Chapter 42: Unsung Hero

“Stop immediately! Stop now! If you don’t stop, severe punishment awaits!”
Wu Kui and his companions drove their van like madmen, barreling forward at full speed.
As the distance to the SWAT officers shrank, there was still not the slightest sign of slowing down.
The police’s shouts grew increasingly urgent.
Soon, three warnings had been issued.
Bang!
A gunshot rang out!
Screech—
The violent sound of brakes drowned out all other chaos.
A cloud of yellow dust rose, filling the sky.
The van came to a brutal halt amid flying shards of glass!
From the shattered windshield, the driver was flung out,
Carrying a gush of blood that stained the evening sky crimson.
“Grab your weapons! Fight them!”
Inside the van, chaos erupted.
The force of the sudden stop had thrown all six men forward,
Piling them up in a tangled heap, heads and feet askew.
Wu Kui kicked open the door and, turning back, shouted with a roar.
Fight.
If they could take one down, it would be worth it; two, the reward would be even greater!
His words quickly steadied the others.
Everyone in this line of work had shed blood, had a body count.
If caught, there was no way out—death awaited.
Better to fight to the bitter end; perhaps there was a sliver of hope!
At worst, they could drag someone down with them!
So—
With another commotion, all six men produced gleaming black pistols.
But it was already too late.
“Drop your weapons and surrender immediately! Resist and you will die!”
The commanding voice of the SWAT officers rang out beside them, full of authority.
The two sides, already close from their mutual rush,
Now stood within arm’s reach,
And with the van’s abrupt stop, the SWAT team seized the opportunity to surround them completely.
Dozens of gun barrels pointed straight at the men.
Everyone froze.
Despair spread deep within their eyes.
Their crimes were grave; death was inevitable.
But suddenly—
“Even if I die today, I’ll take one of you with me!”
Wu Kui’s ferocity was undiminished by his desperate situation.
Instead, it drove him to the edge of madness.
He raised his gun, finger tightening on the trigger.

Bang!
But how could he possibly match the trained, ready SWAT officers?
No sooner had he moved than a barrel spat fire.
Thud!
With a dull, sickening sound, Wu Kui’s body ruptured.
His eyes widened in disbelief and rage,
And he slowly collapsed to the ground.

“Take them all away. Begin the interrogations tonight!”
Clatter—
Inspector Zhou, appointed as commander of the operation, gave a single order.
All personnel moved quickly,
Twisting the arms of Hua Zi and the local thugs, as well as Wu Kui’s men,
And marched them into the police vehicles.
The greatest drug case in Weiling City’s history was over before it could spread its roots.

“Have you heard? The notorious gangster Hua Zi, who plagued us for years, has been arrested!”
“No way! Wasn’t he said to have connections on both sides of the law? How did he suddenly get caught?”
“Yeah, with his criminal record, if they wanted to arrest him, they could’ve done it long ago! Did he finally do something big?”
Police cars sped through the city, sirens blaring.
News of Hua Zi’s capture spread before dawn.
All of Weiling City was in uproar.
People stopped and watched, eager to know what had finally brought down the infamous Hua Zi.

Soon, the official news was released.
“To cleanse our society and restore peace for our citizens, today we have dismantled the criminal group led by Hua Zi! All major gangsters entrenched in Weiling City for years were caught red-handed at the scene of drug purchases!”
The announcement swept through the city like a hurricane,
Racing along the wires, flooding every street and alley.
“What? Hua Zi and his gang were caught because of drugs?”
“Those heartless wretches! How dare they buy drugs to poison Weiling City?”
“Good! If those drugs had gotten in, our future would be ruined.”
As people applauded, relief filled their hearts.
Weiling City was small, with fewer than twenty thousand people.
Imagine the devastation if drugs, like a plague, seeped in—
The consequences would be endless!

After the broadcast, another sweeping campaign began.
Crackdowns on vice and illegal activities.
Overnight, every street thug in Weiling City,
And all those who lurked in the shadows as prostitutes,
Were uprooted.
Yan Li and her associates, notorious for forcing women into prostitution,
Were at the heart of Hua Zi’s group and thus top targets for prosecution.
After Hua Zi’s swift trial and execution,
She too received a life sentence,
Ending her days behind bars.

At last, Wu Ya fulfilled his goal of revenge following his rebirth.
“Wu Ya, come to the police station.”
Inspector Zhou’s call came directly to Wu Ya’s home.
“Is there something else?”
Immersed in memories of the past and the exhilaration of vengeance,
Wu Ya asked.
The operation was over.
The rest was no longer his concern.
Why summon him to the station?

“In view of the extraordinary significance of this case—the biggest drug bust since the city’s founding—and because you provided the critical information ensuring its success, the authorities have decided to honor you as an exemplary youth of the new era.”
Inspector Zhou briefly explained, then urged, “Hurry up. Several city leaders are waiting to meet you, our great hero of Weiling City!”
A meeting with city leaders—
No matter the form, it was a source of pride,
Proof that your value had earned the attention of officials.
Especially for Wu Ya, only eighteen years old,
Such an honor was rare and precious.
Inspector Zhou expected him to be thrilled,
Unable to contain his excitement, rushing to the station.

But instead—
“An honorary title? Forget it. I only did what I should have done. Titles and such mean nothing to me!”
Wu Ya refused outright.
City leaders?
Yes, it was prestigious.
But as he said, it held no meaning.
He had provided the information for personal reasons—
To avenge his parents from his past life.
And to help Inspector Zhou earn the credit,
Grateful for Zhou’s efforts to bring Hua Zi and his associates to justice in his previous life.
Beyond that,
He felt undeserving of the title.
Besides—
Tall trees catch the wind!
Wu Kui was dead, but his accomplices remained.
If he were publicly celebrated as a model citizen,
It would only hasten his next death.
Weighing the risks and benefits,
It was better to remain an unsung hero.
He could secure a good reputation and leave the authorities with a favorable impression,
But more importantly, he could hide his identity and let this matter sink forever to the depths.

“Wu Ya…”