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Chapter 39 - Chapter 17: Mistaken Identity

After the criminal suspects are sentenced, they will be transferred from the detention center to prison to serve their sentence, and the time previously detained in the detention center can offset the sentence.

So many criminals who can't be sentenced heavily, and even some suspects who are somewhat wronged, are often given sentences by the judge that are exactly the time they have been detained in the detention center, and they are released immediately after the sentencing.

Why is the sentence just this long? Because if it's shorter, the suspect would be detained for too long, which involves state compensation issues, and if it's longer, it wouldn't be justified.

Xiaowu was very wronged. After he went to the detention center, his parents were always trying hard to get bail pending trial, but they didn't succeed. The formal judgment was delayed for nine months... He estimated it was the hooligan's family pulling strings to cause trouble.

But on the other hand, Xiaowu was also very lucky. He met his master Zhang Yanfei at the detention center. Zhang Yanfei sympathized with him after learning about his experience.

Wu Yanjun was once very depressed. No matter what, he now had a criminal record, his future was ruined, and many units probably wouldn't hire him after he got out. Just for stopping a meal without paying, would all these years of effort be in vain?

Zhang Yanfei advised him not to be discouraged and told him about the existence of techniques and the Magic Sect, teaching him the Micro-Entry Skill. If he could cultivate these techniques and become an extraordinary person, how could he be bothered by ordinary people's troubles?

Wu Yanjun asked a question in return at that time—didn't you end up in here too?

Zhang Yanfei then predicted two things: one is that he himself would soon get out, either in the name of medical treatment or something else; someone outside would get him out. The other is that Xiaowu just had to wait patiently for the court; the day of sentencing would be the day of release.

Both things later came true.

The reason Zhang Yanfei accepted Wu Yanjun as a disciple was not only because he sympathized with his encounter but also more importantly because he found the young man to have a decent aptitude, very talented.

Zhang Yanfei had nothing to do in the detention center, in the past, he wouldn't have had this leisure to teach a disciple properly. The same situation applied to Xiaowu, the environment of the detention center was almost enough to drive someone crazy, so why not practice?

It only took six months for Wu Yanjun to not only successfully study the Micro-Entry Skill to the entry level, becoming a Tier One Imitator but also to be in the condition to advance to a Tier Two Scholar, only lacking a test or ritual to pass.

Zhang Yanfei was a bit puzzled, he didn't think Xiaowu could learn so fast; it seemed the environment of the detention center was quite suitable for preliminary sorcerers to focus on their cultivation. Shouldn't each sect consider promoting this?

Zhang Yanfei only taught Xiaowu for six months, and then he left under the guise of medical treatment. Indeed, someone outside got him out. Shortly after going out, Wu Yanjun even advanced to a Tier Two Scholar.

Two months later, Wu Yanjun also awaited the court sentencing, and after the judgment, he was released at the end of his sentence.

He Kao asked puzzledly, "You've just gotten out with great difficulty; whether it's to repay kindness or to seek revenge, I think repaying kindness should come before revenge. Why didn't you go find your master, how did you end up here?"

Wu Yanjun's head and shoulders drooped down, speaking in a low tone, "My master is already gone. They say he passed away from illness, just over a month after getting out. I couldn't be there in time… his case, it hasn't had time to be judged yet!"

He Kao's heart inexplicably skipped a beat a few times, his gaze at Wu Yanjun also changed. When people communicate, sometimes you can talk all day without the other party feeling anything, sometimes a single sentence can inexplicably touch someone.

Because He Kao's father also had a similar experience, involved in a case that didn't wait for the court trial judgment but died of illness, leaving an unsolved mystery.

He Kao stood up and said, "It's getting late, let's not just sit in the restaurant all the time, shall we talk somewhere else, there's a cafe downstairs."

Wu Yanjun: "Take back the pendant, and also entrust you to return this chest badge to your colleague. How much was this meal? Let's add each other as friends, I'll transfer it to you, and you help me transfer it to him."

He Kao: "Forget the money, treat it as my treat. Where did you get this pendant? Do you know the person who swapped it?"

Wu Yanjun lowered his head and said, "Sorry, it was my junior sister, her skills aren't refined, it's embarrassing!"

He Kao: "Junior sister, is she your master's daughter?"

Wu Yanjun: "No, don't ask, it's inconvenient to tell you."

He Kao: "Your junior sister secretly swapped my stuff, and I can't know?"

Wu Yanjun: "Aren't I helping her clear up the aftermath, I've returned it to you."

He Kao: "Thanks, let's go!"

The two left the buffet restaurant and didn't walk far after exiting the building before there was a cafe at the corner. Finding a seat, He Kao said to an employee, "Xiaomiao, a cup of lemon water."

Wu Yanjun lowered his voice and said, "You seem quite familiar with this girl?"

He Kao: "How can you tell?"

Wu Yanjun: "I'm not an ordinary person, learned a lot inside, my master taught me even more, these observational skills I do have, just by looking at your eyes and tone, I knew it."

He Kao: "This is my junior sister."

Wu Yanjun: "You also have a junior sister?"

He Kao: "Same school, but not the same major. She's still in graduate school, currently writing her thesis. More than half a year ago, I also worked here…"

He stopped talking because Xiaomiao had come over with the lemon water, He Kao asked Xiaowu again, "What will you drink?"

Wu Yanjun: "Bring me a can of beer."

He Kao: "Come to a cafe to drink beer?"

Wu Yanjun: "You didn't order coffee either."

He Kao: "Might as well go for some barbecue skewers."

Wu Yanjun looked around and said, "Barbecue skewers sound great, let's go, this place isn't right for talking."

He Kao: "Why didn't you say so earlier!"

Wu Yanjun: "It was you who brought me here."

After greeting Xiaomiao, the two of them got up and left the café. Having a friend is great; the untouched glass of lemonade was taken back, and they weren't charged for it.

He Kao was very familiar with the area and found a lively barbecue place within walking distance, the same place he had been to with Qian Guran and Huang Xiaopang for skewers the last time. After sitting down, he ordered a beer and skewer set.

That café from before wasn't suitable for discussions, as it still had many other customers and the environment was too quiet. Even though Xiaowu lowered his voice while speaking, sometimes his volume would still inadvertently rise.

However, the barbecue stall was very noisy, so the two of them chatting here meant that no one could clearly hear them.

Clinking their large mugs of beer, Wu Yanjun drank half a mug in one gulp, then stared at He Kao and said, "You, sir, have issues!"

He Kao felt a little on edge: "What issues do I have?"

Wu Yanjun: "I should say you are not an ordinary person; you're very calm and very sharp! The things I told you today would either surprise an average person greatly or be too unbelievable for them."

He Kao: "I was very surprised too!"

Wu Yanjun: "But your reaction isn't typical. Not only do you believe what I say, but you can also help me analyze it."

He Kao took a sip of his drink: "Ever since I was a child, I passed the phase where fear and crying were of no use; staying calm was the only thing that could help oneself.

As for being sharp, perhaps, but simply being calm isn't useful either. The purpose of staying calm is to become sharper."

Wu Yanjun: "Saying you're not an ordinary person is because neither am I. Back when I was in the detention center, the moment my master saw me, he noticed I had the potential for cultivation techniques..."

He Kao couldn't help but interrupt him: "Mr. Wu, can I ask you a question?"

Wu Yanjun spread his hands: "Just call me Xiaowu! I know you have many questions, feel free to ask, I'll say whatever I can, though there are things I can't disclose to you yet."

He Kao: "You cultivators, these modern-day extraordinary people, are you all so careless in your actions? You suspect I'm that Hidden Moth, my pendant is that Hidden Moth object, you've got the wrong person!

But what if you're right and I'm the Hidden Moth and the pendant is the Hidden Moth object, can you still act this way? That's clearly theft!

If you really wanted this item, you could come to me directly and offer some terms to see if I'm willing to transfer it. That would be the proper approach. Do you normally act like this, and does no one stop you?"

Whether it was due to the alcohol or something else, Xiaowu's face turned slightly red, and after a pause, he finally said: "The Magic Sect does have rules, and there are people who manage things. That's why you see, they didn't dare to publicly snatch anything.

But people, since they have skills, inevitably want to resort to cunning ways, as long as no one finds out. After all, the temptation to become a Hidden Moth is significant, more importantly, one doesn't want to expose themselves.

Consider this: if you really were the Hidden Moth and someone came directly to you and bought the Hidden Moth object you possessed, wouldn't they be exposing themselves too? That could lead to trouble as well.

Of course, I'm talking about them, I'm not that kind of person!"

He Kao: "Then why did you also come here to find the Hidden Moth?"

Wu Yanjun sighed: "Because of the case from two years ago, I want to know the truth. My master is no longer here, and I don't know what else I can do for him, so I want to find out what really happened two years ago.

I first heard about the Hidden Moth from my master, and after I got out, my senior martial uncle also provided some context. They all believe that the artworks at the art exhibition were swapped possibly by the Hidden Moth, otherwise, it can't be explained.

If it weren't for that incident, my master wouldn't have gone inside, and he wouldn't have passed away so early."

He Kao shook his head repeatedly: "I totally agree that you want to do as much as you can for your master; but your specific approach, I can't concur with.

Let's imagine that the painting really was swapped by the so-called Hidden Moth during the exhibition, leading to your master's imprisonment. Even so, is your master in jail because of the Hidden Moth?

One must be reasonable; the police arrested your master because he actually did something wrong and there was evidence discovered. If he had never done those things, even if the painting was swapped at the exhibition, the investigation wouldn't have eventually pointed to him.

It's like if a thief stole something and was caught while selling the stolen goods; does the one who caught him have any fault? The police arrested him because he stole, and it led to discovering more stolen goods, with evidence becoming conclusive!"

Wu Yanjun slammed his cup heavily on the table: "Don't talk about my master like that!"

He Kao: "I'm sorry, I don't want to say it like that either. You are a righteous person; your junior sister swapped my belongings, and you knew to return them. But you're also aware that your master truly did something wrong, he didn't have to do those things initially.

How did your master end up there, who forced him to do it initially? If you really want to investigate the so-called truth, you shouldn't be looking for the Hidden Moth, but for those people."

Wu Yanjun calmed down a bit, then lowered his voice: "Do you mean the people of the Alchemy Sect?"

He Kao didn't answer, but shook his head.

Wu Yanjun looked somewhat anxious: "Is it not them? They were the ones who found my master initially to swap the ancient painting, and that's when my master got framed."

He Kao: "That's what your master told you. But there are many things he doesn't want you to know and can't tell you, because knowing too much would not benefit you." He returned the words Xiaowu once said to He Kao back to him.

Wu Yanjun leaned forward: "What things?"

He Kao: "The relationship between your master and the Alchemy Sect seems more like each taking what they need. Even if you go to them, there's not much to say. They can easily dismiss you by saying it was all voluntary at the time.

Moreover, can you alone take on three small bullies, but can you handle the entire Alchemy Sect? Actually, there are two other things that are more important.

First, what was the irresistible reason back then that made your master agree to the Alchemy Sect's request? If he agreed voluntarily, then there's nothing to say, but if there was another reason?"

**

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