The call from the police was like a bucket of ice-cold water, drenching Lin Xiaohe to the bone and chilling her to the core.
Weren’t Dad, Grandma, and Grandpa supposed to be at the Grand Theater rescuing Second Sister? How could they have been detained for disturbing the peace?
A sense of foreboding washed over Lin Xiaohe. She quickly hoisted her eldest brother onto her shoulders and told Xinbao to book a taxi flyer online.
Xinbao’s leaves looked a bit wilted, but understanding the situation, it didn’t disturb her. “Xiaohe, autonomous taxi services don’t accept trips outside the city walls.”
“Then find an unlicensed cab.”
“One is willing to come, but they’re demanding extra payment.”
“Agree to it.”
Xinbao said quietly, “Xiaohe… do you even have any money left?”
“Not a cent.”
…
The unlicensed cab wasn’t far outside the city. In less than five minutes, it stopped just outside the restricted zone.
A middle-aged man, clad in a pink leather jacket and pants with thick-soled leather shoes, had a cigarette dangling from his mouth. He jerked his chin towards Lin Xiaohe. “Get in. 700 Star Coins.”
“Fine. I need to go to several places. We’ll settle the total fare then.”
Well now, a big fare.
The middle-aged man perked up. “Where to first?”
“The hospital.”
Her eldest brother, Lin Chiyang, still hadn’t woken up. He needed to get to a hospital first.
The man was all action and few words. With a few taps on the control panel, the unlicensed cab shot forward like an arrow from a bow.
He didn’t ask which hospital; instead, he drove directly to a small clinic in the Blackwater District. “Their rates are cheap, and they’re good at treating physical injuries and Stardust contamination. Hunters who often go outside the walls frequent this place.”
“Thank you.”
Lin Xiaohe, staggering under Lin Chiyang’s weight, hurried into the clinic.
She spent her last remaining 50 Star Coins to pay the registration fee.
Soon, a man with stubble walked over holding a device shaped like a temperature gun. He scanned it over Lin Chiyang’s body. “The external wounds are fine; they’ll heal on their own. The troublesome parts are the blood clot and the unidentified shadow in his brain. He needs surgery.”
“Do it!” Lin Xiaohe replied without a moment’s hesitation.
“The deposit is 30,000 Star Coins.”
Lin Xiaohe, her sleeves clean and pockets empty, kept a straight face. “I’ll leave him here with you. I’ll go raise the money.”
The doctor raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking to the unlicensed cab outside the window. His tone was pointed. “Came in that car?”
“Yeah.” Lin Xiaohe keenly sensed the shift in the doctor’s demeanor.
The doctor clicked his tongue softly, then turned and called a nurse to take Lin Chiyang to a ward. “Alright, I’ll wait two days. If the deposit isn’t paid in two days, I’m throwing him out.”
Lin Xiaohe quickly ran back to the unlicensed cab. “To the Grand Theater police station.”
In less than twenty minutes, the cab stopped outside the station entrance.
“That’ll be 800 Star Coins total, much obliged.” The middle-aged man extended his wristband for payment.
Lin Xiaohe, having nothing left to lose, stated plainly, “I don’t have the money. Add me as a contact. I’ll pay you back once I have it.”
Looking at her unabashed confidence, the man was both angry and amused. He opened the car door, stepped out with his long legs, and looked down at her from his height. “Got some nerve, huh? Trying to skip out on your bill with your big brother Pili here?!”
Lin Xiaohe was frantic with worry; how could she have the patience to deal with him now?
“Brother Pili, I’m not running out on the bill. I have urgent business. I’ll definitely get you the money within two days.”
Pili Ge snorted in derision, threw his cigarette butt on the ground, and ground it out with his foot, putting on a fierce expression. “Think you can fool an idiot with that?”
“If you don’t believe me, then just follow me.” Having said that, Lin Xiaohe turned and sprinted towards the police station.
Pili Ge’s face contorted. What a piece of work, this little brat, daring to cheat me out of 800 Star Coins! Follow her? Fine, I’ll follow!
The two entered the station one after the other.
Lin Xiaohe: “I’m a family member of Lin Tiesheng. Where are they?”
There wasn’t a single living person in the office area, only robots.
“Greetings. Citizen Lin Tiesheng has been charged with disturbing the peace. The fine is 1000 Star Coins. Citizen Lin…”
Lin Xiaohe cut it off. “I request visitation.”
“Greetings. Citizen Lin Tiesheng is currently detained with a fifteen-day sentence. Bail and visitation are not permitted.”
No matter how Lin Xiaohe tried to threaten, cajole, or even menace to file a complaint, the robot’s response remained the same, a monotonous repetition.
Lin Xiaohe’s heart sank like a stone.
Disturbing the peace wasn’t a serious crime. How could visitation and bail be completely forbidden?
Pili Ge, watching from the side, stroked his chin, enjoying the show. “Little girl, you’ve pissed someone off. They’re deliberately making trouble for you.”
“I know.” Lin Xiaohe steadied her breathing and silently recited in her mind, “Xinbao, check on Dad and the others’ current status, and find out what exactly happened at the Grand Theater.”
Xinbao was efficient. In two minutes, it had the details. “Xiaohe, Dad and the others are in solitary holding cells. Their vital signs are normal. I checked the Grand Theater surveillance. Dad and the others were recognized by Brother Cheng as soon as they arrived. When the public security officers arrived, they arrested Dad and the others directly.”
Brother Cheng. Again, it’s Brother Cheng!
Lin Xiaohe clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug deep into her palms, but she felt no pain.
It was clear now. The normal channels were completely blocked.
Lin Xiaohe turned and left.
Pili Ge followed behind, stirring the pot. “Giving up just like that?”
Lin Xiaohe got into the passenger seat. “Good Fortune Internet Cafe in the Prosperity District.”
Pili Ge didn’t pull her out of the car. By now, curiosity had the upper hand.
“Little girl, tell me, what’s the story? Must be quite a feat to piss someone off this badly.”
Lin Xiaohe herself didn’t know how she had offended Brother Cheng enough for him to want to crush her like this.
She laid out her family situation and the recent troubles she’d encountered, holding nothing back from Pili Ge.
Pili Ge switched the flyer to autopilot, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “Hengshan Village? A godforsaken place, nothing special about it. This Brother Cheng who runs the Good Fortune Internet Cafe has some connections, but it’s hardly worth calling in favors from the public security bureau just over some personal grudge.”
Favors were the hardest debts to repay.
Especially with the public security bureau. They were like mythical Pi Xiu beasts; given a chance, they’d bite off a huge chunk of your flesh.
Pili Ge smacked his lips. “Your second sister being taken to the Grand Theater… with their power and backing, you can forget about getting her out. Being able to claim her body would count as you having serious skills.”
“Your eldest brother’s injuries are straightforward—treatable if you have the money. The tricky part is whoever is behind the scenes trying to kill him. Whoever can bribe the checkpoint guards is no ordinary person.”
“Little girl, my advice is to grab your stuff and get as far away as possible, and fast. Whether it’s the Grand Theater or the power behind this, they’re all people you can’t afford to provoke. Oh, and before you go, remember to pay that 800 Star Coin cab fare.”
Lin Xiaohe sat rigidly in the passenger seat, her face tight, not uttering a word.
Pili Ge rolled his eyes, annoyed. “Look at you, like a corpse. I hate kids like you the most, who don’t know their own limits. With that frail little body of yours, one poke and you’d topple over. Are you hoping for some heavenly cavalry to descend and help you save the day?”
In the next second, Pili Ge’s pupils contracted slightly, a flicker of doubt and disbelief passing through his eyes.
It couldn’t be…
Lin Xiaohe turned her head, meeting Pili Ge’s gaze squarely without a trace of fear, confirming his suspicion. “Something I can’t do alone… becomes possible if I add all of you, doesn’t it?”
The call from the police was like a bucket of ice-cold water, drenching Lin Xiaohe to the bone and chilling her to the core.
Weren’t Dad, Grandma, and Grandpa supposed to be at the Grand Theater rescuing Second Sister? How could they have been detained for disturbing the peace?
A sense of foreboding washed over Lin Xiaohe. She quickly hoisted her eldest brother onto her shoulders and told Xinbao to book a taxi flyer online.
Xinbao’s leaves looked a bit wilted, but understanding the situation, it didn’t disturb her. “Xiaohe, autonomous taxi services don’t accept trips outside the city walls.”
“Then find an unlicensed cab.”
“One is willing to come, but they’re demanding extra payment.”
“Agree to it.”
Xinbao said quietly, “Xiaohe… do you even have any money left?”
“Not a cent.”
…
The unlicensed cab wasn’t far outside the city. In less than five minutes, it stopped just outside the restricted zone.
A middle-aged man, clad in a pink leather jacket and pants with thick-soled leather shoes, had a cigarette dangling from his mouth. He jerked his chin towards Lin Xiaohe. “Get in. 700 Star Coins.”
“Fine. I need to go to several places. We’ll settle the total fare then.”
Well now, a big fare.
The middle-aged man perked up. “Where to first?”
“The hospital.”
Her eldest brother, Lin Chiyang, still hadn’t woken up. He needed to get to a hospital first.
The man was all action and few words. With a few taps on the control panel, the unlicensed cab shot forward like an arrow from a bow.
He didn’t ask which hospital; instead, he drove directly to a small clinic in the Blackwater District. “Their rates are cheap, and they’re good at treating physical injuries and Stardust contamination. Hunters who often go outside the walls frequent this place.”
“Thank you.”
Lin Xiaohe, staggering under Lin Chiyang’s weight, hurried into the clinic.
She spent her last remaining 50 Star Coins to pay the registration fee.
Soon, a man with stubble walked over holding a device shaped like a temperature gun. He scanned it over Lin Chiyang’s body. “The external wounds are fine; they’ll heal on their own. The troublesome parts are the blood clot and the unidentified shadow in his brain. He needs surgery.”
“Do it!” Lin Xiaohe replied without a moment’s hesitation.
“The deposit is 30,000 Star Coins.”
Lin Xiaohe, her sleeves clean and pockets empty, kept a straight face. “I’ll leave him here with you. I’ll go raise the money.”
The doctor raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking to the unlicensed cab outside the window. His tone was pointed. “Came in that car?”
“Yeah.” Lin Xiaohe keenly sensed the shift in the doctor’s demeanor.
The doctor clicked his tongue softly, then turned and called a nurse to take Lin Chiyang to a ward. “Alright, I’ll wait two days. If the deposit isn’t paid in two days, I’m throwing him out.”
Lin Xiaohe quickly ran back to the unlicensed cab. “To the Grand Theater police station.”
In less than twenty minutes, the cab stopped outside the station entrance.
“That’ll be 800 Star Coins total, much obliged.” The middle-aged man extended his wristband for payment.
Lin Xiaohe, having nothing left to lose, stated plainly, “I don’t have the money. Add me as a contact. I’ll pay you back once I have it.”
Looking at her unabashed confidence, the man was both angry and amused. He opened the car door, stepped out with his long legs, and looked down at her from his height. “Got some nerve, huh? Trying to skip out on your bill with your big brother Pili here?!”
Lin Xiaohe was frantic with worry; how could she have the patience to deal with him now?
“Brother Pili, I’m not running out on the bill. I have urgent business. I’ll definitely get you the money within two days.”
Pili Ge snorted in derision, threw his cigarette butt on the ground, and ground it out with his foot, putting on a fierce expression. “Think you can fool an idiot with that?”
“If you don’t believe me, then just follow me.” Having said that, Lin Xiaohe turned and sprinted towards the police station.
Pili Ge’s face contorted. What a piece of work, this little brat, daring to cheat me out of 800 Star Coins! Follow her? Fine, I’ll follow!
The two entered the station one after the other.
Lin Xiaohe: “I’m a family member of Lin Tiesheng. Where are they?”
There wasn’t a single living person in the office area, only robots.
“Greetings. Citizen Lin Tiesheng has been charged with disturbing the peace. The fine is 1000 Star Coins. Citizen Lin…”
Lin Xiaohe cut it off. “I request visitation.”
“Greetings. Citizen Lin Tiesheng is currently detained with a fifteen-day sentence. Bail and visitation are not permitted.”
No matter how Lin Xiaohe tried to threaten, cajole, or even menace to file a complaint, the robot’s response remained the same, a monotonous repetition.
Lin Xiaohe’s heart sank like a stone.
Disturbing the peace wasn’t a serious crime. How could visitation and bail be completely forbidden?
Pili Ge, watching from the side, stroked his chin, enjoying the show. “Little girl, you’ve pissed someone off. They’re deliberately making trouble for you.”
“I know.” Lin Xiaohe steadied her breathing and silently recited in her mind, “Xinbao, check on Dad and the others’ current status, and find out what exactly happened at the Grand Theater.”
Xinbao was efficient. In two minutes, it had the details. “Xiaohe, Dad and the others are in solitary holding cells. Their vital signs are normal. I checked the Grand Theater surveillance. Dad and the others were recognized by Brother Cheng as soon as they arrived. When the public security officers arrived, they arrested Dad and the others directly.”
Brother Cheng. Again, it’s Brother Cheng!
Lin Xiaohe clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug deep into her palms, but she felt no pain.
It was clear now. The normal channels were completely blocked.
Lin Xiaohe turned and left.
Pili Ge followed behind, stirring the pot. “Giving up just like that?”
Lin Xiaohe got into the passenger seat. “Good Fortune Internet Cafe in the Prosperity District.”
Pili Ge didn’t pull her out of the car. By now, curiosity had the upper hand.
“Little girl, tell me, what’s the story? Must be quite a feat to piss someone off this badly.”
Lin Xiaohe herself didn’t know how she had offended Brother Cheng enough for him to want to crush her like this.
She laid out her family situation and the recent troubles she’d encountered, holding nothing back from Pili Ge.
Pili Ge switched the flyer to autopilot, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “Hengshan Village? A godforsaken place, nothing special about it. This Brother Cheng who runs the Good Fortune Internet Cafe has some connections, but it’s hardly worth calling in favors from the public security bureau just over some personal grudge.”
Favors were the hardest debts to repay.
Especially with the public security bureau. They were like mythical Pi Xiu beasts; given a chance, they’d bite off a huge chunk of your flesh.
Pili Ge smacked his lips. “Your second sister being taken to the Grand Theater… with their power and backing, you can forget about getting her out. Being able to claim her body would count as you having serious skills.”
“Your eldest brother’s injuries are straightforward—treatable if you have the money. The tricky part is whoever is behind the scenes trying to kill him. Whoever can bribe the checkpoint guards is no ordinary person.”
“Little girl, my advice is to grab your stuff and get as far away as possible, and fast. Whether it’s the Grand Theater or the power behind this, they’re all people you can’t afford to provoke. Oh, and before you go, remember to pay that 800 Star Coin cab fare.”
Lin Xiaohe sat rigidly in the passenger seat, her face tight, not uttering a word.
Pili Ge rolled his eyes, annoyed. “Look at you, like a corpse. I hate kids like you the most, who don’t know their own limits. With that frail little body of yours, one poke and you’d topple over. Are you hoping for some heavenly cavalry to descend and help you save the day?”
In the next second, Pili Ge’s pupils contracted slightly, a flicker of doubt and disbelief passing through his eyes.
It couldn’t be…
Lin Xiaohe turned her head, meeting Pili Ge’s gaze squarely without a trace of fear, confirming his suspicion. “Something I can’t do alone… becomes possible if I add all of you, doesn’t it?”
