In a dark alleyway.
Zhang Rongfang quickly put his outer garment inside out, took off his mask and put it away. Taking advantage of his silent and stealthy movement, he quickly disappeared into the shadows and headed back towards the Ministry of Justice.
Snap.
Suddenly he stopped in his tracks, halting in the shadows to listen intently.
The faint clicking sound rang out again, but this time it was several meters away.
Soon another sound rang out, this time from a greater distance.
He pressed himself against the wall with one hand, used the momentum to leap up, and jumped more than two meters high.
With this leap, Zhang Rongfang immediately saw a blurry figure on a distant rooftop flying away quickly.
'It seems that Tanyang, though quiet on the surface, is actually quite lively tonight.'
He shook his head inwardly; Tanyang City was indeed a large place. There were more people, and it was bustling.
Correspondingly, there were also many more things to do.
With hundreds of thousands of people crammed together, countless sordid things can happen every day.
He immediately suppressed his thoughts and sped back towards the Ministry of Justice.
Before long, they were almost at the side gate of the Ministry of Justice.
Zhang Rongfang stopped, took off his coat, revealing another layer of ordinary clothes underneath.
There's no way around it; the word "sea" is written in at least a dozen places on this jacket, and if it's not dealt with quickly, something bad might happen.
There was also a mask. Zhang Rongfang took it out of his pocket, placed it with his clothes, and then stuffed it into the bucket of water that had been prepared in advance by the wall.
In the bucket, the ink on the clothes dissolved.
Zhang Rongfang rubbed the clothes a few more times to make sure the writing had dissolved and disappeared before he scooped them up and poured the water into the drain.
He used soluble pigments, which made it easy to remove traces in such situations.
Soon, he took out a small sachet from his pocket, opened it, and applied some cosmetics to his neck, collar, and chest.
Put away the incense box.
After doing all this, he slowly walked towards the gate of the Ministry of Justice.
As he entered, the Black Prison Army silently glanced at him, sniffed, and immediately stopped suspecting anything, retreating into the shadows.
The next morning, at nine o'clock.
It was time for Ninth Squad to gather and give a training talk again.
Intimidated by Lin Qixiao's tyrannical power, the team members all arrived early on the first floor to gather and wait.
What puzzled many people was that Lin Qixiao, who was usually the most proactive, had not yet appeared.
Zhang Rongfang sat back on the long wooden bench, frowning, glancing at the second-floor stairwell from time to time, as if waiting for the Captain to come down.
Captain's general address typically includes informing the team leader of any unforeseen tasks for the day.
Therefore, everyone was free to move around after the speech.
But this time, Captain Lin Qixiao was nowhere to be found.
The water clock in the corner had already passed 9:30, but the person still hadn't arrived.
The team members began to whisper among themselves.
Knock knock knock.
A series of dull thuds of leather boots echoed from the front door.
A burly soldier strode in.
"Urgent notification! Who is the deputy captain of the Ninth Squad?!"
Zhang Rongfang quickly got up.
"I am!"
"As per the General Team Military Order, hereby we report the case: Last night, Lin Qixiao, the Captain of the Ninth Squad, was attacked and is now seriously injured and recuperating at home. The deputy captain will temporarily take over all duties of the Ninth Squad."
All previous military operations are hereby suspended. The officers and soldiers solemnly relayed the order, handing over a document bearing the official seal.
"Zhang Ying obeys!" Zhang Rongfang quickly stepped forward and accepted the document with both hands.
He looked up at the other person with a blank, shocked, and puzzled expression.
"May I ask, brother, our Team Lin has always been highly skilled in martial arts and has a powerful background. How could he suddenly..."
"I don't know, Team Zhang, you should ask the Patrol Warden officers yourself," the officer said helplessly. "I'm just here to relay orders."
"I understand." Zhang Rongfang nodded slightly.
As soon as the news came out, not only him, but also the dozen or so people in the entire Ninth Squad fell completely silent.
Everyone wore an expression of complete disbelief.
Who is Lin Qixiao? He is one of the most difficult people to deal with among the many Captain in the Ministry of Justice.
In the entire Tanyang, most people who operate in Underworld and Overworld would have heard of the Lin Family. How could such a powerful family be ambushed and severely injured? This is simply unbelievable good news since Lin Qixiao took charge of Ninth Squad four years ago.
The group of people held back their emotions and didn't shout.
But everyone lowered their heads in unison, looking rather depressed, though perhaps they were secretly laughing out loud.
Zhang Rongfang silently put away the documents.
Whether his acting position can be officially filled depends on whether someone with a strong background comes forward to compete for it.
After the officers and soldiers left.
Zhang Rongfang turned around and looked at a group of team members staring at him expectantly.
"Dismissed. Until Team Lin returns, everyone will meet once a day at the usual time, and the rest of the time you are free to do as you please."
"Yes!" a group of people responded in unison.
Zhang Rongfang didn't bother with these demoralized guys. With Lin Qixiao out of the picture, he probably wouldn't be able to come back for good.
Even in modern society, it is already quite remarkable if a limb is severed and can be restored to normal use through surgery.
But to say that someone would go back to practicing martial arts after recovering is something Zhang Rongfang has never heard of.
After announcing the disbandment, Zhang Rongfang immediately went to see the Chief of the Ministry of Justice.
The Ninth Squad should have been under the management of the General Team, but due to the special circumstances of the Ninth Squad, Lin Qixiao was completely unruly, and only the Chief of the Ministry of Justice Li Ran could keep him in check.
Therefore, it has always been a straight pipe.
Li Ran didn't waste any words and directly told Lin Qixiao about her current situation.
He suffered fractures in his limbs and an inward fracture of his sternum. The bones can be set, but he will never be able to practice martial arts again.
After that, he was told to work hard and wait for a promotion.
After all, Zhang Rongfang was someone he personally placed there.
Judging from Li Ran's expression, she seemed to feel very sorry for Lin Qixiao's serious injury.
Zhang Rongfang could actually understand it; a subordinate like Lin Qixiao, with a powerful background and an explosive temper, was perfect as a weapon.
"Speaking of which, we're short-handed right now. You're leading Ninth Squad by yourself, and we might not be able to fill any gaps in manpower for the time being. Are you sure you can manage?" Li Ran asked gently.
"What are you saying, sir?" Zhang Rongfang. "With Team Lin injured and the Ninth Squad facing heavy responsibilities, I have to grit my teeth and do it, even if it seems impossible!"
"Besides," Zhang Rongfang said, looking hesitant.
"Besides what?" Li Ran asked with slight curiosity.
"Moreover, I have recently broken through my strength and am now at the Third Grade. I should be able to stabilize the situation left by Team Lin. Although I certainly cannot compare to Team Lin, I should be more than capable of maintaining the status quo."
Zhang Rongfang said sincerely.
A breakthrough? And at such a crucial moment? A thoughtful look flashed in Li Ran's eyes.
"Not bad, not bad. Zhang Ying, you're only eighteen now, aren't you? You're Third Grade."
"Yes, sir," Zhang Rongfang replied quickly.
"Answer me properly, what's your real age?" Li Ran smiled. "Don't say eighteen. Who would believe that?"
Zhang Rongfang gave an awkward laugh.
He has been practicing martial arts for quite some time now. He also understands that for ordinary people...
The First Grade of the first grade is the most difficult, and it usually requires at least ten years to build a foundation.
After breaking through to the First Grade, the subsequent progress will be much faster.
Generally, it takes three years to First Grade.
Of course, this is the general situation.
Among countless martial artists, there are always those with exceptional talent and physique, whose physical qualities are equivalent to those of an average person at the first or second rank from the start. For them, practicing martial arts is twice as effective with half the effort.
There's nothing unfair about that. Even babies are born with varying weights, sometimes by as much as double their actual size.
Not to mention adults.
There are also those with exceptional comprehension who have a thorough understanding of martial arts and can maximize the effects of their training, making one year of training equivalent to several years of training for others.
These people also progress very quickly.
But Zhang Rongfang knew he didn't belong to either of those categories.
Forcing a disguise will inevitably lead to being exposed.
So.
"Replying to your question, sir, I am indeed not eighteen years old." Zhang Rongfang smiled awkwardly.
"You," Li Ran shook her head, "Don't think everyone else is a fool. You've practiced martial arts for several years and worked hard for a few years. You're an experienced person, and you can roughly judge these things."
Many things, many traces, have nothing to do with talent or aptitude; they can only be accumulated through hard work. Therefore, one should be honest.
"You are right, sir." Zhang Rongfang nodded solemnly.
"Alright, now that you've broken through to the Third Grade, Ninth Squad has a chance to become a full-fledged member. However, since you haven't been with the team long and still lack merit, the task I'm giving you will be completed successfully, and you'll be officially appointed this time. However, this task is somewhat dangerous."
"So? Do you dare to accept?!"
Li Ran smiled as she looked at Zhang Rongfang.
"I dare!" Zhang Rongfang replied decisively without saying another word.
He saved the other party's only son; surely he wouldn't risk his life for him.
"Very good." Li Ran nodded, took a document from the desk, and tossed it lightly.
The document spun around and flew precisely to Zhang Rongfang's hand, where it was grabbed.
"A temporary stronghold of the Sea Dragon has been discovered on the outskirts of the city. You will lead a team to take care of it."
"Yes!"
Zhang Rongfang understood immediately.
It seems that Lin Qixiao's Lin Family is finally starting to exert its strength.
He was just an ordinary Third Grade, so the matter that required his attention must not be anything particularly difficult.
Immediately, early the next morning, he gathered all his team members and headed towards the specific address on the outskirts of the city.
*** Tianxuan Palace, Zhengning Hall.
Lin Hong was wearing a white jacket and a green Daoist robe, with a large Taiji Diagram tattooed on his back.
He is now over forty or fifty years old and has a son and a daughter.
His wife passed away years ago, and now only his two children are by his side.
But now, he held a whisk in his hand, pursed his lips, and stared intently at the simple wooden bed placed in the back hall of the main hall.
Lying on the bed was a wounded man, his body wrapped tightly in bandages. It was his daughter Lin Qixiao, who had been lively and innocent not long ago.
He reached out, his hand trembling, wanting to touch his daughter's severed arm.
"Father," Lin Qixiao's pretty face was swollen from crying.
Unable to move her body and needing to be cared for in every way, including eating, drinking, and using the toilet, her original dignity completely collapsed under the care she received over the past two days.
"It's Sea Dragon!! They want to kidnap our daughter!! They want to take her to do those filthy things!!"
She didn't mention at all that she was the one who took the initiative to stop Sea Dragon.
"Sea Dragon." Lin Hong withdrew his hand, his face trembling slightly.
If it were any other force, he might have immediately mobilized experts to encircle and annihilate them without hesitation.
But Sea Dragon... that's a huge problem behind it. He'd heard of Sea Dragon and knew they were capturing beautiful women and sending them to Great Capital.
He knew even better that the Sea Dragon King, the boss of the Sea Dragon, was actually just a figurehead.
But right now, his beloved daughter is injured like this. Sea Dragon is someone he can't afford to mess with, but catching some other people to avenge his daughter is no problem.
Lin Qixiao seemed to have discerned something from his expression.
"Dad, are you going to do the same thing again, like last time?! Like when Mom passed away?!"
She stared at her father in disbelief, her eyes filled with shock.
"I'm your daughter!!! Your most beloved Qi Xiao!!!"
"Look at my hands, my legs!?"