10 An Excuse (2/2)
”DING! Congratulations. You've earned ten points!”
”DING! Congratulations. You've earned twenty points!”
...
In the interrogation room, the system notifications sounded in Xiao Luo's mind. The system had been reminding him of the points he was earning when he started fighting with the bald man and his group. So far, he had accumulated more than 250 points.
The door of the interrogation room creaked open, and Gu Qianlin and Officer Xiao Wang came in. She ordered two other police officers to remove the handcuffs from Xiao Luo.
She said icily, ”You're free to go, Xiao Luo!”
”You've confirmed that I acted in legitimate self-defense?” Xiao Luo stood up and asked with a smile.
”Your problem can be legitimate self-defense or excessive self-defense. If it wasn't because you indirectly helped the police deliver a blow against crime, I wouldn't be letting you go so easily,” said Gu Qianlin proudly as she stuffed her hands into her pants pocket.
”Oh, it seems that I have to thank Team Leader Gu for your generosity!” Xiao Luo strode toward the door.
”Wait.” Gu Qianlin suddenly stopped him.
Xiao Luo halted and said, ”Officer? Is there anything else?”
”Where did you learn your fighting skills? Your biodata made no mention of your receiving any special training.” Gu Qianlin stared at him as if she was interrogating a suspect.
Xiao Luo froze for a moment, then he laughed and said, ”I learned from an old beggar in our village when I was a child.”
Officer Xiao Wang was astonished. So I was right with my stupid guess! Isn't this too much of a coincidence?
”What's the old beggar's name?” Gu Qianlin carefully observed the microexpressions on Xiao Luo's face to confirm if he was lying.
”He was a horrible old geezer who used to victimize others for food and drink. I received my fair share of bullying from him when I was a kid.”
”What's his name?”
”I don't know his real name; the villagers used to call him Old Loony.”
”Where is he now?”
”He died a few years ago and was buried in the mountains. His body has probably fully decomposed by now.”
Xiao Luo knew this question would eventually come, hence his glib answer. Moreover, there really was a person like that in his village. He came over in the early years to escape famine and beg for food. There would be no cracks in his story if someone wanted to check it out.
Gu Qianlin was demoralized. Asking these questions was the same as not asking. Besides, her skill and technique at observing microexpressions, something she was proud of, seemed to be ineffective now. She couldn't tell whether Xiao Luo was telling the truth or lies.
.....
At the gate of the police station, Ge Zhongtian, a grizzled man with gold-rimmed glasses, shook hands with Xiao Luo solemnly, ”Hello Mr. Xiao!”
Xiao Luo immediately understood why he was released from the police station so quickly.
”You're the one who bailed me out?”
Ge Zhongtian nodded, ”Yes, at Mr. Chu's orders.”
”Mr. Chu?” Xiao Luo frowned. He couldn't remember meeting anyone by that name.
”The boss of Chongshan House, Chu Yunxiong!” Ge Zhongtian said with a smile.