Chapter 97: Returning Jade
Chapter 97: Returning Jade
"Chen Mu, the Patrol Commander of Willow Grove, greets the Deputy Commissioner."
Chen Mu emerged from behind the main hall, his expression calm as he performed a respectful bow. Then, he reached out and retrieved a document, saying, "The cross-border arrest last night was, of course, carried out under the General Office's orders. I have the official document here."
Setting aside the matter of He Mingxuan's death for the moment, the interception of He Family's cargo the night before was a plan that Xiao He and Chen Mu had arranged in advance. Everything was well-prepared, including post-operation measures, and the necessary official documents were all in place.
Even the City Guard Headquarters had a corresponding document, which was included in the General Office's orders.
The Deputy Commissioner, Zhang Heng, who was standing before them, had come with an air of hostility. It was clear that he was not from the Xue or Xie Families, but from the He Family, and most likely with the intention of causing trouble.
"Hmph!"
Zhang Heng took the document from Chen Mu's hand, glanced at it briefly, and then threw it to the ground. He shouted, "How dare you forge imperial documents, mobilize troops without authorization, and conduct cross-border operations! What crime should you be charged with?"
"Seize him!"
At Zhang Heng's command, two soldiers immediately stepped forward and held Chen Mu by the shoulders.
Chen Mu remained composed in the face of this sudden change. He allowed the soldiers to press him down and said calmly, "What is your intention, Sir Zhang? The official document was personally handed to me yesterday by the General Office, and they have the proof. How can you accuse me of forgery?"
Zhang Heng let out a cold laugh. "The Southern District City Guard General Office has never issued such an order. If it were a secret order, it would require the signature of the Chief Magistrate, Xu Hongyu. Xu Hongyu was not in the city yesterday. Does the Southern District have another Chief Magistrate?"
Xiao He was temporarily managing the City Guard Headquarters on behalf of Xu Hongyu, but it was not an official appointment. She held no official position and was only able to issue orders through correspondence with Xu Hongyu. Xu Hongyu trusted Xiao He completely, allowing her to issue orders and make decisions on the spot, as long as she sent a letter to Xu Hongyu afterward to supplement the official documents.
Although many of the official documents were supplemented later.
The problem was that this matter was impossible to investigate, as no one could know the contents of the letters in advance. Even if someone did, they couldn't present it as evidence, claiming that Xiao He had issued the orders and supplemented the documents afterward, because they would first have to explain how they 'stole a glimpse of the official documents,' which would be tantamount to incriminating themselves. It was simply absurd.
Zhang Heng was well aware of this, and it was difficult for him to make a case based on Xiao He issuing orders on behalf of Xu Hongyu. After all, Xu Hongyu could quickly 'produce' the letter from yesterday as official documentation.
Therefore, Zhang Heng's primary intention was to intimidate Chen Mu. He hoped that the young Chen Mu would argue with him, and if he became defiant, it would give Zhang Heng a reason to arrest Chen Mu on the spot, or even execute him for resisting.
Even if no issues were found later, he could always release Chen Mu without any consequences. As the Deputy Commissioner, Zhang Heng had the authority to conduct investigations, and as the saying goes, 'an official one rank higher can crush you to death.' His authority far surpassed Chen Mu, who was only an eighth-rank Division Deputy Commissioner.
Xu Hongyu, the Chief Magistrate, was only a seventh-rank official.
Zhang Heng, as the Deputy Commissioner, held a respectable seventh-rank position! Above him were the Inner and Outer City Magistrates, both sixth-rank officials, followed by the Deputy Director, and finally, the Governor, Xie Jin, who oversaw all military affairs in Yu County, holding a fifth-rank position. The only higher officials were the City Lord and the County Governor, both fifth-rank.
Despite Zhang Heng's aggressive attitude, Chen Mu remained calm. "There is only one Chief Magistrate, Xu Hongyu, and the document from yesterday was indeed her official order."
"Is that so? Then where is the official document?"
Zhang Heng snorted coldly.
He knew that if he could buy some time, Xiao He would be able to produce a document, or even forge Xu Hongyu's handwriting if necessary. After all, Xu Hongyu could easily confirm it, and the General Office might already have such a document.
Therefore, Zhang Heng continued his intimidation tactics, hoping to find a flaw in Chen Mu's words that could serve as evidence. With that, he could charge Chen Mu with forgery and have a legitimate reason to convict him.
"Didn't Sir Zhang come from the General Office?"
Chen Mu was well aware of the process by which Xiao He issued orders on behalf of Xu Hongyu, and he had no fear of Zhang Heng's intimidation. It was unlikely that he would reveal any flaws under Zhang Heng's threats. Instead, he calmly asked, "If Sir Zhang came from the General Office, shouldn't there be a record of the order at the General Office?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Heng's expression turned cold, and he gave Chen Mu a scrutinizing look.
Zhang Heng had not come from the General Office but had come directly from the Inner City. His primary purpose was to retrieve the cargo and take Chen Mu into custody. It would be easy to disable Chen Mu if he were imprisoned for a couple of days. If they could catch Chen Mu making a mistake or resisting, it would be even better, as they would have a legitimate reason.
If it weren't for Yan Guang, the Outer City Magistrate, who was also from the Xue Family, insisting that the He Family not cause trouble at the City Guard Office, Zhang Heng would have already found an excuse to execute Chen Mu on the spot.
Yan Guang's words carried weight, as he was not only the Outer City Magistrate but also a member of the Xue Family. His words might even reflect the will of the City Lord, Xue Huai Kong, and no one in Yu City dared to defy him.
While the He Family could cause chaos in the entire Southern District, they couldn't get away with killing people at the City Guard Office.
"You and Ning He are in cahoots, and the General Office's document is also forged by you. There's no need for further investigation. The evidence is clear. If you confess honestly, you may be spared a crime, but if you resist, don't blame the Great Xuan Dynasty's laws for being merciless!"
Zhang Heng spoke in a deep voice.
There was no need to investigate the General Office; it would make no difference.
"I have always acted under orders. I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean, Sir Zhang."
Chen Mu responded with a calm demeanor.
He had figured it out; Zhang Heng clearly had some concerns, likely due to a higher-ranking official in the City Guard Headquarters issuing orders to protect the He family. Otherwise, Zhang Heng would have likely taken direct action against him.
That would have been more troublesome. To become a Deputy Governor, one must at least reach Sinew Transformation Mastery. Chen Mu knew that Zhang Heng couldn't openly confront him, so he would have to kill everyone and leave the city. With his current strength and means, he could go to many places outside Yu City, but that would be a last resort.
After all, if he did that, Chen Yue would be trapped within the Inner City.
Even if he revealed his true strength and fought his way out, the Yu Clan would likely protect Chen Yue, and Xu Hongyu and Xiao He were also there. But he couldn't gamble on that.
No matter how much he talked, in the end, his strength was still insufficient to resolve everything.
If he had already reached the Five Viscera Realm, what would it matter if he killed He Ming Xuan?
Even if...
He didn't need to reach the Five Viscera Realm. If he had achieved Bone Forging Mastery, with his Intent in place, he would be the strongest existence in Yu City, apart from the few Five Viscera Realm experts. Even if he killed He Ming Xuan in person, he wouldn't fear the He family.
"Very well."
Zhang Heng's face turned cold, and he said in a stern voice, "It seems you've made up your mind to drink the punishment wine! Guards, take him to the Inner City Administrative Office for a harsh interrogation. If he dares to resist, kill him without hesitation!"
Unexpectedly, Chen Mu, despite his young age, was like a hard stone that wouldn't budge, no matter what. Since they couldn't find a weak point, the only option was to forcefully take him down and bring him directly to the Inner City Administrative Office for a harsh interrogation.
Although they had been instructed not to cause trouble, taking away a small Patrol Commander for questioning wasn't considered causing trouble. As long as they didn't harm the person, everything was within the acceptable range.
Chen Mu narrowed his eyes slightly.
Zhang Heng wanted to take him to the Administrative Office in the Inner City instead of the Southern District Chief Government Office, indicating his determination to put Chen Mu in a dire situation. The He family's actions were indeed consistently domineering. Last night, they sent the Black Cloud Bandits to secretly assassinate him, and today, they sent an Inner City official to openly kill him.
Shang Qinglai and the other Patrolmen remained kneeling on the ground, each one secretly lamenting and hoping that they wouldn't be implicated. It seemed that even Chen Mu, as a Patrol Commander, couldn't handle this.
Just as the guards were about to put shackles on Chen Mu, a cold voice came from outside.
"What right do you have to arrest someone in the Outer City as an Inner City Deputy Commissioner?"
Chen Mu's slightly raised finger slowly relaxed upon hearing this voice in the main hall.
Everyone in the hall was taken aback.
The guards from the City Guard Headquarters also paused, turning towards the direction of the voice. A woman walked into the hall, wearing a fitted plain garment, her beauty striking and mesmerizing, like a lotus emerging from a clear pond. It was Xu Hongyu, the Chief Patrol Commander, who had been absent for a long time while hunting demons outside the city. Her clothes were slightly torn in places, and there was a bloodstain on her shoulder, as if she had rushed back without stopping to rest or change, heading straight to Willow Grove.
Following closely behind Xu Hongyu was Xiao He, also dressed in a plain garment. She winked at Chen Mu discreetly.
Chen Mu's demeanor became calm, and he lowered his gaze, remaining silent.
On the other side, Zhang Heng's expression turned slightly unpleasant. He glared at Xu Hongyu and said, "Chief Patrol Commander Xu, watch your tone. Are you questioning me?"
From the moment Xu Hongyu appeared, Zhang Heng knew that he couldn't take her down today. He could forcefully capture and take her away, but not Xu Hongyu. Even if there was a high chance that Xu Hongyu would be removed from her position as Chief Patrol Commander, it didn't matter; her status as a direct disciple of the Yu Clan and her strength were undeniable. Not long ago, she had hunted demons outside the city and established numerous merits.
If it weren't for the matter with He Ming Xuan, Xu Hongyu might have been promoted. After all, it was rumored that she was not far from reaching Sinew Transformation Mastery. With her background, status, and recent merits, it would be normal for her to become a Deputy Commissioner.
At most, it was unlikely for her to be promoted internally to Deputy Commissioner in the City Guard Headquarters, as the position was already filled. She might be transferred to other departments like the Demon Slayer Bureau or Salt Administration.
But now, it was hard to say. A lateral transfer was more likely.
"Deputy Commissioner Zhang, all matters in the Southern District are under my jurisdiction as the Chief Patrol Commander. Even if you're the Deputy Commissioner in the Outer District, you should inform me before dealing with a Patrol Commander, especially since the Inner District doesn't govern Outer District affairs."
Xu Hongyu glared at Zhang Heng and said, "Deputy Commissioner Zhang, since you've already acted so arrogantly and ignored my authority as the Chief Patrol Commander, I won't show you any respect either. Please return to the Inner City."
"You..." Zhang Heng's eyes flashed with anger.
Xu Hongyu said indifferently, "Deputy Commissioner Zhang, if you still want to capture me, go ahead. I've been hunting demons outside the city for months, and I'd like to learn from your spear skills. But I also need to report to the Commissioner of the Demon Slayer Bureau, and if I'm late, I don't think it will matter. I believe Deputy Commissioner Zhang will understand."
Zhang Heng's face turned even more unpleasant, eventually snorted in anger and left with a flick of his sleeve.
(End)
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