Jun Bufan quickly contacted his relative at the City Defense Department, informed them of his intentions, and hung up the phone.
However, his relative, with a dismissive curl of the lip, secretly thought, "What a fuss! The City Defense Director himself is preparing lunch. Those who don't know might think the Jiangdong City Lord's Mansion has arrived!"
Despite his words, the relative still called Liang Minghui's adjutant. But Liang Minghui was in a meeting and couldn't be disturbed. After a moment's thought, the relative said no more, and of course, did not mention Xiao Yunlong's name before hanging up.
The adjutant, standing outside the conference room, was bewildered and didn't bother to think further. If Jun Bufan's relative had casually mentioned Xiao Yunlong, the adjutant's reaction would have been completely different.
After all, that day at the Liu family's residence, he had personally witnessed the City Defense Director Liang Minghui almost kneeling before Mr. Xiao.
On the way to the City Defense Department, dark clouds suddenly gathered, quickly engulfing the entire Su City, giving the impression of dark clouds pressing down, threatening to crush the city.
Meanwhile, at the City Defense Department, Captain Wu Gaozhuo, upon his return, immediately assembled all the elite experts of the subordinate guard. He then conveyed a message to his superiors: a martial arts expert from the common folk had not only crippled Vice-Instructor Ma Minfei but was also preparing to personally come to the City Defense Department to provoke trouble!
This caused the entire City Defense Department to erupt!
"Outrageous! A commoner, relying on some skill, dares to come to the City Defense Department to cause trouble? His audacity is truly immense!" scoffed a deputy captain.
"Arrogant and ignorant! What kind of place is the City Defense Department? It's not a place for these martial artists to come and go as they please. They truly don't take us seriously!"
Several mid-level leaders in the City Defense Department were furious.
Wu Gaozhuo sneered, "That kid is indeed arrogant, but he also has some real skill. The Head Instructor passed away half a year ago. Without him here, if that brat comes, I'm afraid we'll find it difficult to deal with him!"
"Impossible! With over a dozen internal energy grandmasters present, can't we even deal with one common martial artist?" someone retorted coldly.
"As you all saw, Vice-Instructor Ma was carried in. You all know his martial arts cultivation. To put it bluntly, I'm afraid none of us here are his match?" Wu Gaozhuo said.
Although his words were unpleasant, they were the truth, so the more than ten mid-level leaders in the assembly hall collectively fell silent.
After all, even a master like Vice-Instructor Ma was crippled by the opponent, so they were even less likely to be a match for the common martial artist.
One person grinned and snorted, "Why don't we just use our firearms and shoot him dead? Even if he's a peak grandmaster, he can't withstand so many bullets, unless he's in the legendary realm of 'Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown'!"
Wu Gaozhuo chuckled wryly, "Your idea is too naive. He's a common martial artist, and he specifically stated he's coming for a martial arts duel. If you immediately resort to weapons, and this gets out, the entire Jiangdong martial arts world will laugh at us!"
"That's true. If he comes to challenge us, we can't just open fire. It's not appropriate!" several mid-level leaders nodded repeatedly.
"By the way, where is the City Defense Director? Is he not here today?" Wu Gaozhuo asked, looking around.
"He's not here. The City Defense Director has gone to the neighboring Yan City. It's said that something major has happened in Yan City recently. The Yan City Defense Director, Geng Bingfa, died in our Su City. At this moment, Director Liang must still be in a meeting," a deputy replied.
"If the Director isn't here, what should we do? How about calling the Martial Arts Association and asking them to send experts to assist us?" someone suggested.
"That's a good idea. However, a while ago, the association president Xiong Binkun suddenly died. It's said he was killed by a mysterious expert. The entire Su City Martial Arts Association is still in chaos. Even if they can send people, they'll likely be of the lower tier."
"Then what do we do? If the Director isn't here, are we just going to let the opponent come and provoke us wantonly?" several mid-level leaders roared angrily.
Just then, a thin old man in a white coat slowly walked out from a side door, with his hands behind his back.
"What's going on? Why is the assembly hall so noisy? Has something happened?" the old man demanded.
His voice was not loud, and his speech was not fast, but it was filled with a faint aura of authority.
The entire hall immediately fell silent. Everyone in the hall, including Wu Gaozhuo, cupped their fists and bowed.
"So it's Master Zhuge. We were discussing some matters and didn't expect to disturb you, Master. We apologize!"
"By the way, Master Zhuge, why do you have time to visit the City Defense Department today?"
Wu Gaozhuo and others inquired, their expressions and demeanor revealing undisguised respect, even awe. This white-haired old man was none other than the City Defense Department's honored guest.
To put it more plainly, this old man named Zhuge Nie, dressed in a simple white coat, was the guardian of Su City!
Although the old man was over eighty years old, his body was still quite robust, especially his breath, which was incredibly long and steady. Any martial artist would immediately sense that this old man was absolutely extraordinary.
In fact, ever since the wars in Su City in the last century, Zhuge Nie had rallied the martial artists of Su City to form a self-defense force to counter the enemy. Although Su City was eventually breached, they had repeatedly held back the enemy's advance and killed countless enemies. He was a true guardian of Su City.
He was also the first City Defense Director of Su City. However, as he grew older and became more devoted to martial arts, he retired after only a few years. For years, he had remained behind the scenes, silently guarding Su City, his homeland.
"I just heard you discussing that a common martial artist intends to come to the City Defense Department to provoke trouble. Is that true?" Zhuge Nie asked directly.
Wu Gaozhuo immediately announced, "It is absolutely true, Master Zhuge. This person, in front of me, broke Vice-Instructor Ma's legs. He also arrogantly boasted that he wanted to experience the experts of our Su City City Defense Department!"
Changing the subject, Wu Gaozhuo continued, "We were just discussing how to deal with this rogue martial artist and were at a loss, when unexpectedly, Master Zhuge arrived. This is truly timely!"
Several people chimed in, "Yes, Master Zhuge. We were actually thinking of asking you to come out of seclusion. We never expected you to appear just when our City Defense Department encountered trouble. You truly live up to your title as the guardian of Su City!"
"Yes, as long as Master Zhuge is here, Su City will not fall into chaos, and no one will dare to provoke and cause trouble at the City Defense Department!"
Faced with the flattery of the surrounding individuals, Zhuge Nie, who had experienced many storms, showed no signs of being pleased. He asked, "A mere one or two common martial artists have rendered you helpless? What is their background, and what is their martial cultivation?"
Everyone then looked at Wu Gaozhuo. Wu Gaozhuo replied, "Reporting to Master Zhuge, I don't know the specific background of the opponent. I only know that he has a subordinate named Jun Bufan, who seems to be a disciple of the Jun family in Su City. As for his cultivation, to be honest, I'm not entirely sure, but his subordinate, Jun Bufan, is a peak grandmaster."
Zhuge Nie narrowed his eyes and said, "The Jun family is one of the three ancient aristocratic families in Su City. This person can actually make a Jun family disciple his subordinate, and this subordinate is a peak grandmaster. It seems this young man is likely extraordinary."
Wu Gaozhuo nodded repeatedly, "Master Zhuge is absolutely right. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been so embarrassed and returned in such a sorry state."
Zhuge Nie did not get angry, maintaining a kindly expression. "You fellow still have the nerve to say that. That Jun family disciple is probably not very old, and he's already reached the peak grandmaster level in martial cultivation. Yet, look at yourselves. You've cultivated for half your lives and are still only internal energy grandmasters. Are you not ashamed?"
Wu Gaozhuo and everyone present lowered their heads in shame. If they were being lectured by Director Liang Minghui, they might have dared to retort, but facing the guardian of Su City, they could only accept it obediently.
"You are all forty or fifty years old, some are even grandfathers. I can't say too much about you. I'm just worried that after this old bone of mine is buried, who will be left to protect Su City? Although it's a time of peace now, we cannot afford to be complacent!" the old man said earnestly.
Wu Gaozhuo and the others buried their heads even lower.
"Alright, since I've encountered this matter today, I naturally cannot stand idly by!"
Zhuge Nie said, waving his hand, and walked out of the hall, sitting down in a rattan chair on a pavilion outside in the courtyard.
"That's great! With Master Zhuge here, as long as that rogue martial artist dares to come, we'll surely let him know how powerful we are!"
"That kid is simply lawless. This time, we must cripple both his hands and feet!" Wu Gaozhuo gritted his teeth and snorted.
The old man Zhuge Nie on the rattan chair glanced at him, shook his head, but said nothing more.
At this moment, after traversing more than half of Su City, Xiao Yunlong finally arrived at the gate of the City Defense Department.
The City Defense Department was actually an office compound. A magnificent main building stood in the center, with smaller buildings clustered around it like stars surrounding the moon. Further inside was the backyard, which housed the residential area for the City Defense Department's leaders and their families.
Upon reaching the main entrance, Jun Bufan instinctively wanted to stop the car.
Xiao Yunlong said coldly, "No need to stop. Drive straight in. If they dare to block us, then ram them!"
Jun Bufan didn't waste any words. He floored the accelerator, and the car roared in.
To his surprise, the four guards at the entrance did not step forward to block them. Watching the car speed past, one guard took out his phone and dialed a number.
Wu Gaozhuo in the main building's assembly hall immediately received a call and then snorted, "Everyone, that rogue martial artist named Xiao, he's here. This kid, I didn't expect him to actually dare to come!"
And just as Jun Bufan was driving Xiao Yunlong and Liu Ruyan into the City Defense Department, the high-level meeting at the neighboring Yan City City Defense Department finally concluded.
After three consecutive hours of meetings, Liang Minghui was extremely fatigued. He rubbed his head and walked out of the conference room.
The adjutant stepped forward, took his briefcase, and said, "Director, while you were in the meeting, Section Chief Chen from the Foreign Affairs Section called me and said someone was coming to our City Defense Department, and that you must prepare lunch to receive them."
"Someone is coming to our City Defense Department? And I'm supposed to personally prepare to receive them? Who is it? Is it the elder Zhuge?"
Liang Minghui asked, suddenly remembering that Elder Zhuge Nie had called him three days ago, saying he had something to do at the City Defense Department.
However, Liang Minghui suddenly had a flash of insight, realizing something was amiss. Normally, Elder Zhuge Nie would never make such a request; this guardian of Su City had always been simple and low-key.
"Could it be..." Liang Minghui was startled and quickly said, "Quickly call the Foreign Affairs Section and ask who exactly is coming to the City Defense Department!"
"Yes!"
After the adjutant finished speaking, he took out his phone and quickly connected. After asking and hanging up, he said, "Reporting to Director, Section Chief Chen from the Foreign Affairs Section said it's someone named Xiao Yunlong..."
At this point, the adjutant paused, clearly realizing that something was not right.
However, before he could react, Liang Minghui had already turned and run. As he ran, he shouted, "What are you standing around for? Hurry up and drive! Return to Su City as fast as possible!"