Chapter 449 Covering Up

Chapter 449: Sheltering a Fugitive

Jiang Yu crouched next to him. "Where is Zhang Chunhua now? She’s not at the temple, is she?"

He stayed silent, but Jiang Yu didn’t stop, continuing her speculation.

"What’s your relationship with Zhang Chunhua that you’d go so far as to cover for her murder?"

Could Zhang Chunhua have promised him some payoff big enough to persuade him to commit murder?

"Or perhaps the so-called 'treasure' Zhang Chunhua mentioned was originally your something, and she just overheard it."

If the treasure had always belonged to Zhang Chunhua, there’d be no reason for her not to know where it was hidden.

If the "treasure" truly existed, it must have belonged to someone else—and was hidden somewhere in these mountains, with Zhang Chunhua overhearing it.

Coincidentally, Fu Xianghong reported her and Liu Dagui, and Zhang Chunhua then used this information as leverage in her dealings with Han Tianhua.

As soon as Jiang Yu said this, the abbot’s expression tightened.

Suddenly, he started laughing, the sound growing louder, his chest shaking with each breath.

The laughter stopped abruptly as his sharp gaze locked onto Jiang Yu.

"I’m curious—how did you recognize me?"

Jiang Yu touched her own ear. "You know what gives you away, right? If you manage to escape this time, remember to slice that ear off."

Liu Junmei listened to their exchange and patted her chest.

"Wow, Jiang Yu has got some guts."

He Tingyue chuckled. "She doesn’t have guts—she holds a grudge."

After all, this Sun Biao had frightened her multiple times.

Running into Jiang Yu was his own damn fault.

Sun Biao snarled. "I’ll remember this. Next time, I’ll tie up all loose ends—including you."

Jiang Yu stood up, staring him down.

"Too bad there won’t be a next time for you. You think I scare that easy?"

She turned to go inside but heard Sun Biao ask, "What’s your name?"

Jiang Yu snorted. "Want to know?"

"Yes. At least let me find out who’s sharp enough to recognize me."

Jiang Yu grinned. "I won’t tell you. Keep guessing."

Sun Biao turned red, choking on his anger—this was the first time a woman had left him so speechless.

Before long, cops showed up from the commune.

Without waiting for He Youfu to explain, the officer barked for them to let him go.

He Youfu hurriedly clarified, "*Comrade*, he’s a fugitive—he’s not going anywhere!"

The officer retorted, "What nonsense are you talking? He's the abbot of the temple on the mountain, a highly respected man. My wife was able to conceive only after praying at that temple! If you arrest him, where will childless couples go to pray for kids?"

The temple was located on the back mountain of Nanhe Village, and these days, people had been flocking there nonstop. There were even rumors that Nanhe Village sat beside a dragon vein, making it a lucky spot.

All of this, of course, he knew well.

Since the reputation benefited Nanhe Village, he saw no need to explain anything.

However, deep down, he mostly thought it was just coincidence.

"He’s a murderer! Do you know how many lives he’s taken? That fertility blessing crap—do you think Buddha would protect scum like him?" Jiang Yu spat. Moreover, who knows what really went on when people 'prayed for kids'?

But the officer wouldn’t listen to any of this.

He was acting like a fanatic, believing only that Sun Biao could grant them children—that he was some sort of saint.

How could someone so virtuous possibly be a murderer?

"I won't tell you again—release him, or you'll regret it!"

He Youfu’s expression darkened as he glanced at He Tingyue, unsure of what to do.

Sun Biao piped up, "Comrade Officer, please let me go! I’m really not a suspect—I’m just the temple’s abbot. Lots of folks know me!"

"Did you hear that? Untie him now!" the officer yelled.

He Tingyue stared him down. "Are you in such a hurry to release him just because your wife prayed at his temple? Or did he give you a payoff?"

"That's slander!"

He Tingyue stepped forward, his leather boot pressing down on Sun Biao’s hand.

"Is that slander?"

The young officer, lacking He Tingyue’s imposing presence, backed up nervously.

"I... I just can’t stand you throwing your weight around! How dare you treat the temple’s abbot like this—aren’t you afraid of karma?"

Jiang Yu held out her hand. "Show me your badge. I’d like to see exactly who you are, daring to cover for a killer!"

At the mention of a badge, the officer started dodging again.

It was unclear whether he was unwilling to show it or simply didn’t have one.

Jiang Yu scoffed. "I now have reason to suspect you’re colluding with Sun Biao, openly protecting him. No wonder it took years to catch a suspect like him—turns out there’s a rat in the department!"

He Youfu immediately shut the door—now the officer wasn't leaving.

He Tingyue picked up a rope and tied him up as well.

"How dare you lay hands on me! Do you even know who my father is? I’ll have him shoot you all!" the officer yelled.

Jiang Yu sneered. "Don’t worry. After we're through with you, your father won’t escape either."

Sun Biao, lying on the ground, took it all in, fists clenched tightly, eyes shut.

Moron.

They’d just tied him up when another group arrived.

This time, the leader was Lin Chenghui, and Jiang Yu finally felt relieved.

"Hui Zi, check this guy out—it’s him, right?" Jiang Yu kicked Sun Biao on the ground like he was just some trash.

Lin Chenghui had seen Sun Biao's portrait countless times.

Even the most unremarkable face had long been etched into his memory.

Lin Chenghui chuckled, "Sun Biao, look who’s finally got nailed."

He double-checked the ropes binding Sun Biao, making sure there was no way he could wiggle free, then ordered him to be taken to the vehicle.

Lin Chenghui stood up, "Who recognized him?"

Jiang Yu weakly raised her hand, looking utterly drained.

"It was me."

Lin Chenghui shook his head with a wry smile, "Sis, you’re something else."

Jesus, only you could pull this off.

Jiang Yu pursed her lips, "Don’t even mention it. Whoever wants this luck can take it—I don’t want a shred of it. But remember to apply for the reward for me. Might as well cash in on this bastard, or it’d be such a waste."

"Got it, don’t worry! Sis, you might need to come up the mountain with me."

He needed her to give him the play-by-play of how she’d recognized Sun Biao.

He Tingyue interjected, "She’s still spooked. I’ll go with you."

Lin Chenghui was about to agree when Jiang Yu spoke up, "I’ve already calmed down. I can go with you. But before that, deal with this punk first. He shielded Sun Biao and said his daddy’s got connections. Let’s dig into this punk."

Jiang Yu was, of course, referring to the phony cop.

Lin Chenghui glanced at him, "I know most of the officers at the Funan Commune police station. How come I don’t know you? What’s your name? Show me your credentials."

The phony cop trembled, knowing he’d screwed up big time.

"I just borrowed my brother’s uniform! It has nothing to do with me!"

Lin Chenghui smirked, "Impersonating an officer and attempting to shield a suspect—that’s adding years to your sentence."

He didn’t untie him, instead ordering the imposter to be taken away as well.

Once Lin Chenghui had him, he wouldn’t care how influential his father was.

"Sis, shall we head up the mountain?"

Jiang Yu’s expression turned serious as she psyched herself up.

Sun Biao had already been captured. Nothing else could go wrong now.

"Let’s go!"

With Lin Chenghui leading the way, they started up the mountain.

He Xing was reeling, unable to comprehend how the temple abbot she’d chatted with just yesterday had suddenly become a murderer.

"Jiang Yu-jie..."

Jiang Yu paused and took a second to reassure her, "It’s fine. Stay here with Sixth Brother and deal with the boar. Make sure nobody swipes it."

Hearing that Jiang Yu still cared enough to worry about the boar, He Xing finally relaxed.

"Alright, go ahead. I’ll guard your haul."