C5 I Am Not Talented

"Prof. Wang..."

Lu Xuanxin gritted her teeth, her eyes ablaze with fury.

"I must remind you, as a lawful citizen of Abrakding, you're obligated to assist the police with their investigation!"

Chen Fan offered a slight smile and a nonchalant shrug.

"Indeed, I have an obligation, but unfortunately..."

"I've been preoccupied with my research lately, and may not have the time to spare. I trust Officer Lu will understand."

With that, Chen Fan opened the door, effectively showing his guest out.

With a loud bang, Lu Xuanxin slammed her hand on the table, rising to her feet in anger.

"Don't push it!"

"Are you threatening me?"

Chen Fan whirled around, his voice turning icy.

"Yes, Officer Lu, I am threatening you."

"If you don't involve me, I refuse to offer any help."

"If this case slips through my fingers, I'll simply find another research topic. But you? Consider the repercussions for yourself!"

His words struck at the very core of Lu Xuanxin's resolve.

"Fine... I agree."

Lu Xuanxin clenched her fists, reluctantly conceding.

Chen Fan turned with a nod of satisfaction. "It's a deal!"

"But let's set some ground rules. Throughout this case, you must follow my lead."

"No problem," Chen Fan replied with an easy smile.

Just as Lu Xuanxin was about to delve deeper into the conversation with Chen Fan...

The abrupt ring of a phone cut through the silence.

"Hello... Yes, it's me."

Lu Xuanxin's face paled as she listened to the caller.

"What? Seventeen prisoners injured?"

"They've requested to see me?"

"Understood, where should I meet you? I'm on my way!"

Chen Fan, standing to the side, listened intently to the exchange.

At the mention of the seventeen prisoners, his eyes gleamed with anticipation.

There was no doubt about it; it had to be Xiahou Wu.

The story was finally aligning with his expectations!

...

One hour later, inside Red Pillar Prison in Abrakding.

Chen Fan walked behind Lu Xuanxin, observing everything with scholarly curiosity, which eased any lingering doubts she might have had.

During their journey, he shared his hypothesis with her:

The next target would surely be the reigning King of Northern Kicks, Tan Jingyao!

Considering the formidable martial prowess of their adversary, Chen Fan had emphatically advised Lu Xuanxin that they should request backup from the Flying Tigers.

Lu Xuanxin listened but seemed unconcerned, believing the situation hadn't escalated to such a degree.

Chen Fan could only sigh inwardly.

Because after tonight, Officer Lu's perspective would be completely altered!

They walked one after another through the heavily guarded prison entrance.

Meanwhile, a guard in the watchtower seized the moment when his colleague was distracted to make a covert call.

"Hello... Young Master Zhou, it's me!"

"The Xiahou Wu you told me to keep an eye on has finally taken action!"

"This morning, he took down over a dozen inmates, stirring up so much trouble that the police department had to get involved. He's even requested to see Lu Xuanxin."

Praise came from Zhou Qianlong on the other end of the line.

"Outstanding! Continue your surveillance."

"You'll be duly credited for your role in this!"

"Ah, thank you, Young Master Zhou!"

Even though Zhou Qianlong couldn't see him, the middle-aged guard still nodded and bowed before the phone.

Clearly, he was an Evolver and a strategic piece Zhou Qianlong had deliberately placed inside Red Pillar Prison.

Elsewhere, in the prison's visiting room.

Two stocky prison guards escorted a robust, weary-looking middle-aged man to the transparent glass.

Chen Fan, seated next to Lu Xuanxin, perked up.

Xiahou Wu...

At last, we meet!

Like a scene from a film, after a brief conversation with Lu Xuanxin, Xiahou Wu requested with a wry smile,

"Officer, I have an audacious favor to ask. Next time we meet, could you bring me 17 cigarettes?"

"I'd like to distribute them to the inmates I've injured, and I assure you, I will pay you back!"

Lu Xuanxin chuckled, surprised.

"Next time?"

"You're that certain we'll have another meeting?"

Xiahou Wu's voice was resolute, each word deliberate, "Yes!"

"You will surely return!"

Frowning, Lu Xuanxin took a seat alongside Chen Fan.

Xiahou Wu inhaled deeply, his memories surfacing slowly.

"Shark, the boxing champion of Hong Kong and Macau, I've sparred with him a few times..."

"Do you know who the killer is?" Lu Xuanxin's eyes shimmered with curiosity.

To her great disappointment, Xiahou Wu merely shook his head in silence.

"But I have an idea of the kind of person he is, and what he might be thinking!"

Xiahou Wu clenched his jaw, his voice resolute:

"He's definitely going to strike again!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Xuanxin cast an impassive glance at Chen Fan.

Both a scholar and a warrior, they were certain the assailant would strike again, suggesting the matter was all but confirmed.

Lu Xuanxin probed, "How can you be so sure?"

Xiahou Wu exhaled deeply, replying without hesitation:

"It's quite straightforward. If it were a duel, there'd be no need to kill..."

"Even if I had accidentally killed someone and ended up in jail, I wouldn't just walk away."

"Why not use a gun for revenge? To kill with fists, to strike down even a Buddha – don't you sense a deeper scheme at play?"

Xiahou Wu's gaze was piercing and spirited, causing Lu Xuanxin to feel a profound shock.

His confident words compelled Lu Xuanxin to continue thinking along his lines.

As for Chen Fan, Xiahou Wu hadn't given him a direct look from start to finish.

To get out of prison, dealing with Lu Xuanxin alone would suffice.

Chen Fan, who seemed like an assistant, clearly didn't make the cut.

"I know what he's planning! I can stop him!"

"Just... just let me out!"

Seizing the moment, Xiahou Wu pressed his advantage, laying out his terms!

"What?"

Lu Xuanxin stood up abruptly, her face a mask of fury, upon hearing his words.

Being threatened twice in the same manner in one day would sour anyone's mood!

"Why do you think I need you to catch the killer? Do you think our police force is just for show? Don't get cocky just because you're skilled in martial arts!"

The room fell into a heavy silence.

Xiahou Wu's lips twisted into a smirk.

"The shoulder aligns with the hip, the elbow with the knee, the hand with the foot; to capture is to immobilize, to seize is to control. Mastery of capture precedes the use of weapons; weapons are but extensions of the limbs, the so-called unity of person and tool..."

He continued speaking, his cuffed hands moving expressively.

But before he could finish, Lu Xuanxin interrupted him coldly:

"Enough. The next line is 'the heart aligns with the intent, the intent with the breath, and if one is out of sync...' Right?"

At that moment, Xiahou Wu found himself at a loss for words, utterly stunned.

"No... Impossible!"

"How did you know the secret mantra of our Unity Sect, Officer Lu?"

Lu Xuanxin extended her slender hand, gesturing towards Chen Fan.

"I'm not sure. It was Prof. Wang from Abrakding University who informed me."

"He recited the same mantra as you earlier today."

Only then did Chen Fan straighten his glasses, revealing an innocuous smile.

"My apologies, Mr. Xiahou."

"Regrettably, I seem to have inadvertently taken your spotlight!"