SFTD -Chapter 423 Chief, You Can’t Go In

After hearing Zhou Hai’s words, Yang Duxiu struggled even harder. Zhou Hai had no time to deal with him right now—so long as he stayed agitated, it was good enough. At least they didn’t have to worry about his heart rate dropping too low.

Zhou Hai beckoned to Xiao Zhan beside him.

Xiao Zhan’s legs nearly gave out, and he almost collapsed on the spot.

He had heard every word of Zhou Hai’s earlier threats clearly. The thought of a living guest in the autopsy room was horrifying enough already. His stomach had been in knots this whole time, and now that Zhou Hai called for him, it felt like his legs no longer obeyed him.

Zhou Hai frowned slightly, lowering his voice a little.

“If you’re not feeling well, I can get someone else.”

Xiao Zhan immediately straightened up and waved his hands frantically.

“Forensic Doctor Zhou, just tell me what you need. Are we carrying Yang Duxiu to the vehicle?”

Zhou Hai shook his head.

“His condition isn’t suitable for direct transport. We need to make some equipment first, in case something happens on the way.”

Xiao Zhan looked confused, and the officers restraining Yang Duxiu all turned to look over as well.

“Equipment?”

“I need some wood or bamboo poles—not too thick, about wrist-sized. Then some wire and duct tape. We’re going to make a simple restraint frame so Yang Duxiu can’t move around. That’ll make transportation much safer for everyone.”

The crowd immediately understood and hurried off to gather the materials. There was bamboo nearby, making it easy to find what they needed on the spot. As for wire and tape, many police vehicles carried them already.

Less than ten minutes later, everyone returned with the supplies.

By then, Zhou Hai had already taken rough measurements. He instructed them to cut the bamboo poles according to size and assemble them into a frame shaped like the Chinese character “介.”

A horizontal support bar was added beneath the upper crossbars to form a triangle, while another short crossbar fixed the lower section together. Every joint was first bound with wire, then tightly wrapped with tape to stabilize the structure and prevent anyone from being scratched.

Once everything was ready, the group carried the frame toward Yang Duxiu.

Actually, while they had been preparing the materials, Yang Duxiu had already been watching from the side and instantly understood Zhou Hai’s intentions. But by now, he no longer had the strength to resist much. Every so often he would lash out with a violent kick.

The officers holding him down had already rotated through several shifts—it was exhausting work. Seeing the frame brought over, everyone stepped forward together, lifted Yang Duxiu up, padded his limbs with towels, and secured him firmly onto the bamboo frame.

Yang Duxiu screamed and cursed nonstop.

Some of the officers were oddly fascinated, completely ignoring his performance. They were more interested in the restraint frame Zhou Hai had built, discussing among themselves how useful the method might be in future situations when proper equipment wasn’t available.

Watching the atmosphere suddenly relax, Liu Yong cleared his throat.

“Hurry up. Xiao Zhan, escort Yang Duxiu back to the center. The doctors have already arrived. Luo Jinfang goes with them. Everyone else stays and searches the entire area. All remaining personnel, begin checking the sewers!”

Yang Duxiu continued struggling on the frame as Xiao Zhan’s team carried him into the police van.

The Ford Transit had already had all its seats removed, leaving only a flat platform in the back.

Four men lifted Yang Duxiu by the corners of the frame and loaded him inside, then sat down in place around him. They were worried the vehicle’s movement might cause him to sway and strike the bomb.

But lying on that frame was agony.

The bamboo pressed painfully against Yang Duxiu’s waist, making it impossible to either lie comfortably or sit upright. As the vehicle jolted along, his broken ankle swung beside the bamboo pole, sending waves of pain through him until he roared continuously.

Xiao Zhan sat near his head on the right side and patted his shoulder.

“I’m saying, Yang Duxiu, stop yelling already. Are you actually in pain or what?

One minute you’re acting all heroic, ready to die and drag everyone down with your bomb. The next minute you’re crying and screaming from pain. What exactly are you trying to do?

You’re acting like you’re filming some melodramatic romance drama. Is it really necessary?

Forensic Doctor Zhou isn’t here now. You don’t need to perform anymore. Save the acting for when you get to the autopsy room, alright? Take a break.

You want some water?”

Hearing Xiao Zhan’s rambling speech, Yang Duxiu suddenly felt powerless.

What exactly had he been fighting for?

He stared silently at the ceiling of the vehicle.

Pain meant he was alive.

Being alive meant suffering.

Zhou Hai wanted him to suffer properly.

And Yang Duxiu understood that intention all too clearly.

The convoy sped toward the center compound with police lights flashing.

Director Pang was already waiting in the courtyard with several people. The two doctors who had come to help stood off to one side, and their tense expressions revealed just how nervous they were.

Zhou Hai jumped out of the vehicle and glanced at the two doctors before nodding slightly.

“What we mainly need are equipment and medication. If those are complete, we can handle the entire procedure ourselves.”

The two doctors exchanged surprised looks.

The older doctor spoke awkwardly after a moment.

“We’ve honestly never seen a patient like this before… but I’ll stay.”

The younger doctor pursed his lips.

“I’m from the burn unit. Once you deal with the bomb, I’ll treat his wounds. Is that alright?”

Zhou Hai nodded.

Faced with life and death, the fact that these doctors could stand firm without retreating moved him deeply. The compassion of a healer was never just empty words—it was an instinct engraved into their very bones.

After looking at them both, Zhou Hai raised his hand and patted their shoulders.

“Please wait outside in the safe zone for now. I’ll arrange for the suspect to be brought inside first. We need to stabilize his heart rate, otherwise the bomb could detonate automatically. Once the bomb is dealt with, I’ll send someone out to call you in.”

The two doctors immediately recognized that Zhou Hai truly knew what he was doing, and they felt even more reassured. They quickly handed over the sterile kits and equipment boxes they had brought before retreating toward the vehicles behind them.

Liu Yong and the others were stopped outside the center by Director Pang.

This was no joke—if the bomb exploded, the entire place could be destroyed.

“You can’t go in. Captain Luo already said so.”

Director Pang stretched out his arm to block the remaining personnel.

Liu Yong’s face darkened.

“What are you talking about? Do you not know who the leader here is?”

Director Pang smoothed back his sparse hair. Rarely this forceful, he completely ignored Liu Yong’s scolding.

“Director Liu, you are the leader. But you’re not a professional in this field. In situations like this, we listen to the experts. Captain Luo is the best bomb disposal specialist. Zhou Hai is the best in our entire system when it comes to forensics and medicine. Do you disagree?”

Liu Yong stared at Director Pang for a long moment but couldn’t force out a single word.

Everything Pang said was true.

He really was an outsider here.

Still, he was deeply worried about what was happening inside. Turning around, he spotted Xiao Hu nearby.

“Xiao Hu, come here. Didn’t they install a real-time monitoring system? Log in so we can watch from the vehicle. Yang Duxiu’s a lunatic. I’m afraid he’ll suddenly go crazy again up there. If he dies, fine—but our people absolutely must not get hurt.”

Chewing gum, Xiao Hu handed a laptop to Director Liu.

Liu Yong glanced at him. Apparently everyone had overheard the earlier argument between him and Director Pang and had prepared this in advance.

He took the computer, opened a video window, and sure enough, the feed from Autopsy Room Number One appeared on the screen.

Zhou Hai’s figure came into view.