Order the Outer Southern Department to Apprehend Wuchang!

"What happened?"

Seeing this, Xu Qing immediately understood.

Last night, Demonic Evils attacked the city, so there should have been many incidents.

But whatever could make Commander Han look so grave must have been completely unexpected.

"He believes there's a huge problem within the southern city defense forces."

Commander Han took a deep breath and said helplessly, "After dawn, he left directly without contacting the city defense forces to avoid further conflict... that was the right move."

Then Commander Han was seen slamming the battle report onto the ground, angrily saying, "But this kid has thrown all the subsequent troublesome matters to us."

Xu Qing couldn't help but bend down, pick up the battle report, and glance at it, his expression turning strange.

"Last night, he single-handedly held the city defense perimeter of Lin Jiang Department and emerged unscathed. His strength is likely beyond that of an ordinary Martial Artist."

Hearing Xu Qing's question, Commander Han sighed and didn't hide anything.

"He has already advanced to Inner Strength. I originally intended for him to hide his talent to avoid suppression, but from the moment he decided to defend the city alone, it was impossible to keep it a secret."

Commander Han said calmly, "Defending three hundred and sixty paces alone and remaining unharmed, with the Demonic Evils unable to cross half a step, is impossible without Inner Strength cultivation! Others aren't fools..."

Although his tone was calm, Xu Qing could faintly see a hint of pride on his face.

"It's no wonder the Banner Commander values him so highly and cultivates him with all his might. This young man truly has exceptional talent, proving the Banner Commander's discerning eye!"

As Xu Qing said this, he suddenly remembered something and was stunned for a moment, murmuring, "But the sides of his defensive position were torn open."

Commander Han seemed to recall something as well, suddenly freezing, his eyes gradually becoming vacant.

"Attacked from three sides, it was like being surrounded. Even someone at the Inner Strength realm might not be able to handle it."

Xu Qing's expression was complex as he said in a low voice, "Moreover, it seems that in the latter half of the night, the positions on his flanks, which had already fallen, were blocked..."

He had originally thought it was the Patrolling Squad taking over and filling the gaps.

Now, it seemed, perhaps it wasn't as they had previously guessed?

"If we consider it this way, wasn't he guarding over a thousand paces of city defense positions in the latter half of the night?"

Xu Qing felt a slight dryness in his mouth, his eyes showing disbelief: "A thousand paces of city defense, even an Inner Strength peak expert might not be able to hold it!"

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Commander Han immediately shook his head, stating with certainty, "When he joined my command, he was only at the first stage of Martial Arts, not yet Blood Refining. In such a short time, to reach Inner Strength is already a heaven-sent genius, how could he be higher?"

"Besides, his breath-concealing technique was personally taught by me, how could it escape my eyes?"

"Two years to break through two stages from the first stage of Martial Arts, shattering the limits of the human body and reaching the Essence Refining Realm?"

"Even Li Shenzong, who is hailed as a once-in-five-hundred-years genius in Qifeng Prefecture, did not have such astonishing progress."

"I've practiced martial arts since I was young. I started Blood Refining at sixteen, and only at forty-two did I achieve the Essence Refining Realm, which took twenty-six years!"

"You think his two years of cultivation can surpass my twenty-six years of diligent practice?"

"If that's the case, shouldn't someone like me be discarded?"

Commander Han repeatedly shook his head, waving his hands, indicating it was absolutely impossible.

But Xu Qing's expression grew stranger.

In his impression, the Banner Commander had always maintained his composure.

But just now, even a slightly vulgar self-address like "Laozi" (old man/I) had slipped out.

This showed that Commander Han was quite unsettled and very agitated.

"Then it was Duke Lu who intervened?"

Xu Qing hesitated.

"That's right!"

Commander Han suddenly realized upon hearing this and said, "Last night, Lin Jiang Ward was almost abandoned. Someone intervened and killed the Bear Demon, resolving the crisis! Besides the 'Dao Protector' by Duke Lu's side, who else in Lin Jiang Ward had this capability?"

Then, with his hands behind his back, he walked to the window, looked towards the south, and said slowly, "The southern district of the outer city is all within my grasp! Only the internal problems within the city defense forces caught me slightly by surprise, but it's not a major issue..."

Your attitude just now was not like this at all... Xu Qing grumbled inwardly.

Just then, a voice was heard from outside.

"Someone has arrived from the Heavenly Supervision Department's main tower in the inner city!"

"Please let him in!"

The person who arrived was around fifty years old, with an ordinary face and a detached expression.

"Director Gao, why are you here?"

Commander Han chuckled and said, "Logically speaking, today you are busy with the inspection of each department's city defenses and the various aftermath matters in the city, and you wouldn't be able to get away... sending any Junior Banner would have sufficed."

"I am here on the orders of Deputy Envoy Zhou to put pressure on your Outer Southern Department. If I had sent a Junior Banner, it would have been a minor matter."

Director Gao's expression was blank as he said indifferently, "Last night, the southern city defense of the outer city was breached by Demonic Evils. Although it was timely blocked, there are many suspicious points."

"Today, the personal guards under Grand Commander Zhao Zhou of the city defense forces were killed en route to reinforce."

"The place where the victim was killed is adjacent to the city defense positions under the Lin Jiang Branch of your Outer Southern Department."

"The new Banner Bearer, Wuchang, is highly suspicious. Therefore, you are ordered to have your Outer Southern Department assist the Outer City Southern Yamen in apprehending the Lin Jiang Department's Banner Bearer, Wuchang, and thoroughly investigate him without favoritism."

He took out a token and threw it on the table, saying, "The deceased is the adopted son of Grand Commander Zhao Zhou. He is very senior, and the Prefectural Governor's Mansion takes this matter extremely seriously."

"Return it!"

Commander Han picked up the token and tossed it back.

Director Gao's expression instantly turned ashen.

Xu Qing, standing nearby, felt a tremor in his heart and gave the Banner Commander a deep look.

The various branches of the Heavenly Supervision Department in the outer city could reject orders from the headquarters if they deemed them to contain major errors.

However, in the past thirty years, not a single Banner Commander had ever rejected an order on the spot.

Firstly, orders from the Heavenly Supervision Department headquarters rarely contained major errors.

Secondly, rejecting an order from headquarters meant offending the high-ranking official who issued it.

Even offending the Director who was relaying the order!

"Han Zheng, what do you think you're doing?"

Director Gao frowned slightly, his tone becoming grave, "This is a direct order from the Deputy Commander!"

"Yes, his seal is on it. I saw it clearly."

"Commander Han, defying orders is a serious crime!"

"I also remind you that according to Rule Twelve of the Heavenly Supervision Department, if an order contains a major error, it can be rejected!"

Commander Han said calmly, "Of course, there must be sufficient reason. Otherwise, it is still defiance! I will personally explain this to the Commander..."

"Even with valid reasons, rejecting a superior order has huge implications. Your promotion prospects will be ruined for the next ten years."

Director Gao's tone softened slightly, "Given your background, abilities, and merits, you should have been promoted to one of the Eight Great Garrison Commanders within two years at most."

He took a deep breath and continued, "The Deputy Commander also knows that you value this Wuchang quite a bit, which is why this is an exception. Your Outer Southern Department does not need to recuse itself and can participate in the apprehension and subsequent investigation. This is already extremely lenient."

"If this Banner Bearer Wuchang is truly innocent, you can clear his name yourself!"

"Returning the token has significant repercussions, you..."

Director Gao's expression gradually turned helpless as he spoke, sighing, "Have you made up your mind?"

"Yes."

Commander Han nodded slightly.

Director Gao collected the token, turned, and left without a word.

It was only then that Xu Qing said in a low voice, "If we handle this matter, Banner Bearer Wuchang will not suffer any loss. You can then clear his name... Returning the token, something that hasn't happened in thirty years, why go through all this?"

"For me to personally apprehend Wuchang and interrogate him, do you know what that means?"

Commander Han clasped his hands behind his back, his expression complex, his tone low.

"For Wuchang, I know the inside story, yet I still arrest him. This shows my lack of trust in him! There will inevitably be a rift between us from now on."

"The outside world knows that I highly value Wuchang, and he was just appointed Banner Bearer of the Lin Jiang Department yesterday."

"If I arrest him today, it will signify that, in my eyes, his importance is not that great."

"Correspondingly, various forces will believe he has no strong backing and will no longer regard him highly. Then, troubles targeting the Lin Jiang Department will follow."

Han Zheng chuckled self-deprecatingly at this point, "Moreover, becoming Banner Bearer on the first day and being arrested and imprisoned on the second day will be a lifelong stain and a joke for him."

He looked at Xu Qing, his smile growing more complex, "And arresting the Banner Bearer on the second day after his appointment on the first day will also make a laughingstock of me, Han."

Xu Qing fell silent, though for some reason, he vaguely felt that this wasn't the real reason for returning the token.

"Secretly send a message to the Lin Jiang Department, telling him to visit Duke Lu today."

Han Zheng sighed, "Returning the token today is merely a delaying tactic. If that Deputy Commander insists on apprehending Lin Yan, perhaps tomorrow... the one taking over this matter will be Zhou Kui of the Outer Southwest Division!"

Xu Qing's expression turned solemn upon hearing this, and he immediately left.

Silence fell upon the room.

Han Zheng gently stroked his scabbard, took a deep breath, and sighed.

"Years ago, when I was framed in Phoenix Perch Prefecture City, my superior, concerned about his own future, did not protect me."

"How similar is today's situation to that day?"

"Back then, I had no one to rely on. Today, I will be that reliance!"

He thought this, then couldn't help but murmur, "Besides, not being able to become a Night Illuminator is the greatest regret of my life..."

Suspected of killing a comrade with whom he fought side-by-side, and being arrested and imprisoned by his own superior.

Even if he were later cleared and released, how could a Night Illuminator who knew nothing of the details dare to entrust his back directly to him?

He understood in his heart that if he hadn't returned the token just now, he would have extinguished Lin Yan's hope of becoming a Night Illuminator.