I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 195: Chapter 118: Already a Leader

The infirmary of the Qianjiao County City Defense Branch.

The light inside was soft and constant, and the air was filled with the clear, bitter scent of medicinal herbs. Several complex rune devices embedded in the walls and ceiling emitted a steady, almost inaudible hum.

Wu Yan lay on a platform made of dark silver metal. A faint blue halo, like ripples on water, flowed across its surface, continuously seeping into his body through the dense spirit-conducting runes beneath him, barely maintaining the faint spark of life within.

His face was ashen, and the upper part of his chest was covered with a translucent, gel-like substance. Within it, tiny, emerald-green motes of light slowly spun like a nebula, stimulating his body’s most basic regenerative instincts.

Several flexible, transparent tubes were connected to his arms and neck. The other ends disappeared into recesses in the wall, delivering a concoction of nourishing Spiritual Liquid and a gentle medicinal energy that stabilized his mind.

At this moment, Wu Yan’s breathing was extremely faint, the rise and fall of his chest barely perceptible. The only indication of life was the faint, wavering lines of light representing his vital signs, projected from a levitating, rhombus-shaped crystal beside him.

Yang Wenqing stood by the platform, watching in silence.

A forensic examiner, temporarily serving as medical staff, held a report and spoke softly to Yang Wenqing:

"There is a Secret Technique that can forcibly stimulate his remaining consciousness and wake him for a short time. However, this method will consume what little life force he has left. After he is questioned, regardless of what information we get, he will certainly die."

Yang Wenqing’s gaze shifted from Wu Yan’s ashen face to the vital-sign light patterns that looked as if they could extinguish at any moment.

"Leave him as he is for now. Keep him stable with the best medicine."

His voice was cold. He then asked, "Is someone watching over Ah Rong’s body?"

The examiner immediately replied, "It’s being held in Lingshan Town. We’ve already sent people over. Vice Director Gao personally ordered it to be heavily guarded. There shouldn’t be any problems."

Yang Wenqing said nothing more. He took another hard look at Wu Yan, then turned and left decisively.

As he walked out of the infirmary, Liu Qin immediately came up to him. She glanced quickly at the closed door and reported in a low voice, "Yang Group Leader, Zheng Hu and Liu Min are back. There’s an internal debriefing. Are you going?"

Yang Wenqing didn’t break stride, his voice icy. "Of course I am. Where is it?"

"The small conference room on the top floor!"

Yang Wenqing’s pace suddenly quickened, his heels striking the polished stone floor with sharp, hurried clicks. Wherever he passed, the guards lining the corridor, previously busy or murmuring amongst themselves, instinctively fell silent and cleared a path.

Soon, Yang Wenqing pushed open the door to the small conference room on the top floor. The three directors were all present. Vice Director Gao stood by the window, while Zhang Qiming and Deputy Director Zhou sat at the small conference table on the side nearest the window.

Hearing the noise, Vice Director Gao turned around. "How is Xiaowu?"

"Not good," Yang Wenqing said, his tone heavy. "If we use the Secret Technique to forcibly wake him for questioning, he’ll die as soon as we’re done."

Zhang Qiming’s brow furrowed slightly. "But this case can’t be delayed..."

Yang Wenqing’s expression darkened, but he kept his tone restrained. "Director Zhang, Wu Yan still has a sliver of a chance to live. I can’t be the one to choose death for him. No matter how urgent the case is, we can dig for clues elsewhere."

Vice Director Gao interjected at the right moment. "Wenqing is right. A living colleague is more important than a clue that costs a life. The priority now is to clarify what exactly happened. Zheng Hu and Liu Min have been called back. Director Zhang, Director Zhou—Wenqing and I will lead the questioning, while you two observe and provide oversight. How does that sound?"

Zhang Qiming nodded. "Fine."

Deputy Director Zhou also nodded but said nothing.

With an agreement reached, Vice Director Gao instructed the two guards at the door, "Bring in Zheng Hu and Liu Min from next door."

A moment later, there was a faint sound at the entrance. The conference room door was pushed open, and Zheng Hu and Liu Min walked in, one after the other.

Yang Wenqing remained standing, his gaze fixed on the two as they entered, especially on Zheng Hu, who walked in front. There was no warmth in his eyes, only scrutiny and a chilling frost hidden beneath a calm surface.

Zheng Hu instinctively faltered for a step, his eyes darting away to avoid Yang Wenqing’s direct stare. He forced a stiff smile and bowed slightly to the three directors. "Director Gao, Director Zhang, Director Zhou..." Then, bracing himself, he looked at Yang Wenqing. "Yang Group Leader."

Liu Min, who followed him, was far more composed than Zheng Hu. Her gaze calmly swept over the four leaders as she stood at attention and saluted. "Sirs."

"Mm, have a seat."

Vice Director Gao pointed to the two empty chairs on the opposite side of the long table.

As if granted a pardon, Zheng Hu quickly took a couple of steps forward, pulled out a chair, and sat down. He kept his back ramrod straight, his hands placed properly on his knees. Liu Min calmly sat beside him, her posture respectful but not flustered.

Only after both of them were seated did Yang Wenqing walk over to Vice Director Gao’s side, pull out a chair, and sit down himself.

The air in the conference room seemed to grow even more tense.

Vice Director Gao cleared his throat. As the one leading the meeting, he was the one to break the silence:

"Zheng Hu, Liu Min. We’ve called you both back today because of the case involving Wu Yan and Liu Rong being attacked in Lingshan Town. You two were the ones in most frequent contact with them before and after the incident, and you were also the highest-ranking supervisors on site at the time. We need to understand the full course of events. Every single detail is crucial."

Zheng Hu sat up a little straighter. This was the signal for him to speak first, so he began:

"At 10:39 AM, I was conducting a routine inspection of the construction site near the ore vein when I suddenly received a report from a patrol team. They said they’d heard a brief alarm, one of the highest-level warnings..."