Insights Chapter 123: Victory

Chapter 123: Victory

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

Penang Tianjie, full name Tianfu Chang Street, is known as the city that never sleeps. In the early hours of the morning, when other streets are deserted, Tianjie is at its busiest. Located in the core area of Penang, Tianjie is home to nearly half of the city’s bars, KTVs, as well as several nighttime shops, restaurants, and cafes.

It’s extremely friendly to night owls. Whether you suddenly want to have beer and barbecue with friends in the early morning, you don’t want to watch the game alone at home tonight, you want to have a romantic encounter in a bar, or you want to find a quiet place with lights on to study and review all night while fearing loneliness, Tianjie is definitely the best choice.

Tianjie comes alive at night. It has everything, from tranquility to vibrancy. Therefore, it is widely popular among people, especially young people and students. Tianjie also has some special attractions, such as countless large advertising screens, which continuously play various advertisements and promotional videos 24 hours a day.

At this moment, the tens of thousands of people active in Tianjie have already noticed the strange live broadcast tonight and are treating it as a topic of discussion.

At this moment, Yan Chi’s live broadcast suddenly appeared on the largest screen in Tianjie. This is a sensational gossip, big news that has stirred the entire city. People quickly noticed this, and spontaneously emerged from the surrounding bars and restaurants to watch the commotion. Everyone looked up at the big screen, even the taxis were stopped on the side of the road.

The familiar stubborn young man appeared on the screen, and the familiar opening scene was still there, “My name is Yan Chi, my ID number is…, today, I guarantee that everything I say is true, I am going to expose a crime…”

If there hadn’t been the previous buildup, people would just hesitate, be surprised, and puzzled. But with the previous buildup, with the forwarding of those photos. Now, everyone wants to hear the end of this live broadcast. People on the roadside listened attentively, holding their phones in their hands, capturing this scene.

Some even applauded and whistled.

This testimony, which had been interrupted countless times, was now released in a different way, and it was even more shocking. The live situation at the intersection of Tianjie was quickly posted online.

“Director Gao, the live broadcast is on again!”

Gao Shixuan’s face twisted, “Which live platform is it this time?! Take it down, take them all down!”

“This live broadcast is on the 24-hour big screen of Tianfu Chang Street in the city center…”

Gao Shixuan frowned for a moment, waved his hand, “Contact all parties involved with the advertising screens! Or find someone to cut off the power!”

In less than five minutes, the advertising screen went dark. The people standing in Tianjie couldn’t help but feel disappointed, and they sighed in unison.

An old security guard from a nearby restaurant waved his hand, trying to disperse the gathering crowd, “Scatter, it’s definitely not allowed to broadcast…”

Without him saying, people also began to disperse. It seems that tonight, it’s destined that they won’t hear the end.

Some remarked, “Being able to struggle for so long is quite something.”

A student exclaimed indignantly, “What about freedom of speech? The person broadcasting hasn’t broken any laws, yet those who have are roaming free.”

But before they could take a few steps, all the 24-hour advertising screens along Tianjie went dark at once, as if the street had suddenly shed its colorful and dazzling exterior. Then all the screens lit up simultaneously. Those advertising screens suddenly displayed the same content.

Yan Chi’s figure was projected on them. People were astonished at the scene before them, unable to close their mouths. From a distance, it looked like a starry sky had descended upon the street. It was the light of justice, the light carrying hope, the light that never fades.

Over the long period of time, the people of Penang seemed to have grown accustomed to many things, such as certain individuals having privileges, ordinary people having to endure injustice, and some matters having no resolution. But familiarity does not equal acceptance, nor does it mean that people believe things should be this way, or that the world should be like this.

In that instant, the expectation for equality and fairness in people’s hearts was awakened once again. A cheer erupted from the crowd. Some even shed tears at the sight before them. Then they all fell silent, standing on the street, listening to Yan Chi’s statement.

His voice echoed like surround sound throughout the entire street.

Meanwhile, Gao Shixuan, who saw this scene from the live broadcast, felt his scalp numb and his hair stand on end. He trembled as he asked, “Why can’t I shut it down?”

Just yesterday, he thought that finding that man and silencing him would be as simple as squashing an ant. He believed that the underground websites he operated were extremely secure. But now, all of these had become his major concerns.

Gao Shixuan couldn’t understand how this person named Yan Chi had managed to escape from his grasp. And he couldn’t fathom why the voyeuristic websites had suddenly been discovered by the authorities. He thought he was the hunter chasing his prey, that he had cornered the other party with no way out. But he never expected that the other party would suddenly strike back with such force.

And Yan Chi was like a mole burrowed underground, never knowing when or from where he would emerge again. There must be someone behind him! Those people wanted them gone…

This was a war without gunshots, and Gao Shixuan’s subordinates, as well as responsible individuals from other companies, were busy suspending accounts and deleting posts. They wanted to minimize the impact of this matter, but after the previous ferment, public attention to this matter had reached its peak, and they couldn’t suppress it at all.

Too many accounts were discussing this matter at the same time, too many people had seen the scene on Tianjie, and even shutting it down was impossible. Faced with the overwhelming news, their defenses quickly crumbled, and some platforms even gave up resistance.

On this sleepless night, information flooded from all directions. Gao Shixuan’s face contorted, but he was powerless to do anything about it. Li Yiyang stood there holding his phone, unsure of who to call.

Yan Chi’s voice emanated from the screen, “…The place where I am located appears to be a high-end private club, but behind the scenes, they have been providing voyeuristic services to the wealthy for a long time. Just a few days ago, within the mansion, a guest murdered a girl named Xia Tian’en. They cleaned up the scene and pretended nothing happened…”

This murder case was finally exposed. It was like a cold, sharp blade, instilling fear in people.

“I have some related photos as evidence, which can prove that many celebrities have frequented this place. Today, the Penang police also raided one of their online companies. They seized several servers used for illegal profits, containing billions of gigabytes of voyeuristic videos.” At this point, Yan Chi looked up and stared directly at the screen, “This has become a black industry chain, severely affecting people’s normal lives. For the innocent girls being spied on, for the women forced into this, for the souls of those who died unjustly, I stand up to speak out about what I know to be the truth! I believe someone must pay the price for all of this.”

Yan Chi’s gaze was intense, “The place where I work is called Mansion 13, which used to be the Shi family’s mansion. The property of the mansion belongs to Sheng Qiancheng, and the manager in charge is Li Yiyang. The contracted operator is Sheng Qiancheng’s nephew, Gao Shixuan. Later, I will surrender to the police station, hoping that the police will thoroughly investigate this case! I also hope that the various sectors of society, the media, and the public will supervise this case, hoping that the criminals will be punished! I believe that justice will prevail!”

This segment of the live broadcast finally aired in its entirety. The atmosphere on Tianjie erupted, with some cheering and applauding, while others shouted their support. The applause continued unabated, like a tide. But this was not the end. The video then began to roll, ensuring that everyone understood the whole truth.

Seeing this scene, Gao Shixuan felt a buzz in his head. It’s over, completely over this time! Gao Shixuan reached out and overturned the coffee table in front of him. With a crash, the glass shattered and debris flew everywhere, but none of his subordinates dared to speak, not even Li Yiyang, who stood there like a dead man.

Gao Shixuan was trembling with rage, his composure completely gone. He became increasingly certain that everything tonight was a trap. The other party could have mentioned Mansion 13 and his name during the first broadcast, but they didn’t. They calmly read their script as if dealing out a hand of cards. He kept trying to shut them down, but it seemed like he was helping them, together putting on a farce that amused the masses.

The repeatedly interrupted live broadcast had raised people’s expectations and curiosity to the highest level. And when everyone’s attention was focused on the live broadcast, they delivered the final blow, playing their trump card. In this game, he lost, he lost from the very beginning!

He was forced to retreat step by step and finally reached the edge of the cliff. After tonight, everything about Mansion 13 would no longer be a secret. Gao Shixuan felt an invisible force enveloping him, like a flood sweeping him away.

Messages flooded his phone, some questioning what was going on, some accusing him of being untrustworthy, and some fearing being implicated and asking about the situation. Gao Shixuan dared not reply to any of them. He felt that the girl’s death at the beginning was like a snowball falling from a mountain, originally just a small one. But he didn’t expect that as the snowball rolled down, it would grow larger and larger, gradually turning into an avalanche…

He and the wealthy people who usually acted arrogantly would all be buried under this avalanche.

Li Yiyang glanced at the latest messages on his phone and said, “I’ve inquired about it. These big screens have contracts with a media company, and it was that media company that conducted the live broadcast.”

Gao Shixuan, with red eyes, asked, “Which media company?!”

Li Yiyang replied, “That one… It’s a semi-official media directly under the provincial government.”

So they couldn’t shut down the broadcast no matter who they contacted, and what others dared not report, they dared to broadcast. Within Mansion 13, there was a moment of silence. The air seemed to freeze.

After a moment of defeat, Gao Shixuan lowered his head and said, “This time, we lost. Everyone, prepare for everything. The police may come to search the mansion tomorrow.”

He stood up in a daze and said, “I need to talk to a lawyer. I need the best lawyer.” At this point, he was powerless to change the situation and could only await judgment from fate.

With the exposure of the video app and Yan Chi’s live broadcast revelations, he could only hope that the mansion had been cleaned thoroughly enough to prevent the police from finding evidence. As long as they weren’t implicated in any murder cases, there might still be some room for maneuvering.

It was past midnight, and the city seemed quiet, but online it was exploding. Everyone was discussing Mansion 13. There had been some leaks about what happened in the mansion before, but those posts were quickly deleted. However, the internet had a memory. Some people had saved pictures long ago, and others had registered new accounts to spread various pieces of information.

Layer by layer, information emerged, and even more details were posted online. The debauched lives of celebrities were exposed one by one, and more hidden incidents came to light. Mansion 13 not only engaged in voyeuristic video operations for a long time, but there were also more than just one or two missing persons related to it. It was a heinous evil that had crossed the line but had been lurking in the city for years.

“Oh my god, this is a den of iniquity, isn’t it?”

“Disgusting, I can’t believe it existed for so long.”

“It must be severely punished! People like this should go to hell.”

Now, related topics had topped the trending list.

After tonight’s fermentation, all of this would become tomorrow’s headlines. Seeing this outcome, Yan Chi in the room finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had put himself on the edge of life and death, and now he had finally exposed the darkness to everyone.

For years, he had been tormented by guilt, but now he was facing legal judgment, he felt an unprecedented calm and relief in his heart.

Xie Yuna, who had watched the entire process, gave him a thumbs up and said, “You did great! You were awesome just now!”

Hearing this praise, Yan Chi looked at Li Zhongnan and Shen Junci beside him, “If it weren’t for Brother Li finding me before, I wouldn’t have had the courage to escape from there. If they hadn’t saved me, I would have died long ago. Also, if it wasn’t for medical examiner Shen here telling me how to operate, this live broadcast wouldn’t have been so successful…”

Xie Yuna said, “Anyway, you guys are all great. Everyone has worked hard.” The girl wiped her eyes. “I used to think I was very unlucky because I encountered so many terrible, disgusting things, so many bad people. But then I met you guys, and I realized that there are still many good people in the world.”

Shen Junci, sitting in front of the computer, closed his laptop gently. He stood up, feeling a hidden pain in his wound. Enduring the pain, Shen Junci said, “You guys should pack up. The provincial department’s car will be here soon.”

Yan Chi and Xie Yuna were still excitedly chatting and packing their things, putting on their clothes, and preparing to go downstairs.

Shen Junci looked down at his phone, and the effect was even better than he had expected. Yan Chi’s live broadcast had been a prearranged plan from the beginning. He had obtained the contact information of the media company’s person in charge from Director He, but he didn’t directly use that channel.

By blocking, changing platforms, gradually leaking information, and pushing everything to a climax, he had made a good prediction. The internet and the public should not be puppets manipulated by the wicked. If used properly, they could also become weapons of justice. This was a struggle between power and public opinion. The darkness had finally been torn open a corner.

In this way, the police would have reasons to thoroughly investigate Mansion 13, and the supervisory team would also come to Penang. He had done his best, paving the way for the police to enter Mansion 13 and destroy the Hetu Trading Association.

At one in the morning, the provincial department sent cars and people to pick up Yan Chi and Xie Yuna. Li Zhongnan helped Shen Junci downstairs. They sent off the two important witnesses together.

Before the live broadcast, their situation had been dangerous. But after the live broadcast, they were safe. Now that so many people were paying attention to this case, the provincial department would surely spare no effort to protect their safety. At this point, if anything happened again, where would the face of the provincial department be? Moreover, those people were already too busy to harm them anymore.

It was late at night, and it was cold. Since the two of them would be placed separately, it might be the last time they would see each other for a while. These two former lovers bid each other farewell.

Xie Yuna looked at the tall Yan Chi, her eyes shimmering with emotions, “Over the past six months, I’ve experienced too much and changed too much,” she said, facing Yan Chi. “I used to really like you, and I even hated you at one point. But later, I came to terms with it. It was you who told me about the existence of those monitors, and it was you who uncovered those things. You’re not a bad person, just a pitiful person who was used by others.”

Yan Chi helped her adjust her collar, a gesture he often made when he pretended to be her boyfriend. He had done this gesture not only to one person but to many in the past. But back then, it was because he wanted to capture those girls. Now, it was because he still loved the girl in front of him. Yan Chi suppressed his feelings of love deep inside.

“You’re a good girl,” he said to Xie Yuna. “In the future, you’ll definitely meet someone better and live a better life.”

He knew in his heart that even if he confessed everything and became an informant for the police, he might still be sentenced. That was the price he had to pay. He might not have a chance to be with this girl again. But he was also lucky. He found his princess living in a tower and saved her.

“I stayed in Penang after graduating from university. Later, I didn’t want to go home because of a disagreement with my family, but now everything is in the past. I might go somewhere closer to home and start over.” Xie Yuna reached out and hugged Yan Chi, “I did like you before, and that feeling will always remain in my heart. Maybe one day, we’ll meet again.” Xie Yuna smiled, a dimple appearing at the corner of her mouth. “You have to do your best and testify in court to let those bad people be brought to justice!”

Yan Chi touched the girl’s hair. “You too, do your best!”

After a brief farewell, Xie Yuna got into the car and waved to them before leaving.

Then Yan Chi turned around and said, “Thank you, Brother Li, thank you, medical examiner Shen. And please thank Captain Gu for me.”

He bowed deeply, sincerely thanking the people in front of him. The car doors closed, and the two cars drove out of the compound, one after the other.

Li Zhongnan watched them leave and then turned to Shen Junci. “We’ve taken another step forward.”

Shen Junci’s face was pale but determined. “We’ll reach the finish line together.”

He wasn’t alone on this journey seeking justice.

Just as they finished, Gu Yanchen’s car pulled up. He had been working overtime at the City Bureau and had just finished his tasks. Gu Yanchen parked the car and asked, “Yan Chi and Xie Yuna have been taken away?”

Li Zhongnan nodded. “Just now. If you had arrived a little earlier, you could have said goodbye to them.”

Gu Yanchen said, “As long as they’re safe.”

His tense nerves finally relaxed.

Li Zhongnan said, “Then I’ll leave first. Contact me if you need anything.”

Gu Yanchen waved to Li Zhongnan and then turned to Shen Junci. “Are you feeling better?”

Shen Junci lowered his head in thought. “I think I’m a bit better.”

He had been in a state of excitement before, but now, being reminded by Gu Yanchen, he felt a bit heavy-footed.

Gu Yanchen touched his forehead, feeling the heat. “Medical examiner Shen, you have a fever.”

Shen Junci’s eyelashes drooped. “I’m feeling a bit tired now and want to go back to sleep.”

Gu Yanchen didn’t let him off this time. “No, you can’t slack off. You have to go to the hospital to check your wound.”

Shen Junci said, “I’ve already taken medicine.”

Gu Yanchen looked at him. “So you don’t want to participate in the search of Mansion 13?”

Shen Junci’s eyes lit up. “I do!”

“Director Ding said the prosecutor’s office has given the green light all the way and is expediting the special approval process. If you want to participate, you have to listen to the leaders now.” Gu Yanchen said, and without further ado, he picked up Shen Junci and put him in the car, then drove off. He went upstairs to get his medical insurance card and other things and headed straight to the hospital.