# 452
**Chapter 452 – Punishment**
Night deepened.
Lin Qiye climbed the stairs to the top floor of the villa. At the edge of the railing, a figure stood leaning against it, staring blankly at the bright moon in the sky.
“Can’t sleep?” Lin Qiye walked up beside him and asked.
Baili Pangpang turned his head, nodded silently. “A little.”
“What are you thinking about?”
Baili Pangpang looked down at the villa now shrouded in darkness and let out a long sigh. “I personally picked this villa back then. I had to talk Captain Wei Xiuming into accepting it—it took a lot of effort. The rest of the 010 Squad didn’t want to move out of that tiny underground garage. They thought Night Watch shouldn’t live in such luxury.
But who would’ve thought that just over a year later, they’d end up like this…
I keep wondering—if I hadn’t convinced them to move out, would none of this have happened?”
Lin Qiye shook his head firmly. “You just wanted them to live better. There’s nothing wrong with that. The fault lies in them not being able to resist the temptations that followed. The fault lies with the Baili family that corrupted them.”
Baili Pangpang was silent for a moment, then asked slowly, “Qiye… do you think everyone in Night Watch is a good person?”
Lin Qiye looked into his eyes and shook his head. “Saying that everyone in Night Watch is a good person is too idealistic. In a big forest, you’ll find all kinds of birds. Night Watch has thousands of members, each with their own thoughts. Who can guarantee every single one is a good person?
But what I can say for sure is—most of them are.
Captain Chen Muye, Hongying, Wen Qimo, Leng Xuan, Zhao Kongcheng, Yuan Gang, Wang Lu, Fang Yanghui, Li Deyang, Qin Kai… we’ve met so many Night Watch members. The ones who can truly be called bad are just a handful.
Besides, people can’t simply be divided into good and bad.”
Lin Qiye looked up at the bright moon in the sky and said slowly:
“A good person isn’t always good; a bad person isn’t always bad.
That’s just how complicated this world is.”
…
On the other side of the city.
Shen Qingzhu carried the drunken Ninth Seat on his back and opened the door to a rundown rental apartment.
He laid the Ninth Seat on the bed. The man rolled over, mumbled a few words, and fell into a deep sleep.
Shen Qingzhu stood at the doorway for a moment, then turned and walked back to his own room.
He entered, locked the door, and didn’t turn on the lights. Instead, he pulled open the curtains, letting the bright moonlight spill into the room, casting the floor tiles in a pale glow.
Shen Qingzhu sat down slowly in the corner.
His right index finger tapped lightly against the wall behind him. On that finger, an unremarkable black ring glimmered faintly.
On the other side of the wall was the bed where the Ninth Seat lay sleeping.
With just a small infusion of mental energy into the Soul-Severing Blade, a black spiritual blade would pierce through the wall and obliterate the Ninth Seat’s soul. He wouldn’t even have a chance to resist…
He would die in his sleep, without ever knowing what happened.
But Shen Qingzhu hesitated.
Scenes from the past few days with the Ninth Seat flashed through his mind. He struggled internally.
Kill, or not kill?
The pale moonlight bathed him like a statue, unmoving.
After a long time, he turned his head to look at the moon in the sky and took a deep breath.
The finger wearing the ring left the wall.
“You’re the exception…” he murmured.
…
A few days later.
At the former 010 Squad station in Guangzhou-Shenzhen City.
“Fifth Reserve Team Captain Lin Qiye, members An Qingyu, Cao Yuan, Jialan… I now represent the Night Watch high command in announcing the verdict for this incident.”
Zuo Qing stood at the entrance of the villa, speaking solemnly.
In front of him, Lin Qiye and the others stood at attention like they were back in training camp, waiting for the verdict.
Baili Pangpang swallowed and raised his hand cautiously. “Then… what about me?”
“You stand too. Listen up.” Zuo Qing glanced at him and continued, “After investigation by the Intelligence Department and trial by the Night Watch Military Court, former Baili Group Chairman and honorary Night Watch high official Baili Xin has been found guilty of tampering with Night Watch classified files, murdering Night Watch member Baili Tuming, and bribing the 010 Squad stationed in Guangzhou-Shenzhen City. He is hereby stripped of his honorary position, all commercial activities under his name are banned, and he is to be imprisoned for life in the Purification Chamber.
As Baili Xin is already deceased, the imprisonment is automatically waived.
All members of the 010 Squad—except Miao Su—who accepted bribes and abandoned Night Watch principles are stripped of their Night Watch status and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Purification Chamber.
Former 010 Squad Vice-Captain Miao Su is appointed as the new 010 Squad Captain. Rebuilding of the squad begins immediately.”
After finishing, he looked at Baili Pangpang. “As the victim, Baili Tuming, do you have any objections to the verdict on Baili Xin and Wei Xiuming?”
“I’m no longer Baili Tuming.” Baili Pangpang shook his head. “But I’m satisfied with the outcome.”
With Baili Xin already dead, he naturally had no complaints.
And Wei Xiuming and the others had once been his teammates and had treated him fairly well. There was no need to push for harsher punishment. Life imprisonment in the Purification Chamber seemed like a fitting end.
Zuo Qing nodded and continued:
Everyone’s heart tightened.
“The entire Fifth Reserve Team, for causing a large-scale terrorist attack within city limits without cause, killing thirteen individuals including Baili Jing, destroying numerous buildings, and creating an extremely negative social impact…
However, from a humanitarian perspective, the actions of the Fifth Reserve Team can be considered justifiable self-defense. As the incident did not result in societal unrest and no public assets were damaged, the final verdict is as follows:
The Fifth Reserve Team’s qualification to become a special team is temporarily revoked. All mission activities are suspended. The reserve team captain’s authority is stripped. However, the team’s structure remains intact, and they retain the right to move freely. They are to immediately proceed to Huaihai City for comprehensive education. Duration to be determined.”
After reading the verdict, Zuo Qing looked at Lin Qiye.
Cao Yuan and the others sighed quietly, looking dejected.
In the end, they had still lost their chance to become a special team.
Only Lin Qiye and An Qingyu exchanged glances, brows furrowed in thought.
Zuo Qing noticed their expressions and a faint smile flickered across his face. He spoke slowly, “Captain Lin Qiye, is there anything about this punishment you don’t understand?”