"Lawless? Officer, it's true, I injured them, but don't you think it's problematic that so many people came here so aggressively? Am I not allowed to defend myself when a mob comes to bully a lone woman? Besides, I wasn't the first to act; they attacked us in a fit of rage. We were acting purely in self-defense," Lin Ling said, a hint of anger in her eyes, though she still explained patiently.

"We struck first? That's a blatant slander! You were clearly the one who struck first; we all saw it. Do you think all of us are blind?" Chen Weishan retorted indignantly as if he had been gravely insulted. Hearing this, the black-clad bodyguards beside him immediately chimed in, "That's right, Grandfather Chen is correct. This despicable woman struck first."

"Have you no shame? You're all in this together, lying through your teeth!" Aunt Deng couldn't help but exclaim angrily at the scene.

"Silence!" Just then, Deputy Director Wang Dazhi of the Xicheng Police Station shouted. Assuming a posture of pristine justice and authority, he declared, "What's all this noise? Everyone shut up! Right and wrong, truth and falsehood—everything will be discussed at the police station!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he swept his gaze over everyone present before it landed on the black-clad bodyguards behind Chen Weishan. "You're all witnesses? Good. In that case, please come back with us and give a statement."

"Of course," the bodyguards immediately replied, nodding without hesitation and smiling sinisterly. Give a statement? We'd love nothing more.

Seeing this, everyone's expression changed. They were all adults, so they naturally understood what Deputy Director Wang's righteous words meant. Isn't this all just for show? These guys are all in cahoots. If their words are taken as official statements, how is that any different from having ironclad evidence? At this thought, a mixture of anger and fear appeared in their eyes. They didn't know what Chen Weishan had said to the police officer earlier, but now… even a blind man could see that these people were completely entangled. They were birds of a feather!

Suddenly, Deputy Director Wang's gaze swept over the other neighborhood residents. His eyes held a trace of disdain and scorn, along with a hint of ferocity. "And you," he said, "are you witnesses too? If so, please come back with us and give a statement as well. Heh..." He followed up with a cold sneer, his face full of mockery.

As soon as Deputy Director Wang spoke, the neighborhood residents instinctively took a step back, lowering their heads and falling silent. Seeing this, the mockery on Wang Dazhi's face deepened.

Hmph, a bunch of cowards. As if I, Wang Dazhi, can't handle all of you.

"You... all of you... Where is your conscience? Where did it go?" Aunt Deng furiously exclaimed upon seeing this.

It's unbelievable! We're all from the same community, yet these people are so heartless, adopting a 'not my problem' attitude... It's just too much.

"Forget it, Sister Deng."

Witnessing this, Lin Ling didn't show much anger. Instead, she just shook her head with a touch of disappointment and sadness. She hadn't expected these people would lack even the courage to come forward and testify on her behalf.

However, when her gaze fell upon Aunt Deng beside her, warmth filled her eyes. After all, at least one person was brave enough to stand up and speak for her. That was enough.

"I'll go to the police station with you. However, Sister Deng has nothing to do with this," Lin Ling then said.

"Little Lin, what are you doing? I…" Aunt Deng's face turned pale with shock. But Lin Ling just smiled reassuringly and said, "Sister Deng, this has nothing to do with you; it's my own affair. And don't worry, they wouldn't dare do anything to me, nor are they capable of it."

Of course, she wasn't afraid of them. If they really provoked her, she could just call her son to come and stand up for her. What was there to fear?

Upon hearing Lin Ling so clearly underestimating him, Chen Weishan's face turned ugly. He pointed at her and cursed, "You... you filthy bitch! Who do you think you are? I admit you can fight, but so what? Are you going to resist arrest and assault a police officer in broad daylight? Director Wang, these two are the ones who assaulted my men. Take them both away!"

"Chen, what is the meaning of this!?" Lin Ling's expression changed abruptly, her eyes burning with rage. She never thought this man, Chen, would be so shameless as to drag Sister Deng into this.

"What do I mean?" Chen Weishan's lips curled into a sneer. "Since you don't know what's good for you, don't blame me for being unpleasant. In a little while, I'll have you obediently and willingly calling your son. Heh."

Seeing this, Aunt Deng turned pale with fright. She was a timid person by nature; if it weren't for Lin Ling, she never would have gotten involved in this mess. But now... That man can actually make these police officers obey his every command, like they're all birds of a feather. How can I not be afraid? If I'm really taken to the police station, I'll lose control of everything.

"Heh heh, the leader speaks the truth." Seeing the scene unfold, Deputy Director Wang Dazhi spoke with a fawning smile, then waved his hand grandly and barked, "What are you lot dawdling for? Go on, handcuff them and take them away!"

"You... all of you... Good. Very good." Lin Ling's face was filled with anger. She took a deep breath, finally suppressing the rage in her heart. Blocking the path of the young officers, she turned her head and said coldly to Deputy Director Wang Dazhi, "Director Wang, we can go with you to give our statements. However, you don't have the authority to handcuff us before the case is concluded, do you?"

"Insolence! Am I the police or are you?" Upon hearing this, Deputy Director Wang Dazhi bellowed, his tone stern and threatening. "I'm telling you, if I, Wang Dazhi, say you will be handcuffed, then you will be handcuffed! What, are you two trying to resist arrest now?" A mocking sneer appeared in his eyes.

What a joke. With his identity and status, on his own turf here in the Xicheng district of Chengyang County, handcuffing someone was a trivial matter. He was the Deputy Director, after all!

Thinking of the status that already made him feel so smug on a normal day, combined with his incredible luck today in getting to curry favor with a high-ranking leader from the Public Security Bureau of Capital City, he couldn't help but feel triumphant. If he could serve this big shot well and please him, wouldn't his own spectacular rise be just around the corner?

With this thought, the 'authority' on his face deepened, and he waved his hand grandly. "Take them away."

"You..." As a mother, Lin Ling knew her son had become capable, but her pride kept her from calling him over every little thing, lest she seem like someone who only caused trouble. In this regard, she was quite like Chen Fei; both were stubborn. But this was going too far! They were blatantly acting as lapdogs for that Chen, nothing but his lackeys. They've become birds of a feather, completely disregarding their uniforms and turning black into white.

At this thought, Lin Ling could no longer contain her anger, and her gaze turned cold. Fine. If this is how you want to play…

"Director Wang, if you're going to arrest me, shouldn't you let me make a phone call to my son first?" she said immediately after.

"Heh, so you're finally ready to give in? Lin Ling, if you had been this sensible from the start, we could have avoided all this trouble." Upon hearing her words, Chen Weishan's expression turned to one of excitement. Thinking she was finally scared, a trace of arrogance appeared on his face.

"Leader, this phone call..." Deputy Director Wang Dazhi, on the other hand, was taken aback and hesitated, uncertain of the situation. Should we really risk complications and let her make the call?

"Let her make the call!" Chen Weishan, already convinced that Lin Ling was afraid and ready to submit to him, waved his hand proudly and laughed. "Lin Ling, you finally have some sense. You know what should and shouldn't be done. Good. Call your son right now and have him go beg Old Master Xuu!" As he spoke, he couldn't hide the excitement on his face.

Isn't this phone call the very thing he, Chen Weishan, had traveled a thousand miles from the Capital City to this backwater dump to see? As long as Old Master Xuu was willing to protect the Old Chen Family, any impending difficulties would be resolved with ease! And he, Chen Weishan, would be credited with a great contribution and be the center of attention!

Lost in thought, his eyes glazed over as he fantasized about his triumphant return to the Chen Family after his great contribution—strutting proudly, the object of everyone's attention and admiration. But then, his expression suddenly changed, and he froze in a panic.

He saw Lin Ling give a cold smile before she calmly dialed her son, Chen Fei. "Hey, brat," she said into the phone, "someone wants to arrest me. It's the Deputy Director of the Xicheng Police Station, Wang Dazhi. There's also some guy from the Capital City here... Uh-huh... That's it. I'm hanging up now." And with that, she actually hung up the phone.

「Meanwhile, at the Jiangnan Province Flying Leopard Base」

Chen Fei was having dinner with Chief Luo Yuanzhi. But when he received the call from his mother...

CRACK!

The metal bowl and chopsticks in his hand instantly disintegrated into a cloud of dust. Immediately after, his expression became incredibly dark and terrifying.

The dining table instantly fell into a dead silence. Chief Luo Yuanzhi and Director Wang Dashan, in particular, were startled by Chen Fei's abrupt reaction. Chief Luo Yuanzhi couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Little Chen, what's the matter? What happened…?"

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