Aftermath and Interrogation

Branch Bureau Chief's Office.

Zhang Qiming smilingly saw Gao Zhen out of the office. The two chatted in the hallway for a while longer before he returned to his office with a smile still on his face. By the time he reached the window, however, the sincere smile had already vanished.

After a long while, he saw the Operations Division's skimmer return and murmured, "What a pity."

A while later, Zhou Yong entered Zhang Qiming's office and briefly reported the situation at the scene, focusing on how Yang Wenqing had coordinated with the East City Public Security Station, as well as what had happened after the Liu Family and Madam Sun arrived.

Zhang Qiming stood by the window with his back to Zhou Yong, showing neither much surprise nor anger.

When Zhou Yong finished, he turned around with the faintest trace of a smile on his face and said casually, "All right. You needn't dwell on it. When I received the report from West City, I only happened to dig a small pit on a whim. It would have been good if it worked, but it doesn't matter if it didn't. The pit was shallow; it was only natural for someone to jump over it."

He walked over to Zhou Yong and patted him on the shoulder, soothing him in an even tone. "Go see Deputy Chief Gao now and report the situation to him as well. He'll certainly scold you a few times. Just listen to it. Don't take it to heart."

Upon hearing that, the unwillingness on Zhou Yong's face eased somewhat. He nodded. "Yes, Chief."

Zhang Qiming paced behind his desk and sat down, lightly tapping his fingers against the tabletop. There was both appreciation and regret in his eyes as he continued, "This Yang Wenqing is rather interesting. He reacts quickly, knows how to borrow strength, and can swallow his pride when it matters. He's a promising prospect worth cultivating. Unfortunately, Gao Zhen got to him first."

He shook his head, and the regret in his voice did not seem feigned. "If he could be put to use by me and properly polished, he might become a capable lieutenant in the future. But it's too late to talk about that now. Go do as I said. Be patient. There will be plenty of opportunities later."

"Yes, Chief." Zhou Yong bowed and left the office, then made his way to Deputy Chief Gao's office in the Major Crimes Unit. Not long after he entered, Deputy Chief Gao's scolding could be heard from within.

And perhaps intentionally, Deputy Chief Gao did not even close the office door while reprimanding Zhou Yong.

Yang Wenqing had already escorted the suspect to the interrogation room to take his statement, necessary evidence for the prosecution. Meanwhile, the West City Public Security Station was handling the collection of residual aura from the scene. Madam Sun seemed to have noticed the suspicious aspects of this case and had sent someone to supervise matters on site, so there should not be any problems.

The lights in the interrogation room were somewhat glaring. Part of Liu Sheng's seals had been removed, enough for him to speak normally, but he looked as though his soul had been drained away. Slumped in a specially made chair, he stared vacantly at the tabletop.

Yang Wenqing sat across from him while Wu Yan recorded at the side. There was no harsh questioning. Yang Wenqing merely asked him in a calm voice to recount what had happened.

Liu Sheng remained silent for a long time before he finally began to speak in a dry, hoarse voice, haltingly recounting the events.

The story was actually quite commonplace, yet it was filled with heartbreaking regret.

Liu Sheng had known the deceased, Sun Yi, and the others for some time. They could even be considered drinking buddies. That night, the two groups had initially been drinking and carousing together at the Drunken Immortal Tower, and the atmosphere had been lively.

The conflict had started over nothing more than a joke.

Liu Sheng had flaunted a newly acquired magical artifact and boasted of its formidable power. Perhaps Sun Yi had drunk too much, or perhaps he had long harbored some resentment. Riding the effects of the alcohol, he mocked, "It's nothing but a cheap imitation. Is it really worth showing off?"

Those words struck Liu Sheng's heart, made especially sensitive and proud by the alcohol.

Fueled by youthful hotheadedness and drink, Liu Sheng felt a surge of rage rush straight to his head. In that instant, all reason was burned away. He abruptly rose to his feet and went outside the private room with Sun Yi and the others, acting as though they were going to duel in the street.

By the time they argued their way to the entrance of the Drunken Immortal Tower, they could no longer wait to make a move. Liu Sheng directly activated his magical artifact, and scarlet light instantly illuminated both inside and outside the entrance.

Perhaps he had only meant to scare them, or perhaps he had merely wanted to prove himself. He had not truly intended to kill anyone. But once the magical artifact was activated, the consequences were no longer under his control.

The flames unleashed by the artifact went wild, sweeping through both sides of the entrance in an instant. Zhou Ming, who stood closest, bore the brunt of it. He died before he could even let out more than a few cries.

A nearby attendant stepped forward to intervene, only to be swallowed by the violent spiritual energy and flames. Several of Sun Yi's guards tried to subdue Liu Sheng, but amid the chaos, the artifact was triggered again...

Thus, a sudden magical battle caused a tragedy that claimed five lives in the span of a few dozen breaths.

When everything finally settled, Liu Sheng looked at Sun Yi's body pierced through by flames and seemed to awaken as if doused with a basin of ice water. Overwhelming fear and regret instantly engulfed him. He fled in a panic, and even after Xiao Liang captured him, he remained in a dazed state.

"I really... didn't mean to kill them... I just... I just lost my head for a moment..." Liu Sheng covered his face with both hands, his shoulders shaking violently. "How could I... how could I..."

His voice caught in his throat, filled with endless remorse.

Yang Wenqing listened silently, and a complicated feeling rose within him as well. This was the price of youthful recklessness. A single loss of control, a single dispute born of pride, had not only instantly destroyed five living lives and their families, but had also completely ruined Liu Sheng's once-promising future.

Wu Yan was not moved by the story. He stared coldly at the suspect and said, "That was a good story. Unfortunately, it's full of holes."

Liu Sheng's body trembled. He raised his tear-blurred face and looked at Wu Yan in confusion.

Wu Yan gave him no time to react. His speech was steady, yet carried an overwhelming pressure. "You said you were dazed and panicked at the time? Then how do you explain the cash on you when we caught you, enough to support a long-distance escape, along with identity papers for a false identity and even a nautical chart marked with a secret route? That isn't something a panicked person could prepare in such a short time."

Liu Sheng's face turned deathly pale. He wanted to argue, but for a moment, he was left speechless.

Wu Yan leaned forward, his gaze fixed tightly on Liu Sheng's darting eyes as he pressed on. "And after you fled the scene, the first place you went was not anywhere else, but a secret warehouse belonging to your family in the Port District. Who did you meet there? Did you meet your father, Liu Hong?"

"No... That's not it! My father didn't know..." Liu Sheng shook his head frantically in denial.

"Didn't know?" Wu Yan sneered.

Liu Sheng was rendered speechless by the question, cold sweat sliding down from his temples.

Wu Yan pressed his advantage and threw out an even sharper suspicion. "I suspect that your attack on Sun Yi was not a momentary impulse at all. Were you acting on someone's orders, deliberately using alcohol as an excuse to provoke him, with the goal of removing Sun Yi as an obstacle? This so-called accidental killing may have been a carefully planned murder all along!"

"No! I didn't!" Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Liu Sheng sprang up from his chair, only to be yanked back by the Spirit-Sealing Lock. He shouted agitatedly, "No one ordered me to do it! Don't make false accusations!"

P.S. Everyone, the new book is hovering around thirtieth place on the rankings. If you have any votes, please send some my way. Comments too, and if you have any paragraph rewards, please toss a few in as well. I'm begging you all. I can't do mass updates during the new-book period, but once it's launched, there will be updates.