Chapter 7: From Never Failing

"He's going to kill me!"

Li Banfeng couldn't accept this reality.

The big-eyed man also couldn't accept the order: "Captain Xiao, he just took something; do we really have to kill him for that?"

"This is an order, Lightbulb. You don't know how important this item is, and you don't know how many people it could kill! Don't forget why your parents died, and don't forget the kind of enemy we're facing! For the safety of the majority, he must be killed immediately. This is our responsibility, our mission."

"But, Captain Xiao..."

"No 'buts'. Find a secluded spot, do it, then bring the item back to me. Hide the body; I'll send someone to handle it."

The phone call ended.

Lightbulb stood in the corner, his large eyes staring blankly. He didn't know what to do.

After more than a minute, he adjusted his breathing, went to the supermarket entrance, and looked inside.

Li Banfeng bought a bottle of cola, two boxes of potato chips, and two bags of extremely spicy strips. Then he casually walked towards the cashier. After paying, Li Banfeng exited the campus supermarket and entered the walkway between the second academic building and the library. It was lunchtime, and summer vacation was approaching, so the path was deserted. Through the walkway, not far ahead was the school's East Gate, and less than eight hundred meters from the East Gate was the subway station.

Li Banfeng was walking quickly along the path when Lightbulb suddenly blocked his way. They were less than five meters apart, staring at each other for a moment.

Lightbulb took a deep breath and mentally rehearsed what he was supposed to say next. He was supposed to say: "Hands on your head, squat down. Please cooperate with our investigation." Once Li Banfeng squatted, it would be the optimal moment to kill him.

But when Lightbulb actually spoke, he said something else entirely: "I don't want to hurt you, but if you don't follow my orders, then you can't blame me for being ruthless." This was not what a Dark Star Bureau agent should say, but under immense tension, the words slipped out. Lightbulb genuinely didn't want to kill. He continued, telling Li Banfeng: "First, put your backpack on the ground, then extend your hands. Wait here with me for someone."

With that, Lightbulb pulled out a pair of handcuffs. He wanted to restrain Li Banfeng and wait for Captain Xiao to arrive. If Captain Xiao insisted on killing him, then it would prove that Li Banfeng truly deserved to die.

Li Banfeng nodded, unslung his backpack from his shoulder, and slowly placed it on the ground. Lightbulb's gaze remained fixed on the backpack. The moment it touched the ground, his heart eased. *After all, he's just a student; he doesn't know anything. Catching him is easier than catching a chicken. Captain Xiao will probably spare his life when he sees him like this.*

Lightbulb held the handcuffs, about to shackle Li Banfeng, but he didn't notice Li Banfeng pulling an extremely spicy strip from his pants pocket. Li Banfeng flicked his wrist and threw the spicy strip at Lightbulb. Within five meters, he never missed.

The spicy strip struck Lightbulb's left eye. A burning, searing pain instantly flared, and Lightbulb immediately covered his eye. At the same time, a second spicy strip flew, and Li Banfeng hit Lightbulb's right eye. Lightbulb covered both eyes, losing his sight. He hadn't expected Li Banfeng to dare to attack him.

It was true that Li Banfeng didn't want to get involved. But once he was involved, there was no turning back—that was also true.

A layer of oily, viscous liquid oozed from Lightbulb's body; he was ready for a fierce battle with Li Banfeng. He was very nervous. This was his first real battle since joining the Dark Star Bureau, and facing a sudden situation, he used his ability as a Dark Energy user.

*He's brutal! Li Banfeng's attack was insidious! I underestimated him earlier. Now that I've lost my sight, I must not act rashly, or I'll pay a heavy price. First, stabilize my footing, prepare my defense, and retreat to advance! Is Li Banfeng good at close combat or ranged attacks? Close combat isn't scary; he's just a lamb. If he gets close to me, he's the one who'll suffer. But if it's a ranged attack, that'll be troublesome...*

After a long wait, Lightbulb didn't feel Li Banfeng make a move. Enduring the severe pain, Lightbulb opened his eyes but didn't see Li Banfeng. *He ran away?*

Yes, he had run away.

Li Banfeng, holding his backpack, had already reached the East Gate. Lightbulb quickly concentrated the viscous fluid on his feet, hunched his body, bent his knees, and propelled himself forward by alternating his feet, like skating, quickly giving chase. Li Banfeng wasn't slow either; he sprinted the eight hundred meters and darted into the subway entrance.

Near the subway entrance, more and more pedestrians appeared. Lightbulb retracted the fluid covering his body and returned to a normal running posture. He didn't want to attract attention or harm innocent people. Lightbulb entered the subway station, but Li Banfeng had already boarded a train. Lightbulb rushed towards the doors, only to hear "ding-dong, ding-dong," the bell ringing as the doors closed. Watching Li Banfeng glide away inside the train car until he disappeared into the tunnel, Lightbulb, filled with anxiety, waited for the next train.

*Wait, why am I waiting for the subway here? My car is parked at school; why am I waiting for the subway here! Think, where would he go? How would I know where he'd go? How would I know which station he'd get off at? It's simply too difficult to pursue someone on the subway!*

Helpless, Lightbulb called Xiao Zhenggong.

"Captain Xiao, I lost him."

Xiao Zhenggong's tone was irritated: "How could you lose him? Didn't I tell you to kill him immediately?"

"I couldn't find a suitable opportunity to act." Lightbulb dared not admit that his underestimation had allowed Li Banfeng to escape.

Xiao Zhenggong said, "Where did he go?"

"He just got on the subway."

"Which line?"

"Line 4, at 11:45 AM, departing from University Town, heading towards Meiyun Plaza." Lightbulb remembered very clearly.

Xiao Zhenggong fell silent. Lightbulb was very nervous. He knew Xiao Zhenggong was angry, so he quickly reported his idea to him: "Captain Xiao, if we contact the relevant departments now and close all Line 4 exits, we'll definitely catch Li Banfeng."

Xiao Zhenggong fumed: "Close subway exits? What are you thinking?! Do you want this incident to spread throughout Yuezhou City? Do you want all of Yuezhou to know you're an incompetent good-for-nothing?!"

Lightbulb gritted his teeth, not daring to speak.

Xiao Zhenggong thought for a moment, then said, "Line 4 goes to Yuezhou East Station. If Li Banfeng wants to leave the city, go directly to Yuezhou East Station and intercept him."

Lightbulb whispered, "We could notify the station not to let Li Banfeng board..."

Xiao Zhenggong angrily retorted, "How many times do I have to tell you? This matter is extremely important! No leaks! No panic! A train station is crowded and there are too many eyes. If you find him, don't act immediately. Find a suitable opportunity to kill him, and whatever you do, don't let anyone else find out! Lightbulb, your parents were heroes. I believe you're not a good-for-nothing. This is a simple task; I trust you can handle it. Don't disgrace our Dark Star Bureau again, and don't disgrace your parents!"

Xiao Zhenggong hung up.

Lightbulb rushed back to campus, got into his car, and started the engine. On the way to East Station, Lightbulb gripped the steering wheel tightly.

*Incompetent good-for-nothing! Don't disgrace your parents again!*

Lightbulb wiped his swollen eyes, gritting his teeth repeatedly.

*Isn't he just a college student? Isn't he still mentally ill? How could he have escaped from me? How could I have let him escape? I am not a good-for-nothing. If Li Banfeng really went to the station, he must be killed immediately, without mercy.*

Xiao Zhenggong changed into casual clothes, went from the second floor of his villa to the garage downstairs, and started his car.

*Lightbulb, don't make a scene, and don't let anyone find out. Once you kill Li Banfeng, I'll get the item. Then I'll kill you, and the matter will be concluded.*

The subway arrived at Yanbi Station; the next stop was Yuezhou East Station. To Li Banfeng's left was a muscular man whose dark blue clothes were covered in grayish-white mud splashes. Li Banfeng smiled at the muscular man. To Li Banfeng's right was a beautiful woman with long, flowing hair, wearing headphones. Li Banfeng also smiled at the woman. He hadn't expected the subway to be so crowded at this time of day.

Li Banfeng opened his backpack and immediately began to take off his clothes on the subway. In the previously crowded train car, a space instantly cleared around him. Onlookers cast strange glances at Li Banfeng, quickly retreating in the opposite direction. After taking off his shirt, Li Banfeng began to take off his pants. The woman shrieked. The muscular man shrieked along with her. An elderly person covered a child's eyes. Many people looked at Li Banfeng and, in unison, muttered, "Pervert."

Li Banfeng took out a long-sleeved white shirt and black trousers from his backpack and put them on. Then he took out a hiking hat and put it on his head. The entire process took less than a minute. Before the train car descended into complete chaos, the subway arrived at East Station, and Li Banfeng immediately got off.

Exiting the subway station and arriving at the train station's turnstiles, Li Banfeng sent a message to He Jiaqing: "Is the ticket bought?"

"Yes, you can check in now."

Swiping his ID to enter the turnstiles, Li Banfeng saw Lightbulb standing guard nearby, but Lightbulb didn't notice him. Lightbulb was very focused and nervous, trying to carefully observe every person entering the turnstiles. But this was impossible. The East Station's passenger flow was astonishingly high; too many people were entering, and he was only paying attention to those wearing T-shirts.

Once through the turnstiles, Li Banfeng relaxed considerably. He Jiaqing sent a message: "Why did so many people call you a pervert on the subway just now?"

*Why did he ask that? Can't he see? Can he only hear, not see?*

Li Banfeng replied, "I was changing clothes on the subway."

"Are you crazy?"

"No, I'm not crazy."

"Weren't you afraid of causing a disturbance?"

"It took less than a minute. It's not that serious."

He Jiaqing couldn't understand: "You changed that fast?"

Li Banfeng thought it was normal: "How do you think I was discharged from the hospital back then?"

He Jiaqing replied, "You ran out back then? They didn't catch you and take you back?"

Li Banfeng didn't bother to explain this question. *Why would they catch me? That was the hospital's psychiatry department, not a mental asylum.*

After waiting by the turnstiles for nearly half an hour, Lightbulb still hadn't seen Li Banfeng. Lightbulb grew increasingly anxious when he suddenly saw Deputy Captain Xiao Zhenggong appear before him.

"Captain Xiao, why are you here...?"

"How long do you intend to wait here?" Xiao Zhenggong pulled out his ID, spoke a few words to the staff, and led Lightbulb directly through the turnstiles. After scanning the waiting hall, Xiao Zhenggong led Lightbulb to the end of the second waiting area, past the restrooms, and into an underground passage.

(5 PM, 1 more chapter to come.)

**Author's Note:** Esteemed readers, if you have monthly passes, please give them to Salad.