Chapter 242 - 241: The Public Opinion Storm Intensifies, All of Jianghai Is Alarmed

Afternoon.

Jianghai Library, the office.

"This floor needs mopping, Master."

Li Qinghe pushed open the door, a mop in one hand, and expertly started cleaning. She watered the Earth-Surging Golden Lotus, busying herself.

Qin Yang hadn’t been around lately.

She didn’t know when he would be back, so she figured she might as well show some filial piety in his place.

When her master returned, he would surely reward her well.

A commotion drifted in from outside the window. The calls to release the Jianghai Sword God’s disciple grew louder, as if countless people were roaring in anger.

"The reaction is getting bigger and bigger."

Li Qinghe went to the window and glanced at the protesting crowd below, but she showed no particular reaction.

She wasn’t worried at all.

’After all, this young lady isn’t as easily fooled as they are!’

Besides, Grandmaster was around.

’If things get really bad... can’t we just have Grandmaster’s Clone self-destruct again?’

"A guaranteed win!"

...

In front of a shop.

The racks were filled with a dazzling array of clothes.

Xia He and his fiancée, Yaoyao, stood in front of the fitting rooms, their feet surrounded by shopping bags of all sizes, all filled with newly purchased clothes.

It was the first day of his vacation. To make it up to his fiancée, he was fully committed, not even glancing at his phone.

"Here, Yaoyao, how about you try this dress?"

Xia He held up a light-colored dress and smiled. "I think this would suit you."

"Anything is fine. I like whatever you pick,"

Yaoyao tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and gently squeezed his hand. "You don’t have to overthink it."

"Still, it’s about what you like."

Xia He smiled, looking at his fiancée. Their wedding day was getting closer and closer. He had been so busy monitoring Old Qin these past few days and had finally managed to squeeze out some time for her.

Just then, a commotion erupted from the street in the distance.

A massive crowd, like a passing Beast Tide, surged past the window. Every face was etched with anger as they marched menacingly.

Xia He: ???

"What’s going on?!"

He frowned instinctively. As a former police officer, he was extremely sensitive to such chaotic scenes. Even demonstrations had their limits.

Right now, citizens were all over the streets.

Anyone who didn’t know better would think it was a public riot!

Faintly, he thought he heard someone mention the Star Martial Police Bureau.

"What does this have to do with the Police Bureau?"

Xia He pulled out his phone, muttering, "Don’t tell me there’s been some kind of trouble again."

He opened the trending topics.

He saw that the search bar was filled with news about the "Arrest of the Jianghai Sword God’s Head Disciple." The topic "Release Him" had already shot to the number one trending spot. The glaring headlines stabbed at his eyes, like a sharp blade piercing his heart.

’This isn’t right. This shouldn’t be happening...’

Xia He’s heart sank, and a cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He remembered the promise he had made to Qin Yang, telling him with his own mouth that the surveillance was over and he could relax.

’So how did it turn into this?!’

’Was this the Commander’s intention?’

’So this so-called administrative leave... was just a way to get me out of the picture?!’

"Are you okay?"

Just then, Yaoyao walked over and asked, worriedly taking his hand.

"Why do you look so pale?"

"Sorry, just a second, Yaoyao."

Xia He turned away blankly, like a puppet whose strings had run out. He stumbled to a corner and quickly dialed the Commander’s number.

The phone rang.

No answer.

The line was busy.

He dialed again!

After the third consecutive call, the other end finally picked up.

"Hello, Xia He?"

The Commander’s voice came from the other end of the line, the background slightly noisy with a chaotic mix of voices and blaring horns.

Hearing the sounds over the phone, Xia He’s heart sank even further.

’Just as I thought!’

’They’re coming after Old Qin!’

’The Police Bureau really arrested him!’

"Hold on a second. It’s a bit of a mess at the bureau’s entrance. I’ll move somewhere else to talk."

The Commander lowered his voice and quickly moved away from the center of the commotion.

Xia He waited.

His thoughts were a tangled mess.

He had personally told Old Qin that everything was fine, that he could eat and drink without a care. Only then had he taken his leave and started shopping with Yaoyao.

’And in the blink of an eye...’

’Qin Yang gets arrested?!’

’Old Qin doesn’t think I sold him out, does he?!’

A moment later.

The noise on the other end of the line disappeared. The Commander must have found an empty space.

"Go ahead, what is it?"

"Sir, what is the meaning of this?"

Xia He was getting emotional, and he demanded, "What’s with the trending topics just now?! How could you arrest Old Qin? This isn’t what we agreed on! Didn’t you say it was just surveillance?!"

"Alright, some things are not for you to know."

The Commander’s voice came over the phone: "This matter has escalated. The situation is too complicated for someone at your level to be involved in. Arranging this vacation for you was for your own good.

Just relax and spend time with Yaoyao. Don’t worry about anything else."

"But..."

Hearing this, Xia He instinctively recoiled a little. The Commander’s word was law at the Police Bureau; he held absolute authority.

But the thought of Old Qin in custody,

Xia He couldn’t stand it.

Besides.

’My life... Old Qin saved my life...’

The Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle from before, the encirclement by Demons during a mission... time and time again, the things he was given had pulled him back from the brink of death.

’If I back down now...’

’Could I ever face Qin Yang again after all he’s done?’

"Sir... Father-in-law! There must be some misunderstanding!"

Xia He switched his form of address, speaking frantically, "Let me go back to work. Let me talk to him. You don’t know how stubborn that kid is. I’m the only one who can handle him."

"Sigh, you’re just a junior officer. What can you possibly do?"

The Commander sighed as well. "Just stay with Yaoyao and don’t get involved in anything else. You two are about to get married. Don’t stir up trouble. Be good."

"No... there must be something I can do to help."

Xia He shook his head, refusing stubbornly, his resolve unshaken. "You don’t understand. Old Qin is very important to me. If something happens to him...

This wedding... I... I’d rather not go through with it!"

"You... sigh..."

Hearing this, the Commander let out a heavy sigh, clearly not wanting to discuss it further.

He hung up the phone directly.

BEEP—

The dial tone buzzed in his ear. Xia He stared blankly at the stream of people on the street as protesters brushed past him. He glanced back at Yaoyao, who was waiting in the clothing store.

His heart was twisted in knots.

The wedding could be postponed.

But if something happened to Old Qin today... he would regret it for the rest of his life.

...

Evening.

Night fell.

In front of the Star Martial Police Bureau, the scene was chaotic. The crowd was still massive, with furious Jianghai citizens swarming to block the entrance, holding up banners in a self-organized protest.

The angry shouts and roars were nearly deafening.

The blare of horns and the din of the crowd merged into a tangled mess of noise.

"Release him!!!"

"What is the meaning of this, Police Bureau?!"

"The Sword God is dead, and now you’re going to make things difficult for his disciple?!"

The impassioned cries rose into the sky.

Two figures floated above, silently taking in the entire scene.

"Quite a city-wide commotion!"

"I never expected the Jianghai Sword God’s reputation to be this formidable."

Qi Qingshan stared at the chaotic crowd.

He had heard of the Sword God’s fame before coming to Jianghai.

But seeing it now with his own eyes, he was still shocked by the scene before him!

To do all this for a deceased Venerable?

The citizens were risking everything, even daring to block the Police Bureau.

Such influence! It’s truly terrifying!!

"Do you understand now?"

Liu Wushuang sighed helplessly.

"I told you before, you must think thrice before you act. Pissing off the Sword God Sect is one reason; their self-destruction is a real threat."

"And these citizens are another major reason. They have all received the Sword God’s favor and would even risk their lives for him. If they were to block your path... would you dare to make a move?

If you did, you would be violating the Blood Spirit Contract!!"

"Hmph, this Commander has some tricks up his sleeve. He’s played a clever hand against us."

Qi Qingshan snorted coldly. "Trying to use these citizens to pressure us?"

"It’s hard to say,"

Hearing this, Liu Wushuang’s eyes flickered.

"Come on, let’s go check out the place they’ve arranged for him. Qin is usually polite to his elders. He won’t be rude to us."

...

...

Meanwhile, as public opinion exploded outside, Qin Yang was lounging on an apartment sofa, enjoying the Police Bureau’s hospitality.

He was eating his fill of gourmet delicacies and had plenty of entertainment at his disposal. It was incredibly comfortable.

Leisurely and calm.

It was delicious food, after all.

Besides, his main body could also share the experience, so he was having a feast.

"Not bad, not bad."

Qin Yang was quite satisfied. He turned on the living room TV, picked up the controller to continue the game from his last session, and was just about to start playing again.

But at that moment.

WHOOSH!

A fierce gust of wind suddenly blew the window open!

"They’re here?"

Qin Yang didn’t move when he saw this. His expression was calm as he continued to press the buttons on the controller, slowly saying:

"Since you two elders are here, you might as well show yourselves. No need to hide..."

As his words fell.

The sound of clapping suddenly echoed through the empty room.

"Good kid! You noticed us so quickly? Your Cultivation has improved again!"

From the shadows behind him, two figures slowly emerged.

The first to step out of the shadows was carrying a Profound Bow—it was his old acquaintance, Liu Wushuang. The person beside him, however, was a complete stranger to Qin Yang. He wore a sword at his waist and was dressed in green robes.

"Tsk, Qin, it looks like you’re really living comfortably here."

Liu Wushuang stroked his chin, squinting at the half-eaten bag of chips, then glanced at the video game on the TV. He turned to Qi Qingshan beside him and joked with a smile:

"You see, Qingshan... What did I tell you? This kid is as clever as a monkey. He’s not the least bit flustered by the Police Bureau’s ’confinement’!"

"..."

Qi Qingshan didn’t speak upon hearing this. He, too, sized up Qin Yang with great interest, a deeper curiosity sparking in his eyes.

Practitioners value the dual cultivation of life and spirit.

Judging from Qin Yang’s calm and carefree demeanor, this nature wasn’t an act but a genuine part of his inner self.

It was as if he had everything under control.

Words are the most hollow; actions are the most solid.

"Impressive."

Qi Qingshan nodded in appreciation. "One who can remain as placid as a calm lake while a thunderstorm rages in his heart should be treated as an honored guest... You, junior, are quite interesting."

"You two elders praise me too much."

Qin Yang offered the polite words, put down his game controller, and stood up to turn around.

He bowed to the two of them.

At the same time, his gaze fell upon Qi Qingshan.

The sharp Sword Intent was completely restrained. Although it was hidden, the sense of pressure he gave off surpassed Liu Wushuang’s. A sheathed sword is at its most dangerous.

Without a doubt.

This was the Sword Cultivation Venerable from before!

"Hehe, you really are a clever monkey, kid."

Liu Wushuang smiled and sauntered over to Qin Yang. "It seems you predicted long ago that I would come to Jianghai?"

"Of course..."

Qin Yang lowered his gaze and paused.

Then, his tone suddenly shifted.

"After all, whenever you come to Jianghai, Elder Wushuang, it’s never for anything good!"

As his words fell.

The apartment fell silent.

"???"

Liu Wushuang’s expression darkened.

Seeing his awkward predicament, Qi Qingshan couldn’t suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Is this what you call ’respecting elders’?"