Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Caught Off Guard
This "building up, building down" drama initially went uneventfully. Not only Lin Qiyun, but even many of the people with some social standing within the bureau didn't take it seriously at first. When the police arrested one or two of their less-than-reasonable sons, many of them considered waiting a day or two before retrieving them, so they could have some peace and quiet.
But when you smell the fuss, it's not something that can be solved by just a few connections and phone calls.
While seemingly a local law enforcement operation, it harbored a solemn and ruthless military undertone. Furthermore, in this case, the decision to crack down was initially issued, followed immediately by numerous meetings at the central level, brainstorming and fleshing out the implementation plan and specific deployments. This was a stark departure from the previous cautious process of first preparing numerous tasks, then issuing a notice to launch the operation once everything was in place. Those with keen senses, like Ding Datou, who had dispatched his special brigade for training, discerned from the outset the central government's determination to crack down on crime and rectify social mores.
Ding Datou immediately seized the opportunity and sent out his men who had been trained for a long time to attack the stronghold: since it was a training exercise - the team members had seen blood before, but they were still a little soft-hearted towards the criminals who were still their compatriots, which was a common problem among the people's soldiers; secondly, Ding Datou also wanted to let these half-cooked cucumbers show their abilities.
"The southerners are becoming more and more arrogant. From last year to now, how many armed provocations have they launched? Damn it! If we don't fight back hard, they really think we are soft-boned!" Ding Datou called Shuangyuan and asked Wu Nian to provide more protective armor. Although this stuff is made of bamboo, it is really no worse than those extremely expensive bulletproof vests imported from foreign countries.
Ding Datou's real motive was not to drink. His intention in this brief trial run was to challenge for battle. He wanted to show the world in the upcoming battle in the south that we have our own special operations forces, no less capable than the so-called elite commandos of foreign countries. However, the "sword" must be gleaming, and his men are precious. Wu Nian had just developed a new type of bamboo silk protective armor, drawing on the fire-resistant Kevlar fiber used in imported body armor, when this unscrupulous person came calling.
"What do you mean it hasn't been tested and measured by the relevant departments? By the time those guys spit out a report, it'll be too late!" Ding Datou lowered his voice, "Don't try to be so frivolous with your uncle. We've tested it with real guns and live ammunition! This thing is simply excellent, no doubt about it!"
Wu Nian was speechless. He wasn't trying to evade the issue; it was true that this new type of armor simply couldn't be mass-produced. The primary material was indeed Beiyuan bamboo, but the secondary materials were Thunder God tendons, which hadn't yet been revealed, and the exotic Ruler Wood, which would never be seen again. Honestly, even Lin Xinghuo, with his exceptional affinity for wood, hadn't imagined that a vat of Thunder God tendons, soaked like seaweed, could be such a good material for refining weapons. Somehow, Wu Nian had a flash of inspiration and added a handful of his own roasted Thunder God tendons. The result was a bamboo silk that was both hard and flexible, impervious to water and fire, truly invulnerable to weapons.
Ding Datou was completely devoted to this new batch of fabric, gushing endlessly. Finally, he even played the victim: "Do you know how deep that little hole you dug earlier was? Honestly, if it weren't for the capable people under your uncle, no matter who investigated, they wouldn't have uncovered all this..."
Ding Datou was unwilling to elaborate on more details, but it had only been more than half a month since the release of the "Decision", and not only had the Xiaojuzi Village, where the poison had already spread deeply, been uprooted, but several small hospitals and unknown organizations in remote corners had also been closed down. Even the Qu and Fei families in his hometown in Xue Province had been asked by the higher-ups to hand over materials before investigation... Just what Lin Xinghuo and Wu Nian had secretly found out was enough to show how powerful this special force with combined reconnaissance and assault functions was.
As I said, in this people-oriented era, once the state machinery is activated, even cultivators and demons with the ability to move mountains and seas are no more than a small butterfly at the claws of a giant dragon that dare not disturb.
The special team, backed by the state machinery, had quietly found out about Lin Qiyun's hidden tail.
Not to mention that Lin Qiyun suddenly felt that everything was going wrong and full of constraints, even the subtle clues and hidden arrangements carefully laid out by Lin Xinghuo and Wu Nian seemed a bit unnecessary.
Similarly, the extraordinary design of Shuangyuan in Sajin Hutong also caught people's attention.
While Wu Nian was on the phone, Lin Xinghuo was also at the East Garden receiving two special guests: an elderly woman with a bun and a large monk with a round, bald head that was brighter than a lightbulb. The woman had sharp eyebrows and spoke quickly, while the monk had kind eyes and was very careful. Fang Tongjian, who was sitting next to him, was so shocked by what he heard that his eyelids twitched.
But after so many spiritual creatures nurtured him for so long, his hearing and eyesight were incredibly sharp. While Fang Tongjian listened to the Tai Chi-like exchanges of tests in the small hall, he also felt annoyed by Ding Datou's loud voice on the other end of the phone in the concierge's office. He mentally cursed Ning Bangyan's old friend for being so annoying, not even choosing a good time to call and ask for something. Could he call later in the dead of night? This nun across the street was clearly someone important; if she spoke any more, it would start to make people realize what was going on...
When Wu Nian breathed a sigh of relief and hung up the phone, he was given a cold look by the old man: "Didn't you give in? Go and weave cloth." The old man felt even softer in his heart. Where had the evil heart of this boy gone to kidnap his beloved apprentice?
The monk raised his long eyebrows, half black and half white, and smiled at the lady, saying, "The Daoist sect has always been good at smelting. The Daoist tradition has been passed down, which is really enviable."
The female teacher's face relaxed, and she didn't care about Fang Tongjian's secret words of chasing people away. She simply revealed her true feelings to Lin Xinghuo and said it bluntly. The master who was helping on the side was speechless for a moment.
Actually, the situation isn't that complicated. While the government has indeed been less than friendly towards metaphysics, Taoism, and other miscellaneous disciplines over the past few years, it has always protected some exceptional talents. The original intention behind their rejection of that large wave was good. Putting aside other issues, their singular focus on combating those sorcerers and shamans who were harming people and profiting from them earned them the support of the heirs of the various upright sects...
These two, along with the above, now believed that Shuangyuan in Sajin Hutong was a separate branch of the sect, and that the mysteries of the Buxian Temple on Lotus Peak in Selangor Province were easy to investigate. Their visit today expressed their hope that the Buxian Temple branch would actively respond to official cooperation and informed them that officials would monitor their activities to a certain extent.
His attitude was positive, but his words were gentle. Even someone as direct as the woman used the term "observation" rather than the more rigorous "monitoring." The old monk ultimately provided a glimpse into the situation, briefly explaining the superiors' policy of encouraging meticulous research, avoiding minor offenses, and hoping for cooperation.
"Tao follows nature, and blessings are as vast as the sea!" I originally wanted to say more about strengthening cooperation and benefiting the country and the people, but these two people just heard the other party's phone call, and considering the information they had read before, let alone other things, just in terms of cooperation, they have already embarked on the road of military-civilian cooperation.
After seeing the two off, Lin Xinghuo looked at the pile of documents left on the table, her heart was also a little fluctuating. After taking the documents to the relevant units to handle them tomorrow, wouldn't they be halfway into the establishment?
Just as I had this thought, I suddenly felt my body lighten, as if the invisible shackles that I had been carrying were gone, just like the situation when I gained merit in the past, but this time there were no golden grains of merit breaking through the air.
The fox cubs who had been hiding from view came running in quickly. The eldest, Lin Beiguo, stretched out his fat hind paws to show them. Fang Tongjian didn't think anything was wrong. Seeing that his three beloved ones were running so fast that they could hardly stop and somersaulted, he quickly squatted down and approached to coax them: "What's wrong? What do you want to show grandpa?"
"Oh, what is this?" The old man's accent from Snow Province, which he had inevitably picked up over the years, came out. He quickly looked at the three cubs' hind paws one by one. There was a silver-white cloud pattern on each of the fat and tender little paws. As Fang Tongjian held them and looked at them back and forth, they even had a faint golden tint.
Wu Nian shook his head. The neatly trimmed hair on the side of his ear had suddenly grown longer. He knew it was because the hair on the tip of the original ear had grown suddenly. Ancient books and essays had recorded that the hyena had "two long and pointed ears." He wondered if this was related. But Wu Nian did feel the blood deep in his body suddenly rise and become active.
...After two days, everyone was sure that the many monsters and demons that took shelter in Lin Xinghuo and Wu Nian had undergone some changes.
Lin Xinghuo had no choice but to divert half of his energy away from Lin Qiyun. He quickly took the stack of documents to go through the relevant formalities, joined a study association, and took home a small sign similar to the English corner in the park.
As the day progressed, at midnight when the document officially came into effect, the changes that had previously seemed somewhat superficial became increasingly clear and solid.
"Is this even possible?" Several days passed, and Lin Xinghuo was still somewhat amazed. Suddenly, he began to understand a little bit how those Qi Refiners cling to the Dragon Qi. No wonder the orthodox cultivators' lineages had almost died out, while the Qi Refiners had continued to thrive for a thousand years.
However, New China has its own new path, and this path of cultivation, where blessings come naturally and cooperation brings benefits to both parties, is the right path.
Old Man Fang frowned, perplexedly examining the rusty little bronze plaque. What was the difference between this study group and the literacy corner or English corner in the park? It was so loosely organized that it couldn't even compare to the literacy classes for the elderly ladies on their street.
"It doesn't make any difference. It's better to be relaxed." If this were a place with countless rules, people with real abilities probably wouldn't bother with them.
Lin Xinghuo and Wu Nian couldn't fathom why such profound changes had occurred, but the benefits were clear and long-lasting, so they didn't dwell on them. This change also brought with it some limitations, though they didn't hinder Lin Xinghuo and his family of spirits and monsters—it essentially restricted the spirits from pursuing a path of cultivation that harmed people. In the words of the yellow-robed, yellow-hatted Qingji, it was like a vow made in the dark to follow the righteous path. The spirits' vows were naturally monitored by the heavens, and any deviation from the right path would immediately incur calamity and punishment.
Fang Tongjian pounded his old waist which didn't hurt at all, and snorted, "Isn't it still farming and weaving?" What's the big deal? One of his two eldest grandchildren was immersed in farming on the farm in the suburbs, and the other was pulling silk and spinning satin all day long, and had led the three younger ones astray. The eldest granddaughter refused to transform into a human, and the three fox cubs suddenly stopped while running and looked at their hind paws, which really made the old man feel a little disappointed that he hadn't been able to show off his eldest granddaughter to others for several days.
Lin Xinghuo, who was about to go to the farm to work hard, and Wu Nian, who was working diligently and quickly to weave cloth, looked at each other through the window and smiled bitterly: Anyone who has prepared for several years to lure the great enemy into the trap, concocting thousands of methods, and is ready to fight a life-and-death battle, to make the evildoer's soul disappear and the hatred be relieved, and cannot let go of the earth-shattering move that can neither be withdrawn nor taken back, will also be in turmoil.
To repay his country and ease his troubled mood, Lin Xinghuo diligently cultivated the land, while Maunian worked tirelessly. The situation had been volatile over the past two months: Ever since the instability in the southern border last year, there had been some opposition to the "Decision on Severe Crackdowns," arguing that the security situation hadn't deteriorated sufficiently and that a more moderate approach to domestic affairs was warranted before the impending foreign offensive. This was primarily for the greater good, but Uncle Ding's special forces were truly skilled. The toxic and dark secrets they uncovered had infuriated and distressed anyone with inside knowledge. The directive to crack down on and thoroughly investigate criminal offenses, like a campaign, grew louder and louder, becoming a national priority alongside the foreign offensive that began in mid-February.
Maintaining internal stability and resisting external aggression go hand in hand.
Lin Xinghuo and the others only then realized that the so-called "Golden Snow" incident and the subsequent heinous crimes were merely representative of a small number of Qigong practitioners. Ever since the overthrow of the dynasty and the subsequent upheaval, with no more sons of heaven imbued with dragon energy, these Qigong practitioners who cultivated with dragon energy have gone mad. Those with any sense of conscience have simply sailed far offshore, stirring up trouble in smaller nations still embracing the imperial system, while continuing to cultivate with dragon energy as usual. Those like Old Master Jin, whose roots were already tainted, have committed countless evil deeds, leaving behind mountains of blood and innocent bodies that have lingered for centuries.
Since the digging got deeper and deeper, Ding Datou never called again, and even Old Ning lost contact again. All over the place, especially in Beijing, many upright soldiers appeared on duty in the streets and alleys without anyone noticing. The whole social atmosphere was like a sunny day after a heavy snow, and the sky suddenly became clear and bright.
Newspapers were constantly filled with reports on public security, demonstrating the swift and intensive crackdown on criminals, according to the law. There were reports of executions, sentences for unfilial sons, and often, only to discover afterward that a nearby neighbor had been quietly taken away at some point, sparking a new round of speculation.
This time, the two-pronged approach that shocked the whole country was not without the efforts of foreign forces and ill-intentioned elements hidden among the people to stir up trouble. Fortunately, this comprehensive and severe crackdown on crime was as swift as thunder, and quickly stabilized people's hearts with some results. Especially after the atmosphere improved significantly, the people praised it and supported it spontaneously.
Perhaps the multiple executions of those linked to the chain of executions revealed were sufficient, and their lives were a sufficient first blow. Furthermore, their crimes could not even be fully publicized. Therefore, unlike the crackdowns Lin Xinghuo had previously witnessed, the power to review death sentences was not delegated to the Supreme Court, a lower level court. This effectively avoided the consequences of wrongful killing.
Before the public security situation deteriorated significantly, the "Decision," launched several years in advance, quickly reversed the situation. Furthermore, because the special forces were involved from the outset, the cancer they uncovered stalled any movement to resume the old campaign-style approach. A case of this magnitude and complexity is beyond the reach of non-specialists. Furthermore, the complex and often unfathomable nature of the case and the stubborn tactics employed were absolutely unsuitable for the general public to understand and participate in. Therefore, from top to bottom, specialized personnel were swiftly deployed to complement the forces, forming a hierarchical system of specialized task forces and general case teams.
...It also led to an unexpected but seemingly reasonable effect: for cases with less serious circumstances, such as "hooliganism", which have a bad impact but the crime is indeed not serious, more appropriate judgments are given. Based on the actual circumstances, the punishment ranges from the lightest education, to detention, to serious imprisonment for several years. Inadvertently, it solved the pain point that Lin Xinghuo had read in the pile of old papers: "Reporting hooliganism has become a trend, and hooliganism is like a sword hanging over the head of the person."
One day in late March, the gunfire on the south bank was temporarily suspended. Lin Beiguo held up a newspaper and read in a baby voice the news that "the self-defense counterattack has ended successfully." From the distant sky, golden spots of light like dandelion seeds floated in, and the largest and brightest one flew straight towards Wu Nian.
The sharp eyebrows of the monkey Anian were reflected in a hazy manner.
Wu Nian's dark eyebrows curved, and just as he was about to speak, the phone in the front room rang like a firecracker.
Fang Tongjian glanced at the enamel clock on the high table. It was noon, when ordinary people were having lunch or had just finished their meals. Few people with points would make a phone call at such an inappropriate time. As for the person who had the connections to call Shuangyuan directly, it was easy to guess.
Wu Nian moved his lips, sighed, and went to answer the phone first. According to Uncle Ding's personality, he had to answer the phone if he got the call.
When the phone was picked up, it was indeed Ding Datou's voice, and he laughed loudly on the other end of the line: "My dear nephew Ding Datou! Thanks to your batch of equipment, my soldiers have all come back safely! Uncle Ding has to thank you, and when I get back, we will..."
Old Master Zhong Qin snorted. What a busy kid Wu Nian has been these past few months! That new material is more like clothing than armor, so light and comfortable. From hats to socks, he's got everything you need. What kind of a jerk of a commander must be to let such a well-equipped army suffer such heavy casualties?
But it was just a casual complaint about Ding Datou. Fang Tongjian also knew some inside information from Ning Bangyan. In this war, Ding Datou's team undertook the most important and difficult reconnaissance and attack missions. All those good boys returned home alive. Old man Fang was also very pleased and felt that he could pour himself another drink with the snacks made by the Wu Nian boy.
The old man picked up his eldest granddaughter in one hand, took small square steps, humming "The three armies urge their horses to defeat the bandits", and walked steadily to the back garden.
The two fox cubs who slept immediately after eating were confused when they heard the phone call: "...One more thing, Mr. Fang once taught a student named Lin Qiyun. His wife was a classmate of Xinghuo?"
"There's something seriously wrong with this guy. I can't go into detail, but tell your wife and Old Man Fang to be careful... An hour ago, my third squad, who were on the mission to stay in Beijing, failed to make an arrest and nearly lost several of my soldiers. Fortunately, I was stingy and didn't give up the new armor for the squad that stayed in Beijing."
Ding Datou smacked his lips, not daring to tell the whole story. Honestly, if the Third Captain hadn't reported it to him personally over the phone, even he, a seasoned veteran, wouldn't have believed it. It was truly bizarre—the Third Captain and his men were absolutely well-prepared for this operation, having already been on the run since the end of February, spending the better part of a month planning, yet they were still nearly wiped out when the real action came: He said they knew that Lin had some unspeakable ulterior motives, so they'd been relentless when they broke into the house, firing from all sides. They'd clearly inflicted numerous bloody wounds on the man, and when he looked like he was dying, Lin Qiyun chopped off his own left hand with a single blow and stuffed the red thread from the wrist into his mouth.
Goodness me! That Lin Qiyun was chewing his own hands while wiping himself with a yellow rag. Suddenly, the bullets missed him, flying around the room. His wounds healed in the blink of an eye... To avoid accidentally injuring his comrades, he had to stop firing. The situation was nearly reversed. Captain Three and his men retreated without hesitation, but they still suffered serious injuries. With only the desperate option of detonating the bombs and perishing together, someone, either Lin or Jin, became furious and raised his hand to gouge out his right eye. It suddenly turned blood red, and he screamed incoherently while tears streamed from his mouth. His remaining hand would alternately be pressed against his eye, then "pushed" back down...
After hanging up the phone, Ding Datou rubbed his chin, thinking about the captain's words. "I didn't expect that grenade couldn't kill that guy. But Da Liu was clever and risked his arm to pull the rag off. I showed it to an old gentleman outside the staff, and he said it looked like an imperial edict from some dynasty."
While that guy was in disarray, Team 3 not only successfully retreated, but also gifted Lin Qiyun two of the latest grenades. As a result, the small western-style building was half-collapsed, and he was still standing. Seriously injured, Lin Qiyun didn't dare to confront Team 3 again. He pulled out a red string from his neck and swung it. The string burned faster than a bomb's fuse, and he disappeared after it burned.
"Lin Qiyun looked a little strange. When he escaped, his left eye was closed and his right eye was bloodshot. There was a big bump on the top of his head, and his entire face was covered with red lines! It wasn't the kind of head that was bleeding, but it was like blood vessels were bulging. How should I put it, it was like a blood-red octopus with eight tentacles was 'planting' his head. Yes, it was 'planting'!" The third captain was from Shandong Province. When they were doing sea training, this guy ate a lot of seafood. He said that his grandmother's hometown was on the coast, but he had never heard of it since he was a child, and he didn't know how fresh seafood was.
Over in Sajin Hutong, the two fox cubs were completely awakened when they heard the three words "Lin Qiyun". Although they were young, they still remembered that they were almost caught by the yellow-skinned guy when they were in Buxiantun. The yellow-skinned guy was the evil monster under Lin Qiyun... Fox Two and Fox Three were like this, not to mention Lin Xinghuo and Wu Nian. Wu Nian frowned, and the high spirits he had when he got the merit just now were gone. They really didn't expect that the date of "action scheduled for April 1st" they got from the special team was a smokescreen. The special team not only notified so internally, but also the documents they submitted to their superiors.
Lin Xinghuo and Wu Nian were convinced that the two had made many preparations to secretly support the operation. Unexpectedly, the special team took action suddenly, catching everyone, including Lin Xinghuo, off guard.
As the white smoke passed through the small hall, a caracal taller than a human squatted on the ground, with the two tufts of long snow-white hair on its ears swaying rhythmically. After a moment, Wu Nian said, "Black Sable has gone after them... Today it's Qingji's turn to guard that side, together with Black Sable - to the northeast!" It was estimated that the secret method used by Lin Qiyun was difficult to track, and neither Black Sable nor Qingji had time to send a message.
"Baby, do as we agreed!" Lin Xinghuo put down Fox Two and Fox Three, quickly took out the fox skull from the Soul-Returning Fragrance bud and put it in his arms, put on the shoulder bag he had prepared earlier, and lay on the big caracal. Clouds appeared under the caracal's feet, and the light of purple lightning in the clouds was still reflected in the big eyes of the fox cubs. The man and the caracal had already disappeared.
Fox Two and Fox Three froze for a moment, then immediately tumbled off all fours. Fox Two crouched low as he ran, then suddenly leaped forward, landing his hind paw on Fox Three's head for leverage, triggering the newly established restriction under the corridor. Instantly, invisible ripples spread rapidly in all directions above the East and West Gardens. Ten breaths later, the Tai Chi Yin-Yang fish above the two gardens connected head to tail, confining the entire garden into a small, self-contained world. From that moment on, no one could enter or leave.
At the same time, the talismans hanging on the bodies of the monsters who had not been able to return to Shuangyuan within ten breaths were heated, and automatically erected a concealment barrier, and the monsters immediately hid themselves.
Rong Bocen, taking a mid-afternoon break in his office cubicle, suddenly opened his eyes, put his coat back on, and quietly left the office. However, after he mounted his 28-inch bicycle and rode into the alleys that dot Beijing, no one, not the guards standing at attention, nor the few pedestrians on the street, noticed the bicycle passing by. Then, the unremarkable bicycle spun through the streets and alleys, disappearing into thin air.
Not long after, a capable young woman walked towards the Personnel Department, clutching a stack of documents in one hand and a note for a sick leave in the other. She muttered to herself, "Director Rong had a stomachache and didn't even tell me he went to the hospital... Oh, I didn't even notice when he went. Director Rong is such a pushover." It was her own fault for falling asleep on her desk. Director Rong's office was at the very end of the corridor, and to exit, she had to pass through the secretary's office. Amazing! The director had such a stomachache that he went to the hospital immediately, and she, the secretary, was so sound asleep she didn't even wake him up when he placed the note on his desk.
The girl sighed and waved her leave slip. This was her annual leave she'd saved up. Director Rong was probably using the fact that things were quiet at the bureau lately to take care of his old health issues. No wonder he'd been working so hard since the Lantern Festival last month. She'd only been in the secretariat for less than six months and didn't know this person well. She was afraid it would be inappropriate to visit and disturb him if he was taking a long vacation.
"Wow! Director Rong didn't specify how many years of annual leave he can take. I remember he didn't take any in years." The HR colleague smiled and said casually, "Didn't Wu Nian heal his stomach? Is he trying to hide from someone?"
Another older woman swiftly stamped the document and said with a smile, "It has to be our Rong Bureau. Other leaders go to the hospital to pretend to be sick when they want to avoid work, but our Rong Bureau is so open-minded. People just take their own leave and have already arranged all the work in advance!"
The girl from the secretariat understood immediately. Ever since the crackdown began in January, no one had anticipated such a resolute and draconian approach from above, a genuine determination to clean up the mess. Countless well-connected thugs had been arrested in this old city alone. After that initial chaotic period, even the shady government offices here, which had little to no connections, were no longer at peace. Those arrested for misdemeanors, regardless of whether they were sentenced to three months or a year, were expelled from school according to regulations, as long as they received no less lenient sentences like verbal warning or detention. But getting into school was the only filial duty an unfilial son or daughter could perform. Even if parents were furious, they would still try to keep their children enrolled if they couldn't find a way out. As long as they kept their children enrolled, even if they had to wait a few years before returning to school, they still had a bright future, right?
"It's done! Our Rong Bureau has finally been soft this time. Xiaohui, be smart. When you answer the phone, just use soft words to delay the conversation. Just don't offend anyone." Anyway, Rong Bureau has decided to hide well. Once the schools have dealt with what they need to do and the notice is posted, those people will give up and keep quiet.
-----------------------Author's Note: Note: "The three armies urged their horses to suppress the bandits" is from the Henan opera "Three Passes on the Pass." Regarding the "Strike Hard" campaign, reference was made to "Historical Causes, Measures, Results, and Reflections."
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