Xu Jin tightened his cuffs as he gravely assigned tasks.
"Wang Lei, take the statements, seal the evidence, then gather the men and come over."
"Settle Zhang Quan in a side room at the Inspectorate and guard him well."
"Also send word to the village head in the western outskirts. If there is any movement around the temple tonight, all villagers are to stay indoors and not go out."
Holding paper and brush, Wang Lei swiftly wrote it all down. His brush tip paused, and when he looked up, there was some hesitation in his eyes.
"Brother Xu, how about... I go with you first?"
"You're at the seventh level of Body Tempering. You ride a horse."
Xu Jin glanced at him, his tone calm.
"I fly by sword."
Wang Lei: "..."
Fine. He had been presumptuous.
Brother Xu was becoming more and more unfathomable.
Before, looking at Xu Jin had been like viewing a mountain through a window—he could see only its outline and imposing might.
Now that he stood closer, it was as though he had already entered the mountain.
The farther he went, the more bottomless it seemed.
"Stop standing there." Xu Jin interrupted his wandering thoughts. "Make the statements detailed. The Merit Office will need them reported tomorrow."
"Understood!" Wang Lei jolted, turned to leave, then could not help looking back to add, "Brother Xu, what if there's a real tough one hiding in that ruined temple?"
Xu Jin considered it.
"It's precisely because there may be a tough one that we need to get there overnight."
"If we wait until he has set his board, it will only become troublesome."
The best course was to strangle every threat in its cradle.
Wang Lei seemed to understand but not quite. Scratching his head, he acknowledged the