Chapter Seventy-Three: A Turn in the Road

Bao Kang was so overwhelmed by the spiciness that he gasped for breath, muttering indistinctly, "It's killing me, it's killing me, Yingxi, just you wait, ha, so spicy..." Seeing Bao Kang in such a sorry state, Yingxi's heart softened. "Director Bao, why don't you just confess?" Bao Kang's eyes were red from the spice, his tongue thick, "You bastards... This is mutiny, real mutiny..." Yingxi gritted his teeth and grabbed an onion, approaching Bao Kang. Bao Kang shrank back warily, "What are you up to, you rascal?" Yingxi didn't answer, holding his head high to avoid the onion, then began peeling it right in front of Bao Kang.

"You—!" Bao Kang hadn't finished speaking before his nose and eyes started streaming uncontrollably. Yingxi himself was also affected by the onion, squinting as he coaxed Bao Kang, "Director Bao, stop resisting, just speak." Bao Kang glared fiercely at Yingxi, but the onion made his eyes water so much he had to close them. Yingxi kept peeling the onion, observing Bao Kang's reaction, "Still not talking?" Bao Kang, tears running down his face, roared angrily, "Just you wait, bastards! I swear I’ll make ‘Detective Joy’ never smile again! Just you wait!"

Yingxi grinned mischievously, pulling out a roll of tape and approached Bao Kang. Bao Kang was taken aback, "You rascal, what are you doing?" Yingxi tore off a piece of tape, "Afraid you'll tire yourself out cursing..." "You—!" Before Bao Kang could protest, Yingxi swiftly and securely taped Bao Kang’s mouth shut. "Whenever you feel like talking, just blink hard." Bao Kang struggled desperately, but could only let out muffled moans.

A moment later, Yingxi walked over with a comb, bent down to remove Bao Kang's shoes, and began scraping the soles of Bao Kang’s feet with the comb. Bao Kang burst into laughter, unable to help himself but still struggled with all his might. Eventually, he couldn’t bear it any longer and blinked his eyes vigorously.

Nearby, Lu Hehuan glanced at Yingxi. "He blinked!" Yingxi immediately stood up and tore the tape off Bao Kang’s mouth. Bao Kang panted heavily, "Bastards... I—I was framed..." Yingxi scratched his head, looking at Lu Hehuan, "What do we do?" Lu Hehuan pondered for a moment, "Let the evidence speak for itself. Let’s go." "Where to?" Lu Hehuan didn’t answer, simply dragged Yingxi away.

Behind them, Bao Kang twisted and struggled, shouting, "Where are you two idiots going? Let me go!" Late at night, Bao Kang’s house was silent; in the dim moonlight, his photograph hung on the bedroom wall. In the photo, Bao Kang wore his police uniform, looking dashing and heroic.

Suddenly, the window was opened from outside; Lu Hehuan and Yingxi climbed in through the window one after the other. Yingxi, puzzled, whispered, "Are you crazy? Xiao Rong is home!" Lu Hehuan explained quietly, "We’ll search quietly. If Director Bao really did it, there might be evidence left behind." Yingxi nodded, reminding Lu Hehuan, "Be careful, don’t wake Xiao Rong." Lu Hehuan jumped down from the windowsill with Yingxi, and turning around, found Xiao Rong standing at the doorway. Both were startled.

Xiao Rong switched on the light, illuminating the room. She was slightly surprised, "Detective Ying, Hehuan, you..." Yingxi hurriedly covered up, "Oh, we’re here to fetch something for Director Bao." Xiao Rong pointed suspiciously at the door, "Fetch something? Why not use the door?" Seeing her suspicion, Lu Hehuan decided to be frank, "Xiao Rong, Director Bao acted strangely today and we caught him. We found a white cheongsam and a dagger in his briefcase, just like the ones connected to Ling Yan, Mary, and Song Xiaowan. Director Bao refused to explain where he was going or what he was doing... so..."

Xiao Rong interrupted, understanding, "So you plan to search my brother’s room for clues?" Lu Hehuan nodded, "We hope you’ll cooperate." Xiao Rong nodded, "I’ll help you search." Yingxi couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up, "Xiao Rong, your sacrifice for justice really touches me." Xiao Rong’s face was cold, "I just want to help clear my brother’s name. I believe he wouldn’t kill anyone." Yingxi smiled awkwardly.

In the interrogation room, Bao Kang sat in the chair, writhing like a snake, trying to break free from the rope, but it was futile. Unwilling to give up, he twisted again, but still to no avail. He cursed, "These damned fools, how did they tie the rope so tight!" Bao Kang looked around and spotted the sharp corner of the table. An idea flashed; he stood up with the chair, awkwardly shuffling to the table.

Bao Kang twisted, rubbing the rope against the table corner. After a while, the rope showed no sign of breaking. Bao Kang was drenched in sweat, cursing, "Damn it, how is this rope so sturdy!" He stood up, measured the distance from the table to the floor, and gritted his teeth, "Looks like I’ll have to suffer a bit." With the chair strapped to his back, he clumsily climbed onto the table and deliberately fell sideways, grimacing in pain but not daring to cry out.

He picked himself up and twisted again, finally noticing the chair had slightly deformed. He climbed onto the table again, gritted his teeth, and fell again. After several repeats, Bao Kang struggled painfully to his feet, climbed the table once more, closed his eyes in tragic resolve, and fell hard. This time, the chair was finally deformed.

Enduring the pain, Bao Kang twisted and finally broke free from the rope. Regaining his freedom, he seethed, "Yingxi, Lu Hehuan, you bastards, just you wait!" With that, Bao Kang staggered away.

Under the light, Bao Kang’s house was a mess. Yingxi joined up with Lu Hehuan, asking, "Did you find anything?" Lu Hehuan shook his head. Soon after, Xiao Rong came over, "I didn’t find anything either." Seeing there was no evidence of Bao Kang’s crime, Yingxi smiled ingratiatingly at Xiao Rong, "Sorry for the trouble, Xiao Rong." Lu Hehuan also looked at her, "Xiao Rong, rest early, we’ll be leaving." The two headed for the door.

Xiao Rong hesitated, "Hehuan, find out the truth and clear my brother’s name." Lu Hehuan nodded, "Don’t worry, Xiao Rong." After all the commotion, Yingxi and Lu Hehuan returned to the police station’s interrogation room. As soon as they entered, they were shocked: the chair that had bound Bao Kang was toppled over, the rope strewn aside, and Bao Kang was nowhere to be seen.

Yingxi and Lu Hehuan quickly rushed out of the station, scanning around. Suddenly, a sound came from the darkness. They followed the noise and saw a shadowy figure running off in the distance.

"Chase him!" Yingxi shouted, and the two pursued the silhouette. In the dead of night, the streets were deserted. A figure flashed by—under faint starlight, it was clearly Bao Kang. He ran desperately ahead, Yingxi and Lu Hehuan in hot pursuit.

Bao Kang glanced back as he ran, seeing them close behind, cursing, "Bastards! Are you trying to destroy me completely?" Yingxi looked at Lu Hehuan, "Your turn!" Lu Hehuan understood, speeding ahead of Yingxi. Yingxi seized the moment and pushed Lu Hehuan, who leapt forward at full speed.

Bao Kang was startled and darted into a nearby alley. Lu Hehuan missed, crashing hard onto the ground. Yingxi stopped and hurried over to help him up, concerned, "Are you alright?" Lu Hehuan looked at Yingxi with pain, "Next time, leave it to you..."

In the alley, Bao Kang looked back; seeing Yingxi and Lu Hehuan hadn’t followed, he leaned against the wall, breathing a sigh of relief, "Damn, I’m exhausted!" He punched the wall, cursing, "First, I’ll catch Luo Si and clear my name, then deal with those two fools!"

Bao Kang hurried off. The night was cool and breezy; Yingxi and Lu Hehuan, exhausted, walked along the street. Unable to go further, they simply sat on the stone steps at the roadside, Lu Hehuan lost in thought.

Yingxi nudged the absent-minded Lu Hehuan, "What are you thinking about?" Lu Hehuan came back to himself, perplexed as he looked at Yingxi, "We found nothing at Director Bao’s house. If he’s truly the culprit, yet there’s not a trace at home, it means he’s very meticulous. Based on what you know of him, do you think he is?" "Of course—" Yingxi drew out the word, then shifted, "No." Lu Hehuan frowned in frustration, "We were too eager to solve the case; maybe Director Bao’s story is true. The white cheongsam and dagger were probably planted in his bag by Luo Si."

Yingxi nodded, then suddenly looked alarmed, "Does that mean we’ll be in big trouble?" Lu Hehuan rubbed his hands awkwardly, "I think we should go back to the station, wait for Director Bao to return, and take some time to apologize." Yingxi considered, his face bleak.

Early the next morning, Lu Hehuan and Yingxi arrived at the police office. The two sat at the table, nodding off, when suddenly the door was kicked open. They jumped up, stunned to see Bao Kang dragging Luo Si in. Bao Kang shoved Luo Si toward them, barking, "Tell them what happened!"

Luo Si shrank back nervously, "The cheongsam and dagger were put into Director Bao’s briefcase by me..." Lu Hehuan and Yingxi hung their heads, feeling guilty. Bao Kang scolded Luo Si, "Go on!"

Luo Si continued, "It was my petty nature. Director Bao interrogated me harshly, and I heard the previous victims all wore white cheongsams and were stabbed with daggers, so when Director Bao went to the Flower House, I slipped the cheongsam and dagger into his bag..."

Yingxi and Lu Hehuan were both stunned, "Flower House?" Yingxi looked at Bao Kang and couldn’t help but laugh. Bao Kang glared, "What are you laughing at? You can go, but I can’t?" Yingxi tried hard to suppress his laughter.

Lu Hehuan turned to Luo Si, "Where did you get the cheongsam and dagger?" Luo Si trembled, "The dagger was just bought off the street. The cheongsam..." Yingxi impatiently urged, "Speak!" Luo Si gritted his teeth, "I found the cheongsam while stealing from the Liu family..."

Lu Hehuan and Yingxi were shocked, "Liu family?" Luo Si nodded, "That’s the Liu Shan family, richest in Old Zha." Lu Hehuan pressed, "Where in their house did you find it?" Luo Si thought, "It must’ve been the second miss’s room, because I heard the maid call for her, and the person in that room left."

Lu Hehuan and Yingxi exchanged glances, "Liu Rushuang?!" Bao Kang kicked Luo Si hard, "Now get lost!" Luo Si turned and fled as if for his life.

Yingxi looked at Lu Hehuan, "Liu Rushuang surely has nothing to do with this case..." Lu Hehuan interrupted, serious, "Routine procedure—we need to ask Miss Liu to assist in our investigation." Yingxi glanced at the fierce-looking Bao Kang, quickly averting his gaze, pinching his chin, "Let’s hurry and go find Liu Rushuang for routine questioning!" He said, dragging Lu Hehuan to leave, but Bao Kang blocked them.

A cold smile twisted Bao Kang’s lips, "No need to rush." With that, he jumped up and swung his arm, smacking Yingxi on the head. Yingxi cried out, clutching his head, but Bao Kang’s anger was unrelenting, raining blows on Yingxi, "Did you forget last night? Idiot!"

Lu Hehuan stood dumbfounded to the side. Suddenly, Bao Kang lunged at him, "And you! The scatter-brained fool back from Scotland Yard!" As he spoke, Bao Kang started hitting Lu Hehuan. Yingxi hurried to shield him, taking a punch to the nose.

Lu Hehuan looked at Yingxi gratefully, concern in his eyes. Yingxi, blood streaming from his nose, looked at Bao Kang pitifully, "Director Bao, are you satisfied now?" Bao Kang snorted, "Not a chance! You two get out there and parade with signs to restore my reputation!"

"Director Bao, nobody knows about last night, your reputation wasn’t harmed, so what’s there to restore?" Yingxi smiled ingratiatingly, "No need for a parade, right?" Lu Hehuan nodded hurriedly, "Right."

"What?" Bao Kang puzzled, looking at Lu Hehuan. Lu Hehuan hastily explained, "I mean, Detective Ying is right. Last night was a secret, nobody knows, not even Ah Hua!" Suddenly the door opened, and Xiao Rong entered anxiously, "Brother, your suspicion is cleared, right?"

Bao Kang’s brows furrowed, glaring at Yingxi and Lu Hehuan, "Is this your so-called secret?" Yingxi and Lu Hehuan exchanged glances, speechless.

Bao Kang waved his hand and roared, "You two, right now, immediately, go parade!"

The sun shone brightly, the streets were bustling. Among the crowd, Lu Hehuan and Yingxi each held a cardboard sign, with bold black letters: "Bao Kang, Bao Kang, Protect the Peace of the Land."

"Bao Kang, Bao Kang, Protect the Peace of the Land..." The two marched in step, reciting the slogan in measured tones. Passersby laughed at their spectacle.

Yingxi grumbled, looking at the crowd, "I, a dignified detective of Old Zha, reduced to this humiliation, parading in public! It’s a disgrace!" Lu Hehuan agreed, "Detective Ying, a gentleman would die before suffering such humiliation! Director Bao is taking revenge!"

"Bao Kang’s gone too far! Let’s quit and demand an explanation!" Yingxi grew angrier. Lu Hehuan nodded indignantly and followed Yingxi away.