"Turn off the camera!"

"Captain Tang, release him immediately!"

The Shizun of Sea City looked at Tang Hong'e with a stern expression and issued a direct command.

Tang Hong'e's expression darkened. "Why should I release him? This man, Luo Xiu, is a suspect in multiple murder cases. I need to interrogate him now!"

"I told you to release him!" the Prefectural Governor, no longer able to contain himself, roared.

Tang Hong'e gritted her teeth. She reluctantly turned her head to glare at Luo Xiu but still didn't move to uncuff him.

Luo Xiu, meanwhile, was rather puzzled, having no idea what was going on. After a moment's thought, he figured this most likely had something to do with Ai Hongye. It seemed his Second Senior Sister was quite formidable; a single phone call had been enough to smooth things over. Even the Prefectural Governor and the Shizun had come personally!

The Prefectural Governor sighed silently, grabbed Tang Hong'e by the arm, and forcefully dragged her out of the interrogation room. "Come with me!"

In the hallway, Tang Hong'e leaned against the windowed wall with her arms crossed. "Prefectural Governor, what is going on?" she asked.

The Prefectural Governor took a deep breath. "Don't ask why," he said, his tone heavy. "In any case, you are no longer in charge of the Haina Reservoir murder case. Go handle something else."

"I'll say it again: release Mister Luo immediately!"

Tang Hong'e looked defiant. "I want to know why."

"And what would you do if you knew?" the Prefectural Governor asked, his voice earnest. "Hong'e, you're an excellent detective, but some things are simply beyond our control."

"I don't know whether Mister Luo committed a crime or not, but let me tell you, there are some people who, even if they did, are not for us to handle."

"The law is supposed to be fair! I refuse to believe in such injustice!" Tang Hong'e retorted. "Prefectural Governor, I know you must be under pressure from your superiors, but can't you help me—"

"But people are not equal," the Prefectural Governor interrupted sternly. "Let me make this perfectly clear: even if you quit and take off that uniform this very second, you will still release him!"

Tang Hong'e gritted her teeth and turned back into the interrogation room. The Prefectural Governor and the Shizun exchanged a glance and followed her.

"Mister Luo, I am very sorry. This has all been a small misunderstanding," the Prefectural Governor said with a respectful, apologetic smile.

SNAP.

Luo Xiu rose slowly to his feet. With a gentle tug, the handcuffs on his wrists broke apart as if they were made of foam.

"So, am I free to go now?"

The Prefectural Governor and the others stared at the broken handcuffs, dumbfounded.

Tang Hong'e gazed at Luo Xiu and said in a low, firm voice, "I'll be watching you. I don't care what your status is or how powerful your background is. The moment I find evidence, I will personally bring you to justice!"

Luo Xiu chuckled mockingly. "Captain Tang, it's just like I said. Some useless people are all talk. When you're faced with the truly rich and powerful, you're powerless to stop them."

Seeing Luo Xiu's arrogance made Tang Hong'e so angry she wanted to punch him.

"You think you're rich and powerful?"

Luo Xiu spread his hands and looked toward the Prefectural Governor and the Shizun. "Aren't these two bigwigs here to tell you to release me? Go on, try not to if you've got the guts."

Tang Hong'e trembled with rage. In all her years on the force, she had never felt so humiliated.

Luo Xiu chuckled. "You wave the banner of justice every day, but justice is always late to arrive."

"And here's some advice, Captain Tang. If you have this much time to waste on me, you might as well use that energy to catch some actual criminals."

"You don't need to worry about that," Tang Hong'e said coldly.

Luo Xiu sighed. "It is rather unfortunate. I was hoping to stay a while longer and enjoy the company of a great beauty like yourself, Captain Tang. Alas, reality won't permit it."

"It's getting late. I should be heading home for dinner."

The moment Luo Xiu left, Tang Hong'e rushed to her office. She turned on her computer and started looking up Luo Xiu's personal information. She had to know what kind of background could make the famously upright Prefectural Governor and the Shizun intervene personally.

However, she discovered that Luo Xiu's file was encrypted. Even Sea City's Official Residence didn't have the clearance to view it.

Even city-level administration doesn't have clearance? It seems Luo Xiu's backer is quite powerful. Could it be Zhang Shizun from the provincial capital?

「Meanwhile, in the Cao Family Courtyard.」

Liu Xuelian received a phone call informing her that Luo Xiu had been released. In a fit of rage, she smashed her phone.

Cao Ende asked, "He was released almost as soon as he was brought in. Does Luo Xiu have backers, too? Could it be the Sun Family?"

"The Sun Family probably doesn't have enough influence to make the Prefectural Governor and the Shizun release someone together."

Liu Xuelian shook her head and mused, "When they tried to arrest him before, Zhang Shizun from the provincial capital showed up. I suspect Zhang Yong is behind this."

Cao Ende sighed softly. "If Zhang Yong is his backer, your methods won't be enough to handle Luo Xiu. You might even get yourself demoted."

Liu Xuelian's expression turned grim. As reluctant as she was to admit it, Cao Ende was right. She didn't have the power to fight a Shizun from the provincial capital.

"By the way, when is Hong'er's master going to arrive?"

"I called earlier," Cao Ende replied. "Elder Zhou is currently overseas and seems to be very busy. It will take some time, but he said he'll be here soon."

Liu Xuelian rubbed her forehead. "Then it seems our only hope to avenge Hong'er is to wait for his master to come to Sea City."

BOOM!

Just then, a deafening explosion erupted from the courtyard outside.

The startled couple rushed into the courtyard. There, walking slowly toward them through a rising cloud of dust, was a ragged Guan Changyun. Even from a distance, they could feel an oppressive, suffocating aura emanating from him.

A moment later, Guan Changyun came to a stop before the couple.

"S-Senior Guan," Cao Ende asked cautiously, "why have you come out of seclusion now?"

Guan Changyun lowered his head to look at his own withered hands and smiled with satisfaction. "The heavens are watching. They've allowed this old man to reach the legendary realm within my lifetime."

Cao Ende's eyes widened in disbelief. Although he wasn't a Martial Artist himself, he knew a fair bit about them. He had, of course, heard of the legendary realm. It was said that once a martial artist reached that state, their power would far surpass that of a Grandmaster!

"Congratulations, Senior Guan!"

"Congratulations!"

Beaming with joy, Guan Changyun waved his hand. "First, have some food prepared for me. Once I have consolidated my strength in this new realm, I will go settle accounts with that whelp, Luo!"

Hearing this, Cao Ende and Liu Xuelian exchanged a smile. It seemed their vengeance for their son's death could finally be realized, without having to wait for Cao Hong's master to arrive in Sea City.

"Excellent, excellent! Senior Guan, please, go bathe and change your clothes. I'll have the servants prepare food for you immediately."

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