Chapter 251 - 205: Madam Xue, This Is Political Struggle

Chu Bamboo was just about to bite down on the poison in his molar and commit suicide to reload his save when, suddenly, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID in confusion. ’Madam Xue again?’

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Chu Bamboo realized something and answered the phone. "Regarding what comes next, didn’t I tell you to coordinate with the Union’s council? Or can you not get in touch with them? You can just go to the Union Headquarters and give them my name..."

"That’s not it." Madam Xue cut Chu Bamboo off, her voice laced with anxiety. "Have you seen Fusheng?"

"?? What has he done now?" The corner of Chu Bamboo’s eye twitched.

"He’s missing... He disappeared with that Long Mei and Brother Long!" Chu Bamboo could clearly tell that Madam Xue was practically gritting her teeth when she uttered the name "Long."

Chu Bamboo fell silent for a moment, gathering his thoughts. He ventured a guess, speaking cautiously. "You mean... he broke Brother Long out of the Police Chief Bureau! And then they disappeared... I think there might be something wrong with his head. In that case, maybe we should just leave him be!"

’If Brother Long were still in police custody, I can’t imagine how they could have both disappeared together...’

’But if it’s the scenario I’m imagining, then what Xue Fusheng did is clearly a suicide mission. What else can be done? Nothing to do but abandon any heroic notions and respect his chosen fate.’

"No!" Madam Xue denied it flatly. "Fusheng just wanted to accompany Brother Long, he didn’t intend to break him out... The plan was to transfer Brother Long to the First District Police Chief Bureau last night! But, on the way... they vanished! The two of them, gone. And the escort team... they weren’t found until this morning. They’ve been sent to the hospital..."

"When?" Chu Bamboo’s brow tightened, yet at the same time, his feelings on the matter were complicated.

’Good heavens. He even wanted to see Brother Long off on his final journey... It seems there really was some genuine affection between Xue Fusheng and Brother Long... It’s just that, no matter how you look at it, this whole affair is incredibly sloppy!’

Chu Bamboo mused to himself, ’I hope the old patriarch of the Xue Family in the Celestial Capital can handle the shock when he finds out what really happened.’

"...The transfer was scheduled for last night! Oh, right... the escorts were from the Logistics Department!"

Hearing this, Chu Bamboo took a deep breath. His mind reeled.

’The Logistics Department... the Hehuan Sect!’

’I almost forgot about that connection! You people really know how to pick your staff, don’t you...’

No, rather, Chu Bamboo hadn’t realized that even with news of the official crackdown spreading, the Hehuan Sect was still this rampant...

He lowered his gaze, collecting his racing thoughts, and said calmly, "Report this, and make sure to emphasize to Lu Jin... that the Hehuan Sect has heavily infiltrated the escort team, and by extension, the Police Chief Bureau."

"...You mean?" Madam Xue stopped short. As the realization hit her, her mind reeled in shock.

’She had originally called to ask if Chu Bamboo had any classified intelligence... but now it seemed...’

’They’ve been dragged into a political Vortex.’

’Yes, in Madam Xue’s eyes, this was a powerful counterattack—even a warning—from the government factions infiltrated by the Hehuan Sect. It was in response to Lu Jin’s proposal "to conduct a thorough cleansing of the Shoe Sect’s forces in Jinghai City"...’

’Given Lu Jin’s status and Governor Su’s approval... the person orchestrating this from behind the scenes...’

Madam Xue didn’t dare to let her thoughts go any further. The number of people in all of Jinghai City who would dare to make such a move could be counted on one hand.

’The Hehuan Sect... had actually infiltrated a person of that level?!’

"...I understand!" Madam Xue’s tone was sincere. "If Fusheng is brought back safely, the investment share in the redevelopment district we promised... we’ll increase it by thirty percent. Even if he isn’t saved, as long as... this is all confirmed to be true! We’ll still raise it by ten percent."

After hanging up, Chu Bamboo paced in a few circles, sorting through a thousand different thoughts.

Then, without a moment’s hesitation, he bit down on the poison.

In the next instant, time reversed...

...

Blinking his eyes, Chu Bamboo stared at the glowing diary on the screen before him and fell into thought. ’So, this is the timeframe I’ve jumped back to, huh?’

"Nuwa No. 17, turn off the screen!" Chu Bamboo closed his eyes to check his physical condition. ’Other than a dull ache in my head, I don’t seem to have any other discomfort? Hmm, the contamination has definitely been cleansed.’

After a moment’s thought, Chu Bamboo took out his phone and quickly dialed a number. After a full thirty seconds, the call automatically disconnected.

’Just as I thought. Xue Fusheng is already unreachable. Even if I were to commit suicide again and reset to an earlier point in time... it would likely be the same!’ Chu Bamboo nodded, his face expressionless, which only further confirmed his suspicion that the incident had taken place last night.

Without hesitation, Chu Bamboo left the base.

He then went to the Third District Police Chief Bureau and found Hai Mingyue, who was giggling and messing around with Lu Muxue.

He grabbed Hai Mingyue by the wrist and roughly began dragging her toward a nearby police training room.

"Wh-what are you..." Terror flashed across Hai Mingyue’s face. Chu Bamboo completely ignored her. Lu Muxue reacted in an instant, rushing over in a panic. "Ah Zhu, is there some kind of misunderstanding?"

He threw the door open and then slammed it shut.

Chu Bamboo glanced coldly at the rattling door... Lu Muxue was pounding on it in a panic. "You can tell me what’s wrong! Hey, don’t be like this..."

Ignoring the commotion, Chu Bamboo turned to Hai Mingyue, who looked like a frightened rabbit, and got straight to the point. "You people made a move on Xue Fusheng? How dare you! Daughter of the Hehuan Sect’s Hai Family."

The look of grievance on Hai Mingyue’s face froze. She stared at Chu Bamboo in disbelief, her voice suddenly shrill. "Who... who made a move on who? Don’t you dare make such wild accusations! I... You can’t just slander people! Who’s involved with the Hehuan Sect...? That disgusting sect, how could you..."

"How interesting." Chu Bamboo narrowed his eyes. "I can’t quite figure it out. Are you genuinely clueless... or did other members of the Hehuan Sect do this behind your back?"

Chu Bamboo gestured with the transparent phone in his hand. "I just tried calling. I couldn’t get through to Xue Fusheng... And I’m sure you’re aware that last night, Brother Long was being transferred to the First District... I’ll add one more detail for you: Xue Fusheng was following right behind Brother Long."

"They were in the same vehicle," Chu Bamboo said, enunciating each word.

Hai Mingyue fell silent. A shadow clouded her eyes, but she remained defiant. "I..."

"I don’t have time to sit here and guess what’s on your mind! If you keep this up, I’ll have no choice but to tell Lu Jin everything, from start to finish," Chu Bamboo said flatly, deciding to get straight to the threat. "You get it, right? I don’t need proof. Lu Jin doesn’t need proof either, and given the current situation... Hmph! You can’t possibly expect that little friendship you have with Lu Muxue to make Lu Jin spare you, can you?"

"No, no, no. If she finds out her own uncle got into trouble because of you... Lu Muxue will be the first one to turn on you!"

"Just tell me," Chu Bamboo’s tone remained unchanged from the start. "If this really has nothing to do with you, I can keep you out of it. There’s still a chance to salvage this..."

After a brief pause, Chu Bamboo looked at the still-silent Hai Mingyue, his voice taking on a meaningful tone. "In fact, if you cooperate... I can help you vie for the position of head of the Hai Family! Let you take control of its billion-dollar fortune."

"!!!" Hai Mingyue’s pupils contracted. For the first time, she truly started to think. Finally, she dropped her cloying, innocent act entirely, looked Chu Bamboo straight in the eye, and said, enunciating every word, "Then, how do you plan to help me fight for it?"

"Oh? You want me to help you win the position first? And only then will we discuss what comes next..." Chu Bamboo scoffed and shot back, "Do you think that’s likely? Am I the one at a disadvantage here? Or... did you mistake me for one of those simps you’ve run into before?"

"...If those rich kids ever found out about that word! You’d be in huge trouble." Hai Mingyue savored the meaning of the term and sighed in genuine admiration. ’How fitting!’

"Are you sure *I’m* the one they’d be causing trouble for?" Chu Bamboo said noncommittally. ’Are they even worthy?’