Chapter 359: Balance Seal

Late at night, Chen Changrui arrived at Yuezhou Third Hospital with more than a dozen key members from the Dark Star Bureau: Datou, Mijian, Chuizi, Ban Zhuan, Huajia, Juzi, Wowotou, Haitangguo, and others.

These core members were personally selected by Chen Changrui. Xiao Zhenggong was uneasy; he didn't think much of any of them. He wanted to come himself, but he couldn't leave the Dark Star Bureau.

He had already used the Balance Seal and now had to bear its cost.

For the foreseeable future, if he wished to maintain his status as a Balancer, he had to obey all arrangements made by the Bureau.

In addition to these core members, Chen also brought along some team members with potential for development and valuable training experience.

This included Tangyuan, Zhong'er, Dengpao, and Mingxing.

As they walked, Mijian couldn't help but grumble, "Isn't Tangkuai highly positioned and capable? Don't the higher-ups praise her every day? Why isn't she here?"

Chuizi sneered, "The higher-ups are talking about overall ability, not combat ability. But I think with your qualifications, your overall ability shouldn't be worse than Tangkuai's."

Mijian's physical attributes were indeed not bad; she far surpassed Tangkuai in both looks and figure.

She snorted and said, "I am a respectable person."

Juzi chuckled, "The way you put it, isn't Tangkuai a proper person too?"

Chen Changrui cleared his throat. "He Jiaqing is a high-level target. For this operation, everyone must strictly follow the combat plan.

Tangyuan, you few are future core members of the team. Tonight's mission is to observe and learn. Without my command, no one is allowed to participate in the operation. Understood?"

Tangyuan was very excited. She cherished this learning opportunity.

Dengpao was a bit nervous. He repeatedly recalled the hospital's layout, wondering if he could find a suitable escape route if something went wrong.

Mingxing was somewhat disappointed because Captain Chen said he was a future core member.

All these core members had one thing in common: strong combat ability but not high positions.

Zhong'er, Qin Minghui, was staring blankly at a newspaper.

As they were about to arrive at the hospital, Chen Changrui emphasized again, "He Jiaqing's level is very high. Everyone must strictly follow the combat plan."

Haitangguo asked, "Captain Chen, the highest level for a Dark Energy User is Level 7. Is He Jiaqing Level 7?"

Chen Changrui did not answer.

According to Dark Star Bureau protocol, the highest level for a Dark Energy User was Level 7.

Five hundred meters from the hospital, all team members got out of the car and took their positions.

Datou lightly touched the button on his cuff.

Mijian and Haitangguo took the elevator up to the inpatient building. They were dressed as nurses, carrying thermometers and notebooks, and walked together towards He Jiaqing's room.

When they arrived, they didn't see He Haisheng, only He Jiaqing lying in bed.

Haitangguo took out the thermometer and flicked it three times. This was a signal to Chen Changrui: He Jiaqing was present, He Haisheng was not.

Chen Changrui contacted Huajia. Huajia grew eyes all over his body, which extended in all directions, observing every part of the hospital.

"Captain Chen, He Haisheng is smoking in the backyard. I see him." Huajia spotted He Haisheng and sent the message to Chen Changrui.

Chen Changrui told Huajia to continue monitoring He Haisheng. Meanwhile, Datou and Ban Zhuan took positions in the corridor. Chuizi and Juzi positioned themselves at the stairwell. Wowotou, a Wanderer with swift movements, took others to positions downstairs.

According to the combat plan, Mijian and Haitangguo would make the first move.

Mijian, a Restrainer, could control He Jiaqing instantly.

Haitangguo, a Sleeper, could quickly put He Jiaqing into a deep sleep.

Once this step was completed, their mission would be done, and Datou and Ban Zhuan would be responsible for the capture.

Datou carried a forbidden item: a hunting net. Cultivators below Level 7 had no chance of breaking free from it.

Ban Zhuan had another forbidden item: a very handy brick. If it hit He Jiaqing directly on the head, it would cause him to faint for half a minute.

If there was no chance for a direct strike, throwing the brick would also work. If it hit He Jiaqing's head, it would still make him faint, though for a shorter duration. The accuracy was very high, normally over eighty percent.

After the two successfully captured him, everyone would cooperate to transport He Jiaqing back to the Dark Star Bureau.

If the capture failed, and He Jiaqing tried to escape via the stairs, he would fall into Chuizi and Juzi's ambush. If he tried to escape by jumping out the window, he would fall into Wowotou's ambush.

If the capture was unsuccessful, Ban Zhuan, Chuizi, and Wowotou, all carrying highly destructive forbidden items, would then kill He Jiaqing.

Huajia would monitor He Haisheng throughout the operation. They didn't need to capture He Haisheng, but they couldn't allow him to obstruct the mission.

With everything ready, Haitangguo approached He Jiaqing and began to take his temperature. She had already activated her technique, sending He Jiaqing into a deep sleep.

Mijian appeared to be observing data on a display panel, but in reality, she had also activated her technique, binding He Jiaqing to the bed.

Once they succeeded, Datou and Ban Zhuan rushed into the room.

Datou pulled out the hunting net, and Ban Zhuan swung his brick.

He Jiaqing exploded, turning into a mass of flesh and blood.

Haitangguo froze. She was covered in blood – some He Jiaqing's, some her own. She was injured, hit by flying bone fragments.

Mijian, being a little further away, was not seriously injured. She quickly stepped forward to help Haitangguo.

Datou and Ban Zhuan stood stunned in the room, at a loss.

Chuizi and Juzi heard the explosion and waited at the stairwell for Chen Changrui's command.

Everyone's attention, including Chen Changrui's, was drawn to the explosion in the room.

Only Huajia remained focused on He Haisheng.

"Captain Chen, He Haisheng has escaped!"

Captain Chen was also stunned.

He Haisheng escaped...

His attention wasn't on He Haisheng; he was still thinking about the explosion in the room.

This was not part of the combat plan either.

"Which way did he escape?"

"The hospital's back door!"

Chen Changrui didn't act rashly. He told everyone else to remain in their positions while he went alone to apprehend He Haisheng.

He took a lighter from his pocket, flicked the wheel with his thumb, and as the flame ignited, Chen Changrui's speed suddenly became incredibly fast.

This was a Wanderer's forbidden item. Propelled by it, Chen Changrui vaguely caught sight of He Haisheng as he rushed into the backyard.

He Haisheng burst through the back door.

Dengpao and Zhong'er were observing near the back door.

Chen Changrui wasn't worried about Dengpao, but he was worried about Zhong'er.

If Zhong'er made a move against He Haisheng, he would surely die.

Zhong'er didn't act; he watched impassively as He Haisheng escaped the hospital.

Chen Changrui continued to pursue He Haisheng. After chasing him for a street, the lighter's flame went out.

He couldn't catch He Haisheng.

He Haisheng's figure dissolved into thick smoke and vanished. Chen Changrui put away the lighter and returned to the hospital.

Nothing else happened in the room. Only He Jiaqing's mangled flesh and blood remained.

But much had happened throughout the hospital.

Haitangguo and Mijian were sent for treatment. Datou and Ban Zhuan set up a cordon.

The entire hospital heard the explosion, and many people were startled. Juzi and Chuizi were contacting the hospital staff, trying to maintain order.

Chen Changrui sat in the room, looking at the blood and flesh on the floor, deep in thought.

Was this He Jiaqing's flesh and blood?

Impossible. How could He Jiaqing blow himself up?

This must have been a puppet.

But if it was truly a puppet, how could I not have noticed?

Had He Jiaqing already escaped?

Why didn't He Haisheng escape? Why did he wait until now?

Chen Changrui covered his forehead, replaying the entire mission in his mind.

After thinking for over ten minutes, Chen Changrui bent down, picked up a piece of flesh and blood, and sniffed it.

There was the smell of blood, charring, and smoke.

Not the smell of burnt smoke, but the smell of cigarettes.

Why would He Jiaqing's flesh and blood smell like cigarettes?

Chen Changrui was stunned for a long time, as the clues slowly connected in his mind.

He Jiaqing had long since escaped, but the Dark Star Bureau hadn't reacted because there was still a puppet lying in the room.

But how could a puppet deceive Chen Changrui? He was a high-level Seeker.

This was He Haisheng's doing. The puppet was covered in smoke and controlled by He Haisheng. It was through this smoke that the puppet deceived Chen Changrui's eyes.

After the operation began, everyone's attention was on "He Jiaqing," with only Huajia tasked with monitoring He Haisheng.

After "He Jiaqing" exploded, even Chen Changrui forgot about He Haisheng, giving He Haisheng the chance to escape.

He Haisheng had escaped, but the Bureau's mission was to capture He Jiaqing.

But where could they find He Jiaqing now?

They didn't even know when he had escaped!

Chen Changrui prided himself on being the most experienced in the Dark Star Bureau.

He firmly believed that he had brought along the most excellent team members.

Yet, in front of the high-level figures from Puluozhou, they seemed so naive. Their seemingly foolproof combat plan was riddled with holes.

What should they do next?

"Next, they should celebrate their success."

He Haisheng lit a cigarette and tossed one to He Jiaqing.

He Jiaqing asked, "Will they put a warrant out for your arrest?"

He Haisheng shook his head. "No. Their goal was to capture you, and if they couldn't, to kill you. Now you're dead, and that flesh and blood on the floor is the evidence.

They can take it for testing. The DNA will match yours. The mission is complete. They won't do anything extra.

Especially after causing such a commotion, the Outer Province will do everything they can to quell the unrest. As for the truth of the matter, not many will care."

He Jiaqing sighed, "I haven't spent enough time in the Outer Province; I still don't understand the people there well enough."

"Understanding them isn't difficult. They are far simpler than the people of Puluozhou. I'm not worried about the Dark Star Bureau; I'm worried about the Commissioner of Defense.

Xiao Zhenggong is a Balancer. From the looks of it, he's already used the Balance Seal. Our family's business is going to suffer because of it."

"This can only be handled by Auntie."

He Haisheng shook his head. "She can't handle it."

"Why don't you go back and check on things?"

He Haisheng gave a bitter smile. "What would I go back for? To wag my tail at the Commissioner of Defense?

I've wagged it for so many years; I'm tired of it.

Jiaqing, you're right. We have to live with dignity."

At the He family's grand mansion, He Yuxiu extinguished her cigarette and looked at the hundred or so people in the hall.

Among these hundred or so people were He family blood relatives and subordinates. They had gathered to embark on a major undertaking with He Yuxiu.

All day yesterday, the Commissioner of Defense sent people to seal off the He family's businesses and freeze their accounts at various banks.

The Commissioner of Defense provided no explanation. Through multiple inquiries, He Yuxiu received some information.

This matter was related to the Jiangxiang Gang. Two of the Jiangxiang Gang's halls were destroyed, and the Commissioner of Defense then sealed off the He family.

"What the hell is the Jiangxiang Gang anyway?! Their halls are gone, what does that have to do with us? Why are they messing with my He family's business?" He Yuxiu was furious.

She didn't know that Xiao Zhenggong was a Balancer. She had no concept of what a Balancer was, nor did she understand the power of the Balance Seal. All she knew was that the He family's legacy was on the verge of disappearing, and this legacy could not be ruined in her hands. She had to fight to reclaim it!

Dozens of direct family members had arrived.

Many courageous extended family members also came.

He Yuxiu now intended to lead these people to storm the Defense Commissioner's office and demand an explanation from the Commissioner.

As everyone prepared to leave, Lu Chunying ran to the mansion and stopped He Yuxiu.

"Sister Xiu, listen to me, you absolutely cannot go!"

He Yuxiu stroked Lu Chunying's hair. "Girl, I'm very fond of you. Be obedient, go home. I didn't ask you to come, and this matter doesn't concern you!"

Lu Chunying looked up at He Yuxiu. She knew how to communicate with He Yuxiu:

"Sister Xiu, I'm telling you this now: If you're going to storm the Defense Commissioner's office, I'm going with you. If I chicken out, then I'm a good-for-nothing!

But you can't go today. The Chu family has already brought people and is waiting at the Defense Commissioner's office. The moment you go, Boss Chu will ambush you.

If you don't believe me, let's go together. I'm putting my life on the line with you today!"

"Boss Chu? Chu Huaijun? Why is he working for outsiders?" He Yuxiu couldn't understand.

Ma Wu said, "Sister Xiu, the Commissioner of Defense promised Chu Huaijun that if they succeed, half of the He family's business will be given to the Chu family.

The Chu family is now devoted to working for the Commissioner of Defense. Chu Huaijun might even send people to attack the He family's gates!"