Chapter 3963 — Senior Sister Shangguan Arrives
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 3
"Agree to him first..." Ma Jian gasped hoarsely, his voice frayed to a thread. "Whatever you do, don't go blabbing about this once you're out..."
Ma Jian was no fool either. This whole mess was his own doing—something he had cooked up behind his superiors' backs. If Niu Qiang got spooked and went straight to Gongyang Jun the moment he walked out that door, then yes, Wei Zhao would be a dead man—but Ma Jian would be just as dead. Even setting aside Wei Zhao killing him, Gongyang Jun would never let him off the hook! He had never reported this affair upward; he had done it all on the sly, as a favor to curry favor with Xu Lingchong.
Gongyang Jun stood up for his subordinates, true enough—but if you went off on your own private rampages with no regard for discipline whatsoever, the Law Enforcement Hall would have descended into chaos long ago! If Wei Zhao were killed, with Xu Lingchong pulling strings, the matter could probably be buried. But if it were exposed now... his subordinates simply offing someone at will? Gongyang Jun would have his head on a platter for certain! That was why he was even more on edge about Niu Qiang's behavior than Wei Zhao was.
"Fine, I'll agree to it!" Niu Qiang nodded and turned for the door. Had Wei Zhao's demands been excessive, he might have entertained other ideas—but if it was just this sort of petty errand-running, and he knew perfectly well the other man was chasing a dead end, there was no need at all for him to take that risk.
Of course, if that Xiao Che fellow really did have some trick up his sleeve, that would be a clash on the level of Xu Lingchong himself—and had nothing to do with Niu Qiang. No sense in throwing Ma Jian's life away over it.
After Niu Qiang left, Wei Zhao kept his hand clamped around Ma Jian's neck just the same. This was, after all, no ordinary opponent—a solid mid-Foundation Establishment expert, and on his enemy's home ground to boot. The slightest slackening, and if the man broke free, it could mean utter ruin.
Still, Wei Zhao left him just enough breath to live on. After all, if he accidentally killed this one, then even if he did manage to summon help, it would be hard to walk away unscathed.
"It's useless... whoever you find, it's useless... the Law Enforcement Hall never does anyone any favors... I advise you to kowtow and confess while you still can... maybe I'll spare your miserable life..." Ma Jian did not believe for a moment that some newcomer could save Wei Zhao. In the end, if it came to nothing, he would still have to crush the life out of him—so he threatened with one breath and reasoned with the next.
Since Wei Zhao lacked the resolve to fight to the death, there was no need for him to be afraid. Wei Zhao still could not escape his palm; sooner or later he would be crushed in his grip, as easily as pinching an ant to death.
Bang! Before Ma Jian could finish, Wei Zhao raised a fist and drove it into his belly. "Before you speak, I'd advise you to take a good look at your own situation first. My temper really isn't very good—if I accidentally do in your esteemed Enforcement Envoy self, I really won't be able to live with the guilt."
Doubled over in pain, Ma Jian's body curled up like a dead shrimp. But with Wei Zhao's hand clamped on his throat, he could not even cry out. The interrogation room was left with only a strange, halting sound of hiccuping gasps. That he did not suffocate on the spot was reason enough to praise Ma Jian's luck.
Half an hour later, the iron door of the interrogation room finally opened—and the first person to poke her head in was, just as Wei Zhao had expected, Shangguan Lan'er.
"Little Junior Brother, so you really are here!" At the sight of Wei Zhao, Shangguan Lan'er's face lit up. She bounded over and checked him up and down. "How is it? How is it? Did these bastards bully you? Did they torture you or anything? Your little Senior Sister will get even for you!"