Seeing Garcia frozen in place without reacting, Wang Kang curiously leaned forward, looked up at him, and asked, "Sick dog, what did you just say, whatâs going on with my father?"
This shout of "sick dog" was crisp and clear, especially so in the silent corridor.
Garciaâs face turned shades of green and white, his fists clenched tightly and audibly, yet he didnât dare to erupt.
"Yo, Garcia, clench your fist again and let me hear it."
Cheng Ye fully turned around, took a step forward, and looked down with indifferent eyes.
The killing intent that had built up since taking down Zhang Can burst forth without reservation, startling Garcia into stepping back repeatedly, stumbling over his feet, almost falling to the ground.
He didnât stop, advancing another step, grabbing Garcia by the collar, "Come on, tell me now, what did you just say?"
A tremendous force came through, causing Garciaâs face to change again, but he forced a smile:
"Inspector Cheng, Iâm sorry, itâs my fault, my... my mouth got away from me, I apologize to you and to Inspector Wangâs son."
He spoke quickly and urgently, lowering his posture considerably, as if truly frightened.
Cheng Ye stared at him for two seconds, his gaze sweeping over the staff standing at the end of the corridor.
"Get lost."
With a gentle push, Garcia stumbled back four or five steps, collapsing to the floor with a thud.
But he didnât seem to care at all, even maintaining that smile, as if he accidentally fell.
This smiling tiger.
In an instant, Cheng Yeâs mind turned, understanding why Garcia had deliberately come to run his mouth.
Was it to use this clash to get back into the Westernersâ sight?
Or to force the Westerners to realize he has accepted Ding Yishanâs challenge, thereby giving up any thought of recruiting him?
Probably both, anyway, it wasnât just a simple case of banter.
The door slammed shut, completely shutting out Garciaâs repugnant face.
Cheng Ye took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the violence surging in his heart.
Having killed people and fought Fusion Bodies, he was no longer the same person who had traded places with Garcia.
In that brief moment, the thought of crushing Garcia to death flashed through his mind, but fortunately, this impulse disappeared as quickly as it arose.
Solving problems with fists is not the right way in the current environment.
Unlike Liu Bi, the martial arts fanatic, who could act because Garcia provoked first, and few in the Western camp could challenge him.
But now, Cheng Ye knew that if he acted, the Western Third and Fourth-Phase prosecutors would soon come to "administer justice," just like they did with Liu Bi.
Without unveiling his trump card and relying solely on brute strength, he was still far from being a match for those veteran inspectors.
Moreover, there is an ironclad rule within the examination station.
Inspectors can fight, solve some issues with fists, but there must be no fatalities.
This is a hard rule.
If he dared to kill Garcia, even if Ding Yishan were willing to protect him, the higher-ups in Happiness City arenât blind.
"Brother Cheng, that guy just now..."
"Ignore him. This sick dog was previously beaten by... well, by our Eastern inspectors, so now he just wants to bite at any Easterners he sees, but you were smart enough not to suffer a loss and even disgusted him a bit."
Cheng Ye forced a smile, sat in the living room, and poured two glasses of water.
"Arenât you familiar with me? Iâm not stupid enough to let him sow discord between us for nothing, my dad is my dad, I am me, being willing to be with you is my own choice!"
Wang Kang grinned, but then showed some concern, "But he seems to be a veteran inspector, will he retaliate against us during our shifts for offending him?"
"He wouldnât dare..."
Cheng Ye instinctively finished, then corrected, "If he dares, I will crush him."
"Uh..."
Wang Kang paused, his eyes flickering, seemingly unable to reconcile the Cheng Ye before him with the one in his memory.
"This is the outside, the survival rules of this Wasteland, you have to use your fists to protect yourself, itâs no longer a world where singing on the streets and reciting old-era essays will get you applause and rewards!"
Cheng Ye paused, then continued, "Your weakness, fear, will only make others think youâre easy prey, hmm, itâs not just people, itâs the same towards Infected Bodies, you need the guts to fire back!"
"Brother Cheng..." Wang Kang suddenly asked quietly, "Did you learn all this in just three months?"
"Itâs not learned, itâs been dug out."
At that moment, Liu Biâs previous teachings flashed through Cheng Yeâs mind.
At that time, he couldnât understand the meaning of those words at all.
But now, those words had become his instinct, and he had to pass them on unchanged to Wang Kang.
"Find your anger."
"Let anger control your body in battle, instead of... useless reason!"
...
He arranged for medical staff to open the empty room next door, letting Wang Kang sleep.
Cheng Ye returned to his room, thought for a while, and suddenly understood Ding Yishanâs deep intention for arranging Wang Kang.
The old fox.
It was not just to test his ability to mentor new recruits but also to send a message to the Westerners.
I, the station chief, Ding Yishan, have thoughts of initiating the Cheng Family again!
Without a doubt, the process of his conflict with Garcia now lay on the desks of Ding Yishan and Harlem, and probably many others.
No accident, after he made his stance clear about not aligning with the Westerners, Ding Yishan would definitely capitalize on it and begin his manipulations.
The difference between Easterners and Westerners lies here, one approaches subtly and slowly tests, while the other is direct but refrains from betting anything.
But when it comes time to explode, that subtlety is more explosive and decisive than the latter!
Time quietly passed twelve midnight.
Just as Wei Zhou hung todayâs second set of IV drips for him, hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway.
Knock, knock, knock.
The door was knocked on; it wasnât anyone else but the old rogue, Matthew Lee.
"Cheng Ye, Inspector Cheng, you are truly impressive!"
Matthew Lee brought a red box in his hand, its contents unknown, set it on the table, and said, "Station Chief Ding just had a meeting, saying that after this infection outbreak passes, the examination station will focus on nurturing new talent, especially outstanding ones like you. My God, youâre incredible, even able to take down an Advanced Fusion Body!"
"You wouldnât believe how shocked the old guys at the meeting were after seeing the video, your skills, your courage, donât lag behind your father Cheng Long. No, no, it surpasses even that!"
These words sounded nice but made Cheng Yeâs heart thud heavily.
Their eyes met, and Matthew Lee discreetly gestured with three fingers toward the door, clearly indicating someone was eavesdropping outside.
"Inspector Li is joking."
He immediately raised his voice, with the right amount of humility in his tone, "Iâm just an Intern Inspector, just lucky, how can I be worthy of the examination stationâs full support?"
As soon as he finished speaking.
Matthew Lee hurriedly stepped forward, leaned close to his ear, and spoke rapidly like a machine gun: "Cheng Ye, youâre in big trouble this time, if you can get through this, youâll be the flagbearer of the younger generation, eating up resources till you burst, especially in field duty, youâll be able to go wherever you want."
"Youâd also have the right to participate in discussions about how to inspect, how to quarantine, your status would not be that of a duty chief, but your power wouldnât be any less."
"But if you canât get through... you know, thatâs a pit of no return!"
...