I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 209: Chapter 123: The Moment of Bloody Confrontation

「In the Quiet Chamber of the Lingshan Town Public Security Office.」

The light from the badge’s Communication Array dimmed, leaving only the sound of Yang Wenqing’s own slightly suppressed breathing in the room. He leaned back, his spine straight, his gaze fixed on the gray-white wall opposite him.

’The answer is about to surface.’

His mind replayed everything that had happened over the past month...

The provocative congratulatory letter on the night of his promotion, the people buried and missing after the Lingshan Town landslide, the sickening scene at the altar in the mountain stronghold, the dark brown earth beneath Liu Rong’s silhouette, Zhou Yong’s tear-streaked confession in the interrogation room, and Vice Director Yan’s exhaustingly slick smile.

And then there was the heavy weight of the hardcover notebook currently in his Storage Bag. All the images, sounds, and smells suddenly seemed to be strung together by an invisible thread, finally freezing on the name Zhang Qiming.

At this point, Yang Wenqing’s suspicion was no longer vague. But he didn’t quite understand. Zhang Qiming had no motive. Money? He couldn’t be short on it. With the Zhang family’s backing, he wouldn’t lack for power either. The only thing he lacked was cultivation.

’Could Zhang Qiming be using a blood-and-flesh altar for his cultivation?’

The thought startled him.

He immediately closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. When he opened them again, his gaze was filled with an almost crystalline calm.

He then reached into his Storage Bag, took out a pen and a sheet of tough parchment, and spread it on the desk. The tip touched the paper with a faint SASA sound. He started by writing the name Zhang Qiming in the center, then extended several lines outward from it.

He drew slowly, pausing frequently to recall certain details, adding in timelines, contradictions, and the potential tensions or alliances between the characters involved.

An intricate web began to take shape on the parchment, with Zhang Qiming at its very core!

Setting down the charcoal pen, he gently tapped twice on the thick line connecting Zhang Qiming to the assassination case. The opponent’s outline was becoming clear, but it wasn’t enough. Many things still didn’t connect, and he needed evidence.

After a long moment of thought, he put down the pen, burned the relationship diagram he had drawn, and picked up his badge again. His thumb traced the cool metal and the faint, raised runes on its surface as he infused it with a steady stream of Spiritual Qi, asking Liu Qin to connect him to the encrypted channel for the Xiaoqiao Town Public Security Office.

In the few brief seconds it took to connect, he could hear his own steady heartbeat.

”This is Wang Jianchao.” The familiar voice of his old superior came through. In the background, he could faintly hear the rustling of paper and the low murmur of others, as if he were in the middle of routine work.

”Director Wang, it’s me, Wenqing,” Yang Wenqing said, his voice low.

”Wenqing?” Wang Jianchao’s tone immediately shifted from businesslike to one of serious concern. The background noise quieted, as if he had moved to a more secluded spot. ”You must be busy right now. What’s so important that you have time to call me?”

He was clearly aware that Yang Wenqing was working on a major case, and his tone was cautious.

Yang Wenqing paused, choosing his words carefully. ”The case is moving forward, but we’re at a stalemate. It might stir up some things in deep water.”

The other end of the line went silent for two seconds before Wang Jianchao’s voice returned. ”I understand. Are you worried some people won’t play by the rules and that it might affect your family?”

He had seen right through to Yang Wenqing’s worry. After all, he had spent many years in the Major Case Team and had sharp instincts.

”I do have that concern. I can’t get away right now, and my parents are getting older. Things are usually peaceful, but...” Yang Wenqing left the sentence unfinished.

”Say no more,” Wang Jianchao interrupted, his tone decisive. ”Leave your parents to me. I’ll make arrangements immediately to bring them to my home.”

Yang Wenqing’s heart settled. He said in a low voice, ”Director Wang, thank you. I’m sorry to trouble you again.”

”It’s a small matter,” Wang Jianchao said with a laugh. ”You’re on the front lines charging into battle, and I’m holding down the fort for you at home. It’s called division of labor. Be careful yourself. I hear the waters in Lingshan Town run deep. Don’t be a hero. Ask for help when you need it.”

”I know. Director Wang, you take care as well.”

”Alright. Stay in touch.” Wang Jianchao ended the communication briskly.

Yang Wenqing felt much more at ease. His old superior’s reliability allowed him to focus more on the crisis at hand. After thinking for a little longer, he pushed open the door to the Quiet Chamber.

The hallway outside was brightly lit, a stark contrast to the dim Quiet Chamber. He returned to his office, saw Qian Lu, and ordered, ”Have Yang Tie come see me immediately.”

”Yes, sir!”

「Half an hour later.」

Yang Tie appeared at Yang Wenqing’s side.

Yang Wenqing pulled him aside and instructed, ”Go back and inform Yang Yong. Starting today, Wenjian and Wenning are to feign illness and stay home from school. Arrange for reliable people to guard the courtyard.”

Yang Tie’s expression tightened. Without any unnecessary questions, he just nodded firmly. ”Understood. I’ll see to it at once.” With that, he turned and hurried away.

He was taking these precautions just in case. The case had reached a point where the knives were out.

...

After giving his orders to Yang Tie, Yang Wenqing returned to his desk. He didn’t adjust any of his previous commands or issue new ones. Li Yue, Sun Yi, and Wu Qianjun were all continuing their in-depth investigations as he had instructed.

As for Yang Wenqing himself, he used his own City Defense System privileges to access the Public Security Office’s system. He began identifying the peripheral personnel mentioned in Liu Min’s notebook and creating corresponding files for them.

The process was tedious and mentally exhausting. It seemed like soft, delicate work, but this was the true blade that could kill.

Time passed in silent retrieval. Outside the window, the sun rose and set. Yang Wenqing was like the most patient of weavers, quietly spinning another, hidden web outside the complex fog laid by his opponent.