Blazing Armor

OdCQhOMpQjrQkhaTable of Contents

Chapter 42

Ren Yi nodded, “Good idea, catch him off guard. By the way, has there been any new developments from the dark web?” Though he claimed not to be afraid, he couldn’t help but worry that his personal information had been exposed in such a place, especially since his father lived at the address.

“Xiao Tan has already registered an account, but that website has a rule. New accounts must be at least seven days old before they can do anything, like live streaming, posting on forums, or making transactions. Accounts are also ranked by level, which is tied to spending and activity. The higher the level, the more you can participate. There’s even a hidden layer within the dark web.”

“What about Zhou Chuan’s account?”

Gong Yingxian replied, “It’s been banned by Seraph long ago. They know we’re onto them, so recently, IP addresses from mainland China have been restricted. Of course, those who want to access it will always find a way.”

“This site is operating so brazenly, and we can’t do anything about it?”

Gong Yingxian frowned, “We’re currently trying to track down domestic users through Seraph, but even if we identify them, without concrete criminal behavior, it’s useless. It can only be used for record-keeping.”

“But the Wanyuan complex case and the car arson case have both been filed. We’ve already identified at least three suspects from this site.”

“That’s correct, and it’s the main reason we’re investigating the site. But once it involves foreign elements, we’re powerless.”

Ren Yi said angrily, “The site’s operators are committing endless crimes, and we can’t even catch them.”

“Their users aren’t just committing crimes in our country.” Gong Yingxian’s eyes darkened. “It’s only when they catch the attention of other countries, likely after committing some major crime, that something will be done.”

The weight of helplessness hung between them.

Ren Yi placed the files on the table, “The case has made significant progress. As long as Peng Fei slips up in front of Zhou Chuan, we should be able to catch that hooded man soon.”

“Yes.” Gong Yingxian hesitated, “But there are still some details in the Wanyuan case that don’t quite make sense to me.”

“Like what?”

“For instance, the surveillance footage and witness accounts we found only show the hooded man entering the apartment. No other movements were recorded. There’s surveillance at the main entrance, but not at the back door where people throw out the trash. So, there are two possibilities. First, the hooded man left through the back door, but why didn’t he use it to enter in the first place? That way, he wouldn’t have been caught on camera at all. The oddest part is that no one saw him. Second, the fire broke out before he left, causing a short circuit that disabled the cameras. This happened roughly 15 minutes after the fire started, so why did he stay in the building for so long?”

“Exactly. Normally, anyone starting a fire would leave as quickly as possible, especially with an oil fire. Staying at the scene is incredibly dangerous.”

“Another thing, I found some trash at the scene that didn’t belong to apartment 2209. Some of it was labeled ‘unclaimed.'”

“Unclaimed?”
“Yes, some of the trash was identified, but others wouldn’t admit it was theirs,” Gong Yingxian replied. “Luckily, I was careful enough at the time to bring all the collected trash back to the station.”

“Could it be that some people are afraid of trouble and don’t want to admit it?”

“Maybe, but in such a big incident happening right in their own neighborhood, if they weren’t guilty of something, most would cooperate with the police. I find it suspicious.”

“Do you want to investigate which household that trash belongs to?”

“It won’t be easy to trace, and I’m not sure if it’s even valuable.”

Ren Yi nodded, “Let’s focus on Peng Fei first. Maybe he’ll explain all these doubts.”

Gong Yingxian pondered, “Let’s hope so.”

Just then, a colleague called out, “Dr. Gong, there’s a new discovery on the surveillance. Come take a look.”

“I’ll be right there.” Gong Yingxian stood up. “You should head back.”

Ren Yi also stood up and winked at Gong Yingxian, “See you on Saturday.”

Gong Yingxian gave him a long, deep look, replying with a low “Mm.”

“So, what do you want to eat? As long as it’s not too hot. I’m not much of a cook, but I can manage a little.”

“Greasy, spicy, and unusual ingredients.”

Ren Yi laughed, “Got it. You’ll have to make do with what’s on the table, don’t be too picky. If it really doesn’t work, we can always ask Sheng Bo to deliver something.”

Gong Yingxian raised an eyebrow, “You’re already telling me to ‘make do,’ and I haven’t even come yet? You should be thinking about how to properly treat your guest.”

“I’ll try my best to host you.” Ren Yi grinned. “Don’t be too strict.”

Gong Yingxian turned his face away. “We’ll see how you do.”

With a smile and a whistle, Ren Yi left the station, feeling lighter than ever. He and Gong Yingxian had finally reconciled, and the frustration of the past few days had melted away, making even his steps lighter.

Back at the team, everyone noticed his cheerful expression and started teasing him, “Captain Ren, where did you go for such a short time? You left with one face and came back with another. Something good happen?”

“What good could happen? I’m busy worrying about you guys all day,” Ren Yi retorted playfully.

Liu Hui grinned, “Must’ve gone for a ‘special’ service, huh?”

“Special, my ass.”

Qu Yangbo curiously asked, “So where did you go?”

“I went to Hongwu Station to follow up on the case.”

At the mention of Hongwu Station, Qu Yangbo raised an eyebrow and let out a suggestive “Ohhh.”

“What’s up with Hongwu Station?” the others asked curiously.

Ren Yi barked, “Too much free time, huh? Fine, we’re washing cars today!”

The team groaned dramatically and reluctantly headed for the garage.

Qu Yangbo hooked his arm around Ren Yi’s shoulder, teasingly asking, “So, Fire Four, did you see that young and handsome Dr. Gong?”
OXDYKaqFndPOKyRfzSjiMwQcQTeXun

VTlDLeaMOPTNVum

uDRFyapNPGreOFMShcENcgstgClSWd

fboiBePxsOQRtkm

“Yeah, I ran into him,” Ren Yi responded evasively, “Why are you talking like that? It’s disgusting.”

“What did I say? I just asked a perfectly normal question. Sounds like you’re feeling guilty.”

Ren Yi glared at him, “What would I have to feel guilty about?”

“Yeah, what would you have to feel guilty about?”

Ren Yi suddenly grabbed Qu Yangbo in a bear hug and kneed him in the stomach, “Looks like you’ve got too much energy. Time for some exercise!”

“You’re definitely guilty, hahaha—” Qu Yangbo laughed as the two began to wrestle.




Just after lunch on Friday, Ren Yi received a call from Sheng Bo. They had previously agreed to meet that afternoon to clean Ren Yi’s house.

Ren Yi gave Sheng Bo the code to his door, telling him to just go in directly.

But Sheng Bo sounded hesitant, “There’s something very important that I want to hand over to you in person.”

“What is it?”

“If it’s convenient for you, could I bring it to your team’s station?”

“Sure, that works.”

Later, after dark, Sheng Bo arrived at the station, carrying a large, elegant-looking box. Just by the appearance of the box, Ren Yi could tell it was something fancy.

Ren Yi thought it must be something Gong Yingxian needed, but he couldn’t understand why Sheng Bo insisted on giving it to him face-to-face.

Noticing the confusion in Ren Yi’s eyes, Sheng Bo earnestly explained, “Captain Ren, this is a very important item. My young master takes it with him whenever he goes abroad or travels for work. Without it, he can’t sleep.”

“Huh?” Ren Yi’s curiosity deepened, “What is it?”

Sheng Bo opened the luxurious box, revealing… a pillow.

Ren Yi was stunned.

Sheng Bo spoke seriously, “My young master has been using this type of pillow since he was a child. He can’t sleep well with any other.”

“…Has he been using this pillow for 24 years? It doesn’t look new.” Though the pillow did seem a bit worn, it was clearly unused.

“It’s this type, not this exact one,” Sheng Bo clarified. “This pillow was made by an old textile factory in Hangzhou. After the factory closed down, we bought all the remaining stock. Now there are fewer than 30 left, and each one is very precious.”

Ren Yi couldn’t help but laugh, “Your young master… does he need a pea under his mattress too?”

Sheng Bo smiled awkwardly, “The young master can be a bit particular, but once you understand his quirks, he’s actually very easy to get along with.”

Ren Yi shook his head, smiling, and reached out to take the pillow. “Alright, I’ll take good care of it.”

Sheng Bo handed over the pillow with great solemnity, “I’ve never entrusted my young master’s pillow to anyone before. And, this is the first time he’s spending the night at someone else’s house. Captain Ren, you must take good care of it.”

Ren Yi nodded, “I will. Don’t worry.”

With the pillow ceremoniously placed in his hands, Ren Yi couldn’t help but feel an odd sense of responsibility.

“Oh, and I’ve made a list of all the foods the young master likes. It’s on the table, and the ingredients are already in the fridge. If you don’t know how to cook, I can prepare the meals and send them over.”

“Don’t worry, Sheng Bo. He’s a guest at my place, I’ll take good care of him.”

Sheng Bo looked up at Ren Yi with a mix of anticipation and joy in his eyes, “The young master not only made a friend, but he’s also going to a friend’s house for the night. I’m so happy. I’m sure he’ll have a great time at your place.”

Ren Yi patted Sheng Bo’s shoulder, “You can rest easy.” Although he found the whole situation a bit amusing, he wouldn’t disappoint someone’s genuine expectations.

After Sheng Bo left, Ren Yi looked down at the pillow in his arms, a gentle smile spreading across his face.
HnWrBmkMUiFsbFeCyIgYluYoMNeqzP

MalTOMMEXBkUqWw

lgGUdGxubajXLvQMKEUKmjuyzNJner

lazNWLrTjujDYGd
Table of Contents
aRyklPvQrczrjMbYTPlqovcfFcBhVP

1 1 vote
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments