Dragon Transformation

"Here's the case file. Take it!"

Han Juan slapped the file into Lei Zhen's hands with a dark expression. Lei Zhen chuckled and paid no mind to her foul attitude. "We'll have plenty of chances to work together in the future. Thanks for Inspector Han's cooperation this time."

Lei Zhen rubbed his gleaming bald head and said as if casually, "Where's Gao Wu? I'm taking him too."

"Take them all." Han Juan signaled to someone beside her. "Go bring him over. Make sure not a single transfer procedure is missing, so we don't end up taking the blame if something goes wrong."

Several inspectors hurried off to bring Gao Wu over, while several supervisors from the Supervision Bureau quickly followed.

The handover of personnel was no small matter. With Han Juan acting so hostile, they had to make sure she did not pull any tricks here.

The two sides fussed about for quite a while. Gao Wu was given a simple physical examination to confirm that he was healthy, clear-headed, and free of any external injuries before the Supervision Bureau staff signed to take custody of him.

As Gao Wu followed the Supervision Bureau personnel out of the Public Security Bureau, the sunlight outside felt blinding. His legs were weak as he walked, as though he were stepping on cotton.

He had not even been given breakfast that morning, only a bottle of water. His constitution was strong and his metabolism especially fast; he was practically faint with hunger.

After getting into a black midsize SUV, Gao Wu saw the old man seated in the back.

Shang Hongyi smiled at Gao Wu. "Hungry?"

He handed Gao Wu several Taiji energy bars. Gao Wu was so moved when he accepted them that he nearly cried. Grandpa really did care about him.

He wolfed down five energy bars, and only then did Gao Wu feel as though he had come back to life.

"Slow down, no need to rush..." Lei Zhen, sitting in the front passenger seat, turned around. Seeing Gao Wu's bedraggled state, he could not help laughing. "Once we get to the bureau and take your statement, you can go home."

Gao Wu was a little surprised. He looked to the old man, who nodded. "Director Lei is an old friend of mine. If he says it's fine, then it's fine."

"Thank you, Uncle Lei." Gao Wu hurriedly expressed his gratitude.

"A life is at stake. By procedure, you should be held for at least forty-eight hours. Fortunately, the video was enough to prove your innocence, so there was no need to make more trouble."

Lei Zhen said solemnly, "You killed a Demonic Cult believer. You're a young hero and deserve to be commended."

"I wouldn't dare accept that. I was only forced to defend myself." Gao Wu was already more than satisfied just to get out. He did not dare dream of something so good.

Lei Zhen understood Gao Wu's concerns and smiled. "Don't worry. You have the video as evidence, and the circumstances are very clear. I'm handling this case personally, so there definitely won't be any reversal."

After a pause, he added, "I'll help you apply for a commendation. Getting a bravery medal won't be a problem. You'll even get extra points when applying to college, along with a cash reward. You've earned it, so no need to be polite."

Gao Wu looked at the old man. The old man said, "The video spread too widely. There's no way to keep a low profile now. A commendation would naturally be a good thing."

The old man looked at Lei Zhen. "This won't put you in a difficult position, will it?"

"So many people are watching online. Giving Gao Wu a commendation is the only way to satisfy everyone, and it can also serve as encouragement and an example." Lei Zhen waved a hand, signaling that it was only a small matter.

"Thank you, Uncle Lei." Gao Wu was rather moved. His grandfather's friend was truly a man of principles!

Lei Zhen smiled. "You don't need to worry. The Public Security Bureau botched this matter badly, so someone will definitely have to take the blame. They won't dare interfere in this matter again."

Gao Wu felt a burst of delight inside, but outwardly he appeared completely unconcerned. "It's all official business. I understand."

There was no need to act like a petty man intoxicated by success in front of Lei Zhen. Gao Wu still possessed that much composure.

Besides, Lei Zhen was also a government official.

Lei Zhen was a little surprised as well. Gao Wu looked sunny and cheerful, yet he had the composure to hide his true emotions. Old Shang's grandson was no ordinary person...

"So young, yet broad-minded and refined, with the capacity to tolerate others, while also decisive and valiant. What a great talent..."

Since Lei Zhen had already done him a favor, he naturally intended to see it through. He lavished praise upon Gao Wu in front of Shang Hongyi.

On the surface, Gao Wu repeatedly demurred, but inwardly he was delighted. Looking at bald-pated Lei Zhen again, the more he looked, the more agreeable the old man seemed. He secretly sighed that it was no wonder the man could become a deputy director.

Even the old man beamed with delight, his face glowing red from the praise...

The facts proved that Lei Zhen was not merely good with words; he also acted swiftly and decisively.

After taking Gao Wu's statement at the Supervision Bureau, Lei Zhen returned all of Gao Wu's belongings and personally saw Gao Wu and the old man out through the main gates.

When they returned to the old residence, Gao Wu looked at the quiet courtyard and could not help feeling as though a lifetime had passed.

"Don't go to school for the next two days. Lie low for a while."

The old man said, "I'll go buy some groceries. We'll have a good meal tonight and wash away your bad luck."

Once the old man left, Gao Wu first took out his phone and sent Song Mingyue a Feixin message. "I'm out. I'm fine now. Thank you."

"Mm."

"I won't be coming over tonight. I'll keep Grandpa company. I'll come see you tomorrow."

"Okay."

Song Mingyue's replies remained as concise as ever, and Gao Wu did not know what else to say. He knew very well that he had only gotten out this time because Song Mingyue had pulled strings behind the scenes.

He understood even more clearly how difficult this matter had been. Leaving aside everything else, simply withstanding the Public Security Bureau's pressure and forcibly releasing the video must have required an untold amount of resources.

He truly did not know how he could repay such an enormous favor.

After ending the call, Gao Wu contacted Shang Qingjun. Shang Qingjun had likely been waiting for news from him all along, because the moment his message went out, she replied.

She sent a huge surprised expression sticker, followed by a huge hugging sticker. "You came back safely. That's wonderful!"

Ever since receiving a call from her grandfather that morning, Shang Qingjun had been waiting for news. Now, at last, the stone hanging over her heart had fallen to the ground.

Though they were separated by thousands of miles, Gao Wu could feel Shang Qingjun's joy. A smile rose to his face as well. The old man cared about him, and Song Mingyue cared about him too, but Shang Qingjun's concern was different from theirs...

The two chatted for a long time, only ending when Shang Qingjun went to class.

That evening, he had a lavish dinner with the old man, and they talked a great deal.

They mainly discussed the Demonic Cult and Demon Gods. The old man had served in the military and often went to wipe out Demonic Cult believers, so he knew quite a bit about the Demonic Cult and Demon Gods.

The old man had rarely spoken of such things before because the world had been peaceful over the past twenty years, and traces of the Demonic Cult had been seldom seen.

In recent years, however, the situation had changed. The Demonic Cult seemed to be showing signs of rising from the ashes.

"It is said that the Ten Thousand Gods Cult has twelve Demon Gods, each possessing strange divine abilities. The Demon Gods do not answer to one another, and may even wage war against each other. So the Ten Thousand Gods Cult cannot be regarded as a single whole, but rather as a collective name for many Demonic Cults."

The old man's expression was grave as he spoke of this. In the past, the Demonic Cult had run rampant and caused enormous casualties. Those who believed in the Demonic Cult were all like madmen, fearless of death and beyond all reason.

He said, "According to the records, Demonic Cult followers are actually divided into nine ranks. At the lowest are believers, attendants, and Acolytes. By the time one reaches the rank of Acolyte, one is at least an Advanced Martial Artist.

"Above them are Deacons, Divine Officials, and Chief Priests. Even the weakest among them is a Warrior. These people also receive the blessings of Demon Gods and possess all kinds of supernatural abilities. They are extremely terrifying.

"As for Demon God Believers of even higher rank, I don't know much..."

Finally, the old man warned him, "There is no affection between Demonic Cult believers. Still, you've been in the spotlight too much lately, so you must beware of retaliation from Demonic Cult believers. Don't go to Bailong Mountain in the morning, and especially don't go out at night."

"Mm-hm... I understand."

After dinner, Gao Wu practiced his fists and sword in the courtyard until his entire body steamed and white vapor rose from him. Only then did he return to his room to shower.

Back in his room, Gao Wu practiced the Nine Dragon Forms several more times before going to bed.

There was no longer any sound from downstairs. The old man should have gone to sleep. Gao Wu touched the sword at his side. The heavy weapon filled him with a sense of security.

With everything prepared, Gao Wu opened the Boundless Merit Book. The amount of Merit recorded within had already reached two hundred and fifty thousand.

In a single day, it had grown by more than seventy thousand Merit. This rate of growth delighted Gao Wu.

If it could continue for ten days to half a month, he could accumulate a million Merit.

Unfortunately, that was obviously impossible. The Merit a single video could generate was limited. Besides, he had no way to sustain such massive traffic.

News of his release had already spread. By tomorrow, the heat would rapidly fade. Within two or three days, this wave of attention would pass completely.

Gao Wu then laughed at himself. Getting such a good outcome from this matter was already something to thank Heaven and Earth for. The huge amount of extra Merit he had gained was an unexpected delight. He could not be too greedy!

He invested one hundred thousand Merit into the Azure Dragon Divine Qi Incantation. Something jolted deep within Gao Wu's mind as countless streaks of cyan Divine Light flashed and gathered, transforming into a Cyan Heavenly Dragon that raised its head and roared toward the heavens!

In a daze, Gao Wu felt that he and the Cyan Heavenly Dragon had merged into one, soaring and dancing to their hearts' content through the boundless Heaven and Earth...