Car Hijacking

The moment I thought that the madman Bai Ye might be making a move, I tensed up immediately. Of course, there was also a hint of anticipation—I hoped this time we could finally catch Bai Ye.

Frankly, this was the police’s best chance. Bai Ye had no cards left to play. He was clearly desperate, otherwise he wouldn’t be acting so hastily. At such a critical juncture, I was sure the police would have everything tightly covered. As soon as Bai Ye appeared, there was no way he would escape arrest.

Following the route given by Fang Qinghe over the phone, Jin Ze sped towards Cien Hospital.

On the way, Jin Ze made a call—not to Fang Qinghe, but to Miao Miao, asking her for the details about Fang Lin. I didn’t know why he chose not to ask Fang Qinghe, but instead Miao Miao. I guessed it might be because of what he’d discovered today. Although he claimed to trust Fang Qinghe, to say there was no barrier at all would be a lie.

Once Jin Ze hung up, I quickly asked him about Fang Lin’s situation.

What I heard left me stunned. Apparently, when the guard brought food to Fang Lin, she was found lying in a pool of blood. Upon closer inspection, her abdomen had been torn open, her intestines exposed.

No one believed someone could have sneaked into the detention center and inflicted such cruelty upon Fang Lin, especially since her security was top-level.

But it was soon confirmed that this gruesome act hadn’t been committed by anyone else—it was Fang Lin herself!

Her hands were covered in fresh blood, even her forearms stained, clearly from her reaching into her own abdomen and pulling out her intestines.

Hearing this, my scalp tingled. Fang Lin had no sharp objects. To use her bare hands to tear open her own stomach—such depravity was unimaginable. I couldn’t fathom the pain, especially since she had no anesthesia. And her hands had recently been pierced by steel nails and hadn’t fully healed—double the agony. How could anyone endure such suffering?

But Fang Lin was no ordinary person. I knew all too well how twisted she was. Never mind how she’d turned her foster father into a grotesque mummy—even when I hammered a steel nail into her palm not long ago, she hadn’t uttered a single cry!

I shuddered, then asked Jin Ze, “Did the police torture her? Interrogate her with force? Otherwise, why would she rather kill herself than live? Who doesn’t want to live in this world?”

Jin Ze quickly retorted, “If she wanted to kill herself, there are plenty of ways—strangulation, biting or swallowing her tongue, banging her head against the wall… Why choose such a horrific method?”

I thought, yes, why choose such a dreadful way to die?

Jin Ze explained, “The only explanation is that such an injury can’t be treated at the station. She had to be taken to a hospital for surgery and a blood transfusion. In other words, Fang Lin wanted to leave the station—this was her method of escape…”

Hearing Jin Ze’s words, my mind jolted awake and I blurted out, “Ah, I understand now. She’s planning to escape? But didn’t she pass out from the pain? How could she still run?”

Before Jin Ze could explain, I realized it myself and said urgently, “Accomplices! Fang Lin is a high-ranking member of Dawn—there must be someone to rescue her. This is her plan. You mustn’t let Dawn succeed. This might not be Bai Ye’s doing, but Dawn’s! Quick, call Captain Fang. Don’t let anything happen.”

Jin Ze glanced at me, then smiled gently, “Chen Mu, compared to being a twisted killer, you’re more suited to be a police officer like me. There’s often just a thin line between angels and demons—it’s all about our choices. I’m no angel, and you were once a demon, but you can choose for yourself now. Your analysis is correct—this is Dawn’s operation. But don’t worry; what we can think of, so can Captain Fang. He’ll have backup plans. If they dare show up, we’ll catch them.”

As soon as Jin Ze finished speaking, I heard police sirens wailing behind us. In the rearview mirror, I saw a police car clearing the way, Jin Ze made way for them, letting the police car overtake us. Behind it was an ambulance, and another police car bringing up the rear.

I knew this had to be Fang Qinghe’s convoy. Fang Lin must be in that ambulance, with multiple officers assigned to guard her—just as Jin Ze had said.

Jin Ze followed at a distance. As the convoy reached a crossroads, a heavy truck suddenly charged out from the side, speeding recklessly past the lead police car. If not for the quick reflexes of the police driver, who accelerated and swerved aside, they would’ve been crushed. Even so, the police car crashed into the guardrail, and its occupants were surely injured.

Immediately, five or six people jumped out of the truck. What startled me was that their movements were stiff, their faces and bodies smeared with blood and even rotting flesh. They looked like a pack of zombies, reminding me of that American show, The Walking Dead.

Wide-eyed with terror, I said to Jin Ze, “What the hell is this, why are there zombies?”

Jin Ze replied, “They’re not zombies—they’re made up to look like this, partly to scare us and partly to steel their own nerves. But look at them—all dazed and fearless. I suspect they’re all drugged, their nerves shot, maybe even hypnotized and brainwashed.”

He added, “Be careful. Don’t leave the car unless absolutely necessary.”

With that, Jin Ze drew his pistol, opened the door, and got out, staying right beside the car to avoid being lured away—a lesson learned from my previous kidnapping.

Just then, two more cars rushed out. One disgorged another group of zombie-like assailants, while the other contained normal-looking people, some armed.

These men charged the ambulance, hauled out the stretcher, and the escorting officers opened fire—not to kill, but to shoot the criminals in the legs. Several fell, paralyzed.

Still, Fang Lin was carried away before our eyes, loaded into a distant car and driven off, followed by several others—I couldn’t tell if they were accomplices.

I was shaken to the core. I’d known Dawn was formidable, but I hadn’t imagined they could wield such power or act so brazenly, not fearing public panic. Clearly, Fang Lin’s status was high. And for such a mad organization to be unable to deal with the Avenger—well, that proved just how terrifying the Avenger must be.

At that moment, Jin Ze got back in the car. He didn’t give chase but turned and continued toward the hospital, leaving me puzzled—this wasn’t his style.

Just as I was wondering, Jin Ze said, “The one they took wasn’t Fang Lin, but a decoy. I saw several plainclothes officers tailing the criminals. This was all part of Captain Fang’s plan—a baited hook.”

Hearing this, I realized why Fang Qinghe could lead the cold case squad—he possessed remarkable wisdom and nerve. Any other leader might have had the idea, but wouldn’t dare implement it. One misstep and their career would be over.

I was confident now—the police would catch many criminals this time, laying a solid foundation for solving a major case.

Soon, we arrived at Cien Hospital and saw Fang Qinghe. He had secretly brought Fang Lin to the hospital via another route in a private car. Fang Lin was already in surgery.

We waited outside the operating room for a long time. After the operation, Fang Lin was transferred to a ward, where she slept for another two hours. When she awoke, Fang Qinghe asked me to go in and talk to her. He said that people’s emotions were most vulnerable at such times, and I might be able to get some useful clues.

I went to her bedside. Fang Lin looked very lucid. As I sat down, she suddenly said, “Chen Mu, you’re back. The sheep has finally become a wolf.”

I paused, asking what she meant.

She smiled, “I just saw you. Your eyes are no longer those of a sheep, but of a wolf.”

I thought to myself, what nonsense—I just walked in!

Just then, a sense of danger crawled over me—a primal, instinctive warning. I had the feeling someone was behind me.

I glanced sideways, heart leaping into my throat. Beneath the half-open bathroom door, I caught a glimpse of a pair of shoes, just barely visible through the gap...