Chapter 162: Cracking Down on Gangs and Eliminating Evil

Nanming City. The Warm Little Home.

“That was wonderful! These scum and degenerates ought to be wiped out completely!”

Sitting on the sofa, Liu Liping listened as the television continued exposing one criminal act after another, and could not help speaking out in righteous indignation.

“Keep your voice down. Look at you—you’ve frightened Yiming into tears.” Lu Kun hurriedly reached out and took their son away.

“I was just too worked up, all right? Can you really blame me?” Liu Liping rolled her eyes and retorted irritably.

“Yes, yes, of course. You’re a heroine of justice.” Not wanting to provoke her at a time like this, Lu Kun replied perfunctorily and went back to soothing the child.

“Honestly, how can people like this exist? They have perfectly good hands and feet, yet instead of taking the right path, they insist on doing things that offend both Heaven and humanity.”

Watching the criminals being led away in handcuffs one after another, Liu Liping glared at the television in disgust.

“What’s so surprising about it? Murder and arson bring golden belts. Once a person gets used to taking shortcuts, they’ll eventually end up plunging into the abyss. In this society, wherever there is light, there will be darkness. That’s how most things in this world are.”

Lu Kun raised his head and said this, then added, “You and the child should stay home as much as possible for the next few days.”

“What? At a time like this, would they still dare show themselves?” Liu Liping asked in astonishment.

“Who can say? What if some fish slipped through the net? When people are driven into a corner, resorting to desperate measures is perfectly normal.” Lu Kun’s expression was solemn.

…

“Ah!”

Liu Liping covered her mouth, staring in shock at what was playing on the television.

“Don’t look!”

Lu Kun immediately turned sideways and blocked the screen. Even an adult could be chilled to the bone by the bloody scene on television.

“Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid.” Standing before her, Lu Kun gently patted her back and comforted her repeatedly.

“Hiss! Hey, don’t grab me! Don’t pinch!”

Cold sweat broke out across Lu Kun’s forehead.

I came over to comfort you out of the goodness of my heart, and you grab and pinch me right there? Do you have no conscience at all?

“…”

Liu Liping.

“Er, hehe…” Liu Liping released her grip and gave him an awkward smile. “Are you all right?”

“What do you think? You nearly pinched the life out of me.” Lu Kun glared fiercely at her, his voice full of indignation.

“I… I’m sorry. I was just too excited, and then…” Her voice grew softer and softer as she finished.

“No need to apologize. In a little while, you’ll experience my three ultimate techniques.” Lu Kun’s eyebrow twitched as he spoke sourly.

“What techniques?” Liu Liping asked, looking rather foolish.

“The Poison Dragon Drill, the Dragon Claw, and the Divine Flicking Finger!”

Lu Kun adjusted the way he was holding the child, then turned back to Liu Liping.

“…”

“Move aside and let me see what they’re showing now.” Liu Liping pushed at Lu Kun anxiously.

Lu Kun felt that Liu Liping might be watching this massacre as though it were a horror movie. She screamed again and again in fright, yet remained thoroughly engrossed.

When other couples watched horror films, the girl would scream in terror and burrow into her boyfriend’s arms. But with Liu Liping…

It was simply impossible to put into words.

Every time she was frightened, she pinched him once. What man could endure that?

Lu Kun could no longer be bothered with her. Let her scream as much as she liked. He carried little Yiming back to the bedroom, humming softly as he coaxed him to sleep.

“The evening breeze brushes gently over Penghu Bay, white waves chase the shore. No coconut groves are embroidered against the setting sun, only a vast expanse of blue sea…”

“Ah!”

A loud cry came from the living room.

Lu Kun’s face darkened like the bottom of a cooking pot.

How many times had it been now? Every time he had almost managed to lull little Yiming to sleep, Liu Liping would let out some strange cry outside.

“Heh heh heh…”

Hearing little Yiming laugh, Lu Kun felt a headache coming on.

“Penghu Bay, Penghu Bay, Grandma’s Penghu Bay, where I had so many childhood dreams: sunlight, beaches, cacti, and an old sea captain…”

“Whew. At last, he’s asleep.”

Only after placing little Yiming in his small bed did Lu Kun finally breathe a sigh of relief.

…

“Why did you stop watching? From the look of you, the news seems more interesting than a movie.” Lu Kun lowered his voice and complained.

“Forget it. I don’t want to watch anymore. It’s boring! Suddenly they started negotiating for no reason.” Liu Liping covered her mouth and yawned.

“The police and the criminals started negotiating?” Lu Kun asked, studying her.

“Yes. Apparently, because the police were afraid the desperate criminal might kill the hostages in a fit of rage, they specially brought in a negotiation expert.” Liu Liping walked over and plopped down beside Lu Kun.

“…”

“That’s understandable. The police can’t simply disregard the hostages’ families. Besides, when the police have someone negotiate with the criminal, it’s to make him lower his guard and find an opportunity to deliver the fatal blow.” Lu Kun explained.

“But… I still feel as though something’s wrong.” Liu Liping scratched her head, hesitating.

“What’s so strange about it?” Lu Kun looked at her and spoke irritably.

“I… I just have this feeling, as if…” Liu Liping bit her lip, then shook her head.

Lu Kun leaned his ear toward her mouth and listened as she finished speaking. His pupils contracted sharply.

“An inside man!”

…

“You absolutely must not tell anyone about this. Let’s just pretend we know nothing.” Lu Kun hurriedly warned her.

“Don’t worry. It’s only a feeling, with not the slightest bit of evidence. I won’t go around saying it.” Liu Liping nodded repeatedly in assurance.

“Good. The ones who’ve surfaced so far are only small fry. The real big fish haven’t even shown their faces.” Lu Kun sniffed and looked toward Liu Liping.

“Hey, why do I get the feeling you knew about this all along and were hiding it from me?” Liu Liping nudged him with her elbow, asking suspiciously.

“Don’t let your imagination run wild. Besides, what good would knowing more do? I’m not stupid enough to charge into battle for someone else, only to give the people behind the scenes a chance to shoot me in the back.” Lu Kun pinched her chin.

“I’m just afraid you’ll get carried away and go meddle in this mess. The three of us depend entirely on you to survive, so don’t let your hot blood get the better of you!” Liu Liping slapped his hand away.

“I’m not still the reckless young man I used to be.”

If this had been before he was married, he might indeed have grabbed a brick and gone all out against someone.

But after getting married and starting a home of his own, Lu Kun’s whole outlook had quickly grown more mature.

In his previous life, the fact that Lu Kun and Liu Liping had gone their separate ways was due in large part to the cruel twists of fate.

Had they stopped loving each other? No. They had simply been crushed by reality.

What greater cruelty of fate was there than for a man, just as he first began facing responsibility and the future—when he was at his poorest, most wretched, and most helpless—to meet the woman he most wanted to protect for the rest of his life?

…

“The grapes aren’t as pink as they used to be, and neither are the wood ears,” Lu Kun muttered.

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