A heretical cultivator in Bureau 749, I'm the fiercest at pulling out tendons and skinning peop

"A misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding!"

Old Chen suddenly snapped out of his daze, jumped half a foot high on the spot, and, not caring about his image, yelled at the surrounding garrison brothers who were still in a daze:

"Put it down! Put it all down! These are our own people! Director Zhang from our 749 Bureau! And the old man from the Zhao family! They're real people! Alive! Not those bastards in there!"

He roared and excitedly rushed into the crowd, disregarding all etiquette between superiors and subordinates. He grabbed Zhang Yucheng's arm, squeezed it hard, and looked him up and down, his voice trembling slightly:

"Chief! Is that really you?! You... how did you get out? That godforsaken place isn't..."

Before he could finish speaking, his gaze swept over Zhang Yucheng's colleagues behind him, who were equally excited and disheveled, but whose eyes shone with a light of rebirth.

Old Chen's eyes instantly turned red.

Among these people were his former apprentices, brothers who had gone on missions together and shielded each other from harm...

Three years.

For three whole years, he stood guard outside this membrane of light, watching the occasional gray-white shadows flickering inside and listening to the eerie sounds that faintly emanated from within.

As a veteran investigator who has been stationed in this military restricted area for a long time, he knows all too well what kind of place that gray and white area is!

No one who goes in ever comes out!

After several years, his colleagues who were working outside were almost at the point of despair.

They could only mechanically stand guard, sending supplies that seemed to never be filled, their hopes growing colder and colder like ashes.

But now...

They're out!

Standing right in front of me, alive and well!

"Old Wang! You son of a bitch! You still know how to come out!" Old Chen punched a bald investigator on the shoulder, laughing and cursing, but his eyes were red.

"Xiao Zhao! Your phone bill's overdue, you know? Your sister called last month to ask if I'd heard from you! Call home right now to let them know you're safe! You hear me?!"

"Captain Li! You seem to be in pretty good shape. Is the food inside good?"

Like an overly excited child, he darted through the crowd, patting every familiar colleague, his voice loud and clear, choked with emotion and filled with indescribable joy.

His colleagues, who were slapped and yelled at by him, did not fight back. They just grinned foolishly, and some of them started to cry as they laughed.

After three years of confinement, they were finally freed.

Seeing an old friend felt like a lifetime ago.

Those who haven't experienced it will never understand this feeling.

"Alright, Lao Chen, calm down."

Zhang Yucheng patted the overly emotional Old Chen and pointed to the office upstairs with the window still open, where a stiff figure could be vaguely seen.

"First, explain the situation to the comrades stationed there and lift the alert. Then..."

He paused, a genuine smile of relief spreading across his face.

"Let the bureau and Lao Liu know I'm safe."

"Yes, yes, yes! Let me know you're safe! I absolutely must let you know you're safe!"

Old Chen wiped his eyes, took out the military communicator with a cracked screen, his hands trembling slightly, and finally managed to dial the number he knew by heart.

The call was answered almost instantly.

On the other end of the communicator came Deputy Director Liu's perpetually tired and husky voice: "Hey? Old Chen? What kind of trouble is brewing in Dongcheng now? The alarms are going off like it's the end of the world."

"Willow Head! Willow Head!"

Old Chen's voice trembled with excitement; he practically shouted into the communicator:

"They're out! They're all out! Director Zhang! Old Master Zhao! And all our brothers who were trapped inside for three years! They're all out, safe and sound!!"

On the other end of the communicator.

In the office of the deputy director of the Jinghai 749 Bureau.

Deputy Director Liu was holding an enamel mug, having just blown away the foam, and taking a sip of scalding hot, strong tea.

Upon hearing Old Chen's hoarse voice shout out those words, he froze abruptly.

With a loud crash, the enamel mug slipped from his hand and slammed onto the desk, spilling scalding hot tea all over the table, soaking the documents he hadn't yet reviewed, and splashing his hand as well.

But he was completely unaware.

He just held the phone, maintaining that stiff posture, his usual weariness and calm expression on his face shattering instantly, like ice struck by a heavy hammer.

Instead, a blank expression appeared, a mixture of shock, bewilderment, and doubt that he might be hallucinating from staying up too late.

Out?

They're all out?

How long has it been?

He glanced at the clock on the wall almost subconsciously.

From the moment he gave that kid Ji Zuodao the approval to collect supplies from the warehouse, to driving them to the military restricted area in the east of the city...

Three hours at most.

Excluding travel time, from the moment that kid went in to the moment he brought everyone out...

Is it two hours?

Deputy Director Liu's mind was buzzing, completely blank.

He sent Ji Zuodao to deliver supplies, though he did have some ulterior motives that he couldn't tell outsiders.

They were hoping that this kid's strange skills and his head full of crooked ideas would allow him to figure something out in that godforsaken place.

Even if we can't solve it right now, at least we'll leave an impression and plant a seed. Who knows, it might sprout someday?

It's like buying a lottery ticket; you don't expect to win the jackpot, but what if you do?

But who the hell could have imagined...

I just bought the lottery ticket, barely had time to enjoy it, and I was told I'd won the jackpot?!

Not only did he win the lottery, but he also redeemed all the prizes he hadn't won in the past few years all at once?!

"Liu Tou? Liu Tou? Are...are you still listening?"

Over the communicator, Old Chen asked cautiously, with a hint of uncertainty.

Deputy Director Liu suddenly came to his senses, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled, trying to calm his heart, which was about to jump out of his throat.

He opened his mouth, but found his throat was dry and his voice was a little weak:

"Listen... I'm listening. Old Chen, are you sure? Did you see clearly? It's Director Zhang and his men? Not some other thing in disguise?"

"Absolutely true! Director Liu! My eyes aren't blind! The aura, the habits, the subtle movements, and even those code words only we insiders know—it all matches! It's Director Zhang and his men! Alive!"

Old Chen patted his chest and assured him, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"Okay, okay, I understand."

Deputy Director Liu remained silent for a few more seconds before slowly speaking. His voice had returned to its usual calm and steady tone, but if you listened carefully, you could still hear a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

"Work with the garrison to verify identities and ensure subsequent resettlement, so as to ensure the safety of everyone."

"Notify the medical team and psychological intervention team to be on standby."

"I...I'll report this to headquarters immediately."

After hanging up the phone, Deputy Director Liu slowly sat back in his chair, looking at the mess of tea and soaked documents on the table, but he had no intention of cleaning up.

He leaned back in his chair, raised his hand, and rubbed his face vigorously until his cheeks ached.

Then, he couldn't help but chuckle softly.

The laughter started softly, with a hint of self-deprecation and disbelief, then grew louder and louder, eventually turning into a hearty laugh.

"Good lad... Ji Zuodao, oh Ji Zuodao..."

He shook his head, his expression extremely complex, finally settling into a long sigh filled with amazement and感慨:

"Oh my god..."

"Someone like you, in a novel, wouldn't you be a pure, destined protagonist?"

"I went out for a stroll and casually finished that dungeon I'd been stuck on for years..."

"And they even brought back the entire group at full capacity."

"Damn it...where can I even seek justice?"