Chapter 6: Words Become Law, The Demon's Confession
"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!" she cried out, voice cracking. "The people in charge of the search were all my comrades!"
"Believe it or not, that's up to you."
Zhang Xuanyao pointed to the girl in the photo.
"The person who took her had a black mole on his left earlobe, was about 1.75 meters tall, and had a habit of keeping his left hand in his pocket. He didn't sell your sister; he hid her away."
Qin Bingruo's breathing became rapid as she frantically searched her mind for anyone who matched these characteristics.
Suddenly, her pupils contracted violently.
"Old Zhou..." she whispered a name.
Zhou Jianshe, a veteran of the Heng City Criminal Police Team, and the Master who had brought Qin Bingruo into the profession.
Back then, it was Zhou Jianshe who was the first to rush into the hospital to help her find her sister, and it was also Zhou Jianshe who had accompanied her in her investigations for the past twelve years.
"Why would he do this?" Qin Bingruo's voice was trembling.
"Because he wanted you to owe him."
Zhang Xuanyao sneered.
"Some people's desire for control is more terrifying than you can imagine. He trained you to be the best police officer, made you grateful to him, yet kept you living in the pain and guilt of searching for your sister your entire life. This twisted sense of satisfaction is his sustenance. Perhaps... he had his eyes on you two siblings long ago."
Qin Bingruo stood up abruptly, her sidearm knocking against the stone table with a crisp sound.
"I'm going to find him right now."
"Stay put." Zhang Xuanyao stopped her. "If you go now, you won't get anything except alerting the enemy. Since he dared to hide her for twelve years, he's confident that you will never find evidence."
"Then what should I do?" Qin Bingruo turned her head, her eyes rimmed with red.
Zhang Xuanyao leisurely took out his phone, propped it up on a brick, and skillfully started a livestream.
"Of course, make him jump out himself."
As soon as the livestream started, the number of online viewers climbed at a terrifying speed.
【1000... 5000... 20000!】
"Great Master is finally streaming!"
"Damn, who is that beautiful lady next to him? Why does she look so familiar?"
"That's the police officer from last night, right? Did the Great Master really bring her back to Qingfeng Temple?"
Zhang Xuanyao smiled at the camera, his smile carrying a trace of cold Killing Intent.
"Greetings, lay followers. No fortune-telling or character analysis today. Today, this Daoist will take you all to watch a large-scale, real-life 'Infernal Affairs'."
He turned his head to look at Qin Bingruo. "Officer Qin, call your Officer Zhou and tell him that you found clues about Qin Xiaoya's disappearance at Qingfeng Temple, and ask him to come over to assist with the investigation."
Qin Bingruo bit her lip hard. A moment later, she took out her phone and dialed a number.
"Hello, Master. I'm at Qingfeng Temple on Mount Longhu. There's a Daoist here... he says he knows where Xiaoya is."
There was a long silence on the other end of the line before a warm, thick male voice replied.
"Bingruo, don't be fooled by those charlatans. Wait there for me; I'll be there soon."
Zhang Xuanyao looked at the darkened screen, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
"Words Become Law, target: Zhou Jianshe."
"Additional attribute: The Truth Revealed."
"Effect: For the next two hours, the target will be unable to control their desire to express themselves, and subconscious secrets will spill out."
【Ding! Words Become Law activated, consumed 50,000 shock value.】
Zhang Xuanyao sat back down at the stone table and picked up the bowl of white porridge that had already gone cold.
"Officer Qin, the stage is set. Now, let's see how this veteran actor bows out."
Half an hour later.
A black SUV rushed wildly up the mountain road and stopped at the temple gate with a sharp screech of brakes.
The car door opened, and a middle-aged man in plain clothes strode in. His hair was graying, his face was kind, and his eyes held the concern of an elder for a Junior.
It was indeed Zhou Jianshe.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he first glanced at Qin Bingruo to ensure she was fine, then turned to look at Zhang Xuanyao, his tone stern: "Are you the one spreading heresy here?"
Zhang Xuanyao didn't even raise his head. "Officer Zhou, don't be so hot-tempered. You shouldn't have forgotten the taste of that candy from twelve years ago, right?"
Zhou Jianshe's expression stiffened for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "I don't know what you're talking about. Bingruo, come back with me. Staying in a place like this for too long will affect your judgment."
Qin Bingruo didn't move; she stared fixedly at Zhou Jianshe's left earlobe.
There, indeed, was a black mole the size of a sesame seed.
"Master, where is Xiaoya?" Qin Bingruo's voice was as cold as ice.
Zhou Jianshe sighed and stepped forward to pat her shoulder. "Bingruo, you're too tired and are hallucinating. We've been investigating Xiaoya's case the whole time..."
"She's at the brick factory in the southern suburbs, isn't she?" Qin Bingruo stepped back, dodging his hand.
Zhou Jianshe's hand stopped in mid-air, a flash of extremely subtle panic deep in his eyes, but under the effect of 【Words Become Law】, his mouth seemed to have a mind of its own.
"How did you know that was a brick factory?"
Zhou Jianshe sneered, his tone suddenly becoming perverse.
"I reinforced the cellar there with three layers; she's staying there just fine, so you don't need to worry."
The whole place fell into dead silence.
Qin Bingruo was stunned.
The more than 20,000 viewers in the livestream were also stunned.
Zhou Jianshe himself was stunned; he abruptly covered his mouth, his eyes full of terror.
"No... I didn't mean that, I was saying..."
"You said you were the one who took her yourself."
Zhang Xuanyao put down the porridge bowl, stood up, and his gaze was like a knife.
"You said you locked her in the cellar and raised her like a pet for twelve years. Is that right, Officer Zhou?"
"Shut up!"
Zhou Jianshe roared, his hand already reaching for his waist.
"That's my daughter! Her name is Zhou Xiaoya, not Qin Xiaoya! I saved her; if it weren't for me, she would have been sold into the mountains by human traffickers long ago!"
As he spoke, he frantically blurted out words, unable to stop himself.
"I bring her food every day, I teach her to read, I am the person closest to her! Bingruo, you're just a sister, what do you know? You only put her in danger!"
Tears streamed down Qin Bingruo's face as she whipped out her sidearm and aimed it at Zhou Jianshe.
"Zhou Jianshe! You animal!"
"Don't shoot."
Zhang Xuanyao pressed down on her wrist, his tone calm.
"The livestream is still on, let him keep talking. It would be a pity to miss such a wonderful monologue."
The comments in the livestream had exploded to the point where they were unreadable.
"Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap!"
"Is this for real? A police officer kidnapped his own apprentice's sister?"
"Is the Great Master's mouth enchanted? Why is this old man spitting everything out?"
"Southern suburb brick factory! Call the police! No, wait, send people to save her!"
Zhou Jianshe had completely broken down by now; his eyes were bloodshot, and he had fallen into a state of madness.
"What do you know? I'm protecting her! This world is too dirty; only there is she clean! Bingruo, why did you have to investigate? Why did you have to come to this broken temple? I was planning to give her to you after you became the chief..."
"You won't have the chance."
Zhang Xuanyao glanced at the phone screen.
【Heng City Police V: All squads have been dispatched, the brick factory in the southern suburbs is surrounded. Captain Qin, please remain calm, evidence has been secured.】
Zhang Xuanyao walked up to Zhou Jianshe, looking at the man who had collapsed on the ground, still muttering to himself.
"Officer Zhou, you schemed your whole life, but you miscalculated one thing."
Zhang Xuanyao leaned down and whispered in his ear.
"In this world, there really is retribution."
He straightened up and waved at the camera.
"Today's livestream ends here. Greetings, lay followers, remember to follow so you don't get lost. As for the truth... tomorrow's news will tell you."
The moment the screen went black.
The System notification sounded like thunder in Zhang Xuanyao's mind.
【Ding! Exposed a shocking cold case, the whole internet is shocked! shock value + 50,000!】
【shock value + 100,000!】
【shock value + 200,000!】
...
【Current shock value: 850,000 / 1,000,000!】
【Obtained one Golden Draw opportunity!】