Chapter 84: So You Are Lin Qing?

Inside the hospital ward.

On the pristine hospital bed, the female Inspector slowly woke up. After struggling to open her eyes, she looked at the unfamiliar ceiling, suddenly widened her eyes, and sat up abruptly.

Beside the bed, her assistant had already woken up and was sitting nearby looking at her phone. Seeing her awake, she exclaimed with joy, "Captain Xu, you're awake."

"I'm still alive..."

Xu Qiu murmured, then looked at her assistant as if suddenly startled, wanting to ask about Lin Qing's situation, but she opened her mouth and ended up asking nothing.

Was there even a need to ask?

The Chief Captain wasn't in Lin'an, and Lin Qing had been ambushed and attacked by the madman Chu Tianyao; wasn't the result inevitably death?

"Captain Xu," the female assistant said excitedly, "I just received an incredibly absurd piece of news. If you knew, you would definitely..."

"I'm not in the mood right now."

Xu Qiu cut her off, fell silent for a moment, then shook her head slightly, saying, "Take me to see Lin Qing first. I want to speak a few words with him."

"Speak? Right now?" the assistant asked, somewhat strangely.

When she received the news, she had been utterly shocked; how did Captain Xu guess this immediately upon waking? Xu Qiu looked at the pristine sheets, took a deep breath, and slowly said, "If I had persuaded him properly, acted alongside him, or let him wait for the headquarters to arrive, this situation might not have happened. I bear some responsibility for this..."

"Ah?"

The assistant was momentarily stunned, suddenly realizing that Captain Xu seemed to have misunderstood something.

"My aunt came to Lin'an this time and said she wanted to meet him, but now..." Xu Qiu shook her head slightly, speaking in a low voice, "His body is still there, right? Take me to see it."

"No, Captain Xu, Lin Qing he..."

Just as the assistant was about to explain, the ward door suddenly opened, and Lin Qing walked in from outside.

Xu Qiu was stunned: "You... didn't die?"

"Why does Captain Xu wish for my death the moment we meet?" Lin Qing glanced at her. "How are you?"

"I'm fine..." Xu Qiu found it hard to believe and couldn't help asking, "What about Chu Tianyao? You're actually completely unharmed?"

"Of course he's dead," Lin Qing said. "Chu Tianyao's body is at the Municipal Bureau."

"Chu Tianyao is dead?" Xu Qiu was stunned. "How did he die?"

"He was shot to death by bullets."

Lin Qing gave a casual explanation, not wanting to say more, and simply shook his head, saying, "For the specific details, Captain Xu, you can find out slowly. For now, prepare yourself. The Municipal Bureau has issued an order for all active Inspectors to proceed to Lin'an City International Airport."

"Shot to death by bullets?" Xu Qiu found it hard to believe; how could a powerhouse like Chu Tianyao be killed by bullets? Suppressing her doubts for the moment, she said, "Alright, wait a moment for me. I'll get ready immediately."

"I'll wait for you on the first floor."

Lin Qing nodded, said no more, and left the ward.

"Xiao Qi, how exactly did Chu Tianyao die?" Xu Qiu couldn't help but look at her assistant.

"I was just about to tell you that, Captain Xu, but you wouldn't let me speak..." the female assistant muttered, then said, "Chu Tianyao was killed by Captain Lin."

"He killed him?" Xu Qiu was stunned. "How is that possible? Explain it clearly."

"I'm not entirely clear either. This news came from..."

After Xu Qiu finished tidying her hair and uniform, when she saw Lin Qing again on the hospital's first floor, she couldn't help but look at him several more times.

Lin Qing could guess her thoughts and naturally didn't mind, simply asking, "Captain Xu, your Inspector vehicle was damaged. Will you ride with me in the same car?"

"... Alright." Xu Qiu nodded lightly.

After getting into the car, Xu Qiu finally couldn't help asking, "Did you really kill Chu Tianyao?"

"He underestimated me, so I took the opportunity to ambush him," Lin Qing shook his head slightly. "In a direct fight, I am no match for him."

"Xiao Qi told me..." Xu Qiu looked at him strangely. "I heard you used the combat techniques 'Stiffness' and 'Softness' in their full defense states to restrain him, allowing a drone to shoot him dead."

"That's right," Lin Qing nodded.

"But that still doesn't add up," Xu Qiu stared at him. "The combat technique I cultivate is also from the Free Body series. I know very well that even this full defense state has a limit. Theoretically, you shouldn't be able to block Chu Tianyao unless..."

"Unless what?" Lin Qing looked at her with a faint smile.

"You must have mastered the original Morning Sun cultivation method, right?" Xu Qiu asked, incredulous.

"Yes, lucky me. I broke through just a few days ago," Lin Qing nodded slightly. "Captain Xu's guess is quite accurate."

"That's the only possibility," Xu Qiu took a deep breath. "Cultivating combat techniques has no shortcuts; one can only improve bit by bit. Even if you are a genius, it should take at least three months. So it must be the original Morning Sun cultivation method."

She looked at Lin Qing, finding it hard to believe. "Your Version 77 cultivation method only succeeded two months ago, right? You mastered the original version that quickly?"

"The EPS series high-energy sustained-release fluids are supplied daily, plus the Super-Sense Original Fluid. It would be strange if I didn't succeed," Lin Qing shook his head.

"Super-Sense Original Fluid?" Xu Qiu was stunned. "Where did you get the Super-Sense Original Fluid?"

"I found it by chance at an underground boxing ring," Lin Qing said casually. "I didn't turn it in at the time; I verified it at home and then injected it."

Such things are quite common among Inspectors.

Once someone discovers a treasure like the Super-Sense Original Fluid, who would turn it in?

Anyway, he used it, and it wasn't public resources. Since he broke through because of it, the Inspectorate wouldn't care about such a small matter; they would only praise his good luck and his cautiousness.

"Super-Sense Original Fluid... I see..."

Xu Qiu murmured, then added, "Even so, the Super-Sense Original Fluid can only help you enter the basics. Being able to master the original Morning Sun cultivation method in such a short time is already very fast."

"Indeed, lucky me," Lin Qing nodded slightly.

Super-Sense is just the entry level; afterwards, one must perceive a suitable second-level energy, which relies heavily on luck.

It's like catching fish in the dark. Some people are lucky and might catch one on the very first day; others are unlucky and might not succeed for years.

"Now you really have to join the Headquarters Elite Inspectorate with me," Xu Qiu couldn't help but glance at Lin Qing.

From the method Lin Qing used to lock down Chu Tianyao, she could guess he must have also mastered the four combat techniques 'Stiffness', 'Softness', 'Micro', and 'Force'; otherwise, he couldn't have forcibly restrained Chu Tianyao and neutralized Chu Tianyao's attacks without injury.

As for 'Speed' and 'Agility', those were techniques Lin Qing had mastered long ago, which she had also heard about.

In other words, Lin Qing's strength is now completely equal to hers.

"When are we going to the headquarters?" Lin Qing asked.

"Every year, it's in the middle of the year."

Xu Qiu explained, "We report officially at headquarters on July 1st, because personnel and resource adjustments are made at this time every year."

"That's still three or four months away." Lin Qing nodded slightly.

"You could go now anyway; it's not the Urban Circle, so no visa is needed," Xu Qiu said.

"Let's talk about it later."

Lin Qing sized up Xu Qiu sitting opposite him and said, "However, I'm more curious about how you, Captain Xu, fainted earlier?"

Xu Qiu slowly frowned and said, "When I discovered Chu Tianyao's appearance, I originally intended to support you, but a mysterious person suddenly appeared and attacked me."

"You are at the level of a Patrol Chief in strength," Lin Qing said in confusion. "Even if it was a sneak attack, that person's strength must have been very high, right?"

He had read the on-site report; there were no traces of a fight, indicating Xu Qiu had been easily defeated.

"That person wore a mask, so I don't know who they are, but their strength was indeed terrifying."

Xu Qiu frowned and said, "I feel they should be no less than a Senior Patrol Chief; they knocked me down with just a casual move." "Just one move?" Lin Qing exclaimed in shock. "What kind of strength is a Senior Patrol Chief?"

"Under normal circumstances, only a Gene Awakener who has grown up, or a top-tier powerhouse before Gene Awakening, can possibly be promoted to the rank of Senior Patrol Chief," Xu Qiu explained.

"That strong?" Lin Qing frowned slightly. "What specific level is a Senior Patrol Chief?"

He suspected this person might be the Number One Head of the Crimson Oriole Society, but felt this strength was simply too high.

"If it is a Gene Awakener, they must wait until their gene adaptation is adjusted to the most perfect state, and cultivate an entire series of combat arts to the instinct level," Xu Qiu explained.

Lin Qing didn't quite understand what level of strength this was and couldn't help but ask, "What about someone who hasn't undergone Gene Awakening yet?"

"This situation is not rare either."

Xu Qiu thought for a moment and said, "For someone who hasn't awakened yet to rival a grown-up Gene Awakener, besides mastering an original combat art, they must also be able to manipulate a suitable gene ability in advance."

Lin Qing understood.

Looking at it this way, a Senior Patrol Chief is indeed much stronger than an ordinary Patrol Chief.

"The person who ambushed me was probably trying to assist Chu Tianyao in killing you," Xu Qiu said. "But they had no intention of killing me at all, nor did they look for you, right?"

"No, I never saw him," Lin Qing shook his head.

Although he had cultivated six combat arts to the instinct level, the opponent not only mastered an original combat art but could also manipulate a suitable gene ability in advance!

This was far too powerful compared to his current self.

With such astonishing strength, if they wanted to kill him, he probably wouldn't survive.

"If it were the Number One Head of the Crimson Oriole Society, they should have cooperated with Chu Tianyao to kill me, right?" Lin Qing frowned.

"It is indeed strange."

Xu Qiu also frowned and said, "If he wanted to kill me, one move would have been enough, yet he didn't hurt me at all; he only stopped me from saving you."

"That still doesn't make sense," Lin Qing shook his head. "He stopped you from saving me, wanting Chu Tianyao to kill me. If I die, why didn't he take action against me after Chu Tianyao died?"

Xu Qiu shook his head slightly, not knowing how to explain it either.

"Perhaps this person never intended to take action against me at all," Lin Qing couldn't help but say.

Actually, he was certain in his heart.

If any hostility were generated against him, the Order Level would inevitably drop; with strength comparable to a Senior Patrol Chief, who knows how much the Order Level would drop? "It shouldn't be the Number One Head of the Crimson Oriole Society."

Xu Qiu shook his head and said, "After all, it's just a Crimson Oriole Society. Even if the Number One Head had the combat power of a Patrol Chief, that would already be absurd, let alone a Senior Patrol Chief. Unless this Number One Head of the Crimson Oriole Society is truly responsible for something other than the Crimson Oriole Society, this would be possible."

Lin Qing also nodded slightly.

Senior Patrol Chiefs are all elites of the headquarters; once deployed, they become the highest commanders of patrols within a range of several provinces.

Such a figure might not amount to much in the Urban Circle, but they would count as a personage in the global Patrol Realm.

"It seems the waters in Lin'an City are very deep..." Lin Qing couldn't help but fall into thought.

Not long after.

After the patrol car arrived at Lin'an City International Airport, it followed the special channel for personnel and came near the government-exclusive airport.

This airport only allows military and public aircraft to land.

There are seventeen Patrol Officers in Lin'an City in total, and today, unusually, fifteen of them gathered.

Except for Chen Yanan, who has not yet resumed duty, and one Patrol Officer out on official business, the other fifteen were already waiting at the exclusive airport.

Zhang Guodong, the Director of the City Patrol Bureau, also arrived with two subordinates to welcome them.

Although the Director only holds an administrative rank and no patrol title, he is at least the highest leader of the City Patrol Bureau.

The visitors are the legendary Patrol Envoy and three Senior Patrol Chiefs; if not for work reasons, it would have been proper for Yuan Anping, the Chief Captain, to bring all Patrol Officers to welcome them together.

Lin Qing and Xu Qiu were the last to arrive; there were five minutes left before the special aircraft dispatched by headquarters would arrive.

Upon seeing Lin Qing, the thirteen Patrol Officers also actively came over to greet him; their attitude had already been friendly before, but now it was incredibly enthusiastic.

"Haha, Captain Lin, haven't seen you for a while, and you've made a contribution again, again, and again?"

"I heard Captain Lin already killed Chu Tianyao?"

"I always thought Captain Lin was a genius; indeed, I didn't misjudge. Captain Lin is only eighteen and has already taken down an S-class wanted criminal?"

"A First-Class Merit! With Captain Lin's current strength plus a First-Class Merit, he will soon be a Patrol Chief, right?"

"An eighteen-year-old Patrol Chief; our Lin'an can finally claim to have its own genius Patrol Officer."

"If the Patrol Envoy hears about this, he will probably praise Captain Lin in a moment."

The Patrol Officers, each of whom could be considered a personage in Lin'an City, were now almost all surrounding Lin Qing, so enthusiastic it was like fire.

Lin Qing also understood these people's thoughts.

An eighteen-year-old Patrol Chief is indeed rare; someone with such talent and potential would generally at least become a student at Chaoyang Martial Arts Hall; how would they take the path of a Patrol Officer? With such excellent talent, very few are willing to join the Patrol.

Such an endlessly bright future, with merits and strength that are also admirable; how could the Patrol Officers present not be enthusiastic?

And Director Zhang Guodong stood calmly to the side, giving Lin Qing a slight nod as a greeting, maintaining the restraint and composure of a leader.

The patrol officers could only be described as polite toward him, but toward Lin Qing they were as enthusiastic as fire.

Having mingled in official circles for many years, he did not care much about such matters.

Mainly, as a leader, he actually disliked subordinates who rose too quickly and held too much prestige; he also disliked the patrol officers' rash attitude of placing strength and merit above all else, which was far too unserious.

"Everyone, return to your positions."

Zhang Guodong suddenly spoke solemnly: "The Patrol Envoy has arrived. If the Patrol Envoy sees this in a moment, what would it look like?"

Upon hearing this, the group of patrol officers looked up and indeed saw a small white military aircraft in the sky, flying toward them.

After the plane stopped, the boarding stairs were already positioned.

With a hiss, the cabin door slowly opened.

There, a woman of about twenty-five or twenty-six, wearing a white tracksuit with a high ponytail, appeared at the cabin door and walked down the boarding stairs.

Behind her followed three men.

Lin Qing could not help but look closely.

Were these the legendary Patrol Envoy and the three Senior Patrol Captains?

The woman with the high ponytail strolled casually, leading the group to stand before the assembled patrol officers.

City Director Zhang Guodong immediately stepped forward, saluting at the head: "Welcome, Patrol Envoy and three Senior Patrol Captains, to Lin'an City to guide our work. Please give your instructions."

"Mm."

The woman with the high ponytail glanced at Zhang Guodong with little interest, swept her gaze over the crowd, and said casually: "I am the Patrol Envoy 'Tang Wanqiu', specially dispatched by the Patrol Headquarters."

At that moment, her gaze suddenly paused, stopping on Lin Qing. A smile rose at the corner of her lips as she spoke: "So you are Lin Qing?"

Just adjusted my schedule; there will be another update later.

(End of this chapter)