Translator: Atlas Studios
Editor: Atlas Studios
The instant he got through, Officer Chen asked Xiang Kun whether he was sure he had spotted the suspect. Xiang Kun couldn’t reveal that he had used his sense of smell, so he couldn’t sound too certain. He just said that he was almost sure.
Most importantly, Xiang Kun told him that the suspect had run away immediately when their eyes met.
Hearing that Xiang Kun was chasing the suspect, Officer Chen became nervous again. He told Xiang Kun not to act rashly and that the police would arrive soon. He emphasized that Xiang Kun shouldn’t attempt to catch the suspect by himself, because the suspect might be armed and was deemed very dangerous.
“Don’t worry, I won’t pretend to be a hero. I’ll just stand here and keep an eye on him. Do you know where I am? I’ve shared my location with you on WeChat…”
As he spoke, Xiang Kun casually followed the suspect’s scent across the street.
In fact, when the suspect began running, his odor would be even stronger. It would only make it easier for Xiang Kun to track him.
Also, most of the time, there would be shortcuts in an urban setting like this. It was not necessary to tail the suspect. It could be the case in which he ran in a very complicated path for very long, only to find himself faced with the pursuer who had just walked over from not far away.
Xiang Kun stopped to look at the narrow alley before him. Perhaps the two buildings flanking the alley had been modified, so the alley was narrower than usual. Together with the puddles of water on the ground, it made the alley appear especially gloomy. Most people would be unwilling to enter unless necessary.
But Xiang Kun knew that the suspect was hiding inside.
Xiang Kun held his cellphone away from his ear and listened closely. Heavy panting sounds from the alley were clearly audible. He was obviously out of breath from the running. Normally, being at such a long distance, coupled with the background noise from the street, would make it impossible to hear him. But it was very easy for Xiang Kun.
Of course, even if he could hold his breath, his smell couldn’t be concealed.
Xiang Kun looked around and then reported the names of the streets and the shops around to Officer Chen. Together with the shared location, it would make things even easier for the police.
To be honest, Xiang Kun didn’t quite understand what the man was doing hiding in this narrow road. Was he trying to wait for Xiang Kun to give up searching for him and leave?
Nevertheless, all Xiang Kun needed to do was stand here and wait for the police. With the sound and the smell, there was no way the suspect could escape.
Although he was pretty confident that he could handle the suspect by himself, he wouldn’t do it. Revealing too much of what he could do would attract unnecessary attention.
But Xiang Kun didn’t stand there for long before someone shouted from behind angrily. “Hey! Bald head! Who were you cursing at just now? ”
…
… An hour ago …
Baona and Zhen Er were dining at a restaurant that only sold salad bowls.
“So, how’s it going with ‘Saitama-sensei’? Are you going hiking together this weekend? Have you confirmed with him the venue and timing? Isn’t it just two days away?” Zhen Er suddenly asked her bestie across the table.
Baona remained silent and ate.
Being her bestie for years, Zhen Er naturally knew what she meant. Zhen Er raised her eyebrows. “Don’t tell me you haven’t contacted him ever since that day?”
Baona rolled her eyes. “For what? There’s nothing much to say.”
“That bald head… he really never learns to appreciate, does he? Too bad he’s still single!” Zhen Er was getting agitated.
Baona sighed. She really regretted sending Xiang Kun those messages after they had met at the gym that day. But it couldn’t be undone. What else could she do now?
However, she definitely wouldn’t admit that. “We’re just normal friends, of course we don’t chat all day long! I will tell him the time tonight and see whether we need to pick him up on the day. Eh, Zhen Er, don’t be rude to him, okay? He did nothing wrong.”
“A normal friend from a blind date?? Fine, fine. Let’s stop talking about him,” Zhen Er said and started scrolling through Weibo on her phone.
Before long, she passed her phone to her bestie. “Nana, look at this bald guy. Doesn’t he look like ‘Saitama-sensei’? Woah, look at the kick, his slippers went flying…”
Baona had just finished eating. She took over the phone and looked at the title of the video. It really sounded like some urban fantasy:
“The real Chinese Kung Fu! Secluded warrior monk comes to the rescue! Knocks out bandit in two moves!”
The video recorded a bald man in a singlet, shorts, and slippers. He knocked out the bandit with a kick and a punch. The video only lasted for a few seconds, but it was very thrilling. Although the video was taken from a distance, the effects were comparable to action movies.
This video was taken by someone living in the same block as Xiang Kun from above. The original video would be longer, but it contained bloody scenes in which the couple were attacked. This one had been cut short, leaving only the part after Xiang Kun appeared. Together with the title, it was very suggestive that the bald man was really a warrior monk.
“He really looks like Sai… Mr. Xiang,” Baona commented after replaying the video a few times.
Zhen Er was astonished. She took back her phone and watched it a few more times. “Really?” She had been only kidding. She hadn’t actually put much thought into what she had said.
Baona was searching something with her phone as she added, “Do you still remember what he was wearing that day when we saw him? It’s the same as what this man is wearing.”
Then Baona showed Zhen Er her phone. “Look! It’s on the news. The incident in the video happened on the same day and it’s in this city.”
Zhen Er was flabbergasted when she finished reading the news report and saw the complete video. She raised her head and exclaimed, “Nana, could ‘Saitama-sensei’ really be a warrior monk?”
“Monk your head…”
“Haha, make sure he comes for the hike! I want to ‘interview’ him.”
The two left the restaurant, laughing and joking around. They would be going to the gym for their yoga class, but it was still early. So they walked around on the streets, each with a cup of juice.
As they chit-chatted on, Baona suddenly paused. She pointed at a bald man in a singlet and shorts. He had a sling bag and was looking down at his phone. “Isn’t that Mr. Xiang?”
“What? What a coincidence!” Zhen Er was pretty excited to see him. She walked towards Xiang Kun with Baona as she called over, “Mr. Xiang!”
But Xiang Kun only realized he was being called when they were very close. He turned around, looking very shocked.
His reaction got on Zhen Er’s nerves. She asked with a bit of a blaming tone, “Mr. Xiang, who are you messaging? How did you not hear us when we called for you for so long?” She tried to look at Xiang Kun’s phone screen.
But all of a sudden, Xiang Kun suddenly cursed, “God damn it!” It really caught her by surprise. He then simply said, “Contact you later,” and immediately turned and left.