Chapter 399: Fire Flood Dragon Island

The fifth floor of this fast boat had a deck, equipped with a luxurious cabin, usually used by the Water Transport Guild to entertain big shots.

Xu Wenjun was a Fourth-Rank official, and he also came from the Capital Ironclad Department, so he took over this place as soon as he boarded the boat.

Standing on the deck, feeling the bursts of refreshing cool breeze, hearing the sound of footsteps behind him, Xu Wenjun didn't turn his head:

"Director Yang, have a seat."

Yang Ling wasn't polite either, casually sitting down on the most luxurious-looking chair.

The Ironclad Constables standing around all cast strange glances at him.

Hong Ruohai seemed to want to say something but held back.

From the positioning of these constables, Yang Ling could tell that the Ironclad Department agents from the Command Division were indeed the elites among elites.

The positions they stood in sealed off countless possibilities for ambush.

If anyone wanted to make a move against Xu Wenjun, even if they came from the sky, there were two dedicated constables holding heavy crossbows secretly on guard.

Xu Wenjun slowly turned around, just about to sit down, only to discover that someone was already sitting in his main seat.

He fell silent for a few breaths, then abandoned the thought of sitting down, quietly watching Yang Ling:

"Director Yang, I have something I'd like to ask you."

Ask him something? A trace of surprise appeared on Yang Ling's face, then he politely invited:

"Lord Xu, why don't you sit down and we can talk?"

All the other chairs were a notch lower than this one. If he sat down to talk, what would that look like?

Xu Wenjun still didn't sit down, pondering for a moment:

"He Dongqing of Wangzhi Medicinal Shop, why was he willing to come forward and testify?"

"So that's what he's been stewing over."

Yang Ling's mind stirred, then he sneered:

"Because this subordinate caught hold of his leverage. Even if he didn't come forward to testify, he was walking a dead-end road.

Only by stepping up to accuse Wangzhi would he have a chance to live.

It's just a pity that the Capital moves swiftly and decisively, with no tolerance for impurities, so they didn't let He Dongqing live."

He paused for a moment. "But then again, he did deserve to die. You could say he died a fitting death."

"The Special Task Force was only established a day ago. How did you catch hold of his leverage?"

Xu Wenjun didn't readily accept this explanation.

Yang Ling's words carried a hidden meaning: "It's not like the Vagrants just started dying yesterday."

Xu Wenjun thought it over carefully, and a sudden realization dawned in his heart:

"So you had already started working on this case before, investigating in secret? As the Director of the Public Security Division in the Ironclad Department, you truly haven't failed the duties you carry on your shoulders."

"Surely Lord Xu didn't call me over just to give me a few words of praise?"

Yang Ling was somewhat curious.

Before he came, he'd even considered whether Xu Wenjun might try to make a move against him.

If the man really did intend to do him harm, then he wouldn't be polite either.

In Zhao State, he could enjoy the benefits of all equipment attributes.

Combined with his skills, Internal Technique, and Martial Arts Technique, he felt he should currently have a decent chance of trading a few moves with Xu Wenjun.

After all, the man had only cultivated one Internal Technique, following a path of specialization, not greed for quantity.

If that was the case, then this one's combat power was probably at best mid-tier among the Upper Fifth-Rank.

"I just wanted to have a chat with you. We're about to head to the Capital, aren't we?"

"As far as I know, you've never set foot in the Capital."

Xu Wenjun said with a faint smile:

"This time when you enter the Capital, I expect you'll also be preparing for the Sixth-Rank Top Hundred Battle, right?"

"The Department Head did indeed have me represent the Ironclad Department in the battle."

Yang Ling gave a slight nod.

"My son, Xu Qingnian, will also be participating in this Sixth-Rank Top Hundred Battle. His cultivation level is the same as yours, both Lower Sixth-Rank."

Xu Wenjun said casually.

A flicker of wariness flashed through Yang Ling's eyes.

He knew the Ironclad Department only had two slots. Could this man be after his spot?

"The Sixth-Rank Top Hundred Battle isn't an internal competition for our Zhao State. It's a life-or-death contest against the Sixth-Rank Experts from the Rong tribe."

"I've received intelligence that this time it won't be in the form of an arena either. Instead, we're heading to Fire Flood Dragon Island."

"That place isn't within the territory of our Zhao State or the Rong tribe. It's out in the distant overseas, and not without considerable danger."

"Since you were able to kill Mingxin, it means your combat power is at least at the Upper Sixth-Rank level."

"This official hopes that during this Sixth-Rank Top Hundred Battle, you and Qingnian can look out for each other."

"Don't let this case in Xiangfeng Prefectural Capital create any hard feelings between you."

"Although Wangzhi is my father-in-law, wrong is wrong. His execution was also an order from the Capital, and it has nothing to do with either of us."

"If you can help Qingnian out a bit this time, then once we return to the Capital, this official will back you once within the Ironclad Department."

Xu Wenjun's gaze was like a blazing torch, fixed on Yang Ling's expression, observing his subtle facial changes.

As if trying to see whether Yang Ling actually harbored any resentment because of this case.

A few breaths later, he was somewhat surprised, and also somewhat admiring.

This young junior in front of him, so young in years, actually showed not the slightest emotional fluctuation on his face. He simply couldn't read what was going on in the other's mind.

"A born Ironclad Department prospect..."

This thought suddenly popped into Xu Wenjun's mind.

Combined with the other's methods in cracking cases, he vaguely had a premonition.

If this young man could steadily advance to Fifth-Rank, his future prospects would be nothing to sneeze at!

Yang Ling pondered for a moment: "Lord Xu, is this considered a transaction?"

Xu Wenjun smiled and nodded:

"Yes, consider it a transaction."

"Could this subordinate ask for the details about Fire Flood Dragon Island?"

Yang Ling didn't agree directly.

Xu Wenjun: "You're sitting in my seat. Get up."

After Yang Ling stood up, Xu Wenjun sat back down, and only then spoke in a slow, deliberate manner:

"In Zhao State, apart from Fourth-Rank Grandmasters, even the vast majority of Fifth-Rank Lesser Masters don't know of the existence of Fire Flood Dragon Island."

"It's an island our Zhao State discovered thirty years ago. There are quite a few rare exotic herbs and flowers with fire attributes on it."

"You know about the Fire Spirit Pearl, one of the Twelve Sacred Martial Medicines? Fire Flood Dragon Island once produced three Fire Spirit Pearls."

"Our Zhao State grabbed one, the Rong tribe grabbed one, and another was taken by an overseas sect."

A strange glint flashed through Yang Ling's eyes.

This Fire Flood Dragon Island actually had sacred martial medicines like the Fire Spirit Pearl?

The first he'd ever heard of Water Bodhi seeds, Fire Spirit Pearls, and Crimson Ghost Ginseng was from Wen You.

He'd already consumed Water Bodhi seeds, Crimson Ghost Ginseng, Vital Qi Age Defying, and a defective Vajra Bodhi. But he'd truly never seen a Fire Spirit Pearl before.

However, for an overseas sect to be able to snatch away one of those Fire Spirit Pearls... could it be a first-rate sect from overseas?

Yang Ling's heart tightened.

This meant that heading to Fire Flood Dragon Island might not just mean facing the Rong tribe's forces.

There was also a third-party force beyond both Zhao State and the Rong tribe!

"Recently, scouts monitoring Fire Flood Dragon Island reported that the temperature there is rapidly soaring."

"That's a sign that the Fire Spirit Pearl might be about to appear."

"So both Zhao State and the Rong tribe decided to arrange the Sixth-Rank Top Hundred Battle on Fire Flood Dragon Island."

Xu Wenjun said with a faint smile: "Many people don't know this news yet. The fact that you're learning it in advance is also a bit of sincerity this official is showing."

Yang Ling asked curiously: "Since the Fire Spirit Pearl is about to appear, why not just directly send Grandmasters to compete for it?"

Hong Ruohai and the other Ironclad Department agents appeared to be on alert around the perimeter, but at these words they also perked up their ears. They were curious too.

"Our Zhao State sent two Fourth-Rank Grandmasters there before. They retreated as soon as they set foot on Fire Flood Dragon Island."

Xu Wenjun smiled. "Those two Grandmasters said that after they went ashore, there was a force suppressing them, causing their recovery ability to plummet to a level equivalent to Sixth-Rank."