Bo Lingxue seemed to have dropped a bombshell on the police out of nowhere. A sharp ringing pierced Ling Lie’s ears, shocking half his body into stiffness and immobility.

Bo Lingxue… wasn’t A’Xue? Wasn’t the head of “Floating Lights”? Wasn’t “Black Peacock”?

How was that possible? Then the conversation at Yu Rong Tan Ge in North Rongmei last time…

Suddenly, Ling Lie felt as if he had taken a heavy punch to the chest. He had been prejudiced. Hearing Bo Lingxue recount the story of avenging Yin Hanshan, he had taken for granted that “Gray Peacock” was just another alias for “Black Peacock.”

Xie Qing, who was monitoring the feed, was also slightly flustered at this moment. Beside him, Ji Chenjiao quickly left and ran towards the interrogation room.

The door to the interrogation room opened. Bo Lingxue was smiling and saying, “A’Dou, I never said I was ‘Black Peacock.’ Why did you insist on believing I was the mastermind?”

As he spoke, he raised the corner of his eye and looked at Ji Chenjiao standing at the door. “Oh, Officer Ji is here too. Perfect. I have something I want to share with Officer Ji as well.”

Ling Lie’s back was already soaked with cold sweat. His mind raced through various details of his interactions with Bo Lingxue. This person had been misleading him starting from his name: Bo Lingxue, A’Xue. And the eyes—dark green eyes were rare. A’Xue had them, and so did Bo Lingxue. Bo Lingxue had even personally told him that he had once disguised himself as Yan Xi to investigate Yin Hanshan’s death in Xiarong City. Unfortunately, he was discovered by Ning Xiechen, so Ning Xiechen had to die—of course, Ning Xiechen didn’t die but was bedridden with serious illness.

On the issue of “Gray Peacock” and “Black Peacock,” Bo Lingxue had emphasized from start to finish that he was “Gray Peacock,” which now seemed more like a self-protection strategy.

Wait a minute! Ling Lie pressed his aching temples. Was it possible that what Bo Lingxue was saying now was the lie? That this person was “Black Peacock,” and his silence over these days was just him concocting a story to deceive the police?

“A’Dou, are you thinking that I’m not telling the truth right now?” Bo Lingxue laughed. “Then let me ask you a question. Why are you so determined to catch me?”

Ji Chenjiao pressed his lips into a tight line, and Ling Lie didn’t answer either.

Bo Lingxue spread his hands slightly, the handcuffs making a faint sound. “Because you know that without international cooperation, the dark web cannot be completely eliminated. So you can only pin your hopes on controlling the leader. ‘Floating Lights’ used to operate overseas. If it weren’t for my obsession with your country, ‘Floating Lights’ wouldn’t have entered. So, locking me up would make ‘Floating Lights’ withdraw automatically. That is your goal.”

Pausing for a moment, Bo Lingxue leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice as if chanting a spell. “Then let’s see if ‘Floating Lights’ has withdrawn from this land.”

Shen Qi sat in front of the computer, gnawing on his hand in agitation. Data refreshed constantly on the screen before him. After Bo Lingxue was captured in Guiweng Town that day, the dark web’s activity had plummeted to a low point and continued to decline for a few days. However, in the last few days, there were signs of a slow climb, and today, it had skyrocketed in a straight line.

He didn’t understand what was going on. Wasn’t “Floating Lights'” leader already in their hands? Why hadn’t “Floating Lights” gotten out yet?

Ling Lie took a deep breath to calm himself down, staring into Bo Lingxue’s dark green eyes that were so incredibly similar to those in his memory. “You aren’t A’Xue. Then who are you?”

A look of sorrow appeared on Bo Lingxue’s face, like a heartbroken man looking at his treacherous wife.

A few seconds later, he said, “A’Dou, you really never paid any attention to me at all.”

“I was also a child in that village. Do you have absolutely no impression? My name is Xiao Yu.”

Xiao Yu?

Ling Lie searched his memories with all his might, trying to match those blurry faces with the person in front of him.

But it was no use. It was too long ago. He couldn’t even remember A’Xue’s face clearly anymore, let alone this Xiao Yu who had popped out of nowhere.

Seeing Ling Lie’s expression, Bo Lingxue sighed sadly. “It seems you really don’t remember. In your world, there was only A’Xue. Only A’Xue was your precious baby.”

Ji Chenjiao frowned. These words made him very uncomfortable.

Bo Lingxue looked at Ji Chenjiao, the sorrow on his face dissipating. “Oh, how could I forget? Officer Ji is still here. Don’t worry, I’ll talk to you about business after I finish telling my story.”

Ling Lie didn’t notice their conversation. The name Xiao Yu repeatedly shuttlecocked through his mind. He seemed to recall a little. Was there indeed someone named Xiao Yu among that group of children? Or was it A’Yu?

But he had almost never spoken to Xiao Yu. Children like them were always watched closely by instructors. One wrong word could invite death. So once they made friends, they would consciously form a closed circle with them. He, A’Xue, and Sister were one such closed circle. What happened to other kids was none of their business.

Bo Lingxue said with surprise, “You remember me?”

Actually, Ling Lie only vaguely recalled the name Xiao Yu. The person behind the name was still a fog.

But Bo Lingxue was clearly happy. “I know you helped A’Xue kill.”

“What?” If others knew about this, it would easily reach the instructors’ ears.

Bo Lingxue nodded. “Yes, I know. Many times when you helped him, I was not far from you, hiding in the snow watching you. But you never discovered me once. Why? Because I was too inconspicuous?”

Sorrow rose on Bo Lingxue’s face again. He raised his hand, touching his eyes with his index and middle fingers. “But I clearly have dark green eyes just like A’Xue. Could you only see him and not me? You called him Little Baby, so what about me?”

The wind and snow of the border crossed through the deep sea of memory. Ling Lie seemed to see a silently following child, but the child was too far from him and A’Xue, and the wind and snow were too heavy. They turned away, unable to see the child’s face clearly.

“I envied you. You had Sister to give you names. A’Xue was such a stupid kid, yet he had you to protect him and help him with tasks, while I was always alone.” Bo Lingxue smiled and said, “Even my name, I gave it to myself. But later, after you fell, I was finally not alone anymore.”

“I didn’t lie to you last time. After you left, all of us lived miserably. The instructors thought you and A’Xue plotted to escape. We innocent ones were stripped of what little freedom remained. A’Xue was nearly beaten to death. Do you know why we survived later?” Bo Lingxue gave Ji Chenjiao a meaningful look. “This relates to what I want to tell Officer Ji. But no rush, let’s finish here first.”

“That winter, when we were about to be tortured to death, a high-ranking figure from ‘Sinking Gold’ came to our village. His codename was ‘Violent Cat’. He looked…” Bo Lingxue turned to Ling Lie, “…just like you do now.”

Ling Lie immediately thought of the man in the photo. The people in Guiweng Town said the man was called A’Rou.

“‘Violent Cat’ ordered not to abuse the children. Only then did A’Xue, the other children, and I escape calamity. It was also from then on that we learned our village was just an insignificant outpost, and we were essentially no different from the instructors in the village. Our organization, ‘Sinking Gold’, had more important bases. Only by becoming a figure like ‘Violent Cat’ could our tragic fates change.”

“‘Violent Cat’ didn’t stay in the village for long, but after he left, our lives were indeed much better, especially mine.”

Ling Lie: “Yours?”

Bo Lingxue: “I replaced you and became friends with A’Xue. Want to know why I could become friends with him?”

The interrogation room fell silent. Half a minute later, Bo Lingxue answered his own question: “Because I was good at imitating him. While you were still accompanying him, praising his beautiful eyes and calling him Little Baby, I started imitating him.”

Ling Lie felt a spasm in his stomach, nauseous enough to vomit.

“While imitating, I thought, why can’t A’Dou be friends with me? Am I not like A’Xue enough? I can do whatever A’Xue can do. Why doesn’t A’Dou look at me?” Bo Lingxue continued, “During that time, A’Xue was like he had lost his soul. Moreover, everyone knew it was because of you that we suffered. Everyone took their anger out on A’Xue. Since I was willing to play with him and behaved similarly to him, he was of course willing to be friends with me.”

“We finally grew up together, reaching the time when we could leave the village and serve ‘Sinking Gold’. But fate really plays tricks on people. Country E united with several other countries and suddenly wanted to exterminate ‘Sinking Gold’. I heard ‘Violent Cat’ had been killed, and ‘Sinking Gold’ abandoned our village too.”

“I didn’t care. Not being ‘Sinking Gold’ was fine; I could survive anywhere else. But A’Xue was different. After growing up, he became very fond of thinking, always pondering things I couldn’t quite understand. We were separated for a while. You’ve guessed when that was, right?”

Ling Lie’s expression was cold. “When he met Yin Hanshan?”

“Correct, but a bit earlier. We encountered an attack, and many died. I thought he died too. Later, he met Yin Hanshan, who got lost mountaineering in Weiti Town. You know the rest.” Bo Lingxue took a deep breath, looking at the ceiling. “A’Xue came back and told me that one day we could walk freely in the light.”

“I asked him what he wanted to do. He said he wanted to help someone, be that person’s informant, but his strength alone was too meager and he needed my help.”

Ling Lie said, “So it was the two of you together?”

“I listened to him. He had much more ideas than I did.” Bo Lingxue said, “I’ve been imitating him since I was little. I seem to have forgotten how to think for myself, and forgotten why I imitated him in the first place.”

“A’Xue’s ideal was almost realized, but Yin Hanshan died. He searched for Yin Hanshan in Weiti Town and many of your cities with no results. From that day on, A’Xue changed. He wanted to make the dying ‘Sinking Gold’ strong again, because only by relying on a behemoth like ‘Sinking Gold’ could he find the truth of Yin Hanshan’s disappearance.”

“At that time, we had already entered the core of ‘Sinking Gold’s’ power. Turning ‘Sinking Gold’ into ‘Floating Lights’ was an easy task.” Bo Lingxue turned to Ji Chenjiao. “Officer Ji, the Yan Xi you knew back then was the real A’Xue. I didn’t disguise myself as him, and he didn’t disguise himself as me. He just wore dark brown contact lenses to hide his dark green eyes, which were the same as mine.”

Bo Lingxue suddenly laughed. “You guys are really naive. How can disguising be that easy?”

“But you should thank me. If not for me, Captain Ning would have died at A’Xue’s hands long ago.”

Ji Chenjiao’s hand on his leg clenched into a fist.

“When A’Xue approached Captain Ning to investigate the truth of Yin Hanshan’s disappearance, I was also in Xiarong City supporting him. It was an accident; I was being harassed by a group of hooligans, and Captain Ning passed by and helped me out. Later, Captain Ning discovered A’Xue wasn’t a simple informant. A’Xue felt he couldn’t leave him alive. It was I who saved Captain Ning.”

Bo Lingxue shook his head with a smile. “For so many years, I gave him the best treatment, not letting him die but not letting him truly live either. I had to keep him hanging on by a thread. But I didn’t expect him to fool all of us and actually kill my ‘Na Sheng’. If I had known…”

Bo Lingxue didn’t continue, shrugging his shoulders. “Why don’t you ask someone who understands networks? You caught me; has ‘Floating Lights’ withdrawn?”

Ling Lie had already received the answer in his earpiece. The shadow looming over Xiarong City not only remained but was expanding further.

Bo Lingxue laughed loudly. “How could the boss of ‘Floating Lights’ be caught by you so easily? I emphasized many times that I am ‘Gray Peacock’. A’Dou, it was you who blindly believed I was ‘Black Peacock’.”

Ling Lie felt a scorching fire burning in his chest. Was it anger at being fooled? Shame from a head-on blow? Or annoyance at his own negligence?

“‘Black Peacock’ is still safe and sound in Country E. He anticipated that you would go directly for the leader, so he let me put on a good show.” Bo Lingxue teased, “Use your brains, Mr. Police Officer. ‘Floating Lights’ hasn’t completed its infiltration yet. Why would he risk appearing?”

Ling Lie said, “What about you? Aren’t you angry? ‘Floating Lights’ hasn’t completed infiltration, yet ‘Black Peacock’ threw you out just like this?”

The arrogance on Bo Lingxue’s face receded slightly. He squinted and locked eyes with Ling Lie. After a moment, he said, “Because I couldn’t think of any other opportunity to make you, A’Dou, use all your energy to deal with me, to look squarely at me, a person who also has dark green eyes.”

Killing intent rose in Ling Lie’s eyes.

But Bo Lingxue smiled and waved his hand, handcuffs clinking. “‘Black Peacock’ has his obsessions, and I have mine. A’Dou, I won this round. From now on, it will become even more difficult for you to entrap ‘Black Peacock’.”

Sweat beaded on Ling Lie’s neck, his fingertips trembling slightly.

Bo Lingxue was silent for a moment. “Oh, how could I forget the main business? Captain Ji, do you want to know who that ‘Violent Cat’ who looks very much like A’Dou is?”

Ling Lie slammed the table heavily. Ji Chenjiao looked at him in surprise.

Bo Lingxue said lightly, “Is it inconvenient for Officer Ji to know?” Without waiting for Ling Lie to speak, he added, “True, after all, we said last time that there are people you don’t want Officer Ji to know about, and secrets you discovered but are unwilling to share with Officer Ji. You know very well that you are on our side.”

Ji Chenjiao’s brow furrowed tightly as he held Ling Lie’s hand. “What exactly is it?”

“A’Dou is unwilling to say, so I’ll say it.” Bo Lingxue looked into Ji Chenjiao’s eyes with a smile. “A’Dou’s father was a former high-level member of ‘Sinking Gold’, codenamed ‘Violent Cat’.”

Ji Chenjiao’s eyes suddenly widened. He heard every word clearly, but couldn’t digest the information for a moment.

Xie Qing immediately called a halt to the interrogation and sent someone to fetch Ling Lie. But Ling Lie stood, hands propped on the table, staring at Bo Lingxue menacingly, gritting his teeth: “Let him speak!”

Bo Lingxue continued with a smile.

When “Violent Cat” came to the village back then, no one knew his relationship with A’Dou. The children were only deeply impressed by his face because he was simply too good-looking, appearing almost like a different race from the other mercenaries.

It wasn’t until “Sinking Gold” became “Floating Lights” and A’Xue became “Black Peacock,” accessing the remnant “Sinking Gold” archives, that they learned “Violent Cat” was named A’Rou, from a small border town called Guiweng Town. He had a child with a woman, and that was A’Dou. But for some unknown reason, shortly after A’Dou was born, he was thrown into the village to endure torture along with other children whose lives were worth no more than grass.

The only time “Violent Cat” appeared seemed to be to save the children in the village who were implicated because of A’Dou’s disappearance. Before the official multi-nation siege of “Sinking Gold,” “Violent Cat” had already died. So neither Bo Lingxue nor Yan Xi could see “Violent Cat” again after growing up.

“A’Dou, your father was an utterly bizarre man. He was so cruel to you, completely disregarding your life or death, yet he actually came to save us children because of you.” Bo Lingxue extended his handcuffed hands toward Ling Lie. “You are also a bizarre man. You guessed the truth of your background, but you’d rather ask me than open your heart to your boyfriend.”

Ji Chenjiao suddenly remembered a time when he was on a call with Ling Lie while still in Qianbing County. He sensed Ling Lie hesitating to speak and asked if something was wrong. But Ling Lie said it was nothing. Throughout this period, he hadn’t mentioned any photos or A’Rou.

A trace of disappointment uncontrollably welled up in his heart. Even though he warned himself to beware of Bo Lingxue’s rhetoric, his heart inevitably sank.

It was like there was a door in front of him. Ling Lie stood on the other side, locking him out.

The interrogation ended, and Bo Lingxue seemed like the sole victor. Not only the technical reconnaissance department in Xiarong City but even the Special Action Team monitored that after a brief dip, the “Floating Lights” dark web was becoming increasingly active.

The true leader, “Black Peacock” Yan Xi, was in a deep lair beyond the police’s reach.

Ling Lie locked himself in a small windowless conference room, zoning out, thinking of nothing, too lazy to think.

Bo Lingxue was right; he was self-righteous.

If he had been more cautious, not assuming Bo Lingxue was “Black Peacock,” and not acted so impulsively, perhaps there would still be a chance to capture “Black Peacock.”

But now, the chance had become infinitely slim.

Bo Lingxue was like a stone thrown by A’Xue; the police’s line of thinking was completely exposed. What should they do next time to make A’Xue take the bait?

And A’Rou, “Violent Cat,” his… father.

Ling Lie suddenly sat up from the connected chairs.

How should he explain to Ji Chenjiao? That day he got the photo, he thought about telling Ji Chenjiao, but the words wouldn’t come out.

Why couldn’t he say it? He didn’t know.

It had been some time since returning from Qianbing County. He had repeatedly pondered A’Rou’s whereabouts. He clearly could have discussed it with Ji Chenjiao, but he didn’t.

Now that Bo Lingxue had exposed it in front of Ji Chenjiao, he didn’t know how to face Ji Chenjiao or explain his concealment. He couldn’t even convince himself, so how could he convince Ji Chenjiao?

And the organization, how would the organization assess him?

No, no, that didn’t matter. Even if the Special Action Team kicked him out, it didn’t matter. Stripping him of his uniform was just that. At worst, he’d leave, quit. Putting down the burden would be easier than anything.

But how could he make Ji Chenjiao understand that he didn’t conceal it intentionally?

No, he did conceal it intentionally!

He held his head, pounding it hard, like a child who had done something wrong and couldn’t even find a reason to explain.

Ji Chenjiao smoked on the balcony.

After the meeting just now, he called Ling Lie twice, but Ling Lie seemed not to hear. Or maybe he heard but didn’t want to respond, walking against the crowd into the small conference room.

He wanted to grab Ling Lie, wanted to knock on the door of the small conference room. But after standing in the corridor for a long while, he didn’t.

He seemed to have lost the qualification, as if a thick barrier had formed between him and Ling Lie.

He wasn’t very angry about Ling Lie hiding the photo, but the matter was stuck in his chest, suffocating him. What was there that couldn’t be said? Even if Ling Lie’s father was a high-level member of “Sinking Gold,” so what?

Did Ling Lie not trust that he could digest this matter? Why was Ling Lie unwilling to share with him?

His phone vibrated. Ji Chenjiao picked it up immediately, seeing it was Xie Qing, and felt slightly disappointed.

“Captain Xie.”

“Come to my office for a moment, something’s up.”

“Coming.”

At the meeting just now, Xie Qing had already stated the awkward situation facing the police. “Snow Child” appeared in more cities, the dark web penetrated deeper into the darkness, stirring up evil greed. Police everywhere were taking action, but the dark web was always a step ahead; it had countless tentacles. It could be imagined that for some time in the future, the police would face a tough battle.

“Gray Peacock’s” capture didn’t make “Floating Lights'” true leader retreat but made him more excited. His laughter came from distant Country E, carrying coldness and icy blades.

Ji Chenjiao closed the office door. Xie Qing said, “How are you and Teacher Ling?”

Ji Chenjiao pursed his lips. “He doesn’t want to talk about ‘Violent Cat’.”

Xie Qing nodded. “I called you because of him and ‘Violent Cat’ too. You know, although he works here with us, he is still under the jurisdiction of the Special Action Team. I just received a notification that the Special Action Team will send someone soon to take him back.”

Ji Chenjiao’s heart tightened. “To investigate him? But even if ‘Violent Cat’ is his father, can’t his ten years of contribution prove his innocence and integrity?”

Xie Qing pressed his hand down. “Don’t be anxious yet. None of us knows what the Special Action Team wants him back for right now. Maybe just ordinary questioning?”

Ji Chenjiao couldn’t think completely rationally at this moment, pacing irritably for a few steps. “And if it’s not?”

Xie Qing said, “I want to ask too. If it’s not, what do you plan to do?”

“I…”

After a moment, Ji Chenjiao stood at attention. “Captain Xie, please allow me to go to the capital with Ling Lie.”

Xie Qing smiled, pointing his finger in the air. “I knew you would decide this. The Special Action Team people will arrive in two hours, and they’ll take him as soon as they arrive. Go prepare. I approve it on my end. If the Special Action Team also approves you tagging along, then go.”

When Ling Lie received the notification, it was even later than Ji Chenjiao. He didn’t look at his phone, immersed in his own world. When the door to the small conference room opened, it was like being fished out of seawater.

“Zhao Fan?”

Zhao Fan stood at the door waving. “Didn’t expect it, right? It’s me again. Whatever offending tasks there are, it’s always me.”

After complaining, Zhao Fan became a bit more serious. “The higher-ups sent me to bring you back to headquarters.”

Ling Lie frowned. “Is it because of this operation? Or because of my relationship with ‘Violent Cat’?”

“I don’t know,” Zhao Fan confessed. “I’m just under orders to pick you up. But apprentice, I don’t think it’s a big deal.”

Ling Lie lowered his eyes and said nothing.

Zhao Fan patted him on the shoulder. “Let’s go. No need to pack anything. Whatever you have here, headquarters has it all.”

“Wait, I…” Ling Lie took out his phone, just about to say he’d tell Ji Chenjiao, when he realized the phone was out of battery.

No, it didn’t seem like just out of battery; it looked more like it had crashed and broken.

This phone was extorted from Ji Chenjiao. How did it break at this juncture?

His chest felt terribly stifled. Calling Ji Chenjiao was a fleeting thought. Blocked by the broken phone, the thought receded.

“Want to make a call?” Zhao Fan handed over his phone. “Here.”

But Ling Lie shook his head. “Forget it, nothing to say.”

Anyway, Xie Qing definitely knew the Special Action Team was coming to pick him up. If Xie Qing knew, Ji Chenjiao would know too. In any case, Ji Chenjiao wouldn’t think he went missing.

Whatever it was, explain after returning—if he could still return.

The Special Action Team’s car was parked downstairs at the City Bureau. Ling Lie followed Zhao Fan. While going downstairs, he was somewhat in a trance, didn’t see a step, missed his footing, and his body went airborne.

His reaction speed could have allowed him to stabilize quickly, but he couldn’t be bothered to remedy it, letting himself fall.

However, the expected pain didn’t strike. He fell into a strong, familiar arm, and there was a reassuring scent in his breath.

Vision began to work again. He looked up and crashed into Ji Chenjiao’s eyes.

“Ji…”

He opened his mouth but only uttered one syllable.

Ji Chenjiao’s expression wasn’t good. Holding him with one hand and carrying his bright yellow suitcase with the other, yet he hadn’t packed any luggage.

Ji Chenjiao’s brow was tightly furrowed, as if blaming him. But at this moment, he felt a long-lost relaxation.

Hearing the commotion behind him, Zhao Fan turned around to look. Only then did Ji Chenjiao release Ling Lie.

“Captain Ji,” Zhao Fan greeted familiarly.

Ji Chenjiao didn’t look at Ling Lie again. “You came suddenly, and Ling Lie isn’t prepared. Can I accompany him?”

Ling Lie immediately looked at Ji Chenjiao.

Zhao Fan asked, “Does Captain Xie know?”

“Captain Xie has already agreed.”

“Then wait a moment, let me make a call.”

Zhao Fan went aside to make a call. Ji Chenjiao still didn’t look at Ling Lie. Ling Lie tugged at his sleeve. “You’re going with me?”

Ji Chenjiao turned his face sideways. “If your superior agrees.”

He spoke very calmly, as if devoid of emotion. But Ling Lie clearly saw thick worry and concern flowing in his eyes, all caused by him, belonging to him, Ling Lie.

In the cold winter, Ling Lie’s fingertips were icy as snow. Ji Chenjiao felt like snow was falling into his hand. Looking down, he saw it was Ling Lie’s hand.

“What if my superior doesn’t agree?”

Ji Chenjiao tightened his grip on Ling Lie’s hand. “At least they have no right to forbid me from going to the capital. I can go by myself.”

The corners of Ling Lie’s lips curved up.

Ji Chenjiao was momentarily dazed. Clearly, it hadn’t been many days since the interrogation of Bo Lingxue, but he felt like he hadn’t seen Ling Lie’s smile for a long time.

Just then, Zhao Fan finished the call and waved at them. “Let’s go. Shen Xun said if Captain Ji wants to accompany, he can accompany!”

Author’s Note:

In chapters 157 and 158, when Ling Lie met Bo Lingxue, a reader guessed that Bo wasn’t A’Xue but another child. Unfortunately, that reader didn’t use a real name, so everyone couldn’t see it. I wanted to reply asking the reader to use their real name, but that would contain spoilers, so I held back. After yesterday’s chapter was published, another reader finally mentioned the other child.