"As the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, surely you are well aware of the consequences?"
Qi Tongwei let out a cold laugh.
"Consequences? What consequences? I am speaking the truth, what consequences could there be? It is you, Director Qi, who should know just how severe the consequences of corruption and bribery are!"
Seeing how stubborn Qi Tongwei was being, Hou Liangping simply dropped all pretense and turned to sarcasm, his tone dripping with mockery.
"Director Qi, I advise you to obediently cooperate with us and come to the bureau for questioning!"
This pushed Qi Tongwei past his breaking point. Raising his voice, he snapped, "Cooperate? Do you have a warrant from higher-ups? If not, get out of my way! I have business to attend to today and I don't have time to deal with you!"
"I'm sorry, Director Qi! Today, you aren't going anywhere! You have only one choice, and that is to come back with us for investigation!"
Hou Liangping sneered and reached straight for the car door handle.
Noticing this, Li Hao, who had remained silent in the backseat, looked over at Hou Liangping.
Li Hao knew a thing or two about Hou Liangping; in his past life, he had watched the television series *In the Name of the People*.
This kind of person looked respectable on the surface, but was utterly sickening underneath!
He was always playing a double game, the kind of snake who would stab a friend in the back without a second thought.
That was why he loathed people like Hou Liangping.
And that was the exact reason he hadn't bothered to speak up until now.
"Director Hou Liangping, is it? Just now, I heard someone ask if you had a warrant from above, and you didn't answer. I can only assume you don't."
"In that case, I must ask you to clear the road. You have no authority to drag a department-level official back with you!"
Li Hao's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable finality.
"And who might you be?"
Hearing Li Hao's voice, Hou Liangping finally turned his gaze toward him.
In truth, he had noticed Li Hao the moment Qi Tongwei rolled down the window, but since his focus was entirely on Qi Tongwei, he hadn't paid him much mind.
Now, however, it seemed appropriate to ask who this person was.
Yet, after waiting a few minutes.
Seeing that Li Hao had no intention of answering, Hou Liangping's expression turned cold.
"Of course I have evidence, and of course I have documents. But why on earth should I show them to you?"
"I don't care who you are! Right now, we are investigating Qi Tongwei for corruption and bribery! Bystanders, do not interfere with our official duties!"
Having said that, as if a sudden thought struck him, Hou Liangping quickly added another sentence.
"And you—you are riding in the same car as Qi Tongwei. I now have reason to suspect you of bribing him! You're coming back with us for questioning as well!"
At these words, Li Hao almost lost his composure.
Could Hou Liangping possibly be this stupid?
How could a bureau director utter such utter nonsense?
How on earth did someone so idiotic manage to become the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau?
Li Hao looked at Hou Liangping as if staring at a total fool.
He felt a sudden wave of irony. They always say fools have all the luck, don't they?
He had no idea how a moron like Hou Liangping managed to trick Zhong Xiao'ai into marrying him.
Thank goodness he had the Zhong family shielding him, otherwise this half-wit would have been dead and buried years ago!
"Hou Liangping, if your mere suspicions are what you call evidence, then I have nothing more to say to you."
"I'll give you just two words: move aside!"
Unwilling to waste any more breath, Li Hao issued his final ultimatum.
This was the final chance he was giving him. He only hoped Hou Liangping had enough sense to let them pass.
Otherwise, his patience was truly running out!
His elders had told him to keep a low profile in Hua Nation, but that didn't mean he was going to act like a coward!
A piece of work like Hou Liangping would have been put down a hundred times over abroad!
It was only because he was currently on domestic soil that Li Hao was willing to exercise this much restraint.
But now, he had reached the absolute limit of his patience!
"Move aside? I'm sorry, but that's not happening!"
Sensing a challenge, Hou Liangping dug his heels in and sneered right back at Li Hao.
What a joke!
An accomplice to Qi Tongwei's bribery had the nerve to use that tone with him?
Once he forced them to confess to the corruption charges, he was going to teach this young punk a unforgettable lesson!
Of course, that lesson would be the very last one of Li Hao's life!
He would make Li Hao understand!
Not every word could be spoken with impunity, and not every person could be crossed!
With the backing of the Zhong family, he'd make sure Li Hao was handed a death sentence!
"You're certain you won't let us pass?"
Even as he spoke, Li Hao made up his mind.
They were already wasting too much time here. Earlier, he had checked the tracking signals, and those targets were likely well on their way to running for it!
If he delayed any longer, once they reached Yantai, he wouldn't even find a shadow of them!
So, if Hou Liangping refused again...
"Absolute certain!"
That grating voice reached Li Hao's ears once more.
At that, Li Hao finally stopped holding back.
"Investigate? Investigate your own mother! Hou Liangping, are you in that much of a hurry to die? Have you never tasted death before?"
As he spoke, Li Hao's right hand slid down to his cargo pocket and drew out a brand-new Desert Eagle.
He leveled it straight at Hou Liangping's forehead!
The sudden turn of events terrified everyone present!
Especially Qi Tongwei, who was sitting right next to Li Hao and feeling the crushing weight of the pressure.
Because he could not only see that pitch-black muzzle, but he could also feel the bone-chilling aura radiating from Li Hao at that very moment.
He knew Li Hao wasn't just playing around—he was completely serious!
If this idiot Hou Liangping uttered another word of absolute rubbish, Li Hao would pull the trigger without a moment's hesitation!
"A-Hao, don't be impulsive, let's just drive through! Driver, go!"
Qi Tongwei swallowed hard, uncharacteristically nervous.
"Drive! Who dares move? Block their car with ours, right now!"
Hou Liangping roared, fixing a hard, unblinking stare on Li Hao.
"Oh, brilliant! You actually dare to carry a firearm on your person! Now you really aren't going anywhere!"
"Director Qi, as the head of an entire department, you're just going to stand by and watch someone point a gun at my face? And you still claim you haven't taken bribes from him!"
Inside, Hou Liangping was ecstatic. If he hadn't had a proper excuse to drag Qi Tongwei and his associates back before, he certainly had one now!
As for having a gun pointed at him, the fear had only lasted for a split second.
In Hua Nation, even if Li Hao were given a hundred times his courage, would he dare to pull the trigger?
He wouldn't! It was just a bluff to scare people!
Not to mention this fellow was sitting right next to Qi Tongwei; he refused to believe Qi Tongwei would allow Li Hao to open fire!
Of course, just because Hou Liangping thought that way didn't mean anyone else did.
Take Lu Yike, for instance—she was so frantic right now she wanted to curse out loud!
Director Hou was entirely too reckless; did he seriously not fear that Qi Tongwei and his crew would be driven to desperation and drag someone down with them before they died?
At that thought, she scrambled to the side and began reporting the situation at the scene step-by-step up the chain of command.
Meanwhile.
Hearing Hou Liangping still acting so tough, Li Hao said nothing more, merely letting out a cold laugh.
His left hand sharply racked the slide, while his right thumb clicked off the pistol's safety.
*Click!*