Chapter 20

“Don’t they deserve to die?” Zhang Liang retorted, then continued, “No one is innocent, no one is innocent… they all deserve to die, they all deserve to die…” He repeated this in a loop, as if trapped in a specific emotional state.

“Hey! What are you muttering about? Answer our questions!” Xiang Yang rapped on the table, trying to snap him out of it.

But the effect was minimal. Zhang Liang’s expression grew cautious, his eyes darting around without settling on any one spot for more than a second. He wrapped his arms tightly around himself, adopting a self-protective posture.

It was unclear whether his mental state was genuinely unstable or if he was stalling for time. Though he had just pointed out Pei Shasha under stress, he might already be regretting it. After all, his instinct to protect Pei Shasha had become almost reflexive over the years. Right now, his mind might be split in two, locked in an internal conflict.

Jiang Li narrowed his dark eyes. After a few seconds, he turned and gave Cai Chengji a meaningful look. “Bao, go…”

Cai Chengji hesitated briefly before catching on. He stood up and walked out immediately.

Jiang Li then glanced at Su Yan, who understood his intention. She grabbed her notebook and followed Cai Chengji out of the interrogation room. Regardless of Zhang Liang’s current state, his earlier statements provided ample reason to bring Pei Shasha in for questioning. Jiang Li feared complications—Pei Shasha had already killed those she deemed deserving and could flee Great Peace Village at any moment.

Back in the office, Cai Chengji gathered three more officers, and the five of them set off for Great Peace Village. Su Yan took the wheel again—when it came to acceleration, Cai Chengji doubted anyone in the entire precinct could match her.

“Once we reach Great Peace Village, here’s the plan…” Cai Chengji twisted awkwardly in the passenger seat to brief the three officers in the back about the arrest operation. Ideally, Pei Shasha would be at home and compliant. But if she panicked and fled, they’d be at a disadvantage—she knew the terrain far better than they did. The village bordered a mountain, which, though not large and frequented by hikers, would make combing the mountain a nightmare if she escaped into it.

It was just past noon when they arrived. The village entrance, usually bustling, was eerily quiet. Ever since the hidden camera scandal went viral, the buses running between the city and the village had been nearly empty.

As their police car pulled up, an empty bus was turning around to head back. The road into the village showed little activity—just a couple of villagers lounging in the shade of the trees, escaping the midday heat.

Their police vehicle stood out starkly in the deserted scene.

After some thought, Cai Chengji decided to park the police car at the intersection leading to Pei Shasha’s home. The five of them got out one after another, with two officers splitting off to circle around the back alley toward the rear courtyard. Meanwhile, Cai led Su Yan and another colleague to the front gate.

Once the two officers in the backyard confirmed their positions via the communicator, Cai Chengji stopped Su Yan, who was about to follow them inside. “Stay here as backup. You’re not armed, and if anything happens, no one can take responsibility for it.”

Su Yan obediently withdrew her foot and stood by the base of the courtyard wall without arguing. In truth, Jiang Li had likely sent her along to watch the car and experience the atmosphere of an actual frontline arrest operation—a sign of trust that she wouldn’t recklessly cause trouble. The Special Task Force had already given her considerable freedom, and she wasn’t about to be ungrateful.

Cai Chengji seemed pleased with her compliance and nodded slightly. “I know you’re skilled, but that deranged woman Pei Shasha could be carrying anything. You must prioritize your own safety, understand?”

“Don’t worry, Brother Cai,” she said, practically swearing an oath.

“Good.” Finally satisfied, Cai signaled to the other officer, who stepped forward and pushed open the large iron gate. If anyone was inside, the creaking sound would surely alert them. With a loud crash, the two officers in the backyard kicked open the rear door, while Cai and his partner rushed into the courtyard and entered the house within seconds.

The front door wasn’t locked, so they got in without trouble.

Once the operation began, Su Yan glanced up at the brick wall, barely taller than a person. Her eyes gleamed as she leaped up and grabbed the top, keeping low and only peeking over with half her head, frowning as she observed the scene inside. Half a minute had passed since they entered, yet there was no sound from within.

Suddenly, a figure slipped out through a side window of the house.

In Great Peace Village, if neighboring households were on good terms, a narrow passage—just wide enough for one person—would be left between their courtyard walls for easy visits. Pei An’s family didn’t have such a passage with Zhang Liang’s, but they did with another neighbor. Clearly, Pei Shasha intended to escape through the half-open side gate.

“Brother Cai! She’s heading west!” Su Yan shouted from the wall.

Pei Shasha’s gaze shot toward her like a poisoned arrow—she hadn’t noticed the informant perched on the wall outside while plotting her escape. But no matter how venomous her glare, Cai Chengji’s warning soon echoed from inside: “Pei Shasha! You’re suspected of involvement in multiple homicides. Come with us for questioning!”

Three officers rushed out from the front and back doors to intercept her, while Cai Chengji reached the window she’d climbed through, intending to follow. But the window was too narrow for his six-foot frame, making it nearly impossible to squeeze through.

Pei Shasha saw the situation and swiftly drew a knife from her sleeve. Without hesitation, she turned and slashed at Cai Chengji, who was stuck in place, then kicked him hard, sending him tumbling inside. Her knife strike was precise, and her kick was sharp—clearly, she had some martial arts training.

All of this happened within mere seconds. Even if Su Yan jumped down from the wall, it would be too late. Two officers had initially rushed out from the main gate, but one turned back upon seeing the scene, shouting “Cai Bao, Cai Bao!” repeatedly, while the other two continued chasing Pei Shasha without slowing down.

Su Yan glanced at the figure darting into the neighboring courtyard, then turned her gaze toward where Cai Chengji had fallen. Clenching her teeth, she leaped off the wall and sprinted straight for the gate of the adjacent yard.

Pei Shasha had barely stepped out of the door when Su Yan closed in behind her. Pei Shasha tried to shake her off by weaving through alleys and narrow stone paths, leveraging her familiarity with the terrain. This tactic immediately left the two pursuing officers bewildered at the first intersection.

Fortunately, Su Yan’s collar was equipped with a communicator, allowing her to relay her route in real-time so her colleagues could catch up. Suppressing the discomfort from prolonged sprinting, she sighed inwardly—this body’s endurance still fell short compared to her own, a gap stemming from their differing training regimens. Normally, it wasn’t noticeable, but in urgent moments like this, even the smallest shortcomings became glaring.

Despite Pei Shasha’s evasive maneuvers, she couldn’t widen the gap much. Her breathing grew heavy and ragged, signaling her physical limits. Yet, her strength and stamina far surpassed that of an average woman, suggesting she had undergone rigorous conditioning or combat training.

Just then, Su Yan noticed the increasing greenery along the path and the faint sound of running water nearby. Her brow twitched as she tugged her collar and spoke into the communicator, “Not good—she’s heading for the mountains!”

Almost instantly, a sharp command crackled through her earpiece: “Do not pursue further! Hold your position!”

Su Yan’s eye twitched in frustration. Back in her previous line of work, she would’ve taken the shot from a hundred meters away—headshot if permitted, limbs if capture was required. But as a cop? Bound by red tape. Even now, though her colleagues were armed, they couldn’t act decisively. The only evidence against Pei Shasha was Zhang Liang’s testimony, preventing them from classifying her as a prime suspect or using lethal force during arrest.

Modern policing seemed to shackle officers—firearms were only a last resort for self-defense, followed by mountains of paperwork. Any misstep meant reprimands, penalties, or even suspension.

Honestly, who’s the real vulnerable group here?

“I repeat, hold your position!” The voice in her earpiece barked again.

Just as Pei Shasha turned her head, she caught sight of that mocking glint once more. But in a flash, the figure vanished into the dense forest ahead.  

The leaves rustled softly in the breeze, and the mountain woods were eerily silent. Pei Shasha disappeared like a ghost, leaving no trace behind. Su Yan stared in the direction she had vanished, where the dim forest light faded into pitch-black darkness—like the gaping maw of a beast waiting to swallow her whole.  

Su Yan tilted her head slightly and took a few cautious steps forward, lowering her stance as she squinted to examine the area where Pei Shasha had just passed. She remained frozen in that position for half a minute until the faintest crunch of leaves, almost imperceptible, reached her ears on the wind. She didn’t immediately turn toward the sound but instead kept her posture steady, glancing subtly from the corner of her eye. A few thick tree trunks stood there, dappled with shifting sunlight filtering through the leaves.  

After a moment’s hesitation, she ventured a few more steps forward, now fully immersed in the dense woods, then stopped. Lifting her collar, she spoke into her communicator, “Pei Shasha has entered the mountain. I’ll head down to meet you.” As she spoke, she leisurely turned to walk back the way she came.  

Then—out of nowhere! A pair of pale, almost ghostly arms reached out from the shadows behind her. In a swift motion, the assailant wrapped an arm around Su Yan, pressing the cold blade of a knife—still smeared with a faint trace of red—against her delicate neck.  

“Where do you think you’re going, Officer?”  

A woman’s voice, laced with an odd cadence, whispered in her ear.