Chapter 63: Pressure from Above

Su Dao’an arrived at the Haizhu Branch Police Station with the lawyer not long before Wang Zhengzhi, the branch chief, also hurried over. As Su Dao’an and his group were about to enter to find someone, Wang called out to them.

“Wait a moment, what are you here for?” he asked.

Lawyer Zhao presented his credentials again, stating, “I need to see my client Lu Feng immediately, or I have reason to suspect you are unlawfully detaining him.”

Wang Zhengzhi examined Zhao and his companions, his gaze lingering on Su Dao’an. After a moment’s silence, he said, “Come in.”

Wang led the group inside, slowing his pace and whispering to the guard at the door, “How’s it going?”

“He’s been in there nearly an hour. That guy’s probably done for,” the guard replied quietly.

Wang nodded, heading straight for the interrogation room with Su Dao’an’s group, not bothering with the surveillance room. He knocked directly.

The door opened with a click from inside. Wang Zhengzhi pushed the door open, only to be stunned by what he saw.

Inside, Lu Feng sat calmly in a chair, spinning a handgun in his hand. The round-faced policeman and another thin officer were on their knees, trembling and begging for mercy, their faces bruised and swollen.

Wang’s eyebrows jumped wildly, and he immediately ordered his subordinate, “Call for SWAT backup, now!”

The guard at the door froze for a moment, then turned and ran to call for reinforcements.

The situation was dire: someone had attacked police officers inside the station, seized a police firearm—an extremely serious offense.

The on-duty officers, hearing trouble in the interrogation room, quickly gathered.

With his numbers growing, Wang Zhengzhi mustered his courage and pointed at Lu Feng, shouting, “Listen up! Put down the gun and surrender immediately!”

Lu Feng, hearing Wang’s voice, turned and raised the gun, aiming it at his own head.

Wang was startled and quickly ducked behind his men, continuing, “Attacking police and seizing a firearm is a major crime. If you put the gun down now, there may still be leniency!”

Even Lawyer Zhao was stunned by the scene. Assaulting police and grabbing a gun was a grave matter, and exoneration would be extremely difficult.

Su Dao’an was also frightened, glancing at Lawyer Zhao for advice.

After a quick calculation, Lawyer Zhao whispered to Su Dao’an, “Have him put the gun down first. If he fires, there’s no turning back.”

Understanding the gravity, Su Dao’an stepped forward to reassure Lu Feng, “Xiaofeng, don’t do anything rash. Put the gun down, be good… If your master were here, he wouldn’t want you doing something foolish.”

Lu Feng kept the gun raised, silent and unmoving.

Su Dao’an gently took Lu Feng’s gun hand. “Once you fire, there’s no going back. Don’t do anything stupid.”

“They tried to beat me in the interrogation room, even drew a gun. I had no choice. I’ve decided, after this, I’ll return to Yunshan and never come out again,” Lu Feng replied calmly.

“Don’t—please, don’t act impulsively. There’s still a way out. I’ll find a way to help you, just put the gun down,” Su Dao’an pleaded.

Su Muqing, visibly nervous, stammered, “My sister’s illness isn’t cured yet—how can you leave? Don’t make trouble. My dad brought a top lawyer; he can help.”

Lawyer Zhao approached, asking, “Are you certain the police tried to assault you, and you acted in self-defense?”

He heavily stressed “self-defense,” for it was crucial to the case. If they could fix it as self-defense, they could plead not guilty; if it was resistance, all would be lost.

“Yes, they tried to beat me with a belt,” Lu Feng replied.

“Did they hit you?” Zhao checked Lu Feng for injuries, but found none.

Zhao actually hoped to see injuries, for they’d be the best evidence, but Lu Feng was completely unscathed.

“No. I grabbed the belt,” Lu Feng said.

Worried Zhao didn’t understand Lu Feng’s skills, Su Dao’an explained, “Lu Feng is highly skilled. Even twenty men can’t get close to him.”

Zhao nodded, took out his phone, and photographed the belt on the floor, raising his voice for everyone to hear, “This belt is evidence, and it will carry at least two sets of fingerprints. If this evidence is tampered with, I’ll file a complaint against the police for dereliction of duty.”

He then glanced at the camera on the table, now turned off. “Did you touch this camera?” he asked.

Lu Feng shook his head. “No.”

“Good.” Zhao photographed the camera as well. “Police regulations require all interrogations to be fully recorded. This camera is also evidence.”

“I understand the situation. I can help you—put the gun down,” Zhao said.

Lu Feng looked at Su Dao’an, and seeing him nod, finally set the gun down.

…

The next morning, Su Dao’an went to see Lawyer Zhao for an update on the case.

In Lawyer Zhao’s office at Tianhe Tower, Su Dao’an anxiously asked, “How is Lu Feng’s case? Can you get him acquitted? Money is no object, as long as he’s cleared.”

“The situation isn’t good. I did what I could last night, but someone wants Lu Feng convicted. I suspect it’s your old enemies,” Zhao answered, frowning.

“You mean someone higher up is intervening?” Su Dao’an immediately guessed the situation.

Zhao nodded. “I heard from a friend at the prosecutor’s office—someone above has ordered strict handling. They want to give Lu Feng a heavy sentence.”

Su Dao’an’s brow furrowed as he pressed, “If convicted, how long would the sentence be?”

“At least ten years,” Zhao replied, crossing two fingers.

“That won’t do!” Su Dao’an exclaimed. “You have to find a way to clear Lu Feng, no matter the cost.”

“It’s extremely difficult. To exonerate him, we’d have to define the interrogation officers’ actions as police brutality, which would touch on many sensitive nerves and face huge resistance.”

Su Dao’an understood the difficulty—exposing police brutality was akin to smearing the entire department. The higher-ups would never allow such a stain; their preference would be to throw Lu Feng in prison.

For those in power, faced with the choice between their own reputation and someone else’s fate, the decision was obvious. The situation was extremely unfavorable for Lu Feng.

“Is there really no other way?” Su Dao’an pressed.

“Unless you can find even greater influence to counter the pressure from above, it will be very difficult to handle this case,” Zhao replied, shaking his head.