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 flow of spiritual power contained within its blade.
This was indeed what he needed most at the moment, and it was worth a fortune.
Before Yang Wenqing could thank him, Deputy Director Gao produced a palm-sized metal bracelet. It was dark silver, smooth on the surface, with only extremely fine and intricate 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 certain Spirit-Gathering materials, it can absorb a vast amount of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. I've read your file. Your consciousness is exceptionally powerful, and you can absorb and refine spiritual energy to the greatest extent. It should suit you very well."
Yang Wenqing's heart stirred. These two items had practically been delivered straight into his arms, solving his two most urgent 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, this is far too valuable." Yang Wenqing showed the appropriate amount of gratitude and a trace of apprehension.
"Why be so polite with me?" Deputy Director Gao waved a hand, looking as though this was nothing worth mentioning. "Things are dead, people are alive. I'm giving them to you in the hope that they'll help you grow faster. Third Squad will need you to hold it up in the future. Only when you become stronger can you handle more cases and make greater contributions to the bureau!"
He patted Yang Wenqing's shoulder, his tone full of expectation. "Work hard. I think highly of you. If you run into any difficulties in the future, or if there's anything in your cultivation you don't understand, come find me anytime."
"Thank you for your guidance, Director Gao. Wen Qing will certainly give his all and live up to your expectations!" Yang Wenqing went along with it.
He understood that this gift was a clear signal and a binding tie. Accepting it meant taking Deputy Director Gao's side, but he currently had no right to refuse—and he did not want to refuse, either.
Deputy Director Gao watched Yang Wenqing, the smile on his face deepening. Pointing at the bracelet, he said, "Its best Spirit-Gathering material is Radiant Jade. Once the spiritual energy field contained in the Radiant Jade dissipates, it has to be replaced promptly. Otherwise, the effect won't be nearly as good."
Yang Wenqing lowered his head to inspect the bracelet and discovered a groove in it. At the moment, a yellow piece of jade rested inside.
"Put it on and try it."
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.
"Open its Sealing Formation."
Deputy Director Gao spoke again.
Yang Wenqing complied. He formed the hand seal for releasing a sealing formation and sent out a fixed dharma seal. With ease, he undid the bracelet's Sealing Formation.
The next instant, his consciousness clearly sensed all the spiritual energy within a twenty-meter radius gathering around him in a flash. At the same time, a multicolored halo formed around his body.
"With this piece of Radiant Jade, if you cultivate six hours a day, it'll last around a month. You'll have to buy the Radiant Jade yourself afterward. A piece this size costs about fifteen thousand. If you buy it through the City Defense System, you should be able to get it for around thirteen thousand. If you can't afford it for the time being, go to Listening Rain Pavilion in the East City District. I'll put in a word, and they can let you buy it on credit for ten thousand. I'll give you the lowest interest rate, but the loan term can be no longer than five years."
At that moment, Yang Wenqing took back most of the positive opinion he had held of Deputy Director Gao. Yet this made him feel more at ease instead. 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 keep up with its consumption each month."
Deputy Director Gao was not surprised. He continued smiling. "You can sell your talisman paper to Listening Rain Pavilion. They can offer up to eighteen per sheet there, and the price for special talisman paper can be negotiated further."
He added an explanation. "The higher-ups' development plan in the north of the Central Continent has run into some problems. They urgently need a large quantity of talisman paper, so its price has long since changed. When you go there, just give them my name. 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 never studied it in depth, because at his current stage, he had no need to.
With his newly acquired flying sword and Spirit-Gathering Bracelet, Yang Wenqing had barely returned to Third Squad's office when Wu Yan walked over and said, "Captain, are we really going to close Chen Dayong's case like this?"
His words were like a needle, piercing the emotions Yang Wenqing had only just temporarily soothed. The woman's desperate sobbing, her hollow gaze, and the regret and despair lingering in the deceased Chen Dayong's consciousness all surfaced vividly in his mind once more.
Wu Yan said in a low voice, "Before the case is officially closed and filed away, let's make another trip to Seaside Village. Maybe there are still clues we missed."
Yang Wenqing froze. He glanced at the case file on the desk, then at Liu Qin, who was sitting off to the side with her head lowered. Finally, he nodded at Wu Yan.
The two remained silent throughout the journey as they once again drove the Flying Shuttle to Seaside Village. They had only reached the courtyard halfway up the mountain when a fierce argument carried over from afar, even more piercing than before.
"What use is this lousy house? Dad's dead, so who's going to make money now? Sell it! Once it's sold, I can marry A-Li! Or do you want me to be a bachelor for the rest of my life?" It was Chen Xiaohai's familiar, detestable voice.
"You can't sell it! This is the root your father left behind. If you sell it, where will the two of us live?" The woman's tearful pleading was so pale and powerless.
"I don't care!"
Yang Wenqing and Wu Yan hurried into the courtyard. Just in time, they saw Chen Xiaohai roaring at his mother with a ferocious expression, while the woman sat collapsed on the ground, both hands clutching a clothesline post in the yard as though it were her last support.
Beside Chen Xiaohai stood a middle-aged man carrying a briefcase. He was inspecting the house and writing something down in a small notebook.
Chen Xiaohai noticed Yang Wenqing and Wu Yan first. A flicker of panic crossed his face, and he hurriedly gave the briefcase-carrying man a meaningful look. Understanding at once, the man immediately put away his notebook and quickly slipped out through the side gate of the courtyard.
"Officers." Chen Xiaohai forced out a smile as he approached them. "Why are you here? Has... has there been news about my father's case?"
His voice carried deliberate flattery, but his eyes darted about, and he did not dare meet Yang Wenqing's or Wu Yan's gaze.
Yang Wenqing did not answer. His gaze passed over Chen Xiaohai and landed on the woman. She never raised her head, as if 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 instantly froze. His lips moved, but he did not dare make another sound. He subconsciously glanced in his mother's direction, his eyes filled with a mixture of guilt and impatience.
After that, a suffocating silence settled over the courtyard. Only the sound of the sea wind passing through the ruined doorway remained.
Yang Wenqing looked at the dilapidated courtyard before him, at the woman curled up in the corner with her dignity completely ground beneath someone's heel, then silently withdrew from the courtyard.
Wu Yan followed close behind.
"You go 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. There's no need to tell her."
Ever since he could remember, he had spent his life studying and cultivating. During his year and more at the Public Security Office, he had dealt with nothing more than brawls and petty fights. Only through this case had he truly seen the face of this world. The City Defense Bureau might possess ever-changing methods, but the hidden evil cultivators had even more methods—and these were only some lowly evil cultivators who could not even step into the light.
After remaining silent for a long while, the two followed procedure and took some more 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 left.
"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, it should be easy enough to find a reason."
Before you continue