Chapter 334 - 180: Everyone Has a Backer

Chapter 334: Chapter 180: Everyone Has a Backer

Fear and rage twisted the muscles on Yang Haishan’s face. "Don’t push me! If you do, I’ll run to the city and go on a killing spree. You won’t get off easy either."

Deep down, he had already concocted a conspiracy theory against himself. He was stretched to his breaking point and mentally on edge, but he still had his wits about him. Speaking with Yang Wenqing now was just a way to stall for time, to wait for someone who could save him to appear.

"Since you insist on being so stubborn, don’t blame me for what comes next!" Yang Wenqing’s gaze turned cold, and he stopped trying to persuade him to surrender.

Seeing his decisiveness, Yang Haishan’s heart sank, but it also stirred his final, ferocious impulse. "Then let’s see who dies!"

Before the words had even faded, he made the first move!

The flaming longsword by his side, now fully charged, suddenly swept out, unleashing a wave of scorching fire that forced Yang Wenqing to retreat slightly and block.

Seizing the opening, Yang Haishan changed direction. Instead of continuing toward the port, he made a desperate dash toward the more densely lit urban district.

’He really is going to cause trouble in the city!’

"Don’t even think about it!"

With a thought, the Cyan Peak Short Sword hidden in Yang Wenqing’s sleeve let out a clear cry and transformed into a fine, crimson-gold line almost invisible to the naked eye. Radiating an edge that could sever anything, it shot straight for the vital point on Yang Haishan’s back.

This strike had been building for a long time and was infused with nearly ninety percent of the pure Spiritual Qi in his Qi Sea, its power far beyond ordinary.

As he fled for his life, Yang Haishan felt a bone-deep chill instantly lock onto him. The shadow of death had never been so clear!

He let out a strange cry and, without thinking, slapped his chest. A jade-green, turtle-shell-shaped Jade Pendant worn close to his skin flared with light, instantly forming a jade-green light shield behind him, its surface rippling like water.

This was clearly his last-resort defensive Magical Artifact.

CRACK!

A crisp shattering sound rang out.

The moment the crimson-gold line touched the jade-green light shield, the seemingly extraordinary shield lasted for less than a breath before shattering with a mournful cry. It disintegrated into a shower of jade-green specks of light, and the Turtle Shell Jade Pendant cracked and fell from Yang Haishan’s clothes.

However, that brief obstruction bought Yang Haishan a sliver of a chance. Using the reactive force from the Magical Artifact’s destruction, he tumbled sideways in an incredibly awkward and pathetic posture, narrowly dodging the fatal crimson-gold line. But the sharp Sword Qi still tore through his clothes, leaving a bloody gash on his skin!

Yang Haishan staggered a few steps upon landing. A sweet, coppery taste rose in his throat, but he forcibly swallowed the mouthful of blood. His gaze toward Yang Wenqing was now filled with terror and venom. He could feel the power of that attack—it was far beyond what an ordinary cultivator who had just entered the Marrow Cleansing Realm could possess.

"Good. What a Yang Wenqing, what a genius. I underestimated you!" Yang Haishan’s voice was hoarse. The last shred of hope in his heart had been extinguished, but he didn’t fall into despair. Just a moment ago, he had sensed a faint response from his communication Token. He just needed to stall a little longer.

At this thought, he suppressed his injuries and once again activated the flaming longsword. This time, however, he didn’t press the attack, but instead engaged the pursuing Yang Wenqing in a close-quarters struggle.

Yang Wenqing naturally noticed his intentions. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, but his own assault strangely eased up. The Cyan Peak Sword moved with fluid grace, also shifting to a prolonged engagement.

At the same time, he sneered inwardly: ’Trying to stall for reinforcements? Perfect. I’m waiting too!’

With their own schemes in mind, the two fought in a tangled mass on the open ground. Flashes of fire and Sword Qi crisscrossed with considerable noise, yet they both tacitly controlled the battle’s range. It looked intense, but in reality, both were holding back.

Time ticked by, second by second.

About two minutes later, a speck of Spiritual Light suddenly flared up on the distant horizon. It streaked across the night sky at a speed the naked eye could barely follow, leaving a straight ribbon of light in its wake. In an instant, it had crossed the vast distance and hovered several hundred zhang high in the air to the side of the battlefield.

It was a sleek, jet-black Flying Shuttle. Complex teleportation runes faintly flickered on its surface; it was clearly a special-ops shuttle equipped with short-range spatial jump capabilities.

The cabin door slid open soundlessly. Two figures strode out into the air and floated in front of the Flying Shuttle. A powerful aura spread out from them without reservation, instantly enveloping the entire area below.

One of them, with a scholarly face, was the City Defense Bureau’s Deputy Director, Qi Yue. The other, with a stern expression, was another influential Deputy Director of the bureau, Zhao Shouzheng.

Two Deputy Directors from the City Defense Bureau had actually come in person, together.

Their Divine Sense swept over the battlefield below like an invisible tide, instantly taking in the conditions of Yang Wenqing and Yang Haishan, as well as the chaos in the distant factory district.

The moment the two appeared, Yang Wenqing had already fully unleashed his own aura, both to declare his identity and to show that he had the situation firmly under control.

Qi Yue’s gaze fell on Yang Wenqing, and he gave an almost imperceptible nod. Zhao Shouzheng, however, narrowed his eyes, glanced at Yang Haishan—who was fighting like a cornered beast but couldn’t hide his decline—and snorted coldly.

However, just as the two Deputy Directors were about to speak or act, another unexpected change occurred...

On the other side of the sky, a brilliant golden light seemed to materialize from thin air, or perhaps was refracted from an extremely remote location. Like a holy pillar of light descending from the heavens, it instantly connected to the omnipresent glow of the Divine Artifact above Lingshan New District.

Within the golden light, a figure solidified from illusion and then took a step forward.

This person wore a simple, dark formal suit and had an ordinary face, looking to be in his fifties. He exuded no oppressive aura, but the moment his gaze fell upon them, everyone—from Yang Wenqing and Yang Haishan locked in battle, to Qi Yue and Zhao Shouzheng hovering high above, and even everyone in the distant factory district—felt a dignified pressure.

It was a unique majesty born from cultivating a Divine Art to an extremely profound level and harmonizing it with the nation’s destiny.

The instant he appeared, his gaze crossed space and locked onto Yang Haishan with pinpoint accuracy. He then stepped out of the golden light, his figure blurring as he instantly traversed several hundred zhang to appear before the two hovering Deputy Directors, Qi Yue and Zhao Shouzheng.

"Vice Director Yang?"

Qi Yue recognized the newcomer’s face, a flash of understanding in his eyes, but his tone remained steady. The arrival was none other than Yang Kun, a high-ranking Deputy Director from the Coral City Civil Affairs Bureau.

Yang Kun had an ordinary face, but his eyes held the scrutinizing gaze of someone long accustomed to a high position. He ignored Yang Wenqing and Yang Haishan, who were still entangled in battle below, and spoke directly to Qi Yue and Zhao Shouzheng. "Director Qi, Director Zhao, this man is involved in an internal matter of the Civil Affairs Bureau. He must be brought back by the Bureau for questioning. I’d ask you both to do me a favor and hand him over to me."

The man he referred to was, of course, Yang Haishan.

Hearing this, the gentle smile on Qi Yue’s face didn’t falter. He replied, "Director Yang, I’m afraid that’s not appropriate. Yang Haishan openly attacked a secret investigation team sent by the Second Seat of the Cabinet. The nature of this act is extremely heinous. It is no longer a simple internal matter for the Civil Affairs Bureau, but a serious criminal offense, and more importantly, a political incident challenging the authority of the Cabinet."

Zhao Shouzheng snorted coldly, his tone rigid. "Director Yang, is the Civil Affairs Bureau planning to openly harbor a felon who attacked special envoys from the Central Hub? If such a precedent is set, where is the dignity of national law? Where is the authority of the Cabinet?"

Yang Kun’s expression remained unchanged; he had clearly expected to be refused. He said faintly, "You two exaggerate. As the head of a state-owned enterprise, Yang Haishan’s actions will naturally be handled by the Civil Affairs Bureau’s Disciplinary Inspection System according to regulations. As for the so-called attack, it is merely a one-sided accusation at this point. The truth requires further investigation."

"Before the investigation is concluded, it is more appropriate for the Civil Affairs Bureau to take custody first, which also aligns with procedure. For the City Defense Bureau to cross jurisdictional lines and interfere in the internal affairs of the civil service system, however, is perhaps inappropriate, wouldn’t you say?"

Qi Yue maintained his calm demeanor, speaking in an unhurried tone. "What Director Yang says has some merit. Since you insist, Director Yang, it wouldn’t be right for us to forcibly obstruct you. However, we can’t just let you take him away either."

"How about this: you just need to sign a document, Director Yang, stating that the Civil Affairs Bureau will take full responsibility for the investigation into Yang Haishan’s involvement in the ’attack on the Cabinet investigation team’ case, and all subsequent liabilities. Furthermore, considering that Yang Haishan’s Cultivation is not weak and his attitude is dangerous, the City Defense Bureau must dispatch personnel to assist in his custody until the Civil Affairs Bureau’s formal investigation begins."

These words sounded polite, but they were a velvet glove over an iron fist. Once that document was signed, it would be tantamount to the Civil Affairs Bureau voluntarily taking on the blame for the "attack on the Cabinet"—a political bombshell that could destroy countless careers—while also submitting to the constant supervision of their rivals.