In the Dark Star Bureau, Big Head reported to Captain Chen Changrui about Xiao Zhenggong’s visit to the hospital.
He only mentioned that Xiao Zhenggong had gone to He Jiaqing’s ward and didn’t reveal that He Jiaqing had already woken up.
"Captain, Deputy Captain Xiao has been visiting the hospital quite frequently recently."
Chen Changrui nodded. "I know about that."
"It seems there’s a personal grudge between him and He Jiaqing."
"I know about that too."
"I’m worried he might kill He Jiaqing," Big Head said bluntly.
Chen Changrui smiled. "I know about that as well."
Big Head was puzzled by the Captain’s attitude. He knew everything but still didn’t intervene.
Chen Changrui offered Big Head a cigarette and lit one for himself, then asked, "What do you think He Jiaqing is like?"
Big Head took a drag from his cigarette. "I don’t know. I’ve never met him; I only know he’s someone the bureau values a lot."
Holding the cigarette, Chen Changrui took a deep drag, exhaled a cloud of smoke, and then asked, "What do you think Xiao Zhenggong is like?"
Big Head remained silent for a long while, not daring to answer lightly. "I don’t really understand Deputy Captain Xiao either."
Chen Changrui flicked the ash from his cigarette and smiled. "Indeed you don’t understand, and you can’t. Both He Jiaqing and Xiao Zhenggong are beyond your capacity to comprehend because they are from Puluo State. You’ve never been to Puluo State; you don’t know what it’s like there. I spent a few years there. People from Puluo State clawed their way out of blood and treachery. We’ve lived this long, thinking we’ve been around longer, seen more, have schemes, experience, and resourcefulness. Let me tell you frankly, all this counts for nothing in Puluo State. Do you think the one lying in the hospital bed is definitely a patient? Do you think the person serving as a deputy captain is definitely from the Dark Star Bureau? Such people are not for us to deal with. Isn’t it a good thing to let one of them deal with the other?"
Big Head remained silent.
Captain Chen smiled. "Big Head, there are some things in the bureau that are unfair, which I can’t stand. I will fight for you if I can. If I can’t, it’s just my lack of ability. But we are people of the bureau, and we handle things together when they come up. We’d best not meddle in Puluo State’s affairs. Don’t you think that’s reasonable?"
Big Head tensed up, his face expressionless.
Captain Chen snuffed out his cigarette. "A new recruit came in this year. I’m entrusting him to you."
"Dumpling" You Xuehan brought in a young man, average in stature, plain-looking, and simply dressed but neat and tidy, with a youthful vigor unique to young people on his face.
The young man introduced himself, "My name is Qin Minghui, twenty-three years old, a recent law graduate from Yuezhou University."
Captain Chen said, "This kid was the top scorer in the written exams, interviews, and physical tests. He had better positions available, but he chose the Dark Star Bureau."
Big Head asked, "Why choose the Dark Star Bureau?"
Qin Minghui replied, "For protection."
"Protection of what?"
Qin Minghui said, "To protect the world and all the important things in it."
Before he finished, Dumpling’s face turned red as he struggled not to laugh.
Both Chen Changrui and Big Head couldn’t help but laugh out loud, and Qin Minghui laughed along too.
His laughter was natural, not at all awkward.
"Big Head, from now on, Xiao Qin is under your guidance. You give him a codename."
It’s a tradition in the Dark Star Bureau for a master to bestow a codename on their disciple.
Big Head was always kind to the newcomers, and when it came to choosing codenames, he would ask for their opinion. "What kind of nickname would you like?"
Qin Minghui scratched his head. "The senior brothers have already picked one for me; they call me Chuuni."
Chen Changrui waved his hand. "Don’t listen to their nonsense. A codename is a serious matter; it serves to prevent identity leaks and also facilitates communication during missions."
"Just call me Chuuni then," Qin Minghui wasn’t bothered. "I also think I’m quite chuuni. Maybe after a few rough lessons, I’ll stop being so."
Big Head didn’t want to dwell too much on the nickname. Since Qin Minghui was willing, his codename would be Chuuni.
"First, get familiar with the bureau’s regulations," Big Head said.
"Senior Brother, I’ve already studied them..."
"Study them more carefully. I’ve been learning for half my life, and there are things I still haven’t grasped."
「Greenwater City, Peace Mansion movie theater.」
The movie star "Zhou Changhong" was sitting in the back row on the second floor, watching the third installment of "Blood Blade Detective."
Ling Miaoying released the third movie before Ma Wu could.
But no matter how fast she was, it seemed to be of little use. Compared to "Blood Gun Detective," the attendance for "Blood Blade Detective" was drastically lower.
However, a stark difference didn’t mean that nobody wanted to watch "Blood Blade Detective." Since its release a week ago, it maintained an average attendance rate of over twenty percent. The theater was a bit quieter, but the taste and sophistication of these audience members were very different.
"Zhou Changhong" could hear some audience members whispering:
"This is what a real movie is; this is true art."
"Let’s not talk about anything else; just the lighting and framing alone are incomparable to other movies."
"Liang Chunjie’s character depiction is also excellent, and the actor’s performance is spot-on. A master’s touch is truly different; I’ve memorized quite a few lines from it."
"Zhou Changhong" was pleased with these comments, which were exactly the effect he had strived to achieve.
A third of the way through the film, an elderly man sat down beside "Zhou Changhong" and asked in a low voice, "Big Star, I haven’t mistaken you, have I?"
"Zhou Changhong" had seen the man approaching long ago. He pretended to be unaware until the last moment and quickly stood up. "Mr. Lu Senior, why are you..."
Old Master Lu, Lu Maoxian, waved his hand dismissively at "Zhou Changhong." "No need for formalities. I’m just here to watch a movie. This movie is really well made. It’s a pity that few in Puluo State can truly understand it. But there’s one thing I’m not pleased with: the role of Liang Chunjie should have been played by you. Others’ performances were somewhat lacking."
"Zhou Changhong" offered a humble smile. "You flatter me, Senior."
Lu Maoxian waved his hand again. "This isn’t flattery. At my age, I have no need to curry favor with anyone. These are my sincere thoughts. Changhong, why didn’t you take this role? Was it because Boss Ling didn’t offer a suitable price?"
"Zhou Changhong" shook his head. "I did try for it, but Boss Ling had someone else suitable in mind."
"I should talk to Miaoying about this. The right people should do the right things, and no one is more suitable for the role than you."
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries, then stopped talking and focused on watching the movie.
Why was Lu Maoxian so warm towards Zhou Changhong?
Actually, this wasn’t strange at all. In Puluo State, especially Greenwater City, movie stars and wealthy families often mingled.
"Zhou Changhong" didn’t take it to heart.
After the movie ended, "Zhou Changhong" exchanged a few more courteous words with Lu Maoxian, and they each went their separate ways.
While walking on the street, "Zhou Changhong" heard a man and a woman still discussing the movie’s plot.
"Zhou Changhong" habitually placed a pin near his left ear and listened for a moment but heard nothing.
His left ear still hadn’t recovered.
He moved the pin closer to his right ear, and this time he could hear very clearly.
The man said, "This movie is nothing special, not as good as watching ’Blood Gun Detective.’"
The woman retorted, "How can you be so vulgar? How can you even watch that kind of movie?"
"The plot of ’Blood Gun Detective’ isn’t bad; it’s all about that..."
"Stop talking, I don’t want to hear it!" The woman became angry. "It’s not just the plot that you watch in movies, but also the realm. The realm of the character Liang Chunjie is incomparable to other movie characters. I especially admire that line he said, ’A family needs a head, a city needs a head, a region needs a head. The headless masses of Puluo are just scattered sand, destined to be oppressed.’"
The man questioned, "I don’t agree with you. Can’t you survive without a head?"
The woman sighed. "I really have no common ground with you!"
"Zhou Changhong" nodded.
Besides the significant difference in the number of viewers, the other effects had basically met expectations.
He wanted to listen to what other viewers thought when suddenly a button on his chest trembled.
"Jia Qing, something’s happened at the hospital."
It was Big Head’s voice.
"What happened?"
"Zhou Changhong’s identity has been exposed by Xiao Zhenggong. Zhou Changhong told Xiao Zhenggong the truth."
"Zhou Changhong" frowned, his good mood instantly ruined.
"Is the news reliable?"
"You could say I saw it with my own eyes."
"Thank you, brother." He Jiaqing, disguised as "Zhou Changhong," ended the communication, realizing the gravity of the situation.
He shouldn’t have left Zhou Changhong unattended, nor should he have overestimated his loyalty.
He Jiaqing casually headed towards the train station, planning to immediately buy a ticket back to the Outside Provinces.
Of course, buying a ticket was one thing; whether to take the train was another. He had other means to return to the Outside Provinces.
Now that the secret was out, the speed of his departure wasn’t the point; the secrecy of the journey was what was critical.
"Sir, would you like to buy a newspaper?" A newsboy stepped in front of him. He Jiaqing was somewhat irritated and pushed the boy aside.
Lu Maoxian’s visit may not have been a coincidence.
"Please, have pity on me, give me something to eat." A Hua Zi again blocked his path, and He Jiaqing impatiently sidestepped him.
"Please, have pity on me, give me something to eat." The Hua Zi moved in front of He Jiaqing again.
Agitated from being interrupted again, He Jiaqing gave the Hua Zi before him an annoyed look, noticing his ragged clothes, the sores covering his face, and the green pus oozing from them.
He Jiaqing’s expression grew tense.
The Hua Zi revealed a smile. "Please, have pity on me, give me something to eat."
He Jiaqing tapped the button on his chest and whispered, "Don’t talk, keep the line open."
PS: An old friend of the Saint has arrived.