Chapter 140: Sails in the Sea of Clouds

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Li Changqing was still smiling. “Believe me. As long as you cooperate, you and those two old people will be fine. They will only be truly safe once the first operation begins.”

A dozen or so members of Group Seven hurried over from nearby. They had all been stationed around the area.

This had been arranged by Li Changqing from the very beginning, in case anything went wrong and Zhang Xun’er tried to escape.

The vehicle waiting to take them back was a minibus.

The two old people noticed nothing unusual. After all, these were federal police officers, not criminals.

Zhang Xun’er, however, was in a very heavy mood.

Members of Group Seven were seated all around her. Besides, Liu Shuqin and Huang Deshui were accompanying them, so there was no way she could escape.

She could not help glancing at Li Changqing, who was seated toward the front. This fellow had attacked the leader of Group Seven with such ferocity before, yet who would have thought it had all been an act?

She had actually believed it.

No—that still did not change the fact that he was a zombie.

How was she supposed to explain that?

Zhang Xun’er frowned slightly, unable to make sense of it.

Hu Xiong sat beside Li Changqing, grinning broadly. In a low voice, he said, “Judging from Zhang Xun’er’s attitude, she’ll probably talk once we get back. You really do have a way with things.”

“Still, letting her go was a little risky. Why didn’t you try telling her directly, back in the first operation, that Shen Yan was hunting her?”

Li Changqing shook his head. “If we had told her that in the first operation, would she have believed us?”

“Besides, if I hadn’t created an opportunity like this, how would I have gotten the chance to beat Zheng Pingchi?”

Hu Xiong lowered his voice. “I have to admit, you really went hard on him… But it was satisfying.”

Bai Chuan sat nearby with his eyes closed, resting.

Before long, the vehicle drove directly into the headquarters building of Bureau One.

Two members of Group Seven escorted the two old people to the guest-room floor to rest.

The others did not return to the twenty-seventh floor. Instead, they went straight to the thirtieth.

Li Changqing, Hu Xiong, and Bai Chuan brought Zhang Xun’er to the door of a conference room and knocked.

They then pushed the door open and entered.

Shen Qingdai was already inside. When she saw Zhang Xun’er enter, she smiled and waved to her.

Seated at the head of the table was Yun Haifan, director of Bureau One.

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Yun Haifan wore the uniform of the Investigation Bureau. He was in his forties, with a square face and a somewhat stern expression. When he saw Li Changqing and the others enter, he gestured for them to sit.

His gaze remained fixed on Zhang Xun’er.

There were eleven other people in the room.

Bureau One had twelve groups in total, each numbering around twenty members.

Those present now were all the group leaders except for the leader of Group Seven.

“Miss Zhang Xun’er, this is our first meeting.” Yun Haifan’s expression was calm. “I imagine you’ve already thought things through on the way here.”

Shen Qingdai came over and sat beside Zhang Xun’er, urging her, “Second Sister, tell them. Once you do, the Paranormal Investigation Bureau can guarantee our safety.”

“Shen Yan is vicious by nature. I merely lost a dock, and he tried to kill me…” Shen Qingdai sighed before continuing slowly. “Following him will never end well.”

Zhang Xun’er’s expression remained calm. Before coming here, she had already made up her mind. Refusing to speak was impossible, but she had to settle the conditions first.

“Until you completely eliminate Shen Yan, you must protect me and my family.”

“After Shen Yan is dead, you must not stop us from leaving.”

Yun Haifan nodded slightly. “Naturally…”

“Paper and a pen,” Zhang Xun’er said.

A notebook and a fountain pen were quickly handed to her.

She immediately began writing down addresses and door numbers.

Her expression remained composed as she said, “Most of the unfinished monsters he keeps are hidden inside residential buildings. Over the years, he purchased a great deal of property specifically to house them.”

“They are scattered throughout the Madelent District, more than two hundred in all.”

“Each door requires a unique code to open. If you force your way in, it will trigger the mechanisms and release every monster inside.”

“I also suggest that when you begin the operation, you immediately surround the Jade Virtue Group headquarters. Shen Yan spends most of his time inside that building.”

“There are around fifty monsters in the building, though none of them are particularly powerful.”

“There are also three concealed exits. Their locations are the sewer entrance on Pingxin Street…”

Zhang Xun’er’s memory was astonishing.

She remembered the addresses and door numbers of more than two hundred rooms, even the codes needed to open each one.

With such meticulous attention to detail, it was no wonder Shen Yan had entrusted her with this assignment.

“One more warning,” she added. “Before the mechanisms are activated, all these unfinished monsters will remain asleep.”

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“Once the mechanisms are activated, they will awaken.”

Yun Haifan asked, “Under what circumstances will the mechanisms activate?”

“Shen Yan has control devices in his possession, and one is installed on his person as well. The moment his heart stops beating, the mechanisms will be triggered.”

After recording these details, Yun Haifan’s expression darkened.

If they attacked the monsters directly, Shen Yan would escape.

They would have to strike both sides at the same time.

“If these unfinished monsters are still asleep, one person should be enough to deal with each of them,” Yun Haifan said quietly. “Groups One through Eleven, excluding Group Seven—that makes two hundred people in total. Each person will take one address. Proceed there at once, and within half a minute of receiving the order, enter the building and eliminate the monster inside.”

“Yes.”

The various group leaders rose and accepted their orders.

“Group Twelve and Group Seven.” Yun Haifan turned to Hu Xiong. “Mr. Hu is the leader of Group Three of Bureau Thirty-Six. You will serve as acting leader of Group Seven.”

“The two of your groups will be responsible for attacking the Jade Virtue Group headquarters. Under no circumstances can Shen Yan be allowed to escape.”

Hu Xiong stood awkwardly. “Well… I’m not familiar with the members of Group Seven. Besides, wouldn’t it be rather reckless for just our two groups to attack the Jade Virtue Group headquarters?”

“I will ask Mr. Chen Cheng to lead the operation,” Yun Haifan replied. “Move out immediately.”

Everyone sprang into action. After writing down the addresses assigned to them, they hurried away.

The leader of Group Twelve was named Jiang Jiayi. He was still fairly young.

“Hello.” Jiang Jiayi stepped forward amiably and shook Hu Xiong’s hand. He then looked at Li Changqing, a flicker passing through his eyes. “You’re the one who gave Zheng Pingchi a beating, aren’t you? Impressive. You actually beat that fellow right here in our headquarters.”

Judging from the smile on Jiang Jiayi’s face, he and Zheng Pingchi probably did not get along particularly well either.

Li Changqing merely nodded awkwardly without saying anything more.

Just as they were about to leave the conference room, Zhang Xun’er rose and reminded them with a frown, “You’d better watch out for the Yellow Mountain Tortoise. That old bastard is not easy to deal with.”

Li Changqing paused. Shen Qingdai nodded beside him and said, “That old tortoise is extremely powerful. Be careful.”

“Understood.” Li Changqing nodded.

The group quickly went downstairs to gather their men. Soon, they all headed toward the Jade Virtue Group headquarters, murderous intent radiating from them.