Peace and Good Order

Seven in the evening. Having eaten dinner and washed the dishes, Ye Huan prepared to continue cultivating Iron Hand. His cell phone suddenly rang. It was an unfamiliar number. "Hello?" "Ye Huan?" A familiar female voice came through. —Xia Li, the director of the Bureau of Investigation's General Office! She should have been off work by this hour; why was she calling? Ye Huan's heart skipped an inexplicable beat. Keeping his voice quiet, he said, "Hello, Sister Li. It's Ye Huan." "Where are you?" Xia Li asked. "Staying out by the mining district," Ye Huan said. "Can you come down to the bureau right now?" "...I'll be there as soon as I can." "Good. I'll wait for you in my office." The call clicked off. Ye Huan was somewhat baffled. Her tone had been steady, her voice normal and rather soft, sounding just like a casual conversation. Nothing in it gave away what was going on. Although she had phrased it as a request, going and not going would inevitably yield very different outcomes. Back on Earth, working at a company or a public agency, he really might not have gone. But here, he was a newcomer, and a single misstep could easily consign him to eternal doom. Better to go. Besides, Xia Li truly had done him a massive favor by pulling him out of Investigation Section One. Wait— Could something have gone wrong with escorting the mutated martial artist? —If the mimetic projection hadn't been mistaken, disaster must have struck! Ye Huan had a clear idea of what was happening. Leaving his room, he gave Su Haisheng a quick heads-up: "Uncle, my unit called me in for overtime. I won't be back to sleep tonight." Su Haisheng worried about where he would sleep, even offering to call around and find him a place. Ye Huan had to lie and say the bureau had dormitories before he could finally break away. Night had already fallen. The buses ran only once every forty minutes, so Ye Huan hailed a cab and headed straight for the city. The taxi wove through one dusty, dimly lit street after another. "Going out to see your girlfriend?" the driver teased with a chuckle. It was far too remote out here. Finding a fare on the way back had come as an unexpected pleasant surprise. "Going to work overtime," Ye Huan said helplessly. "Young folks these days really have it a lot harder than we did back then. Take care of your health," the driver consoled him. A cab was far faster than a bus, making no stops along the way. Along the route, streetlamps grew brighter and open shops lined the curbs, growing busier with every mile. Twenty minutes later, Ye Huan stood inside the office at the Bureau of Investigation. The corridor outside was brightly lit. It looked as though... no one in the entire Bureau of Investigation had clocked off. Xia Li's fingers clacked rapidly across her keyboard, processing work documents without glancing up. "Give me the file." "Yes, ma'am." Ye Huan handed the file over and whispered, "Everything else is in order, except for one missing sheet." Without a word, Xia Li pulled the correct ancestral registration form from her drawer and slid it into the folder. Her fingers flew across the keyboard again, inputting a stream of information. "All done. Your onboarding has been processed—did you not go back to the mining company to get a new form?" Xia Li asked in a low voice. "No, I went back to the mining district to visit the elders at home," Ye Huan said. "Your family—" "I'm staying with former colleagues of my parents. Since I landed the job here, I went back to share the good news with them." Xia Li looked up at him. The boy was certainly down-to-earth. Still— "Did anything else happen today?" Xia Li asked. "I was practicing my fist technique at home this afternoon and broke through into the Shidu realm," Ye Huan said. "You've already broken through to the Shidu realm?" Xia Li asked under her breath, a touch incredulous. Ye Huan casually waved a palm. *Whoosh—* A gust of wild wind swept through the room, making the ceiling light sway back and forth and casting their shifting shadows against the walls. "Generating wind with bare hands—not bad. Breaking through to Shidu at just eighteen, you have a strong chance of igniting all ten acupoints and climbing to the next level." In Xia Li's bright, almond-shaped eyes, a spark of genuine emotion finally surfaced. "This breakthrough was really thanks to your help, Sister Li. Whenever you have free time, I'd like to treat you to dinner," Ye Huan said softly. Because he hadn't gone on the escort mission, he had been able to practice at home. And because he had practiced at home, he had reached the Shidu realm. Inviting her to dinner was a gesture—a clear sign that he recognized the favor she had done him. Xia Li shook her head. "We'll talk about that later. Something went wrong today, and everyone is working overtime." "Something went wrong?" Ye Huan asked. "Investigation Section One was escorting the mutated martial artist this afternoon when someone hijacked the prison transport in broad daylight. Thirty-one bystanders were killed, one hundred sixty-four injured, and half of Investigation Section One suffered casualties," Xia Li said. Ye Huan drew a sharp breath. *So many dead? Is human life really that cheap?* "The casualty count is still rising. The final toll will depend on how many people the hospital can pull through," Xia Li said with an even expression. Ye Huan fell silent. Though he had known the afternoon escort would be perilous, he hadn't imagined it would be this disastrous! No wonder he had received the "Evaluation +1" prompt the moment he extracted himself from Investigation Section One. Evading a fatal disaster boosted his rating! Then... would he receive copper coins again tomorrow? Or would he earn an even greater reward? Ye Huan reined in his racing thoughts. Meeting Xia Li's gaze, he said earnestly, "Thank you for saving my life, Sister Li. I won't waste words with empty talk—if there's ever anything you need from me in the future, just say the word." —This was polite protocol he had to express! In such a catastrophic incident, she had truly done him a favor, effectively sparing his life. If he didn't even say something, what would she think? He was merely an insignificant rookie who had just come on board; promising the moon right now would only sound hollow and fake. Speaking from the heart with sincere gratitude was enough. Watching his sincere expression, Xia Li lowered her gaze in thought, then said, "Investigation Section One is currently under isolated investigation." She didn't elaborate, but Ye Huan already grasped the deeper meaning. Flaws must have been exposed during the transport, catching the attention of the higher-ups. —Several Black Tide Cultists had been tasked with the escort, and the Black Tide Cult desperately wanted that prisoner. How could there not be foul play? "What about me? I was assigned to Investigation Section One too. Do I have to be quarantined for investigation?" Ye Huan asked. "You hadn't completed your onboarding paperwork. Strictly speaking, when the incident occurred this afternoon, you weren't officially part of Investigation Section One yet, nor did you take part in the operation. So you won't be subjected to the investigation." Having said this, Xia Li couldn't help but glance at him again. This kid was remarkably lucky. He had dodged a lethal calamity and even broken through to the Shidu realm in one leap. Perhaps, just as the director had said, the entire Bureau of Investigation could use a bit of luck right now. What was more... the moment she summoned him, he had rushed over from the mining district without a single complaint. Xia Li's slender, fair fingers tapped lightly on the desk. Just last week, several veterans had retired, leaving several vacancies. Today, the entire Investigation Section One had run into disaster and was held in quarantine. An entire department was essentially gone. Other collaborating sections had lost eight people in today's operation as well. Complete chaos... Xia Li lightly typed on her keyboard. *Beep!* A document rolled out of the printer. The post was settled; it just needed the director's signature later. "Xiao Ye, you're going to a different section. Follow me." Xia Li rose, gestured to Ye Huan, and led him out. The two reached the end of the corridor. *Knock, knock, knock—* Xia Li gave a perfunctory knock before pulling the door open. Smoke coiled through the room in hazy clouds. A weathered middle-aged man with a cigarette dangling from his lips lay reclined on the sofa, playing on his cell phone. "Shut the door," he muttered. Xia Li indeed closed the door, grumbling, "Section One just had multiple dead and injured, and here you are hiding away playing video games?" "That's why I told you to shut the door. Wouldn't want leadership to see and lose their temper—bad for their health," the middle-aged man said without looking up. "I brought someone for you," Xia Li said. "Who's this kid?" the man asked. "Ye Huan, this is Song Fushan, Chief Song of the Mysterious Affairs Section." "Good evening, Section Chief Song," Ye Huan said. Above the man's head, the title "Section Chief of Mysterious Affairs" indeed materialized. Ye Huan felt thoroughly relieved. —As long as he wasn't a cultist! "Ye Huan belongs to your section from now on. He's only eighteen, so train him well. I'll report to the director later," Xia Li said. Song Fushan was struck with realization. —This was that little security guard transferred from the mining district! The director had found the kid's bravery commendable and, on a whim, reassigned him. So that was it! Song Fushan yawned and waved a dismissive hand. "Fine, get going. Stop being an eyesore here." "Tch, I'm swamped. If I didn't have to bring him over, I wouldn't bother with you," Xia Li retorted. She gave Ye Huan a wink, turned, and left. The door closed once more, leaving only Song Fushan and Ye Huan in the room. Ye Huan tactfully stayed silent. Bursts of intense combat sound effects emanated from Song Fushan's phone; he was clearly at a critical moment in his game. Ye Huan hated being interrupted while gaming as well, so he simply stood there waiting quietly. A moment later, cheerful music chimed from the phone. —Match finished! Only then did Song Fushan lock his phone, stand up, and stretch. "You can take that desk across from mine. Supplies are all there; if you need anything else, go to the supply room yourself." "Yes, sir," Ye Huan said. Song Fushan suddenly threw a punch. It came with vicious momentum, targeting Ye Huan's nose straight on. If it landed, a fractured nasal bridge was the absolute minimum outcome. Ye Huan blocked instinctively with an open palm. *Clang!* A crisp ring of clashing metal sounded. "Oh? Not bad," Song Fushan praised. Stepping in close, his other arm drove forward—fist, elbow, then a shoulder press—a three-hit combo! Ye Huan's pupils contracted. Even for a test, these moves were overly ruthless. If he was injured and incapacitated, there was no telling how he would survive tonight. Ye Huan didn't retreat an inch. Striding forward, he clenched both fists and brought them together like a heavy hammer against the onslaught. *Clang!* Another metallic crack. Dragon Hammer. "Well, well, this move is solidly drilled too." Song Fushan wore a grin. Shifting casually to the side, he deflected the momentum of Dragon Hammer and wheeled around with another punch. Ye Huan's eyelid twitched. That earlier move had been a feint! He had baited out Ye Huan's defense, and now, before Ye Huan could recover his strength to generate new force, Song Fushan was closing in to settle the bout in one blow! In an instant, the fist was right in front of his face. Was he going to take a hit? Test or not— Ye Huan suddenly pulled back his stance, shifting fists into palms and slapping out in rapid succession. The beauty of this move lay in wielding weight with lightness; seemingly slow, it was blindingly fast, appearing soft and effortless on the surface while carrying Ye Huan's absolute full power! *Clang-clang-tonk-clang-tonk—* A rapid sequence of clashing steel echoed throughout the office. His punch stifled, Song Fushan was forced back several paces. He asked in amazement, "Nine palms in an instant—Iron Hand Bars the River?" "Yes, sir," Ye Huan said. "Even if I practiced Iron Hand Bars the River, it would take three to five months to reach this level. How did you train it?" Song Fushan asked. "Just brutal repetition. As long as I didn't drop dead, I drilled it to death," Ye Huan answered honestly. In the simulated environment, he couldn't even feel fatigue. Training day and night without rest, he had no thoughts beyond understanding the forms. His words reflected his truest experience. Song Fushan nodded imperceptibly, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes. He walked to the desk, picked up a lighter, and lit a cigarette. "Commonplace martial arts like this can be bought in any dojo across the city, and countless people practice them. "Yet very few can train it to your level. "With your copper head and iron arms, it's only natural that you survived last night. "That wasn't luck. That was strength." *So that was it.* Section Chief Song had doubted how he could have survived the mine shaft last night. After trading blows, he had reached his conclusion. Ye Huan caught his breath and waved his hands modestly. "You went easy on me just now, Chief." "Easy or not, did you expect a Jiuyao expert like me to go all out on you?" Song Fushan teased. "I wouldn't dare," Ye Huan said. Song Fushan tossed over a cigarette. Ye Huan caught it, deftly took the tossed lighter, and lit it. "You smoke?" Song Fushan asked. "Working night shifts at the mine is grueling. How could I not?" Ye Huan said. Fieldwork and archaeological excavations were both exhausting tasks. Who wouldn't smoke a couple? "Do you play games?" Song Fushan named a title. Ye Huan searched his memory. It seemed to be a popular game; his predecessor had played it and was quite good. *Pardon me, but back on Earth, I was an ace at this type of game too.* "Chief, I can't beat you in a fight, but you might not necessarily win against me in video games," Ye Huan said honestly with the cigarette between his lips. That attitude suited Song Fushan's palate. Pondering for a moment, he said, "Too many people died today, so our section has to put on a show and take part in the bureau-wide overtime. But there's overtime pay—remember that." "Understood, Section Chief Song," Ye Huan said. "Have you had dinner?" Song Fushan asked. "I did," Ye Huan said. Just as he answered, he saw Song Fushan rubbing his belly and slipping on his shoes. Song Fushan had been wearing slippers in the office and was now swapping them for leather shoes. He was planning to head out! "Though I had dinner, I didn't eat my fill," Ye Huan added quickly. "Perfect. I haven't had a late-night bite yet either. How about we head out and grab something to eat?" Song Fushan asked. "Yes, Chief," Ye Huan said. Having said so, he glanced out the window instinctively. Outside, lights blazed everywhere. Every department was working overtime. People bustled back and forth, seemingly pouring all their energy into handling the fallout from the afternoon. At a time like this... we're sneaking out for late-night snacks? Ye Huan felt a little uneasy. It felt just like sneaking out to an internet cafe during his school days. Perhaps noticing his concern, Song Fushan spoke up: "Relax. We'll just say we're heading out to investigate a mysterious occurrence. Let's go!" "Where are we going to eat, though?" Ye Huan couldn't help asking. "Hongguang Street." "Ah, I see. That street has plenty of restaurants." "Not because of the restaurants. The prison breakout this afternoon happened right on that street." Song Fushan finished his cigarette and snubbed it out in an ashtray. "I get it. We're using dinner as a cover to secretly investigate the case," Ye Huan realized. "Idiot," Song Fushan said, stretching as he slipped into his coat. "We're using the case as an excuse to go eat dinner right out in the open." Ye Huan blinked. True enough. The entire Bureau of Investigation was working overtime; if the two of them slipped out just to eat, they'd get chewed out for sure if caught. But if they ate dinner right near the crime scene, that changed everything. Could the enemies return here to retrieve something? To observe developments? Or perhaps some overlooked clue remained behind? And so, our Mysterious Affairs Section swooped back for a surprise return! "We're diligently investigating the case." That was the play! Song Fushan pushed open the door and stepped out first. Ye Huan followed close behind. On both sides of the corridor, offices hummed with clamoring voices and frantic footsteps. Some people limped by wrapped in bandages and stained with blood. Elsewhere, interrogated suspects let out shrill screams under torture. "Coming through! Make way!" A team rushed past down the hallway and hurried downstairs. —Everyone else was busting their gut investigating, while we were going out for food. Well, nothing to be done. It was what the boss wanted, and an employee had to follow orders. As Ye Huan was musing to himself, Song Fushan suddenly turned around, his face grim, and barked in a low voice, "This mission is urgent! Stay sharp! If anything goes wrong, don't expect me to save you." "Yes, sir!" Ye Huan said. "Don't lag behind! We need to get there immediately!" Song Fushan picked up his pace. "Understood!" Ye Huan answered again, putting on a deadpan, serious expression and even projecting a flicker of nervous tension. Seeing this, Song Fushan flashed him a barely perceptible wink. *Good job, kid!* Ye Huan flashed a look right back. *Naturally!* "Pick up the pace! Move out!" Song Fushan barked, striding forward with long, brisk steps. Ye Huan followed close behind. At that moment, gazing at Song Fushan's back, a passage from a high school textbook suddenly surfaced in Ye Huan's mind: *"In the spring of the fourth year of the Qingli era, Teng Zijing was banished to govern Baling Commandery. By the following year, the administration ran smoothly and the people were at peace, and all neglected affairs flourished once more."* Having escaped Investigation Section One, evaded that fatal catastrophe, and transferred into the Mysterious Affairs Section... Was he about to embark on a new life of "peace and good order"?