Word of the huge row between Lü Jinshan and Zhang Like spread across the entire border defense station in no time.
The personnel at the station were already used to such scenes.
This was not the first time. At first, Lu Zhao had kicked up a fuss on his own; later, after he saved Zhang Like's life, it turned into the two of them stirring up trouble together.
The station's leadership was powerless against them. Within the official system, short of blocking promotions, there were simply no other means to suppress Lu Zhao and Zhang Like.
Lin Zhiyan heard the news as well. "This Zhang Like is certainly loyal to his friends," she remarked.
Her deputy asked, "Team Leader, Lu Zhao is quite capable and has a clean record. Should we pull him in to help? After all, more fugitives might come through later."
It remained unclear exactly how many Fate Bones had been in that Ming dynasty princely tomb, but there was a high probability the stolen bones were headed out of the country.
One batch was bound for Miye Sanjiang. Many routes from the Nanhai region led to Miye Sanjiang, and Ant Ridge was just one of dozens.
The prefecture's orders were for them to remain stationed here and assist the local authorities in intercepting the fugitives.
"We can recruit him, but we cannot be the ones to make the first move."
A faint smile touched Lin Zhiyan's thin lips. Lu Zhao's dossier lay on the desk, and looking down at it, she seemed to hold him firmly in the palm of her hand.
"Externally developed psychic power, a range of a thousand meters, millimeter precision within five hundred meters, and divine sight within a hundred meters. Senior Lu is quite the talent, but someone so proud is prickly to handle. He needs to be taken down a notch."
The deputy said no more.
It seemed their interaction that day had left Team Leader Lin rather displeased.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
Someone knocked at the door, and Zhang Like pushed open the door to the special investigation team's temporary office alone.
Lin Zhiyan laced her fingers together, asking knowingly, "What brings Captain Zhang to my office?"
"I came to ask a favor of Team Leader Lin."
Thick-skinned, Zhang Like wore a flattering smile as he spoke. "One of the comrades under me is very capable and would be a great help in the upcoming arrest operation. But due to disciplinary issues, his application to join the team has stalled."
Lin Zhiyan stated plainly, "Captain Zhang is referring to Lu Zhao?"
Hope showed on Zhang Like's face. "It's great that you already know, Team Leader Lin. What do you think?"
"Unfortunately, the special investigation team does not hold personnel dispatch authority. We also have to submit requests to higher authorities."
Lin Zhiyan shook her head, feigning difficulty.
"Others definitely couldn't pull it off, but Team Leader Lin is bound to have a way." Zhang Like chuckled, rubbing his hands together like a fly, completely discarding any sense of pride.
In theory, Lü Jinshan outranked Lin Zhiyan by one grade, yet their actual authority was not on the same level.
At best, the former oversaw the Ant Ridge area, while the latter's reach spanned the entire Nanhai West Circuit.
Lin Zhiyan said, "Captain Zhang, are you asking me to overstep my authority to transfer Lu Zhao, offending Station Chief Lü and a whole host of colleagues in Fangshi in the process?"
"You make it sound far too grave!" Zhang Like waved his hands repeatedly. "Lu Zhao is just a nobody. It wouldn't reach nearly that far."
Lin Zhiyan asked, "Then where is he right now?"
She extended her psychic power outward, but sensed no trace of Lu Zhao.
"I'll go drag him over right away!"
Zhang Like immediately turned, making to leave. Lin Zhiyan gave a soft sigh and said:
"No need. I have official business to attend to shortly. Tell him to come find me whenever he has time."
Zhang Like understood her meaning: Lu Zhao was to wait outside the door.
He felt the matter had become precarious again. Lu Zhao was not entirely stubborn, but he fiercely resisted surrendering all initiative.
If Lin Zhiyan were clear about what it would take for her to help, Lu Zhao would accept it.
The trouble with asking favors of others was precisely this: the party holding the advantage would not give you a shred of initiative, wanting nothing more than to see you humble yourself.
"I'll go let him know right away."
The door closed.
Lin Zhiyan knew this had all been Zhang Like's personal doing, and she could not help feeling a bit disappointed.
She still hoped Lu Zhao would come beg her of his own accord; watching him lower his proud head would be a delightful sight.
Though if that happened, it would also mean the sharp edges of the former legend from Dijing University's psychic discipline had finally been ground smooth.
***
On the other side of the grounds, Zhang Like anxiously tracked down Lu Zhao.
At that moment, Lu Zhao was under his beat-up pickup truck performing maintenance. Bumping along mountain roads every day took its toll, and the truck frequently broke down.
Zhang Like explained the situation, adding:
"Are you really not going to give it a try? Team Leader Lin isn't bad-looking, and it's not like you actually have to sell your body."
Lying underneath the truck doing repairs, Lu Zhao spoke up. "In other words, I'm supposed to go beg her, and then she'll see what kind of mood she's in before deciding whether to say yes?"
"At least it's an opportunity."
Zhang Like dragged Lu Zhao out from under the chassis. "Wash your face and tidy yourself up. Don't let that face of yours go to waste. When you meet Team Leader Lin, soften your voice—can't you put on a deep, handsome rumble?"
Lu Zhao tactfully refused. "She's busy right now, and I'm busy right now, too."
The woman's intent could not have been clearer: she wanted him to wait outside, and whether she would actually help was still another matter.
In the past, Lu Zhao might have gone, but now he had no need for it. It was not that he refused to cooperate; he simply could not stand people acting conceited and looking down from above.
Whether Chen Qian or Lin Zhiyan, neither was worth his begging.
Zhang Like grew a little heated, his voice rising slightly. "If you keep being stubborn with me today, I'm really going to lose my temper!"
"I begged everyone under the sun just to find a way out, seeking out both the head and the deputy of the special investigation team! You can afford to be noble and detached, but what about your family? Your mother has heart disease, and your niece has good talent for life-force development—all of that takes a lot of money!"
"Then let me give you a serious answer. First, hunting a few more demon beasts will cover my family's expenses. Second..."
Lu Zhao paused, his expression composed as he said, "If the nation needs me, I will accept any deployment. I would not hesitate to climb a mountain of blades or plunge into a sea of flames."
A week ago, Lu Zhao had lowered his head to Chen Qian, and it had availed him nothing. That had been the first time in his life he had ever bowed his head, and it would be the last.
From then on, he would never bow his head again.
His allegiance lay with the nation and the people of this land, not with power itself.
"You... ai!"
Zhang Like had meant to say more, yet his anger inexplicably melted away. Helplessly, he said, "That's the one thing I admire about you. You butt heads with anyone, no matter who they are. But sometimes you have to know when to bow your head."
Perhaps Lu Zhao was right; in fact, he should be right. It was only that most people in this world were too snobbish, which made Lu Zhao seem like an anomaly instead.
This was also where Lu Zhao's charm lay, and the reason Zhang Like had grown angry whenever his repeated attempts to help were rebuffed.
"The only thing I never managed to learn in this life is how to bow my head."
Lu Zhao leaned against the hood of the truck, lit a cigarette, and exhaled smoke toward the setting sun.
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Whether dragon or worm, we'll see thirty years from now."
"I will have the last laugh. Of that, I am certain."
The evening glow reflected on his face, sketching a smile that resembled the rising morning sun.
In this moment, Zhang Like finally realized how old he was. He remembered that Lu Zhao was ten years younger than him, yet seemed a century younger than this weary world.
Back when humanity had ruled the world as overlords, this land had once held a generation of warriors like the morning sun, men who had led Shenzhou to its zenith.
And Lu Zhao looked as though he had walked straight out of that soaring era.
Chapter 21