8: Chapter 8: A Change of Face! Captain Cao Almost Draws His Gun

"Master, what are you doing?"

"Master! Put the gun down!"

Li Xiang and An Xin, standing behind Zhao Yang, shouted hurriedly.

Cao Chuang finally snapped out of it, quickly holstering his sidearm and sucking air through his teeth. "Little Zhao, I'm sorry. The way you look right now is just too... too... You should let everyone see."

Zhao Yang's lips curled. He slowly turned around and looked at the people behind him. "How many years do you think I'd get sentenced to?"

"Holy crap!"

"This..."

"Ah? Little Zhao, you..."

Everyone was stunned.

Zhao Yang's gaze was cold and dark, reflecting a complete disregard for life.

There was no expression on his Face, but his lips were curled—though it was the shape of a smile, there was absolutely no warmth in it. Instead, it exuded a twisted, spine-chilling sensation.

The Face was still handsome, but it radiated an aura of pure evil.

Behind that mask of skin, there seemed to be endless violence and slaughter hidden away.

Everyone finally understood why Cao Chuang had instinctively drawn his gun.

With Zhao Yang looking like this, he looked like he had at least a dozen murders under his belt.

Many even felt the urge to investigate him thoroughly.

"I specialized in Acting in university and was even the lead in the Drama Club," Zhao Yang said, returning to his usual self. "So, does anyone think there's someone better suited for this than me?"

The group looked at each other, and everyone fell silent.

When it came to Acting, Zhao Yang was a professional.

No one could look more like a criminal than him.

Cao Chuang patted his shoulder. "Be careful with everything."

The list was soon reported to Meng Dehai and An Changlin.

Meng Dehai was puzzled—why would this mission be given to Zhao Yang, who was already the most handsome man in the Jinghai Public Security Bureau?

However, when he saw Zhao Yang after his transformation, he fell silent.

He was still as handsome as ever, but combined with that extremely twisted and violent temperament, he appeared even more dangerous.

Meng Dehai pulled his hand back from where his sidearm was, wearing a strange expression. "Zhao Yang, Handong University really teaches a lot of things."

Zhao Yang returned to his normal self, his expression serious. "Director Meng, based on the current investigation results, I'm afraid this case is inextricably linked to Xu Jiang, the boss of the Platinum Palace nightclub."

"Oh? Why do you make that judgment?"

"Huang Cuicui was in the flesh trade. Platinum Palace is the largest flesh market in our Jinghai City; everyone knows that."

Meng Dehai nodded. "That is indeed true."

"For Xu Jiang to be so arrogant, he must have a protective umbrella—and a high-level one at that."

Meng Dehai's expression turned stern. "Zhao Yang, don't say such things lightly."

Zhao Yang smiled. "Even if I don't say it, Director Meng should be able to guess. Platinum Palace has been open for so many years, and despite so many Anti-Vice Crackdowns, it's never been touched. Either Xu Jiang is lucky, or someone gave him a heads-up. I'm leaning toward the latter. I hope to consider the worst-case scenario thoroughly."

Meng Dehai was silent for a moment before it dawned on him. "Do you want to change the undercover plan?"

"Yes," Zhao Yang said in a low voice. "While I'm undercover, do not contact me proactively. I won't send any messages until I've gathered enough evidence."

"No! That way, we won't know if you're safe at all!" Meng Dehai said sternly. "Zhao Yang! Individual heroism is not the way!"

"Then... I'll only maintain a single line of contact with you, and I'll periodically send signals regarding my location and safety," Zhao Yang said. "This will minimize the risk of leaks. Uncle Meng, my Acting skills are up to par; being an undercover isn't hard, keeping it a secret is."

Meng Dehai considered it for a long time before finally nodding. "Fine, we'll do as you say. It seems you are more suitable than An Xin. I'll go talk to An Xin in a bit."

Zhao Yang was taken aback, then realized. "Did An Xin come to see you? He wanted to go undercover?"

"Yes, he almost convinced me. But I still think you're more suitable." Meng Dehai patted his shoulder. "An Xin said that given his relationship with me and Director An, he should be the one to charge ahead. But... you, Zhao Yang, are also my nephew! You should be at the front even more!"

At that moment, a System notification rang out in Zhao Yang's consciousness.

[Key plot point changed. The fate of the protagonist An Xin has shifted. Reward: One upgrade for an existing skill.]

After leaving Meng Dehai's office, Zhao Yang pondered over his skills for a while and decided to shore up his weakness—upgrading his Foreign Language skill by one level.

Immediately, he was stunned.

He also understood why the skill was called "Foreign Language."

After reaching level 2, his English proficiency reached at least the level of the CET-6. His mind also gained a mastery of Russian; based on what he knew, daily communication would be no problem at all.

Zhao Yang pursed his lips. In the year 2000, Sino-Russian trade was at its peak. Could he find a Russian girl to practice his Foreign Language with?

...

Two days later, arrangements were made at the Detention Center.

Led by a Prison Guard, Zhao Yang entered the room where Feng Lvzi was being held.

With a level 6 Acting skill, if he were to debut, he could easily win a Best Actor award.

He wore a floral shirt, a leather jacket, jeans, and suede boots. With a cigarette dangling from his mouth, he scanned everyone in the room with a sinister expression.

Feng Lvzi sat in the outermost spot—the one furthest from the indoor latrine.

Seeing a newcomer enter, the others initially wanted to give Zhao Yang a hard time, and they all looked up fiercely.

But the moment their eyes met Zhao Yang's, they all shuddered in unison.

Good heavens, what kind of death god had arrived? That gaze made people's skin crawl.

Zhao Yang looked at them one by one. No one dared to meet his eyes, and they all lowered their heads.

Entering the Detention Center with a cigarette in his mouth—he clearly looked like a big brother with connections.

Finally, Zhao Yang's gaze landed on Feng Lvzi.

He lived up to his name; he truly had a Face like a donkey's.

At first, Feng Lvzi was defiant and looked up at Zhao Yang.

But after only a few seconds, he backed down.

His lips couldn't help but twitch—could this guy be someone with several lives on his hands? But how could such a serious criminal end up here?

Zhao Yang pointed at Feng Lvzi, his voice ice-cold. "Move over."

Feng Lvzi was the big brother of the room and cared about his Face. He plucked up his courage and looked up. "Little brother, don't you know the rules here?"

Zhao Yang gave a cold, dark smile. "Rules? What I say is the rule!"

"Holy crap!"

Feng Lvzi glared and roared, "Get him! All together!"

Although the lackeys were scared witless by Zhao Yang, they thought about their numbers and mustered the courage to charge forward.

Zhao Yang's lips quirked—some people just didn't know the heights of the heavens.

A level 6 Unarmed Combat Technique here was basically a dimensional strike.

These guys, who only knew how to throw wild swings, were like kindergarteners in Zhao Yang's eyes.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

His punches were as fast as lightning.

Every punch landed on either a jaw or a temple; whoever was hit was instantly knocked unconscious.

The sounds of bodies hitting the floor rang out continuously, and soon only Feng Lvzi was left standing.

He looked at Zhao Yang as if seeing a ghost. Letting out a strange cry of terror, he shrank into a corner of the communal bunk. "Officer! Officer! Come quickly! There's a murder!"

Zhao Yang took a deep drag of his cigarette and slowly blew out a few smoke rings.

Looking at Zhao Yang through the haze, Feng Lvzi's mind suddenly blanked—he had never seen such perfectly round smoke rings.