Chapter 18: The Plan for Eradication

Not long after Chen Jun left, an urgent knocking sounded at the door.

Li Mida must have returned.

“Come in.”

As soon as the words left his lips, a graceful figure rushed in, throwing her arms around Ma Wu as if she meant to squeeze the life out of him.

“Ow, ow!” Ma Wu howled in pain. “That hurts—you’re pressing on my wound!”

At once, Li Mida released him, though her eyes were brimming with tears as she gazed at him.

“I’m sorry, I was wrong,” Li Mida said. “I won’t ever throw a tantrum at you again.”

“Husband, please forgive me, won’t you?”

Ma Wu looked at this pitiful girl before him—what man could refuse her? Besides, he hadn’t been angry in the first place.

“I was never upset,” Ma Wu said, gently stroking Li Mida’s hair. “I just wanted you to know how special you are to me.”

“There’s no need to compare yourself to anyone else.”

Seeing the earnestness in Ma Wu’s eyes, Li Mida nodded solemnly.

No matter how wildly Ma Wu played outside, she still held a place in his heart.

“Oh right, I have something to ask you.”

Thinking of Chen Jun just now, Ma Wu frowned unconsciously.

“What did you say when you gave your statement at the police station?”

“I didn’t say anything,” Li Mida hastily explained. “I told them I wanted to wait until my husband woke up before making a statement. I just followed procedure and went back with them, that’s all.”

“After twenty-four hours, I came straight home.”

Although a hint of anxiety colored her words, Li Mida spoke lightly. But Ma Wu knew, when the police invite you to the station, it’s never just for tea.

“You’ve worked hard, darling.” Ma Wu drew Li Mida into his arms, speaking from the heart. “Go home and rest early.”

Li Mida had wanted to stay and look after him, but Ma Wu’s resolute gaze made her relent.

“Take care of yourself. I’m going home now.”

Watching Li Mida leave, Ma Wu could finally turn his full attention to his own affairs.

System, show me my personal stats.

Ding. Compiling host’s personal information:

Name: Ma Wu.
Occupation: Student.
Hobbies: Self-pleasure, fantasizing about Lin Erke.
Spending Value: 1000
Poser Value: 700
Wealth Value: 3000
Face-Slapping Value: 300
Success Points: 300 (purchased basic kickboxing, cleared; successfully won over Li Mida, +300)

Ma Wu gazed thoughtfully at the system’s panel. Clearly, his competition of wealth with Lei Bujing last time had cost him dearly.

Once he sorted out these issues with the police, he could take advantage of the situation and make his move on Goldfish TV.

At the thought, a glint of murderous intent flickered in Ma Wu’s eyes.

Ding. Congratulations, host, side quest triggered.

Eliminate the thugs and deceive the police station.

Reward: 500 Success Points, one mysterious hidden weapon.

Just when you need it, it appears. Ma Wu’s lips curled into a smile. Since there was a reward, this task was a must.

Why leave easy money on the table?

System, do you have any kind of substitute or decoy tool?

Ma Wu inquired, thinking that if anything happened to those thugs, the police would pin it on him first. He’d need a solid alibi to get away cleanly.

Substitute Puppet x1, costs 1000 Wealth Value. Purchase?

Seeing that this little item would take a third of his wealth, Ma Wu winced. Still, gritting his teeth, he bought it.

You can’t catch a wolf without risking the lamb.

Night had already fallen. Ma Wu set up the puppet he’d prepared in advance, disguised himself as a doctor on duty, and slipped out of the hospital.

Guided by the system, Ma Wu soon arrived at the police station where the thugs were held. Yet, none of them were in the cells.

“Sir, please, let me go…” The gang leader’s plea came from the nearby interrogation room—it seemed someone was conducting their own private questioning.

Ma Wu understood, and decided not to alarm them. He hid and listened.

“Let you go?!” Chen Jun’s furious roar echoed. “Which one of you told me Ma Wu was easy to mess with?”

“Not only is he not easy, he made a fool of me!”

“I was counting on this case to get promoted—now what do you suggest I do?”

The gang leader begged, “Sir, those people really were killed by Ma Wu, we have no reason to lie about that! Even if Ma Wu doesn’t confess, as long as Li Mida does, it’s enough. Forced confession will do the trick, won’t it?”

“That’s actually a good idea,” Chen Jun, that corrupt bastard, agreed without hesitation. “When your statements line up, no matter how capable Ma Wu is, he won’t have a leg to stand on.”

At that, Ma Wu could no longer sit still.

What, you want to target my woman now?

Perhaps imagining his own future glory and the completion of his undercover task, Chen Jun nearly burst out laughing.

“Boss, b-behind you…”

Suddenly, the gang leader pointed behind Chen Jun, terror etched on his face, as if warning him.

“What’s behind me!” Chen Jun scoffed. “This is a police station—what, you think it’s haunted?!”

“Haunted or not, I don’t know,”

“But you’ll soon be a ghost yourself…”

Ma Wu’s voice, eerie as a phantom, sent chills down Chen Jun’s spine. His legs buckled and he collapsed to the floor, staring at Ma Wu in horror.

“How…how did you get in here?”

“Weren’t you going to force a confession out of my girlfriend?” Ma Wu’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Why are you cowering on the floor now? Where’s all that bluster from just now?”

Exposed so abruptly, Chen Jun’s heart skipped a beat. He stammered, at a loss.

“Yes, I was going to force a confession!” Chen Jun suddenly found some courage. “What are you going to do about it? I’m a police officer—you’re nothing!”

Ma Wu responded with a cold chuckle, saying nothing as he pulled a half-man-tall machete from behind his back. Under the moonlight, its blade gleamed whitely, radiating a chill that made the blood freeze.

Everyone present now understood Ma Wu’s intent.

Silence the witnesses.

“Please, spare me…”

But Chen Jun, brave only with words, wilted at the sight of real steel—already, the reek of urine filled the air.

Had he really wet himself out of fear?

Ma Wu frowned in disgust—he hadn’t expected this man to be so spineless.

Such vermin deserved to disappear from this world.

With a single swift motion, the blade rose and fell—Chen Jun would never move again.

Watching a living man die before their eyes, the gang leader and his cronies could no longer keep their composure. Had he truly killed them? He was even more ruthless than they were!

“Boss, you…”

The leader didn’t even finish begging for mercy before his voice fell silent, and the others quickly followed.

When all had fallen, Ma Wu found himself trembling—it was, after all, his first time killing.

Blood had painted the entire interrogation room crimson. Ma Wu panted heavily, forcing himself to regain composure.

They all deserved to die—he was merely punishing them.

Yes, that’s right…

When Ma Wu opened his eyes again, all uncertainty was gone, replaced by icy indifference.

Since he was an avenger, why not give himself a fitting title?

He tossed the machete carelessly at the scene and left behind the recorder he’d used to capture Chen Jun’s words. Ma Wu was ready to make his escape.

But as he headed for the stairwell, he saw flashlight beams glinting in the darkness.

“Who’s there?” came a sharp female voice, clearly drawn by the sounds of Chen Jun’s pleas.

Bai Jie, one of the leading officers in Public Security—a woman of icy reserve, respected by all at the station, not least because her father was a veteran detective.

Her hunger for success was all the greater.

She had stayed late at the station to investigate a string of old cases, never expecting to hear such strange noises—and so had come alone.

The nearer she drew to the interrogation room, the thicker the metallic scent of blood, and the deeper her sense of danger.

Something serious must have happened.