Chapter Fifteen: Trapped to the Point of No Return

Page 1 of 3

The statistics during a new book’s early release period are very important. If you enjoy the story, please remember to add it to your collection, and preferably cast a recommendation vote as well. Many thanks.

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

Less than ten minutes later, a patrol car stopped at the mouth of the alley. Two officers got out and hurried inside. When they saw Hua Twelve lying on the ground, his face and body covered in blood, they assumed a murder had taken place.

One of them immediately called out to the somewhat timid Chen Nian nearby.

“Who called the police? What happened? Is anyone dead?”

But as soon as he finished speaking, the man they had taken for a corpse raised his hand.

“I called. Three people beat me up. This girl was passing by after school and wanted to help me call the police, but they robbed her of fifty yuan and scared her half to death!”

When he said that, both officers breathed a sigh of relief. It did not look like a murder after all.

One of the officers found his voice somewhat familiar. He swept his flashlight over Hua Twelve, who was lying on the ground, and examined him closely for a moment before suddenly letting out a laugh.

“Isn’t this Liu Beishan? What happened? Got into a fight today and lost?”

Sure enough, Liu Beishan, who showed up at the police station every few days, was already a familiar name in the local precinct.

The officers did not think much of petty thugs. Seeing that Hua Twelve still had plenty of strength in his voice, they knew he was not seriously injured, and a teasing note naturally crept into the officer’s tone.

Hua Twelve hurriedly protested.

“Hey, hey, Officer, don’t accuse an innocent man! Ask the girl beside me—I never struck back once. How can this be called a fight?”

As he spoke, he turned to Chen Nian.

“Miss, isn’t that right?”

He had frightened her earlier with his threats, so she jumped when he addressed her and blurted out:

“I saw three people holding him down and beating him. He probably didn’t fight back!”

The officer found her wording amusing and burst out laughing.

“So calling it a fight is an insult to you, is that it? All right, we still need to investigate and gather evidence before deciding who was right and who was wrong. Can you stand up? If you can, come back to the station with us first and give a statement.”

“Hua Twelve” waved his hand.

“That can wait, Officer. I called the police, so shouldn’t you go arrest them too? Those three are local punks. After robbing her, they must have gone to an Internet café. They should be at…”

Having absorbed Liu Beishan’s memories, he knew that the three men had attacked him to settle an old score.

Page 1 of 3

Page 2 of 3

Although he was not particularly familiar with them, he knew where they usually hung around online. He immediately told the officers which Internet café they frequented. Barring any surprises, the police would catch them there without difficulty.

Hua Twelve also described the three men’s appearances, paying special attention to the leader—a tattooed man with a full sleeve, wearing a vertically striped short-sleeved shirt.

The two officers exchanged glances. One of them used his radio to call another patrol car and have it go arrest the men. Only then did he turn back to Hua Twelve.

“Get up.”

Hua Twelve pointed at his injuries.

“I can’t. Everything hurts, and I’m dizzy. The whole world is spinning.”

Seeing the blood covering his head and face, the officer believed him to some extent and immediately called an ambulance.

Of the two officers who arrived, one boarded the ambulance and accompanied Hua Twelve to the hospital for an examination, while Chen Nian rode to the station with the other officer to give her statement.

When Hua Twelve saw the worried and conflicted look on Chen Nian’s face, he called out to the officers as she was getting into the police car.

“Officer, she looks like a senior in her final year of high school. She’s preparing for the university entrance examination, so her time is precious. Once you’ve taken her statement, please let her go home!”

The officer who was waiting with him for the ambulance laughed and scolded him.

“You’ve been beaten half to death, and you’re still worrying about other people? Don’t worry. We know what we’re doing!”

Chen Nian gave Hua Twelve a complicated look before getting into the police car.

Once the ambulance arrived, Hua Twelve immediately said to the officer accompanying him:

“Officer, take me to the Public Security Hospital. I want a medical examination for my injuries. Also, I don’t have any money for treatment. In a case involving intentional assault, can the police station cover the medical expenses for the victim first?”

The officer frowned.

“Behave yourself. Do you think I don’t know what kind of person you, Liu Beishan, are? We still have to investigate whether this was a mutual fight. Whether it was intentional assault isn’t for you to decide!”

Hua Twelve was injured and uncomfortable. Though his wounds were not severe, he had no desire to argue. He had not fought back, and the truth would come out once they investigated. Besides, Chen Nian could testify on his behalf. He simply lay on the stretcher, closed his eyes, and said nothing.

The officer did not say anything more. He merely told the ambulance driver to change course for the Public Security Hospital.

While the ambulance was on the road, the accompanying officer received word that the three men who had surrounded and beaten Hua Twelve had been caught—exactly where Hua Twelve had said they would be, inside an Internet café. Another team had already taken them back to the station.

When the ambulance reached the Public Security Hospital, Hua Twelve immediately underwent a full examination. The doctors checked everything and treated his injuries as well, applying medicine and bandaging the wounds where necessary.

While they waited for the examination results, the officer also took his statement. Hua Twelve told the truth for the most part. Chen Nian could testify that he had been beaten, and he could testify that Chen Nian had been robbed.

After giving his statement, Hua Twelve asked about Chen Nian.

The officer did not make things difficult for him. After contacting the station, he told Hua Twelve that Chen Nian had been sent home after giving her statement and identifying the suspects. The facts that the three thugs had assaulted and robbed her could essentially be established.

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3

The medical assessment was also ready by then: minor injuries.

When Hua Twelve heard the doctor and the officer refer to his wounds as minor, he suddenly interrupted.

“Wait a moment. My memory is somewhat hazy. Would this still count as minor injuries?”

The officer and the doctor exchanged glances, both with an unreadable look in their eyes.

Their reaction came from the fact that Article Eight of the criteria for serious minor bodily injury clearly stipulated that confirmed head trauma accompanied by a brief disturbance of consciousness and an inability to recall recent events qualified as a minor bodily injury of the more serious grade.

Though the terms differed by only a single word, the consequences were vastly different.

The lesser classification carried a punishment of detention, whereas the more serious classification could result in up to three years’ imprisonment, criminal detention, probation, or restriction of liberty.

In other words, it meant a criminal sentence.

Yet Hua Twelve did not look like someone suffering from amnesia. By saying this, he clearly had no intention of letting the matter go peacefully. He wanted to make the other side pay.

The officer suspiciously asked the doctor:

“Could someone in his condition have amnesia?”

Although the doctor did not believe that Hua Twelve had actually lost his memory, he answered truthfully.

“From a medical standpoint, it is indeed possible.”

“Is there any way to confirm it?”

“He can undergo psychological tests and an assessment. However, since he has obvious external injuries, if the memory disturbance is only temporary, it will be difficult to determine.”

The officer turned to Hua Twelve.

“Are you certain your memory has been affected? You should understand that if it has, your statement will have no legal effect. In other words, your report that they robbed this girl could not be used to convict them.”

Hua Twelve had originally intended to ruin those three bastards. Robbery combined with causing serious minor bodily injury would earn them at least five years. If they wanted a lighter sentence, they would need him to issue a letter of forgiveness. He certainly would not write one unless their families paid him tens of thousands of yuan. Wouldn’t that give him his first real sum of money?

But it seemed that the robbery charge carried the heavier penalty. Feeling his luck had turned sour, he gave an awkward laugh.

“All right, I remember now. I was probably just too sleepy a moment ago.”

Page 3 of 3