Chapter 303 - Safety Deposit Box
Chapter 303 Safety Deposit Box
After acting rashly, Yu Qian now realized that his situation was not very good at all.
He was a martial artist. Not only did he kill someone in broad daylight, but the victim was also an influential figure. The nature of this case had almost reached the level of challenging the government. The consequences would be severe. The Seventeenth Department was certain to intervene.
Yu Qian knew far more about the Seventeenth Department than Qi Ruoxian, an outsider. On the surface, the Seventeenth Department was only a subordinate office dependent on the National Security Agency. But in reality, the Seventeenth Department could act independently and had members in every city across the country, just in case martial artists committed crimes.
They were specifically responsible for mediating fights between martial artists and investigating cases involving martial artists. They also dealt with some supernatural matters. They were well-known and respected. After all, they represented one of the country’s management structures. Thus, some martial artists jokingly referred to the Seventeenth Department as the special police force seen in Wuxia novels.
Other than regret, Yu Qian was filled with hatred. He hated that Ding Ning injured him, he also hated his senior brother, Liu Zhongyu, for running away before the battle, and he hated Gu Fangran for being unreasonable. Otherwise, he would not be in his present situation.
Presumably, the Seventeenth Department had already taken over this case, right? He could not stay here for long.
Slightly tipsy, Yu Qian’s mind was still clear. He carefully calculated how he could safely escape Ninghai. As long as he could leave Ninghai, he would save for a short period of time.
After all, this case involved a martial artist. The Seventeenth Department could not be like the police and casually spread out the wanted posters. They could only have martial artists investigating his whereabouts in secret.
Yu Qian was prepared. As soon as he left Ninghai, he would immediately sneak overseas and hide for 3 to 5 years. In any case, he had earned a lot of money with Gu Fangran during this time, which was enough for him to live overseas for a few years.
Unfortunately, this beautiful plan turned to ash as the anti-burglar door was silently opened and Ding Ning walked in with Xiao Nuo and a sweet smile.
“Why is it you? Are you part of the Seventeenth Department?”
Yu Qian sat up abruptly and very wisely gave up any thought of resistance. He just stared in confusion at Ding Ning and asked.
Ding Ning raised his right hand and made the posture of firing a guy. Teasingly, he said, “I’m sorry; I am a policeman.”
“You are a policeman?”
This answer stumped Yu Qian. His skills were sufficient to enter the Seventeenth Department but he was a policeman? Had this guy been struck dumb by lightning?
“Of course, I’m even a criminal police!”
Ding Ning’s expression of “I’m a policeman and proud, come quick and worship me” almost gave Yu Qian a psychological break.
Xiao Nuo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at his antics. She rolled her eyes at him without good humor. “You’re a policeman, you’re so incredible. Are you happy? Hurry and bring him in.”
“There’s no rush. Yu Qian, let me ask you, if I have a way of reducing your crimes, will you cooperate with me?”
Ding Ning casually waved his hand and indicated to Xiao Nuo not to be so rushed.
“Cooperate? How?”
Yu Qian looked at Ding Ning strangely, feeling like he was a bit stupid. Who else would, with such skills, be a policeman and proud of it? It made one speechless.
“You’ve been with Gu Fangran for some time, you must know some of his secrets. As long as you cooperate with me in finding evidence against Gu Fangran, you will have done a great deed. I can take that into consideration and reduce your crimes.”
Ding Ning spoke righteously. Working with Yu Qian was a plan born out of hopelessness.
According to the message from Xiaojin, although Lao Qiang had been taken down by Lu Zhan and Cheng Hu, they did not find any evidence of the Gu father and son’s crimes.
Compared to capturing Yu Qian to solve the murder case, Ding Ning was more interested in finding evidence of the Gu father and son’s crimes, to hit Jiang Zhongze where it hurt.
Particularly as Gu Tianqi still held leverage on Liu Shasha and Li Xiaoman. Ding Ning was determined to find this leverage and remove it to prevent future troubles.
Yu Qian’s expression shifted. The punishment for a martial artist killing a common person was very severe. Even if the fact that Gu Fangran attacked him first was taken into consideration, it would still be a dozen years or so in prison.
If he could cooperate with Ding Ning in finding evidence against the Gu father and son and prove that Gu Fangran deserved to die, perhaps he could sit in and out prison in just a few years.
Immediately, he said heavily. “I can cooperate with you but you must promise to deal with me leniently.”
“No problem, as long as you can help us find evidence of his crimes, I will ask for mercy on your behalf. The more evidence you find, the heavier their crimes, and the lighter your sentence. Who knows, maybe you’ll be released without charges and be awarded a medal for removing evil for the people.”
Ding Ning ignored Xiao Nuo’s anxious gaze as he made his promise with a serious expression.
Xiao Nuo was angrily stomping her feet in secret. No matter how much Gu Fangran deserved to be punished, Yu Qian killing someone in broad daylight was also a reality and had had negative effects. Even if his crimes could be lessened, it couldn’t be lessened by much. Ding Ning was just running his mouth, duping Yu Qian.
“Really?” Yu Qian asked excitedly, his eyes lighting up.
With all seriousness, Ding Ning said, “Of course it’s true but this depends on how much evidence you can find against the Gu father and son.”
“Alright, I know that Gu Fangran has a secret safety deposit box in a villa, and even his son doesn’t know about it. If there really is evidence of his crimes, it is certainly in that safety deposit box.”
Seeing the doubt on Ding Ning’s and Xiao Nuo’s faces, he knew they were suspicious as to why he knew about this but Gu Tianqi did not.
Yu Qian blushed and he said, with embarrassment, “To tell you the truth, this is something one of Gu Fangran’s lovers, Liu Yating, told me a few days ago.”
Xiao Nuo’s expression was confused, and she really wanted to ask why Gu Fangran’s lover would tell such a secret to him.
However, Ding Ning was prepared and he smiled warmly. “You’re so clever, then do you know where the villa is?”
It was only now that Xiao Nuo understood and glanced at Yu Qian with disdain. He acted as Gu Fangran’s bodyguard and also slept with his boss’s lover. He really wasn’t anything good.
Yu Qian scratched his head with an unnatural expression. “I know. Liu Yating was once highly favored by Gu Fangran. She learned about this safety deposit box after he got drunk one night and let it slip. Later, Liu Yating lost his favor and was discontent. Seeing that my martial abilities were good, she wanted to encourage me to steal this safety deposit box and take her far away. So I’ve actually gone to scout out the location before.”
“That’s good, we can go check it out right now.”
Ding Ning’s concentration sharpened. He walked up and grabbed Yu Qian’s hand, he shook it vigorously with both hands and pressed down.
Yu Qian’s heart jumped and he was about to resist when he realized that his left arm, which he could not raise because of the pain, no longer hurt. He looked at Ding Ning with a face full of surprise.
“Alright, you’ll be fine after a month. Release the family of three. Although the man is not very good at setting bones, he is still innocent.”
Ding Ning spoke with a laugh but it sent shivers down Yu Qian’s spine. He didn’t know how Ding Ning found him here or how he knew about everything he did.
Seeing Yu Qian standing there in a daze, Ding Ning glanced at him lightly. “You are very lucky you didn’t do anything to harm this family of three, otherwise, you would already be dead.”
Yu Qian felt a shudder run through him and sweat popped up on his forehead. The wife of this home was quite pretty. If he had not been so distracted and if his left arm had not hurt so much as to leave him no interest in woman, she would probably have become his plaything long ago.
He had not expected that Ding Ning would be able to see his deepest thoughts. This made him feel fear toward Ding Ning as well as admiration.
He rushed to release the family from their bonds and explain his actions. “I didn’t want to hurt them. I just wanted to borrow their place to hide for a while. I will compensate them.”
“That’s good. Gu Fangran wanted to kill you first, so I can understand your impulsive action in killing him. That is why I am giving you a chance to redeem yourself but if you dare to hurt innocent people, I will show you no mercy.”
Ding Ning’s tone was light but contained a powerful warning which made Yu Qian tremble. He secretly celebrated that he had not been blinded by lust, otherwise, he would probably already be a corpse.
“I understand; I will not indiscriminately kill innocent people in the future.”
As Yu Qian gave his promise, he carefully took out all the cash he had on him, about ten thousand dollars, and placed it at the head of the bed.
Ding Ning nodded his head with approval. With a strange light in Xiao Nuo’s eyes, Ding Ning picked up her hand and led the way out. “There’s no time to lose; let’s head out.”
A light flashed through Yu Qian’s eyes. His left shoulder did not hurt anymore, should he take this chance to run?
But he remembered that Ding Ning had found him hiding here and felt no confidence that he could escape Ding Ning’s grasp. His thought immediately disappeared like a wisp of smoke.
He obediently closed the door and followed behind the other two people. His eyes darted around, thinking about something no one else knew about.
“It’s this villa, but it’s very tightly guarded. Gu Fangran’s most loyal subordinates are camped here. I’ve heard that they are all equipped with guns and they are very alert. Last time, I was discovered the moment I went in. Fortunately, I ran quickly otherwise, I would have been turned into a sieve.”
Beside the river to the north of Ninghai, Yu Qian pointed at an isolated villa with only a few lights lit and said quietly in a fearful voice.
Ding Ning’s brows lifted. “Do you know the exact location of the safety deposit box?”
“I don’t know. Liu Yating only heard Gu Fangran’s slip of the tongue after getting drunk. He said that his most valuable treasures were all hidden in Bihai Lantian’s safety deposit box 11.”
Yu Qian glanced at Ding Ning uncertainly and said, with embarrassment.
Hearing that the security guards here had guns, Xiao Nuo immediately said, nervously, “We should apply for a search warrant and then come back.”
“No. The Gu father and son are already dead. It’s very likely that his loyal subordinates will start having other thoughts now that the object of their loyalty is gone. If they take away the things in the safety deposit box and escape, we will have lost everything. I’ll go in and have a look, while you two wait for me here.”
Ding Ning said resolutely.
“But...”
Xiao Nuo wanted to say something anxiously but Ding Ning interrupted her and said confidently, “Relax, they can’t do anything to me.”
He glanced at Yu Qian and lightly said, “Brother Yu, I’ll say the unpleasant stuff first. It’s best for you to cooperate obediently and not have any other thoughts, otherwise, I promise you that you will regret it.”
“No, no, I definitely won’t have other thoughts.”
Yu Qian waved his hands in a panic.
A meaningful smile curved across Ding Ning’s lips. “That is for the best. Otherwise, it won’t go well for anyone.”
“Let me go with you?”
Xiao Nuo asked unhappily, her lips pressed together.
“No need. If I go myself, the target is smaller. Trust me.”
As Ding Ning finished talking, Xiao Nuo suddenly felt something appear in her hand. Immediately, Ding Ning’s voice ran out in her head.
“Be careful of Yu Qian. I don’t trust him. I’ve already set him up. If he does something strange, shatter the medicinal bottle in your hand and he will immediately have a seizure.”
Xiao Nuo paused then reminded him, “You have to be careful.”
“I know, don’t worry. I’m leaving!”
Ding Ning’s words had just faded and his body disappeared like a ghost from where he was standing.
Even with Yu Qian’s vision, he couldn’t see clearly how Ding Ning left. Uncontrollably, an expression of fear flashed across his face. Such a speed was too terrifying.
Merry Christmas Eve everyone!!!