Chapter 178: Is It My Fault?!!

If there were a sky above the Nine Districts, today's situation in the Nine Districts should be described as the sky having been poked full of small holes; however, the Nine Districts has no sky, so it should be described as Upper City's ass getting rear-ended and blown wide open.

Feng Mu got up, did morning exercises, washed up, and ate breakfast together with everyone.

Second Senior Sister Liu Xie and Sixth Senior Brother Wang Yu were not here; they had hurriedly gone out in the middle of the night yesterday while Feng Mu was sound asleep.

"Looks like another major case has happened in the Nine Districts again." Zhao Zhixin said.

Everyone seemed to take it in stride; after all, those who know understand the public security situation in the Nine Districts — every so often some major case occurs, and in all this, Douqiong Martial Hall has also made a significant, indelible contribution.

Yuan Xidi quickly finished breakfast; his bandage-wrapped palm lightly patted Feng Mu's shoulder, his tone carrying a trace of feigned regret:

"Little Junior Brother, the Investigation Corps' Hidden Gate has already been repaired; this senior brother's vacation ends here."

"From now on, I won't be able to accompany you for daily sparring. Sigh, if you really can't hold back your itchy hands, you might try striking the iron stake. This senior brother tells you as someone who's been there — once you get used to it, the feeling differs little from hitting a living person."

Yuan Xidi had never imagined he would one day say such words; the key point is he wasn't even lying — he truly comprehended it: some people's striking sensation really is no different from hitting iron.

Zhao Zhixin gave Yuan Xidi a sidelong glance, equally surprised that the ever-honest Fourth had also learned to lie.

Both he and Yuan Xie were consultants hired by the Investigation Corps; how come he hadn't received any notification from the Corps?

Just the day before yesterday he had spoken on the phone with a researcher from the Corps; this time the Hidden Gate was blown up too severely by Destiny — to piece it back together and repair it would still take ten days to half a month.

Zhao Zhixin was just about to speak when he saw Yuan Xidi glare at him with a man-eating look.

He sighed helplessly, gently set down his bowl and chopsticks, his tone carrying a hint of desolation: "Yeah, this senior brother's vacation is over too; in a bit I'll go back to the Corps to report in together with Fourth."

Feng Mu grinned: "What a coincidence, today I also have to go with Big Senior Brother to the prison to report for duty; I was just about to tell Fourth Senior Brother that our daily sparring will have to come to a halt for now."

Yuan Xidi's expression stiffened slightly; Zhao Zhixin's brow couldn't help but twitch. The two exchanged a glance, then quickly left the dining table.

After a while, Li Bashan finished eating slowly with careful chewing, turned to Li Guishe and said: "Master, then I'll take Little Junior Brother to the prison to report for duty."

Li Guishe sucked on his pipe, nodding woodenly.

"You ate much more slowly today." He felt Big Senior Brother seemed a bit different somehow, but couldn't quite tell what exactly was different.

Li Bashan replied in a muffled, serious tone: "In the past I only cared about eating fast, never savoring; today I tried eating slower, and discovered eating slower actually tastes more fragrant."

Li Guishe felt Big Senior Brother's words had hidden meaning, but then thought again and felt he was being oversensitive; with Big Senior Brother's personality, this statement about eating should just be about eating.

Li Bashan slowly stood up and walked toward the door with firm steps; Feng Mu immediately followed close behind, catching up in long strides.

Hong Ya, like a cheerful little bird, bounced along behind the two of them, seeing them out the martial hall's main gate.

Hong Ya, facing Little Junior Brother sitting in the off-road vehicle's passenger seat, put on a caring appearance and said insincerely: "Junior Brother, once you reach the prison you must work diligently and wholeheartedly, don't let your mind wander to other things."

Feng Mu waved at Hong Ya, revealed a faint smile, then gently rolled up the car window.

Li Bashan steadily pressed the accelerator; the off-road vehicle slowly drove away under Hong Ya's gaze.

Hong Ya's mouth curled into a crafty smile; as she walked back to the martial hall, she twisted her ponytail into a bun and said rudely to Master Li Guishe:

"Master, after you finish eating go watch the front desk at the dojo for your disciple; don't stay cooped up in the room acting all mysterious all day."

Li Guishe's deep, slightly turbid eyes cast a complex look, glancing lightly over Hong Ya; he didn't speak, just silently picked up his pipe, gently tapped out the ash inside.

Hong Ya didn't think that much, just took it as her master the old man tacitly agreeing.

"Little Junior Sister, what do you plan to do if not watch the hall? You wouldn't be planning to..."

A gloomy voice carrying a touch of eeriness suddenly rang out, like a low chant in the night wind, catching Hong Ya off guard and making her heart jump; she reacted like a cat whose tail was suddenly stepped on, hurriedly denying: "I didn't! What nonsense are you spouting!"

Gong Qi stared blankly: "No, I hadn't even finished speaking yet?"

Hong Ya came to her senses, frowned, and glared at Gong Qi: "Fifth Senior Brother, what are you still doing here? Big Senior Brother and Little Junior Brother have already left; don't you have to go to the prison for work today?"

Gong Qi's face instantly turned gloomy; an inexplicable sense of loss surged in his heart. He also wanted to know if he had turned invisible today — why didn't Big Senior Brother take him along when he went out?

Has a new love made him forget the old? He smiled bitterly in his heart; indeed, love can be transferred!

Gong Qi lightly used his fingernail to peel off a piece of dry skin at the corner of his mouth, his mouth curling into a self-mocking cold laugh: "I got left behind — is that my fault?!!"

The off-road vehicle drove smoothly on the road.

Road conditions were a bit congested; along the way the Patrol Bureau and the Investigation Department had set up checkpoints, inspecting vehicles one by one.

"Big Senior Brother, did we forget something?" Feng Mu broke the heavy silence inside the car.

Hearing this, Li Bashan frowned and pondered for a while; he looked at Feng Mu sitting in the passenger seat, then at the empty back seat, didn't notice anything wrong — it had always been like this before.

Suddenly, Li Bashan slapped his forehead hard and said in a muffled voice: "I forgot to have Hong Ya bring you lunch."

Feng Mu froze; what he wanted to ask probably wasn't this.

His expression changed slightly: "Big Senior Brother, did you bring food?"

Li Bashan's face reddened slightly: "Mm, there's a bucket in the trunk."

Feng Mu said understandingly: "As long as Big Senior Brother brought food it's fine; me missing one meal doesn't matter."

Li Bashan's expression changed several times; he didn't respond. This man would risk life and limb for his junior brothers, junior sisters, and master, but when it came to eating he guarded his food tightly — after all, eating is a principle and bottom line bigger than the sky.

The vehicle was cleared and released.

Li Bashan drove with eyes fixed ahead; Feng Mu sighed, and to ease the awkwardness in the car he turned on the radio, listening to the news broadcast inside.

【Emergency bulletin: Yesterday afternoon, a major kidnapping case occurred at Xin Jia Noodle Shop on xxx Street in this district. The victim's identity information and facial features are as follows...】

【Currently, the Patrol Bureau and Investigation Department are conducting tense investigations day and night, searching for clues with all their might.】

【We urge all citizens to maintain high vigilance; if any suspicious persons or clues related to this case are discovered in the city, please immediately call the hotline xxxxxxxxx to report. Citizens providing valid clues will be rewarded with up to 1 million.】

【End of bulletin.】

【Next, we will bring you the latest news updates in this city.】

【This morning, the Executive Government's Education Department joined hands with over a dozen middle schools in this district to hold a Middle School Joint Martial Arts Competition. This event not only aims to enhance the overall quality of middle school students in our district, but also hopes to cultivate students' real combat abilities through martial dao spirit.】

【.....】

(End of Chapter)