PCJ – Chapter 673 The Gun Is Drawn

“Director Liu, we were trying to apprehend the assailant. He broke Director Zhi’s nephew’s ribs!” Yin Jianzhuang still hadn’t realized the full picture.

“Just because he’s Zhi’s nephew, he can do whatever he wants? Is the public security system in Daihua County some family’s private army? Yin Jianzhuang, are you the chief of Chengguan Police Station, or someone’s lapdog?” Liu Tiande roared.

He had long been looking for an excuse to deal with Zhi Huming’s trusted cronies. Now that one had delivered himself to the door, Liu Tiande wasn’t going to miss this golden opportunity. Zhi Huming had finally provoked a deputy county chief with serious background—this was heaven-sent!

“Director Liu, what do you mean by this? I’m just doing my duty according to the law,” Yin Jianzhuang replied, his expression darkening as he tried to pick up his phone to inform Zhi Huming.

“Take him away!” Liu Tiande waved his hand. “Colluding with criminal gangs, acting as a protective umbrella, knowingly breaking the law—arrest him now and we’ll investigate at the bureau!”

Before Yin could make a call, Hu Yijiang led a group of officers from the Public Security Team and surrounded the Chengguan Station officers, detaining them on the spot.

“Liu Tiande! What do you think you’re doing? I was enforcing the law. What right do you have to arrest me?” Yin Jianzhuang shouted, trying to hold his ground with Zhi Huming as his backing.

“You still don’t understand what’s going on?” Liu Tiande snapped. “Let me enlighten you. The man you just tried to arrest is the new deputy county chief, Zhang. He was attacked by gang members while inspecting the area. And you—you ignored the perpetrators and tried to arrest a county leader instead. What do you think that is? This is lawlessness!”

Liu Tiande could hardly contain his glee.

Yin Jianzhuang’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground. “That can’t be! Why would a deputy county chief eat at a place like this?”

“Didn’t I already tell you? Deputy Chief Zhang is here to inspect. He encountered gangsters extorting civilians and got into a confrontation. He acted in self-defense and injured one of them. And you—you ran in to defend the gangsters. Seems like you’ve long been their protector! Take him away and interrogate him thoroughly!”

Liu Tiande waved again. Hu Yijiang stepped forward to take the man in.

Just then, a police car screeched to a halt in front of them.

“Did you get him?!” Zhi Huming jumped out of the vehicle, yelling.

No one answered.

Looking around, Zhi saw Yin Jianzhuang pinned to the ground. Then he spotted Liu Tiande—and his heart dropped.

“Director Liu, what’s the meaning of this? Officer Yin was arresting the attacker, and you detained him? What are you trying to do?” Zhi barked.

“Zhi Huming! You’ve gone too far. You let your nephew extort protection money and bully the people of Daihua County. I’ve already gathered proof. As for you personally acting as a shield for the underworld—I’ve got evidence of that too. And now you dare to threaten a county official? Who gave you such guts?!”

Zhang Jiaohua still didn’t speak. He could tell Liu Tiande was using this as a power play and had no interest in becoming someone else’s tool.

Zhi sneered. “Director Liu, don’t slander me! My nephew was the one attacked. When did I ever threaten a county leader?”

“I’m not interested in your excuses. Arrest him! We’ll listen to your explanation at the bureau!” Liu Tiande waved his hand.

Hu Yijiang and his officers surged forward again.

But Zhi Huming wouldn’t go down quietly. He pulled a gun from his waist, flipped off the safety, and aimed at Liu Tiande.

“Liu, don’t push me! This isn’t Bijiang City—you’re in Daihua County now. On my turf, even a dragon has to coil up! Here, I am the law!”

“Zhi Huming! Are you trying to kill someone now?” Liu Tiande shouted, shocked.

“I’ve been on the battlefield—I’m not scared of you. If any of you dare step forward, don’t blame me for what happens next!”

Zhi raised the gun and fired a shot, shattering the lightbulb of a nearby food stall.

Liu Tiande instinctively stepped back, startled by Zhi’s ruthlessness.

“Do you even know what you’ve done? You’ve just cut yourself off from the people!” Liu said, his face pale.

“You think you can take me down with this stunt? You don’t call the shots in the bureau. My people are on the way. You want to use this to take me out? Dream on!” Zhi looked around, hoping for reinforcements.

Taking the opportunity, Yin Jianzhuang slipped away from the Public Security Team’s grip and ran to Zhi’s side.

“Where’s the guy? You worthless fool! Not only did you fail to arrest him—you got arrested yourself!” Zhi kicked Yin Jianzhuang in frustration.

“Director Zhi, there were too many of them. I couldn’t do anything. And that man… that man…” Yin stammered, unsure how to explain.

“You coward! Where is he? Watch me deal with him myself!” Zhi barked.

Yin hesitantly pointed toward Zhang Jiaohua, wanting to explain—but before he could speak, Zhi kicked him flying.

Zhi then turned to Zhang with a sneer. “Who the hell are you? Got a death wish touching my nephew?!”

But Zhang didn’t even look at him.

Suddenly, the table in front of Zhang flew up without warning, flipped in mid-air, and slammed straight into Zhi’s gun hand. The weapon flew out of his grasp. Then the table flipped again and crashed directly into Zhi’s head.

Thud!

Zhi’s eyes bulged, his mouth opened, but no sound came out. He collapsed, unconscious. He wasn’t dead—but completely knocked out.

The gun landed near Zhang’s feet. Without even looking, Zhang gave it a light kick, and it slid right to Liu Tiande’s feet. Liu bent down and picked it up smoothly—as if Zhang had handed it to him.

Everyone around had been too terrified to breathe earlier, worried Zhi might go on a rampage. They had assumed Zhang would be in serious danger. No one expected this outcome.

“Director Liu, your public security system needs serious cleaning. At this rate, the whole bureau will be rotten. I’m leaving the rest to you—handle it however you see fit,” Zhang Jiaohua said, standing up to leave.

“Rest assured, Deputy Chief Zhang. I will thoroughly investigate and not let a single corrupt officer slip through! We are the people’s police—not the scum’s bodyguards!” Liu Tiande declared loudly.