184: Chapter 184 is about making a fuss.

At this moment, more than a dozen police officers filed in.

Their movements were swift, silent, and well-trained.

Master Hui Ming had just walked to the entryway and hadn't even touched the doorknob when the door was kicked open from the outside.

His entire body was carried forward by inertia and he fell to the ground. Before he could react, two police officers lunged over, pinning his shoulders, knees pressing into his waist, and the handcuffs clicked shut.

His cloth bag fell to the floor, scriptures scattered everywhere, and those few pieces of unlit sandalwood rolled onto the entryway carpet, silent and still.

"Don't move! Police!"

Director Qi Heng was wearing plain clothes—a dark jacket and polished leather shoes.

His gaze swept across the living room, landed on the small Buddha statue, then shifted away, finally resting on the half-open bedroom door. His brows furrowed slightly.

"What are you doing? What law have I broken?"

Master Hui Ming was pressed to the floor, his face against the cold tiles. He was still struggling, his voice sounding like a pig being slaughtered.

Director Qi Heng ignored him and gave a look to the person beside him. Immediately, someone lifted Master Hui Ming from the ground and hauled him away.

As they passed Director Qi Heng, Master Hui Ming was still shouting. Director Qi Heng glanced at him, and the look scared Master Hui Ming into silence.

The person was taken out. The living room quieted down, leaving only the scent of sandalwood and the ticking of the clock on the wall.

Director Qi Heng walked to the bedroom door and pushed it open gently.

The curtains were drawn tight, and only one bedside lamp was on, casting a dim, ambiguous light. The air was filled with an indescribable scent.

Su Bainian was lying on her side on the bed, the quilt covering her only to her waist, her shoulder strap slipped down to the crook of her arm, her clothes in disarray.

Her hair was disheveled, her cheeks flushed crimson. Clearly, the effects of the drug had not yet worn off; she was sleeping deeply, her breathing even and long.

Director Qi Heng stood by the bed, watching her. He had spent half his life in the Public Security Bureau; what hadn't he seen?

This woman's figure was indeed well-maintained. At forty-two, her skin was still so fair and delicate.

He glanced back at the door; there was no one in the hallway. The other police officers were all in the living room and entryway processing the scene.

Director Qi Heng suddenly reached out. His fingers touched Su Bainian's shoulder—smooth and delicate, like fine silk.

He stroked her gently, again and again. Su Bainian had no reaction, sleeping like a lump of mud.

His courage grew a little. His palm slid from her shoulder to her collarbone, from her collarbone to her arm, and then slid back. His movements were very light.

It was as if he were testing, and as if he were enjoying it.

His heartbeat quickened, and his breathing grew heavier, but there was no expression on his face.

This was not the first time he had done such a thing. He had encountered similar situations when handling cases before, but he had never been as bold as he was today.

He knew he wouldn't be discovered. This woman wouldn't remember, and he wouldn't leave any traces.

Even if she woke up, he could say he was trying to wake her, or simply push the blame onto that monk.

That monk had already committed so many crimes anyway; one more or one less made no difference.

Director Qi Heng took a deep breath, looked at Su Bainian one more time, and withdrew his hand.

Enough. Playing any longer would cross the line.

He straightened his collar, turned, and walked out of the bedroom, closing the door behind him with a movement as natural as if nothing had happened.

In the living room, Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang was still slumped on the sofa, snoring like thunder, completely unaware of everything that had just happened.

Director Qi Heng walked over and patted his shoulder, then patted it again, with moderate force.

"Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang, Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang, wake up."

Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang groaned, his eyes not opening.

Director Qi Heng increased the pressure, pinching his arm hard. He finally snapped his eyes open, his gaze unfocused, looking as bewildered as if he had just been fished out of water.

He saw Director Qi Heng's face and froze for several seconds, his mind a blank, before slowly regaining his senses.

"Director... Director Qi?"

He sat up straight, rubbed his eyes, looked at the police officers around him, then at the empty entryway, and his expression changed.

"Why are you at my house? What happened?"

Director Qi Heng sat down opposite him, his expression serious, his tone official: "Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang, we received a report that a fake monk was conducting illegal activities in your home."

"We have just apprehended the person, and we extracted residues of hallucinogenic substances from the incense burner in your home."

"This person is suspected of repeatedly using hallucinogens to defraud and sexually assault believers. This is not his first offense."

"We found a large number of prohibited items in his personal belongings, including drugs, aphrodisiacs, and obscene materials."

Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang's face turned from bewildered to shocked, and then from shocked to deathly pale.

He looked at Director Qi Heng, his lips trembling several times as he said: "You... what are you saying? Master Hui Ming? Impossible!"

"He is an enlightened high monk from Mount Jiuhua. How could he be a fraud? Director Qi Heng, did you make a mistake?"

Director Qi Heng did not argue with him; he simply handed over a piece of paper—it was Master Hui Ming's criminal record.

Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang took it, his fingers trembling, the paper rustling in his hands.

It was densely packed with records of the crimes Master Hui Ming had committed over these years—scams in a certain province, a certain city, a certain county...

The modus operandi was identical every time: using aphrodisiacs to drug believers, then carrying out fraud and sexual assault. Among them were many people with status and position just like him.

Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang's eyes widened, his pupils constricted, and his whole body seemed drained of strength, slumping onto the sofa.

He recalled the little details over the years—the kind of incense that had to be lit every time at the temple, and how he would be so sleepy he couldn't keep his eyes open every time he finished listening to the scriptures. Su Bainian, on the other hand, would always return from the temple radiant, as if she had become a different person.

He had been deceived for so many years, deceived to the point that even his wife had been violated, all while thinking he was under the protection of the Buddha.

Director Qi Heng stood up, walked to the bedroom door, pushed it open, took a look at the still-sleeping Su Bainian, then turned back to look at Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang, his tone still official: "Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang, your wife has also been victimized."

"We need to ask you and your wife to come to the Public Security Bureau to give a statement and clarify the situation."

"This is also for the further investigation of the case."

Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang raised his head and looked at Director Qi Heng, his gaze seemingly begging for a shred of dignity.

"Director Qi Heng, can this matter... can it not be handled at the Public Security Bureau?"

"With my wife in that state, it won't look good if she goes to the Public Security Bureau."

"I will cooperate with your investigation. Whatever materials you need, I will provide, but please don't make her go."

"She doesn't know anything; she is a victim."

Director Qi Heng was silent for a few seconds, then shook his head, his attitude firm, his tone unquestionable: "Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang, this is procedure."

"The victim's statement is important evidence for the case and cannot be omitted."

"Don't worry, we will arrange for a female officer to take the statement, so your wife will not be embarrassed."

"Furthermore, this matter involves criminal offenses, which is not something we can handle privately."

"You are also a leading cadre; you should understand this principle."

Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang's face turned from white to gray, and finally to a livid blue.

He looked at Director Qi Heng, the last glimmer of light in his eyes extinguishing.

He understood now. This was not a routine law enforcement action; this was a carefully orchestrated political incident.

Someone wanted to take him down and was pushing from behind; Director Qi Heng was merely the blade.

He refused to accommodate, refused to handle it privately, and insisted on doing everything by the book!

The other party wanted him, Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang, to be unable to extricate himself from this case!

Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes.

Around him, police officers were taking photos, collecting evidence, and recording. Their movements were professional; everyone was meticulously performing their duties, and no one spared him another glance.

It was as if he were not their Executive Vice Magistrate, but just an ordinary, unremarkable party involved in a case.

"Fine, we will go to the Public Security Bureau to give statements."

Director Qi Heng nodded, turned, and walked to the bedroom door, pushing it open to enter.

Su Bainian had not yet woken up. She was lying on her side, breathing evenly, the shoulder strap of her nightgown still slipped down, revealing a large expanse of skin.

"Comrade Su Bainian, wake up. I am from the Public Security Bureau."

Su Bainian's eyelashes fluttered, and her eyes slowly opened, hazy and unfocused.

She looked at Director Qi Heng as if she didn't recognize who this was, or as if she were looking at a stranger.

Director Qi Heng handed over her jacket, turned around, and faced away from her. Only after she had taken the jacket and covered herself did he turn back.

"Comrade Su Bainian, your husband, Comrade Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang, is waiting for you outside. Please get dressed and come with me to the Public Security Bureau; there are some situations that require your cooperation in the investigation."

Su Bainian sat on the bed, draped in her jacket, her hair disheveled, her face devoid of any expression.

Her mind was still a muddle; she couldn't understand what had happened, but she read an ominous portent in Director Qi Heng's tone and attitude.

When she got out of bed, her legs were as soft as cotton, and she nearly fell.

Director Qi Heng reached out to steady her, his hand resting on her waist for a moment before withdrawing.

"Are you okay?"

Su Bainian shook her head without speaking, lowered her head, and followed Director Qi Heng out of the bedroom.

"Let's go, the car is downstairs."

Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang walked in front, Su Bainian followed behind, and Director Qi Heng walked at the very end.