Chapter Twenty-Two: The Ultimate Weapon

Many thanks to jly69, Taoist Z, Season of Sunshine Lover, and Alu for your generous rewards—your support is deeply appreciated, and I bow in gratitude!

The room was thick with dust. Qiu Fengyu had to half-drag, half-carry Ke Fen out from inside. The young woman was already feeling faint and dizzy. He quickly checked her for injuries, and, finding her essentially unharmed, finally let out a breath of relief.

Firefighters arrived swiftly, rescuing many trapped inside the police station. Unfortunately, four officers lost their lives in the line of duty. It was obvious that this was a carefully orchestrated bombing.

Afterwards, the firefighters took control, followed promptly by ambulances, and only then did the police cordon off the scene and lock down the entire city. In other words, even if Qiu Fengyu and Ke Fen wanted to return to their small town, they would have to wait until things calmed down—at least, there would be no going back today.

When the ambulance came, Qiu Fengyu found a doctor to examine Ke Fen. Only after confirming that her internal organs were unharmed did he truly relax. Injuries from a blast can sometimes be more dangerous than surface wounds. However, following the doctor's advice, she would spend the night under observation at the hospital.

Since returning wasn't an option that day, they agreed to stay the night for observation.

After settling Ke Fen in at the hospital, Qiu Fengyu prepared to leave. He needed a place to rest. Under her grateful gaze, he found a small hotel and checked in for the night.

The city was under martial law. Even staying at a hotel, Qiu Fengyu was questioned by armed police and special forces during the night. The scene resembled a world war had just broken out.

Early the next morning, Qiu Fengyu was awakened by a call from Ke Fen. She told him she had been discharged and asked where he was so she could pick him up. After he gave his location and freshened up, Ke Fen arrived. Her police car had been destroyed in the explosion, so she borrowed a vehicle from the city precinct. She also managed to secure a travel permit for their return.

At the city limits, military police had set up roadblocks. Once through, Ke Fen began recounting the previous day’s events. She had been questioned by city detectives and provided her statement. The blast had occurred suddenly, its source a garbage bin near the stairwell on the second floor—using professional-grade C4, the infamous "chewing gum" plastic explosive.

"Who would dare attempt something like this?"

"Initial suspicions point to that escaped Mexican drug lord," Ke Fen replied, her face displaying not anger but immense relief—emerging unscathed from an explosion like that was nothing short of miraculous.

"Mexicans? That reminds me of the one I arrested, the escapee," Qiu Fengyu said with a chuckle.

Ke Fen nodded. "So you'd better be careful. In Mexico, the cartels frequently retaliate against the police. I never thought they'd dare pull this in the U.S. too—the bastards…" she cursed under her breath.

"I'll be careful," Qiu Fengyu assured her.

After dropping Qiu Fengyu at his noodle shop, Ke Fen returned to the station to report the previous day's events to the sheriff. She also needed to consider whether the town’s police force should raise their alert level. If the Mexican cartels liked revenge, would the one they apprehended in their small town also plan to retaliate?

Qiu Fengyu returned to his restaurant and carried on with his preparations as if nothing had happened. At noon he served noodles; in the afternoon, he idled by himself and even took a stroll along the border. The border was marked by a deep, wide river flanked by sheer cliffs. Where there was no river, a tall wall and strict surveillance stood in place. That’s why the Mexicans preferred digging tunnels.

The next day, he visited the police station to find Ke Fen. For the past couple of days, she hadn’t been on patrol but remained at the station, working on lighter duties—a mandatory measure from Sheriff Brick to ensure her well-being, despite her assurances she was fine.

"What was that bastard’s name?" Qiu Fengyu asked, sitting in her private office.

"Agado Sandoval."

"Are we sure they made it back to Mexico?"

"Yes, that much is certain. And as for the bombing at the Paso City station, I doubt anyone will be caught. They have plenty of informants in the city. But in our small town, things are different—everyone knows everyone. Any stranger would immediately draw attention from the police," Ke Fen explained, as if to reassure him.

"I know, just asking," Qiu Fengyu replied.

As he left, Ke Fen had a nagging feeling something was off, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Was he planning to act first? That seemed unlikely. Crossing the border was no easy feat. Digging a tunnel alone would take years.

She thought it over and dismissed the idea.

Qiu Fengyu left the station and headed for a drink at the bar. His days returned to their usual rhythm—making noodles, visiting the bar, and now with a new hobby: wandering about. Three days later, he took the written driving test and passed with ease. He scheduled the road test for the following week.

The bombing was confirmed to be the work of the Mexicans, but they were as cunning as foxes. Despite deploying FBI, military, and local police, no one was found. The border was tightly sealed, and with the Mexican government's permission, a U.S. task force was sent across to investigate. They found nothing and were almost attacked by locals—undoubtedly the cartel’s men, though the investigators had no recourse but to return empty-handed.

That evening, Qiu Fengyu video-chatted briefly with Alisa, then prepared for bed. His phone was filled with photos of the border area. He scrolled through them until he drifted off.

Recently, the Russians had made no moves, as if they'd lost direction. Their style was rare—clean, efficient, leaving no trace. The only possible leads were David Birkin and that J woman, Saoirse.

Now both had vanished, stalling the investigation.

Two Russians had even come to the town, seeking Birkin and Saoirse, but Ke Fen warned them off at once. They didn’t dare harass Birkin’s underlings and soon left as quickly as they came.

Life in the small town seemed to have settled. Everyone carried on as usual.

At dinner, Britt called to invite Qiu Fengyu to his daughter Nicole’s birthday party the next day. The little girl was turning nine.

After the call, Qiu Fengyu pondered what gift to buy for a young girl. He’d never chosen a present for someone that age, and not wanting to disappoint her—she was an adorable child—he decided to ask Alisa during their evening video chat. If he asked Ke Fen, she might well suggest getting the girl a gun.

But that evening, Alisa was never online—perhaps out with friends or simply away from her phone. After waiting a while, Qiu Fengyu gave up and decided to consult Ke Fen.

"Buy her a gun. Texas girls ought to know how to shoot," was her suggestion—exactly as he’d expected. Qiu Fengyu was left speechless.

The next day, he attended the party, hanging a "Closed for the Day" sign on his shop. Many noodle lovers were left grumbling—what kind of unreliable restaurant was this? At least give some advance notice! But all they could do was turn back, disappointed.

Nicole’s party drew more than twenty guests, including neighbors—some of whom had previously eaten for free at Qiu Fengyu’s shop. Alisa’s parents and younger brother were also present.

The birthday girl received a mountain of gifts and grinned wide, showing off the gap where her front teeth used to be. When she saw Qiu Fengyu arrive, her eyes sparkled with hope.

"This is for you!" Qiu Fengyu handed her a box, then raised another. "And this one is for you," he said, passing it to Britt and his wife.

"Wow!" Nicole opened her box to find a toy gun—a realistic-looking replica.

Everyone watched as the little girl ran around, mimicking shooting sounds—"pop pop pop"—delighted with her unusual gift. Perhaps it was an odd present, but her reaction was equally unique.

She had received plenty of Barbie dolls and pretty trinkets, but nothing as special as this gun. Unique things always captivate a child’s attention—at least for a while.

And it wasn’t just Nicole who was thrilled. When Britt and his wife opened their box, they couldn’t help but exclaim "Wow!" as well. The aroma that wafted out drew everyone in, and they discovered a large container filled with a culinary delight.

Sweet and sour pork ribs—undeniably one of the most irresistible dishes in all home cooking, a feast for both mortals and gods.