Director Zhang (Please Follow)

Deputy Director Gao straightened his white uniform, then led Yang Wenqing out of the office. They reached the stairwell and followed the stairs up to the top floor of the branch's main building.

The top-floor corridor was carpeted in thick rugs that swallowed every footstep. At the end stood a dark wooden door carved with auspicious beasts that warded off evil. A stern-faced secretary sat before it. Upon seeing Deputy Director Gao, the secretary immediately rose and respectfully opened the door.

The director's office was exceptionally spacious. One entire wall consisted of enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking most of the county town and the winding river in the distance. The floor was covered in soft demon-beast fur carpets, and a broad, heavy rosewood desk stood in the center. Behind it sat a middle-aged man in a white uniform like theirs, except his epaulets bore two silver stars.

He was Zhang Qiming, director of the county branch.

Director Zhang looked to be in his fifties. His face was stern, and his hair was combed without a strand out of place. He was currently bent over some documents, reviewing them as though he had not noticed the two men entering.

Deputy Director Gao put on a genial smile and bowed slightly. "Director, Yang Wenqing is here."

Only then did Director Zhang slowly raise his head. His gaze swept over Deputy Director Gao first, calm and unreadable, before settling on Yang Wenqing.

Yang Wenqing immediately stood at attention and saluted. "Hello, Director!"

He truly felt the pressure. That Advanced Police Commissioner uniform on the other man meant that he had at least reached the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

Director Zhang did not return his greeting. Instead, he picked up a file from the desk and gave it a light shake, his tone flat. "You handled the corpse-dumping case at the harbor?"

"Yes, Director!" Yang Wenqing answered in a deep voice.

Director Zhang tossed the file onto the desk. The sound was neither loud nor soft, yet it was enough to make one's heart tremble. "Well handled indeed! You mobilized so many police officers and militia members for over half a month, yet found nothing. The only lead has vanished without a trace. Is this your explanation to me? Your explanation to the county's two hundred thousand residents?"

His voice gradually rose, carrying unmistakable anger. "The Major Crimes Unit is not a playground! The bureau gave you such an important position because we saw your potential and expected results from you—not so you could muddle through! A simple murder case turned up a few scraps of smuggling evidence. Where is the main culprit? Where is the mastermind? Is one casual sentence—'the lead went cold'—supposed to settle everything?"

He stared at Yang Wenqing, his gaze sharp as a blade. "If everyone handled cases the way you do, the county bureau might as well shut its doors! I think you still need a lot more tempering before you can serve as acting squad leader!"

His words were exceptionally harsh, practically accusing Yang Wenqing of incompetence to his face. They also implicitly questioned Deputy Director Gao's decision to appoint Yang Wenqing.

Yang Wenqing lowered his head and silently bore the oncoming pressure without offering any defense. He knew that any explanation now would only add fuel to the fire.

Just as Director Zhang was about to continue applying pressure, Deputy Director Gao spoke up at the right moment. He still wore a smile, his tone gentle as he tried to smooth things over.

"Director, please calm down. Wenqing is still young, after all, and this was his first time independently handling a case like this. He is indeed lacking in experience. Although the main culprit was not caught this time, he did take down a smuggling ring in the process, so it was not entirely without gains. Young people need time and cases to temper them. I believe that after this experience, Wenqing will certainly learn his lesson and do better next time."

His words seemed to acknowledge Yang Wenqing's shortcomings, but in truth, they lightly attributed the case's incomplete resolution to youth and inexperience. By emphasizing the achievement of dismantling the smuggling ring, he cleverly defused Director Zhang's attempt to use the matter as an excuse to strip Yang Wenqing of his acting squad leader position.

Director Zhang's gaze lingered on Deputy Director Gao's face for a moment. A trace of nearly imperceptible chill flashed deep in his eyes, but the anger on his face soon receded somewhat.

"Since Deputy Director Gao is pleading for you, we will let it go this time. Handle the case as Deputy Director Gao suggests: compile the case file, issue a wanted notice, then archive it. But Yang Wenqing, remember this: the Major Crimes Unit does not keep idlers, much less mediocrities. If you get the same result next time, you can forget about being squad leader. Reflect on yourself properly!"

"Yes, Director. I will reflect deeply!" Yang Wenqing immediately replied, keeping his posture very humble.

"You may leave first." Deputy Director Gao stepped forward, walked up to Yang Wenqing, and lightly patted his shoulder, signaling that he could leave.

"Yes!"

Yang Wenqing stood at attention and saluted once more, then properly withdrew from the room.

The instant the door closed, silence returned to the corridor. Yang Wenqing glanced at the secretary on duty nearby and quickly headed toward the stairwell.

Once he reached an empty spot, Yang Wenqing immediately cast a Clear Mind Spell on himself and quickly connected the series of events he had encountered since his promotion.

Before long, he understood the twists and turns behind it all.

Director Zhang Qiming and Deputy Director Gao Zhen were clearly at odds. The director wanted to interfere in the Major Crimes Unit's affairs and use the vacant Third Squad leader position to place one of his own people there, but Yang Wenqing's sudden appearance had disrupted his original arrangements.

That reminded Yang Wenqing of Deputy Section Chief Li's warning. Everything suddenly became clear to him, and he thought, Deputy Director Gao is using what just happened to win me over for his own use!

This was also Yang Wenqing's only choice at present!

So next, Deputy Director Gao should make some gesture—perhaps a material reward to show that Yang Wenqing was different from the rest. Of course, he might also be a miser who would offer nothing but empty promises.

Sure enough, not long after Yang Wenqing returned to the Third Squad office, before he had even begun writing the case-closing report, Deputy Director Gao summoned him through the communication formation on his badge.

Yang Wenqing composed himself and returned to Deputy Director Gao's office. Unlike the oppressive atmosphere in the director's office earlier, Deputy Director Gao was alone now, leisurely brewing tea on a sofa in the reception area. His face bore a genial smile, as though none of what had happened earlier had ever occurred.

"Wenqing, come, sit." Deputy Director Gao warmly invited him over, personally pouring him a cup of clear tea. The fragrance curled through the air, refreshing the mind.

"Thank you, Director." Yang Wenqing sat down as instructed, maintaining a respectful posture.

Deputy Director Gao took a sip of tea and looked at Yang Wenqing, his tone carrying the concern of an elder. "Don't take what happened earlier to heart. Director Zhang has always had that sort of temperament. He is a genius, after all. He has never worked at the grassroots level, so he does not understand the hardships of handling cases there. Still, all he has left now is the title of genius..."

His words came to an abrupt stop. Then he said earnestly, "You are still young. The road ahead is long, and a small setback is nothing. What matters is learning from it. In the Major Crimes Unit, as long as you work diligently and keep your feet on the ground, the bureau and I will not mistreat those who are truly capable."

Typical leadership rhetoric: soothe first, then paint a rosy picture, while stressing the difference between "us" and "them."

Then Deputy Director Gao changed the subject, his smile deepening. "You have just advanced to the Qi Refining Stage, which is precisely when you need to consolidate your foundation and improve your strength. I happen to have two little things here. They are of no use to me, so consider them encouragement for your hard work on this case—and gifts to congratulate you on your advancement."

As he spoke, he first took out a long, narrow wooden box from beneath the tea table. When he opened it, a short sword in a sheath lay inside. The sheath was dark green and engraved with simple runes, while the hilt was wrapped in fine, slip-resistant scale hide.

"This Azure Edge is an improved version of a standard-issue flying sword. It is not some peerless divine weapon, but its spiritual power conduction is smooth, making it a perfect match for your Early Qi Refining cultivation. Weren't you looking for a suitable flying sword to practice the Sword-Controlling Art? This is just right."

As he spoke, Deputy Director Gao handed the short sword to Yang Wenqing.