Mastering the Sword Manual, sweeping across the globe

"This is... such a pity... no, such a shame..." Manager Wang's teeth chattered violently.

"How about we settle your wages for the past two days?"

Cash or WeChat?

"Cash, please."

Manager Wang immediately opened the drawer in front of him, which contained more than a dozen large bills and a large amount of change, which was a staple in the restaurant.

Without even glancing at it, he grabbed all the cash inside, held it in both hands, and respectfully handed it to Zhang Qiliang.

Zhang Qiliang smiled, pulled out two bills, and then rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a green 20-yuan note.

The banknote was a little wrinkled, so Zhang Qiliang slowly and carefully smoothed it out and placed it on the clean counter.

"Two days, 180 yuan, is that about right?"

Manager Wang nodded even more vigorously.

Zhang Qiliang nodded, turned around, stopped looking at anyone, opened the glass door, and walked out.

His figure disappeared into the crowd on the street outside the door.

--------

"boom!"

The commander slammed his fist on the control panel, causing several empty paper cups to bounce.

The veins on his forehead were bulging, his face was ashen, and he stared at the empty shop door on the screen and the glaring 20 yuan on the counter. He struggled to control his emotions and changed his original vulgar words into a slightly more refined comment: "Too arrogant!"

This is no longer a simple escape or confrontation; it is a blatant and extremely insulting provocation!

Despite being under comprehensive surveillance and a tight net, the target not only failed to hide or escape, but instead swaggered back to his original location. Right under the noses of the police officers, he made another contact in a manner that was almost playful, and then left without a trace.

This was tantamount to slapping him and the entire task force across the face!

The shame burned his reason, but the commander was ultimately an experienced veteran. His rage did not make him lose his composure; instead, it was like a bucket of ice water that woke him up and made him fully realize the reality: conventional approaches to pursuit, encirclement, and investigation would be extremely ineffective against this unconventional target with incredible abilities, and might even be used against him.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his turbulent emotions, and his eyes sharpened again:

"Immediately analyze all surveillance footage of the area where the target last disappeared! I need his every step after leaving Shuxianglou! Mobilize all available social surveillance resources, including shops along the street, banks, and entrances and exits of residential complexes, and check them frame by frame!"

"Notify the on-site personnel to remain calm and avoid provoking the target... He is likely still observing nearby. Immediately secure the scene, especially the banknote on the counter and other potentially touched areas such as the doorknob, and await forensic evidence collection. All personnel on-site, including hotel staff, should remain in place for further questioning and psychological evaluation."

"Adjust the blockade strategy! Reduce the number of checkpoints and patrols that are too scattered on the periphery, and concentrate forces in the core area within a one-kilometer radius of Shuxianglou! Form a multi-layered, progressive alert and response zone!"

"First floor, within 200 meters of Shuxianglou: agents and rapid response teams immediately take their positions, disguised as passersby, vendors, and delivery riders, carrying non-lethal weapons and communication equipment, to conduct continuous covert observation and be on standby. Focus on monitoring all entrances and exits, alleys, bus stops, and shared bicycle spots."

"Second layer, 200-500 meters: Increase the number of uniformed patrol personnel to enhance visibility, set up temporary observation points, and equip them with long-range observation equipment and communication relays. Coordinate road patrols, implement flexible traffic control on the main roads in this area, and be ready to set up checkpoints at any time."

"Third layer, 500-1000 meters and main outbound directions: mobile standby troops, patrol and armed patrol vehicles assembled, ready to quickly blockade and attack based on inside intelligence. Notify the Transportation Department to prepare for a dynamic traffic adjustment plan to be implemented in a larger area around this region to ensure the smooth flow of our forces."

"I need to expedite the air power request! I need at least two drones equipped with high-definition cameras and thermal imaging capabilities to take off immediately, cover the airspace above the core area, and conduct continuous scanning and tracking! In addition, I request coordination with nearby pro-independence or relevant units to see if they have the technical means to provide support!"

"Technical support team..."

There's really no need to go through all that trouble...

"Liu Wei spotted!" Before the commander could finish his order, another urgent voice came through the communication channel: "Report, Liu Wei spotted!"

"where?!"

"Ping An Avenue... Ping An Avenue is now running from west to east... He's running on the street, he's going too fast! The police cars can't catch him!"

The main screen immediately switched to the real-time monitoring of Ping An Avenue.

In the slightly congested traffic of the afternoon, a dark gray figure was speeding along at a speed beyond human comprehension.

The figure's running posture was not standard, with an astonishingly large stride and a frequency so fast that it even left a faint trail in the surveillance footage.

He moved with incredible agility through the slow-moving cars, sometimes leaping onto the hood for leverage to propel himself forward, sometimes stepping on the roadside guardrails to veer off course. His movements were so fluid, as if he had practiced them a thousand times, turning the street into a stage for showcasing his skills... or rather, a stage for special effects.

Countless vehicles stopped, and countless mobile phones were pointed at the figure running on the street.

Behind them, two patrol cars with flashing lights were chasing after them, blaring their sirens in an attempt to force the vehicles in front to stop and make way, but the distance between them was visibly increasing.

"All units near Ping'an Avenue, immediately move towards the target direction! Team Four! Proceed immediately to the intersection of Ping'an Avenue and Jianhua Street to set up roadblocks!"

"Fourth Squad, received!"

Just then, the gray shadow on the screen accelerated again.

"The target has breached the intersection of Ping'an Avenue and Jianhua Street! Now... now it is moving towards Yong'an Road!"

Yong'an Road!

A sense of horror rose in everyone's hearts.

Yong'an Road is where the Mingde Branch is located, and it's where several people are being questioned in Room 302.

23 Why don't you go eat shit when I tell you to?

Yong'an Road, Mingde Branch Office.

Walkie-talkies, duty phones, and several yamen runners' cell phones all rang at almost the same time.

The person who answered the phone changed their expression drastically and yelled down the hallway:

"Emergency! The target is heading our way! Open the armory immediately! Retrieve riot control equipment according to the emergency plan!"

"Immediately relocate Zhao Zhigang, Li Qiang, and Fang Xiaowen, who are associated with Case 302... first to the backyard! Quickly!"

"Everyone! Immediately deploy defenses in the first-floor lobby and main entrances! Reinforcements are on their way!"

However, it was too late.

The command was still echoing in the corridor when a short, terrifying whooshing sound came from outside the building, followed by a changed-tone scream from the guard at the gate downstairs.

A figure, defying the laws of gravity, shot up from the ground of the branch office compound like a cannonball, streaked across the sky, and crashed straight into the window outside the second-floor interrogation area corridor!

"Splash—!!!"

The reinforced glass shattered into countless fragments under terrifying kinetic energy, scattering like diamonds in the afternoon sunlight.

Amidst the chill and shards of glass, a dark shadow landed like a ghost on the second-floor corridor floor.

At this moment, the middle-aged yamen runner, Old Chen, was following instructions and had just brought Fang Xiaowen out of the interrogation room, preparing to transfer him.

He didn't even see how the newcomer appeared before his eyes blurred, and a gust of wind hit his face, making it almost impossible for him to open his eyes.

The next moment, Old Chen's hand, which was holding Fang Xiaowen's arm, suddenly slipped away. He turned his head in astonishment and saw that the iron door of the interrogation room had been closed again.

The entire process, from breaking the window, landing, kidnapping the person, to closing and locking the door, took less than two seconds.

In the corridor, only the occasional soft sound of shards of glass falling from the window frame and Old Chen's blank face remained.

Inside the interrogation room, Zhang Qiliang released his grip on Fang Xiaowen's collar.

The boy was still in shock. His legs went weak and he almost collapsed to the ground. His face was deathly pale. He stared wide-eyed at the "Brother Liu" in front of him, who was somewhat familiar yet also seemed like a completely unfamiliar monster.

In this very room, the constables had just shown him screenshots of Wang Defa being forced into the mud, as well as the gruesome sight of Cai Jingui from the scrap yard, his ears bleeding and his face covered in blood.

There was no need for the constables to intimidate him. Just the scene in dormitory 302 where Brother Liu, facing those who were clearly "from above," seized their guns and fought back without hesitation for even half a second was enough to show that Brother Liu was not a very good-tempered person.

"Tell me about it." Zhang Qiliang walked to the only piece of furniture in the room, sat down next to an old small sofa, leaned back slightly, and gestured with his chin towards the stunned Fang Xiaowen.

"Say...say what?" Fang Xiaowen's voice trembled.

“Tell me about yourself,” Zhang Qiliang looked at him, “why did you drug me?”

"No, it wasn't me!" Fang Xiaowen shook her head violently as if she had been burned, hurriedly trying to explain.

"So I took it myself?"

"Brother Liu, it really wasn't me! It was...it was that constable surnamed Chen. He said he just wanted to sit down and have a proper talk with you, and he was afraid that a direct confrontation wouldn't look good, so he asked me to hand you a bottle of water to ease the tension, so that the conversation could proceed peacefully..."

"Oh?" Zhang Qiliang laughed, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Just having a proper talk, with such a big scene... you actually believe that?"

"No, no! I gave them the water, but I really didn't put the medicine in it. I didn't know there was anything in it!" Fang Xiaowen was almost crying. "They...they even told me that if I didn't cooperate, they would take me back for an investigation. Whether they find anything or not is another matter, but I'll definitely lose my job...Brother Liu, I...I really need this salary. My mom is still waiting for me at the hospital..."

“Oh,” Zhang Qi nodded, “I understand. You had no choice.”

Upon hearing this, Fang Xiaowen's tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and a look of relief flashed across his face: "Yes, yes, Brother Liu, it's good that you understand. I really had no other choice..."

“Then next time,” Zhang Qiliang interrupted him, “if the constables come to you again, give you money, or threaten you with your job to make you try to arrange a meeting with me, or do something else, what will you do?”

"I definitely won't do it again! I swear!" Fang Xiaowen immediately raised her hand to guarantee, "I've been fooled once before, I'll never fall for it again... I'll avoid them!"

“Then you’ll lose your job,” Zhang Qiliang shook his head, “and your mother’s medicine money will be hard to come by… Let me help you.”

What? Help me? Fang Xiaowen was stunned, not understanding what he meant.

The next moment, Zhang Qiliang raised his hand.

"Snapped!"

A sharp, resounding bang echoed through the sealed interrogation room, the sound lingering for a long time.

Fang Xiaowen was knocked back several steps, and the back of her head slammed against the cold wall with a "thud".

His vision went black, stars flashed before his eyes, and half of his face instantly went numb, followed by a burning, then rapidly numbing, excruciating pain.

My mouth was filled with a strong, nauseating taste of rust.

He instinctively opened his mouth, and with a "plop," at least seven or eight white teeth, mixed with saliva and blood, fell onto the floor tiles.

He slumped against the wall, covering his rapidly swollen, torn cheeks, unable to even scream, only gasping for breath and a torrent of physiological tears.

“So,” Zhang Qiliang stood up from the small sofa, “they’ll know that you definitely won’t be able to get a date with me.”

With that, Zhang Qiliang stopped looking at the groaning boy on the ground and walked straight to the other side of the interrogation room, to the iron window that had been specially reinforced.

Zhang Qiliang gripped the thumb-thick steel window frame with both hands and casually pulled it to both sides—

"Crunch—Bang!"

Amidst the sickening sound of metal twisting and cracking, the entire window frame, along with part of the wall plaster, was forcibly pulled out of the wall.

Brick and stone fragments fell in a flurry, revealing the backyard view from the second floor.

Zhang Qiliang casually threw the twisted window frame on the ground, making a heavy thud.

Then, in a flash, he leaped out of the cave and disappeared into the light outside.

Inside the interrogation room, only Fang Xiaowen, whose mouth was full of blood and who was trembling, remained, along with the glaring bloodstains and broken teeth on the floor, and a huge hole in the wall.

The first priority of any effective regime is the absolute monopoly of the power of violence.

It was entirely within Zhang Qiliang's expectations that the imperial court's henchmen would come after him—he just hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.

Faced with heavily armed arresters, Zhang Qiliang, while ensuring his own safety, also grabbed some controlled equipment issued by the government, even if he didn't use it, just to make an impression.

After all, you have your work, and I have my own thoughts and ideas.

The civilians who participated should not be let off easily either.

—The ruling machine alone is already immense; if there are no consequences for betrayal, won't we be surrounded by enemies worldwide?

Zhang Qiliang's father recalled a phrase his parents often used to admonish their children:

You'll go if someone invites you to play? Why won't you eat shit if they tell you to?

24. Enjoy life to the fullest when you are successful.

After leaving the Mingde branch office, Zhang Qiliang glided and flashed across several street corners before turning out of a quiet alley. He glanced at the sky and saw it was around five o'clock in the evening.

Zhang Qiliang's metabolism is far beyond that of ordinary people, and after nearly half an hour of intense exercise, he was a little hungry.

If you're hungry, just eat.

However, at this point in time, proper restaurants, eateries, and even buffets are probably under close observation. Zhang Qiliang is too lazy to move for the time being—or rather, he has already done enough exercise during the day—so he won't cause trouble for the big and small bosses and government employees.

After a leisurely ten-minute stroll, I turned a corner and was greeted by a lively and festive atmosphere.

Twenty meters away is a rather grandly decorated hotel called "Ruifulou".

A huge inflatable archway stood in front of the main gate, with the words "Congratulations on the marriage of the Xu family's daughter" written on a red background in gold on the archway.

Next to them stood a display board of the bride and groom's wedding photos. The bride was holding her father's arm, smiling brightly, while her father's eyes showed a mixture of relief and reluctance.

The hotel entrance was bustling with people, mostly guests dressed in festive attire, and a cheerful atmosphere filled the air.

Zhang Qiliang strolled into the hotel and followed the signs to the second floor.

At the end of the corridor lies today's main venue—the "Dragon and Phoenix Hall".

The hall entrance was spacious and decorated with flowers and ribbons, creating a festive atmosphere.