C7 Little Thief

"Look, you owe us an explanation today, no matter what. We're paying top dollar for these property management fees, and this is the level of security we get? What are you all doing? Pigs could do a better job!" A raucous voice erupted at the entrance of the security office.

Nie Feng and Little Monkey exchanged glances before stepping out of the security room. They were met with the sight of a couple in their forties, berating Manager Zhao with high emotions.

"Listen, the loss is on us, and we accept full responsibility. But let's hold off on any final judgments until the police arrive," Manager Zhao said, attempting to defuse the situation with a smile.

"Oh, that sounds nice. But whenever there's trouble, you're quick to pass the buck," the middle-aged man retorted with visible frustration.

"Rest assured, we won't shirk our responsibilities," Manager Zhao assured him. Spotting Nie Feng and Little Monkey, his demeanor soured. "And you two, what's your excuse? Mr. Gao's safe was stolen on your watch. What were you doing?"

"Manager Zhao, it wasn't our shift. We were off yesterday, and the night crew has already clocked out," Little Monkey explained quickly.

"Find out who was on duty and get them on the phone now! I'm going to handle this seriously!" Manager Zhao demanded, his anger palpable.

"Right away, sir," Little Monkey said, nodding vigorously as he ushered Nie Feng back into the security room.

Flipping through the duty log, Little Monkey's face contorted with worry. "Oh no, not good. Why did it have to be Erniu? What do we do now?" he lamented, slapping his thigh.

"Do you know Erniu well?" Nie Feng inquired, sensing his concern.

Nodding, Little Monkey shared, "We both come from the same sports academy. Erniu grew up poor, raised by his mother who's now bedridden. His sister's still in school. If we can't recover the lost items, it's going to ruin Erniu."

Nie Feng was at a loss for words. Life could be cruel—when one door closes, sometimes it feels like God's also sealing the windows.

After a quick call, Erniu, a towering figure with an honest face, hurried in. Standing well over two meters tall, his frame was all muscle, resembling an ox. Next to him, Little Monkey seemed downright diminutive.

As soon as Erniu walked in, Manager Zhao gave him a severe tongue-lashing. Erniu didn't utter a single word throughout the ordeal, just kept his head bowed.

The police were quick to respond, especially given that the case involved over two million. They immediately deployed the Major Crimes Unit. Nie Feng was taken aback to find that the unit was led by a woman fresh out of the police academy. She might not have been strikingly beautiful, but she had a certain charm.

"I'm Ling Xueqi, head of the Major Crimes Division. I need to review your surveillance footage," Ling Xueqi stated as she, along with two junior officers, entered the security room.

Neither the little monkey nor Nie Feng dared to delay. They promptly retrieved the previous night's surveillance videos and gathered around the monitors, anticipating the thief's appearance.

But as the afternoon wore on, despite repeated viewings, the thief remained elusive.

"Are you sure your surveillance footage is intact?" Ling Xueqi asked, her brow furrowed.

"Rest assured, Officer. Our surveillance system is comprehensive, with no blind spots," the little monkey assured her quickly.

Nie Feng was baffled. If the surveillance had no blind spots, the thief should have been caught on camera. How could there be no sign of him?

"Chief, I'm betting this is the same guy we've been after. I checked, and Mr. Gao's place had cameras too, but they've been tampered with—nothing recorded. No evidence at the crime scene either. This guy's a pro!" remarked one of the officers, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

"Officer, what's the verdict? Will I be able to recover my money and jewelry?" Gao Liqiang asked anxiously, his wife's face etched with concern.

"Mr. Gao, please be assured that the police will do everything in our power to apprehend the thief and reclaim your property. However, without any leads, we need to conduct a more thorough investigation," Ling Xueqi replied with a reassuring, professional smile.

"A thorough investigation? I know you're all just twiddling your thumbs! Listen, if my money isn't found, I'll make sure none of you can walk away from this unscathed!" Gao Liqiang exploded in anger. With those harsh words, he stormed off with his wife in tow.

Ling Xueqi, faced with Nie Feng's obstinate attitude, had no other option but to say, "If you come across anything, give me a call. Here's my number. I'm hoping we can collaborate." She handed out a business card and quickly departed with her team.

"Man, it seems like the cops are at a dead end!" Little Monkey lamented.

"If you don't recover the money this time, Lee Erniu, brace yourself to pay up!" Manager Zhao shot him a fierce look, flung open the security room door, and marched out.

"Monkey bro, what am I gonna do? We're talking over two million yuan here. I could never make that in a lifetime! If I get my hands on that jerk, I swear I'll beat him senseless! My mom, my sister... if they find out, they'll be devastated. You gotta help me figure something out, Monkey bro, my brain's just not up to it!" Lee Erniu clutched at Little Monkey's leg, dropping to his knees before him.

"Erniu, cut it out, will ya? Stand up! We're brothers, and I've got your back, but what can I do when even the cops are clueless?" Little Monkey said, his face etched with worry.

Nie Feng had been pondering deeply, his brow furrowed as he considered how the suspect had managed to dodge all the surveillance. Then it hit him. The community was riddled with cameras, sure, but they were all trained on the ground. If the culprit had approached from above, those cameras were as good as useless.

If the guy had never touched the ground from start to finish, he could have bypassed not just the cameras but also the security patrols—who looks up all the time, anyway?

Nie Feng wasn't about to believe the guy could fly, but considering the street lamps lining the paths between each villa, a person with exceptional agility could potentially use them as footholds to stealthily make their way into Gao Lishang's home.

To the average person, it might sound far-fetched, like something out of a martial arts film, but Nie Feng didn't see it as fantasy. He knew he could do it himself. And sabotaging Gao Lishang's home surveillance? That would be a walk in the park.

"Feng, did anything come to mind?" Little Monkey inquired, noticing Nie Feng's furrowed brow.

Nie Feng nodded, sharing his thoughts with the pair. They were visibly surprised by his deduction, yet found themselves unable to counter his reasoning.

"Feng, if what you're saying is true, then this guy is a real pro. Catching him is going to be tough," Little Monkey remarked, his expression sour.

"What am I supposed to do? I can't come up with two million yuan even if I sold my whole family!" Lee Erniu lamented, tears welling up as he spoke.

Upon hearing this, Lee Erniu hung his head once more, his face etched with sorrow. It wasn't a matter of his own incompetence; their adversary was simply too formidable.

"Hold on, let me think of something," Nie Feng reassured them, pulling out his phone to call Gao Yang.

Given the man's skill set, Nie Feng surmised he wasn't just some petty thief; he likely had a reputation in the martial arts community. Nie Feng was curious to see if Gao Yang was familiar with him.

Nie Feng had only been testing the waters, but to his surprise, Gao Yang did indeed know the man, living up to his reputation as an all-knowing expert.

With the intel from Gao Yang, Nie Feng learned the man's name was Yaen Qing, a scion of the Swallow Sect. The Swallow Sect wasn't known for cultivation, but their Light-body Technique was unrivaled. Nie Feng was aware of the Swallow Sect's once illustrious history. After millennia, the sect had waned, leaving Yaen Qing as its sole heir.

Nie Feng intended to pass this information to the police, but Gao Yang revealed he had a connection to Yaen Qing and urged Nie Feng to keep it from the authorities. If Yaen Qing were apprehended, Gao Yang's standing in the martial arts community would be jeopardized.

"Yang, I get that you're in a bind, but the guy stole over two million yuan. If we don't catch him, Lee Erniu's going to suffer. We're all struggling here; let's try to empathize with each other," Nie Feng implored.

"Don't worry, I've got this. I'll set a trap tonight and bring Yaen Qing in. Bring Lee Erniu with you, have him appeal to Yaen Qing, and hopefully, we can get the items back. That should settle it," Gao Yang proposed.

"Alright!" Nie Feng nodded. Seeing as Gao Yang had put it that way, there was nothing else to be done.

Upon hearing there might be a breakthrough, Lee Erniu was overwhelmed with gratitude towards Nie Feng. "Feng, I can't thank you enough for this. If you ever need anything in the future, count on me, Lee Erniu, to go through fire and water for you without a second thought."

"Hold off on the thanks for now. Wait until we've got this all wrapped up, then you can thank me! Monkey, later take Erniu to pick up a couple of bottles of the good stuff and some cigarettes. Don't skimp; a few bucks is nothing compared to that two million. Also, this stays between us three, got it? If word gets out, don't say I didn't warn you," Nie Feng said with a stern tone.

"Feng, you've got nothing to worry about. We've got it under control. Come on, Erniu, we've got some shopping to do," Little Monkey chimed in, and off they went with Lee Erniu.

A little later, Gao Yang's call came through again. "Hey, Feng, it's all set. Yaen Qing has agreed to meet. Head down to the food stall under my place tonight!"

Nie Feng paused, then replied, "Yang, are you sure about this? She's a descendant of the Swallow Sect. You think she'll be okay with a food stall?"

"What do you suggest, then? I'd love to treat her to a five-star dinner. Are you footing the bill?" Gao Yang retorted, clearly irritated.

"Uh... never mind, the food stall it is! I'll bring them by after work and give you a call," Nie Feng chuckled, quickly smoothing things over.