I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 186: Chapter 114: Promotion and Case Progress

Director Qin smiled. "The situation in Qianjiao County is complicated right now, with Lingshan Town as the main point of focus. Consult with Gao Zhen often for work matters, and make sure to foster unity with your other colleagues. If you run into any trouble or are unsure about anything, you can contact me directly."

His words were part encouragement, part reminder, and above all, a promise of additional support.

"I understand! I’ll be sure to remember your guidance," Yang Wenqing replied with great solemnity.

"Good. That’s all for now. Get some rest." Director Qin ended the call.

After composing himself in his study, Yang Wenqing went upstairs to check on his younger brother and sister, who were already fast asleep. He tucked them in, then turned and walked to the Quiet Chamber in the backyard to continue his unwavering daily cultivation.

The night passed in silence, with only Spiritual Qi surging endlessly through his meridians and his Divine Sense slowly being nurtured in the clear void of his mind.

When he arrived at work the next day, a public notice announcing his appointment as the leader of the Major Case Team had already been posted on the bureau’s bulletin board.

Wang Ren called him at the first opportunity, laughing and asking if he wanted to be moved to a more spacious team leader’s office. Yang Wenqing refused without hesitation. It was more important to keep a low profile right now; there was no need to give people an excuse to talk over some superficial show of status.

The next two days passed peacefully. Bits and pieces of news trickled in from the Lingshan Town joint investigation team, mostly routine reports on rescue progress and technical surveys. Meanwhile, Li Yue’s surveillance on Ma Wu’s accomplices continued, and she was analyzing their daily routes to identify potential hideouts.

The peace was shattered on the afternoon of the third day.

A formal, encrypted report arrived from Lingshan Town, signed by Wu Qianjun.

The report stated that after several days of investigation, they had discovered residual traces of Spiritual Qi in a hidden natural cave on the periphery of the Black Water Stream landslide area. They also found a small quantity of bone fragments and an unknown mineral powder, suspected to have been used for some kind of ritual.

The preliminary conclusion was that the landslide might be related to an unconventional external force that had interfered with the rock formation. At the end of the report, Wu Qianjun requested permission to conduct a more in-depth Spiritual Qi scan and trace analysis of the landslide’s core area. He also recommended merging the investigation with the previous series of disappearances in Lingshan Town.

Almost simultaneously, Wu Yan and Liu Rong sent back their own secret report. They confirmed that the traces Wu Qianjun had discovered were real and also agreed with his recommendation to merge the cases.

Yang Wenqing was a little surprised to see the two reports arrive back-to-back, yet it also felt logical. Still, he couldn’t shake a strange, indescribable feeling about the situation.

After an urgent discussion with Vice Director Gao, they decided to play a waiting game. He instructed Liu Rong and Wu Yan to continue closely monitoring the progress of Wu Qianjun’s investigation and any suspicious traces, gathering more hard evidence without intervening in or interfering with his actions.

He had thought the day would end uneventfully, but late that night, while Yang Wenqing was cultivating in the Quiet Chamber, the Major Case Team badge at his waist suddenly pulsed with high-frequency Spiritual Qi fluctuations, jolting him out of his meditation.

It was Li Yue.

"Yang Group Leader, Internal Affairs Inspection has made a major breakthrough!"

Li Yue’s voice was hushed but laced with excitement and urgency. "They used that abandoned mailbox as a beacon and employed a dream-tracing Secret Technique. From the scattered dream fragments of nearby residents who might have had contact with the mailbox, they successfully pieced together a blurry but distinct silhouette with key features."

"Combining this with information from other channels, they’ve locked onto a specific target. His name is Hu the Fourth. On the surface, he’s a scrap collector in the Old Wharf District, but Internal Affairs Inspection has determined he’s one of Ma Wu’s contacts. What’s more, our surveillance team has spotted him packing. It looks like he plans to leave Qianjiao County first thing in the morning!"

’A dream Secret Technique? They locked onto a target? And he’s planning to run?’

"Is the intel reliable? How confident is the Internal Affairs Inspection Division?" Yang Wenqing asked in a grave voice.

"Deputy Director Zhou is personally handling this, so they must be very confident. Hu the Fourth is extremely vigilant, so our people can’t get too close, but the signs are obvious—he’s packing his belongings and has bought a long-distance bus ticket," Li Yue replied quickly. "What’s the plan? Do we arrest him? Once he leaves the county, he’ll be much harder to control."

’Arresting him now could tip off the others and sever a much larger lead. But not arresting him means letting a key figure slip through our fingers.’

"Hold your position and maintain strict surveillance. No one is to act without authorization!" Yang Wenqing cut the connection and immediately contacted both Vice Director Gao and Deputy Director Zhou.

In less than twenty minutes, the lights switched on in a small conference room on the top floor of the bureau.

Zhang Qiming, Gao Zhen, and Deputy Director Zhou were all present. Yang Wenqing and Thunder Pill, the head of the Operations Division, had also been urgently summoned to attend.

Zhang Qiming presided over the meeting. He was concise. "You all know the situation. The Major Case Team has identified a key figure, Hu the Fourth, who is likely a contact for the Evil Cult Organization. He appears to be planning his escape. Do we arrest him, or not? If so, how? Let’s hear your opinions."

Deputy Director Zhou spoke first, his voice carrying the cold, hard edge characteristic of Internal Affairs Inspection. "If he really is the contact, he’ll vanish without a trace once we let him go. My recommendation is to arrest him immediately. We’ll conduct a surprise interrogation and try to force a breakthrough."

Thunder Pill stroked his chin, considering it from an operational standpoint. "A covert arrest is no problem; my people can provide support. But the Old Wharf District is a complex environment, and Hu the Fourth is a well-entrenched local. Taking him away quietly will require careful planning."

Vice Director Gao looked at Yang Wenqing. "Wenqing, your people are on this lead. What’s your take?"

Yang Wenqing considered for a moment before speaking. "I also recommend we arrest him. He’s about to run anyway. Just as Deputy Director Zhou said, he’ll likely disappear for good once he’s gone."

Zhang Qiming tapped his fingers on the table. After whispering with Vice Director Gao for a moment, he asked, "Deputy Director Zhou, should Internal Affairs Inspection handle the arrest, or should it be the Major Case Team or the Operations Division?"

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