Chapter 341 - 184: Provincial Government
Municipal Bureau, outside the Director’s office.
Yang Wenqing stood before the mahogany door and took a deep breath. At the secretary’s signal, he straightened the collar and epaulets of his uniform, then raised his hand and knocked gently three times with his knuckles.
"Come in." A casual voice sounded from within.
Yang Wenqing pushed the door open and entered.
The Municipal Bureau Director Shen Wenyuan’s office was even more spacious than Qi Yue’s. Outside the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, there was nothing but blue sky and white clouds.
Shen Wenyuan was currently resting in the reception area.
"Director."
Yang Wenqing snapped to attention and saluted.
A smile appeared on Shen Wenyuan’s face. He pointed to the sofa opposite him and said, "Wenqing, you’re here. Have a seat."
"Thank you, Director." Yang Wenqing sat down as instructed, his back straight as a ramrod.
"You handled the matter in Lingshan New District very promptly this time." Shen Wenyuan got straight to the point, his tone filled with praise.
"You flatter me, Director Shen. It was the result of the Municipal Bureau’s proper command and the united effort of everyone at the branch office," Yang Wenqing replied humbly.
Shen Wenyuan waved his hand dismissively. "Credit is credit. It’s yours, and the Municipal Bureau won’t erase it. Director Qi and Director Qin should have already spoken to you about the follow-up arrangements and rewards. The opportunity at the Provincial Government is rare, so you must seize it."
"Thank you, Director, and the leaders of the Municipal Bureau for cultivating me."
Shen Wenyuan nodded slightly, his tone shifting. "However, Wenqing, Lingshan New District now holds a special status. The challenges it will face in the future will only increase. You cannot afford to slack off. You must remember that stability is the number one priority. Only when the New District is stable can you be stable, and only then can the Municipal Bureau be stable."
"I understand. I will certainly remember the Director’s teachings and prioritize the stability of the New District," Yang Wenqing stated solemnly.
"Good." A smile returned to Shen Wenyuan’s face. "You may go. Director Qin is still waiting for you. Good luck on your trip to the Provincial Government."
"Yes! Director Shen, I’ll take my leave then."
Yang Wenqing stood, saluted again, and then turned to leave.
The door closed softly.
The smile on Shen Wenyuan’s face slowly faded. He stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.
Down below, in the Municipal Bureau’s courtyard, squads of tactical guards could be seen assembling. A tense atmosphere, like the calm before a storm, hung in the air.
He then walked back to his desk, activated the Communication Array on it, and said in a deep voice, "Notify all tactical teams to begin casting the net according to the predetermined plan. All marked rogue Cultivator strongholds, underground banks, and illegal material transit stations are to be swept clean!"
"Yes, sir!"
A crisp reply came from the communicator.
Shen Wenyuan ended the communication, clasped his hands behind his back, and gazed out the window.
Today, Coral City was destined not to be peaceful. And after the storm passed, who would remain standing would depend on their own foundations and fortunes.
...
When Yang Wenqing returned to the small conference room next to Qi Yue’s office, only Qin Huaiming remained inside.
"You’re back?" Qin Huaiming, who was holding a cup of tea, set it down and asked as Yang Wenqing entered.
"The Director had a few words for me," Yang Wenqing replied.
Qin Huaiming nodded and asked, "Wenqing, is this your first time leaving Coral City?"
Yang Wenqing was slightly taken aback, then nodded. "Yes. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been preparing for my cultivation. Every day, aside from necessary studies, was spent tempering my body and reading Cultivation Technique manuals. I really never had the time or opportunity to see the outside world."
His tone was calm, yet it carried a hint of imperceptible regret. The path of cultivation, especially for someone like him who lacked natural talent and could only rely on hard work, allowed no room for slacking off.
A hint of gratification showed in Qin Huaiming’s eyes. "That’s the correct approach. No matter how wonderful the outside world is, it’s ultimately just a passing fancy. Your own cultivation is what’s fundamental. Only with strength do you earn the right to see it, to venture into it, and to possess things. Your road ahead is long; you’ll get to see the outside world sooner or later."
He stood up and clapped Yang Wenqing on the shoulder. "Let’s go. Everything has been arranged at the Provincial Government. We’ll head over directly."
"Yes, Master."
The two left the small conference room, one after the other, and walked down the wide, bright corridor of the Municipal Bureau, heading toward the dedicated rooftop helipad.
As they walked, Qin Huaiming said, "Since you’re going to try and have one acknowledge you as its master, there are some things you should know about that pair of Blue-feathered Night Owls."
"Please enlighten me, Master." Yang Wenqing listened with rapt attention.
"One of the pair of Blue-feathered Night Owls in the Forbidden Garden behind the Provincial Government building signed a contract with an official sixty years ago. That official eventually retired from the position of Deputy Director of the Provincial Government. Unfortunately, a Divine Art is ultimately limited by one’s lifespan, and he passed away twenty years ago."
"That Blue-feathered Night Owl is named Lian Xing, and he is a very learned gentleman," Qin Huaiming explained seriously. "Because of the contract, Mr. Lian Xing also cultivated a Divine Art and became deeply bound to our Wanxuan nation’s Divine Artifact of Fortune."
"Therefore..." Qin Huaiming looked at Yang Wenqing and emphasized, "his personality is relatively gentle. You could even say he’s reasonable and understanding, making him quite easy to get along with. You must remember not to treat him as a mere bird, because in his own mind, he is no different from us."
Yang Wenqing nodded seriously, engraving this point firmly in his mind.
"However..." Qin Huaiming’s tone changed, and his expression grew stern. "His mate is completely different."
"She has never signed a contract with a human. She is a true Spirit Beast, with an extremely strong sense of territory and a rather proud disposition. However, she isn’t short-tempered, just habitually arrogant. After all, every Spirit Beast is a favored child of the Celestial Dao. It’s only normal for them to look down on us."
Qin Huaiming’s tone became serious. "So, you must not treat them like animals."
He stressed his words, "You must communicate with them as if they were ’people’. Their intelligence far exceeds your imagination. The slightest hint of disrespect, condescension, or a dismissive attitude could cause you to immediately lose your chance, and even invite unnecessary trouble."