Chapter 326: Severe Punishment

“Complicated involvement?” Liu Kang’s voice rose slightly at the end.

Tian Wei perceived his emotion, but instead of realizing something was wrong, she became even more excited.

Although there was no longer any evidence since Liu Yiyi was dead, as long as the Captain determined that Su Yan was problematic, it would be impossible for Du Jinsong and Zhang Ximing to continue getting close to that woman in the future.

Everything she was doing was entirely for the sake of the whole squad.

“Yes. Captain, that Su Yan is no ordinary person. First, her identity is unknown; second, during the period Liu Yiyi was detained, none of us could enter the formation, yet Su Yan managed to do it. Furthermore, she refused to let anyone else in and interrogated Liu Yiyi alone. I felt it was extremely inappropriate at the time, but Captain Du seemed to be bewitched by her.”

Liu Kang had been staring at her face the entire time, his cold gaze devoid of any emotion.

Only after Tian Wei finished speaking did he ask indifferently, “And?”

Tian Wei suppressed the joy in her heart. “So, I feel that even if Su Yan is not Liu Yiyi’s accomplice, she shares some unspeakable secret with her. To make matters worse, Captain Du favors her excessively for some unknown reason. I feel that if this continues, he might be exploited by Su Yan.”

Her voice grew increasingly forceful, and finally, she even straightened her back.

Although she did not interact with Liu Kang often, she understood his temperament; he was someone who could not tolerate even a single grain of sand in his eyes.

Sure enough, as her words fell, the atmosphere in the entire office became incredibly tense.

Meeting Liu Kang’s gaze, a layer of cold sweat uncontrollably broke out in the palms of Tian Wei’s hands.

*I should be rewarded, right?*

After a few seconds of deathly silence, Liu Kang’s voice finally rang out again.

“You just said no one could enter the barrier. Then how did Liu Yiyi escape?”

Tian Wei’s heart jolted. She had completely failed to expect him to ask this question; her brain let out a buzz, and her entire body felt numb.

The reason Liu Yiyi escaped was because of a momentary lapse in her own caution.

However, Du Jinsong had not reported this situation to the higher-ups; instead, he chose to have the entire squad bear the responsibility, so she wasn't that afraid in her heart.

After all, Du Jinsong and Zhang Ximing would be receiving the punishment alongside her, and Liu Kang wouldn't be too severe.

But now...

“Ca-Captain, why are you suddenly asking this? Captain Du has already...”

Liu Kang let out a cold sneer, having no patience to listen to her explanation. “Jinsong said that because the squad wanted to interrogate Liu Yiyi, it gave her an opportunity to escape. Do you really think I know nothing?”

His volume did not increase, but to Tian Wei, it was like a clap of thunder; she couldn't help but tremble all over.

Liu Kang’s low voice continued, “It was you who went to the Master alone to ask for the method to enter and exit the formation. After you went in, you were controlled by Liu Yiyi. In truth, Liu Yiyi had no chance of escaping at all; it was because you were afraid of death that you opened the formation.”

As he reached the end, a shadow loomed over Liu Kang’s face.

In the Special Operations Team, she was the first to be so afraid of death.

If Du Jinsong hadn't guaranteed with his reputation that such a thing would never happen again, the punishment they just received wouldn't have been as simple as solitary confinement.

Tian Wei’s legs went weak, and she fell to the ground with a thud.

Her head was almost pressed against her chest, not daring to look at Liu Kang at this moment.

“Captain, I truly know I was wrong. Please forgive me just this once,” she pleaded with a sobbing voice.

She couldn't understand why, when they were clearly discussing Su Yan's problems, the accountability was being pushed onto her?

Liu Kang’s expression was grim. “I will only ask you one thing: at the moment you let Liu Yiyi go, did you ever consider how many innocent people would be harmed once she got out?”

This time, she had not only disgraced the Special Operations Team, but she had also thrown away her entire responsibility and mission.

Tian Wei even breathed cautiously; she had no choice but to remain silent.

Liu Kang’s fury was even more terrifying than she had imagined.

Now, she only hoped that once Liu Kang had vented his anger, she could quickly leave this place.

“I still remember the first time I met you. To save a child being persecuted by an evil spirit, you didn't hesitate to use yourself as bait. Has it only been two short years, and you have already forgotten your original intention?”

Mentioning these things, Liu Kang’s face was filled with nothing but disappointment.

“Captain, I really haven't forgotten, and I truly won't do it again in the future.” Tian Wei had never felt this uneasy.

“Fine. Then I will give you one more chance.”

Liu Kang’s sudden change in tone made Tian Wei feel as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

However, her relaxation lasted only a second, because Liu Kang’s next question made her heart quake with fear.

“You said Su Yan and Liu Yiyi have an unspeakable secret. What evidence do you have?”

“I...” Tian Wei’s body stiffened. She had no evidence at all; it was all just her own speculation.

“None?”

Compared to just now, the current Liu Kang seemed even more terrifying.

Tian Wei felt like she was suffocating. Before her brain could even react, she said in a trembling voice, “Captain Du must know. He is exceptionally different toward Su Yan, and they also admitted there was something they were hiding from me.”

To save herself, she had no choice but to drag Du Jinsong down with her.

But she couldn't be blamed for this; if Du Jinsong and Zhang Ximing truly treated her as a teammate, they should have explained Su Yan's situation long ago, and she wouldn't have fallen into this predicament.

Just as she thought Liu Kang would surely call Du Jinsong over to question him clearly, Liu Kang directly cast her into an eternal hell.

“The Special Operations Team is no longer suitable for you. Starting from today, you are removed from the Special Operations Team.”

Tian Wei could no longer maintain her composure. She stood up abruptly and roared in disbelief, “Captain, what... what do you mean by that?”

She must have misheard. Although the Special Operations Team had strict discipline and harsh punishments, there had never been a regulation for expulsion.

Liu Kang’s face was extremely cold as he repeated in a very clear voice, “You are no longer a member of the Special Operations Team.”

“No, Captain, listen to my explanation...” Tian Wei was completely panicked.

Once she left the Special Operations Team, she would not only have nowhere to go, but she would also lose the protection of the squad, facing endless retaliation and pursuit from evil spirits.

Such a punishment was simply more cruel than killing her.

Liu Kang’s attitude was resolute. He stood up and left without looking back, leaving her wailing on the ground.

Her actions had completely touched the bottom line for him and the Special Operations Team; it was intolerable.

Tian Wei sobbed uncontrollably, falling into total despair and frantic helplessness.

She truly could not understand or accept—what exactly had she done wrong for the Captain to treat her this way?!

(End of Chapter)