Righteous Indignation: Lin So-and-so

"Where have you been?" Mother Lin's face betrayed no expression.

Lin Shuguang walked into the house as if nothing had happened, with Lin Xiaoxi still clinging to him like a stubborn plaster. "Went to a friend's place."

Mother Lin shot him a glare. "Your friend's pretty impressive, huh? Even made it on TV?"

Lin Shuguang's smile froze.

Lin Xiaoxi wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, "We saw everything."

With that, she nimbly jumped down.

Lin Shuguang looked up to find Lin Haiyang and Mother Lin both staring at him, and his smile turned sheepish.

Mother Lin suddenly stood up. "You little brat, think you're something now, huh? A place that dangerous, and you dared to go! Huai City's big enough, with plenty of capable people—what were you messing around for?"

Lin Shuguang kept his head down and didn't explain. Whatever his mother said, he just nodded, showing an excellent attitude of admitting fault.

After scolding him for a good while, Mother Lin stepped forward, grabbed his arm, and checked him over—stern on the surface, but caring underneath. "Did you get hurt anywhere?"

Lin Shuguang smiled. "No injuries. That level of beast, I could crush it with one hand."

Mother Lin raised an eyebrow at him. "Oh? Pretty proud of yourself, are you?"

Lin Shuguang: "..."

Mother Lin turned and walked off without another word.

Lin Haiyang followed her, but before leaving, he gave Lin Shuguang a thumbs-up.

Lin Shuguang perked up instantly and returned the gesture.

Just then, a small figure threw herself into his arms again.

Lin Xiaoxi tilted her head up, eyes sparkling. "Bro, are you super strong now?"

"Passable," Lin Shuguang said casually.

Lin Xiaoxi let out an "oh," then bounced happily back to her room.

Lin Shuguang looked puzzled.

What's this girl so happy about?

The next morning.

After breakfast with the family, Lin Shuguang headed to the Special Management Bureau to report in.

He went to the Ninth Division first.

The Square-faced Section Chief was startled when he saw Lin Shuguang. "You're back?"

Lin Shuguang smiled and nodded, holding up a gift bag. "Came back last night. Had nothing to do, so I figured I'd report to the bureau early. These are some local snacks I picked up from the Demon Capital—nothing expensive, just stuff I saw people eating over there, so I brought some for everyone."

"You come back, and you bring gifts." The Square-faced Section Chief laughed as he stepped forward to take the bag.

"Chief, any missions in the bureau lately? I'm back now, so use me however you want—don't hold back." Lin Shuguang plopped down casually in a chair.

Between the lines, he was hinting for the Square-faced Section Chief to bring up the Blood Desolate Land on his own.

But instead, the Square-faced Section Chief, having accepted the gift, seemed a bit reluctant to actually put Lin Shuguang to work. He said with concern, "You just got back, so take a good rest. Leave the fighting to others. You finally had a break—enjoy it. I've got your back here, nothing to worry about."

Lin Shuguang stood up immediately, speaking with righteous fervor. "No, no, Chief, don't say that. I'm absolutely loyal to Great Xia—you have to give me a chance to serve the nation! I'm ready at all times!"

"This..." The Square-faced Section Chief was taken aback.

This wasn't the script he expected...

He'd thought Lin Shuguang came bearing gifts just to quietly enjoy his short vacation.

But that wasn't the case?

After a moment's thought, the Square-faced Section Chief mused, "There haven't been any missions lately, except for last night on Longhu Road. I'm not sure if you're aware."

"I know. I handled that last night." Lin Shuguang nodded.

As if it were just a trivial matter.

The Square-faced Section Chief paused, then shook his head with a wry smile. "Looks like I still underestimated you. No small missions, but there is one big one—though the uncertainties are too many."

Lin Shuguang's eyes lit up.

He immediately thought of the Blood Desolate Land!

Without changing his expression, he stepped forward, his tone solemn and dignified. "To bleed and sweat for Great Xia, I won't refuse. Chief, speak freely!"

The Square-faced Section Chief looked at Lin Shuguang with deep emotion.

What a righteous young man—rare to find in this day and age...

He lowered his voice earnestly. "This involves classified information, so I can't say much. But I imagine you've heard about it in the Demon Capital. Something similar has happened in Huai City recently. Even the Governor has sent people..."

Lin Shuguang immediately declared, "No matter how great the trial, I'll take part! Born a son of Great Xia, I won't shirk my duty!"

The Square-faced Section Chief opened his mouth...

After a long pause, he said, "I don't have the authority for this mission. You'd better go to the Si Bureau and feel things out."

Lin Shuguang, feeling he'd wasted a lot of expressions, quietly turned to leave. "Thanks for the tip, Chief. I'll head there now."

The square-faced section chief stared blankly at Lin Shuguang's retreating figure, caught between laughter and tears.

"Quite the impatient one... Looks like all those stories about him in Demon Capital are true. Who knows if the sky over Huai City is about to be turned upside down again now that he's back?"

"Even if it is, Huai City has been stagnant too long. It's about time for some fresh blood."

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

Knock knock.

"Enter." Si Qianjun said casually.

The door opened, and Lin Shuguang's head poked in, a sly grin on his face.

"Si Bureau, did you miss me?"

Si Qianjun's hand, holding his teacup, froze mid-motion. With a sidelong glance, he calmly closed the tea canister, tucked it into the drawer of his desk, and locked it with a click.

The motion was a bit clumsy—the lock on that drawer had probably been installed only recently, after hearing that Lin Shuguang was coming back.

Lin Shuguang: "..."

He closed the door.

Then he handed over two gift boxes. "Si Bureau, I brought you some local specialties from Demon Capital. You can try them when you have time. The shopkeeper told me this stuff is called a man's second spring—good for the body. I don't really get what that means, but I figured you'd like it."

Si Qianjun gave a cold smirk, completely unswayed.

"Spit it out. What do you want?"

Lin Shuguang looked offended, shooting him a reproachful glance. "Si Bureau, that's going too far. I've been away for over three months, and I specially took time to pick out gifts for you. And this is how you think of me? My poor little heart hurts worse than when I was bleeding and sweating for the Special Management Bureau. It's like someone hammered it a thousand times—cut to the core."

"..." Si Qianjun's forehead creased with exasperation. "Then... thank you?"

Lin Shuguang immediately beamed. "No need, no need."

Si Qianjun snorted coldly. He still couldn't forget the heartache of Lin Shuguang "borrowing" two packs of his tea before leaving. That was fine tea he'd wheedled out of someone in Dragon City with endless pestering—even the Commander couldn't bear to drink much of it. And then Lin Shuguang had swiped two packs in the blink of an eye.

Back then, he'd been fooled by Lin Shuguang's sweet talk into a moment of warmth, waving his hand and saying, "Take whatever catches your eye."

And this brat, with a face full of fake embarrassment, had walked off with two packs of his tea.

Even now, thinking about it made him want to strangle the kid.

Lin Shuguang set down the gifts, then suddenly straightened his back, his expression turning serious. "Ninth Division of the Special Management Bureau, Lin Shuguang, reporting for duty!

Requesting permission from Si Bureau to enter the Blood Desolate Land!"

Si Qianjun looked at him.

The room fell silent.