Needle Against Needle
Lin Xu's expression remained unchanged, but he was rapidly weighing the pros and cons in his mind.
He has become aware of the connection between reality and the Spirit Realm, and even more so of the lord's responsibility—to protect the barrier of reality. This is not a choice, but his duty.
Clearly, people like Chen Lingfeng are contrary to the authority and responsibilities of his lord.
From both a public and private perspective, Inspector Xia's proposal was a godsend.
"What do I need to do?" he asked directly.
"First, accept the appointment as deputy director of the Night Watchers. Then, leverage the power of the inspector to gradually eliminate the Chen Lineage's deeply entrenched network of influence in Meng City —from the allocation of psionic resources and the basic organization of the Night Watchers to the circulation of spiritual materials in the underground black market. We must use compliant methods to unravel the complexities and ensure a smooth transition."
Elder Jiang's expression was serious. "You must be careful. Chen Lingfeng is cautious yet decisive. If it were before, he would have probed your strength and made his move slowly, and you could have played along. But now he is definitely brewing up a thunderous plan. If he doesn't make a move, he won't, but if he does, he'll take your life!"
"And the Wheel of Fate —never underestimate these hyenas lurking in the shadows. Their survival under the Night Watchers's Watch is no fluke. One wrong move, and the entire city could be dragged into the Spirit Realm!"
Lin Xu's expression darkened slightly. "I understand. Inspector Xia first thing tomorrow morning..."
Just then, he frowned slightly and looked out the window.
A large number of police cars remained silent and quickly arrived at the residential buildings along the street to set up defenses and block all passages.
"Waaaaah~"
The urgent sirens blared, and a large number of Night Watchers quickly got out of their vehicles and surrounded the building in battle formation.
"The Night Watchers? Oh no!" Elder Jiang's expression changed drastically. "A-Xu, did you leave any traces at the scene?"
Lin Xu's expression cleared as the little girl's figure flashed by. "It seems Chen Lingfeng seized the opportunity."
"A-Xu, you must leave quickly. We can't let them find out you're here," Old Master Jiang said, frowning. "You can't let Chen Lingfeng take you away. He's trying to distort the truth! This matter must be handled by Inspector Xia."
Lin Xu shook his head and looked out the window. "It's too late."
A figure flashed by, and the window shattered instantly.
"Hahaha~ That's right, it's too late!" A voice rang out, immediately causing Elder Jiang's expression to change again. "Chen Lingfeng, you—"
The moonlight shone on Chen Lingfeng, who was wearing a silver-gray Night Watchers uniform, the gold thread on his epaulets gleaming coldly in the cold light.
A smug, confident smile played on his lips as he coldly stared at Lin Xu: "Lin Xu, you are suspected of participating in the invasion of the Jiang Clan by evil spirits, engaging in cult activities, and murdering innocent civilians. The evidence is irrefutable. Now, come with me!"
Before he could finish speaking, the Night Watchers behind him had already broken down the door, the cold, gleaming magical chains vibrating and humming in the moonlight.
"Who are you people? Huh~"
Jiang Clan family guards attempted to intercept them, but were struck down on the spot.
"Night Watchers, arrest the cultists! Everyone here is a suspect! Take them down!" a voice shouted. Inside the room came the sounds of fighting, screams from women, and the crackling of breaking glass.
Lin Xu frowned immediately, his voice turning cold. "Tell your men to stop immediately!"
Chen Lingfeng chuckled coldly, "Kid, this is a law enforcement operation by the Night Watchers. What right do you, a person under investigation, have to stop it?! Surrender immediately! If you dare to resist, you will be killed on the spot!"
Lin Xu glanced at him, his gaze sharp as a blade, the candlelight in his hand burning brightly, carrying a chilling killing intent.
Chen Lingfeng felt a chill run down his spine. His eyes held only an unfathomable calm and murderous intent. He instinctively raised the sword in his hand.
"Stop!" A beam of silver light suddenly tore through the night and entered the room.
A flash of silver light, like lightning, instantly solidified into a slender figure.
Inspector Xia under the moonlight, her long hair flowing, her pretty face unable to conceal the sternness between her brows, her eyes cold as frost. "Chen Lingfeng, you've gone too far."
Her slender figure stood by the broken window, her solitary presence causing the clamor in the room to suddenly freeze.
"Inspector Xia, we're handling a case, and you're interfering directly. Isn't that against the rules?" Chen Lingfeng wasn't surprised by his appearance at all; instead, he raised the corners of his mouth. "But since you're here, then please, Inspector Xia, examine the evidence in person. Half a month ago, Lin Xu left fingerprints on the tables and chairs in the Jiang Clan, and tonight, at the cult's sacrificial site in the Third Ring Road residential building, a survivor witnessed his presence! These are all waiting for your personal examination."
Lin Xu's expression remained unchanged, the candlelight in the Glazed Lamp in his hand flickering and swaying gently with his breath.
He was not surprised at all by Chen Lingfeng's framing; his spiritual sense spread silently like a spider web, probing the Night Watchers was attacking tonight.
Xia Jingyi frowned slightly, her expression cold. "When did the Night Watchers develop such a meticulously crafted chain of framing? How could the suspect and the victim sit at the same table, chatting and laughing so freely? Director Chen, the Night Watchers is a bastion against the invasion of the Spirit Realm, not your personal tool!"
Her sharp gaze swept over the Night's Night Watchers present, her tone softening. "You are all members of the Night Watchers's Watch. Have you forgotten the oath you took when you joined the organization? What happens tonight has nothing to do with you. It's not too late to leave now."
No one moved.
Those who participated in tonight's operation were all Chen Lingfeng's trusted subordinates, personally promoted by him; they would not be easily swayed by a single sentence.
Chen Lingfeng's lips curled into a mocking smile, "Inspector Xia, although you are an inspector, your authority is limited to supervision and review. You have no right to suspend frontline law enforcement. Please act according to the procedures, otherwise..."
"You!" Xia Jingyi's expression turned cold, her chest heaving, clearly enraged.
Chen Lingfeng grinned maliciously at Lin Xu: "Kid, are you going to surrender and die, or resist arrest and be shot dead?"
The atmosphere in the room instantly plummeted to freezing point. Elder Jiang looked worried, yet his spiritual pressure surged like a tide.
Lin Xu's expression remained unchanged as he lightly stroked the lamp with his fingertips. Suddenly, he asked, "How is that little girl?"
Chen Lingfeng was slightly taken aback, and the smile on his face immediately froze.
Looking at Lin Xu's serious and earnest expression, a sense of absurdity suddenly welled up in his heart, which immediately turned into anger and embarrassment. "Go to hell!"
The longsword in his hand suddenly hummed, and a cold light shot out, aiming straight for Lin Xu's face!
Almost simultaneously, Elder Jiang suddenly took half a step forward, his withered hand in his sleeve like the roots of an ancient pine tree, blocking the sword's edge with the force of wind and thunder.
"Clang!" The clang of metal against metal shook the windowpanes, causing dust to fall in a flurry.
"A-Xu, run!" Elder Jiang roared, his figure growing taller, his robes billowing like flags, and his spiritual pressure exploded, forcing all the Night Watchers in the room to retreat three steps!
At that moment, several Night Watchers swayed and collapsed to the ground, dizzy.
Chen Lingfeng's eyes widened in shock and anger as he looked at him. "Boy, what have you done?"