Chapter 47: Luring the Tiger Away from the Mountain!

Tengcha Ancient Town had only one credit union, which had been renamed Valley Bank a few years earlier.

At nine-thirty in the morning, a middle-aged man carrying a briefcase, his hair combed in a shiny center part, took a number and wandered around the lobby.

His name was Ling Xiang, a professional detective and an H Country native living in Y Country. He had heard about the explosive popularity of the First Episode even in Y Country. As a detective, every segment of the show seemed tailor-made for him, so he signed up without hesitation and stood out in the grueling selection process.

He carefully observed the interior of the bank.

There were only two tellers at the counters, one security guard in sight for now, and the number of supervisors unknown.

With so few people, robbing the place was feasible if timed for low traffic, but escaping with the loot and safely spending the remaining fourteen days in town posed a serious challenge.

They had all been tricked by the program crew into coming here without any crime tools in advance. Buying anything conspicuous in a small town like this would immediately draw the attention of the pursuit team.

As he pondered, his number was called at the counter.

He picked up his briefcase and shuffled over slowly.

A man entered through the bank doors.

He glanced over casually and froze.

It was Xiao Fen.

Their only connection was the group chat they had joined the night before, without even exchanging names, so the other man wouldn’t recognize him even if they crossed paths.

This greatly reduced the chances of the criminal guests being exposed, as even a natural encounter couldn’t rule out pursuit team officers tailing them and noticing something off.

Xiao Fen didn’t look his way and went straight to take a number.

With everyone watching him, Ling Xiang didn’t stand out.

He withdrew his gaze, casually withdrew ten thousand, counted the bills one by one, then left the counter reluctantly.

There was no reason to linger.

He glanced at the narrow bank lobby, approached the security guard, and asked if he could use the restroom.

The town had no public toilets.

The security guard kindly pointed to the restroom at the back of the lobby.

He thanked him and headed inside with his briefcase.

Twenty minutes later, he emerged satisfied.

The townsfolk were mostly simple and honest, not overthinking things, and even smiled and nodded at him on his way out.

Ling Xiang now had a plan, but one issue remained. He thought of Xiao Fen visiting the bank that day too and wanted to see what crime ideas he might come up with. Back at the inn, he pulled out his phone and opened the group chat.

“I’ve checked out the site, and I have zero ideas. I ran into Brother Fen earlier—any chance he can give me a tip?”

He figured if Xiao Fen had a better idea, he’d use it to complete the mission smoothly. Acknowledging him as the criminal team’s leader wouldn’t hurt, and he could keep riding his coattails for fame later. If they failed, he could pin it all on Xiao Fen’s idea.

Participating in the show meant winning the grand prize, but more importantly, getting famous.

If Xiao Fen’s idea wasn’t as good as his, even better—the First Episode’s crime genius outdone by him, all broadcast live for the audience to see. He’d skyrocket to fame!

Replies came quickly.

“Brother Fen already checked it out, and so did I. Thought it’d have tight security, but it’s just this? Countryside living up to its name.”

“You up for this? Can’t even handle a simple crime task—how’d you get selected?”

The group piled on with mockery of his skills, infuriating Ling Xiang as he hammered out a response.

“The bank’s understaffed, and no one’s more pro at locks and alarms than me. But night streets have constant pursuit team patrols—how do you dodge that?”

Townsfolk kept early hours, so streets emptied at night. Him wandering alone would be too conspicuous.

He had worked security at a world-class museum for a time, and this rural bank’s safeguards were child’s play to him.

This struck a chord.

“Yeah, everyone stays in at night. You go out, get spotted, and the pursuit team grabs you without even questioning—instant bust.”

“Blame the locals—no nightlife at all, so dull. I crashed at one a.m. last night, earliest ever for me.”

“Strolling openly on the street makes you too recognizable. Hide inside the bank and strike at night.”

“What kind of dumb idea is that?”

“I’m from a small town too—never seen streets this dead by nine p.m., even with tourists around. Weird they don’t come out either.”

“Didn’t you get the innkeeper’s friendly warning?”

“I’m staying with locals. He mentioned nights were unsafe and not to go out much. I didn’t take it seriously—arrived late and was tired, so early bed.”

“The innkeeper told me they have unclean things at night, so every guest gets warned. I don’t buy it, but wanted to explore. Town’s tiny, shops shutter at night, streets pitch black—better to stay in and watch TV.”

“Quit the superstition. What unclean things?”

“Don’t jinx it with ghost stories—our accomplices might chicken out at night.”

Ling Xiang didn’t take it seriously. The group chatted endlessly without useful ideas, pursuit team officers everywhere—how to avoid them?

He thought it over and @’d Xiao Fen directly.

An hour later, Xiao Fen replied, “Suggest heading out at nine p.m.” Then he sent a ridiculously childish route map, scribbled like a kindergartener’s doodle.

“This drawing…” The group went silent.

“Why nine p.m.? Route’s basic—just alleys. What’s the trick?”

Xiao Fen replied: “Oh, saw folks say streets empty by nine except for pursuit team. No witnesses—super convenient.”

“Huh?”

“You all wanna tag along? If we spot pursuit team, you can witness and ID the criminal—less suspicion when your turn comes.”

“Huh?”

Ling Xiang: ???

It could work like that?

He quickly typed: “I got this solo—no need for others to risk it.”

He still wasn’t sure if they were friend or foe.

At the same time, Peng Xiaoxiao synced up on the criminal team’s movements.

“Print the action route map and notify everyone—three teams on standby at nine p.m.,” Tang Shen said.

“Got it.” Bai Zhu turned to rally the men.

Tang Shen’s sharp eyes caught Fang Si Ting’s figure flashing past in the hallway and chased after him.

“Boss, reliable intel: theft planned on Sutai Road tonight.”

“Good news,” Fang Si Ting said. “You’re on this case tonight. Action team spotted suspicious activity in the next village over—I’m handling that.”

“Got it.”

++

Afternoon arrived in a flash.

During the bustling daytime, Ling Xiang prepared simple lockpicking tools, hid them in a trash bin, and disguised himself as a garbage collector to reach the bank’s back door.

It was separated from the row houses behind by a rundown alley, with a small diner at the houses’ front. The alley pavement gleamed with oil, trash bins lined up.

He placed his bin next to the others and pulled out a screwdriver.

The bank’s back door had an alarm linked to the inspection office. Tampering would bring a swarm in under two minutes.

From his morning observations, the doors were heavily guarded with solid alarms, but the windows were not.

Especially this one, deepest in the alley next to the bins. The connected security alarm had been broken for ages, unrepaired.

Likely due to the stench from the bins, it stayed shut and ignored.

It was a sliding window. During his restroom break, he had smeared inconspicuous chewing gum on the side lock, nudged the edge to the aluminum frame to fake it shut, leaving a gap. Even a thorough door-window check at shift end wouldn’t relock it.

Outside was a stainless steel hollow-tube welded security grille, a early-2000s rural style—nicer than 80s/90s ones, rust-proof.

Key feature: screws were wall-mounted from the window’s side.

Meaning he could remove them from outside.

Showing up alone at night was conspicuous; he couldn’t linger exposed. For a swift entry tonight, prep work was essential.

Seeing the coast clear, he quickly unscrewed one screw from the frame.

The most precious treasures often fell to the simplest thefts.

To hide the missing screw, he brought iron-gray modeling clay. After pocketing the screw, he stuck a blob over the hole to mimic a nut head—visually identical.

One screw left, he stopped, climbed down, dumped some kitchen waste in, and pushed the bin out naturally. A glance around: streets busy, no one noticed.

The program crew staff in hiding were floored.

They had planned a tough opener to humble the criminal team—bank was the town’s tightest security spot. Stealing jewels seemed impossible.

They imagined intricate schemes, but Ling Xiang’s fluid, nonchalant moves showed their intellect fell short.

Who needed high-tech? A bit of clay did the trick.

At that moment, on A City TV Station, the Y Country Bank Manager who had just boasted about ironclad security at every branch now wiped sweat nervously.

“Some real pros this episode,” he said awkwardly, his panic visible. “But even inside, our password locks and room alarms will stop them cold. Plus street patrols—he can’t escape.”

————

Nine p.m.

Ling Xiang slipped onto the streets, slinking along Xiao Fen’s route through the alleys.

From one end of town to the other, he encountered no one.

What was going on?

He had observed the night before and at dusk today: action team deployed four patrol squads nightly, two shifts, ten per squad, split into town group and three village groups.

By rights, five pursuit team officers patrolled town streets now. Town was tiny—his luck was insane.

He excitedly shared in the group, drawing attention.

Bai Zhu and Tang Shen personally led five men, ambushing near the crime scene.

Right on cue, past nine, a shadowy figure approached.

“Wait till he’s in, then catch him red-handed.”

“Copy.”

Bai Zhu timed it and shouted “Move!” Pursuit team officers rushed in.

“Don’t move!”

“Hands up!”

In the flashlight beams, Xiao Fen’s bright smiling face flickered in a room, making Bai Zhu’s heart skip.

“Your task tonight?” Seeing Xiao Fen smile now felt off.

“Nope.”

“Then why here at night?”

“Strolling.” Xiao Fen said candidly.

“Strolling into someone’s house? Here to steal?”

Fang Si Ting’s tall figure appeared by the open window.

“Inspector Fang, long time no see.” Xiao Fen waved.

Fang Si Ting turned away, avoiding his gaze.

“Your men think I’m stealing—wanna search me?”

At some point, Xiao Fen had reached the window, arms crossed on the frame, grinning at him.

“When did I say search?” Bai Zhu wondered.

“Why are you here?” Fang Si Ting asked.

“Helping the little kid with tutoring. The lady here told my landlord about the struggles. As a good citizen, I stepped up.”

“Good citizens climb through windows?” As Fang Si Ting spoke, he felt a finger poke his waist.

The muscles around his waist instantly tensed, and his sharp gaze swept toward the person by the window.

Xiao Fen propped himself up with both hands on the window sill, standing on tiptoe.

A crescent moon pierced the thin wisps of clouds in the deep blue night sky, its snow-white gentle light filling the hollow of his collarbone while also veiling his eyes in a layer of watery mist.

“If you don’t believe me, you can search my body,” he whispered teasingly.

His long eyelashes trembled as he forcibly looked away.

“Let’s go.”

“You’re just going to let it go like this?” Bai Zhu asked doubtfully, but he still obediently left.

【He’s shy, he’s shy!】

【Bai Zhu, you’re blind. Can’t you see this? Pretend to search Brother Fen, and Fang Yama will come do it personally!】

【Tempting him every day—even the toughest ice-block face can’t resist such seduction.】

【If Brother Fen stops tempting you later, you’ll be the unhappy one.】

Fang Si Ting watched as everyone came out. At this hour, all the vice squad officers were here. He asked, “Did you send anyone else to patrol?”

“No, I originally thought there’d be a crime here tonight,” Tang Shen said annoyedly. “I got careless.”

Earlier, Fang Si Ting had gone to a nearby village and caught the other criminal of the day.

“Redistribute and go on patrol,” Fang Si Ting had just finished saying when the alarm at Valley Bank blared.

They hurried over and saw that the window frame outside one window had been removed. A vice squad officer who had arrived first reported, “The safe on the second floor is wide open. We don’t know yet what was stolen.”

“We’ve been tricked. You lot, block off every road leading to the bank right now.” Fang Si Ting turned to Bai Zhu. “Why did you all focus on chasing Xiao Fen?”

“We weren’t chasing him. Yesterday, we joined a group—most of the people in it are criminals. Someone shared today’s mission, and the program crew required that criminal to commit theft in this house tonight.”

Otherwise, why would they have been staking out here?

“Take a look.”

Conveniently, one vice squad officer was in the group. He immediately pulled out his phone and opened it.

Inside were heated discussions on how to carry out the crime.

Lu Jin and his two companions were in the group too. Xiao Fen had even said he’d start at nine tonight and had prepared a route map.

At first glance, it looked legit.

“Why does the group they made have exactly thirty people?”

“What do you mean?”

“Criminals always like to stick together? Not many prefer acting alone?” Fang Si Ting said.

Tang Shen clicked his tongue. “You mean this group is fake!”

“The people have all scattered. What do you think?”

++

Xiao Fen returned to Brother Hao’s house and opened the group chat. Sure enough, there was Ling Xiang’s latest update—he had successfully stolen the gem.

He was still puzzled. Tonight, he’d been walking back and forth on the street like a big target, so how had he not run into a single soul?

Ou Yu replied right away in the group: “Because the vice squad officers were all lured away from the mountain.”

He attached a photo Xiao Fen had taken: the vice squad officers heading toward the west side of town—the opposite direction from Valley Bank.

“How’d Brother Fen pull it off?”

“Watching online before, I had no idea vice squad officers were this easy to fool.”

“Too bad we can’t watch the live stream—no God’s perspective. What a shame.”

“I got a message from the program crew: the other guy failed. Sigh, minus one point. No clue what his mission was. So tough on day one.”

“If Brother Fen hadn’t planned it out, our guy might not have made it.”

“Best to stick with Brother Fen.”

“From now on, we’ll count on Brother Fen to lead us in battling wits with the Pursuit Team.”

Ou Yu stared at his phone and couldn’t help laughing.

There were two groups on the screen.

One was the criminals’ group chat—currently just their twenty-four members. The criminal who’d been caught today wasn’t in it.

The other was the fake group Xiao Fen had casually assembled. To make sure it included someone from the Pursuit Team, Xiao Fen had specifically invited a person who’d correctly entered Fang Si Ting’s phone number.

The whole point of the fake group was to mislead the Pursuit Team at key moments and make them screw up their judgments.

With the first question earlier, Xiao Fen had asked for Fang Si Ting’s phone number. Ordinary folks couldn’t easily get it, but Tang Shen and the others knew it. To blend in amid a pile of nonsense answers, they’d inevitably give the right one. As long as two or more identical or similar numbers popped up, that was Fang Si Ting’s.

Once they had the number, they knew who’d joined from the vice squad.

The second question was to filter out the real criminals.

Ou Yu had watched him do all this and still didn’t get it—how did Xiao Fen tell criminals from vice squad officers and regular people?

Xiao Fen shot back, “If you were adding me as a friend and hit a question you couldn’t answer—but really wanted in—what would you say?”

Ou Yu replied without thinking, “I’d say, I’m a cri—” He cut off midsentence, suddenly getting it.

Xiao Fen nodded and pulled up the verification message from a criminal.

“They wouldn’t dodge with ‘I don’t know’ or random numbers. Even if they lucked into the eleven-digit jackpot by pure chance, how could they count on me approving the request? Best move: ditch the question, lay it all out—straight-up confess, like ‘I’m a criminal, your accomplice’ or whatever.

“If some rando nailed it that way first time and saw any answer worked, next unknown question? They’d goof off and answer anything for kicks. Most won’t match answers across two different stumpers anyway—that’s just luck. Psychologically, ‘criminal’ hits hard with negativity; it triggers gut-level recoil. Normies won’t keep slapping that label on themselves. Only desperate real criminals would hammer it home every time: ‘Yeah, I’m a criminal.'”

The cleverest crooks often used the simplest signals.