Translator: CinderTL
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Fire trucks with flashing lights filled the surroundings of Scenic Lake.
Although Scenic Lake is more than ten kilometers away from the city center, due to the wealthy and influential individuals owning nearby estates, the fire department still managed to arrive on the scene in less than half an hour.
By now, the fire had mostly been extinguished.
At this moment, Chang Hong, with a grim expression, arrived at the scene.
Here, besides the Chief of Public Security, the nearby vacationing legislator Yan Zheng also approached.
"Jin family! The Jin family! It's always the Jin family! A bunch of incompetents who only know how to mess things up!"
Chang Hong looked at the Jin family's estate, reduced to ruins, his eyes filled with anger. "They clearly don't have the capability, but they offended a top-tier martial artist. Instead of escaping Guangzhou, they thought they could stay here and fight that savage by hiring a security company. Do they have no brains!?"
What truly infuriated him wasn't Li Chunjun's killing spree, but rather why the Jin family couldn't die outside of Guangzhou.
If they had died outside of Guangzhou, Chang Hong wouldn't even have bothered saying a word.
But dying in Guangzhou meant it was the responsibility of the local authorities!
This time, the local council of Guangzhou would likely face repercussions.
To silence those sent from higher up for inspection, he wasn't sure how much he would have to pay in terms of interests.
The only good news now was that the incident happened outside Guangzhou, and Xuan Yue Security wasn't a Guangzhou company. Moreover, all the bodies had been burned in the fire…
He could lower the death toll.
Just report eight.
Nine would be too deliberate.
Any more, and it would hit double digits, and the number wouldn't look good.
Eight casualties would be just right.
"Also, from the Security Department... Huang Shang is dead too... this is getting too reckless!"
A flash of anger appeared in Chang Hong's eyes.
Initially, he had hoped to let Jin Zhiya take the lead while he watched from the sidelines.
But Jin Zhiya never appeared, and things only escalated, reaching a point where he had no choice but to intervene.
"Send out a notice. Tomorrow… Oh, tomorrow is a holiday, so the day after tomorrow, we'll hold a meeting in the morning to discuss how to capture this savage without alarming the military."
Chang Hong called for his assistant to give orders.
"Yes," the assistant quickly noted.
However, his personal bodyguard, Wang Yan, leaned in and spoke, "Xuan Yue Security has gained a significant reputation in Xuanzhou; they are no weaklings. To ensure the safety of Jin Guanghua and his group, Master Lu Jing personally led the team, accompanied by four or five Integration Realm martial artists and twenty internal martial artists. The lineup is incredibly strong."
He lowered his voice, "That savage managed to break through Xuan Yue's defense and kill Jin Guanghua and his group. Regardless of how he did it, it proves his strength. It's very hard for local authorities to handle such a ruthless killer with conventional means."
Chang Hong furrowed his brows.
"If you don't want the military involved, maybe we can seek help from the City Defense."
Wang Yan suggested.
"No!" Chang Hong immediately rejected the idea.
The City Defense is set up in cities with populations of a million or more, with the residence personally guarded by monks from the Chiyang Sword Sect.
They are responsible for the triennial spirit root assessments, dealing with external sect infiltrations, and handling conflicts between monks.
With such a prestigious position, they have authority over local authorities.
"I'm not talking about the big figures in the City Defense, but... their disciples," Wang Yan said. "Their disciples may not mind helping catch the killer for some extra cash."
"Not an option!"
Chang Hong waved his hand. "If their disciples were any good, they'd have been sent to the Chiyang Sword Sect for further training. The ones left in the City Defense, how skilled could they be? If something goes wrong when catching that savage, the responsibility would fall on us!"
As he spoke, his gaze shifted to the approaching Yan Zheng. "Moreover… many of the legislators' bodyguards are Integration Realm martial artists."
Don't be fooled by the fact that Sun Yongxing, at the peak of internal martial arts, was once called one of the top ten martial artists in the civilian sector. That's because martial artists at the Integration Realm martial artist level generally don't circulate in the outside world.
Once someone achieves internal and external integration, they are immediately recruited by prominent figures.
In fact, many times, when an internal martial artist shows the potential for internal-external integration, major figures will sponsor them.
After they break through, they naturally serve these major figures.
Sun Yongxing was no exception.
Unfortunately, he joined the Jin family, became lazy, and died under Li Chunjun's sword before achieving internal-external integration.
"Chairman, this savage's actions are too brazen. We can't let him continue killing!"
Yan Zheng stepped forward and said with righteous indignation.
"The day after tomorrow, we'll hold the meeting. We'll discuss our response."
Chang Hong replied.
"We?"
Yan Zheng was taken aback, then continued, "The Jin family is about to be exterminated. Is that daughter of theirs really not coming to take a look?"
"Who knows."
Chang Hong responded nonchalantly.
"Over the years, we've helped the Jin family with many matters, all for her sake. But this Li Chunjun... Even top-tier martial artists can't deal with him. He's incredibly ruthless. Does she still expect us to handle this?"
Yan Zheng's tone held a hint of dissatisfaction.
"Are you saying we won't handle it?"
Chang Hong looked at him pointedly.
"Of course not, but..."
"Then let's put it to a vote at the meeting the day after tomorrow, whether we should involve the military or not."
Chang Hong interrupted him: "So many people have died. No matter what, we have to do something."
"The military..."
Yan Zheng, like everyone in the local council, did not want to deal with the military.
The servants of the Immortal Sect wouldn't even give them the time of day.
"Do we really need to alert the military?"
Yan Zheng asked.
"Then at the meeting the day after tomorrow, you all think about how to capture this century's savage or how to handle the review and accountability from above."
Chang Hong said, giving him a meaningful look: "If I'm not wrong, you all have been purchasing assets from the Jin Group at a very low price lately."
"It's just normal business behavior. Isn't it the same as your proposal to appoint Director Luo as the new head of the Security Department?"
Yan Zheng smiled and said, "I need to prepare well for the meeting the day after tomorrow. Chairman, I'll take my leave now."
Chang Hong watched him leave with a snort.
Wang Yan, seeing this, was somewhat surprised: "This Mr. Yan..."
"He's just pulling some strings, but until the news from Jin Zhiya's side comes through, he will definitely keep playing both sides."
Chang Hong replied calmly.
Seeing the chairman still going ahead with the meeting despite knowing the legislators' behavior, Wang Yan was puzzled. "Then about your meeting..."
"Calling the meeting is one thing, whether we can pass a resolution is another."
Chang Hong responded slowly: "For a big issue like this, discussing it for two or three months without anyone pushing it is quite normal... Two or three months... By then, the Immortal Sect should have made their decision."
Wang Yan immediately understood the key point in this matter.
Push!
The key to this incident is whether someone is pushing it from behind!
If someone is pushing, with what Li Chunjun has done, this would absolutely be a sensational case. Forget the Security Department, Public Security Department, and Martial Arts world— the military and City Defense would personally intervene!
It would escalate to higher levels without a doubt.
But if no one is pushing...
Li Chunjun is clearly seeking revenge on the Jin family, but the sheer power of this savage has exceeded the handling capabilities of many chairmen and legislators.
As long as it doesn't concern them directly, they're not willing to get involved.
Or rather...
They don't dare provoke this savage, Li Chunjun.
His revenge on the Pinjian Martial Hall, Liu Yacun, Mo Lei, and others has made it clear that this savage is completely out of control and has no regard for rules or laws.
Wang Yan understood.
A top-tier martial artist with no family, no attachments, fearless, and without any boundaries— who wouldn't be terrified facing someone like that?
Letting them shout slogans and take a stand is fine, but if it comes down to a real confrontation...
Who will go?
Killing Li Chunjun offers no benefit.
But if they fail to kill him, they better be ready to face the consequences!
Those consequences might very well be their own lives!
The benefits and risks are worlds apart.
At this moment, he finally understood the true thoughts of his chairman.
As long as the fire doesn't reach them, they can pretend to care and show the outside world they're concerned about this issue.
Just like this meeting— it must be held, and they must act like they care about it.
But no one is truly going to push for it. This meeting will surely lead to no resolution.
Are they really going to risk their own lives against a madman?
Why?
Just because the Jin family has a lot of face?
Unless Jin Zhiya becomes an official disciple or Li Chunjun completely loses his mind, making all the high-level people in Guangzhou feel an immediate threat—otherwise...
This matter will just be forgotten.
Rules?
The greatest rule in this world is violence!
When violence reaches a certain level, all rules will give way to it!
(End of the Chapter)
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