"Alright!"
"Hehe. Come to think of it, you public servants are not bad—you aren't like the police we encountered before, gambling and throwing their weight around."
"Save it. Call the others—I'm dying from hunger here."
The contractors on the recovery boats all began to break into chatter before calling out to the other boats to return for lunch.
After busying away for half a day but getting nothing, the toll on their stamina was definitive. As such, several boats headed ashore at once when they heard the call.
That was when Wu Guodong gave a sign with a look.
One of the policemen caught it and laughed out loud. "Oh, lunch is here. I'm not waiting for you lot—I'm really hungry today, so I'm getting my box first."
"Sigh. Fine, take it."
Wu Guodong nodded, giving his permission.
The other policemen all came forward and took their own lunch boxes as well, before scattering across all directions.
Still, their positioning was precise. Although they seemed to be heading towards random directions where they would eat their lunch, they were in fact forming an encirclement.
Qi Zixiao was aware of their arrangement but had no plans of joining, which was why after she took a lunch box, she ran off to the lake shores and sat, facing the water as she opened the lunchbox.
It was a simple meal of rice, two portions of meat, and one vegetable—plain dishes prepared for many, which was why the taste was just average…
However…
"Such a nice smell…"
She licked her lips, her appetite wide open.
While instant noodles were fine, one would get bored after having too much…
And though these lunchboxes were nothing impressive in the modern age, Qi Zixiao never had any, and naturally had a good impression in her first try.
From another perspective, she had become more worldly.
Because she never had 'normal' food.
***
While Qi Zixiao began to cram herself with food, the police followed suit.
However, even as they ate, their eyes would keep focusing intently on their surroundings, especially at Mister Facial Hair…
Even though Wu Guodong had told them not to look deliberately, how could they not now that they had learned that they could have problems?
It was like the Sharingan in Naruto—you know you shouldn't look directly into it, but who could really control themselves from staring into the other person's eyes?!
***
Since Mister Facial Hair's boat was furthest away, it was the last to come ashore.
"Ah, the sun's such a killer today!"
"Isn't it just? My skin's peeling off."
"I wouldn't have come if I'm not getting paid so well!"
"But I heard that things aren't peaceful at the bottom of the lake…"
Several 'strongmen' with bare upper arms chattered randomly as they got off the boat. Mister Facial Hair was the last to leave, but he appeared calm and composed at first.
Be that as it may, he noticed that something wasn't right after just a few steps…
What was wrong? He could not put his finger on it, but he had a nagging feeling that someone was targeting him!
As such, Mister Facial Hair slowed his pace and remained at the rear of the group, frowning as his eyes swept towards the policemen.
There appeared to be no issues upon first glance.
Each of them was scattered at various directions and having their lunch.
But after a closer look…
Mister Facial Hair saw the problem!
The police's positions were simply out of the ordinary!
Although he had learned that these policemen were quite agreeable after various exchanges with them over the last two days, most of them would sit together in groups of two or three when they had lunch. Now, however, each of them was sitting at a different spot…
"This feels like a… encirclement!"
The thought struck Mister Facial Hair, and reacting immediately, he turned to run!
Damn it! How alert was that man to actually notice this?!
Cursing inwardly, Wu Guodong promptly threw away his lunch box and broke off into a mad dash. "Stop him!"
"Xiao Li! Stop him!"
Even the direction Mister Facial Hair picked was specific—even though there were policemen there to intercept him, he was heading towards the woods. It was not dense and easy to hide, and catching him would be very difficult if he reached it!
Pitter patter!
The other policemen had dumped their lunchboxes as well and gave chase, with Xiao Li staring tightly at Mister Facial Hair with a somber look, ready to act in an instant.
Was there even a need for inspection now?! Mister Facial Hair's reaction alone was a sign that there was something wrong with him!
"So fast!"
And yet, Wu Guodong and the others soon noticed another problem— Mister Facial Hair was quick, and none of them could catch up?
As such, their hopes all fell upon Xiao Li's shoulders.
In fact, Xiao Li was not holding back. He had whipped out his handcuffs, locking one end on his own wrist as he lunged towards Mister Facial Hair.
Even so…
Mister Facial Hair was unaffected at all, and was smiling fiercely instead, "Out of my way!"
He abruptly lowered his shoulder and charged like a wild bull, slamming heavily into Xiao Li!
Thud!
There was a dull sound, and Xiao Li was knocked away even before he could scream. He fell to the ground, his teeth clenched and completely unable to get up.
"Oh no!"
Knowing that things had gone awry, Wu Guodong promptly drew his gun, but Mister Facial Hair had already reached the woods and would slip within in the next second.
He would not make it.
"Goddamn it!"
Utterly vexed, Wu Guodong barked, "Hurry up and contact headquarters, tell them to send reinforcements. Inform them that we've found Qiu Shufeng and we're getting him this time!"
"Call an ambulance too, Xiao Li's hurt!"
"Everyone else, come with me… eh?"
Wu Guodong was left dumbstruck halfway through issuing his orders as he froze where he was.
And the reason for that was because he saw a thin figure, standing between Mister Facial Hair and the woods.
"Lin Fan?!"
"Kid, get away! You can't stop him!!!"
Wu Guodong was utterly nervous at that.
Xiao Li, a police academy graduate was instantly sent flying and he had been trained professionally. What could a scrawny university student like Lin Fan do?
He might even get knocked to death!
Even so, 'Lin Fan' completely ignored him.
She simply stood there with a slight frown. "You can't go."
"Hoho…"
Mister Facial Hair was not slowing down at all—his eyes were overflowing with disdain as he continued his charge like a raging bull.
"Stop!"
Qi Zixiao extended her hand.
Right now, although she was in Lin Fan's body, her skin was fairer and more tender than most women thanks to Fluid Body.
Moreover, Lin Fan's frame was not huge, which was why he appeared skinny and powerless.
However…
Running?!
Qi Zixiao was furious.
'Where are you running?!
'I was waiting for you to get caught and claim the bounty, but you're running? Wouldn't my reward go up in flames if you get away?!
'If the bounty was lost and I earned nothing, wouldn't that fellow who owns this body belittle me even more?
'Wouldn't I owe him if I kept using his money without owning any?'
Hence, Qi Zixiao quickly intercepted Qiu Shufeng, skipping lunch.
And because she had to give up on her lunch box, Qi Zixiao was now… very angry.
"You've come to die!"
Mister Facial Hair's cold laughter grew wilder. Looking from the distance, it was clear he would soon close the gap, but he did not slow down, and kept dashing wildly towards Qi Zixiao instead!
He was not worried at all. As a martial artist, his career would be over if he was stopped by a mere pretty boy!