Chapter 22 Murder in a Downtown City
"I'm sending you off with this special quick-firing gun made by 'Handy'... Impossible?!"
"He actually blocked the water gun bullet with his palm?!" "Amazing." "You are worthy of being the inspector!"
Chu Heng clenched his fist, and the wanted criminal fell to the ground in an instant. "Quick Gun" Tatar relied on his relic pistol to commit crimes, but even Sansen Wangxiang's special product could not threaten the inspector's body.
·
"Everyone, run! He's only one person, no matter how strong he is, he can't catch us all!"
The thieves, their legs transformed into springs, leaped desperately into the air. Impossible, impossible. Fighting that tentacle man was like fighting the Knight of Disaster, a deadly endeavor. But no matter how powerful he was, he only had one arm. In terms of jumping ability, this side had the upper hand—
“How could it be?!”
The thieves in mid-air cried out in alarm. "Look!" The inspector, nimbly using lampposts and billboards, scaled the rooftop like lightning, then leaped into the air. He reached a higher altitude than the thieves, his silver tentacles transforming into long whips as he swept across. "Bounce Man" Karat used his leaping power to rob people randomly, but his demon-possessed, transformed body was no match for the inspector's powerful legs.
·
"Your time of death has come, Chu Hengkong." The man with the shrimp-head drew his long sword. "My 'Six-Line Sword Style' is a magical sword that kills without shedding blood. You didn't even have the chance to realize you were being cut—ahem!"
Shrimp Head's long sword was shattered by a single blow, shattering the red shrimp shell along with it! What incredible strength! Shrimp Head Bu Shi 67 was a bloodthirsty, man-slaying demon, yet his sword couldn't break the inspector's steel fist.
…
At the military headquarters, Jie An tore off three wanted posters in succession, expressionless: "I'm going to consider reducing the bounty."
Chu Hengkong smiled and held out his hand: "200,000 after tax, please."
Jie An entered the warehouse, cursing. He soon pulled out two small boxes, his face etched with pain. "Slow down, Inspector! If you keep going like this, you're going to empty the budget."
"Not really. Even a government office needs this little money."
"We're short of money, people, equipment, and everything. Otherwise, why would we hire you?" Xie An said with a frown. "Seriously, the bounty will really be reduced in the future. If you find any rare medicinal herbs, I can buy them at a high price."
Chu Hengkong lit the flowing beads one by one and asked, "Now that we have a temple, do we still need medicine?"
"...My personal hobbies are not allowed." Jie An lowered his hat. "What are you having for dinner, Inspector?"
After being promoted to Senior Inspector, Chu Hengkong's benefits were comprehensively upgraded, including a five-man team under his command, a relic "walkie-talkie" (resembling a handheld game console from the late 20th century) that allowed instant communication within the city, and a daily special meal prepared by the cafeteria chef. He used his tentacles to hook up the box: "Let's go out to eat tonight."
"Just eat, don't worry about dying of stuffiness." Xie An said sarcastically, and Chu Hengkong laughed it off, thinking that this man had probably been in charge of accounts for too long, and his demeanor was like that of a stingy housekeeper. He walked out of the warehouse and into the headquarters hall, waving to the team members who had finished their shifts: "Thank you all for your hard work."
"It's not hard for us to follow along and pick up the spoils~" "It's just running errands." The team members were very modest. After all, the great achievements were all made by Inspector Chu. The few guys following him were just guiding the way, gathering intelligence, and doing odd jobs. This was really nothing. One of the lively ones touched and bumped into Liuzhu's box: "It's so heavy, did Old Jie really give 200,000?"
"Why would you deduct the money I earned with my own ability?" Chu Hengkong asked back.
"It's good to be deft..." The team member rubbed his hands enviously, "One day's work is equivalent to a year's work for me."
"Are you envious?" Chu Hengkong flicked him. "If you are envious, then practice more. If you become more skillful, you can earn more."
The team member laughed awkwardly: "Don't mention it. I've been practicing for three years, and I haven't even mastered a single set..."
The 3,000 sets of Longxiang Fist techniques were never some secret, untold martial art. Piaomiao Fate Master spread this technique throughout Qianwanchen Island, hoping to encourage more people to embark on the path of transformation. The Single Resurrection Unit regularly organizes martial arts training for its members, but the problem has never been a lack of places to learn...
But I just can’t learn it!
According to Ji Qiufeng, to meet the requirements for advancement without relying on supernatural limbs, one must, at the very least, have mastered a set of martial arts techniques to perfection. Such a person would be at least a true martial arts master on Earth, and would have been quite a presence even during the Republican era. Martial arts require natural talent, and many people never achieve even a mediocre "master" in their lifetimes. Even more so, the Resurrection Corps, who lack even the time to practice, are suffering.
Therefore, Chu Hengkong did not laugh at him, but only asked: "Isn't there another way?"
"That's even more impossible!" The team members shook their heads. "One lacks exceptional talent, so he doesn't even qualify to join. The other needs incredible wisdom, otherwise it'll be all for naught..."
"Not necessarily. Even if you don't have wisdom, you can still rely on your wealth!" another person laughed.
"If I had that kind of money, what kind of job would I be doing now?"
"It's always good to dream~"
Seeing the guys' conversation growing increasingly depressing, Chu Hengkong decided to end the topic quickly. He lifted the bead box and knocked it loudly.
"We've distributed bonuses today, so let's treat everyone to a meal," Chu Hengkong said. "The locals recommended something good!"
This statement dispelled the gloom, and everyone was eager to try it. For the brothers who ate in the cafeteria every day, going to a restaurant was a joyful experience. Someone recommended barbecue, someone else slyly suggested eating beef on Rich Street, and one young man strongly recommended the bullfrog restaurant near his home... In the end, everyone unanimously decided to go for hot pot. Chu Hengkong listened quietly, a smile on his face.
He'd done this often back in his days as a gangster. Single and free, he had no ties, so whenever he made a killing, he'd treat his buddies to a night of drinks. Back then, he made far more than he does now, able to order the most expensive food at the finest restaurants and open bottles of premium wine like they were free. So, that evening, the well-dressed ladies and gentlemen would watch a group of hooligans drunkenly shouting in their window seats. Occasionally, the boss would come over and tell everyone to keep their voices down and look their best... He never managed to save much, but he always lived happily...
"Brother Chu, let's forget it."
At this moment, the voice of dissuasion woke him from his memories, and everyone looked at Lu Xing. He had also become a member of this new team. Although he knew it would spoil the fun, he still said with a stiff upper lip: "You've been too much in the spotlight lately, and I'm worried..."
"Are you worried that the food is poisoned?" Chu Hengkong laughed dumbly.
The team members' expressions turned grim, as they recalled someone trying to assassinate the inspector a few days ago. Chu Hengkong himself, however, didn't take it seriously: "You haven't killed many people, have you?"
"I can't compare with you in this aspect." Lu Xing broke out in a cold sweat.
"After killing enough people, you'll realize that poisoning is the most troublesome method," Chu Hengkong said. "First, you have to accurately locate your target from restaurants and bars across the city. If the target changes his mind mid-way, all your preparations will be in vain. Secondly, many restaurants have chaotic food delivery. If poisoned food is delivered to other tables, it will not only cause accidental injuries but also disrupt your plans. Moreover, important people often have someone test the poison before meals, so even if the poison is successful, it will be difficult to get it into the person's mouth. Accidents such as the poison itself being diluted and not being effective are also common. If killing someone is so troublesome, why would the killer poison them?"
Chu Hengkong was in high spirits. The moment the topic of professional expertise came up, he burst into conversation, enthusiastically explaining the details. The team members nodded in agreement, and Lu Xing, embarrassed, couldn't help but argue, "What if the killer had all the information, bribed the restaurant in advance, and wanted that person dead at all costs..."
"Then why poison them?" Chu Hengkong asked, "Wait until the target is in position and then just shoot them to death."
Lu Xing hesitated for a long time and said, "...You are right."
Chu Hengkong laughed. "Only when dealing with certain well-protected high-ranking individuals will assassins choose poison. Most of the time, swords and guns are always more effective."
"Brother Chu, how would you do it if it were you?" a brave team member asked.
They had been walking for over ten minutes. Across the street was the market, where they usually took a shortcut, and further on was the hot pot restaurant the team members had recommended. The pre-closing specials hadn't started yet, so the market was deserted. The vegetable and meat vendors ate noodles while watching over their stalls, not even bothering to respond to the hawkers' calls.
Chu Hengkong clenched his right fist lightly, his gaze sweeping from the vendors on either side to the dark windows of the houses behind him. His smile deepened. He led his team across the street before calmly continuing, "Of course, we'll use weapons, but we'll need at least four or five skilled fighters. Most importantly, we need to choose a good spot. Ideally, it's somewhere the target frequently passes to avoid missing targets. There should be plenty of people around you to hide, and few people around the target to make it easier to aim..."
He threw the suitcase filled with Liuzhu to Lu Xing and walked forward quickly: "Just like here."
Lu Xing's face paled, and he spun around, halting everyone. At the same moment, a piercing sound pierced the sky. A half-closed window on the fourth floor on the right flared open, and a trumpet-like mouth emerged. From that strange mouth, a black iron projectile spurted out. The projectile exploded in the air, and in the blink of an eye, it turned into a rain of iron that fell down!
——"Shotgunner" Sansen Shitu, with a bounty of 120,000, is a demon-possessed person who is good at sniping.
Chu Hengkong's gaze shifted, looking down at his feet. The road beneath his feet was soft and muddy, transforming into a deep green swamp in an instant. The swamp was caused by the piercing sound of a flute. The flute player was hiding behind a vendor, his face tattooed with thorns.
——"Swamp Curser" Gore, with a bounty of 120,000, uses a flute-shaped relic to create a poisonous swamp.
With bullets raining down from above and a swamp swamping below, Chu Hengkong had nowhere to hide. A third ambush arrived. Tall, thin men carrying loads on either side of the market pulled back the cloth covering their goods, grabbed spears disguised as carrying poles, and lunged. The barrels of their twin guns extended to over three meters, a distance sufficient for them to launch a lethal attack from safety. The two men holding the guns looked identical, their eyes equally cold.
——"Double Gun" Ouyang brothers, with a bounty of 130,000. The two guns they hold are a pair of relics, and hitting at the same time will cause great damage.
The abilities of the four wanted criminals intertwine to create a deadly trap. To avoid being annihilated in the swamp, they must endure the damage and break through. From up ahead, a series of rumblings echoed. A man with broad hands sprinted towards them, his palms gleaming with an ominous black light. He was "Hundred Palms," with a bounty of 170,000 yuan. He was the one who would close the loophole in the trap!
The terrain, the surroundings, enemy intelligence, the movements of the citizens, the trajectory and velocity of the bullets... Information flashed through his mind like lightning, and Chu Hengkong's left tentacle struck out. His first strike was not at the enemies on either side, but at the mud beneath his feet. The tentacle's flexible length became the key to seizing the initiative. The touch of the tentacle caused ripples to ripple the surface of the mud. With perfect control, the force penetrated deep into the depths and exploded. The momentum surged from within the mud, and Chu Hengkong used it to break free and leap into the air.
Over his head, the gunman sprayed a dense stream of projectiles, more than forty of them. These were projectiles generated by a demonic possession, not ordinary water bullets from a torrent gun. Their impact was powerful enough to penetrate a wall, let alone a human body. Therefore, Chu Hengkong didn't intend to take it head-on. With a flick of his fingers, he hurled a water bullet at the nearest projectile. The water bullet shattered on impact, deflecting the trajectory of the iron bullet it had hit, and, by sheer coincidence, collided with another iron bullet.
The same scene reappeared, the deflected iron projectiles colliding with each other. This "coincidence" occurred five times, ten times, twenty times, forty times in the blink of an eye... Like the first domino falling, the others followed suit. All the projectiles were scattered in all directions by the collision, and the aerial web collapsed instantly!
Shotgunner's mind went blank. He was Sansen Wangxiang's brother, and he had previously researched Chu Hengkong's abilities. While the man was certainly skilled, he was also afraid of guns; otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen to hide behind the Scourge Knight's shield while arresting his brother. But now, he had shattered the barrage with a single water bullet. This terrifying feat was beyond the realm of skill. How could a human being achieve such a thing?
unless……
The Shotgunner thought of the desperate possibility: "He's a handyman—!"
He barely had time to utter that sentence before a second water bullet shattered the glass, striking the "shotgunner" in the heart and knocking him unconscious. Chu Hengkong, in mid-air, spun to avoid the thrust, kicking out with both feet, striking the Ouyang brothers in the wrists. The Ouyang brothers recoiled in pain, barely clinging to their spears, while Chu Hengkong landed calmly. He leaped upwards, leaping over the mud, and in the blink of an eye, he was between the two brothers.
The Ouyang brothers thrust their spears again. Chu Hengkong turned sideways, his right hand pressing down on the left spear shaft, his left arm's tentacle entwining the right. The spears' paths shifted, and the brothers' thrusts threatened to pierce each other. Knowing the relic's power, they both tried to let go, but Chu Hengkong seized the opportunity to disarm them, sending the spears to the ground. He took a step to the right, raised his crossed arms, and struck left and right. His right fist landed first, sending the older Ouyang brother flying. His left arm's tentacle lashed out, striking the younger Ouyang brother in the face.
Taking the tentacle's blow head-on, Brother Ouyang immediately foamed at the mouth. Chu Hengkong twisted his hand, wielding it, then hurled it towards the oncoming Bai Zhang. Bai Zhang, seeing his companion charging at him, helplessly flung his arm away. This swipe caused him to lose sight of his enemy, and Chu Hengkong seized the opportunity to leap into the crowd, lashing out with his tentacle at the fleeing Swamp Curse Master!
(End of this chapter)
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