Chapter 24: Lost Evidence Can Be Found Again, but Once Someone Has Been Ruined, There Is Truly Nothing That Can Be Done

From his corner, Qin Chuan watched Sun Tao board the luxurious BMW, and a three-dimensional map manifested in his mind. A bright red marker moved across the map. This was the first time Qin Chuan had truly utilized the "Hundred-Mile Tracking" skill, and he discovered something even more intriguing. When activated, the skill granted him a god’s-eye view, allowing him to observe the entire environment surrounding the target.

At this moment, Qin Chuan could see inside the BMW, where Sun Tao was conversing with the middle-aged man who had picked him up. The feed provided only visuals, no sound, but by reading their lips, Qin Chuan could discern fragments of their conversation. They were mentioning his name—Qin Chuan—and not just once.

Inside the car, Sun Tao and his companion were indeed discussing him.

"Director Wu, the Secretary is very satisfied with your handling of things," Sun Tao said.

"Haha, you're too kind, Secretary Sun. If it weren't for that damn Qin Chuan, Xinhai Mining wouldn't have suffered such heavy losses!" Wu Jianzhong, the Deputy General Manager of Xinhai Mining and a trusted henchman of Dou Sihai, spoke with venom. While Dong Zhijun handled the mining operations and the dirty work, Wu was the face of the company, responsible for liaising with various government departments.

"To deal with Qin Chuan, Captain Song himself is stepping in. He’s not a deity easily moved by just anyone; the price for this favor was not insignificant."

"Director Wu, your perspective is a bit narrow," Sun Tao replied with a cold sneer. "Favors are like currency—the more you use them, the greater the debt, and eventually, people become allies. As for that Qin Chuan... does he really think he’s invincible just because he caught a few fugitives? He dares to challenge me? This time, I’ll make him regret it."

Ever since becoming Secretary Gao Qingshan’s aide, no one except the Secretary and the County Magistrate had dared to show Sun Tao any disrespect. A mere township police officer acting so lawless? The sky in Zhulin County was not something a petty cop could flip.

"Rest assured, Secretary Sun. The municipal criminal investigation detachment found no toxic substances in Dong Zhijun’s body. Song Hui has already begun his move against Qin Chuan. Once we pin a charge of violent law enforcement resulting in death on him, even if we can't kill him, we’ll at least strip him of his uniform and throw him behind bars for a few years!" Wu Jianzhong was already contemplating how to contact his connections inside, eager to ensure Qin Chuan learned the consequences of meddling in others' affairs.

"Secretary Sun, we've arrived. Shall we go in?"

At the Red Pavilion, Qin Chuan stepped out of a taxi and looked up at the two bright red characters on the building’s facade. He had heard of this place in his past life but had never had the opportunity to enter. While Zhulin County was poor, that only applied to the pockets of the common people. The more impoverished a place, the more vibrant its nightlife and service industries tended to be. It was rumored that the Red Pavilion was one of the three great "money pits" of Zhulin County.

As evening approached, the area in front of the building bustled with traffic and a steady stream of patrons. Qin Chuan sat in a nearby ice cream parlor, ordered a sundae, and focused his attention on the mental projection of the Hundred-Mile Tracking skill.

After Sun Tao and his companion entered the building, they took the elevator to the top floor. Qin Chuan noted that the man accompanying Sun Tao had used a special magnetic card to activate the elevator buttons. The two continued to talk until 9:00 PM, when another familiar figure appeared in the room: Song Hui.

It was him!

After a brief exchange of pleasantries and a quick meal, the three parted ways. Qin Chuan, waiting outside, felt a surge of frustration. Had they just met for a simple dinner?

"Secretary Sun, Captain Song, the night is long, but I have other matters to attend to, so I'll leave you two to your business," the man said, placing a room key in front of both Sun Tao and Song Hui. "Enjoy your stay!"

The man left. Song Hui and Sun Tao exchanged a knowing, sinister smile, picked up their respective keys, and departed. It was clear they were regulars.

Because the tracking was locked onto Sun Tao, Qin Chuan lost sight of Song Hui once they separated. However, the scene inside Sun Tao’s room caught Qin Chuan off guard. The room was decorated in dark red velvet, featuring a large round bed surrounded by wide mirrors on the ceiling and walls, reflecting every angle of the bed.

"Hehe! Baby, I'm here!" Sun Tao shouted excitedly, lunging toward the bed.

*Damn it!* Qin Chuan thought, feeling irritated. He had spent the whole afternoon hoping to uncover a major lead, only to find them visiting a brothel? While soliciting prostitution was illegal, it wasn't enough to secure a significant conviction.

He was about to deactivate the skill when a figure on the bed caught his eye. A girl in a nurse’s uniform was bound, struggling and twisting on the bed. *That bastard secretary, he’s into roleplay...*

Wait. Something was wrong.

The girl... she looked familiar.

*Damn it!* Qin Chuan suddenly remembered—this was the young nurse who had cared for him at the county hospital. Why was she here?

Qin Chuan zoomed in the projection. Sun Tao was already on top of the nurse. From the movement of her lips, Qin Chuan could discern the words: "You animal! Let me go!"

*Damn it!* They weren't just soliciting prostitutes; they were committing rape! Solicitation was one thing, but rape was a different matter entirely. If he could prove this, they would be looking at at least three years in prison. And if Sun Tao was doing this, Song Hui was likely doing the same.

Qin Chuan felt a surge of adrenaline. This was a massive piece of leverage. He just had to wait for them to commit the crime fully, then storm in and make the arrest.

However, as he zoomed in further, he faltered. Realizing that no one was coming to save her, the nurse had stopped struggling. She lay motionless like a corpse, letting Sun Tao have his way, silent tears streaming from the corners of her eyes.

Qin Chuan stared at the falling tears, a heavy weight pressing on his chest. The nurse’s name was Jiang Yaoyao. She was young, fresh out of nursing school, and had a younger sister in college. She was a cheerful girl who had talked his ear off during his hospital stay, sharing everything about her life.

*Smack!*

Qin Chuan suddenly slapped himself hard. *Damn it!* He was a police officer—how could he stand by and watch these animals commit such a heinous act just for the sake of evidence? Even if this incident was enough to put them away for years, the cost would be the destruction of two innocent girls. Evidence could be found again, but a life ruined could never be restored.

*Forget it. I'll find another chance.*

Determined to save them, Qin Chuan took immediate action.