Chapter 7: Past Life, Present Life (Heartfelt Thanks to the Guild Leader of Midnight Drunken Gundam!)

In his past life, Han Ling was a lawless executor who walked in darkness, occasionally taking contracts to assassinate criminal leaders, roaming the world as a lone ranger.

Police forces from various countries hunted him, Interpol chased him, and countless factions sought him out. The bounty on his head had soared to an astonishing nine figures.

A nine-figure bounty attracted every kind of sinister creature. He was up against the world’s top police officers, elite detectives, elite mercenaries, and underground criminal organizations harboring deadly grudges.

Surrounded by formidable enemies, Han Ling had never once allowed anyone to get close to him over all those years.

He believed himself clever and cautious enough, yet in the end, he was undone by his enemies' cunning stratagems.

A girl’s entire family was slaughtered, and she herself was brutally assaulted. Naturally, Han Ling could not stand idly by—but he never imagined it was all a ruse.

No—the lives lost were real, and the girl’s suffering was genuine; otherwise, he would never have been deceived.

He had thrown himself into the trap, the fake became reality, and the enemy spared no cost to pin him down.

A scene before his death flashed through Han Ling’s mind. Once his location was exposed, ensnared in a net woven by all sides, he found himself at the end of the road.

In the end, he chose to end his own life.

Compassion for the world and hatred for evil were virtues, but to his enemies, these were the perfect points of entry.

A virtue turned into a fatal flaw.

Thinking of this, Han Ling sighed once more. Everyone has “flaws.” If you think you don’t, it just means you haven’t found them yet.

Too many enemies, a bounty too high—countless people were willing to spend great time studying him, devising the optimal plan to capture him.

They succeeded.

The original Han Ling was dead. The present Han Ling had become a policeman of striking contrast.

Han Ling suddenly felt like laughing.

Was it ironic? Not quite. What a competent police officer must do was essentially aligned with what he had done in his former life, only the methods differed.

One walked in light, the other in blood.

At least, neither would betray his true nature.

“What’s wrong, Han Ling?”

Next to him, Tong Feng saw Han Ling sitting there, lost in thought, sighing and smiling, and asked curiously.

Han Ling came back to himself and replied casually, “Uh, nothing, just daydreaming.”

Tong Feng was his classmate, majoring in investigative studies, applying for the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Gu’an District Branch, just like Sun Yujie earlier, and his grades were quite good.

Recruitment policies varied by city. Some cities held unified exams and then allocated candidates by need and score, while Qingchang City openly recruited, allowing candidates to choose freely according to their circumstances.

In recent years, due to the security environment, grassroots police forces were generally stretched thin. Recruitment numbers for police stations were significantly higher than other units, with lower competition and higher acceptance rates. Those lacking confidence in their abilities usually applied to police stations.

This year, the Wanglou Police Station only needed one recruit. Han Ling’s skills were average to slightly above average. Without confidence to try for the Municipal Bureau or District Branch and unwilling to self-assign to remote towns or distant neighborhoods, after consideration, he chose Wanglou Police Station and was successfully admitted.

Han Ling’s odd behavior made Tong Feng smirk mischievously. “The campus queen said if you represent the blue team and win, she might agree to your pursuit. You must be secretly happy, huh? Don’t get too carried away.”

“Huh?” Han Ling wasn’t quite used to his new memories yet and replied casually, “I’m not really interested in chasing her anymore.”

Tong Feng was momentarily stunned, then reached out to touch Han Ling’s forehead. “Dude, got a fever? Are you delirious? You okay?”

Three questions in a row. Han Ling was helpless; it seemed his old persona was deeply ingrained in everyone’s impression.

Such a melodramatic plot—can’t there be something new?

“Let’s not talk about that,” Han Ling tried to change the subject.

Tong Feng didn’t press further and brought up tonight’s drill: “Never thought you’d just run out of the film set like that. Aren’t you afraid of getting reprimanded? Director Zheng didn’t say much, but Commissioner Ding didn’t seem too happy.”

Han Ling laughed. “It’s good to teach Zhang Yunhang a lesson, isn’t it? Commissioner Ding leads the city bureau’s criminal investigation team, high and mighty—maybe by tomorrow, he’ll have forgotten all about me.”

Tong Feng, naturally part of the familiar circle, laughed too. “If you put it that way… it’s not bad. Hey, the job starts soon. I wonder if I’ll be able to adapt.”

Han Ling glanced at him. Tong Feng was thin and introverted. Han Ling doubted whether he could become a competent detective.

He recalled Tong Feng mentioning his parents had strongly urged him to join the police academy and the Public Security Bureau. He himself wasn’t enthusiastic and believed he wasn’t cut out for police work.

But now it was set in stone; unless Tong Feng resigned—which would probably earn him a severe beating from his parents.

“Four years at police academy aren’t wasted. Don’t worry, it’ll be fine,” Han Ling said. “By the way, if you don’t want frontline work, why apply for the Criminal Investigation Unit?”

Tong Feng shrugged. “None of the district branches want internal posts. Didn’t you see?”

Han Ling: “No, I only looked at police stations.”

Tong Feng explained, “Internal posts depend on internal training, and police resources prioritize frontline units. Internal positions are mostly part-time or rotational. Besides, older officers who can’t work frontline need to transfer, so those spots are reserved.”

Han Ling nodded. “That makes sense. But if you get in and really don’t adapt, you can always apply to transfer.”

New recruits have a low success rate for transfers and it can leave a bad impression on leadership. But Tong Feng’s family was well-off, with a father still working and a mother in business; he could probably pull some strings.

Tong Feng was noncommittal: “I’ll see how it goes.”

As they chatted, they arrived at their stop. Han Ling stood and was the first to get off. “I’m off. Let’s hang out when we have time.”

Tong Feng waved; the bus doors closed and it pulled away. Han Ling bought a pack of cigarettes from a nearby convenience store, smoked as he walked home.

His mind was filled with four years’ worth of police academy knowledge, giving him new insights into investigation and counter-investigation—the sum was far greater than the parts.

Maybe, he could become a decent policeman?

He wouldn’t have to stay in a state of constant high alert every day, wouldn’t have to worry whether he’d wake up tomorrow morning, wouldn’t have to fear being followed as he walked down the street… Huh?

Who?!

Not far ahead was his residential complex. Han Ling suddenly stopped, spinning around sharply. His relaxed gaze instantly turned razor-sharp.

Years on the run had honed Han Ling’s sixth sense to a razor’s edge. Unless someone was hiding perfectly, he could sense their presence.

At this moment, he suspected he was being followed.

In view, dim streetlights cast scattered light on sparsely open shops. At this hour, street vendors lined the sidewalks, bustling with customers waiting for food amid swirling chili-scented smoke.

Few cars passed by; occasional electric bikes zipped through. Pedestrians came and went.

The old city district’s lively atmosphere was far richer than the bustling downtown.

Han Ling scanned every person and every corner, frowning slightly, then turned and continued forward.

A fresh police academy graduate newly assigned to a police station, with no parents, no relatives, few friends, and no enemies—would he really be followed?

Searching his memory, Han Ling found no grudges, at most trivial conflicts, nothing warranting tailing.

“Zhang Yunhang? Unlikely.”

“Just a trick of the mind?”

Sixth sense was not infallible. In his past life, Han Ling would have reacted with utmost caution and taken action. Now, he preferred to believe he simply hadn’t fully adapted yet.

He slowed his pace, creating chances to observe behind him. Only after entering the complex, the building, unlocking the door, and entering his room, did he find no sign of being followed.

Probably just a false alarm.

Outside the complex.

An alley near the convenience store.

The lighting was broken, casting only white triangles of light on the ground. In the shadowed edges, a girl leaned against the wall, head slightly bowed, her face indistinct.

The dark, blurred outline did not erase her presence. Even as a mere silhouette, her slender, graceful figure exuded a breathtaking allure.

A car passed, its headlights briefly illuminating a crescent-shaped necklace around her neck.

“He looked back… did he notice me?” the girl murmured to herself, her voice cool and clear.