Old Friend

Inside the Dark Star Bureau, Big Head reported to Team Leader Chen Changrui about Xiao Zhengong's trip to the hospital.

He only said that Xiao Zhengong went to He Jiaqing's ward, without mentioning that He Jiaqing had already woken up.

"Team Leader, Vice Captain Xiao has been going to the hospital quite often lately."

Chen Changrui nodded and said, "I know about this."

"There seems to be a personal grudge between him and He Jiaqing."

"I know about this too."

"I'm worried he'll kill He Jiaqing," Big Head bluntly stated.

Chen Changrui smiled and said, "I know about this too."

The Team Leader's attitude puzzled Big Head.

He knows everything, yet he doesn't care about anything.

What's the logic behind this?

Chen Changrui offered Big Head a cigarette, lit one for himself, and asked, "What kind of person do you think He Jiaqing is?"

Big Head took a drag of his cigarette. "I don't know. I've never met him. I only know that he's someone the bureau values highly."

Chen Changrui took a deep drag of his cigarette, exhaled a cloud of smoke, and asked, "What kind of person do you think Xiao Zhengong is?"

Big Head remained silent for a long time, not daring to answer easily, "I don't know Vice Captain Xiao very well either."

Chen Changrui flicked his cigarette ash and laughed, "You really don't understand, and you can't understand. He Jiaqing and Xiao Zhengong are beyond your comprehension because they're from Pro State."

You haven't been to Pro State, so you don't know what Pro State's like. I lived there for a few years, and the people of Pro State have survived a life of bloodshed and treachery.

We've lived this long, we think we've seen it all, we're shrewd, experienced, and calculating. But let me tell you the truth, what we've got means nothing in Pro State.

Do you think that just because someone is lying in a hospital bed, they are necessarily a patient? Do you think that just because someone is the deputy Team Leader, they are necessarily a member of the Dark Star Bureau?

These are people we can't handle. Wouldn't it be better to let one of them deal with the other?

Big Head remained silent.

Team Leader Chen laughed and said, "Big Head, there are some things in the bureau that are done unfairly, and I can't stand them either. I'll fight for you if I can, but if I really can't, I can only blame myself for not being capable enough."

But we're all from the same department, so we'll handle things together when something happens. We shouldn't get involved in things in Pro State, don't you think?

Big Head's heart tightened, but his face remained expressionless.

Team Leader Chen stubbed out his cigarette and said, "We have a new recruit this year. I'll entrust him to you for now."

"Tangyuan" You Xuehan brought in a young man of medium build, with an ordinary appearance and simple but neat and clean clothes. He had the unique vigor of a young man on his face.

The young man introduced himself, "My name is Qin Minghui, I am 23 years old, and I am a recent graduate of Yue Province University with a law degree."

Team Leader Chen said, "This kid got first place in the written test, interview, and physical test. He could have had a better position, but he chose the Dark Star Bureau."

Big Head asked, "Why choose the Dark Star Bureau?"

Qin Minghui replied, "To protect."

"What are we protecting?"

Qin Minghui said, "To protect this world, and everything important in this world."

Before she could finish speaking, Tangyuan's face turned bright red, and she struggled to suppress her laughter.

Chen Changrui and Big Head couldn't help but laugh out loud, and Qin Minghui laughed along with them.

He smiled naturally, without any embarrassment.

"Big Head, from now on, Xiao Qin will be following you. You can give him a code name."

It's a tradition of the Dark Star Bureau for masters to give their apprentices nicknames.

Big Head was always kind to newcomers, and when it came to nicknames, he would ask for their opinions, "What kind of nickname do you want?"

Qin Minghui scratched his head and said, "My senior brothers gave me a nickname; they call me 'Chuunibyou)."

Chen Changrui waved his hand and said, "Don't listen to their nonsense. Code names are a serious matter. First, they can prevent our identities from being leaked, and second, they can facilitate communication and exchange during missions."

"Let's just call Chuunibyou ' (a Japanese term for someone with delusions of grandeur)," Qin Minghui said without any objection. "I also think I'm pretty Chuunibyou myself. Maybe after a couple more beatings, I won't be so chuunibyou anymore."

Big Head didn't want to put much thought into nicknames, so since the other party was willing, he would just call him Chuunibyou).

"You should first learn about the bureau's regulations."

"Senior brother, I've already learned it all..."

"I need to study more carefully. I've been studying for half my life, and there are still some things I haven't learned."

Green Water City, Peace Mansion Cinema.

Star Zhou Changhong was sitting in the back row on the second floor, watching the third installment of "Blood Blade Detective".

Ling Miaoying released her third film before Ma Wu did.

No matter how fast they were snapped up, it seemed to be of little use. Compared to "Blood Spear Detective," the attendance rate of "Blood Blade Detective" was vastly different.

Despite the significant disparity, it doesn't mean no one wants to watch "Blood Blade Detective." The third installment has been showing for a week, maintaining an average daily attendance rate of over 20%. While the theaters are a bit quiet, the tastes and social standing of these viewers are quite different.

Zhou Changhong could hear some audience members whispering:

"This is what real cinema is, this is true art."

"Let's not talk about anything else, just the use of lighting and framing are unmatched by any other film."

"The character of Liang Chunjie is well portrayed, and the actor's performance is also spot on. It's clear that a master's work makes a difference. I've even memorized many of the lines."

Zhou Changhong was very satisfied with this evaluation, as it was exactly the effect he wanted to achieve.

A third of the way through the film, an elderly man sat down next to Zhou Changhong and asked in a low voice, "Big Star, am I sure I haven't mistaken you for someone else?"

Zhou Changhong had already spotted the newcomer, but he pretended to be slow to realize it and quickly stood up, saying, "Mr. Lu, what brings you here...?"

Lu Maoxian, the patriarch of the Lu Family, waved his hand at Zhou Changhong and said, "No need for formalities, I'm just here to watch a movie."

This movie is really well made, it's a pity that not many people in Pro State can understand it. There's just one thing that doesn't suit me: the role of Liang Chunjie should have been played by you; the other actors' performances were really lacking.

Zhou Changhong smiled modestly, "Sir, you flatter me."

Lu Maoxian waved his hand and said, "This is not an overstatement. At my age, I don't need to flatter anyone. These are the honest words."

Changhong, why didn't you take this role? Was it because Boss Ling's price wasn't right?

Zhou Changhong shook his head and said, "I tried, but Boss Ling has another suitable candidate."

"I need to have a serious talk with Miao Ying about this. The right person should do the right job. No one is more suitable for this role than you."

The two exchanged a few words, then fell silent, each focusing on watching the movie.

Why was Lu Maoxian so enthusiastic towards Zhou Changhong?

This is not surprising. In Pro State, especially in Green Water City, there are connections between Star and wealthy families.

"Zhou Changhong" didn't take it to heart. Judging from the situation, the real Zhou Changhong should be very familiar with Old Master Lu.

After the movie ended, "Zhou Changhong" exchanged a few more polite words with Lu Maoxian, and the two went their separate ways.

Walking down the street, Zhou Changhong overheard a man and a woman discussing the plot of a movie.

Zhou Changhong habitually placed a safety pin near his left ear, listened for a moment, but heard nothing.

My left ear still hasn't improved.

He placed the safety pin near his right ear, and this time he heard it very clearly.

The man said, "This movie is boring. I'd rather watch 'Blood Spear Detective'."

The woman said, "How can you be so vulgar? How can you watch that kind of movie?"

"The plot of 'Blood Spear Detective' is also good, but isn't it all the same...?"

"Stop talking, I don't want to hear it!" the woman said angrily. "Movies aren't just about the plot, they're also about the overall message."

The character Liang Chunjie is of a higher level than any other film character.

I particularly admire what he said, "A family needs a master, a city needs a master, a region needs a master. Without a master, the common people are just a bunch of scattered sand, destined to be bullied."

The man said, "I don't agree with what you're saying. Without an owner, you can't survive?"

The woman sighed and said, "We really have nothing in common!"

Zhou Changhong nodded.

Apart from a significant drop in audience numbers, the overall effect was largely as expected.

He wanted to hear what the other audience members thought, and a button on his chest suddenly started to vibrate.

"Jiaqing, something happened at the hospital."

That's Big Head's voice.

"What happened?"

"Zhou Changhong's identity was exposed by Xiao Zhengong, and Zhou Changhong told Xiao Zhengong the truth."

Zhou Changhong frowned, his good mood instantly ruined.

Is the information reliable?

"I saw it with my own eyes."

"Thank you, brother." He Jiaqing, who was impersonating "Zhou Changhong", broke off the contact and realized the seriousness of the problem.

We shouldn't have left Zhou Changhong alone, nor should we have overestimated his loyalty.

He Jiaqing walked towards the Train Station as if nothing had happened, preparing to buy a ticket back to Outer State immediately.

Of course, buying a ticket is one thing, but whether or not he takes the train is another; he has other ways to get back to Outer State.

The matter has already been exposed; the speed is not the point, the point is that the itinerary must be kept secret.

Secret...

Lu Maoxian came to see me earlier, is there some other reason?

"Sir, would you like to buy a newspaper?" A newsboy blocked his way. He Jiaqing was a little annoyed and pushed the newsboy aside.

It's not necessarily a coincidence that Lu Maoxian. Could it be that he recognized me?

Impossible.

Judging solely from his cultivation level, he shouldn't be able to spot any flaws, unless he has dealings with Xiao Zhengong. Could it be that Jiang Xiang Gang and the Lu Family also have dealings, or perhaps...

"Have pity on me, give me something to eat." A beggar blocked his way again, and He Jiaqing impatiently walked around him.

Lu Maoxian might indeed have dealings with Xiao Zhengong. Xiao Zhengong is not only the Gang Leader of the Jiang Xiang Gang, but also Balance Person; his identity is very complex...

"Have pity on me, give me something to eat." The beggar circled around to He Jiaqing again.

Why are you bothering this person?

Interrupted from his train of thought once again, He Jiaqing looked at the beggar in front of him with some annoyance. He saw that the beggar's clothes were tattered and his face was covered with pustules, from which green pus was oozing.

Green Water Beggar...

He Jiaqing's expression was tense.

The beggar smiled and said, "Have pity on me, give me something to eat."

He Jiaqing tapped the buttons on his chest and whispered, "Don't speak, stay in touch."

P. S.: The sage's old friend has arrived.