0124: Is a single meal all it takes to say thanks?

It was past 7:00 PM. Normally, this would be the busiest time for the Linshui East City commercial district, but tonight, the streets felt unusually quiet.

Curious onlookers gazing from afar saw that an entire section of Zone C had been cordoned off with police tape. Four or five police cars and five or six ambulances were parked near a web technology company, while people from neighboring shops were being ushered away. Police officers and medical personnel moved in and out constantly; many individuals were being loaded onto stretchers or into police vehicles.

A young man in a school uniform sat calmly on the steps at the entrance, with a dark-skinned girl sitting beside him. They leaned against the wall, chatting. Unlike everyone else, they were both covered in blood, looking as if they had just returned from a battlefield.

"I never imagined it would be Jia Qing! Otherwise, your operation might have ended without any danger." After hearing Qin Yunhe's account, he felt the whole situation was absurd. She had thought her identity was exposed because of the news stories about her holding a tiger, but it turned out...

"Nothing I could do. Some things are just coincidences. Back to you, how did you do it?"

"Do what?"

Xu Lin knew she was asking how her wounds had healed and how he had managed to take down so many people.

"How did you knock down so many guys?"

"I just flailed around blindly."

"But none of them were struck in vital areas. They only suffered injuries to their arms and legs, rendering them unable to move."

Xu Lin took a deep breath and looked at Qin Yunhe with a serious expression. "Actually, I’m a martial arts master, but I’ve been keeping a low profile."

"That day you spent half an hour getting beaten up by me, that didn't look like you were hiding your strength."

"Just consider me an expert. They hurt you, I protected you, and I incapacitated them—that shouldn't be illegal, right?"

"It should be fine. Even without my status involved, the fact that they used clubs and crossbows against you counts as self-defense."

"Possessing a crossbow is illegal in itself. It's different from bows or swords; it’s regulated at a level similar to firearms."

"That’s a relief." Xu Lin exhaled. He had acted out of pure rage earlier and almost went too far. Although they were all scum, killing them would have been a real headache.

Still, that "Martial Arts Master" experience card was incredible. He had even managed to dodge a crossbow bolt, though that was partly because the assailant had hesitated to fire immediately. This matter was resolved, albeit much more loudly than he had anticipated. He had originally thought Qin Yunhe would just investigate, confirm the situation, and then bring her colleagues to make an arrest. He never expected her to be in such danger. Luckily, he hadn't left that afternoon, and upon hearing the commotion, he had kicked the glass door in.

"By the way, why were you here this afternoon? Weren't you at school?"

"I had a feeling something was going to happen to you. After I dropped Ji Yun off, I came here. I sat in that spicy hotpot place across the street for the whole afternoon."

"Thankfully, the owner was nice. I ordered some rice noodles and stayed all afternoon without being kicked out."

"Then I saw you running down from the building, and when you started fighting them, I knew you were exposed."

"I headed toward you, thinking they wouldn't dare hurt you, but the next second I heard you scream."

"Then I charged in, subdued them, and called the police. To make sure they arrived quickly, I even mentioned your name."

"Right, I remember being pierced by a crossbow bolt. It hurt so much I blacked out."

"How come when I woke up, the doctor said my wound was just a graze and that it just needed to be cleaned and bandaged?" Qin Yunhe stared at Xu Lin with suspicion. She remembered him stuffing something into her mouth before she lost consciousness.

"Xu Lin, something is wrong with you. I’m going to take you back for a little interrogation!"

"What is there to interrogate? I’m a model citizen!"

"I’m just teasing. Anyway, I know you saved my life, and that’s all that matters."

"Then how are you going to thank me?"

"I'll treat you to a meal."

"Can we leave while things are still ongoing here?"

"You have to go to the station for questioning and a statement. I’ve already reported it. Just give a brief account; it’ll only take half an hour."

"You still have to hand in your written report, too." A police officer in his thirties with a square jaw walked over to them. Without any pretense, he sat down on the steps and pulled out a tablet and a digital recorder.

"Brother Zhou, Captain Zhou, can I hand it in tomorrow?"

"That’s fine. You did a great job this time, venturing into the tiger's den alone and succeeding!"

"Yay!"

"Do you think I'm praising you!?"

"..."

"Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? Don't fall for that lone hero nonsense!"

"Sorry, I understand."

"Alright, but there’s no denying you succeeded this time. But there won't be a next time, or I’ll have the bureau handle your case."

He spoke with such gravity that Qin Yunhe lowered her head. He then turned to Xu Lin. Xu Lin nodded quickly. "Hello."

"Xu Lin? I need to ask you a few questions. Just tell the truth. Don't be nervous; try to be as clear as possible."

"Okay."

Xu Lin went through the recording process again, providing his personal information and recounting the afternoon's events truthfully. Although there was no surveillance in the shop, many people had witnessed it—not just the ones who got beaten, but also the group on the second floor who were dazed and had no idea what was going on.

Of course, there were things he couldn't mention, like the medicine he had fed Qin Yunhe or the fact that her injuries had been quite severe. He had no way to explain where that medicine came from. At least "martial arts" could be explained away as something he had practiced, but a miracle cure? You couldn't exactly claim you brewed that yourself.

Ten minutes later, the officer put down his stylus and clicked off the recorder.

"Alright, thanks for your cooperation."

"Can I leave now?"

"Of course. But your friend and his girlfriend will need to come in."

"Can you guarantee that they weren't the ones who leaked the information? I’m afraid those lunatics might..."

"We always guarantee the safety of our witnesses and informants. And you call them lunatics? You’re the one who laid seven or eight grown men out on the floor."

"When we first arrived, we were stunned! But when you mentioned Qin Yunhe was there during your call, we thought it made sense. We just didn't expect you to be the one who took most of them down." The stern officer relaxed a bit and made a joke.

"I practiced a bit with my grandfather growing up. Actually, Sister Qin is the impressive one."

"Don't be modest. The guys you beat up are finally coming to and they keep muttering about how scary you were."

"Haha, I hope they learned their lesson."

"Alright, I'll leave Qin in your care. You two can head back together. We’ll be busy taking all these people in and interrogating them—looks like another night of overtime for us."

"Yeah, thanks for your hard work."

"It's all in service of the people; it's our duty. Stay safe on your way home."

Xu Lin saluted the officer. The officer waved back, put on his cap, and walked toward the police line.

"That captain is a decent guy."

"Yeah. My actions—not reporting in—should have earned me a disciplinary review, but it looks like the captain helped me out."

"Then you should thank him properly."

"He’s been trying to pursue me; I can't just offer myself to him, can I?"

"That won't do. You haven't even offered yourself to your savior yet, and you're just going to settle for a meal?"

"Look at you, your little pervert side is showing! Good thing you're not Wanwan's boyfriend, or I’d punch your head off!"

"Cough, I was just joking."

"Still going to eat? Or has the appetite vanished?"

"Let's go! If I don't get a meal out of this, I'm losing out." After all, he had spent 4,500 points. Wait... didn't the system say there were side effects?

Hours had passed for both of them, and nothing had happened. The system must have just been trying to scare him.

Whatever, let's eat. He had exceeded his exercise quota for the day; he needed to replenish.