Chapter 465: Whispers in the Courtyard

The courtyard lay eerily silent, punctuated only by the low moans of a few unlucky bodyguards who, though injured, hadn’t yet lost consciousness.

Big-Bearded Captain Wu Xiu scanned his surroundings warily, gun clutched tightly in his arms, never once releasing his trigger.

The armed police around him were no different – their eyes as wide and piercing as copper bells.

“Captain…”

After what felt like an eternity, one team member whispered.

“Swish!”

All eyes shifted in his direction. Wu Xiu muttered under his breath, “What’s the matter?”

The team member’s face flushed slightly as he asked, “May I use the restroom?”

Captain Wu Xiu immediately shot back, “Hold it.”

“That Professional already said we can’t do anything now. We have to be extra cautious…”

“…”

The team member huddled his legs together and whispered, “The more I say, the tenser I get. I could hold it before, even facing three armed knights alone, but now I’m trembling all over.”

Many of the armed police nodded in silent agreement.

The tension was unbearably eerie. If only a visible enemy emerged so they could start firing away for a change.

“Oh dear…”

Suddenly, a noise broke the silence and someone stood up from the crowd.

Big-Bearded Captain Wu Xiu tensed; several gun barrels immediately leveled at the newcomer.

“Hey, hey, don’t fire…”

Just as Vice President Xiao had started to rise, he abruptly crouched down again, stammering, “I’m on your side…”

“Since when are you not on our side?”

The Captain glared at him. “Who are you?”

“I…”

A flustered Vice President Xiao fumbled for words until he managed in a hushed tone,

“Strictly speaking, I’m supposed to be the leader of that Professional you mentioned…”

“…”

Instantly, a group of armed soldiers shot him suspicious glances, their fingers already on their triggers.

“It’s true…”

Vice President Xiao, now visibly sweating, scrambled to explain,

“I personally invited him…”

“I just felt that a friend was acting strangely, so I asked him to check it out. I never expected it to blow up like this…”

“The injured fellow with hurt legs over there is my friend…”

“I feel terribly guilty. I can’t help but wonder if I was the one who doomed him…”

“…I really am on your side.”

“…”

Captain Wu Xiu furrowed his brow.

They had learned from earlier reports that someone had indeed accompanied Lu Xin.

But he pressed on, “Then why didn’t you stand up just now?”

Vice President Xiao murmured weakly, “I… I was scared.”

Captain Wu Xiu eyed him warily. “Then why stand now?”

With a look of grievance, Vice President Xiao replied, “My legs… they went numb.”

Wu Xiu’s face showed a hint of exasperation. After a pause, he warned, “Then drop back down.”

“After all, Mr. Lu said we must be extra cautious.”

“…”

“Oh…”

Vice President Xiao let out a plaintive sigh. His legs trembling, he hesitantly asked, “So, can I…”

“Can I switch to sitting instead?”

“…”

After a moment of measured thought, Wu Xiu reluctantly nodded, “Okay, but keep your movements minimal.”

Relieved, Vice President Xiao slowly transitioned from a crouch with his head in his hands to sitting squarely on the ground.

Seeing that he’d managed it without incident, Captain Wu Xiu and the armed soldiers collectively exhaled in relief.

“Clatter…”

Suddenly, a faint noise echoed through the space.

It was soft, but in the silence of the courtyard, every heart skipped a beat.

Swish, swish, swish.

Numerous gun barrels pivoted simultaneously toward a spot.

Under the glow of the courtyard lights, at the east corner of the villa’s wall, a hidden iron net was pried open.

In the tense, nearly breathless atmosphere, a cluster of dark hair slowly emerged from the hole beneath the net. As the armed soldiers were about to fire, they noticed that beneath the dark hair was a woman’s face.

Her face was marked with bruises and scars, her expression a mix of alertness and panic.

When the armed police caught sight of her, she too noticed their presence, and both sides were startled.

“Ah, you…”

As she took in the badges on Wu Xiu and the others’ shoulders, her panic gave way to a mix of shock and relief. “Are you police?” she asked breathlessly.

“Quick, help me…”

Her face lit up with the thrill of survival as she hurriedly began to climb up, her voice trembling with tears, “That man, that devil, locked me in the basement and tortured me…”

“I… I barely managed to escape…”

“…”

The armed soldiers, previously on high alert, paused for a brief moment.

“Pingping, is that you?”

Instinctively, Vice President Xiao stood up. After a close look at the girl’s face, he quickly explained to Captain Wu Xiu, “She’s the girl abducted by Gao Yan… Brother Lu and I came looking for her.”

“Oh my God, how could someone torture her like this…”

Even as he spoke, the girl clambered out of the hole.

She appeared filthy, dotted with several bloodstains, clearly weak. Her hair was a tangled mess.

Her looks weren’t traditionally beautiful, but there was a fragile, gentle air about her – a slight stature marked by injury and a perpetually startled expression that tugged at one’s heart.

Her ascent was rushed. After taking a couple of steps forward, she stumbled and nearly fell.

Vice President Xiao and a few nearby police officers, startled, instinctively reached out to catch her.

“Don’t move!”

At that moment, Captain Wu Xiu barked a sharp command.

Everyone froze, their outstretched hands hanging in mid-air.

“Mr. Lu instructed that no one should touch anything they see or hear.”

With a stern look, Captain Wu Xiu ordered in a low voice, “Everyone, fall back.”

“Uh…”

The command left many feeling baffled – after all, she was an injured hostage…

Yet under Captain Wu Xiu’s unwavering gaze, they hesitantly withdrew, slowly retracting their hands.

The girl, clearly frightened by Wu Xiu’s cold demeanor, faltered and collapsed to the ground.

Lifting her head, tears welled in her eyes as she timidly asked,

“Aren’t you here to save me?”

“I really… just want to get out of here!”

“…”

Witnessing her fall, many of the armed police felt a pang of compassion.

Even Captain Wu Xiu’s hardened expression softened slightly as he spoke gently, “Don’t worry. No one will hurt you again. Just wait a little longer, and we’ll get you out of here.”

“But for now, sit still and don’t move, understand?”

“…”

Through tear-filled eyes, the girl looked up at Wu Xiu and softly nodded, “Okay…I’ll behave.”

Several onlookers in the courtyard averted their gaze, unable to watch any longer.

……

“Clatter…”

At that moment, Lu Xin forcefully pushed open the villa’s living room door and stepped into the courtyard.

Scanning the area, his eyes fell on the girl who had appeared. Noticing that she was merely sitting on the lawn, and that the armed police and others were keeping their distance, with the courtyard unchanged since entering the villa, he exhaled in relief and hurried over.

It seemed that although these armed police weren’t the most professional, they executed orders precisely.

“Mr. Lu, she…”

Seeing Lu Xin emerge, Wu Xiu and the armed police grew excited and rushed over. “She…”

“No need. I know who she is,” Lu Xin said as he waved Wu Xiu off and quickened his steps toward the girl.

Hearing Lu Xin’s approaching footsteps, the girl glanced up at him but quickly dropped her gaze in fear.

Lu Xin knelt down and examined her quietly.

There was no need for introductions – it was the very girl who had been abducted and abused by Gao Yan.

She had apparently been held in the basement, but had made her escape through a vent, narrowly missing him earlier.

He had seen that vent before – it wasn’t big, so it wasn’t surprising that a frail girl could squeeze through.

Yet, considering how deep the basement was, the determination it took for her to climb out through the pipes was remarkable.

……

As he pondered, he continued to scrutinize her.

It was confirmed that Gao Yan had been contaminated, but whether he had passed that contamination on required further investigation.

Gao Yan’s father had recently been so enraged that not even a trace of pests appeared in his eyes – the chance of contamination was minimal.

Thus, the girl who had been in contact with Gao Yan the longest was now a key subject for investigation.

Observing her closely, Lu Xin noted she appeared to be around twenty – dressed in a disheveled set of pajamas, with nothing else underneath. The fabric clung to her frail frame, highlighting every curve.

The silky pajamas were of a fine quality – no doubt valuable.

Yet the bloodstains on them and the faint, wicker-like marks on her body stood in stark contrast.

Kneeling before her, Lu Xin could sense her terror. On this cold night, wearing nothing but thin silk pajamas, she shivered uncontrollably – a tear rolling slowly down her chin.

It was heartbreaking to see such a delicate girl, already tormented, suffer even more…

Lu Xin sighed softly, removing his jacket to drape gently over her.

“Ah…”

With timid eyes, she stole a glance at Lu Xin, a grateful smile breaking through her tear-streaked face.

Suddenly, Lu Xin’s expression changed. He quickly removed the jacket he had just placed on her.

Slowly rising to his feet, his body stiffened noticeably.

Both the armed police and Vice President Xiao watched him with concern.

Every eye around him seemed devoid of color, resembling a milk-filled pool from which countless red insects writhed and struggled, bursting forth from deep within.

An indescribable strangeness descended, casting a heavy, oppressive air over everything.