CHAPTER 228: CHAPTER 228: LIAN YINGYA’S FINAL INSTRUCTIONS

Hen Luo was brought into the interrogation room.

He glared at the police officer opposite him, not uttering a word.

Lei Xue smiled and said, "You can remain silent, but the chain of evidence implicating you in Lian Yingya’s murder is quite complete. Your silence won’t earn you any favors."

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Hen Luo said stubbornly.

He was a veteran criminal. Having lived for thirty years, he’d spent twenty of them dealing with people in uniform. He’d long since learned how to handle them and knew what to say to get the shortest possible sentence. If his superiors told him to be silent, he was silent. If they told him to talk more, he talked more. He only worked for money. If the pay was good enough, he’d even risk his life. He had a wife and kids. Perhaps if a bastard like him were gone, they could live happier lives.

Lei Xue had crossed paths with Hen Luo several times before. He had heard about this man from colleagues at other precincts—a real old hand, more familiar with the inside of a jail cell than his own home. He was also well-acquainted with their case-handling procedures.

Lei Xue knocked on the table. "You can keep quiet, but I must tell you, this time you’ve messed with someone you shouldn’t have. You must know of the Lian Family in Jiangcheng. The one you killed is the younger brother of the Lian Family heir."

"They have solid evidence and demand a life for a life."

"That’s what they’re saying publicly. What they might do in private, I reckon you know better than we do."

"They are reasonable people. If you tell the truth, they won’t make things difficult for you, and certainly not for your family."

The last sentence was both a reminder and a warning.

For the first time, a troubled expression flickered across Hen Luo’s otherwise calm face.

Lei Xue was in no hurry. With these old hands, the last thing one wanted to do was rush. They were exceptionally good at reading people. Even the slightest misstep in what was said, and they would detect it. Therefore, interrogating them required ample patience and experience.

The four of them remained in a standoff all night long.

When Lei Xue emerged from the interrogation room, the sun was already high in the sky.

His apprentice, Liu He, brought him steamed buns and soy milk.

"Master, how did the interrogation go?"

"Are they pushing for results?"

Liu He nodded.

"Tell them we need two more days. We’ll notify them immediately if there’s any development," Lei Xue said, waving his hand wearily.

The Lian Family usually kept a low profile, with the Qin and Su Families often taking the spotlight. But no one dared to underestimate the Lian Family. Lian Yingting was known to be on par with Qin Jinhai and Su Junxian. The three had distinct styles, yet they were locked in fierce, unyielding competition.

Now, Qin Jinhai’s fate was unknown. The rivalry and comparisons between Su Junxian and Lian Yingting were ongoing. Su Junxian’s strength lay in his many brothers, but that was also his weakness. All the brothers in the Su Family were capable, so infighting was inevitable, varying only in degree. It couldn’t not exist.

Lian Yingting, however, had no such worries. He was the only one left in the Lian Family. Even if Lian Yingya hadn’t died, Lian Yingya would have been no match for him.

Lei Xue had only eaten half his breakfast when he lost his appetite. He lit a cigarette; the pungent hit of nicotine jolted him awake.

Liu He watched with concern but knew better than to offer advice. There weren’t many experienced and qualified veteran police officers around. His master was the best choice to interrogate Hen Luo. He only hated his own lack of experience, wishing he could do more to relieve his master’s burden.

Lei Xue said, "You go back and get some sleep. I’ll rest a bit and then continue the interrogation."

"You get some rest, Master," Liu He said. "I’ll bring over the soup from Master’s wife later."

A smile touched the corners of Lei Xue’s lips. "Alright. On your way, give her a message: tell her I’ll be back as soon as I’m done, and not to worry."

"Understood." Liu He nodded and gently closed the door as he left.

Lei Xue had just dozed off for a while when he was awoken by a burst of noise. He quickly put on his coat and went downstairs.

From a distance, he saw Lian Yingting walking towards the interrogation room, his face colder than the frost and snow outside. Colleagues were in front of him, trying to stop him.

Lei Xue hurried downstairs, reaching the doorway of the interrogation room just before Lian Yingting.

"Director Lian, let’s discuss this and find a solution first."

Lian Yingting’s expression softened slightly. "Brother Lei, I just want to know... where is my younger brother now?"

Seeing the redness in his eyes, Lei Xue said, "I’ll accompany you inside, but you can’t rough him up—it’ll be bad for your future."

Though his heart was a raging storm, Lian Yingting maintained an outward appearance of utter calm. "Then I’ll trouble you, Brother Lei."

Lei Xue was quite impressed.

Hen Luo was handcuffed to the back of the chair. The bright desk lamp still shone on his face. The glaring light made it impossible for him to open his eyes, and he was highly tense. Hearing the door to the interrogation room open, he immediately straightened up.

He saw the most handsome man he had ever encountered in his life glance at him coldly.

Hen Luo knew he couldn’t escape this time.

That was the look one reserves for trash. The gaze of a superior being looking down on a lowly ant.

For the first time, Hen Luo felt fear.And for the first time, he regretted being blinded by money.

Lian Yingting sat down where Lei Xue had previously sat.

"Where is my younger brother?"

People naturally submit to those far removed from their own social class. It’s an animal’s instinctive perception of unknown danger. Hen Luo was no exception. The calm he had forced himself to maintain all night collapsed at that moment.

He said, "He said... you could tell anyone, just not his elder brother."

Hen Luo saw the man across from him freeze and felt a surge of triumph. "You’re the elder brother he was talking about, right? Before he died, he talked most about you. Said he idolized you, felt sorry towards you."

"Back then, I thought he was crazy. I even suspected you might be the one who killed him. Yet he naively kept believing your care and affection for him were genuine."

"Brothers from poor families might fight and scheme, but how could there be genuine kinship in families like yours?"

Lian Yingting’s hands clenched into fists. "How... how did he die? Where is he?"

"I can tell the police, but I will never tell you!" Hen Luo stared at Lian Yingting, his gaze almost fanatical. "I’m a bastard, but I have to keep my promise to a dead man!"

"You motherfucker!" Lian Yingting rose angrily, swinging his fist toward Hen Luo.

Lei Xue rushed to block him. "Director Lian, please stay calm."

Hen Luo looked at Lian Yingting provocatively. "So what if you’re powerful and influential? You still only have one life. Dead is dead. What good is your anger now?"

Lian Yingting shouted, "Tell me, where is he!"

"I won’t say!"

"Then don’t blame me for being impolite!"

Lian Yingting broke free from Lei Xue’s restraint and his fist crashed into Hen Luo’s face. Handcuffed, Hen Luo had no way to dodge.

After Hen Luo had been hit twice, Lian Yingting was escorted out by the police officers who had rushed in.

When the interrogation room returned to silence, Lei Xue looked at Hen Luo. "You can refuse to speak. The chain of evidence is very complete. Whatever the outcome, you’ll have to face it."

"There are too many unsolved cases in this world. Do you think Lian Yingting needs to personally get involved to deal with your family? That money you got—do you really think your wife and child will ever get to use it? Naive!"

Hen Luo’s face stiffened. "You have to protect my wife and child."

"We can do that, and we have a duty to do so. But do you think it’s truly feasible? Police resources are limited; we can’t guard your wife and child around the clock. If the Lian Family or any of your other enemies decide to act, it would only take them minutes to turn your wife and child into unnamed corpses in a ditch."