I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 83: Chapter 79: Opponent’s Information

A rare smile flickered across Deputy Director Zhou’s face, though his expression remained unreadable. He then nodded and said, "Since Vice Director Gao is in the mood, I’m certainly happy to take it easy."

"Then it’s settled!"

Vice Director Gao clapped Yang Wenqing on the shoulder. "We’ll meet at the bureau entrance after work. I’ll take you to see some of the novelties in the southern district and let Director Zhou here judge my taste."

"Yes. Thank you, Vice Director Gao, Deputy Director Zhou."

Yang Wenqing agreed again.

After making their plans, the three of them headed to the main hall for the funeral.

Many of their City Defense Bureau colleagues were already in the main funeral hall. The white flowers pinned to their chests stood out starkly against their dark uniforms. Director Zhang had already arrived, and a low, mournful dirge filled the air, weighing on everyone’s heart.

As soon as the two directors arrived, Zhang Qiming immediately went over to exchange a few words with them. Afterward, the three leaders stepped forward one by one to bow and offer flowers before the coffin of their fallen comrade. They then delivered eulogies, recalling the deceased’s life and accomplishments, praising their bravery, and solemnly promising the families that the City Defense Bureau would never forget their contributions and would properly arrange for their pensions and other matters.

As Yang Wenqing stood in line with several other captains to pay his respects, he watched the elderly who were crying to the point of fainting, the bewildered children, and the widows struggling to contain their grief. The shell of ice around his heart, formed by his intense cultivation, felt as if it were being chiseled open by this profound human sorrow. A heavy feeling, a mixture of guilt and powerlessness, began to spread through him.

These people had died during the time he was commanding the city’s security operations. Although he knew that in such chaos, casualties were unavoidable and that there had been no obvious errors in his command decisions, all rational explanations seemed so pale and feeble in the face of the families’ tears.

He subconsciously avoided any chance to speak directly with the families. He simply followed the line, silently bowing and offering his flower, then retreated to the side.

The funeral continued for nearly the entire morning, filled with lingering sorrow and suppressed sobs. When the last handful of earth was scattered over the coffin, the crowd began to slowly disperse.

In the afternoon, Yang Wenqing continued to work with Qian You, processing the backlog of trivial cases in the city. Compared to the day before, he seemed to have lost some of his deliberate urgency to build his reputation, replaced by a quiet composure.

As quitting time approached, the two returned to the bureau. When Yang Wenqing walked into the Third Squad’s office, he found Wu Yan, Liu Rong, and Zhao Qin already waiting inside. It looked like they hadn’t been back for long.

"Captain."

The three of them immediately stood up when they saw him.

Yang Wenqing waved his hand, walked over to his desk, and sat down before looking at them. "Any progress?"

Wu Yan took a step forward and reported, "Captain, as you instructed, we’ve intensified the search for the dockside broker, ’Hu San.’ Based on some scattered information from Li Mo’s notebook and tips from informants in the Port District, we identified several of his possible hideouts. We checked two of them this afternoon, but came up empty."

Liu Rong added, "Our surveillance on the Zhenyuan Mining executives is ongoing. So far, we haven’t seen them make contact with any suspicious individuals. One of them went to the General Affairs Division of the Civil Affairs Bureau today and met with Deputy Director Zhou Cheng, likely about the matter concerning the Wang family father and son, but we don’t know the specifics of their conversation."

Zhao Qin quickly reported on his part as well. "The targets at the Resource Management Section and the Port District Planning Office were all business as usual today. No abnormal activity."

"Good work. Keep it up." Yang Wenqing gave them an encouraging smile.

"Yes, sir!" the three replied in unison.

By then, it was about time to get off work. Yang Wenqing remembered his evening plans with the two directors, so after a few more words of casual chat with the three, he left the office.

Just as he stepped out the door, his badge pulsed with a faint fluctuation of Spiritual Power. It was a communication from Vice Director Gao. "Wenqing, come directly to the parking lot behind the main building."

"Yes, Vice Director Gao. I’m on my way."

Not daring to delay, Yang Wenqing left the main building through a side door and went to a relatively secluded parking lot at the back of the bureau. This was where the bureau leadership’s private or official Flying Shuttles were usually parked.

Vice Director Gao and Deputy Director Zhou were already standing next to a sleek, dark gray private Flying Shuttle. Vice Director Gao was smiling and saying something to Deputy Director Zhou, who remained as expressionless as ever, but the atmosphere seemed amicable enough.

"Vice Director Gao, Deputy Director Zhou." Yang Wenqing hurried forward and said apologetically, "Sorry to have kept you two waiting."

"No problem, we just got here ourselves." Vice Director Gao waved his hand dismissively, then pulled open the driver’s door of the Flying Shuttle. He grinned at the other two. "Hop in. I’ll be your driver for tonight."

Deputy Director Zhou said nothing, silently pulling open the rear door and getting in.

Yang Wenqing took the front passenger seat.

Vice Director Gao skillfully started the Flying Shuttle. After the engine let out a low, steady hum, the shuttle slid silently out of the parking lot, merged into the city’s flight lanes, and headed toward the southern district.

About fifteen minutes later, the Flying Shuttle began to descend, landing smoothly at the entrance of an ordinary alley. In contrast to the slightly dilapidated buildings around it, there was an inconspicuous, black-lacquered wooden door deep within the alley. It had no sign, only a dimly lit, yellow streetlamp hanging above the doorframe. On its lampshade, the elegant character for ’Cloud’ was written in ink.

"This is the place. ’Liuyun Music Garden,’" said Vice Director Gao as he shut down the engine and got out first.

Yang Wenqing followed him out, sizing up the extremely low-key establishment. If Vice Director Gao hadn’t led the way, he never would have guessed that this place, which looked like a private residence, was actually a venue for entertainment.