Chapter Sixty-Seven: The One in Tang Jingjing’s Heart!

I decided to call Old Lin. With his wealth of experience, he would surely be able to advise me.
But to my disappointment, no one answered his phone.
Left with no other choice, I tried calling Li Hong, but his phone, too, was switched off.
A wave of unease washed over me. Neither Old Lin nor Li Hong could be reached—something unusual was clearly afoot. Could it be... the two of them had already joined the case? Given the immense social impact of this incident, any team member would be required to switch off their phones upon joining.
With few options left, I called Director Wang to ask if the two had already arrived.
Director Wang’s silence was answer enough.
I asked if Old Lin could call me back.
Director Wang replied, “Forget it, kid. You’d best not get involved in this matter. I already owe your family enough. I had no choice but to go this time. Leave it alone, hang up.”
Hurriedly, I asked if I could call Li Xingchen.
Director Wang sounded surprised and asked why I wanted to call him. I said I was just asking.
Director Wang said, “Go ahead and call. The kid’s right here with me.”
Li Xingchen answered the call with his usual irreverence: “Xiao Yang, are you missing me? If you are, send me a red packet on WeChat!”
I snapped, “Cut the nonsense, Li Xingchen. Let me ask you one thing: if you were your family’s only son, and someone in your family had already sacrificed themselves for a case, now you're needed for another dangerous mission—would you take it?”
Without a second’s hesitation, Li Xingchen replied, “Of course not.”
I nodded. “Alright, then put Director Wang back on the phone.”
Director Wang asked what was going on.
I said, “Director Wang, I’ll join the team as soon as possible.”
Director Zhang was shocked and asked what had changed my mind.
I said Li Xingchen had provoked me.
Director Wang immediately questioned Li Xingchen about what had just happened.
Li Xingchen was momentarily baffled: “What’s that supposed to mean…”
Unable to persuade my father, I decided to go to my great-aunt. She doted on me and was wise; surely she would agree.
She was in the study room, writing. I knocked on the door, and she let me in.
She set down her brush, smiled, and asked if I had thought things through.
A little surprised, I asked what she meant.
She said, “You’re just like your father. There’s no way you’d stay out of something like this. So, have you decided to join the team?”
I sighed, “Great-aunt, you truly are wily and shrewd.”

My great-aunt chuckled, “How can you use words meant for Old Lin to describe me? Alright, I know if I say too much, I’ll be nagging. If you want to go, then go.”
“But… what about my father…”
“That’s actually his intention,” my great-aunt said. “He knows you better than I do. This is something he wanted you to have—make sure you keep it with you at all times!”
I looked: it was an ordinary scented sachet. I brought it to my nose, but it was completely odorless.
“What is this…” I looked at my great-aunt in confusion.
She sighed, “It was left by your third uncle.”
I nodded and put the sachet in my pocket.
“Great-aunt, I’m leaving.”
“Let me give you a parting gift,” she said, picking up her brush again and writing two characters on a sheet of paper. She handed it to me. “Burn it after reading! Remember, you must catch the killer and avenge your third uncle.”
I was stunned. “Avenge him? This person... is the one who killed my third uncle?”
She nodded, snapping the brush in her hand with a swift motion.
Such was the strength of the Yu family’s martial tradition—internal force sharp enough to snap steel.
A cold shiver ran down my spine. I could hardly believe it.
Looking at the bold characters on the paper, “Miao Clan,” I nodded deeply. After leaving, I burned the note, bought a high-speed train ticket, and headed straight for the Public Security Bureau.
To my surprise, Tang Jingjing was also in the director’s office.
Upon seeing me, she beamed, “I knew you weren’t a coward.”
Li Xingchen, standing to the side, looked utterly dejected—it seemed Director Wang had dragged him into this as well.
Director Wang smiled and asked, “I’m really curious—how did you convince your father and your war-god of a second uncle?”
I replied, “My father told me to come.”
Director Wang was shocked, “You’re just trying to make your father look good, aren’t you?”
I quickly assured him that wasn’t the case.
Director Wang sighed, “I know your father’s character well. Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to keep you safe. The three of you, hurry and set out, or you’ll miss the train…”
Tang Jingjing gave me a nod.
I glanced at Li Xingchen, who muttered, “What are you looking at me for? I never agreed to Director Wang.”
Tang Jingjing grinned, “You promised me, didn’t you? Said you’d do anything for me.”
“Sis, you’re such a trickster,” Li Xingchen grumbled. “I knew it was too good to be true—you’d never like someone like me. Damn, you’ve played me! You’ll be the death of me. I’m the only son of my family’s third generation—if something happens to me, I won’t be able to face my ancestors.”
Tang Jingjing burst out laughing, “That’s what you get for lusting after your big sister’s beauty!”

Li Xingchen, acting almost like an old woman, started squabbling with Tang Jingjing, but she silenced him with a slap. “Enough nonsense. I really couldn’t live without you. Look at Xiao Yang—he’s more of a man than you. If you want to marry into the Tang family, you’d better show some courage!”
“Stop fooling me,” Li Xingchen retorted angrily. “Don’t think I don’t know you like Xiao Yang. I heard you calling his name in your sleep.”
I looked at Tang Jingjing in embarrassment. She gritted her teeth, “Ignore that fool. I dreamed I was fighting you—I wanted to kill you.”
At that moment, Director Wang’s tone turned serious. “I’ll secretly arrange a vehicle for you. Travel low-key this time. If you don’t leave now, you’ll miss the train.”
I groaned, “Why are we taking the train? Is the department short on funds? Why not a plane? At the very least, a bullet train.”
Director Wang replied, “The train is safer. The old green trains are best for blending in. Enough talk—get going.”
With that, he handed us three train tickets.
Li Xingchen glared at Director Wang, “So you’d planned this all along—the tickets are already booked.”
Director Wang smiled, “Just being prepared for all possibilities.”
We drove to the train station to meet up with Old Lin. The bureau had given Old Lin a new phone with round-the-clock tracking—able to send signals even from concealed locations via any metal device. It seemed our safety was indeed well considered.
On the way, Li Xingchen asked why I agreed to join after his negative answer.
I laughed, “Do I look like an ordinary person to you?”
Li Xingchen said, “Honestly, you look like a total loser right now.”
I replied, “I simply won’t do what ordinary people do. Whatever they avoid, I go for—that’s my code.”
Tang Jingjing laughed, “That’s the kind of man I like.” Only then did she realize she’d spoken too much, and fell silent, though Li Xingchen laughed so hard he nearly doubled over.
At the station, we were led to the waiting room. Inside, Old Lin and Li Hong were playing chess. It was rare to see Old Lin so carefree, and I couldn’t help but challenge him to a game.
Whether by design or poor play, I ended up taking most of his pieces.
Old Lin sighed, “You coming here might be a mistake.”
I looked at him in confusion. “How can you tell?”
He explained, “You played chess just like Li Hong—attacking from the start. You’re filled with resentment and killing intent, which is exactly what this case cannot tolerate.”
I protested, “Old Lin, stop being so cryptic. What is this case? I don’t even know yet—just tell us.”
But Old Lin remained tight-lipped, saying nothing could be revealed for now.
I asked if Li Hong’s presence was also a mistake, since I played like him.
Old Lin shook his head. “Of course not. Li Hong is a warrior, naturally able to protect himself—born for battle. But you’re different. You have no means of self-preservation. A case is like a game of chess: if you charge in with only anger and killing intent, you’ll soon find yourself surrounded and, in the end, dead.”
With that, Old Lin moved his last pawn forward and checkmated my king.