I Cultivate in a Government Office

He paused, then looked at Vice Director Gao. "Vice Director Gao, I need all the files on this case. That includes the harbor body-dumping case, the death of Li Mo, the death of Xiaoli, and all your preliminary investigation records on Zhenyuan Mining."

Vice Director Gao immediately signaled Yang Wenqing. Already prepared, Yang Wenqing took out a complete, organized set of duplicate case files from his Storage Bag and presented them with both hands.

Zhou Mingyuan took the files and flipped through them quickly, his sharp gaze sweeping over the key information. A moment later, he took out a blank document from his own Storage Bag. It was stamped with the city bureau’s bright red seal and marked with a special Spiritual Qi signature. He drew his fingers through the air, and as Spiritual Light flickered, lines of clear Dharma Seals appeared on the document, followed by a block of text:

"Gao Zhen, Vice Director of the Qianjiao County Town Defense Precinct, is hereby granted full authority to oversee the investigation of the ’Qianjiao County Serial Evil Cult Cases’...

To ascertain the facts of the case and combat the Evil Cult Organization, special approval is granted to employ all necessary compulsory investigative measures against suspects with significant connections to this case. This includes, but is not limited to, senior management of Zhenyuan Mining, close business associates, and individuals involved in suspicious financial flows. These measures may include the ’Soul-Searching Technique’. During the operation, necessary city defense and local forces may be mobilized for support... So ordered!"

He handed the signed document to Vice Director Gao, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "Before I came, the city bureau granted me full authority to handle this matter. I am now transferring that authority to you, Vice Director Gao."

Vice Director Gao took the heavy authorization document. His expression was extremely serious as he solemnly replied, "Rest assured, Specialist Zhou. I will personally oversee this with all my strength and will not let a single suspect slip through!"

"I’ll be at the guesthouse, waiting for the suspects you intend to interrogate." With that, Zhou Mingyuan turned and left the detention cell with his assistant.

Inside the detention cell, only Vice Director Gao, Yang Wenqing, and the two broken men remained.

Vice Director Gao looked at the barely breathing Wang Zhenhai on the floor and the drooling, imbecilic Wang Lei beside him. After a moment of silence, he said to Yang Wenqing:

"Evil cultivators operate without any moral compass. They’ll do anything to achieve their goals—tamper with memories, harvest souls, sacrifice lives. To them, human life is just a tool or a resource to be used."

His voice was heavy. "Once these organizations truly gain a foothold in a place, they’ll slaughter villages and annihilate towns without a second thought. They might even sacrifice the entire population of a city. That would mean the deaths and despair of tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, even millions of innocent people!"

He looked Yang Wenqing in the eye, his expression grave. "Compared to that kind of catastrophe, using the ’Soul-Searching Technique’ on a few suspects, even if it’s a bit extreme, is a necessary evil."

"I understand, Vice Director Gao." Yang Wenqing’s voice was exceptionally firm.

"Good." Vice Director Gao clapped him on the shoulder. "The arena tournament is just around the corner. Focus on your preparations. I’ll personally arrange for people to handle what comes next."

...

After leaving the detention cell, Yang Wenqing found Wu Yan and the other two waiting outside, their faces a mixture of inquiry and nervousness.

Yang Wenqing briefly told them that Vice Director Gao was taking over the case and had received authorization from the city bureau for a full-scale investigation. He instructed them to follow Vice Director Gao’s unified command for the time being. The three were surprised but also relieved. After all, with a higher authority involved, the pressure on them would be much less.

After that, Yang Wenqing returned to the Squad Three office to handle some routine paperwork.

When it was time to get off work, the person who came to pick him up wasn’t Vice Director Gao himself, but an old attendant of his.

"Captain Yang, the master sent me to pick you up. He has to stay at the precinct tonight to oversee the case and couldn’t come himself," the old attendant explained simply upon seeing Yang Wenqing.

"Thank you for your trouble." Yang Wenqing nodded and boarded the Flying Shuttle.

The journey was silent.

After arriving at the manor, dinner was as sumptuous and nourishing as ever.

After the meal, Yang Wenqing went to the training grounds alone to continue practicing the first form of the *Jingzhe* Art. Without Vice Director Gao there to spar with him, his efficiency was much lower. ’It was even less effective than practicing in the Golden Core World simulation.’

The next morning, Yang Wenqing returned to the precinct for work as usual.

When he walked into the Squad Three office, Liu Qin was busy at the communication station, but the seats belonging to Qian You, Wu Yan, Liu Rong, and Zhao Qin were all empty.

"Captain, you’re here." Liu Qin quickly stood up when she saw him.

"Where is everyone?" Yang Wenqing asked.

Liu Qin lowered her voice and whispered, "Another director from the city bureau came by last evening, escorted personally by Vice Director Gao. Then, the Vice Director and that director took Brother Wu, Ah Rong, and the others, along with some colleagues from the operations department, and went out to arrest a lot of people. Qian You stopped by this morning and said they probably won’t be back at all today, and asked me to let you know."

Yang Wenqing instinctively wanted to go help, since he was the one who first handled the case. But just as he started to move, he remembered Vice Director Gao’s words from yesterday, telling him to focus on preparing for the arena tournament.

The fact that Vice Director Gao hadn’t notified him meant he didn’t want him to be distracted.

Suppressing the urge to join the operation, he looked at Liu Qin and said, "It’s a good thing they’re busy. You just stay on duty as usual. Let me know immediately if any urgent news comes in."

"Yes, Captain."

Seeing that Yang Wenqing didn’t ask further questions or show any anxiety, Liu Qin also felt more at ease.

Yang Wenqing walked over to his desk, sat down, and began to work through a few unimportant documents that had just been delivered.

Around noon, as Yang Wenqing was organizing the documents he had processed that morning, a communication suddenly came from Vice Director Gao through the badge on his chest. The voice was brief and clear:

"Wenqing, head over to private room 302 at Fengtai Pavilion now. There’s an important banquet for lunch. And... make yourself look sharp."