Chapter 57: High-Pressure Posture
Chapter 57: Chapter 57: High-Pressure Posture
Yang Wenqing’s orders were concise and effective.
The heads of each district acted quickly, distributing special communication talismans to the patrol squads. After receiving the devices, the morning shift patrolmen immediately organized into their squads and melted into the county’s labyrinthine streets and alleys.
「Two hours later, in the county’s central district.」
A medium-sized, five-meter-long, all-black levitating Flying Shuttle glided silently down the wide main road. The side of the shuttle was emblazoned with the striking insignia of the City Defense Bureau, which glinted coldly in the afternoon sun. It was Yang Wenqing’s command vehicle.
Yang Wenqing sat in the rear cabin of the Flying Shuttle, observing the surrounding streets through a one-way transparent window. Inside, various runic instruments emitted a low hum. A holographic map of the central district was projected above the main console, where dozens of green dots, each representing a patrol squad, moved slowly along their preset routes.
The communications specialist with him, a young technical officer named Fang Che, was intently monitoring the feedback from several Communication Arrays, occasionally jotting notes down in a portable work notebook.
Yang Wenqing’s gaze was drawn to a building outside the window. It was the Government Office Building, a stone structure with a roof of deep blue tiles. Faint arcs of electricity seemed to dance across it in the sunlight—a sign that its Protective Array was active.
"Let’s get out and take a walk."
Yang Wenqing instructed Wu Yan, who was guarding the door.
Wu Yan immediately opened the door and was the first to jump out, warily scanning the nearby pedestrians. Yang Wenqing and Liu Rong exited the vehicle as well, followed by the communications specialist, Fang Che.
"Continue patrolling along the established route."
Yang Wenqing patted the window of the Flying Shuttle’s cockpit. Liu Rong remarked from the side, "This thing’s such a huge target. If something happens, it’ll probably be the first thing to get hit."
Fang Che immediately explained, "It’s not really designed for transport. Its purpose on patrol is to monitor the central district for abnormal energy readings."
Yang Wenqing paid no mind to their discussion. He led his team on a walk around the perimeter of the Government Office Building, inspecting the defensive talismans on the walls and the warning arrays set up at several key junctures.
Finding no issues, he once again led his team along the main street toward the Court.
A quarter of an hour later, the Court’s solemn and stately architecture came into view. The entire building was constructed from heavy lapis lazuli. A giant bronze legal crest hung above the main entrance, its depiction of scales maintained in a delicate balance by an infusion of Spiritual Light.
There were guards at the entrance, and two Wind Patrol Falcons circled in the air around the building, their wings gleaming with a metallic luster. They were reconnaissance-type Spirit Beasts trained by the Court.
The arrival of Yang Wenqing and his party immediately drew the attention of the Wind Patrol Falcons. One of them flew closer, its intelligent eyes scanning the badges on their chests before it let out a short cry and flew back to its post.
The nearby guards nodded slightly at Yang Wenqing’s party but offered no further greeting. There were explicit regulations in both the City Defense System and the Court system forbidding any private communication between their personnel. Violators—even relatives—would immediately be investigated by Internal Affairs. Over time, the two departments had evolved into two distinct, separate groups.
Next, Yang Wenqing’s party inspected the Tax Bureau, the Grain Administration Bureau, and other government departments in turn.
The entire inspection tour was uneventful and tedious, with no sudden incidents—exactly what Yang Wenqing wanted.
After inspecting the government agencies in the central district, Yang Wenqing and his party boarded the command Flying Shuttle, which had circled back for them. The morning passed uneventfully, with the communications channel reporting only trivial matters.
It was not until around three in the afternoon, as the Flying Shuttle cruised over the area bordering the North and West City Districts, that communications specialist Fang Che suddenly turned to Yang Wenqing and reported:
"Captain, Gengzi Squad in the West City District reports a large-scale conflict between members of two martial arts halls in West City. Approximately twenty people are involved, weapons have been drawn, and several people are injured. There’s a large crowd of onlookers. The situation is temporarily under control, but they require support to prevent escalation."
Yang Wenqing frowned slightly. The city’s martial arts halls were legitimate training institutions. Many scions of wealthy families who failed to get into official academies would join a hall before the age of thirty, hoping to achieve Qi Sensing through the Martial Dao. Friction between the halls was common due to competition, and such disputes were typically handled through mediation. After all, you can’t prosecute a crowd, and both sides usually had powerful backers.
But today...
Without the slightest hesitation, Yang Wenqing connected to the West City District head’s channel via the ’Lingxi Core’ and spoke in a cold voice.
"This is Yang Wenqing. Gengzi Squad will maintain order on site and detain everyone involved. Don’t let a single one get away. Notify the West City District’s reserve mobile unit to deploy for support immediately and lock down the surrounding streets."
He paused briefly before issuing a critical directive: "This case is to be investigated under Article 18 of the Special Regulations on City Defense and Public Security Management: ’Those who engage in mass brawling and severely disrupt public order during a major public event shall be punished with the utmost severity.’ Take all combatants into custody, regardless of injury. Notify the medical examiner to assess wounds and have the forensics department document the scene. The preliminary charges are ’endangering public safety’ and ’severely disrupting public order.’ Transfer the case to the judicial process."
On the other end of the channel, the West City District head was clearly taken aback. "All of them?" he confirmed.
Yang Wenqing’s tone left no room for argument. "They chose to pull this stunt during the assessment period. I’m going to make an example out of this case. This is what happens when you challenge the City Defense Bureau’s authority during a critical time. Now, execute your orders!"
"Yes, sir!" The West City District head dared not say another word and immediately acknowledged the order.
Once the order was given, Yang Wenqing stopped concerning himself with the details; his subordinates would handle it. He was confident this case would serve as a powerful example, sending a chill through every corner of the county and acting as a sufficient deterrent.
Sure enough, during the subsequent patrol, the communications channel fell unusually quiet. Even reports of minor disputes became scarce.
At dusk, Yang Wenqing handed over his duties to the evening shift supervisor. He detailed his decision regarding the afternoon’s incident and instructed them to maintain the high-pressure approach.
Back at the Emergency Command Center, Yang Wenqing gave a brief, routine report to Lei Dan, highlighting the conflict in West City and the way it was handled.
Lei Dan merely nodded, said, "Understood," and spoke no more on the matter.
As night deepened, Yang Wenqing did not go home. Instead, he meditated to circulate his energy in a temporary lounge next to the command center. For the next five days, he needed to remain in peak condition, on standby twenty-four hours a day.
By ten o’clock at night, most of the command center had fallen silent. Only the communications specialists on the night shift were left, exchanging quiet words as they processed scattered information.
Yang Wenqing was sitting cross-legged in the lounge, meditating, when the badge on his chest vibrated slightly. A communication from Vice Director Gao came through. "Wenqing, come to my office now."
"Yes, Director Gao." Yang Wenqing immediately ended his meditation, stood up, and cast a ’Dust Clearing Skill’ on himself to remove any specks of dust. After straightening his uniform, he walked briskly toward Vice Director Gao’s office in the main building.
He knocked on the office’s heavy wooden door. Vice Director Gao’s steady voice came from within: "Come in."
Yang Wenqing pushed the door open and entered, discovering that Vice Director Gao was not alone. The Vice Director was sitting on the main sofa in the reception area, brewing tea. Seated in an armchair beside him was Deputy Director Zhou, head of Internal Affairs Inspection, who wore his usual unsmiling expression. On the long sofa to the side sat Wang Ren, who was about to be transferred to the branch’s General Affairs Section, and Liu Xin, captain of the Major Case Team’s Second Squad.