Peacekeeping Bureau

[Clear as Fire](green)

[Note]: Wearing this Affix allowed one to see all things in greater clarity.

Lu Jing'an silently equipped the Affix.

In an instant!

He felt as though two faint flames had ignited deep within his eyes.

His vision suddenly changed.

Beneath the flickering firelight.

Every detail around him was magnified and drawn closer, becoming incomparably clear.

He instinctively looked once more at the Lamp Cultivator's corpse.

Under his gaze.

The body gradually took on a strange, semi-transparent appearance.

The network of blood vessels beneath the flesh, the grain of the muscles.

Even the fractured surfaces of the bones were revealed in the finest detail.

His gaze fixed on the severed wrist.

The slight curling of the muscle fibers there, the direction of the cracks along the broken bone, all disclosed unusual information.

Just as he tried to observe more deeply.

A sharp stabbing pain suddenly shot through his eyes and pierced straight into his mind, followed by intense dizziness.

His body swayed slightly.

"Young Master!"

Chen Xuan, who had been watching him closely, noticed at once.

He swiftly reached out and supported Lu Jing'an by the arm.

Lu Jing'an steadied himself with his help.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again.

The stabbing pain and dizziness had lessened somewhat, though the soreness in his eyes remained.

"Uncle Xuan, I'm fine."

He gave a light wave of his hand, signaling Chen Xuan to continue.

Chen Xuan carefully examined his complexion.

Only after confirming that nothing was seriously wrong.

Did he turn and resume directing his men as they examined the scene.

Lu Jing'an understood.

Using an Affix's abilities burdened both the mind and the body.

Without a strong physique and sufficient mental strength, possessing an Affix alone was futile.

It seemed strengthening himself was the most urgent matter.

Just then, a rapid yet rhythmic set of footsteps approached from afar.

Breaking the silence at the scene.

Without waiting for Chen Xuan's order.

The guards had already swung their gun barrels around in practiced unison, warily aiming toward the source of the sound.

Lu Jing'an turned his head as well and saw a rickshaw puller racing toward them with a carriage.

The puller moved with astonishing speed.

Yet as he pulled the rickshaw, he seemed to do so as easily as if lifting nothing at all.

Every step covered a distance as precise as though measured with a ruler.

Seated in the rickshaw was a young woman in a lotus-purple qipao and silver-rimmed glasses.

Her figure was graceful, her temperament cool and aloof.

The rickshaw came to a steady stop at the edge of the crowd.

The woman rose elegantly, the qipao wrapping around her exquisite curves.

As she moved, the slit in the dress faintly outlined a tantalizing flash of snowy white.

She adjusted the silver-rimmed glasses on her nose and looked at the puller with mild irritation.

"Boss, I know you're frantic with worry and thinking about your brother.

"But no matter how urgent you are, you can't treat my life like a joke, can you?

"This entire ride was so bumpy, I nearly shook up my dinner."

A flicker of surprise crossed Lu Jing'an's eyes.

He had not expected that this seemingly ordinary rickshaw puller was actually the leader.

"Young Master."

Chen Xuan promptly introduced them in a low voice behind Lu Jing'an.

"These two are from the Peacekeeping Bureau.

"The rickshaw puller is Kui Shan, chief of the Yinshan County Peacekeeping Bureau. He follows the path of an Earth Cultivator.

"The woman is called Wen Ling. She is a Literary Cultivator."

Lu Jing'an nodded slightly.

Over the past few days, Lu Jing'an had already come to understand the Peacekeeping Bureau's detached status and duties.

Kui Shan strode forward in great strides, his eyes sharp as lightning.

He first gave Lu Jing'an a quick once-over.

Seeing that he was young and scholarly-looking, he dismissed him outright.

Turning to Chen Xuan, he spoke in a muffled voice laced with suppressed anger: "Instructor Chen, you arrived quickly enough!

"But have you found out how my brother met such a vicious end?"

His disregard was obvious.

But Lu Jing'an did not get angry, merely watching how things unfolded.

Chen Xuan's expression remained unchanged, and he did not answer at once.

Instead, he looked first to Lu Jing'an, clearly awaiting his instruction.

Lu Jing'an said calmly, "Uncle Xuan, tell Chief Kui and the others what we currently know."

"Yes, Young Master."

Only then did Chen Xuan turn to Kui Shan and clearly recount the preliminary examination results.

After listening, Kui Shan crouched down.

His coarse fingers lightly brushed the dead man's icy severed wrist.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice dropped lower, carrying a deliberately restrained calm.

"Men die for wealth, birds die for food.

"I warned him long ago not to wade into the muddy waters between the local powerful clans.

"For him to end up like this, he can only blame himself."

His words were vague, yet the spear point faintly aimed at the Lu Family.

Lu Jing'an's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He knew this was a test from the other side, or rather, a challenge of sorts.

Seeing this, Chen Xuan stepped forward and said to Lu Jing'an.

"Young Master, now that the Peacekeeping Bureau has arrived.

"Let them handle this place. We should return to the residence first."

Lu Jing'an nodded. "All right."

Chen Xuan turned sideways, preparing to clear a path for Lu Jing'an.

"Wait!"

Kui Shan abruptly rose.

His towering body stood across the way like an iron tower, blocking their path.

He stared intensely at Lu Jing'an, no longer concealing the interrogation in his gaze.

"Young Master Lu, one of our Peacekeeping Bureau men died because of you, and you intend to just walk away?

"I'm afraid there's no such cheap bargain in this world!"

The atmosphere instantly tightened!

Chen Xuan's aura suddenly turned razor-sharp.

His muscles bulged, as though he would strike at any moment.

But Lu Jing'an raised a hand and gently pressed it against Chen Xuan's tense arm.

"Uncle Xuan, there is no need to be angry."

He stepped forward, standing only a few feet from Kui Shan.

Calmly meeting the oppressive gaze before him, he spoke clearly and steadily.

"Chief Kui.

"First, Li Dengxiu was not killed by me. I presume you know that perfectly well."

"Second, when he stepped in to help that day.

"I was unconscious, so I do not know the exact circumstances."

"Lastly, when Li Dengxiu came to rescue me.

"My father had already paid him more than the agreed compensation.

"Silver and goods had both been exchanged. Neither side owed the other anything."

He paused. His tone remained mild, yet it carried a hint of amusement.

"Of course, if the Peacekeeping Bureau requires the Security Station's cooperation in investigating this case.

"Whether for public or private reasons, we will certainly do everything in our power.

"But if you wish to use 'righteousness' as a name for coercion, forgive me, but I cannot comply."

"However."

Lu Jing'an shifted his tone and offered a practical solution.

"On humanitarian grounds, I will personally provide a sum in compensation.

"One portion will go to the deceased's family, and another will be donated to the Peacekeeping Bureau as a small token of goodwill.

"If he has no family at all, then both portions will go to the Peacekeeping Bureau."

After speaking, he quietly watched Kui Shan and added one final sentence, his tone carrying subtle meaning.

"Chief Kui, has no one ever told you that you truly are not good at acting?

"Your emotions are written all over your face. Your acting... is rather exaggerated."