Qingxi Village. Night.

The night was deep, and ink-black clouds blotted out what little starlight there was.

A burst of frenzied, piercing barks shattered the dead silence of the remote fishing village.

"Village Chief! The shadow looked like someone from Wang Family Village! He fled in that direction, too!"

Two or three villagers holding rusty fish spears and raising torches high stumbled over to Village Chief Wang Yuechi, panting as they loudly reported.

In the firelight, their faces were all deathly pale.

Wang Yuechi’s brow furrowed. "Did you get a clear look?" he demanded in a low voice. "Before he fled, did he get anywhere near our old well?"

"Absolutely not, Village Chief!" one of the villagers swore, slapping his chest. "He had just gotten within ten paces of the well platform when our village dogs started barking. He didn’t even touch the well’s edge before he hopped the wall and ran!"

"Good! You’ve done well!" Wang Yuechi nodded emphatically. "Pass on my orders. Starting tonight, double the patrols and guard that well with your lives! The entire village’s drinking water is at stake. You must keep a close watch!"

"Yes, Village Chief!"

After dismissing the patrolling villagers, Wang Yuechi turned and walked back to his own courtyard, the worry in his eyes deepening.

Lately, the lands outside the city seemed peaceful, but he couldn’t shake a feeling of unease.

It wasn’t just the neighboring Wang Family Village. Even Xu Family Village had, without any warning, completely sealed its entrance, prohibiting anyone from coming or going. And there were rumors in recent days of people falling ill in Sancha Village and Lintao Village.

The spring planting had just ended smoothly. This should have been a time for rest and recovery, yet all the villages were acting strangely.

This bizarre situation had naturally put him on high alert.

To prevent any disaster, he had organized the village’s able-bodied men into round-the-clock patrols. He never imagined they would actually catch a suspicious figure tonight, trying to tamper with the village’s water source!

’Such a vicious scheme is definitely not something an ordinary villager would come up with. I must report this to the Public Security Bureau immediately!’

Wang Yuechi paced back and forth in the courtyard, his frown deepening.

However, the lords at the Public Security Bureau were currently busy hunting down the fiends of the Black Lotus Sect.

If tonight’s intruder had nothing to do with the Black Lotus Sect, reporting it rashly might not only interfere with the Bureau’s important business but could even get him charged with filing a false report.

Besides, going through the usual channels of reporting layer by layer would take days for any official documents to be approved.

By then, it would be too late.

’Forget it. As soon as it’s light tomorrow, I’ll go into the city myself and find Lord Su! He will certainly be able to help Qingxi Village.’

...

「Early morning, at the Golden Scale Guard headquarters in the Public Security Bureau.」

After his recent increase in strength, Su Yu had some free time these past few days, so he came to the headquarters to deal with a backlog of official duties.

In the spacious Captain’s office, Su Yu sat behind a large desk, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper as he flipped through a stack of backlogged documents.

’The matter of the Water Snake Gang’s suspected involvement with aberrations, sacrifices, and purchasing corpses was completely suppressed, just like that?’

Su Yu stared at the flimsy document in his hand, feeling the situation was utterly absurd.

After he and Qian Qinghong had returned from the depths of the Black Water River, he had reported the Water Snake Gang’s abnormalities.

After dragging on for so long, the only response he received was a simple "drop the matter."

According to a private reply from Commander Li, there was no concrete evidence linking the Water Snake Gang to aberrations or the purchasing of corpses.

Furthermore, the most important task at hand was fighting the Black Lotus Sect. The Water Snake Gang had donated a large sum of money to this cause and even helped send people to search for the sect’s members. Therefore, they should not be investigated at this time.

This argument had been proposed by a certain Vice Commander and adopted by Mansion Master Pang. Therefore, any plans to deal with the Water Snake Gang would have to be long-term.

’All crows under the sun are black!’

Only one thought occupied Su Yu’s mind: whether in his past life or this one, some things always had to yield to the so-called "greater good."

Besides, the Water Snake Gang clearly had someone powerful protecting them! Otherwise, there was no way there would be zero action taken after he submitted all that intelligence.

’It seems my rank is still too low. If I were a Vice Commander, or even a Commander, perhaps I could wield more power in this Public Security Bureau!’

As for the Water Snake Gang, Su Yu was determined to eradicate them!

First, because Hong Lei had once hunted him down. If they met again, Su Yu didn’t know if Hong Lei would recognize his aura. Such a powerful enemy had to be eliminated!

Second, because what they did was, in Su Yu’s eyes, an unforgivable offense against nature. Perhaps many in this world had grown accustomed to such things, but he could never accept it. Now that he had the power, he was obligated to change things!

"Lord Su, Commander Lin has asked to see you."

Just then, a KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK sounded from the door.

"Understood."

Su Yu called back, then stood and straightened his black brocade robe before walking to the door.

...

「Inside Lin Wanzhu’s Vice Commander office.」

Su Yu pushed the door open and, in one fluid motion, closed it behind him.

He looked up and saw Lin Wanzhu, dressed in a tight-fitting, cyan martial uniform, hunched over a rosewood desk.

One hand was massaging her faintly aching brow while the other rapidly flipped through mountain-like stacks of documents. Her exquisitely beautiful face, usually so refined, showed an unconcealable exhaustion.

"You heartless brat, you finally decided to grace the Public Security Bureau with your presence?"

Hearing the door close, Lin Wanzhu lifted her shimmering, watery eyes and shot Su Yu an irritated glance. Although her tone carried a Commander’s authority, she couldn’t hide the faint undercurrent of flirtatious complaint.

A gentle smile touched Su Yu’s lips as he strode behind her. He placed his hands on her tense, fragrant shoulders and began to knead them with just the right amount of force.

"Senior Sister, what are you talking about? Aren’t I here to share your burdens?"

"Share my burdens? I don’t believe a word of your nonsense," Lin Wanzhu snorted, though her body betrayed her by relaxing. She leaned back, letting Su Yu’s warm hands wander over her shoulders and neck. "You’ve been gone for days. You were probably off chasing skirts somewhere."

Su Yu gave an awkward laugh. He had indeed been busy helping Qian Qinghong compete for the position of Qian Family Patriarch, but that was just helping a friend. ’Does that count as chasing skirts?’

Lin Wanzhu wasn’t truly trying to complain. She picked up an intelligence report from the desk and handed it back to Su Yu, her tone growing serious.

"Take a look at this. It’s a battle report submitted last night by Captain Feng Ting, from Commander Ye Xiaohong’s unit. She discovered Black Lotus Sect rebels while investigating the southern freight yard. She killed two Black Lotus Guards on the spot and even captured one alive!"

"Mansion Master Pang was full of praise when he heard. Not only did he reward her with five thousand merit points on the spot, but he’s also put out the word that he wants to promote her to the new Vice Commander position!"

Lin Wanzhu turned her head slightly, her expression extremely solemn. "Ah Yu, Mansion Master Pang was very harsh this time. He said that any Captain who wants to be promoted to Vice Commander must produce real, tangible results, or their eligibility will be revoked. If you keep taking your sweet time, that Vice Commander spot will be gone for good!"

As Su Yu continued to massage her shoulders, his gaze drifted involuntarily down the line of her fair, slender, swan-like neck.

Lin Wanzhu’s head was tilted back slightly, pulling the collar of her already tight martial uniform open to reveal a breathtaking abyss. From Su Yu’s downward vantage point, her smooth, snow-white skin and the two proud, full mounds that seemed ready to burst from her clothes were on full display, enough to make a man’s mouth go dry. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Senior Sister, I want to earn merits quickly too," Su Yu said with a wry smile, forcing himself to look away. "But these fiends from the Black Lotus Sect are hidden too well. They’re hard to find."

Su Yu’s massage was so comfortable that Lin Wanzhu’s tense back completely relaxed.

"Ah Yu, I know this assignment is difficult. But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You have to seize it and get promoted to Vice Commander as soon as possible!"

"Right now, I’m the only Vice Commander holding things down in the Golden Scale Guard headquarters. It’s hard to manage alone. If someone else gets promoted to Vice Commander this time, they’ll likely be dropped into our unit. Then, many things will no longer be under our control."

Meeting her gaze, which was filled with expectation and reliance, Su Yu’s heart warmed, and he nodded firmly.

"Don’t worry, Senior Sister. I was in closed-door cultivation for the past few days, and my power had another breakthrough. As long as I can find the Black Lotus Sect fiends, I will definitely annihilate them and earn merit!"

"Mm, I believe you."

Lin Wanzhu hummed softly in agreement, her mood lightening considerably as she turned back around.

’This kid has never let me down. I hope this time is no different.’

Now more relaxed, she gave an extremely languid stretch.

The movement seemed innocent, but it stretched her already tight collar to its absolute limit. The two heavy, ripe fruits undulated with her motion, a tempestuous surge that made Su Yu’s blood boil.

"Senior Sister, you’ve been working day and night. It seems your body has become heavy and tired." Su Yu’s breathing grew slightly heavier. "Your Junior Brother can help you relieve some of that burden right now."

"Ah? Ah Yu, how are you going to relieve my burden?"

Lin Wanzhu turned her head, looking a little bewildered.

Su Yu didn’t answer directly. His large hands, which had been massaging her fragrant shoulders, swiftly moved down from her armpits.

Before she could react, he cupped and lifted those two heavy, ripe fruits.

"Ah—"

A strange, electric sensation she had never felt before shot through her entire body. Lin Wanzhu’s cool, beautiful face instantly flushed red to the tips of her ears, and she couldn’t help but let out a soft, alluring cry of surprise.

When Su Yu saw that she didn’t immediately push him away in a fit of anger, the wicked fire in his heart was completely ignited.

Not only did he not let go, but he grew bolder, kneading them fiercely through the fabric.

"Ah Yu... Don’t... We’re in the office..."

Su Yu silenced her by pressing his lips against her soft, pink, cherry-like ones, giving her no chance to resist.

’Doing it in my superior’s office... just the thought of it is even more exciting...’

However, just as Su Yu was about to take things a step further, a knock sounded at the door.

"BANG! BANG! BANG!"

The heavy, urgent pounding on the door shattered the amorous atmosphere inside the room.

"Commander Lin, Lord Su, this is Song Mirror! I have something to report!"

From outside came Song Mirror’s anxious shout: "Village Chief Wang Yuechi from Qingxi Village outside the city has sent an urgent report! He says they’ve discovered something unusual!"