I Stepped on a Bug, and the System Says I Slayed a Dragon? - Chapter 241 - 240: Repeating the Old Trick, Igniting Public Opinion?
“It was passable, but a little over the top.”
“There’s still a little room for improvement.”
In the villa, Qin Yang held half a basin of spicy crawfish, casually stroking Xiaobai’s head while sensing the fluctuations of Star Force in the area.
After Liu Wushuang left, the surrounding Star Pressure returned to normal.
As long as they didn’t linger, they wouldn’t discover him inside the villa. He was finally safe.
’Looks like I’m still the more skilled one!’
Qin Yang sighed in relief.
It was all thanks to Xiaobai interrupting the ’spell’ and misleading that Venerable Realm expert.
Otherwise, if that sword-wielding Venerable’s Divine Thought had swept over them, they would have likely discovered something amiss.
’Phew, that was close.’
At that thought, Qin Yang picked out a plump crawfish and gave it to Xiaobai. “Here, a reward for you. Keep up the good work.”
“Awooo!”
Xiaobai opened her mouth and snatched the crawfish, then leaned affectionately against Qin Yang.
“Don’t you worry, Master. This servant will definitely work hard! One day, this Fairy will become the world’s greatest actress!”
“This Fairy is a fox with a dream!!!”
“Alright, that’s enough boasting.”
Qin Yang looked at her little expression and couldn’t help but laugh. “Just stay put in the house for the next few days. Don’t run around and cause trouble for me.”
“So, Master… are we just going to ignore those people from the Venerable Alliance?”
Hearing this, Xiaobai lifted her head, looked in the direction Liu Wushuang and the others had left, and said indignantly, “They’ve been watching us constantly these past few days, and they even made you eat instant noodles for so long! It’s too much!”
“Hmm…”
Qin Yang said coolly, “For now, we’ll play it safe.”
“Let’s see what they’re really up to.”
Now that the clone bait had been released, he just needed to pay close attention to the developments on that end, wait for things to unfold, and see what big fish he could catch.
“Master… are you finally preparing for a massacre?”
Xiaobai looked on with anticipation, her mind already scheming. ’If a fight breaks out, you have to tell this servant.’
“If necessary, it’s not out of the question.”
Qin Yang looked up at the sky, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Dark clouds were gathering.
The atmosphere was almost suffocating.
The Venerable Alliance’s repeated probing had to have a limit.
…
’Master’s gone.’
A few minutes after Qin Yang left, Xiaobai lay on the sofa for a while, took out her phone, perked up her ears to listen for any sounds, and then furtively opened a mysterious website.
She began to check the day’s betting odds.
But after looking high and low, she couldn’t find any suitable matches.
After all, the matter had just begun and hadn’t fully developed yet. Besides herself, practically no one knew about it.
Let alone enough for it to be turned into a betting event.
’Ah, well.’
Xiaobai exited the website and put down her phone, her face full of regret. She was suddenly disappointed.
’If Master doesn’t fight, there’s no money to be made.’
’I’m still just a little bit away from financial freedom!’
“Sigh…”
Life is hard, Xiaobai sighed.
Her dejected little expression was as if she’d just missed out on a hundred million.
…
…
「Early morning, a light fog lingered.」
The heavy rain that had fallen all night had stopped, leaving puddles all over the ground.
Last night, the convoy of the Star Martial Police Bureau’s armored vehicles had been an imposing sight as it rolled through the streets. Many citizens had witnessed it.
Public opinion online began to stir, quickly sparking small-scale discussions.
[What happened in Fuhai last night? Don’t tell me some high-ranking official from Jianghai was arrested?]
[Could it be Cult Demons? I saw even the Commander was out there personally. I bet it’s another cult leader getting caught!]
[These cults just can’t behave, they’re back again!]
[Good riddance!]
[Let’s not spread rumors. Shouldn’t we wait for an official announcement?]
People online were speculating wildly.
Most netizens leaned toward the theory involving Cult Demons.
With the Star Martial Police Bureau going to such great lengths to make an arrest, that mysterious person was surely having a rough time inside the bureau now.
…
「Jianghai Martial Arts Academy.」
“Teacher, have you seen the news?”
In the office, Li Zixuan and Li Qinghe stood before the desk. “The Police Bureau made a big move last night, coming from Fuhai District. Senior Brother… could he be…”
“I’ve called Senior Brother several times today, but he hasn’t picked up!”
Li Zixuan said worriedly, “The person from last night… could it have been him?”
“Don’t panic. You two, calm down first. We can’t be rash about this.”
Elder Li’s brow was tightly furrowed as he dialed a number. “I also tried to contact the Commander just now, but he hasn’t answered. He’s probably busy.
Regardless, I will get you an answer.”
…
…
「South of Jianghai City, near the suburban border.」
In front of a quiet apartment building.
“We’re here. This is it.”
The Commander led Qin Yang in, pushing the door open. “Qin Yang, I’ll have to trouble you to stay here for a few days. If you need anything, just call me.”
’This is the place I’m supposed to stay?’
Qin Yang followed the Commander into the apartment, looking around at the clean and tidy interior. A faint scent of lavender hung in the air, and the furniture was all new.
It was fully equipped with appliances.
There was even a gaming setup.
’The detention center I was expecting…’
’I can’t believe it’s this instead.’
“This is where the Police Bureau usually hosts distinguished guests.”
Noticing Qin Yang’s confused expression, the Commander held out the string of keys he’d used to open the door and placed them in his hand. He said slowly, “As the disciple of the great Sword God, we naturally can’t mistreat you. Once this is all over, we’ll let you go.”
“I see… Thank you for the trouble.”
Qin Yang nodded, accepted the keys, and felt at ease.
’The amenities in this apartment are top-tier.’
’Why not just kick back and relax here?’
Besides, this matter was extremely serious. Seeing the Commander’s difficult expression, he knew the man’s hands were tied and he couldn’t control the situation.
Arranging an apartment for him was already very good of him.
Thinking this, Qin Yang waved his hand and said:
“Just follow your orders. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“Okay. Thank you for your cooperation. I’ll make arrangements for the library.”
The Commander looked at Qin Yang’s calm expression, and the guilt in his heart grew stronger.
He had been forced to drag an outsider into this mess. If not for the Venerable Alliance’s undeniable orders, he wouldn’t have wanted to get so involved with Qin Yang.
“What about my meals?”
“Someone will be assigned to deliver your meals. You don’t need to worry about the food; it will all be provided at a VIP standard. If you have any other requests, you can make them.”
“Understood.”
Qin Yang nodded in understanding, then threw out another question. “How long do I have to stay here? When can I leave?”
“Well, probably…”
Hearing this, the Commander pondered for a long moment, hesitating.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to say.
It was that he didn’t know either…
Detaining Qin Yang was entirely because of the Venerable Alliance’s wishes. They could only wait and see how the higher-ups would react.
After asking a few simple questions about the apartment, Qin Yang didn’t make things difficult for the Commander. He started to just go with the flow, adapting very quickly.
The Commander left the apartment. When he got downstairs, he glanced back at the window and could faintly hear the sound of a game coming from inside.
“…”
’Qin Yang was completely carefree inside. The kid had started playing games right away, without a hint of panic…’
’Sigh, this matter is too important. I have no choice but to let him stay here for a while.’
The Commander took out his phone. He had been busy with Qin Yang and had deliberately not answered any calls.
Now, on the screen, he had 157 missed calls from Elder Li.
Elder Li had blown up his phone!
…
「Jianghai Martial Arts Academy.」
“What?! You actually arrested Young Friend Qin?!”
In the office.
Elder Li finally got through, his face a mask of shock. He felt like he was about to faint.
’This is utterly absurd!’
After trying so hard to get through, this was the news he received.
“I’m sorry, Elder Li. I was forced into this.”
The Commander’s face was full of distress as he sped through the sky, rushing back to the Police Bureau. “I just got him settled in. I can only do my best to ensure his life isn’t in danger.”
“You’d better… otherwise, even I won’t be able to hold back Xuanxuan and the others.”
Elder Li said gravely, glancing at the people beside him.
Li Zixuan and Li Qinghe were both right there!
They were staring at his phone, a faint murderous aura emanating from them.
Qin Yang was extremely important to them. If they really caused a scene over him, they might just tear the entire Police Bureau apart…
“Commander, since it has come to this, you’d better give everyone an explanation.”
Elder Li walked to the window. “To be honest, Xuanxuan and the others are right here with me. And this isn’t what you said would happen.”
“You said it would be surveillance… now it’s detention?”
Li Zixuan said angrily, “The nature of this has completely changed!”
“Everyone, rest assured, I’m on your side,”
the Commander said in a low voice. “After the Arrow Immortal fell last time, I did a lot of thinking. With the Venerable Alliance applying pressure, we have to find a way to counter them.”
As his voice fell,
the office fell silent for a moment.
“Go on. What’s your plan?”
Elder Li asked.
“It’s simple.”
The Commander, flying through the air and looking down at the citizens below, said, “Qin Yang is a disciple of the Sword God Sect. Just like last time, we just need to leak the news and ignite public opinion.
That way, even the Venerable Alliance wouldn’t dare to act rashly!”
“That… might actually work.”
Hearing this, Elder Li suddenly frowned. “But afterward, your Police Bureau, the one that made the arrest, will have to bear the brunt of public opinion, won’t you? Can you withstand it?”
“You don’t need to worry about that. The Arrow God’s death was related to me to begin with…”
the Commander said in a heavy tone. “This is what I owe him.”
“No matter what, I must protect Qin Yang for his sake.”
…
「The next day, at noon.」
At exactly twelve o’clock, the Star Martial Police Bureau released a statement.
“The Jianghai Sword God’s top disciple is at the Police Bureau.”
As soon as the news broke, the entire internet was shaken!
Overnight, the news fermented online, sending the whole web into an uproar and quickly shooting to the top of the trending charts!
It completely overturned all the netizens’ previous theories.
The Jianghai Sword God actually had a disciple?!
And his disciple was arrested by the Police Bureau?
Is that even allowed?!
The netizens who were so sure yesterday that it was Cult Demons were deleting their posts at the speed of light. The reversal was so fast it caught everyone by surprise!
[No way, has the Police Bureau gone insane?!]
[This is outrageous!]
[During the Beast Tide, how many Police Bureau personnel did the Sword God save? And this is how they treat his disciple?]
[Maybe they’re protecting the Sword God’s disciple?]
[Protective custody, you mean?!]
The online discussions were fervent. People outside Jianghai City mostly treated it as a show, unconcerned since it didn’t involve them, and just waited to see what would happen next.
But!
The local citizens of Jianghai, on the other hand, could no longer sit still!
Public outrage was boiling!
Large numbers of citizens spontaneously took to the streets, forming a procession that slowly marched toward the Jianghai Police Bureau headquarters. They held up banners and shouted slogans demanding the disciple’s release.
The conflict was escalating. The Jianghai Sword God’s fame was widespread, and the situation was growing more and more intense.
