Chapter 49: Five-Star Model Citizen

As Lin San spoke, nearly all the plainclothes officers rushed in the direction the two fugitives had escaped. However, their speed was noticeably slower than those two. Shen He glanced at the shattered glass on his windshield; there were already a few scratches on the hood.

Damn! A brand-new car, less than a week old! Are the local gangsters always this disrespectful? They’ve caused damage and just run off without compensating.

He stepped forward and said, “Captain Lin, do you need any help?”

Lin San pulled out his phone and checked; the collaborative investigation information about Shen He had already arrived. The credentials were correct, and the internal network matched up. This handsome young man before him had helped the Southern District Bureau of Xiangxiang City more than once, even single-handedly saving numerous civilians during a rescue operation. He was the very definition of a ‘five-star model citizen.’

According to the recently updated regulations, he could indeed be temporarily employed as a contractor. The only issue was the cost—it was steep. Lin San recalled the county bureau’s budget, gritted his teeth, and said, “Alright, fifty thousand for each, just bring them back alive. We’ll fill out the paperwork afterward; I’ll coordinate with the chief here.”

Truth be told, those two were worth much more than fifty thousand. But for the county bureau, fifty thousand was already their financial limit.

Shen He retrieved his alloy longsword from the car, patted Lin San’s shoulder, and said, “Alright, Captain Lin, just stay put and don’t wander. I’ll buy a few oranges... and bring them back.”

Lin San was momentarily stunned, then regained his composure and said seriously, “Remember, they’re not ordinary people. Your safety is paramount. If you can catch them, do it; if not, let it go.”

Shen He waved a hand without turning, then vaulted over the railing with a move reminiscent of a Dongguan street athlete, vanishing instantly into the darkness.

Seeing this, Lin San hurried to call the bureau chief for a heads-up.

...

Shen He moved through the darkness, his superhuman mental acuity sharpening his senses and focus. Even at a full sprint, he could notice the smallest details left on the road. Before long, he caught up with the group of plainclothes officers who had lost their quarry. With the speed those two displayed, it was nearly impossible for the officers to catch up.

But Shen He had confidence.

The two fugitives had split, each taking a different direction to share the burden of pursuit. This also indicated their familiarity with the county town, and perhaps they even had safehouses here. That way, after separating, they could regroup later. Judging by Lin San’s actions today, it was clear they’d been monitoring these targets for some time. Without a safehouse, Lin San wouldn’t have attempted an arrest at such a crowded, chaotic place as the Northeast Restaurant.

If Shen He could follow the clues left by one of them to their safe point—

Then he’d likely catch the other as well, without delaying his morning martial training.

He scrutinized the faint traces left on the ground, pausing outside a row of semi-detached villas. At the corner of the wall, there were footprints and fresh smudges—someone had just climbed over.

Interesting. Too afraid to use the front door, perhaps worried about the surveillance cameras?

He looked at the wall, barely two meters high. Shen He leapt over it with ease, landing softly inside the complex. Following the trail, he made his way toward a nearby villa.

The path he followed carefully avoided numerous cameras. The fugitive even doubled back, staying close to the city outskirts, not far from the Northeast Restaurant, right next to a traffic police station.

Quite cunning!

It reminded Shen He of a notorious character who once opened six massage parlors right outside the police station—none of them legal—driving the vice squad to laughter with rage.

Sword in hand, Shen He advanced, spotting more traces at the villa’s entrance.

Both fugitives had returned.

So confident, they hadn’t bothered to circle the area before coming back. Clearly, they believed nobody could catch up to them.

Shen He approached the door and politely rang the bell.

“Ding-dong!”

“Someone’s here!”

“Ding-dong!”

“Someone’s here!”

...

Soon, lights flickered on inside the villa, as if someone had just awoken upon hearing the bell.

Someone came to the door and called out, “Who is it? It’s late—can’t you let people sleep?”

Shen He wore an innocently friendly smile. “Hello, I’m from the community warmth delivery program.”

Inside, the wary man peering through the peephole was suddenly stunned, gazing at Shen He’s gentle face outside with a look of confusion.

Community warmth delivery? Since when was there such an activity? Why hadn’t he heard of it?

Perhaps it was the lighting; he didn’t recognize that the person outside was Shen San’s fellow townsman, someone he’d met twice before.

The bell rang again, and Shen He’s voice followed: “Open the door! Hurry up and open the door!”

“Don’t just hide in there—if you’ve got the guts not to pay your property fees, why not open the door as well?”

“Don’t think you can hide in silence—I know you’re home…”

The man behind the door was even more bewildered.

Sending warmth? Now it sounded like a property fee collector. He distinctly remembered paying a year’s fees in advance—why was someone coming to collect again?

He was the most proactive fee-payer in the complex, yet here he was being subjected to aggressive collection tactics. Half a year early, and at night, too. Did they think he was made of clay? The ones who didn’t pay never got this treatment.

So good people get a gun pointed at them, huh?

The man flung open the door, ready to reason with this so-called property agent.

But as soon as the door opened, a heavy slap landed across his face.

He had no time to react; the blow knocked him flat, unconscious.

Shen He clicked his tongue twice. “Young people sleep so well—anywhere, anytime. My sword was wasted.”

He crouched, sword in one hand, grabbed the man’s collar with the other, and dragged him inside, closing the door behind him with a deft kick, as if he owned the place.

No sooner had he dumped the man on the sofa than another voice called down from upstairs.

“Old Five, what was that noise just now?”

“Don’t tell me those cops followed us? Say something—don’t just play dumb.”

…

Shen He headed upstairs, replying, “The cops didn’t come. The five-star model citizen did.”

At his words, the man upstairs fell silent.

Footsteps approached, and soon the other fugitive appeared before Shen He.

Upon seeing him, the man stared in surprise.

Pointing at Shen He, he said, “Aren’t you Shen San’s fellow townsman? The one nicknamed ‘Bookworm’? You were the one helping the cops chase us, weren’t you?”

Shen He fell silent.

He hadn’t realized it! That bastard Shen San was so jealous of him, he’d gone so far as to give him the nickname ‘Bookworm.’ Was it just because he was better looking, smarter, and more charming?

Such petty jealousy!

Well, he deserved to be caught!