Chapter 90

Hearing that deep, steady voice, Gao Haipeng broke into a cold sweat instantly.

He never imagined in his wildest dreams that Chen Ruofu, the number one figure of the Inspection Department, would appear on the scene.

Badmouthing behind someone's back and confronting them to their face are completely different matters.

The former might at most reach the other party's ears and be noted down;

the latter means tearing off all pretense of civility, and the consequences are far from as simple as being exiled to guard a reservoir.

"Minister Chen……"

Gao Haipeng turned around stiffly, wanting to open his mouth to explain, but was interrupted by the other party raising a hand:

"I am Chen Ruofu, the Level One General Affairs Director of the Inspection Department, concurrently serving as the proper Minister of the Urban Circle Inspection Department. Do I have the authority to take command here? Answer me, Inspector Gao."

The Three Departments and Nine Bureaus are the general official framework of every administrative star in Dongxia.

Among them, the Education Bureau, the Administrative Bureau, and the Security Bureau control the vast majority of resources and decision-making power.

The Inspection Department falls under the Security Bureau, and inside it is further divided into five major divisions.

The General Affairs Division sits firmly in the top seat; the Action Division, Supervision Division, Personnel Division, and Security Division all fall to the rear.

Usually speaking, the General Affairs Director is the Inspection Department Minister, the two positions held by the same person.

So they are also called "Number One Brother".

Chen Ruofu is the Urban Circle Inspection Department's true Number One Brother, the number one figure holding great power.

Merely by walking up to Gao Haipeng, that sense of oppression had already reached its peak.

As the saying goes, an official one rank higher crushes you to death.

And Chen Ruofu outranks him by at least four ranks.

"Yes."

Gao Haipeng clicked his heels together, standing in place and saluting.

"I can't hear you."

Chen Ruofu stood with hands behind his back; his stature was not tall, even a head shorter than Gao Haipeng.

But the difference in weight of authority forced the latter to lower his head honestly, bowing his waist slightly.

"Reporting, Minister! You have the authority to command all actions of all inspection personnel on site, including myself!"

Gao Haipeng's voice was high-pitched, exceptionally prominent, drawing many gazes to project over.

Those low-grade inspection personnel's puzzled gazes undoubtedly magnified the humiliation in his heart.

As if he had become a monkey in a zoo, for tourists to admire and amuse themselves.

"Very good. Inspector Gao, I'm giving you a very important task. Go through and count the infected electronic products one by one, and do a good job of categorizing them, to be completed before nightfall."

Chen Ruofu's tone was light, dismissing him in a few words.

Fairly speaking, goods of Gao Haipeng's caliber weren't even enough to enter his eyes.

Not even worthy of the treatment of "being suppressed".

He only needed to show a trace of "not too satisfied" emotion.

Naturally there would be plenty of people helping to kick him while he's down.

"Is it Qin Shi?"

Seeing the number one hero of this crisis, Chen Ruofu's attitude eased slightly, faintly carrying a few points of surprise.

He hadn't expected the other party to be this young, almost excessively young.

A minor's life force, no matter how developed, how strong could it possibly get?

To actually play a decisive role in a situation like this!

"Minister Chen, he is Qin Shi; thanks to his move we were able to resolve the electronic demon without mishap."

Chen Yun took the initiative to answer; she was more quick-witted than Lin Yunqing, understanding the principle of addressing by official title during work.

"Young and promising, the younger generation is formidable."

Chen Ruofu praised.

"Uncle Chen over-praises."

Qin Shi still appeared bashful:

"I just acted conveniently; mainly relied on Sister Yun's proper command, tactics in place."

This kid really knows the ropes!

He's already calling him Uncle Chen.

Currying favor is remarkably practiced.

Chen Ruofu's smile held a playful meaning, involuntarily looking at Qin Shi a bit higher.

In this era, people with high talent and good endowments, outstanding talents, spring up like bamboo shoots after rain, one batch after another.

But smart people who know advance and retreat, who see the situation clearly, are instead few and far between.

His fingers tapped lightly twice, tone light:

"Xiao Qin, any interest in chatting a few sentences with me?"

Qin Shi nodded obediently; in the past, a big shot of Chen Ruofu's level, he could only see on TV news, couldn't even get near the edge.

Chen Yun's fine eyebrows stood up, voice cold:

"Minister Chen, Xiao Qin is still a student, don't use that set of official airs to scare people!"

A married daughter spills water, the elbow bends outward!

Chen Ruofu felt helpless inside:

"As the head of the Urban Circle Inspection Department, saying a few good words to Xiao Qin this great hero, is it necessary to guard so strictly? Zhang Chen, the factory area scene is rather chaotic, you take charge of the overall situation, soothe the emotions of the masses in Dangyang East Suburbs."

He waved his hand, letting Chen Yun hurry off to busy herself.

"Xiao Qin, if there's any problem, just come find me."

Chen Yun urged her with concern.

She knew her father well enough; he was a textbook interest-seeker, and for Qin Shi, of such humble origins, Chen Ruofu to be so friendly—there was surely nothing good in it.

"I know, Sister Yun."

Qin Shi didn't think a big shot like Chen Ruofu of the Patrol Division would harbor ill intentions and scheme against him.

The top dog of the Patrol Division—even a Heaven's Chosen from one of the Four Great National Universities, once posted to various Administrative New Stars, could only rise to a position like this.

As the ceiling for elite Chosens striving to get ahead, how could Chen Ruofu look down on a poor student from Old Factory Street?

"Xiao Qin, can I take a look at that circuit board?"

Chen Ruofu asked.

Qin Shi obediently handed it over.

"You have quite the eye, Xiao Qin. This inheritance is well concealed, almost like gravel buried in a dirt pile—electronic equipment can't detect it, yet you spotted it with the naked eye."

Chen Ruofu played with it for a moment, smiling as he spoke.

Truly a big shot.

Qin Shi sighed.

No great surprise.

Chen Ruofu had sought him out for a talk; he must have sensed something was off, but didn't want to bring it up in front of Chen Yun.

Damn it!

According to the Protagonist Template, shouldn't I be the one secretly picking up bargains, quietly developing, then suddenly rising to astonish everyone?

I've barely started and I've already been found out!

"Take it. Consider it a reward for doing good deeds."

Chen Ruofu carefully observed Qin Shi's expression and found the kid showed no resentment or anger.

He silently praised:

"Not blinded by immediate gain, not hot-headed—he does have some Xinli."

As this thought arose, he placed the circuit board back into Qin Shi's palm.

"Uncle Chen, this inheritance was originally meant by the Qin Family to be handed over to you, to build good karmic ties."

Qin Shi quietly dropped one character from his address, drawing the relationship closer by a fraction, his face full of sincerity, looking pure and innocent:

"How could I possibly enjoy it all by myself?"

Chen Ruofu laughed heartily, lightly tapping with his finger:

"You little brat, you really have a lot on your mind. What? Planning to toss this hot potato into my hands, owe me a favor, and have me act as a human shield for you?"

Old Chen was truly a fox who had cultivated for a thousand years—no little scheme could escape him!

Qin Shi scratched his head, putting on the act of a simple, honest junior.

He did have this idea; Gao Haipeng of the Action Division wouldn't come looking for him for no reason.

A Second Grade Inspector from the Action Division bullying a high school student—if word got out, it would be a laughingstock.

The only reasonable guess was that someone was pulling strings behind the scenes.

Thinking of what Brother Ze said before he passed out, warning him to be careful of the Qin Family, the answer was obvious.

If this inheritance somehow ended up in Chen Ruofu's hands, all trouble would vanish into thin air.

"This matter, Uncle Chen really can't help you with."

Chen Ruofu shook his head:

"The inheritance inside has a great background. The Qin Family preparing to give it to me—they surely have no good intentions. Since you've taken it, you must bear the consequences yourself. Of course, considering your and Xiao Yun's relationship, I'm willing to give you one chance to choose."

Every move of this Patrol Division big shot carried profound meaning, making him impossible to read.

He walked through the factory area with his hands behind his back, and Qin Shi followed half a step behind, step by step.

"Do you know whose inheritance that is?"

"I just know it should be very powerful, but I don't know which big shot specifically."

Chen Ruofu smiled at the corner of his mouth, as if looking forward to the astonished expression Qin Shi would show later.

"Dangyang East Suburbs is developing in full swing; the Taian Education Bureau and Hengzhou Martial Association have both put in great effort. The Zidi Xuexiao's standards are also high. Back then, New Martial Arts hadn't fully spread yet, so they specially applied for a batch of Advanced Textbooks, the vast majority of which were Old Martial Arts Inheritances."

"For example, the Panic Blade, recognized as the top combat art below the Elite level. The Bright God Record, the coolest inheritance countless Old Martial Arts sect seedlings dream of—it can change one's body shape and cultivate spiritual grace. In short, those who practice this art basically become peerless handsome men."

Old Martial Arts sect inheritances, each one more formidable than the last!

No wonder Lao Liang always said the Hong Sheng True Transmission wasn't much.

It turned out to be the truth!

Qin Shi widened his eyes, suddenly feeling that the Hundred Aspects Tempering Force taught by Lao Liang didn't seem so great anymore.

"As for the Xu Kong Meditation Method, originally intended to be the school's treasure, there's no need to say more. Its creator was He Lanchan. Just that name is enough to explain its weight."

Chen Ruofu glanced at Qin Shi from the corner of his eye and casually threw out a sentence like a thunderclap:

"That thing in your hand is the inheritance of a Half-step Martial God, an SSS-grade textbook, He Lanchan's painstaking work—the Xu Kong Meditation Method."

What?

He Lanchan?

Martial God Inheritance?!

Qin Shi's heart thumped. He had thought this thing was impressive, but not this impressive!

"Uncle Chen, don't you want to become a Martial God? I see your qi and blood are strong, your Qi Life Force is vigorous—you're exactly at the right age to train hard. Why not take it and strive for Martial God?"

He gave an awkward smile. This was more than just a hot potato; it was practically high beams in the dark night, blindingly conspicuous.

A Martial God Inheritance falling into Chen Ruofu's hands—that would be a treasure belonging to the virtuous.

Putting it here with Qin Shi would be asking for death.

Different identities and statuses bring different consequences!

"What use is this thing to me? Are there few Martial God inheritances in Dongxia? The Imperial Capital Museum still holds Ning Yuanhai's Ancient and Modern Myriad Worlds True Scripture—why hasn't anyone mastered it and forged a new Martial God?"

Chen Ruofu chuckled and said emotionally:

"This is no longer the Ancient Era, when every clan treasured its inheritance, dreaming of lasting for ten thousand ages and an eternal foundation."

But in today's Dongxia, Martial God inheritances are not precious; what is rare are Prodigy Seeds capable of walking the Martial God Path!

So, seeing your He Lanchan Xu Kong Meditation Method, I am not the slightest bit tempted.

It is not that Chen Shu is a Saint, but rather... I truly lack the Zizhi and cannot reach the Martial God Threshold."

Old Chen really knows himself too well.

Qin Shi showed surprise and asked curiously:

"Uncle Chen, how much Qi Life Force do you have? You must be at least Professional Level, so why can't you even catch a glimpse of a Martial God's back?"

Chen Ruofu said unhappily:

"Do you think Martial Gods are common cabbage? How many people are in Dongxia? As numerous as the sands of the Ganges, beyond count. The New Republic has existed for Nine Millennia, and how many Martial Gods has it produced? You can count them on one hand!"

What is a Martial God? No path before you, no one behind you! Blast open the road ahead with your fists, few successors follow!

You brat dare to guarantee it—if you can become a Martial God, the Imperial Capital Museum is willing to kneel and present Ning Yuanhai's Ancient and Modern Myriad Worlds True Scripture.

But looking across the Star Sea, no one dares to boast like that; truly speaking that way, without the skill to back it up, no one would believe you."

Qin Shi held the Circuit Board, pondering in his heart:

"If you want me to brush out a Martial God's Certification, I might actually be able to guarantee it."

Chen Ruofu stopped his footsteps, standing before a mottled white Wall, where the red slogan "First among horses, strive for every moment" could still be faintly seen.

"You call me Uncle Chen, so we have formed a bond. I give you two paths, Xiao Qin: either you give up He Lanchan's Inheritance, and I will externally claim this thing was lost and recovered, turning it over to the Hengzhou Martial Association to smooth over the trouble behind you;

or, you grit your teeth and accept it, walk the Martial God Path, sweep away all obstacles, and exterminate all demons and monsters!"

Qin Shi only felt a toothache; he disliked this kind of Choice Question the most.

"Uncle Chen, can't we just hand it over to the Martial Association for cover, then let your little nephew develop steadily for a while?"

This brat is truly shameless, and doesn't know which old fossil he studied under.

Chen Ruofu laughed helplessly and decisively refused:

"He Lanchan's Xu Kong Meditation Method involves many forces; you will understand later. This is a tremendous opportunity, and also an unimaginable karmic debt."

Moreover, you learn the earth-shattering arts of a Half-step Martial God, yet must hide and conceal yourself, lurking in the Dark Place, not daring to face many challenges—your spirit is lacking by half, how can you catch up to the Predecessors?"

Qin Shi felt the endless Martial Artist Qi Charm, like energy provided by a Super Power Bank, and showed a resolute gaze:

"If so, please forgive your little nephew's recklessness; this Martial God Path, I will walk it!"

(Chapter End)