Chapter 81: Kneeling and Bowing

“Withdraw the men. I’ll go with him. Don’t make trouble,” Ye Tian said at last, after a long silence.

For now, he had no desire to invite unnecessary complications.

There was a reason.

If he wished to put down roots in Zhongdu in the future, he could not afford to be at odds with those in power. Killing enforcers at the slightest disagreement would surely provoke the displeasure of the upper echelons, making any future dealings fraught with even more resistance.

Moreover, since he had already called Tang Long, that old fox would naturally send someone to handle the matter. It would be better to keep the peace for now and go to the precinct for a talk.

“Yes, please be careful. I’ll take Miss Li home first,” Zhu Yun’er replied, nodding. With a sharp rap of her wooden clapper, the death guards responded instantly, transforming into countless shadows that vanished from sight in a blink.

She then swept Li Muqing into her arms and, to the latter’s startled cry, vaulted over the courtyard wall together.

The roar of a sports car’s engine echoed as they sped away, leaving only the fading sound behind.

The assembled enforcers exchanged bewildered glances, dumbfounded.

Such a large group had just left brazenly before their very eyes?!

“Ahem—you wanted to arrest me, right? Let’s get it over with,” Ye Tian shrugged.

“Forget it. Just take him in for now.”

…

Zhongdu City Enforcement Bureau.

Interrogation room.

Ye Tian leaned back in the interrogation chair, his expression unreadable, while across from him Wang Jianguo looked at him with a cold sneer.

At that moment, Wang Jianguo was filling out paperwork with one hand, while directing a camera and asking, “What’s your name and age?”

“Ye Tian.”

Bang!

“Still playing dumb!” Wang Jianguo slammed the table, glaring. “If you keep resisting law enforcement, I’ll add more charges to your record!”

“I’m listing your crimes now. If anything’s incorrect, you may object.”

“First, you led a criminal organization, forcefully broke into someone else’s factory despite warnings, and intended to cause bodily harm. Is this correct?”

“Second, you resisted law enforcement, damaged an officer’s bodycam, and attempted murder. Is this correct?”

Ye Tian stared coolly at the camera, letting out a cold laugh.

As if whatever crime he’d supposedly committed was up to the enforcer’s whim.

Other than trespassing on the factory grounds without permission—which Ye Tian admitted—the rest of Wang Jianguo’s accusations were utter nonsense!

Intentional injury?

He hadn’t even made a single move to hurt anyone, and that fat Wang hadn’t lost so much as a hair—how was that intentional injury?

As for attempted murder, that was pure fabrication, nothing but baseless slander.

Seeing Wang Jianguo’s self-satisfied look, Ye Tian felt no anxiety at all. Instead, he replied in a languid tone, “Not a single word of that crap is true.”

“And I’ll guarantee this much—before long, you’ll be begging for my forgiveness on your knees!”

Not only Wang Jianguo, but even the two enforcers assisting him, frowned as though looking at a madman.

“Captain, did you bring in a lunatic? Maybe we should send him over to the hospital?”

“Are you stupid? He’s just feigning insanity!” Wang Jianguo snapped. “Didn’t I teach you about these types? Just give them a few whacks and they’ll straighten right out!”

Saying this, he grabbed a riot baton and, without another word, swung it straight at Ye Tian’s head.

In the main hall of the enforcement bureau.

“Please, let me in to see the chief—even just a few words!” A hunched old woman clung to the reception counter, repeatedly pleading with the receptionist, her eyes full of worry.

When the enforcers had taken Ye Tian away, Aunt Liu had been frozen in shock. As soon as she recovered, she dropped her work and hurried over by bus.

Never had she imagined that, just for meeting with her, the young master would be arrested.

“He didn’t hurt anyone—I can testify! Please, just let me in!” Aunt Liu begged in a low, humble voice.

“It’s interrogation time. If you want to provide evidence, come back after the session tomorrow,” the receptionist said impatiently. “Besides, our enforcers are always impartial. There’s no such thing as the kind of framing you’re talking about.”

“Go on, go on—if you keep interfering, I’ll have you arrested, too!” With that, the receptionist promptly threw Aunt Liu out of the hall.

Outside, a light rain began to fall. The old woman could only stand sorrowfully at the bureau entrance, praying that nothing terrible would happen to Ye Tian.

“Young master, it’s all my fault for dragging you into this,” Aunt Liu murmured, using her coat to shield her head. With her health, even a slight chill could leave her unable to work—and she’d be dismissed for sure…

Just then, a burly man in a business suit, clearly a leader of some sort, rushed into the enforcement bureau.

The staff immediately greeted him, “Chief Zhang!”

“Don’t call me—I’m in no mood!” Chief Zhang wiped the rain from his face, roaring, “Where is that brat Wang Jianguo? Tell him to get out here!”

“Chief, Captain Wang is interrogating a suspect,” the receptionist stammered, cowed by the ferocity in Zhang’s voice. He’d never seen the chief this furious.

“Tell him—Never mind, which interrogation room is he in? I’ll go myself!”

Without waiting for an answer, Chief Zhang followed the receptionist’s directions straight to Interrogation Room Two and kicked the door open.

Inside—

“Well, you’re a tough one!”

Wang Jianguo had raised the iron baton high and brought it down hard on Ye Tian’s shoulder, producing a metallic clang.

But the baton hadn’t even touched Ye Tian; his protective energy shield had absorbed the blow.

Ye Tian sat motionless in the interrogation chair, sneering. “Didn’t have your breakfast? That’s all the strength you’ve got?”

That only incensed Wang Jianguo further, and he rained down blows in a fury.

But after a whole bout, it was as if he were striking the armor of a tank. Ye Tian hadn’t lost a single hair.

“Wang Jianguo!”

Just as Wang Jianguo was puzzling over the situation, a thunderous shout erupted behind him, nearly scaring his soul out of his body. The iron baton flew from his hand.

“Ch-Chief Zhang!” Wang Jianguo stammered, cold sweat breaking out on his back.

He was finished. Chief Zhang had strictly forbidden torture, and now he’d have to face punishment again…

He was so frustrated, he couldn’t help glaring at Ye Tian.

Martial artists were such a nuisance. If only he’d just finished him off at the factory!

But the next instant, a broad palm swung out of nowhere, sending Wang Jianguo sprawling.

“You still dare call me Chief Zhang? You think you’re above the law!” Chief Zhang bellowed.

“Chief, I just—” Wang Jianguo clutched his burning cheek, eyes full of grievance. He’d only been extracting a confession by force; normally it just meant a slap on the wrist. Why was the chief so furious today?

“You’re an absolute disgrace!” Chief Zhang’s beard shook with rage. He landed a fierce kick to Wang Jianguo’s belly, then dragged him by the ear to stand before Ye Tian.

“Kneel down, now, and beg Young Master Ye for forgiveness!”

“And why should I?” Wang Jianguo, stung by the beating, protested angrily.