Judgment of the Broken Path

Even if someone was grinding their teeth in anger, they wouldn't be so fixated on appearances. Yet, she was. Anyway, being fixated on appearances doesn't deduct points.

Anyone hearing this sound, seeing this expression, would ask: "What's wrong?"

But none of the three in the car asked.

The flying car sped over the Yangtze River, getting closer and closer to Lin Xiaosu's hometown...

Suddenly, the flying car lit up slightly, and a document seemed to arrive from the starry sky.

At the top of the document was "Lin Xiaosu's Formalization Application."

Below it was a red annotation.

A large red cross, followed by a line of red text: "After review, this reservist does not meet the conditions for formalization."

A bright red seal: Qianlong Review Committee.

Lin Xiaosu was stunned.

Number 88's face suddenly darkened.

Chang Ye's expression also changed drastically: "Not approved? For what reason?"

She flicked her finger lightly, pointing to an attachment...

The attachment opened, revealing a criminal judgment...

Lin Yaojun, convicted of murder on July 3, 2098, Great Xia calendar, sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Lin Xiaosu is Lin Yaojun's grandson. According to Article 177 of the "Qianlong Regulations," direct blood relatives within three generations who have committed serious offenses are not eligible to be included in Qianlong.

Chang Ye said slowly, "When we brought him into 101, this file was checked eight times. Everyone agreed at the time, but now it's suddenly brought up to block his path?"

Number 88's face was extremely grim, and he replied, "The term 'serious offense' in Article 177 generally refers to treason or espionage. It has never included 'manslaughter'!"

"I know about this too!" Xinyue jumped up. "His grandfather was actually acting bravely in a righteous cause. The accidental death was purely an accident. His grandfather also died because of it. When he died, this Lin Xiaose hadn't even been born yet. Why can't he join Qianlong?... No, we have to appeal! We must appeal!"

Chang Ye pointed to the screen in front of them. "This is the problem. The red cross signifies a final judgment and does not accept appeals!"

"I'll curse his ancestors!" Xinyue slapped her forehead and looked at Lin Xiaosu, sighing softly. "Lin Xiaose, you're even more wronged than I am."

The cabin was very quiet, a suffocating silence.

One minute, two minutes...

Lin Xiaosu slowly withdrew his gaze from the notice.

In front of him were the faces of three comrades.

Some angry, some sorrowful...

Lin Xiaosu smiled faintly...

His smile was still calm and serene.

The three comrades were at a loss for words for a moment.

A stunning genius, a Qianlong meritorious official who had made significant contributions during operations, receiving such a ruling upon his triumphant return.

No one could accept it.

But they were members of Qianlong. It was their duty, their discipline; they could not question their superiors! They didn't even know how to comfort him.

Lin Xiaosu said softly, "I've arrived home. Can you let me out? Let me go home?"

The flying car suddenly stopped in mid-air.

Below the flying car was the summit of Tashan.

No one spoke in the flying car.

Number 88's finger rested on the hover button, his fingertip trembling slightly.

He had reached home. He was going home...

This time, he would officially be leaving Qianlong...

From now on, this brilliant and talented comrade would no longer be their comrade.

Perhaps only those who had truly experienced camaraderie could understand this feeling, and it was definitely not a pleasant one...

The flying car slowly descended, finally passing the treetops and landing on a cliff.

The flying car door opened. Lin Xiaosu's fingers pressed against his waist, and with a soft click, he removed his Qianlong uniform and placed it on the seat. He stood up and got out of the flying car.

Chang Ye followed him, walking along the mountain path.

This mountain path was on the north side of Tashan. Through the treetops, the county town could be vaguely seen.

The mountain wind blew, chilling him to the bone.

"I'm sorry!" Chang Ye's voice came softly.

"Sorry for what? For not letting me experience the scenery of the frontier?" Lin Xiaosu's voice was very calm. Yes, after that notice appeared, he had been so calm throughout, unlike someone who had experienced such a dramatic turn of events.

Chang Ye sighed softly. "Subjectively, I didn't want this to happen, but objectively, I ruined your civil service exam. I've made your path unrecognizable."

Lin Xiaosu smiled. "Are you worried I won't be able to survive in this secular world?"

"I'm absolutely not worried about that."

"That's right, you have to believe that I can live better than most people at any time! So, don't say sorry, you've never wronged me!"

"It's just this matter..."

Lin Xiaosu gently raised his hand, stopping him: "Chang Ye, some things can only be done, not said!"

Chang Ye took a deep breath and stopped.

Lin Xiaosu also stopped, standing at the edge of the cliff.

In front of them, mountain flowers bloomed everywhere. It seemed as if they had walked along a spring outing path side by side, but now the path was gone, and in front of them was a broken cliff.

"Qianlong has its own standards for acting. If you were a Qianlong member, this action would just be a mission, and you should be rewarded with points. But now that you are not a Qianlong member, you should receive economic compensation." Chang Ye chuckled, "300,000 cash, it's been transferred!"

With a soft ding, Lin Xiaosu picked up his phone. The screen displayed a transfer of 300,000 yuan.

Lin Xiaosu stared at the long string of zeros: "Is this Qianlong's reward?"

"Of course it is!"

Lin Xiaosu smiled slightly: "Don't forget, I also stayed at 101 for half a month. I know that even with rewards, there's a long approval process. It's impossible for it to be this fast! This matter... it's not your place to pay out of your own pocket."

He lightly tapped the "Refund" button.

The 300,000 yuan was returned the way it came.

He was still so shrewd, so perceptive, so prescient.

Chang Ye sighed softly: "You should know, being in Qianlong, I actually don't need money. But you do!"

"Come on, you don't need money! You gave me 10,000 yuan for case expenses, and you were still expecting my mom to send you a 'one-in-ten-thousand' red envelope..."

At this remark, Chang Ye chuckled.

The atmosphere instantly shifted from tense and oppressive to relaxed.

"I'm going to say goodbye to Number 88!" Lin Xiaosu walked to the other side of the cliff.

Number 88 stood at the edge of the cliff, gazing at the sky. His expression was extremely serious and gloomy, even more so than during the entire operation.

"If you were still my instructor, I might not be able to be so presumptuous in front of you. But now I can!" Lin Xiaosu chuckled, "Tell me, a handshake or a hug?"

Number 88 slowly opened his arms, his face a canvas of shifting emotions.

With a light hug, Lin Xiaosu stepped away. A petite and delicate young beauty stood at the intersection, looking somewhat lost...

"Hey, Xinyue, congratulations!"

Xinyue looked at him in disbelief: "Congratulations on what?"

"If we consider who joined Qianlong first, you you won without any suspense! Isn't that worth congratulating?"

"What kind of nonsense are you talking? I wanted to beat you, but that would be with my own strength! Not by comparing who stabbed whom in the back more maliciously!" Xinyue jumped up: "I really hate this kind of unhealthy trend. I have a little notebook with a list of names, and now I've added another one – the person who plotted to expel you from Qianlong. I'll bring their heads to offer you incense... oh no, to visit your grave..."

Lin Xiaosu had a sour expression. Visiting a grave and offering incense, aren't they the same thing? You're wholeheartedly heading down the path of my demise, with no detours.

Xinyue probably realized her slip of the tongue and quickly changed tack. She raised her hand, and a green leaf appeared in her palm. With a casual swipe of her fingernail, a smiling face appeared on the green leaf.

She handed it to Lin Xiaosu.

"Here!"

"What does this mean?"

"It's a smiley face! Can't you see it's encouragement?" Xinyue glared at him.

Lin Xiaosu looked at the leaf: "This is a Green Orchid leaf."

"Mm."

"You suddenly giving me this leaf, why do I get the same feeling as when you served me tea that day?"

"What do you mean?" Xinyue jumped again.

Serving him tea was poisoning him!

That was true, but was she poisoning him today?

I, Xinyue, specialize in dealing with those who get carried away. How could I possibly kick someone when they're down?

"This Green Orchid is a rare plant, right? If one day my home is searched and this stuff is found, will I violate the protection regulations and get dragged away by a bunch of uncles to work on a sewing machine?"

Unbelievable!

He actually found a reason, even if it was so ridiculous...

Xinyue rolled her eyes: "Don't worry, if anyone causes you trouble, I'm still a Qianlong Gold Medalist! I'll abuse my power and let you go!"

Lin Xiaosu sighed in admiration: "No wonder you can't get officially promoted. Your adherence to principles is as flexible as rubber..."

"Screw you! Can you just not mention my promotion? You're poking the bear! Let's fight before you go!" Xinyue sprang up, and Lin Xiaosu fled in disarray...

As he left, he still pocketed the Green Orchid leaf that Xinyue had given him...

"Did you see it?" Number 88's voice reached Chang Ye's ears: "He's deliberately creating a relaxed atmosphere."

"We can all see that!" Chang Ye said, "But do you know? He... he actually saw something else too!"

"What did you notice?"

Chang Ye said, "He noticed there was something wrong with this notice!"

"Oh?" Number 88's brow furrowed sharply.

Chang Ye said, "He said, 'Some things are done, not spoken!' He said this with deep meaning..."

Lin Xiaosu had already descended the mountain peak, leaving the jungle area and reaching the winding mountain road. Following the road down would lead directly to Qingyuan Temple.

The mountain wind blew, carrying the faint scent of orchids.

Above the floating clouds, the flying car pierced the depths of the clouds in a posture difficult for ordinary people to see, signifying that his journey had truly reached its destination.

However, Lin Xiaosu sat down in a pavilion on the mountain, his expression somewhat serious.

As Number 88 had said, he was deliberately creating a relaxed atmosphere. The word "comrade" was difficult for someone who had never served in the military to truly understand the sentiment behind it. He hadn't served, but this mission itself was the most profound experience of camaraderie. After the journey, he had gained three comrades.

Comrades parting ways, going down different paths, his heart was filled with emotion, with nowhere to release it.

Only a relaxed atmosphere could put each other at ease.

This was what Number 88 had seen.

And as Chang Ye had said, Lin Xiaosu himself had also noticed something.

For example, this notice!

Or perhaps, a ruling...

It ruled that he could not enter Qianlong because his grandfather's case from years ago had triggered a prohibition threshold in the "Qianlong Regulations."

He knew about his grandfather's case from back then.

It was a fact that his grandfather had accidentally injured someone, leading to their death. Although that person was a village bully who had done all sorts of evil deeds, his grandfather had not held back when beating him, causing the man's death. It was indeed illegal, and a twelve-year sentence was completely lawful.

There was no injustice.

In fact, in their village, this incident was not considered shameful at all. The elders and villagers even lamented the situation for his grandfather.

When Chang Ye included him as a seed player in his sights and reported it to his superiors, there was a month of investigation and review. They had probably dug through all the records of his ancestors.

This case had clearly already passed the review.

Everyone believed that the "involuntary manslaughter" charge committed by his grandfather, who had passed away before Lin Xiaosu was even born, had no necessary connection to whether Lin Xiaosu would fight for the country. Therefore, the review had passed, and he was included in 101.

But now, it was precisely because of this already-reviewed case that his entry into Qianlong was being denied.

Why?