I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 194: Chapter 117: Crimson Altar and Grievous News

Yang Wenqing returned to the surface. The early summer afternoon sun was scorching, but it couldn’t dispel the bone-deep chill that clung to him.

He walked to a relatively secluded spot, took off his filtration mask, and took several deep breaths of the air, thick with the scent of grass and gunpowder. Then, he had the two communication specialists accompanying him activate the Communication Array connecting to headquarters.

Then, in the clearest and most concise language possible, he reported his findings from deep underground.

After hearing the report, Director Zhang was the first to speak. "Wenqing, you handled this well. Your unit’s mission is essentially complete. You can coordinate a handover with Section Chief Lei and organize an orderly withdrawal. This is a major case; we can dispatch other members of the Major Case Team to take over the scene."

Vice Director Gao chimed in, "Wenqing, what are your thoughts after seeing the scene?"

Yang Wenqing paused for a moment before answering cautiously, "It doesn’t feel like this place was for a single evil cultivator’s personal training or rituals. It seems more like it was continuously producing something."

After listening, Vice Director Gao responded, "Mm. The fact that you could reach that conclusion shows you weren’t just intimidated by what you saw on the surface."

At this point, Deputy Director Zhou spoke up. "Yang Group Leader, according to Internal Affairs Inspection files, blood sacrifice conversion sites like this have appeared a total of seven times in the last thirty years. This is the eighth one we’ve found, and from the looks of it, the most complete."

"Seeing a scene like this for the first time is never easy, I’m sure. But for us, disgust and anger are the most useless emotions. Suppress them. Channel them into the calm you have when reviewing case files, the meticulousness you use when analyzing clues, and the ruthlessness you employ during a pursuit."

These words were like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing the last embers of discomfort and anger in Yang Wenqing’s heart, which had been sparked by the shocking sight.

"Yes, Director Zhou. I understand," Yang Wenqing replied in a low voice.

’The three directors’ intentions were clear. The current ’Operation Summer Sweep Four’ had achieved its objective: a major cult stronghold had been destroyed. The results could be officially reported.’

’As for the deeper mysteries behind this stronghold, those could be handled as a new case or a follow-up investigation. It wasn’t wise to tie them too closely to this successfully concluded operation.’

Yang Wenqing understood the subtext and didn’t argue.

After ending the call, he immediately used his authority as the leader of the Major Case Team to allocate resources.

First, he contacted the branch bureau to dispatch more members of the Major Case Team to take over perimeter security and preliminary evidence collection. At the same time, he requested the forensics and technical departments to send additional specialists with more sophisticated equipment to the scene.

Next, he opened a channel on the Communication Array and gave an order to Wu Qianjun, who was on standby at the scene. "Captain Wu, your unit will temporarily take charge of the crime scene investigation and preliminary evidence collection. Coordinate with the Major Case Team members and technical personnel who will be arriving later. The guiding principle is to preserve the integrity of the scene, especially the altar runes. They are not to be touched without permission."

"Understood."

Wu Qianjun’s reply was brief.

After a moment of thought, Yang Wenqing went through the Government Soldiers’ liaison channels to formally request the deployment of an experienced squad of Government Soldiers to guard the core area of the scene, under his direct command.

Just as he finished these arrangements and was confirming the outer cordon with a newly arrived operations team leader, a familiar, standard-issue City Defense Bureau Flying Shuttle tore across the sky. It landed with a clear sense of urgency in a makeshift clearing nearby.

The cabin door opened, and out stepped none other than Vice Director Gao, who was supposed to be on his way to the municipal bureau to report the preliminary results of the operation!

Vice Director Gao’s expression was grim, his brow etched with an unconcealable gloom and urgency. His sharp gaze swept over the scene. He gave only a slight nod to the few guards who saluted him before walking straight toward Yang Wenqing.

Surprised, Yang Wenqing immediately ended his conversation with the team leader and went to meet him. "Director Gao, what are you doing here?"

Vice Director Gao raised a hand to cut him off. "Wenqing, find a quiet place. There’s an emergency."

Yang Wenqing’s heart skipped a beat. He realized something major had happened—and it was definitely not good. He quickly led Vice Director Gao to a quiet, secluded corner away from the crowd.

Once they reached the corner and stopped, Vice Director Gao turned to face Yang Wenqing directly, his gaze as still as a deep pool. He said:

"Wenqing, we just received an urgent message from Lingshan Town. Wu Yan and Liu Rong were attacked by unknown assailants."

Yang Wenqing froze, then instinctively asked, "Attacked? Is it serious? Are they..."

He couldn’t finish his sentence. Seeing the profound regret and coldness in Vice Director Gao’s eyes, his voice died in his throat. A sense of foreboding washed over him like ice water, chilling him to the core.

Vice Director Gao’s voice dropped even lower. "Liu Rong... was killed in action. Wu Yan is critically injured and his life is in danger. He’s been rushed back for emergency treatment, but the situation is not optimistic."

Yang Wenqing’s eyes widened, and the color drained from his face in an instant.

He opened his mouth, but it felt as if something was lodged in his throat, choking off any sound.

A ringing filled his ears. Vice Director Gao’s words seemed to come from behind a thick curtain of water, distorted and muffled, yet every single word hammered into his consciousness like a red-hot nail.

’Killed in action? Critically injured?’

’Wu Yan? Liu Rong?’

He forced his eyes open, staring into Vice Director Gao’s, searching for any sign of denial or misinformation. But the director’s gaze held only grim confirmation.

’It was real.’

"Fuck!!"

A roar, erupting from the depths of his chest, finally broke through the blockage in Yang Wenqing’s throat.

The veins on his temples bulged as his eyes instantly filled with bloodshot streaks. He clenched his fists and swung them uselessly, completely unable to fight back the overwhelming torrent of emotions.

Then, he violently kicked a nearby charred tree trunk. The tree shook violently, showering down countless flecks of ash.

"How dare they?! How dare they—!!!"

He paced back and forth like a wounded, caged animal, his chest heaving, his ragged breaths echoing clearly in the quiet corner.

Vice Director Gao didn’t stop him. Only when Yang Wenqing’s breathing had calmed slightly did he speak again, his voice still low. "Grief and anger are to be expected. But they alone won’t uncover the truth."

Yang Wenqing stopped pacing, his back to Vice Director Gao, his shoulders still tense.

He took several harsh, deep breaths, as if trying to force the rage and the scent of blood back down into the depths of his lungs. Then he spun around. The muscles in his face were still rigid, but his gaze had refocused. The uncontrolled fury was gone.

He looked at Vice Director Gao, his voice hoarse but exceptionally clear. "Is there a detailed report?"

Vice Director Gao noted Yang Wenqing’s rapid return to composure with a flash of approval in his eyes. He then said softly:

"I came in person because the nature and timing of this incident are highly unusual. Normally, after an operation like this concludes, the chaos in Qianjiao County should have subsided. But the attack on Wu Yan and Liu Rong has cast another shadow over Lingshan Town!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the still-busy scene in the distance as if lost in thought. "Director Zhang won’t want any new complications at a time like this, either. The inspection team is already in the county, and they’re watching both of us. Any major incident from either of our sides right now could affect our evaluations."

Yang Wenqing’s brow furrowed slightly. Vice Director Gao’s last sentence had been remarkably blunt.

"But..." Vice Director Gao’s tone turned stern. "For Wu Yan and Liu Rong to be attacked in Lingshan Town at this exact juncture—and with lethal intent—what does that tell you?"

Yang Wenqing picked up, his voice cold as ice. "It means that whatever they found, or were about to find, was so critical that the people behind this decided they had to cut that thread, even if it meant risking greater exposure and ruining their original plan to lay low."

"Exactly," Vice Director Gao nodded. "But a move like this is just a delaying tactic. The attack itself is a form of exposure. Therefore, someone has to go to Lingshan Town now. And it has to be someone who can handle the pressure and get to the bottom of this."

He looked at Yang Wenqing. "I’ve already used internal channels to temporarily recall Liu Min and Zheng Hu. Next, I will formally petition the municipal bureau to have you sent to Lingshan Town to take full charge of this investigation and temporarily oversee all City Defense affairs there."

He paused, his tone speculative. "You’re the head of the Major Case Team. Zhang Qiming will have no reason to refuse. He might push for Wu Qianjun, sending him over in the name of ’assisting the investigation’."

Vice Director Gao’s gaze sharpened. "The situation will be complicated. The evil cultivators are in the shadows and might do something desperate. But don’t worry. I’ll pay a high price to secretly station people in Lingshan Town to ensure your safety."

He met Yang Wenqing’s eyes. "Do you dare to go?"

Yang Wenqing straightened his back and met Vice Director Gao’s gaze. "Director Gao, Wu Yan and Liu Rong were my people. They fell in Lingshan Town. I have to go."

"As for Wu Qianjun... let him come. It’ll be a good opportunity for me to see exactly what role Director Zhang is playing in this chess game."