A Leader's Gift

Yang Wenqing pondered for only a second before casually accepting the short sword. It felt slightly heavy in his hand, and he could clearly sense the smooth circulation of spiritual energy contained within the blade.

This was indeed what he needed most right now, and it was immensely valuable.

Before Yang Wenqing could thank him, Deputy Director Gao took out another metal bracelet the size of a palm. It was dark silver and smooth on the surface, with only extremely fine and complex Spirit-Gathering runes engraved along its inner rim.

"This is a Spirit-Gathering Bracelet. Inside is a Spirit-Gathering Formation set up by a Foundation Establishment cultivator. As long as you consume some specific spirit-gathering materials, it can absorb a large amount of spiritual energy from heaven and earth. I've looked through your file. Your consciousness is exceptionally powerful, so you can absorb and refine spiritual energy to the greatest extent. It should suit you well."

Yang Wenqing's heart stirred. These two items had been delivered straight into his hands, solving his two most pressing needs. At the same time, they showed that Deputy Director Gao truly had methods. He would have to be even more careful in dealing with him.

"Director Gao, these are too valuable." Yang Wenqing displayed the appropriate amount of gratitude and slight apprehension.

"Why be so polite with me?" Deputy Director Gao waved his hand, as if this were nothing at all. "Things are dead, but people are alive. I'm giving them to you in the hope that they'll help you grow faster. The Third Squad will need you to hold it up in the future. Only when you're strong can you solve more cases and make greater contributions to the bureau!"

He patted Yang Wenqing on the shoulder, his tone full of expectation. "Work hard. I think highly of you. If you run into any difficulties in the future, or anything you don't understand about cultivation, come find me anytime."

"Thank you for your guidance, Director Gao. Wenqing will certainly give it his all and live up to your expectations!" Yang Wenqing readily accepted.

He understood that this gift was both a clear signal and a binding tie. Accepting it meant taking Deputy Director Gao's side, but he currently had no standing to refuse. Besides, he did not want to refuse.

Deputy Director Gao's smile deepened as he looked at Yang Wenqing. Pointing at the bracelet, he said, "Its best spirit-gathering material is Radiant Jade. Once the spiritual-energy magnetic field contained within the Radiant Jade fades, it must be replaced promptly. Otherwise, the effect won't be nearly as good."

Yang Wenqing lowered his head and looked at the bracelet, discovering a groove in it. At that moment, a piece of yellow jade rested in the groove.

"Put it on and give it a try!"

Deputy Director Gao said with a smile.

Yang Wenqing did as instructed, taking off his mechanical watch and putting the bracelet on his left wrist.

"Unlock its sealing formation."

Deputy Director Gao spoke again.

Yang Wenqing complied. He formed the hand seal for unlocking a sealing formation and sent out a fixed seal. It was easy for him to undo the bracelet's sealing formation.

The next moment, his consciousness clearly sensed all the spiritual energy within twenty meters instantly gathering around him. At the same time, a rainbow-colored halo formed around his body.

"This piece of Radiant Jade will last about a month if you cultivate six hours a day. You'll need to buy the later pieces yourself. A Radiant Jade of this size costs around fifteen thousand. If you purchase it through the City Defense Bureau's internal channels, you can probably get it for around thirteen thousand. If you can't afford it for the moment, go to Listening Rain Pavilion in the east of the city. I'll put in a word for you, and they can sell it to you on credit for ten thousand. I'll give you the lowest interest rate, but the repayment period can be no longer than five years."

At that moment, Yang Wenqing withdrew most of his earlier positive assessment of Deputy Director Gao. Yet this made him feel more at ease. He then formed a hand seal to reactivate the bracelet's sealing formation and said to Deputy Director Gao, "I can sell some talisman paper. I can barely cover its monthly consumption."

Deputy Director Gao was not surprised. Still smiling, he said, "You can sell talisman paper to Listening Rain Pavilion. They can offer up to eighteen per sheet there. The price for special talismans can be negotiated separately."

He added an explanation. "The development plan up north in the Central Continent has encountered some problems. They urgently need a large quantity of talisman paper, so its price has long since changed. Just give them my name when you go, and they'll know what to do."

Yang Wenqing merely nodded. He knew about the nation's northern development plan. It had begun twenty years ago. He only had a general understanding of it and had not studied it in depth, because he had no need to at this stage.

Carrying his newly acquired flying sword and Spirit-Gathering Bracelet, Yang Wenqing had just returned to the Third Squad office when Wu Yan came over and said, "Captain, are we really planning to close Chen Dayong's case like this?"

His words were like a needle, piercing the emotions Yang Wenqing had only just temporarily suppressed. The woman's desperate sobs, hollow eyes, and the regret and despair lingering in the deceased Chen Dayong's residual consciousness all surfaced vividly in his mind once more.

Wu Yan lowered his voice. "Before we officially close and archive the case, let's make another trip to Seaside Village. Maybe there are still some clues."

Yang Wenqing froze. He glanced at the case file on the desk, then at Liu Qin, who was lowering her head on the other side, before nodding at Wu Yan.

The two remained silent throughout the journey. They piloted the flying shuttle to Seaside Village once more, and as soon as they reached the courtyard halfway up the mountain, a fierce argument carried over from afar, even more grating than last time.

"What's the point of keeping this crappy house? Dad's dead, so who's going to make money now? Sell it! Only after selling it can I marry A-Li! Otherwise, do you expect me to stay a bachelor for the rest of my life?" It was Chen Xiaohai's familiar, detestable voice.

"We can't sell it! This is the foundation your father left behind. If we sell it, where will the two of us live?" The woman's tearful plea seemed so pale and powerless.

"I don't care!"

Yang Wenqing and Wu Yan hurried into the courtyard, just in time to see Chen Xiaohai roaring viciously at his mother. The woman was slumped on the ground, both hands gripping a clothesline post in the yard as if it were her final support.

Beside Chen Xiaohai stood a middle-aged man holding a briefcase. He was inspecting the house while recording something in a small notebook.

Chen Xiaohai was the first to notice Yang Wenqing and Wu Yan. A flash of panic crossed his face, and he quickly gave the briefcase-carrying man a look. The man understood, immediately put away his notebook, and slipped out through the side gate of the courtyard.

"Officers." Chen Xiaohai forced a smile as he approached them. "What brings you here? Has... has there been any news about my father's case?"

His voice carried deliberate flattery, but his gaze wandered restlessly, and he did not dare meet Yang Wenqing's eyes.

Yang Wenqing did not answer. His gaze passed over Chen Xiaohai and landed on the woman. She never raised her head, as though she wanted to shrink herself into the shadows.

"We're here to inspect the scene." Wu Yan's voice was not loud, but it carried unquestionable weight. "The case isn't closed yet."

The smile on Chen Xiaohai's face froze instantly. His lips moved, but he did not dare say another word. He instinctively glanced toward his mother, his eyes filled with a mixture of guilt and impatience.

After that, a suffocating silence fell over the courtyard. Only the sound of the sea wind passing through the dilapidated doorway remained.

Yang Wenqing looked at the ruined courtyard before him, then at the woman curled up in the corner, her dignity utterly crushed, and silently withdrew from the courtyard.

Wu Yan followed close behind.

"You tell her."

Yang Wenqing did not want to face the woman again, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he grabbed Wu Yan. "Forget it. Don't say anything."

Ever since he could remember, he had spent his life studying and cultivating. During his year or so at the Public Security Office, he had dealt with little more than brawls and fights. Only through this case had he truly seen the face of this world. The City Defense Bureau might possess diverse methods, but the hidden evil cultivators had even more. And these were merely evil cultivators too insignificant to show their faces.

After remaining silent for a long while, the two followed procedure and took further statements from the mother and son before returning to the flying shuttle in the center of the village.

"If we do nothing, he might drive his mother to death," Wu Yan said softly as they were leaving.

"What do you have in mind?" Yang Wenqing asked.

"Lock him up for a while first. For someone like him who loafs around all day, finding a reason should be easy."