Lu Xuan had just lain down on his bed and was beginning to visualize the seventy-sixth Great Dao Text when a series of urgent knocks shattered his train of thought.
'Who could it be this late?'
His expression didn't change. He wasn't annoyed that the spark of Spiritual Light that had just appeared in his mind had been interrupted. He was like a great, placid lake—calm, composed, and unperturbed.
When he opened the door, Lu Xuan froze for a moment.
Standing outside were two burly men in Inspectorate uniforms, their faces etched with impatience.
One of them, a bald man, barked at him:
"Inspectorate business! Have you seen this wanted man?"
As he spoke, he thrust a portrait forward. Lu Xuan couldn't have been more familiar with the face on it... it was Wu Datong.
His expression tightened slightly, but his voice remained calm as he said:
"I know him. May I ask what law Uncle Wu has broken?"
"Is that any of your business to ask?" The officer's tone was rude. They belonged to the Inspectorate's combat division and were high-and-mighty Cultivators who naturally looked down on the rabble from the shantytown.
"Someone reported that you're close with Wu Datong. You're always running over to his place, aren't you? Speak! Are you an accomplice? An accessory to the crime?!"
Lu Xuan's expression remained unchanged.
"You'll have to tell me first what Uncle Wu has done and what law he has violated."
"Well, now." The man's mood was already sour from being called out for a mission so late at night. Seeing the calm, unafraid look on the young man's face, his anger flared.
"We now suspect you of being Wu Datong's accomplice. You're coming with us!"
After a pause, he turned to his partner and said:
"How about we just take him? I really don't want to stay in this cesspool any longer."
"Works for me," his partner chuckled. "Nabbing Wu Datong's son and this kid should be enough to report back. Let's go!"
The two of them chatted and laughed as if no one else was there. Meanwhile, doors along both sides of the street began to open one by one as people poked their heads out, curious about the commotion.
But as soon as they saw the men from the Inspectorate, they all recoiled as if they had seen a ghost, pulling their heads back in, shutting their doors, closing their windows, and hastily drawing their curtains.
Lu Xuan frowned. 'Isn't the Inspectorate supposed to maintain order and protect the interests of the public?'
'Why are all my neighbors so afraid of them?'
A doubt sprouted in his mind.
Before he could ponder it further, the officer casually took out a pair of handcuffs and moved to restrain him.
Even though he could shatter the shackles with a gentle flex, and even though the two Cultivator-officers before him were exceedingly weak, Lu Xuan did not resist.
He was a man who respected the law and followed the rules. To him, the rules were absolute.
However, after the handcuffs were on, Lu Xuan spoke in a serious tone:
"Could you help me contact Director Ji of the Inspectorate? I left in a hurry last time and forgot to leave my number."
The two officers froze for a second, then exchanged a look and burst out laughing.
"Contact our Director? Kid, have you lost your mind? Stop spouting nonsense and get moving!"
With that, he gave Lu Xuan a rough shove, forcing him into the vehicle.
Wu Xiaoxu was already in the car, also in handcuffs. His face was streaked with tears and filled with panic. When he saw Lu Xuan get in, his expression froze.
"Brother Xuan? You..."
"It's fine," Lu Xuan said calmly. "Do you know what happened to Uncle Wu?"
Uncle Wu was a very good man. He spent most of his days providing free consultations to the poor in the shantytown and would often travel to impoverished towns on the city's outskirts to practice medicine, rarely charging a fee.
Lu Xuan couldn't believe that Uncle Wu would commit a crime.
Wu Xiaoxu, his eyes brimming with tears, shook his head vigorously, his voice choked with sobs.
"I don't know! My dad would never do anything bad! It's impossible!"
"I know," Lu Xuan nodded gently. He was about to offer a few more words of comfort but was cut short by the two officers getting into the car.
Soon, the car started and sped away from the shantytown. Only then did some of the residents dare to step out onto the street.
Butcher Zheng watched the departing Inspectorate car with a worried expression and sighed.
"What a tragedy... How did Datong become a wanted man?"
Clearly, the officers had knocked on his door earlier as well.
Beside him, Butcher Zheng's wife, known as Sister Zheng, also furrowed her brow.
"Old Zheng, did you hear what those two officers said? They mentioned someone reported that Little Lu Xuan was close with Wu Datong... Who do you think would do something like that? Who could be so vicious?"
They lived right next door, and since soundproofing was practically nonexistent in the shantytown's houses, they had naturally overheard the entire conversation.
Butcher Zheng took a drag from his cigarette.
"You're asking me? I don't know either. Lu the Kid has never made an enemy of anyone. He's good to everyone, kind to everyone..."
After a moment of thought, he added:
"Speaking of which, do you think it could have something to do with the Martial Arts Alliance?"
"What do you mean?" Sister Zheng asked, taken aback.
"We were supposed to hand over this week's protection money yesterday, but no one came to collect, so I did some asking around."
Butcher Zheng explained:
"The market area is the White Elephant Martial Arts Hall's territory, and we always pay our dues to them. Old Third from the market said that the White Elephant Hall Master was killed at the Inspectorate. The big shots at the White Elephant Martial Arts Hall have been too busy fighting for power these past few days to come collect."
Sister Zheng was puzzled.
"But what does that have to do with Wu Datong?"
Butcher Zheng scoffed and began to analyze the situation with an air of expertise.
"Look, the Inspectorate and the Martial Arts Alliance have never gotten along. Killing the White Elephant Hall Master is a sign—a sign that they're about to have a major showdown. Wu Datong only came to our shantytown a few years ago. Do you remember? He spoke so eloquently when he first arrived!"
He paused, then continued:
"Maybe he used to belong to some martial arts hall, got kicked out during a fight over territory or power, and now the Inspectorate is settling old scores with him!"
"Where are you getting this crazy stuff? I think you've had too much to drink and are just making things up!" Sister Zheng said with disdain.
Butcher Zheng's eyes widened.
"Watch your mouth, woman! My analysis is sound and well-reasoned! How many times have I told you? You have to learn to see the big picture in the small details, or you'll never get out of this shantytown!"
"I've been with you for years, and I haven't seen you get out of this shantytown! I haven't seen you give me a good life, either! When I married you, we didn't even have a wedding!"
Butcher Zheng's bravado deflated, and he gave an awkward laugh before sighing.
"I can't do anything about Wu Datong. I just hope Lu the Kid will be alright... No, that's not enough. Wait for me. I'm going to go find my old buddies at the market and see if any of them know someone in the Inspectorate!"
"Then hurry up and go!" Sister Zheng, who was usually sharp and critical, urged him on. "Lu Xuan is a good kid... You go find your shady friends, and I'll try calling Li Xiaosang's old number to see if it still works!"
"Deal!" Butcher Zheng decided on the spot. "I completely forgot about that girl, Li Xiaosang! She's a big shot now, and she and Lu the Kid have a bit of a history. If we can reach her, there's no way she'll just stand by and do nothing!"