Chapter 117 Peril at the Monastery

Everyone immediately became alert. Over 200 police officers had arrived, a significant number for this operation. We formed a cordon around the abandoned village, and in a few of the houses, we found traces of recent computer use.

It seemed Du Qitai hadn't lied. We searched the area and suddenly discovered a woman in a dilapidated courtyard. Her clothes were disheveled. Upon seeing us, she exclaimed in fright, "Who are you?"

"Haven't you seen a police uniform before?" Li Fan said dismissively.

"I'm from here. What are you doing here?" The woman indeed looked like a village woman, but I detected a certain violent aura about her.

Li Fan was about to help her up from the ground when I quickly stopped him and pulled the trigger, aiming at the woman!

With a bang, her left foot was hit. She looked at me in terror and said, "Officer, what are you doing?"

"You're one of the organization's people, aren't you? Trying to ambush us?"

At this moment, Liu Yuning, Li Fan, and the others were astonished, not understanding why I had suddenly opened fire.

"You used to be from this village, but you were enslaved later. Your index finger has calluses from constantly using a gun, which proves you're no ordinary village woman! If I'm not mistaken, you were about to draw the gun from your waist and kill Li Fan when he tried to help you!"

I quickly went behind her and handcuffed her. Simultaneously, I found a handgun at her waist. To my surprise, it was a police-issue weapon.

"You've killed police officers before?"

"Damn cop, I didn't expect you to see through me so easily. That's right, they told me to lie in wait here!"

"Hmph, take her away!" I instructed a detective to watch her. Li Fan immediately said gratefully, "Thank you. If it weren't for you this time, I would have been in trouble!"

"Be more careful next time!"

After I gave him a word of advice, Liu Yuning pressured the woman to reveal the location of the monastery. However, she refused to speak. I went up to them and said, "No need to ask further. She won't tell us. Don't waste your breath!"

"This officer is indeed smart. You'll never find the monastery. Many police officers have come here before, and we've taken them down! Look at the village houses around here, see what's inside!"

As the woman spoke, Li Fan and Xiao Yuande immediately went to search. I followed along. I had already suspected that we would find the remains of former police officers.

When they discovered the bodies, they all gnashed their teeth and cursed the bastards in the organization.

Many forensic detectives arrived to take photographs and collect evidence. Then, we found some footprints around the village, but they disappeared at a certain point.

We couldn't possibly find the monastery based on a few footprints alone. Just then, I remembered Du Qitai and immediately contacted the police station.

He responded quickly: "You've reached the abandoned village now, haven't you? Actually, there's a way to find the monastery. Only an old ox here knows the way!"

"An old ox??" I asked, bewildered.

"That's right. Don't try to use drones or anything like that. Some police officers have tried before, and they all failed!"

"Okay, where is this old ox?"

"In the village chief's house. The village chief's house has a building with blue walls!"

Upon hearing this, I immediately said, "Everyone, look for the building with blue walls!"

Everyone sprang into action. Soon, Gao Mingqiang's team found such a building. I followed them inside. To prevent any tricks, Xiahou went in first to check. Once it was clear, we ventured further in.

Indeed, we found an old ox by a dry well, still grazing on tender grass. I immediately led it out and took a photo to send to Du Qitai.

"Yes, it's this one. Let it go, and it will run straight towards the monastery!"

"So, the people who escaped earlier don't need to follow it to find the monastery?"

"They're already familiar with the paths inside, unlike you. Alright, tell me when you've taken down the monastery. I'm going to get some sleep!"

He was indeed a very relaxed person, but his tone suggested he was confident.

I informed everyone of the current situation, but they raised objections.

Gao Mingqiang said, "Should we really listen to this criminal's advice?"

"Yes, what if the monastery is a trap? If so many of us go there, won't we all be caught? It's possible the organization's people won't fall for it and will instead trap us," Xiahou said anxiously.

Liu Yuning and Xiao Yuande looked at me. Although they didn't speak, I could tell from their expressions that they didn't trust the plan. I said, "I was the one who planned to use Du Qitai's people. Now, at this critical juncture, you can choose not to believe, but I won't back down!"

With that, I left the abandoned village, leading the old ox. The others, worried about my safety, followed me, but half of the force, including Li Fan, remained in the village.

I led the remaining hundred or so people, mostly detectives, with only a few SWAT and armed police officers accompanying us. The ox walked quite fast. We kept pace, passing through a dense forest. Suddenly, we saw a pile of rocks not far away. It looked complicated, but the ox seemed to know exactly where to go.

Entering the rock formation, it led us through at maximum speed. However, Gao Mingqiang said, "Will we keep getting lost if we continue like this?"

"It's fine. Look, that ox must have been here before!" I said.

As expected, we emerged quickly. In the distance, a very old monastery appeared, still retaining some medieval design elements: gray stained-glass windows, a spire, tall walls surrounded by railings. Crows were perched everywhere, cawing loudly, as if deliberately waiting for intruders.

As we approached the monastery, everyone immediately surrounded it with their weapons drawn. We didn't know how many people were inside, but it seemed unusually quiet.

Xiao Yuande kicked open the main door, and we rushed in. Numerous guns were pointed at us. Suddenly, thick smoke billowed from the corridors upstairs, and we all inhaled it, unable to help but cough.

My head spun, and I realized something was wrong!

The next second, many people's pupils dilated, and they collapsed to the ground powerlessly.

But I could still feel that everyone had vital signs. As I fell to the ground, figures in black robes rushed out from doors all around us, surrounding us as we lay there.

We thought they would simply shoot us, but then a man waved his hand and said, "Tie them up and take them upstairs. Separate them. I want to show the entire city a new round of death thriller live broadcast!"