stonecrandall Chapter 1 Police
Chapter 1 Police
Looking at his classmates from the same police academy, He Chu felt a chill creep down his spine.
When names like Chen Yongren, Liu Jianming, Yang Jinrong, Wang Zhicheng, Luo Zhiming, Xu Fei, Jiang Lang, Mike, Gao Qiu, Hua Sheng, Zhuo Kai, and Chen Fengxiang are placed side by side, it's not some elite training camp exclusively for undercover agents; it's clearly a roster of names from a Hong Kong police and gangster film, filled with blood and tears, depicting an infernal hell.
These people are all the best of the best, handpicked by the police force. They plunged into the darkness with the most fervent passion for being police officers. But this lousy job of going undercover is something even dogs wouldn't want to do!
In Hong Kong undercover films, undercover work is not just a special kind of police and gangster story. Rather, it attracts audiences by focusing on the confrontation between the police and criminals, the goal of arresting criminals, and the process of mutual investigation and competition between the police and criminals.
The very nature of undercover work indicates that it is no easy task; undercover agents encounter all sorts of difficulties and challenges. Therefore, in the eyes of Hong Kong people, undercover work itself has cultural attributes, created by Hong Kong's unique historical background and cultural environment, making it a topic of discussion and also carrying symbolic significance.
In Hong Kong cinema, undercover films can offer a microcosmic perspective, showcasing the state and appearance of Hong Kong people within that environment. Hong Kong police and gangster films come in a variety of styles, some with an uplifting and inspiring tone, some bright and cheerful, some humorous, and others brutal and heroic. But if you watch an undercover film, its tone is mostly bleak and melancholic, particularly oppressive.
This illustrates the difficulties of undercover life, which involves many challenges.
Infiltrating the underworld, one must contend with immense pressure from missions, appalling living conditions, and constant threats to one's life, while also enduring various forms of mental anguish. These anxieties often leave them feeling trapped and unable to escape. The pain of going against one's conscience, the inner conflict over one's own wrongdoings, the contradiction between outwardly betraying the police and inwardly betraying the criminals, and the bewilderment between brotherhood and social justice—all these contribute to the struggle.
You have to bury your badge number, your name, even your entire life in the ground. By day, you have to be arm in arm with gangsters who live on the edge, reluctantly getting your hands dirty and walking the line, keeping your conscience tightly tucked away, afraid to show even a hint of it. By night, you're huddled in a cramped rented room, only able to record your statements over and over again into a tape recorder, even sleeping with a gun under your pillow, afraid that a single word spoken in your sleep will drag you and everyone behind you to the gates of hell. You think you're the one holding the lamp in the darkness, but after walking for a long time, you can't even remember what the light looks like anymore. What's even more cruel is that from the moment you step onto this path, there's almost no chance of a good ending.
Look at the final fate of these people; they were all utterly destroyed.
Chen Yongren waited for ten years outside the police academy, outliving generation after generation of underworld bosses, but he never got to wear a police uniform openly again until his death. As the elevator doors opened and closed repeatedly, a sniper bullet pierced his skull, and he died tragically in the street. Even the name on his tombstone could only be that false identity he had used for ten years.
Liu Jianming spent his whole life shouting "I want to be a good person", but from the moment he betrayed his police academy classmates, he could never turn back. Despite all his scheming, he ended up paralyzed for life, unable to even ask for death. He was trapped in his immobile body, burned day and night by the fires of karma.
Yang Jinrong had the police rules ingrained in his bones and saw through the filth on both sides of the law with his eyes, but he couldn't guard against the dark hand behind him. The unfinished "I'm sorry, I'm a policeman" became his last words. In the end, he was murdered and fell on the post he had upheld all his life.
Then there's Wang Zhicheng, who risked his life to complete the mission and return to the team, but could never regain their trust. He was constantly suppressed and ostracized by his superiors, and was always watched with suspicion wherever he went, becoming an outcast in the police force.
Luo Zhiming went to prison for his mission and spent the rest of his life there. After he came out, he had nowhere to go in either the underworld or the legitimate world.
Xu Fei sacrificed his beloved girlfriend, Qianqian, for his undercover mission. Qianqian lost her leg and endured three years of imprisonment and torture for him. No matter how many cases he solved, he could never fill the void of guilt. Gao Qiu was torn between brotherhood and his duty to the police force, collapsing in a pool of blood, unable to even say goodbye to his girlfriend. Jiang Lang, having witnessed enough of the depravity of human nature and the betrayal of brothers, ultimately committed suicide, filled with resentment.
Mike went too far into the darkness, eventually losing sight of whether he was a soldier or a thief, and completely lost himself in his desires.
These once highly promising police elites were ultimately dragged into an abyss by the undercover operation, and from the day they embarked on this path, they never had a chance to turn back.
He Chu knew perfectly well that he would never get involved in the mess of being an undercover agent!
This damn undercover training program treats its trainees like they're not even human.
He immediately made up his mind that he had to get out of this hellish place as soon as possible!
What?
Why does He Chu know these people, and how does he know their ultimate fate so clearly?
He's a genuine time traveler!
As a seasoned movie fan who has been immersed in Hong Kong films for many years, how could he not know the final fate of these people?
He Chu would never agree to work with people who were destined to die, even if it meant his death!
Although He Chu had already transmigrated to this world, his cheat system remained completely inactive and had not yet materialized.
He originally planned to work peacefully for two years, clocking in and out of work as usual. After all, the salary of a police officer was considered a solid middle-class income in Hong Kong.
But looking at this scene now, I'd better give up. Anyone who steps into this damn undercover training course is doomed!
Just as he was feeling panicked, a clear voice suddenly rang in his mind without warning:
"You have received the ultimate gift from your home planet—divine comprehension!"
He Chu was overjoyed. His golden finger had finally arrived!
Wouldn't that mean I could just run away smoothly?!
But how exactly should this cheat code be used?
Just as he was about to get up and leave the classroom, he heard a noisy commotion outside.
He quickly went over and looked outside, only to find that people were fighting in the open space!
The ones taking action were none other than Chen Yongren and Zhuo Kai from the class.
The two exchanged blows, each throwing a punch and a kick, their movements powerful and ferocious.
Upon seeing this scene, He Chu instantly understood everything:
"These two guys have probably already been assigned an undercover mission and are just looking for an excuse to fight so they can get kicked out of the police force by the school!"
Chen Yongren and Jiang Lang fought back and forth, creating a lively and exciting scene.
Both of them were top students in this year's police cadets, and their martial arts skills were both very solid and excellent.
Just as He Chu was about to step forward to mediate the fight, a series of clear notification sounds suddenly rang in his mind.
"You have gained insights from observing Chen Yongren's fighting techniques, and your mixed martial arts skills have steadily improved."
"You have learned a lot from observing Zhuo Kai's fighting techniques, and your mixed martial arts skills have continued to improve."
"You have observed and mastered the fighting styles of Chen Yongren and Zhuo Kai, resulting in a significant leap in your mixed martial arts abilities. Your current level is rated as Advanced Mixed Martial Arts!"
He Chu was suddenly jolted, and froze on the spot.
Although their training class consisted entirely of elite police officers selected from police academies, in reality, each of them was only so-so in terms of martial arts skills, at best barely reaching the beginner level of mixed martial arts.
He never expected that simply standing by and watching the two fight would directly improve his own fighting ability!
Just as He Chu was overjoyed, a bold idea suddenly popped into his head—the golden finger had been successfully obtained, and he now had the absolute capital to establish himself in this dangerous world. Why not simply take a gamble and become an all-powerful police tycoon?!
He strode forward abruptly, slipping into the gap between the two fighters, and shouted sharply:
"We're all classmates and brothers from the same year. If we really need to fight, let's go to the training ring. What kind of behavior is it to fight and brawl here in private?"
"Don't any of you want to stay in the police force?"
Chen Yongren and Zhuo Kai were both stunned. They exchanged a glance and inwardly groaned in despair!
The two had deliberately started fighting here, intending to commit a minor violation of school rules so that the instructor could legitimately kick them out of the police force and thus smoothly begin the undercover mission arranged by their superiors.
He Chu's unexpected intervention caused a huge blunder to their perfect plan.
The two exchanged another glance and spoke in unison:
"This is a private matter between the two of us, and it's none of your business!"
"If you know what's good for you, get out of here!"
He Chu immediately laughed, grinned, and said:
"We are a disciplined force, and you two have always been exemplary in your conduct. It's highly suspicious that you're suddenly fighting like this. I'll take you to see Principal Lu right now!"
He had barely finished speaking when he suddenly made his move, accurately grabbing Chen Yongren's wrist and executing a clean and swift over-the-shoulder throw.
Then he kicked again, sending Cheuk Kai crashing against the wall.
Unfortunately, the two of them were at most at the beginner level of mixed martial arts. How could they possibly be his opponents, who had already reached an advanced level?
With just one simple move, he completely subdued the two of them!
Just then, Yang Jinrong rushed over from the other end of the corridor and asked:
"Ah Chu, what happened here?"
He Chu chuckled and said:
"These two guys are usually inseparable, but today they suddenly started fighting here."
"I seriously suspect that neither of them wants to stay in this police academy any longer!"
Yang Jinrong was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.
"Don't want to stay in school anymore? What do you mean by that?"
Chen Yongren and Zhuo Kai were terrified and immediately shouted:
"Ah Chu, don't talk nonsense. How could we not want to stay in school?"
He Chu's face turned cold, and he said in a deep voice:
"I can't tolerate even the slightest imperfection in my eyes. What was your relationship before, and what is it now?"
"You two have always been law-abiding citizens, never doing anything wrong, and now you've suddenly caused such a commotion..."
"Do you think I and Ah Rong are idiots?"
Yang Jinrong was already meticulous and had exceptional observation skills. Upon hearing this, he immediately found it to be very reasonable and nodded in complete agreement.
Chen Yongren and Zhuo Kai's faces immediately turned ashen, as if they had swallowed flies.
Yang Jinrong, filled with doubt, frowned and asked:
"Even if you really want to leave the police force, is it really necessary to use such an extreme method?"
"Why not just submit a withdrawal application?"
He Chu chuckled and slowly began to speak:
"No, the way they want to leave is one that we all have to see with our own eyes."
Yang Jinrong was stunned for a moment, but his mind raced and he instantly realized what was happening.
"You two were sent undercover by the higher-ups?!"
Chen Yongren and Zhuo Kai were both stunned, their faces turning deathly pale instantly.
He Chu sighed softly and said:
"You guys really think being an undercover agent is some glamorous job?"
Chen Yongren's face instantly fell, and he began to speak:
"Ah Chu, do you really have to be this shrewd?"
Yang Jinrong, standing to the side, gave He Chu a deep look.
He Chu saw right through the trick that he himself hadn't even realized at a glance.
Yang Jinrong was born arrogant and never submitted to anyone.
His goal has always been to become the top student in this year's class, and his focus has always been on the few outstanding students in the class.
He never expected that this classmate, who usually kept a low profile, would be so meticulous and skilled!
Compared to him, I am truly far inferior.
"From now on, I should get closer to He Chu and interact with him more."
"I really need to learn his extraordinary skills!"
He Chu reached out and helped the two of them up, then asked with an extremely solemn expression:
"Do you really have to take on such a dangerous job?"
"Being an undercover agent is not a job that just anyone can do."
"Police undercover agents always maintain a single-line of contact."
"Apart from your direct supervisor, no one else knows your true identity as a police officer."
"The police officers will treat you like a real gangster and hunt you down."
"If your boss is ruthless and uses you as a stepping stone for his own advancement, then—"
"Your life is completely ruined because of this!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Yongren and Zhuo Kai could only awkwardly force a dry laugh and say:
"Ah Chu, stop making scary jokes like that."
Yang Jinrong listened from the side, his face full of shock, staring intently at He Chu.
He Chu's expression was extremely solemn as he spoke in a deep voice:
"I wasn't joking with you guys at all!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Yongren and Zhuo Kai immediately shut their mouths.
He Chu lowered his voice and leaned closer to the two of them, saying:
"You guys should really think it over carefully, whether you really want to take this undercover job or not."
Yang Jinrong felt a chill run down his spine, and the hairs on his body stood on end.
"Ah Chu, aren't you being a bit too harsh with your words?"
He Chu spoke calmly, enunciating each word clearly:
"In my entire life, I would never gamble or joke with my own brothers' lives and fortunes!"
Upon hearing this, the three people immediately fell silent, and the surroundings instantly became quiet.
He Chu continued slowly and deliberately, drawing out his words:
"If the bosses you two will be working for have any conscience or moral compass left, that's fine. But what if you run into someone who's heartless and utterly ruthless?"
"They told you they'd only be an undercover agent for three years, but after those three years, another three years come. If this keeps going, you'll never see the light of day again, and you'll never have a peaceful life!"
Not long after, Chen Yongren and Zhuo Kai were finally expelled from the police academy!
On the very day they left, the training instructor urgently assembled all the police cadets on the drill ground. His face was ashen, and he solemnly addressed them, saying in a stern voice:
"Our Hong Kong Police Force is a disciplined force with ironclad rules and strict discipline."
"Anyone who dares to break the rules and act recklessly will end up like those two—pack your bags and get out of here immediately!"
"Anyone in your group who's defiant and wants to go with those two? Step forward now!"
The group of police cadets below stared blankly at the receding figures of Chen Yongren and Zhuo Kai, their minds reeling.
Seeing this scene, Yang Jinrong instantly recalled the words He Chu had said to the three of them a few days ago:
"Remember this: don't believe any of that nonsense about your personal file being completely erased from the police system after you become an undercover agent. Don't believe a single word of it!"
"Our original files have been locked in the archives of the Wong Chuk Hang Police Academy from beginning to end, and have not been touched in the slightest."
"Only this file is the sole and final proof of your police identity."
"If you ever encounter a heartless boss who doesn't treat you like human beings, and you're desperate and have nowhere else to turn, remember to come back to me!"
Yang Jinrong admired He Chu's courage and temperament from the bottom of his heart at that moment—he actually dared to say such head-threatening things without any scruples, he really dared to say anything!
If it were him, even if he had ten times the courage, he would never dare to say a single word!
Thinking of this, Yang Jinrong couldn't help but turn his head and ask He Chu beside him:
"You really don't trust your superiors in the police force at all? Don't you have any faith in them?"
He Chu didn't answer directly, but instead turned to him and asked:
"Tell me yourself, what are the actual abilities of Chen Yongren and Zhuo Kai?"
Without a second thought, Yang Jinrong immediately replied:
"Both of them are outstanding and are definitely the top contenders for this year's Silver Whistle Award."
He Chu sighed softly and slowly began to speak:
"The problem is that their abilities are just too outstanding and too exceptional."
Yang Jinrong's face was full of confusion, and he frowned as he asked:
"Isn't being exceptionally capable a good thing? Doesn't that just prove they can reliably complete their undercover mission?"
He Chu nodded and followed his words:
"You're absolutely right. With their abilities, they can definitely complete the assigned tasks smoothly."
"But the most crucial and critical issue in this matter is..."
"The faster and more skillfully they complete their tasks, the harder it will be for them to extricate themselves from that quagmire and turn back."
"Given their abilities and how useful they are, do you think their superiors would be willing to release them? Would they allow them to remain undercover for life?"
One sentence left Yang Jinrong stunned on the spot, unable to utter a single word!
He Chu smirked and let out a cold laugh:
"Do you really think that what I said to those two before about 'three years after three years' was just a casual remark, a joke?"
He stopped smiling, his tone turned serious, and he spoke earnestly.
"We are in our early twenties now, in the prime of our youth, full of vigor and high spirits, always feeling that the world is vast and the whole world is in our own hands."
"This world will be ours one day, sooner or later."
"However, to obtain all of this, we need to take it one step at a time, and it will take enough time."
Yang Jinrong was naturally introverted and quiet, and he wasn't good at handling interpersonal relationships or interacting with people.