Chương 23: Second Visit to the Palace

Lin Shuxuan didn't know where to begin because there were so many flaws.

"How could you tarnish my reputation like that? I'm still an innocent high school boy who's never been in a relationship."

Yu Xin said disdainfully.

"You're such a scumbag from the moment you open your mouth, but that makes sense, Bai Shasha is probably just playing with you."

"I disagree with that. She is still completely devoted to me."

Yu Xin chuckled and slapped a stack of documents and data onto the table.

"If only you had the same shamelessness as your talent in martial arts."

She was a little vulnerable.

"With so many resources piled on you, why is your progress so slow? Even a dog would have grown bigger after eating so many supplements, right?"

"Have a sip of water to calm down."

Lin Shuxuan handed her the half-empty water glass and watched her gulp it down.

The investment the police department made in him was considerable: a bottle of supplement every day, two expert mentors providing close guidance, and expensive ingredients for his three daily meals.

This investment is already considered extravagant.

However, due to the limitation of "openness", his martial arts cultivation could not make any progress.

But it wasn't without its benefits; Lin Shuxuan felt his physical condition had improved significantly, and now he could climb stairs at home without getting out of breath.

"Fortunately, my footwork and boxing skills have improved a lot. I am indeed a more competent teacher than Xiao Lingyue."

The beautiful, mature woman calmed down after thinking about this.

During this week of training, Lin Shuxuan gradually mastered the combined use of Dragon Fist and Dragon Fist Deceptive Step.

Now, when facing Yu Xin in her "ordinary person state," she is no longer helpless.

He lacks martial arts skills, and his mana bar is too short, which means he can only be a real man for three seconds.

As he had anticipated, practicing the Dragon Fist Heart Sutra could improve his control over his body and, in another sense, enhance his endurance.

With the added supplements he's taken recently, his physical condition has improved dramatically compared to before.

At least keeping up with his teammates in the Shinkai Martial Arts Team Competition shouldn't be a problem.

Otherwise, if they fall behind due to lack of physical strength, it would be a real joke for Quanxinhai.

"Lunch break is almost over, let's continue training."

Yu Xin was about to lead Lin Shuxuan to the basement for training.

The office landline suddenly rang, and the beautiful, mature woman's face instantly contorted into a bitter expression, indicating that there was an urgent mission requiring her to be on duty.

Her slender fingers pinched the receiver and placed it beside her delicate earlobe.

Her expression gradually changed from annoyance to seriousness, and after a long while, she hung up the phone.

"Something serious has happened? I can train by myself this afternoon."

Yu Xin gave him a strange look.

"The municipal government has issued an arrest warrant for you, requiring me to immediately detain you at the police station."

"Why?"

Lin Shuxuan was puzzled.

"Do you remember that Fang Cheng has a younger brother? He filed a lawsuit against you, claiming that as the author of urban legends, you are likely an accomplice in the serial crimes."

Yu Xin gently massaged her temples with her fingers. Fang Cheng was her subordinate, and she was clearly also having a headache because she had failed to comfort the families of the fallen team members.

"I applied for triple the compensation for him back then, but I didn't expect that the child still had such a lot of resentment in his heart that he hadn't shown it."

Litigation... that is indeed a troublesome matter. Lin Shuxuan has not had much experience with legal cases, but he imagines there are many rules and regulations involved.

"Will the city government convict me because of the urban legends I write?"

Yu Xin shook her head.

"Our Public Security Bureau has a detailed review of cases. You've already been convicted because of the issues you've raised."

"Since you're perfectly fine now, you're naturally innocent."

Lin Shuxuan was relieved to hear this.

It really does feel good to have connections.

Seeing his listless appearance, Yu Xin sneered:

"You think it's that easy? You are innocent, but the trial process cannot be short. Evidence collection, witness testimonies, and the judge's decision all take time."

"You are not allowed to participate in the New Sea City Martial Arts Tournament if you are involved in a lawsuit."

Lin Shuxuan finally realized the seriousness of the matter.

Damn it... I just wanted to switch to martial arts, why are there so many strange things happening?

He felt that someone was working against him from the shadows.

"Sister Yu Xin, actually, we don't necessarily have to participate in this competition. Can Ye Lingyue really lead me to beat the other teams and enter the arena?"

The girl with a terrible sense of direction may be stunningly beautiful, but martial arts competitions are all about skill.

He didn't want to burden others, especially now that he was embroiled in lawsuits.

"Boost the morale of others!"

Yu Xin was so disappointed in him that she wanted to pinch his waist, but Lin Shuxuan dodged her with a single step. She was somewhat surprised; his skills were indeed much better than they had been a week ago.

"Ye Lingyue is much stronger than you think. She could single-handedly dominate the entire match. If we had to compare, she'd probably be worth 3 of you."

Why use me as a unit of combat power...? And I sound incredibly weak... Lin Shuxuan continued listening.

"As for the upcoming tournament, we also have a plan."

"In short, as long as you can participate successfully, you will definitely be among the top seven."

"but..."

She pinched her chin with her fingers, lost in thought.

"Fang Cheng's brother probably doesn't have the guts to file a lawsuit; there must be other forces behind him pushing him forward."

There's a mastermind behind it all...? Lin Shuxuan thought it made sense.

He got into a fight with someone on the street and, in a fit of anger, went to the municipal government to report the incident.

However, they were deterred by the incredibly complicated regulations and procedures; the corresponding processes and departmental communication were as complex as linear algebra.

Without months of dedicated study, even ordinary people struggle to file a case.

Now, the city government is going to re-examine cases that have already been closed by the Public Security Bureau, and it is indeed unlikely that there is no powerful force behind it.

"Could it be the Baiqi Group?"

After much deliberation, Lin Shuxuan concluded that there was only one major power he might have offended.

"Unlikely."

Yu Xin shook her head in rebuttal.

"Because of Bai Shasha, the stock price of Baiqi Group has plummeted, and their board of directors can't wait for this matter to pass."

"Perhaps a few giants wanted to use this as an excuse to short-sell Baiqi Group's stock price again, and you just happened to get crushed by them."

If that's the case, then it's truly an undeserved disaster... Lin Shuxuan asked:

"What should we do now?"

"Let the beautiful security guard arrest you now."

As Yu Xin spoke, she took out a restraint belt from the drawer. Seeing that Lin Shuxuan looked speechless and obviously didn't understand her sense of humor, she stuck out her tongue and put the belt back.

"Although the sheriff's department has a high degree of autonomy, it still has to put on a show, otherwise the city will complain to the federal government."

"You'll be staying at the police station for the time being."

Lin Shuxuan nodded in agreement.

"I'll have to come up with another white lie for my family to hear."

......

At night, Lin Shuxuan, having finished training, arrived at the room prepared by Yu Xin.

The decor is elegant and cozy, with a large double bed covered in a genuine silk quilt.

The windows on one side offer excellent views; the police station building is located on the inner ring road, offering a view of the city's central tower.

The lights of "New Pearl of the Sea" flow like moonlight, illuminating one side of the room.

Lin Shuxuan stared blankly at the tower. Those high-ranking figures perched on the clouds might just be playing a casual game, but for him, it would be a catastrophe.

He spread the legal documents he was about to receive on the bed.

Although Yu Xin promised to solve the problem, he still wanted to know more about it himself to feel at ease.

"As expected... I can't understand it at all."

After two hours of intense work by lamplight, Lin Shuxuan had no choice but to accept reality.

The various provisions are both mutually restrictive and complementary. It is impossible to fully understand federal law without professional study and years of work experience.

Now that he has lost Bai Shasha as a lead and cannot find a senior lawyer to defend him, he can only place his hopes on Yu Xin and the Public Security Bureau.

But it wasn't without its gains; he discovered a very interesting charge.

The Crime of Extinction of Human Civilization He had read about the Federation's five greatest sinners in his history textbook.

This concept has been recorded in history textbooks, but the explanation is vague.

The information Yu Xin gave him came from within the Public Security Bureau and included records of the deeds of a sinner named Rometheus.

A century ago, the Federation built a towering tower on the equator, far more magnificent and awe-inspiring than the one in New Sea City, which was said to reach the heavens.

Its name is "Tower of Babel".

It is the culmination of humanity's boundless wisdom and is hailed as the sword of divine retribution that ended the era of alien beasts.

But now it has become a den of monsters, and the Tower of Babel has become a place of certain death.

The records do not contain more specific details about the events, but it is known that Rometheus was directly involved in the fall of the Tower of Babel.

Afterwards, Rometheus disappeared without a trace, and the Federal Parliament nailed him and his family to the pillar of eternal shame in history.

Isn't this a way to make a name for oneself in history?... Unable to think of a way to resolve the lawsuit, Lin Shuxuan read some more historical anecdotes before falling into a deep sleep.

This bed is much more comfortable than the one at home.

......

Inside the imposing manor.

An elegant garden villa.

Yu Xin sat opposite a man wearing a star on his hat, separated by a tea set in the middle.

Her face was gloomy.

"What should we do? The municipal process will definitely take a long time, and I don't think there's much we can do."

Although she boasted to Lin Shuxuan, she was truly at a loss.

The Municipal Affairs and Public Security Bureau are not subordinate to each other; while enjoying a high degree of autonomy, they have very little influence over municipal affairs.

Guan Yunyang leisurely used the lid to skim the foam off the teacup, his expression relaxed.

"The finest tea leaves in Hening City are said to be grown and picked near the burrows of the 'Midnight Rat,' giving them an exceptionally rich flavor. Would you like to try some?"

A vein bulged on Yu Xin's forehead.

She slammed her hand on the table, causing the expensive tea set to tremble violently.

"Guan Yunyang, can you stop pretending? I'm talking to you about serious matters. I'm your sister!"

Guan Yunyang added calmly, "Cousin."

"You were despicable enough using him to investigate the case back then, and now you want to use him to establish your authority. How could any family in Xinhai City allow a commoner to win a martial arts tournament?"

Yu Xin stared at him and said, word by word:

"Don't use him as a political pawn; that's not the demeanor of a major general."

Yu Xin held back some of what she said during the day, but she had some clues about the targeting of Lin Shuxuan.

The winner of the New Sea Martial Arts Tournament will not only receive an early admission spot to the Federation Military University, but will also receive unparalleled honors.

"Seven Sons of the New Sea" Even among deeply rooted families, there is competition, and this honor is one aspect of it.

For families that regard their family reputation as an important asset, whether or not a descendant receives this title is of great importance.

This is related to the family's prestige and future potential.

Guan Yunyang's plan to promote Lin Shuxuan as one of the Seven New Seas undoubtedly threatened the interests of many families.

The fact that Lin Shuxuan has been sued is something that the entire upper-class society of Shanghai is happy to see.

I just don't know who's really in charge...?

"Your concern for him is unusual, cousin. Don't forget your place; this isn't good for him."

Yu Xin slumped back into her chair like a deflated balloon.

Guan Yunyang took a small sip from his purple clay teacup and said slowly:

"Don't worry about the lawsuit. I've brought in a 'prophet' whose testimony will confirm Lin Shuxuan's innocence, and the case will be closed soon."

Yu Xin's gaze narrowed slightly. The extraordinary paths that prophets walked allowed them to see through a person's past and future.

It's commonly known as fortune telling, but the predictions are exceptionally accurate.

Accurate enough to serve as evidence.

"What if Lin Shuxuan really does something wrong?"

She asked with a puzzled look.

"That boy doesn't seem very honest."

"Don't worry about it," Guan Yunyang said with a normal smile.

"That prophet was my former lover."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yu Xin spat in his face.

"The New Sea Martial Arts Tournament is approaching, and my friends will be coming to watch. I plan to let Lin Shuxuan meet them."

Guan Yunyang wiped his face with boiling water at 100 degrees Celsius. This high temperature, which could burn through the skin of an ordinary person, only made his face as smooth as porcelain.

Yu Xin was slightly taken aback, then understood.

"Oh, so you want Lin Shuxuan to get their protection."

But the beautiful, mature woman soon became a little worried.

"But Lin Shuxuan has just started practicing martial arts and his strength is low, so they probably won't take him seriously."

"Just trying my luck, what if I hit it off?"

Guan Yunyang didn't seem to care. He shrugged and added:

"Oh, by the way, Gong Shuang will be coming too. I'm letting you know in advance."

Yu Xin was furious when she heard the name.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no, I have to hide Lin Shuxuan. If she knew how terrible my student is, she would laugh at me for a whole year."

Yu Xin paced anxiously around the room; she had begun exhibiting repetitive behaviors.

"What are you doing?"

She noticed Guan Yunyang lightly swiping his phone screen.

"Oh, send them a copy of Lin Shuxuan's information, so they don't fail to recognize him when they come over."

Guan Yunyang stood up and dodged Yu Xin, who lunged at him to tear his face off.

"Ugh, I'm a little sleepy."

"You fucking stop right there!!"

......

In the early morning, Lin Shuxuan woke up in his soft, spacious bed.

This was a rare good night's sleep, as the sharp, grating sound of a chair being dragged upstairs from his own room was often annoying.

As I dressed and went downstairs, I saw that Yu Xin looked exceptionally radiant today.

Her long, wavy, brown hair was perfectly styled, her makeup was exquisite, and she wore simple hoop earrings; she looked both mature and glamorous.

However, the two heavy dark circles under her eyes couldn't be covered up no matter what.

When she saw Lin Shuxuan approaching, she glanced at him and then turned her head away.

Who made her angry again... Lin Shuxuan was a little confused, but still greeted them politely.

"Good morning, Sister Yu Xin. Did you have insomnia again last night because of scary stories?"

Yu Xin felt embarrassed and annoyed upon hearing this, and turned her head to glare at him fiercely.

"Oh dear, our little Yu Xin is still the same as before, she gets scared by little stories and can't sleep."

Lin Shuxuan looked in the direction of the sound and saw an extremely beautiful and vibrant black peony.