"What are you thinking?" the director snapped. "Headquarters doesn't know Wu Datong has been spotted in East Sea City. If we report it now and catch him, that's one thing. But if we fail, how will that make us look to the higher-ups?"
The Head of the Intelligence Department flinched.
"But sir, he's named in a document headquarters sent to every city branch. If we don't report this and something goes wrong later..."
The director on the other end of the line was silent for a long moment before speaking, his tone heavy with meaning.
"You're still so young... If this Wu Datong were really some important, critical figure, do you think headquarters would just casually issue a memo telling all the branches to 'be on the lookout' and call it a day?"
The department head considered this but didn't dare reply.
The director continued.
"If he were that important, headquarters would have already dispatched Celestial Humans, or even mobilized Earth Immortals, to hunt him down across the globe! Unless this Wu Datong is some paramount Existence beyond the level of an Earth Immortal, and headquarters is just going through the motions. But do you really think that's possible?"
The department head hesitated, then said quietly,
"But... what if?"
"'What if?'" the director shot back, his tone even harsher. "There are no 'what ifs'!"
"Most importantly, I'm about to be promoted. If I get a reputation for incompetence at this critical juncture... After I'm gone, this director position for East Sea City is yours. Do you understand?"
"I understand, sir!" The Head of the Intelligence Department nodded with a bitter smile. After hanging up, he paced back and forth, a persistent unease settling in his gut.
After a long while, he sighed.
'Forget it. It's better to just do as I'm told. If something really does go wrong, I won't be the first one to face the music when the sky falls...'
He paused, then pursed his lips and muttered to himself.
'Besides, if it really does turn out to be the worst-case scenario, a conflict of that magnitude isn't something I, or this little branch office, could ever get involved in... No, what are the odds of that?'
He chuckled softly at the thought.
In this age, there were certainly a good number of Cultivators at the first step, building their Jade Tower. But the number dropped exponentially by the time one reached the Celestial Human stage.
Let alone Land Immortals...
And as for those terrifying figures even beyond Land Immortals?
There were only a handful of them in the entire world. How could one possibly show up in East Sea City and decide to be a barefoot doctor?
It was simply absurd!
......
「4:30 AM.」
In the Inspectorate Building, the door to an interrogation room opened. A middle-aged inspector spoke, his tone harsh.
"Which one of you is Wu Xiaoxu?"
"Th-That's me!" Wu Xiaoxu stammered.
"Let's go." The middle-aged inspector unlocked his shackles, but as he prepared to lead him away, Wu Xiaoxu burst into tears, thinking he was about to be "disposed of."
The middle-aged inspector was getting impatient.
"What are you crying for? Haven't you had enough? You've been crying all night!"
Seeing the inspector's fierce expression, Wu Xiaoxu choked out between sobs,
"I don't want to die... I don't want to die..."
He'd long heard that the Inspectorate was a true den of wolves. Any ordinary person who went in would be lucky to come out with their skin intact!
At this thought, Wu Xiaoxu let out a "WAAAH" and began to cry with abandon.
Lu Xuan raised his head and asked the middle-aged inspector softly,
"Excuse me, where are you taking Xiaoxu?"
The middle-aged inspector had a much better temper than the bald one from before. He now looked on with a helpless, pained expression.
"Our Director wants to question him personally... Alright, stop crying! No one's going to kill you!"
Wu Xiaoxu finally stopped sobbing, but his eyes darted about nervously, a clear sign of his inner panic.
Lu Xuan thought for a moment before asking softly again,
"In that case, may I go with you? I would like to see Director Ji."
"What's it got to do with you?" the middle-aged inspector said impatiently. "Just stay put. It's not like you're Wu Datong's son... I know you were most likely framed. Don't worry. If you really have no connection to the fugitive, you'll be released in a few days!"
Lu Xuan's expression was placid as he spoke with great sincerity.
"I believe I am the new deputy director you were speaking of. My official appointment simply hasn't been processed yet."
Both the middle-aged inspector and Wu Xiaoxu froze. They glanced at him out of the corners of their eyes, utterly speechless.
After a long pause, the inspector said, exasperated,
"All right, stop making trouble. And don't spout such nonsense. You're lucky it's me you're talking to. If it were anyone else, you might really end up stuck in here for life... Just be good and wait. If I'm in a good mood later, I might even bring you some breakfast!"
With that, the middle-aged inspector led Wu Xiaoxu straight out of the interrogation room. Lu Xuan was momentarily stunned, but then a faint smile graced his lips.
'Maybe... maybe this era, this world, hasn't completely fallen into moral decay just yet?'
'And if it hasn't, then I should abide by its rules and customs.'
With this thought, Lu Xuan abandoned the idea of breaking his handcuffs. He simply sat there, waiting quietly.
'As long as some people still abide by the rules, I will too. As for those who don't... I'll just have to make them learn.'
He murmured to himself, a seed of an idea taking root in his heart.
He had seen the fields of bones in Qianlong City, witnessed the wickedness of the human heart on the refugee roads, and experienced the endless backstabbing of the slums...
But Lu Xuan still held out hope for this world.
For no particular reason, he thought of the girl in the library. The smile on his face widened, and his hope for the world grew stronger.
'There are always good people.'
......
At 5:40 AM, Butcher Zheng returned home, dejected and sighing.
"I did my best."
Sister Zheng rolled her eyes.
"I told you those good-for-nothing friends of yours were unreliable!"
"That's not it!" Butcher Zheng retorted. "You know how it is. The Inspectorate's influence runs deep... Have you heard anything from Xiaosang?"
Sister Zheng first nodded, then shook her head.
"Her number hasn't changed, but a different woman answered when I called. Said she was Xiaosang's housekeeper and told us to call back after sunrise."
She paused, her voice tinged with envy.
"Xiaosang's really done well for herself, even has a housekeeper now... Anyway, it's already so late, I won't go back to sleep. I'll wait until seven or eight and try calling again. You should get some rest. You still have to open the stall later!"
"I'm not going!" Butcher Zheng flopped onto the bed and lit a cigarette. "With this thing hanging over Lu the Kid, I can't rest easy. I'm in no mood to run the stall!"
For once, Sister Zheng didn't scold him. She just nodded silently, then propped her chin on her hand and let out a weary yawn.
In a daze, she recalled the first time she ever saw Lu the Kid.
It was seven years ago, during a heavy snowstorm. Old Chu had brought the recently found Lu the Kid around to introduce him. Old Zheng was out at the stall, and she was sick with a cold, wrapped up in a blanket.
That day, Lu the Kid had run out to fetch medicine for her, a person he'd only just met. The nine-year-old boy boiled the water, brewed the herbs, and even swept the snow from her doorway, saying...
"Aunt Zheng, the snow is too deep. You have to sweep it. Otherwise, when it starts to melt, the water will seep into the house. The dampness will make it harder for you to get over your cold."
Sister Zheng, who was usually sharp-tongued and cynical, couldn't help but ask,
"Haven't you ever heard the saying? 'Sweep the snow from your own doorstep, and don't worry about the frost on your neighbor's roof...'"
But nine-year-old Lu Xuan had only looked up, puzzled.
"Aunt Zheng, that's not right. That's so... impersonal. Wouldn't it be better if I swept the snow from your door, and you cleared the frost from my roof?"
Sister Zheng looked into the boy's sparkling eyes and lowered her head, feeling a pang of shame.
......
At 8:00 AM, the call to Li Xiaosang finally went through.
Sister Zheng forced herself to sound alert and explained the entire situation. At the end, she added,
"Xiaosang, Lu the Kid is a good boy."
On the other end of the line, Li Xiaosang was silent for a moment before saying,
"I'm not in East Sea City right now, but I'll make a couple of calls to the Longque Technology branch there. No guarantees, but I'll do my best."
"Thank you, thank you so much!"
......
「8:30 AM, East Sea High School Library.」
Yan Jiangxue sat in her usual spot, but today she wasn't as focused on her book. Every so often, she would lift her head to glance at the library entrance.
As she watched, she touched the Fried Flood Dragon Meat she had in her pocket. A faint, precious light shimmered on its surface.
'Lu Xuan will definitely like this.'
'What treat will he bring me today? Candied chestnuts? Roasted sweet potatoes? Could it be the roasted corn he mentioned yesterday?'
At the thought, Yan Jiangxue smiled without realizing it. Her smile was like the brilliant morning sun, as pleasant as a spring breeze.
A few students passing by stared, smitten. They then exchanged looks of disbelief.
'No way. The ice queen actually smiled!'