I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 189: Chapter 115: Clues Converging (Part 2)

The other end of the line was silent for two seconds before the reply came: "Come to my office to discuss this."

Yang Wenqing immediately stood up, grabbing the report Wu Yan had sent back. He strode toward Deputy Director Zhou’s office. When he reached the door, the secretary opened it for him without announcing his arrival, but the office was empty.

"Deputy Director Zhou will be back shortly."

The secretary expertly poured him a cup of tea, then retreated to the doorway to wait.

Less than two minutes later, the sound of familiar footsteps echoed from outside the open door. The door was then pulled wider, and Yang Wenqing immediately rose. Just as he was about to speak, Deputy Director Zhou spoke first:

"Wenqing, doesn’t this feel like an answer someone has deliberately thrown at us?"

As he spoke, he waved a hand, dismissing the secretary.

"Deputy Director Zhou..."

Yang Wenqing gathered his thoughts. "Whether this is bait or not, the clues are all pointing to the same place. The probability that there’s a serious problem in that mountain forest is extremely high."

He paused, his tone firm. "I believe we must mobilize sufficient forces to conduct a comprehensive sweep of that area. If we confirm the existence of a cult stronghold or signs of major criminal activity, we have to eradicate it with overwhelming force!"

Deputy Director Zhou walked over to his desk and stopped, frowning in thought. Clearly, Yang Wenqing’s reaction wasn’t what he’d expected. After about a minute, he said, "You’re right. I was oversimplifying things. What the county—and even the city—needs right now isn’t a high-profile investigation. They need an answer. And our adversary has just happened to provide one."

Yang Wenqing replied at once, "We’ll use the same method as before. My Major Case Team will operate in the open, while the Inspection Division works from the shadows. I won’t be able to rest easy until this case is completely resolved."

Deputy Director Zhou nodded. "I’ll go have a word with Director Zhang."

As he was about to leave, Yang Wenqing suddenly asked, "Wasn’t the clearance level for last night’s meeting to arrest Hu the Fourth a bit excessive?"

Deputy Director Zhou, who had been on his way out, stopped. He met Yang Wenqing’s gaze and asked, "You’re asking why Director Zhang convened such a high-level meeting for an arrest, aren’t you?"

"Yes!"

"I don’t know either. I suggest you ask Director Zhang directly."

As he spoke, he stepped forward and lightly patted Yang Wenqing on the shoulder. Then, he quickly left the office.

Yang Wenqing was taken aback for a moment. Just as he was about to ponder the matter further, the secretary came in.

He had no choice but to leave Deputy Director Zhou’s office. He immediately contacted Vice Director Gao to give a brief report.

「Half an hour later.」

As the midsummer sun bathed the bureau building in light, Yang Wenqing received a notice to attend a meeting in the large conference room on the top floor. When he entered, he saw that the Sound Insulation Arrays on the walls were already active.

He had just sat down when the three directors—Zhang Qiming, Vice Director Gao, and Deputy Director Zhou—entered together. They were followed by a travel-worn Lei Dan. After Yang Wenqing had arrested the main suspect, Lei Dan had been in charge of the follow-up operations, cleaning up the suspect’s social network.

After Zhang Qiming sat down, he activated a large Communication Array in the center of the conference table. The lights in the room dimmed, and the surrounding environment began to shift, transforming into a pure white space.

It was a projection space. Yang Wenqing had seen one before at the Police Academy!

The clearance level for this meeting was extremely high, as it concerned the investigation into the Lingshan Town collapse and a possible heretical cultivator stronghold.

Immediately, the figures of Director Qin and Deputy Director Qi from the municipal bureau appeared on the other side of the table. Vice Director Gao promptly said to Yang Wenqing, "Wenqing, brief Deputy Director Qi and Director Qin on the case."

Yang Wenqing rose at once and, in just a few moments, finished giving a concise yet thorough report on the case.

After hearing the report, Deputy Director Qi spoke first. "Three independent lines of inquiry, all pointing to a specific area outside the city and connected to the major case in Lingshan Town. This is beyond coincidence. We can essentially confirm that the area is highly suspicious."

Director Qin added gravely, "But Deputy Director Zhou’s concerns are also valid. The timing is too much of a coincidence. We can’t rule out the possibility that the enemy is deliberately luring us in, setting a trap, or trying to divert our attention."

Director Qiming’s expression was grim. "Trap or not, we must investigate this thoroughly."

Vice Director Gao added, "If it really is a stronghold, we must be prepared for resistance and complex scenarios. I recommend the Operations Division take the lead, supported by agents from the Major Case Team. We will also need assistance from the Government Soldiers for the outer cordon and support."

Deputy Director Qi also stated, "The municipal bureau will dispatch at least two Entry-level Cultivators to monitor the target area. They can provide immediate support if the situation changes."

The resolution was passed just like that, and what followed was handled with extreme efficiency...

First, the operation was codenamed: Operation Summer Sweep Four, designated as a high-priority joint reconnaissance mission.

Vice Director Gao was appointed overall commander. Yang Wenqing was made deputy commander and field commander. Lei Dan was assigned as tactical commander. Director Qiming would remain at the bureau to coordinate all resources and liaise with the Civil Affairs Bureau and the Government Soldiers.

Director Qin and Deputy Director Qi promised to coordinate support with necessary special equipment. They also granted authorization to upgrade the mission to a "cleanup" operation upon encountering conclusive evidence of a crime or armed resistance, with a detailed after-action report to be filed subsequently.

Once the meeting ended, Zhang Qiming immediately contacted the Civil Affairs Bureau to confer with County Magistrate Wang. They quickly reached an agreement, and the formal orders were passed down through the chain of command without delay.

On the advice of Vice Director Gao and Lei Dan, Yang Wenqing selected a Government Soldiers’ watchtower on the outskirts of the mountain forest for his forward command post.

The watchtower was built from black stone, standing three stories tall with a lookout platform on top. After it was temporarily requisitioned, its second floor was converted into a command center with maximum speed.

When Yang Wenqing arrived, the Communication Array and a recording water screen were being set up.

The watchtower commander, Zhao Tieshan, was a capable-looking, middle-aged man. As soon as Yang Wenqing arrived, Zhao Tieshan came to report. "Upon receiving the order, I activated all surrounding monitoring Arrays. They cover a five-li radius around the forest’s periphery and some of its borders. Anyone coming out, or any large groups going in, will not escape our detection."

He paused, then added, "Specialist Yang, according to the County Border Forest Management Regulations and the protocol for the annual sweep, this forest is classified as a Level Two Restricted Zone. Entry is strictly prohibited for any private individuals or undeclared teams, with the exception of herb gatherers with special permits, Mining Exploration Teams, or Scientific Expedition Teams accompanied by Government Soldiers."

Yang Wenqing’s brow furrowed. "If this is a priority cleanup area that’s swept annually, why have no traces of cult activity been found before?"

A helpless look crossed Zhao Tieshan’s face. "The annual sweeps are just routine. If a rogue Cultivator with high Cultivation was truly hiding in there, it’s likely they wouldn’t be found."

Just then, Lei Dan arrived, carrying military maps.

The map was spread out, the target forest circled in red. It was also marked with the main routes used in previous years’ sweeps and areas where colonies of Little Demons frequently appeared.

Lei Dan proposed a plan. "We’ll advance in three groups. First group, I’ll lead it myself. We’ll start from the Divine Temple, as well as the north and south perimeters, and search inwards. The second group will cut in from the east and scout the edge of the deep valley. The third group will establish a support point in the south and maintain surveillance."

Yang Wenqing nodded. The first group was responsible for the main assault and would require a large number of militia and police, and Lei Dan was the expert in such large-scale operations. "The second group will be led by the Major Case Team," he said. "Captain Wu has already followed the trail to the outskirts of the forest. He’ll take field command for that group."

With that, he looked at the communications specialist. "Connect me to Wu Qianjun’s team."

The Communication Array flickered a few times, and the connection went through.

"Captain Wu, what’s your team’s current position?" Yang Wenqing asked.

"Reporting to Yang Group Leader, I’ve led the team to the ’Old Yangao’ assembly point on the southeast side as ordered. All twelve members have completed pre-combat checks and are standing by," Wu Qianjun’s voice was steady.

"Good. Move to the eastern flank immediately and await orders," Yang Wenqing commanded.

"Understood. Moving from Old Yangao toward the deep valley on the eastern flank," Wu Qianjun repeated.

"Then my Government Soldiers will handle the third group. I’ll set up artillery on the high ground and provide suppressive fire if necessary," Zhao Tieshan reacted instantly.

"All teams will move out at twelve noon sharp. Command will coordinate with all teams via the monitoring Arrays," Yang Wenqing announced the start time.

"Yes, sir!"

After acknowledging the order, Lei Dan and Zhao Tieshan turned and left the command post.

Soon, only Yang Wenqing and a few communications soldiers calibrating the equipment were left on the second floor of the watchtower.

He walked to a lookout slit and pushed open the heavy wooden shutter. A mountain breeze, carrying the scent of vegetation and a hint of dampness, immediately rushed in.

The scale of this operation seemed large, but in reality, it was less than a third of the force deployed to handle a Spiritual Qi riot. And yet, the tension was higher than for any annual sweep in recent memory.

’Fortunately, the senior Entry-level Cultivators from the municipal bureau are providing backup. At least they can serve as a safety net for the worst-case scenario.’