Chapter 22

"Cough, sir, should we let her go back?" Yang Shu asked Li Xiaocanjian softly, looking uneasy.

"For now, let her stay. If she could defeat you, she has the nerve to ask if she can leave. Can't you see that we need more people?"

"Quickly inform everyone about the mission we're going to carry out today and let's depart early."

"Uh, understood, sir."

Yang Shu turned around and addressed the people below with a serious tone.

"This time, we are pursuing a notorious flower thief who has been evading the Imperial Court's pursuit for many years."

"We received a secret tip-off that the flower thief is currently in the Wanhua Building, and our goal today is to capture him in one fell swoop."

"Don't underestimate this flower thief. He has managed to elude the Imperial Court's pursuit for so many years not only because of his cunning and treachery but also because of his formidable martial arts skills."

"Therefore, when we apprehend him later, follow the orders of the commanding officer and refrain from reckless actions."

"Yes," the crowd responded.

"Very well, let's depart."

Wanhua Building.

Arriving at the Wanhua Building, Gong Xiaohua finally realized that it was a brothel.

Since it was daytime, the Wanhua Building was closed for business.

In the backyard of the Wanhua Building, Yang Shu lightly knocked on the door twice.

After a while, the door opened, revealing a middle-aged woman.

The woman had a slightly plump figure and was dressed provocatively, her face covered in white powder.

As she spoke, the white powder on her face kept falling off. The person who came out was the madam of the Wanhua Building.

Behind the madam were several young women.

With their faces concealed by white powder, lips painted red, ample bosoms, and voluptuous figures wrapped in sheer veils, they exuded a seductive and enchanting charm, clearly the courtesans of the brothel.

Gong Xiaohua stood at the back row and couldn't help but satisfy her curiosity by tiptoeing to look ahead.

Plump and slender figures, alluring and charming, the ancients were indeed not deceiving me. When the madam saw the visitors, she instinctively teased Yang Shu, saying, "Oh, officials, you finally arrived. If you hadn't come, this servant would have been afraid that the thief would escape."

After speaking, she didn't forget to wave the scented handkerchief in her hand toward Yang Shu's face.

The madam smiled, and the wrinkles on her face appeared slightly fierce under the embellishment of the white powder.

Startled, Yang Shu hurriedly stepped back a few steps until he stood one meter away from her.

With the knife in his left hand held horizontally in front of the madam, he forbade her from approaching, while sternly rebuking, "This is a case handled by the Ministry of Justice. Behave yourself."

Being scolded, the madam put away her former coquettish demeanor and became submissive.

Seeing that she had calmed down, Yang Shu took a step back diagonally and shouted at Li Xiaocanjian, "Sir."

Li Xiaocanjian looked at the madam and asked, "Did you report the case to the Ministry of Justice?"

The madam, seeing the person in front of her dressed in military attire and exuding the imposing aura of a noble, instantly felt fear and stammered, "Yes. I reported the case."

"Then let me ask you, did you get a clear look at the suspect's face? Are you sure it's the flower thief wanted by the Imperial Court?"

The woman bent down and whispered softly, "Replying to the sir, I saw it clearly. Although he had grown a beard, that large mole above his left eye and his facial features, based on my years of experience in observing people, it must be him, no doubt."

"You fool! How can you determine that he is the flower thief wanted by the Imperial Court based on your guesswork alone?"

A light sigh from Yang Shu came from the side.

The woman trembled twice and stammered, "I apologize, sir, for my presumption."

"Your Excellency, how could that be? It was the girl Xiao Hong in the brothel who discovered the birthmark on the chest of the flower thief, exactly as described in the notice you posted. That's why I reported it. Your Excellency, please apprehend him quickly. With such a devilish character around, our lives and fortunes may be at stake at any moment."

Several young women beside her echoed, "Yes, yes, Your Excellency. If you don't capture him soon, Xiao Hong may be in danger at any time."

"Where is this man you speak of now? What is he doing at this moment?"

"Your Excellency, he is currently resting in Xiao Hong's room. I have instructed her to keep him calm and not to reveal anything suspicious," said the brothel madam.

"Very well. If this person is indeed the flower thief, you will be credited with a meritorious deed, and you shall receive a reward."

"Have all the girls in the building stay away and not venture outside. Lead the way ahead."

"Yes, yes, Your Excellency. Please follow me," the madam said.

Staff Officer Li gestured to Yang Shu, and they divided the officers from the Ministry of Justice into several groups.

They stationed guards at various exits of the Wanhua Building, while the others, led by Yang Shu, surrounded the room where the suspect was staying.

Gong Xiaohua and Sun Daqiang formed a group and stood guard at a small door on the left side of the Wanhua Building's alley.

A wall separated the alley from the neighboring residential area.

One end of the alley was blocked, while the other led to the bustling main street. At this moment, the two of them stood on opposite sides of the door. Sun Daqiang looked at Gong Xiaohua, who was constantly scanning her surroundings, thinking that it was her first mission and she was nervous.

He said to Gong Xiaohua, "Xiao Hua, don't be nervous. Yang Shu has brought so many people inside; they will surely catch him in there. Besides, even if he manages to escape, he won't come out through this exit. It's very safe here."

But Gong Xiaohua didn't think so.

On the contrary, she believed that if the thief broke through the first line of defense, he would choose this exit, which was closer to the residential area.

Because the alleys inside the residential area were crisscrossed, by quickly taking a few detours, he could easily shake off pursuers and successfully escape.

And now, where Gong Xiaohua and Sun Daqiang were guarding, on the other side of the alley wall, lay a densely populated residential area. It all depended on whether the thief was clever enough.

As it turned out, the reason why this thief had been able to elude capture for so many years was not only due to his skill but also his intelligence.

Sure enough, the thief not only broke through the first line of defense but also chose the path where Gong Xiaohua was stationed.

With one kick, he pushed the small door outward.

With a loud crash, the two door panels couldn't bear the force and burst out, sending splinters flying toward Gong Xiaohua and Sun Daqiang.

Caught off guard by the sudden danger, the two of them quickly stepped back and swung their large knives at the flying door panels. With a snap, the door panels broke into two sections and fell to the ground.

Meanwhile, taking advantage of that split second, the thief swiftly climbed over the wall on the other side.

Thinking he could escape once again, he proudly whistled behind him.

But just as he was about to climb over the wall, he suddenly found that his left foot couldn't move.

Looking down, he realized that his left foot was caught by a woman dressed in prison clothes, tall and somewhat attractive.

He tried to break free from the opponent's restraint with all his strength, but he found himself unable to escape, and his face changed dramatically.

Gong Xiaohua swiftly cut off the door board flying towards her and saw the thief about to climb over the wall.

Her right wrist swiftly turned, instantly concealing the large knife in her hand behind her back.

Taking a big step, she burst towards the wall, quickly grabbing the opponent's foot with her left hand and yanking him down from the wall.

The thief was pulled down to the ground, furious. With a large knife in his right hand, he fiercely swung it towards Gong Xiaohua's left hand.

Gong Xiaohua quickly released her left hand, and the knife in her right hand behind her back swiftly turned to the left, blocking the opponent's attack.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the thief hastily retreated, running to the main street within a few breaths and disappearing into the crowd.

Gong Xiaohua, seeing the situation, immediately followed the thief's trail.

All of this happened in an instant.

By the time Staff Officer Li and Sun Daqiang caught up and realized what had happened, they could only watch helplessly as two figures flashed before their eyes.

This girl, dragging such a heavy body, can still run so fast. She's extraordinary.

"Go after her."

After saying that, Staff Officer Li quickly chased after Gong Xiaohua's direction, with everyone closely following behind.