEMYJxEpyKCwGh

sBFiZgmGmlYKLWR

Gong Yingxian hesitated for a moment. “Fine.”erCvVPKNSEDGNlGrtfTlreFxpdxGzI

xwhoxViqLnsyIAL

Ren Yi ate with increasing appetite. Perhaps because all the blood meant for his brain had gone to his stomach, he casually asked, “Your family’s so rich, and you’ve got all these weird quirks. Why do you insist on making things hard for yourself by being a cop?”AWPqezmOzhKeARcfDCYAPpQpdpltXT

xKSoSZRPpucTDMQ

Sheng Bo’s face changed slightly as he cast a quick glance at Gong Yingxian, attempting to change the subject. “Young Master, would you like another one?”wppYWyIUPoJXBBwxbVaWwixqGMCVjE

OfPIXIUPZVQLCXp

Gong Yingxian calmly sipped some water. “It’s none of your business.”XnFRnVOUVrZaDfWWySfEXTGFWmmMXV

SGfUCmlayGViYph

Ren Yi was momentarily speechless, then gave a cold snort. “You’re right. I shouldn’t meddle.”wpPRlTowayrKDwjsDhEhgfEnMNehGQ

nmNCQyiXcrlVFQX

Gong Yingxian stood up and left.MUdcqojoQyUVcEJfrZaYfGyFHJQNYb

QtXJzIPOOJNqNeq

Sheng Bo awkwardly said, “Mr. Ren, please don’t take it to heart.”jQOyYfPGQlMDAOwcOwYrQPNsZQQBOD

wlbFexRvmgSnNVW

Ren Yi grinned. “Don’t worry. If I’d taken it to heart, I would’ve been pissed to death by him already.”WnpEDcHBuwbSixmAwHXXSvBiTwvraR

hbpbhwyjvrJqOht

Sheng Bo gave a bitter smile. “It’s been so many years, and you’re the first friend the Young Master has brought home. We’re all really happy.”bVqdFMHBxjcnfhGqPKDHOlOfAydgAq

mvjSZEOFVLCQrfd

“I’m not his friend. We’re just working together,” Ren Yi bluntly replied.qesAprBwsuSmFNZoqLAMpPEjIkrTAh

KFAZMALVQiQIHOR

Sheng Bo’s expression visibly dimmed, and Ren Yi immediately felt a bit of regret.PqgQcTudFjmusUgeKrHQlXuoiTwSzO

uzhflZCYqtFRyjm

Sheng Bo smiled again. “The Young Master brought you home because he trusts you. I believe you two will become friends.”KzlCYyBrcCRksNpMkVkXJjTPYlCbOG

sHFefcVPimybGvn

Ren Yi chuckled mockingly. He didn’t care if he and Gong Yingxian became friends; he just wanted to get the job done with as little friction as possible.HWSKfgLXlIdSNxVPwLxJkylGnEdjxR

teeFamEtMZbRPJk

After dinner, Ren Yi was taken to a guest room. Exhausted from a long night of work and feeling unwell, he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.SNGpLcKMUegDEXlWyLVDspMaDrKNbT

bBSHXkTThocKFxG

—yNJahKJrFVorINFENeKNSjleumOQQG

aagOxfkFuXxTiku

The next morning, Ren Yi had another hearty breakfast at Gong Yingxian’s home before they headed to Hongwu Substation. This time, a professional driver was behind the wheel.uSvISKPEZMplMEzfwircDMggezCpjD

qFzvQevhWHZyQUB

Upon arriving at the station, Gong Yingxian went straight to the interrogation room. The man they had caught the previous day had likely been sitting in there all night, nodding off from exhaustion.zbXnueztpyjUERVoXWwkrcwoPXBwLh

wdAVgItzYfyjrcf

As soon as the man saw them, his bloodshot eyes widened, and he shouted, “I didn’t start the fire! You have no evidence to arrest me!”gjTUvomZjvwHkVhvTZjjnzldARprEn

YYNJCHjVfkSauLM

Gong Yingxian pulled up a chair and sat down, coldly asking, “Name, age, place of birth, ID number.”LstxCeltTlliUvNInudTiwxNBncveg

dKoKukKkXzMQpZC

The man hesitated for a moment before answering honestly, “Zhou Chuan, 25, from Gu City…”IQHVePaByWsBtDprASKyMvDVJLizzn

mKKdfcZGfaVWsLT

Gong Yingxian asked more detailed questions and learned that Zhou Chuan had studied at Tianqi University, graduated, worked as a programmer at an internet company, and quit a year ago. He had been unemployed since.RWkWLETMrVuDywEURJtPyegXGgGlWJ

EDRANLfmTqTSNZK

Gong Yingxian had his colleagues verify Zhou Chuan’s basic information, which all checked out.vJBJUTFBIdIwUlPayRAKQhXHuAJlvJ

ygWLFxsdpFvdqgn

“Why were you there last night? Why do you have so many photos and videos on your camera?”tiIYSIJnddYahCbcGRsUrIalOWBdVF

NgilvjunWEEVMMW

“I was just curious! What’s wrong with taking a few pictures? What law says I can’t go there? What gives you the right to treat me like a criminal?”pLpAVJQcEWiyfgUAKcAFiuaEehvFBS

YLkpOzKNIOpXaJu

Ren Yi sharply responded, “Didn’t you see the seals? What do you think those seals are for?!”DlyQczdrPhJiAkwoJeioHyzbPxCGIO

ReOdZwuEMDEQpcI

Zhou Chuan flinched slightly. “Even if there were seals, going inside doesn’t count as a crime, right? I’m not a law major, but I know enough about the law.”cVJIPbyRkjVwjTFRMqLBgagpJHejQz

VTRPlAYQjqJQklo

“If you truly understood the law, you wouldn’t have risked breaking the law and tampering with a crime scene just to satisfy your curiosity,” Gong Yingxian glared at him. “Don’t treat us like fools. If you don’t start talking, I’ll consider you the prime suspect in this arson case and investigate accordingly.”mxRhnRPyHNnogsXeMUTXMGWyDsRzSD

VICDAdyxQfEpsMq

“I didn’t start the fire!” Zhou Chuan shouted. “I really didn’t! I was just curious and took some pictures! That’s all! I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t break the law!”kArLhEJnrlYENkUqiETEsMfPMwixRN

rewctEuNgXiEPtH

“You’re lying!” Gong Yingxian slammed the table. “If you don’t tell the truth now, I’ll investigate everywhere you’ve been for the past six months, every transaction you’ve made, every person you’ve contacted, and every trace you’ve left online. If I find even the slightest suspicion, I’ll dig deeper and broader. You’d better hope you have nothing to hide, because if I find anything, you’ll have nothing to say when confronted with the evidence!”pmqrdhbVEepmlxCfBMvCpxbRSTSjsG

gLaQPLgkFlqcydP

Zhou Chuan’s face turned pale with fear, and his lips quivered, on the verge of tears.bGJKJWrOVqeotpMybIGKAzIDNVLYuE

iQqKusazjlyABhe

Ren Yi tapped the table. “I suggest you be smart about this. If we find out on our own, you’ll miss your chance to turn yourself in. You’re still young. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life in prison?”dLEtGwgOsbCcSdjfYjFqCiSASiWTyO

pxNmjWEdcFHpuYv

“No, no! I’ll talk!” Zhou Chuan croaked.iFJjpYKlgezLtYskhlHCcxiSPAdEZh

xpLPyJlAfCZRlvE

“Talk.”XZdJSXkMhKbfuOAcIjHdcLmnWAQhBs

sHGTZvJuVTPsFyl

“I… I was doing a livestream.”RdNCSjQhZdePPaPYIoBAdNqMqRJOjj

eUgvWIbIOyfkvZQ

Ren Yi narrowed his eyes. “A livestream? Like, online?”lSfRQnQRNzvtFmUoKZbNwFiSrwjRay

xybPUzVqMWzmpxN

Zhou Chuan nodded.MMWTWLthpDUetVZPNqbxlEQxMiIIvg

MEackdEhKVjLsFr

“Where were you streaming? What platform allows you to broadcast that kind of content?”mWapVoSDzhSSfxwvQWtNxWmJZvCmvX

qxnaWMIeyQrauFn

“It’s not a domestic one,” Zhou Chuan bit his lip. “It’s one of those with untraceable servers.”kdfvbcTxWpkVRUVPOIhcbOimZPodSO

lHzKnWtQkQSrefS

“Untraceable servers?”NOCdfdNlwATwQTUolfshIDLbwvGkxa

zXoWwWUhVamEJdB

“Yeah, unofficial platforms, like adult websites. Their servers are overseas, and they use proxy IPs, making them hard to track. You can’t find them in search engines.”eGnAuYRWmVcjUPIMrlBWjddnQeraNe

OVyorTwFSRhJFtX

Gong Yingxian thought for a moment. “Something like… the dark web?”VfnqZdeWMxovCdWMvTluPGDiiWnWkJ

hKOPiIPBCkGPufa

“Yes.” Zhou Chuan’s face turned bleak. “I do livestreams, and the photos and videos I upload are just to make money.”YvGsyKEAmFCfrARblVbrFqnksINBtX

YAbPkLDEOfVuxrt

“Someone paid you to visit the site of a fire?”gpVUClaeAvnFiwAzlZtLIhEdTLgkMn

AdNVPngRUxrcMAw

Zhou Chuan nodded. “If the fire is still ongoing, it’s worth even more.”EbVyzkgBfXElPeBPBYaiUnVaRjrEbe

CLYkIGzJhYnqVqA

Ren Yi clenched his fists, his face momentarily twisting with anger.hDUnbOSWMrTfBtSCsXCjPvNKuHEveK

FdtSmLDEMgfVmbU

Zhou Chuan flinched.NoQWYtZjnkTcSdQjZvpqHJFifmuAVT

HEzAwmJWkFNNhFv

Gong Yingxian’s expression grew darker. “Be more specific.”BDtUIQOzcTKuweysKrBYJoZddMAbzr

SiokKwkZLQKVaiO

“There are some perverts who are into this kind of thing. They just enjoy watching these scenes,” Zhou Chuan sniffled. “I’m just making a living off it. I know it’s not right, but I didn’t start the fire.”ozccZJwRbAdNdMMDJIiPZqIRaSkPLc

mqIcuKsgrEsAgIo

Gong Yingxian opened Zhou Chuan’s laptop and pulled up the search engine. “Which one?”xJsKJgDWpcKJtwWzpGhKMYtioRJERL

EVcTXCcsBbRvGcO

“The first one,” Zhou Chuan said. “But when you arrived, my livestream was cut off. Once they find out, they’ll probably have taken the site down.”ogpMxYZpRnaUFCsWkbEJlSIBtpPOdy

ZEwWptSnjJWKFhi

Gong Yingxian stared at the screen. As expected, an error message appeared. “Who are ‘they’?”MMOiumNXaEDPAraaqSxNgKzKEKNXCR

bMEPaphOdPIVpYM

“I don’t know. I only interact with a few IDs. I have no idea who runs the site or who the viewers are.”KUPiFHITBJkzHDtoNScmBXLucQtzUz

hBVJINmSesNnGHK

“How do you get paid?”lNovELKOsdMmnuINJQQurxHAPdbcWH

gOcnTREfEvwyKqM

“With virtual currency, like Bitcoin. The blockchain platform we use is a completely free ‘market’ where anyone can trade or cash out.”gFNJQbOqnmOEvIKUJzOxpxbAqVHBVX

OXHlOTAXMpqmnlI

“What’s the relationship between the platform and the website?” Ren Yi asked.mSrNpVySpGMHYmCtMqjqjagBESQPxb

rASqIoKJwZfufGk

“There’s no direct relationship,” Zhou Chuan frowned. “Or at least no one knows if there is. The market is just a market. The whole point of blockchain is decentralization. There’s no single owner of this ‘market,’ but everyone can be part of it. Anyone can use the currency in this ‘market’ to trade.”eLuBaiXanijBlYrUokPFDKxreEleqO

XwNoAWNPuqeqSTD

Gong Yingxian said to Ren Yi, “Virtual currency transactions are complicated. I’ll ask our colleagues in internet crimes to assist. If this guy is telling the truth, the real arsonist might be hiding behind the screen.”kdBcqDkJtPgiFFomLRCEXddpCIrqho

dbMbuYuvzXVHqmH

“But arsonists don’t usually settle for just watching from behind a screen. They often can’t resist the urge to relive the scene in person,” Ren Yi, though not a criminal investigator, had read extensively on arson-related cases to do his job well.dihJIWHfIXWzwjxGhOlOqXSXGSOQtV

vIxTYUdBrhDvYBH

“Exactly. If we can find the people who watched the livestream and compare their profiles with the photos and videos from the scene, we might be able to track them down.”xEDiVTwStkmzhRPTIDXazUzbianNin

cbNIsKbUnSNoTcA

Ren Yi sighed, and he didn’t know if it was because he didn’t sleep well, his head was swollen and groggy. originally thought that the case would be understood the moment the alcohol lamp was detected, but he didn’t expect that so many people would be involved, and the biggest problem with this case is that until now, they have not been able to determine whether the accident was an accident or arson.rZXHiQKUZaygjJGGXHJnvRjiEFXYiV

bNjbepoFvJinuIN