Chapter 25: You are ordered by the Outer South Bureau to apprehend Wu Chang!

"What has happened?"

Seeing this, Xu Qing's heart immediately became enlightened.

Last night, when evil spirits attacked the city, there logically should have been many issues.

But for Han Commander to show such an expression, it must have been beyond expectation.

"He thinks that a huge problem has arisen within the southern City Defense Army."

Han Commander took a deep breath, helplessly saying, "After dawn, he left straight away, without contacting the City Defense Army, avoiding further conflicts… That indeed was the right approach."

Then, they saw Han Commander slam the battle report to the ground, angrily saying, "But this kid, he's left all the troublesome matters to us."

Xu Qing couldn't help but bend down, pick up the battle report, take one glance at it, and immediately wore a peculiar expression.

"Last night, he alone defended the Linjiang Station's defense area, safe and sound. Such skill is not something ordinary Martial Artists can achieve."

Hearing Xu Qing's question, Han Commander sighed and didn't intend to hide anything.

"He has already advanced to the Inner Strength Realm, my intention was for him to conceal his edge, to avoid being suppressed, but from the moment he decided to defend the city alone, it was impossible to hide."

Han Commander spoke calmly, "All alone, he held three hundred and sixty steps, safe and sound, not allowing the evil spirits to cross the boundary by half a step. Without the Cultivation of the Inner Strength Realm, it's simply impossible! Others aren't fools..."

Despite his flat tone, Xu Qing could vaguely see a hint of pride on his face.

"Not in vain does the General Flag Envoy highly regard and cultivate him. This young man truly has exceptional talent, a clear testament to the General Flag Envoy's discerning eye!"

As Xu Qing spoke, he suddenly remembered something and couldn't help but pause, murmuring, "But the positions to the left and right of his defense location were torn open."

Han Commander seemed to think of something as well, suddenly freezing, his eyes gradually becoming vacant.

"Attacked from three sides, truly trapped in a siege, even the Inner Strength Realm might not be able to withstand it."

Xu Qing's expression was complex as he spoke in a low voice, "Moreover, it seems that in the latter half of the night, the positions that were originally lost on his sides were blocked off..."

It was originally thought to be the patrol team, taking over the positions, filling the gaps.

Now, it seems, maybe it was not as they had earlier speculated?

"If we consider it that way, could it be that in the second half of the night, he was defending a left and right defense span of over a thousand steps?"

Xu Qing felt somewhat dry in the mouth, disbelief apparent in his eyes, "A thousand-step defense, even for one at the peak of the Inner Strength Realm, would surely be hard to hold, wouldn't it?"

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Han Commander immediately shook his head, asserting firmly, "When he joined my forces, he was at the first barrier of martial arts and hadn't even refined his blood. In such a short period, advancing to Inner Strength is already a sign of a heaven-sent prodigy. How could he possibly be higher?"

"Furthermore, the technique of concealing his presence was taught by me personally. How could it be concealed from my eyes?"

"Two years' time, from the first barrier of martial arts, breaking through the second barrier, shattering the shackles of the human body's limits, reaching the Refining Essence Realm?"

"Even for the Li Shen Sect, acclaimed within Qifeng Prefecture as a genius that appears once every five hundred years, there was no such shocking and incredible advancement."

"I myself practiced martial arts from a young age; I started refining blood at sixteen and only achieved the Refining Essence Realm at forty-two, spending twenty-six years in the process!"

"You think he, in two years of practice, can surpass my twenty-six years of diligent study and hard work?"

"If that's the case, someone like me might as well be thrown away."

Han Commander shook his head repeatedly, waving his hands to indicate it was absolutely impossible.

But Xu Qing's expression became increasingly weird.

In his memory, the General Flag Envoy always cared about demeanor.

But just now, even the somewhat vulgar self-reference "old man" slipped out.

This clearly showed that the General Flag Envoy's heart was quite restless and he was extremely agitated.

"Could it be Mr. Lu who extended a helping hand?"

Xu Qing hesitated to say.

"That's right!"

Upon hearing this, Han Commander suddenly had an epiphany, saying, "Last night Linjiang Square was nearly abandoned, someone took down a bear demon, resolving the crisis! Who else besides Mr. Lu's 'Protector' within Linjiang Square has such ability?"

Then he stood with his hands behind his back and walked to the window, looking southward, slowly saying, "The entire outer southern district is under my control! The only unexpected issue is within the City Defense Army. But it is not a major problem..."

Your attitude just now, sir, wasn't like this at all... Xu Qing thought to himself with a silent rebuke.

And at that moment, they heard a voice coming from outside.

"A visitor from the Observatory Headquarters in the inner city!"

"Let him in!"

The visitor was in his early fifties, with an ordinary appearance and an indifferent expression.

"Chief Gao, why are you the one who's come?"

Han Commander laughed, saying, "Logically speaking, with the inspection of the various city defenses today, as well as numerous aftermath matters within the city, you'd be too busy to leave… Sending any junior flag officer would have sufficed."

"I'm here on the command of Deputy Commander Zhou, to apply pressure on your Outer South Bureau. If it was some junior flag officer, it would make a small matter seem trivial."

Chief Gao's face was expressionless as he spoke indifferently, "Last night, the southern city defense in the outer city was breached by evil spirits. Although promptly sealed, there are many dubious points."

"Today, an aide from the Great Commander Zhao Zhou of the City Defense Army was harmed on his way to reinforce."

"The place of the crime is adjacent to the position of the city defense under the jurisdiction of your Outer South Bureau at the Linjiang Station."

"The newly appointed Flag Commander Wu Chang is a major suspect, and thus I command your Outer South Bureau to assist the southern suburbs yamen in apprehending Linjiang Station Flag Commander Wu Chang for detailed examination—favoritism is not allowed."

He took out the token, and tossed it onto the table, saying, "The victim was the adopted son of the Great Commander Zhao Zhou; his seniority was quite extensive, and the City Guard Mansion has placed great importance on this matter."

"Return it!"

Han Commander picked up the token, and threw it back.

The expression on the official's face turned ashen in an instant.

Xu Qing, standing to the side, felt a slight jolt in his heart and gave the General Flag Envoy a deep look.

Each Observatory Branch of the outer city, when confronted with an order from the Observatory Headquarters, if they perceive a major mistake, can reject it on the spot.

But in nearly thirty years, not a single General Flag Envoy has ever immediately rejected an order from above.

Firstly, orders from the Observatory Headquarters are fundamentally without major flaws.

Secondly, to reject the order from the headquarters is to offend the high-ranking official who issued it.

Even to offend this official delivering the order before us!

"Han Zheng, what are you trying to do?"

The official's brow furrowed slightly, and his tone became grave as he said, "This is an order personally given by the Deputy Commander!"

"Hmm, his seal is on it, I saw it clearly."

"Han Commander, defying orders is a serious crime!"

"I also remind you, according to the twelfth rule of the Observatory, if there is a major mistake in the orders, they can be rejected!"

Han Commander said calmly, "Of course, there must also be sufficient reasons; otherwise, it's still defiance! Regarding this, I will personally explain to the Commander..."

"Even with compelling reasons, rejecting a superior's order has a huge impact. For the next ten years, promotion will be out of reach."

The official's tone eased a bit as he said, "With your background, abilities, and accolades, you would be promoted to one of the eight garrison commanders in at most two years."

He took a deep breath and continued, "The Deputy Commander is also aware that you hold Wu Chang in high esteem, so it's an exception that your Outer South Bureau need not avoid suspicion and can participate in the capture and the investigation during this period—this is already very lenient."

"If this Wu Chang, the Flag Commander, is indeed innocent, you yourself can clear his name!"

"Returning the token has a huge impact, are you..."

At this point, the official's demeanor gradually turned to resignation, and he sighed, "Have you decided?"

"Hmm."

Han Commander nodded slightly.

The official took the token, left without another word, and turned to leave.

At that moment, Xu Qing spoke in a low voice, "We'll handle the matter. Flag Commander Wu Chang won't be wronged, and later you can clear his name... Returning the token, something unseen for thirty years, why must you?"

"If I personally apprehend Wu Chang and conduct the interrogation, do you know what that means?"

Han Commander stood with his hands behind his back, his expression complex and his voice low.

"For Wu Chang, it means that even though I'm aware of the inside story, I still arrest him. This shows a lack of trust in him! Henceforth, there will inevitably be barriers between us."

"The whole world knows how much I value Wu Chang. Just yesterday, I appointed him as Flag Commander of Linjiang Station."

"If I arrest him today, it implies that in my eyes, he doesn't carry much weight."

Consequently, all parties will deem him without strong support and won't think highly of him anymore. After that, troubles targeting Linjiang Station will follow one after another."

Han Zheng said this, then gave a wry laugh, "Furthermore, being appointed as a Flag Commander one day and arrested the next will be a stain and a joke for his entire life."

He looked at Xu Qing with an increasingly complex smile and said, "And me, appointing a Flag Commander one day and arresting him the next, I too will become a joke."

Xu Qing fell silent immediately, but for some reason, he had a vague feeling that this wasn't the real reason for returning the token.

"Secretly order someone to send a message to Linjiang Station, telling him to visit Mr. Lu today."

Han Zheng said this with a sigh, "Returning the token today is merely a delaying tactic. If that Deputy Commander insists on arresting Lin Yan, perhaps tomorrow... the task will be taken over by Zhou Kui from the Western Southwest Bureau."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing's expression turned solemn, and he immediately departed.

The room fell into silence.

Han Zheng gently stroked the scabbard, took a deep breath, and sighed.

"Back then at Qifeng Prefecture City, I was framed, and my direct superior, considering his own future, didn't protect me."

"How similar is today's situation to that time?"

"Back then, I had no backing; today, I will be the one to provide support!"

He thought this and couldn't help but murmur, "Moreover, failing to become one of the Zhao Ye people is a lifelong regret..."

Suspected of killing a battle comrade and being personally arrested by one's own direct superior.

Even after being cleared and released, how can the Zhao Ye people, completely unaware of the internal situation, dare to entrust their backs to him?

He knew in his heart that if he hadn't returned the token just now, he would have crushed Lin Yan's hopes of becoming one of the Zhao Ye people.