I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Promotion to Deputy Group Leader?

When Yang Wenqing reported in earlier, he had only mentioned in passing that he had counter-killed three cultivators. To him, it hadn’t seemed particularly important, but Vice Director Gao was utterly shaken.

Vice Director Gao knew that Yang Wenqing had only been at the Qi Cultivation Stage for less than a year. In contrast, his three opponents should have been superior in both combat experience and their study of Magic. Yet, Yang Wenqing had managed to kill them all, a fact that Gao found almost unbelievable.

At this moment, Vice Director Gao stood exactly where Yang Wenqing had been ambushed. His hawk-like gaze swept over every detail of the scene: the deep slash marks left by flying swords on the walls, the craters blasted into the ground by anti-magic bullets, the fine ice crystals from shattered icicles, the scorched black patches from flames, and the three cordoned-off bodies.

Although he hadn’t witnessed the fight firsthand, his decades of experience handling countless difficult cases for the City Defense System allowed him to roughly reconstruct the scene in his mind. He double-checked the depleted Spiritual Veins and the physical strength of the three corpses, confirming that the weakest among them had at least the Cultivation of the Third Refinement, while one had already been on the cusp of the Fifth Refinement.

’While Cultivation level doesn’t directly correlate to combat strength before the Qi Cultivation Sixth Refinement, achieving this kind of result with a Second Refinement Cultivation... Even if he can’t compare to the true prodigies, he can’t be far off.’

Vice Director Gao assessed internally, a flicker of unconcealable surprise and admiration in his eyes. ’With his talent and combat adaptability, if he participates in the upcoming assessment, he might even be able to compete with Jianchao for first place.’

Once the thought took root, it grew like a weed in his mind.

His original plan was for Wang Jianchao to be smoothly transferred out, Liu Xin to take over as captain of the first squad and be promoted to vice team leader, and Yang Wenqing to take charge of the second squad in due course. But now, as he looked at the devastated battlefield, a much bolder idea surfaced.

’Why not promote Yang Wenqing directly to vice team leader?’

Liu Xin was capable enough and had a steady personality, but if the director really insisted on parachuting in Li Gui from West City for the vice team leader position, she wouldn’t stand a chance. He had pretended to be unconcerned at the time, but deep down, he was more than a little resentful. The vice team leader of the Major Case Team held immense power, able to independently investigate major cases in any district and even overturn cases they had already closed.

Li Gui was only at the Sixth Refinement. Furthermore, ever since he’d reached the Sixth Refinement and passed the exam for the rank of Police Commissioner, he had been focused entirely on careerism. He only performed routine cultivation and hadn’t invested any resources into advancing further.

Yang Wenqing, on the other hand, was strong enough. If it came down to a duel, and they equipped him with some Magical Artifacts and Rune paper, his inexhaustible supply of Spiritual Qi from his Qi Sea would give him a high probability of defeating Li Gui.

Vice Director Gao couldn’t help but smile at the thought. If a Police Commissioner was actually defeated by a Senior Inspector, Li Gui probably wouldn’t be able to show his face in the City Defense System ever again.

Vice Director Gao mentally reviewed the series of cases Yang Wenqing had handled since joining the Major Case Team. He was incredibly decisive, adaptable, and reliable. Coupled with his astonishing potential and combat prowess, he possessed a sharpness and ferocity that made him the perfect candidate to deal with Li Gui.

’Besides...’ Vice Director Gao’s thoughts raced. ’Wenqing promptly identified the mole in this incident and recovered the critical supplies. Either one of those is a solid contribution. Using these merits to justify an exceptional promotion to vice team leader might raise some eyebrows, but it’s completely defensible. Neither the Bureau nor the Civil Affairs Bureau would have any reason to block it.’

”Haha...”

He suddenly laughed out loud, imagining the look on Li Gui’s face when he was thwarted by a young upstart he’d looked down on.

That would be very amusing indeed.

His laughter drew glances from the guards on patrol nearby, so he quickly wiped the smile off his face and put on a stern expression.

Of course, the main reason he wanted to promote Yang Wenqing was his immense potential for growth. If nurtured properly, his future achievements would be limitless. Placing him in a more important position early on would be both a recognition of his abilities and a way to temper him further. It would also be an early investment in a future pillar for his own faction.

’It’s settled then!’ A decisive glint flashed in Vice Director Gao’s eyes. He needed to act quickly, leveraging the aftershocks of this incident and the merits Yang Wenqing had earned to push the proposal through.

He glanced around the alley one more time, seeing not the remnants of a battle, but an uncut jade radiating a captivating glow.

His mind made up, he hesitated no longer. Wiping the smile from his face, he reverted to his usual stern demeanor and ordered the guards on duty, ”Transport these three bodies back to the precinct’s evidence room under strict guard. No one is to touch them without my direct order.”

”Yes, sir!”

The guards moved immediately, carefully placing the three cultivators’ bodies into special body bags and carrying them away.

After the bodies were taken away, Vice Director Gao waved his sleeve. A pure yet gentle wave of Spiritual Qi swept through the street like a cool breeze. Under its influence, the scorched craters, residual ice crystals, and other obvious traces of the battle were erased at a visible rate.

Looking at the street now, it was as if a life-and-death struggle had never taken place. Only some unavoidable structural damage remained, making it look more like it had been hit by stray bullets or the shockwave from a distant explosion.

Just as he finished, the distinct low hum of a Flying Shuttle’s engine sounded from the entrance of the alley. Vice Director Gao turned to see Yang Wenqing jumping out of the shuttle and striding quickly toward him.

Yang Wenqing approached, stood at attention, and saluted. ”Director Gao!”

His eyes quickly swept over the cleaned-up scene, a flicker of imperceptible surprise in their depths, but he didn’t ask any questions.

Vice Director Gao looked at him, a familiar, warm smile on his face.

”Wenqing, you’re here.” Vice Director Gao’s tone was calm as he gestured to the surrounding rubble. ”I’ve already had the scene given a preliminary clean-up. I called you over because I wanted to hear your thoughts in person. What’s your take on this attack, and this whole series of events in the Port District and at the precinct?”

His question seemed casual, but he was actually making a final observation, confirming whether Yang Wenqing also possessed the strategic perspective and intelligence analysis skills required for a more important position.

Even if Yang Wenqing lacked these qualities, he wouldn’t change his mind. After all, theoretical knowledge could be learned. And to learn that knowledge, one needed to be in the right position, didn’t they?

”Director Gao, I don’t believe this was an isolated incident. The explosion and robbery in the Port District, the communications blackout at the precinct, the theft of critical supplies... the timing is too tight. It’s clearly the work of a single power, coordinating everything from behind the scenes.”

”Their goal is simply to use the chaos to plunder a large amount of basic cultivation resources. Whether it’s the spirit ores and herbs from the Port District or the reserves in the precinct’s warehouse, it’s all hard currency that could sustain a small faction for a long time.”

”Considering the final appearance of Demonic Qi, I suspect we might be facing a well-organized external force, one that may have ties to forbidden powers.”

After listening, the admiration in Vice Director Gao’s eyes deepened. But instead of delving further into the topic, he changed the subject as if making small talk. ”Mm, your thinking is very clear. By the way, Wenqing, how is your family doing lately? Are your parents in good health? I hear you have a younger brother and sister?”

Yang Wenqing was taken aback for a moment. Though he didn’t understand the director’s intention, he answered respectfully, ”Thank you for your concern, Director Gao. Everything at home is fine. My father is in good health, and my brother and sister are focused on their studies.”

”That’s good. A safe family is a blessing.”

Vice Director Gao nodded, then patted Yang Wenqing on the shoulder as if he had just remembered something. ”Alright, there’s nothing more to do here. You’ve already assigned people to the Port District, so come back to the precinct with me for now. There are a lot of reports to write and information to compile.”

With that, he turned and led the way toward the Flying Shuttle at the alley entrance.

Watching Vice Director Gao’s back, Yang Wenqing felt a flicker of confusion. ’Did the director really call me all the way over here just to listen to my analysis and make small talk about my family?’