Chapter 069: Every Man for Himself in Times of Peril

“Oh my goodness! Doctor, could you be a little gentler? It feels like my back is about to break!”
My thunderous cries echoed throughout the entire orthopedics department.
But I have to admit, the old doctor’s skills were formidable. When he pressed on me, the pain was so excruciating that I almost wished for the end.
Now, lying prone on the hospital bed, my waist no longer throbbed with the agony I first felt.
The doctor told me that my back hadn’t sustained any bone injuries; three days of bed rest and I’d be able to walk again.
Three days lying face down—what would that do to my neck?
But in the blink of an eye, my own suffering seemed trivial compared to what Yu Nie had endured.
Yu Nie had lost so much blood that, according to the doctor, if he’d arrived ten minutes later, he would have met his end.
Fortunately, Wang Zihao and his team arrived just in time. After hours in surgery, Yu Nie’s life was preserved.
It was already noon, the world outside bathed in brilliant sunlight.
The door creaked open.
I wanted to turn my head to look, but realized that this seemingly simple act was now beyond me.
“Just stay as you are,” said Wang Zihao, settling into the chair beside my bed. He cued up a video and placed it before my eyes.
It was a brief clip of He Chuan being interrogated.
Hearing what He Chuan confessed, a million regrets flooded my heart. I regretted not ending He Chuan’s life last night, and that when Uncle Li wanted to kill him, I’d intervened to save him!
In the video, He Chuan admitted to using sorcery to murder Captain Cui.
Never in my wildest imaginings did I expect that, before he slipped into a coma, He Chuan had cast a curse on one of the corpses, causing the subsequent tragedy.
I had suspected Yu Nie; even last night, upon seeing Uncle Li, I had doubted him.
But I never anticipated such a result.
The true culprit was the beast I’d protected last night!
After putting the video away, Wang Zihao spoke. “I heard Captain Cui mention the Golden Cicada Society before. In just a few short days, He Chuan—a member of the Society—has been captured, and one of their mid-level leaders, Uncle Li, is dead.”

He paused, then continued, “You did us a great service. By rights, there should be a commendation ceremony. But due to the sensitivity of the situation—given the Golden Cicada Society’s ruthless nature—if we make a big show, they’ll learn your identity. That would be like pushing you into a pit of fire. So everything must be kept simple. I hope you understand.”
As he finished, Wang Zihao produced a wooden box containing a silver bullet medal.
He placed it before me.
Gazing at the medal, my heart was heavy.
I gave a bitter laugh and shook my head. “You’d better take this back. It should belong to Captain Cui.”
I expected Wang Zihao to reassure me that Captain Cui had one too, but at my words, his expression changed.
“Captain Cui…” he sighed deeply. “He didn’t have one. His record only notes accidental death…”
Wang Zihao gave a self-mocking smile, repeating, “Only accidental death.”
“Wait… what did you say?”
I wondered if I’d misheard, but Wang Zihao confirmed I hadn’t.
Because of the special nature of the case—that he was killed by a corpse—the incident could never be made public, nor could the internal report mention the supernatural.
Even if such things were acknowledged, they were never officially recorded, much less circulated.
So Captain Cui’s death could only be classified as an accident; only accidental death required so few details.
I swallowed hard, ignoring the pain in my back as I propped myself up on the bed and looked intently at Wang Zihao. “Captain Cui gave his life for this, and in the end, he’s just listed as an accidental death? While someone like me, an outsider, gets a medal?”
I shook my head. “That doesn’t seem right.”
Wang Zihao smiled faintly at my words. “There’s nothing wrong with it. Captain Cui, or myself…”
He pointed to his police uniform, his gaze growing firm. “What we wear isn’t just clothing, but a responsibility. I believe Captain Cui never worked for posthumous fame. He truly wanted to protect the peace of thousands of families, asking nothing in return.”
Wetting his parched lips, Wang Zihao continued, “Though sometimes we feel it’s not worth it, we still charge ahead—because we are the police.”
“You’re different,” he added softly. “This was never your responsibility.”
Looking at Wang Zihao’s resolute face, I answered him with equal seriousness, “It’s everyone’s responsibility.”
Glancing down at the medal, I asked, “When will Captain Cui’s funeral be held?”

“Three days from now.”
I said nothing, only nodded. Wang Zihao watched me for a moment, then told me that He Chuan had also confessed to what happened ten years ago—he’d framed Yu Nie back then.
“He Chuan was very forthcoming this time, confessing to everything.”
He was truly terrified. With himself arrested, Uncle Li dead, he knew the Golden Cicada Society would soon learn the news.
Given the Society’s nature, He Chuan was sure they’d assume he’d betrayed them, and would send people to take his life.
A couple may share a nest, but when disaster strikes, each flies their own way.
He may have been utterly obedient to Uncle Li before, but when faced with a threat to his own life, nothing else mattered.
He Chuan wanted to atone, to save his own skin. He gave Wang Zihao and his team a roster of the Golden Cicada Society’s members in Jianghuai.
“That old fox is scared to death; our men are guarding him around the clock.”
Sighing, Wang Zihao stood and adjusted his uniform. “I’ll take my leave. Now that the truth is out, I need to write a statement to clear Yu Nie’s name.”
At the door, Wang Zihao suddenly paused and looked back at me. “Actually, if you’d slipped up even a little last night…”
He didn’t finish, forcing a smile. “Well. I’m off.”
I lay down again, but I understood perfectly well what Wang Zihao hadn’t said.
Not long after he left, a doctor entered the room, report in hand.
“You came with Yu Nie, right? Are you his family?”
I nodded instinctively, and before I could react, the doctor handed me the report. “You need to be prepared. The patient was already at the late stage of liver cancer, now…”
“Wait… what did you say?”