“Got it!”

Zhang Yuanqing responded verbally, but inwardly he thought of the phrase "unworthy father" and Master Wuhen, who had guided his cultivation and attempted self-redemption.

Evil individuals trying to redeem themselves, while law-abiding practitioners could lash out over personal grudges, affecting innocent ordinary people.

Alas, there is no pure good or evil in the world; human nature is inherently complex... Zhang Yuanqing gained a deeper understanding of Li Dongze's words, "Law-abiding doesn't equate to good."

As for the branch's higher-ups' attitude towards the matter, although Palace Master Zhisha acted in self-defense and didn't proactively instigate the conflict, she did cause losses and deaths, so arresting her was the correct decision.

How she would be punished was a matter for later; Zhang Yuanqing didn't comment. But the decision to punish the Xiahou family was entirely expected.

On one hand, the Xiahou family was a flourishing family of Spiritual Realm practitioners with deep roots. The authorities couldn't possibly tear apart relations with a large family over the lives of a few ordinary people.

Sometimes, those at the top only see the big picture; they don't see the ants at their feet.

On the other hand, the Xiahou family had intricate connections with official organizations. The officialdom was an organization with a mixed bag of people, factions vying for power, with good people and definitely bad people.

One couldn't even simply define them as good or bad people; one should say that they all had their own interests. If one had to use a single concept to represent the officialdom, it definitely wouldn't be justice and kindness, but rather, order.

Zhang Yuanqing had understood these principles clearly since he was a child, listening to his grandfather at home, cursing out the corrupt former director of the Public Security Bureau.

In short, the Xiahou family, which had close cooperation with certain factions within the officialdom, would naturally receive "preferential treatment."

Guan Ya smiled with satisfaction when she saw him nod. Yuan Shi wasn't a reckless youth; he was more worldly and sophisticated than the average person his age, which was a good thing. Such a person could thrive in the system.

At this moment, Li Dongze walked out. "Guan Ya told you?"

"Team Leader, I'll leave it to you to handle," Zhang Yuanqing said immediately.

Li Dongze immediately smiled, "Guan Ya and I will shield you. Selling out informants is not a gentlemanly virtue, and the grudges between the Xiahou family and Palace Zhisha are none of our business. Don't get involved."

He tapped his cane, pointing out the stakes: "Palace Zhisha's slogan is 'Stop war with war, stop killing with killing,' which is extremely radical. If you sell them out today, you will surely face retaliation tomorrow. The Xiahou family can't possibly cover for you."

"Understood."

Zhang Yuanqing nodded.

Li Dongze glanced at Wang Tai, who was buried in his work, and said, "Yuan Shi, come to my office for a moment. I'll tell you about the progress of the Hei Wuchang case."

Wang Tai wasn't part of the search team; according to the rules, he couldn't be told in front of him.

This was the real matter... Zhang Yuanqing quickly got up and followed behind Li Dongze.

The two entered the office one after the other. Zhang Yuanqing turned around to close the door. Li Dongze went straight to his desk and took out a stack of documents from the drawer.

"Coke?"

Li Dongze opened the liquor cabinet.

With my current net worth of 650,000, I should be drinking an '82 Lafite... Zhang Yuanqing nodded, "Light ice!"

Li Dongze shrugged, dropped a small amount of ice cubes into a glass, poured coke and whiskey, and returned to the sofa.

"Remember the list you provided last time?"

"I remember!"

"Based on the list, we've identified those people's identities in reality. During this time, we successfully arrested one person and killed two. One of the two who were killed was under Gu Wang."

Gu Wang was another vice president, Judge Guiyan's rival.

The Five Elements Alliance moves quickly; it hasn't been long, and they've already identified three Wu Gu Masters from the Spiritual Energy Society. Zhang Yuanqing was no longer a rookie. He knew how difficult it was to hunt down Spiritual Realm practitioners in the vast sea of people.

If the other party also had props like the Facemorph Ring, it would be virtually impossible.

The fact that the authorities could kill three Wu Gu Masters in a short period of time meant they were serious.

Li Dongze took a sip of his strong liquor and said:

"After soul-searching, we obtained some useful clues. Hei Wuchang is lurking in Songhai, seemingly for another purpose."

Another purpose... Zhang Yuanqing nodded with a realization:

"I thought it was strange before. If I were Hei Wuchang, and the authorities and Gu Wang were looking for me, then why wouldn't I move my hiding place? Do you know the reason why Hei Wuchang is hiding in Songhai?"

Li Dongze shook his head:

"Perhaps only Hei Wuchang himself knows, but we can deduce the answer based on the clues. Something that would make Hei Wuchang willing to take such a great risk to stay in Songhai must be very important, so important that it can be compared to life itself."

Zhang Yuanqing frowned, "At this stage, shouldn't he be most concerned with receiving Judge Guiyan's legacy? By the way, what level is Hei Wuchang?"

"Level 6, Saint Realm Peak."

Wu Gu Masters are a profession with outstanding combat power. A level 6 Wu Gu Master, even if he can't wrestle with a level 7 law-abiding profession, is definitely stronger than his peers. That is to say, unless an elder-level figure takes action, it would be difficult to deal with this Hei Wuchang.

Zhang Yuanqing sighed inwardly. Isn't this making things difficult for him? He was merely a level 2 Night Wanderer; the other party could crush him with a single finger.

Li Dongze then handed over the document, saying:

"Take a look."

Zhang Yuanqing opened the document. It was a personal file. The man in the one-inch photo was about thirty years old, with a gaunt face, slanted eyes and sword-like eyebrows, and tightly pursed lips, giving off a sharp feeling.

"Spiritual Realm ID: Hengxing Wuji (Rampage Without Restraint)... Real name Zhu Jingyao... Level 3 Wu Gu Master... Financial criminal, former securities company employee, using his position to seek illegal benefits..."

Zhang Yuanqing read the personal information and said, "I remember this person. He was on the list I provided."

Li Dongze nodded: "The day before yesterday, Captain Qing Teng of Baihua Club received a tip that someone had seen this person in Kangyang District, but he quickly disappeared. This person is currently being handled by our Kangyang District Spiritual Realm Team, and is also our recent target."

It's a pity there's no target's DNA, otherwise the Red High Heels could solve everything... Zhang Yuanqing thought regretfully.

However, it's good to have a target, better than being a headless fly.

"Knock, knock!"

The glass door of the office was knocked twice, and Guan Ya's voice came:

"Team Leader, the Xiahou family is here."

Li Dongze and Zhang Yuanqing exchanged a look. The latter put away the document, and the former said in a deep voice:

"Invite them in."

A dozen seconds later, Guan Ya led two men into the office. One of them was a middle-aged man in a suit, with short hair, a straight posture, and a capable spirit. His facial features were decent, but his eyes were a little small.

The other was a young man in his mid-twenties, wearing a white shirt, with his collar open and his hem not tucked into his waist, looking unrestrained and unruly.

He looked somewhat similar to the middle-aged man, but more handsome, with a Korean-style long hair, messy but not lacking in beauty, paired with silver ear studs, the kind of bad boy look that attracts girls in nightclubs.

"I am Xiahou Xin, this is my son Xiahou Tianyuan," the middle-aged man said with a smile.

"Welcome, welcome," Li Dongze's two mustaches fluttered with his smile, "Hello, Mr. Xiahou, please sit down!"

He shook hands warmly with the middle-aged man, led the two to their seats, and asked Guan Ya to pour hot tea.

Xiahou Xin waited unhurriedly for Guan Ya to serve the tea, and said:

"Team Leader Li must know my intentions. That Palace Zhisha is too deceitful, almost killing my eldest son. This revenge must be taken. We found out that Wang Tai, a doctor at Pingtai Hospital, is a member of Palace Zhisha. When we went to arrest him, he had already fled.

"According to the information, this person is an informant under Team Leader Li. I hope Team Leader Li can do us a favor and lure this person out. After it's done, the Xiahou family will definitely reward you handsomely."

The one Palace Master Zhisha beat up was this Xiahou Xin's son? I heard Xie Lingxi say that he is the Xiahou family's direct heir. So this Xiahou Xin has a very high status... Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help but take a closer look at the middle-aged man.

At this time, he noticed that the young man named Xiahou Tianyuan glanced at him with some arrogance.

"This..." Li Dongze's face was full of smiles, but he said helplessly:

"Palace Zhisha daring to humiliate Young Master Xiahou Tianwen is indeed excessive, and he deserves to die. However, after last night's battle, Palace Zhisha is on high alert, how could they be fooled? This Team Leader is powerless."

Xiahou Tianyuan glanced at Zhang Yuanqing again, and said displeased:

"Isn't this simple? Send a message to Wang Qian, saying that someone within the Five Elements Alliance can't stand the Xiahou family, and ask if Palace Zhisha needs help. First show goodwill, hook him in, and then slowly plot against him. If you don't know how, give me the phone."

As long as they connect with that Wang Qian, they will have a way to lure this person out. What they lack now is a person who can make Wang Qian willing to "communicate."

Li Dongze sighed: "Alright, I'll be honest, alas, when gods fight, mortals suffer. We don't want to get involved in the grudges between the Xiahou family and Palace Zhisha. I'm sorry, we can't help."

"What did you say?" Xiahou Tianyuan said in disbelief.

The Xiahou family has already locked onto several clues of Palace Zhisha members, and Team Two of Kangyang District is one of them. In Xiahou Tianyuan's view, facing the Xiahou family's request, such an unremarkable team should be eager to help and try to curry favor.

It's not that Xiahou Tianyuan is arrogant and conceited, but there are countless such teams in the Five Elements Alliance. And how many Spiritual Realm families like the Xiahou family are there in the country?

It's like a city management team rejecting a large financial group with official backing.

Guan Ya rolled her eyes: "Don't understand? Do you want me to translate it for you in a foreign language?"

"You..." Xiahou Tianyuan looked angry. When did a female employee dare to talk to him like that?

In front of him, being pretty doesn't give you special privileges.

Xiahou Xin glanced at Guan Ya, stopped his son from getting angry with his eyes, and said sincerely:

"This matter is very important to the Xiahou family, please Team Leader Li be sure to agree."

While saying Team Leader Li, his gaze was directed at Guan Ya.

Li Dongze looked embarrassed. With his status, refusing once was the limit. If he refused again, he was afraid he would be suppressed.

At this time, Guan Ya needed to step forward.

"What does the Xiahou family's affairs have to do with us?" Guan Ya glanced at the father and son opposite her:

"Just because it's important to the Xiahou family, we have to help? Will the Xiahou family protect my colleague from Palace Zhisha's retaliation? Will they protect him 24/7? Or are you just trying to use family power to put pressure and treat my colleague as a tool? You want us to risk helping with just a promise of a great reward, what a great calculation. You want to lure Wang Qian out, right? Okay, exchange it for ten pieces of equipment."

"Are you crazy?" Xiahou Tianyuan laughed angrily: "What are you, ten pieces of equipment? I'm afraid you don't have the life to enjoy them."

Guan Ya sneered: "Say one more word, and I'll shoot you."

Xiahou Xin stopped his furious son with a fierce look, took a deep look at Guan Ya, and said:

"Sorry to bother you!"

Xiahou Tianyuan looked at his father in astonishment.

Xiahou Xin got up with a cold face and walked out of the office.

Xiahou Tianyuan glared at Guan Ya and followed his father away.

Li Dongze slowly exhaled, got up, stretched his waist, and said with a relaxed expression:

"Okay, this matter ends here, alas, these big families are not easy to provoke..."

He quickly added to save face: "In the system, you always have to face similar things. Playing it safe and compromising are the supreme rules in the system."

Team Leader, you don't need to explain these to me. The Xiahou family is not very overbearing, or is it that Guan Ya's background is too deep? Zhang Yuanqing realized that he might have underestimated Old Driver Ji.

Anyone who isn't blind can see that Xiahou Xin, the direct descendant of the Xiahou family, is obviously very afraid of Guan Ya.

Team Leader, this useless thing, seems stable on the surface, but is actually hiding under Guan Ya's skirt.

But I don't remember a Guan family among the Spiritual Realm families. Oh right, Guan Ya is a Spiritual Realm ID, not a real name.

"Alas, compared to being Xie's live-in son-in-law, I suddenly want to be Guan's live-in son-in-law even more," Zhang Yuanqing said half-jokingly and half-probingly.

Old Driver Ji didn't take the bait, and looked him up and down, clicking her tongue twice:

"You can't, you're too small."

Zhang Yuanqing was unconvinced: "You haven't seen it, how do you know it's small?"

"Okay, go to the toilet and let me see."

"Let's go!"

"Let's go!"

Li Dongze leaned on his cane and shook his head slightly. One of these two had never had a boyfriend, and the other had never had a girlfriend. All their skills were in their mouths.

Zhang Yuanqing had lunch at the office and lingered until 1 p.m. Thinking that he had a professional class later, he left the Public Security Bureau with his backpack, scanned a shared bicycle, and slowly headed to school.

Just after crossing the traffic light, a black car sped over and forced him to stop by the side of the road.

In the back seat of the black car were Xiahou Xin and his son.