Chapter 430: Talking to You About This, You Wouldn't Understand Anyway

Twelve massive Water Transport Guild ships slowly departed the wharf, following the river toward the vast open sea.

The ship Yang Ling was on had quite a few Ironclad agents stationed aboard, holding control over every entrance.

They coordinated with the soldiers and the Water Transport Guild disciples to maintain order on the ship, and also to guard against any Rong Tribe spies causing trouble.

Suddenly, he spotted Yun Buchuan and Zhao Xun standing not far away.

These two directors of the Second and Fourth Divisions of the Public Security Department were assigning tasks to the people under their command.

Behind them, Lu Yunchen stood with a stern expression, looking completely serious.

Yun Ruo, meanwhile, was glancing around, her gaze subtle. The moment her eyes met Yang Ling's, her heart couldn't help but pound violently several times.

"Director Yun actually boarded the ship too?"

Yang Ling felt somewhat pleasantly surprised. This trip to Fire Flood Dragon Island really had quite a few familiar faces on board.

At that moment, Yun Ruo quietly reminded them of a few things, and Yun Buchuan and Zhao Xun then dismissed their subordinates and hurried over to Zhao Zheng, offering cupped fist salutes.

Zhao Zheng was very gracious: "This journey will require you two directors to keep a close watch, to avoid any Rong Tribe spies causing trouble along the way."

Yang Ling's mind stirred. Once they were out at sea, if any Rong Tribe spy were to chisel holes in the ships, it would inevitably bring catastrophic consequences.

He could summon Little White, and Zhao Xun and the others also had their Mighty Golden Eagles, but the fleet carried a full ten to twenty thousand people. The vast majority of the rest would end up as fish food.

"Fourth Prince, please rest assured. We have already stationed strict guards. If the Rong Tribe spies are wise, they wouldn't dare show themselves so easily."

Yun Buchuan smiled and cupped his fists.

Zhao Xun also smiled and nodded:

"Director Ji of the First Division of our Public Security Department is leading the other directors in patrolling the various ships, and Director Xu of the Bandit Apprehension Division is also coordinating. This journey is foolproof."

Yang Ling was stunned. Ji Kongliu and Xu Wenjun had come too? Just how many directors had the Ironclad Department sent this time?

Perhaps having noticed the confusion in Yang Ling's heart, Zhao Zheng smiled:

"Chief Constable Yang, this time your Ironclad Department's Public Security division has sent a full six directors, and the Bandit Apprehension Division also has six directors.

Only with this many can we be safely delivered to Fire Flood Dragon Island and brought back again."

Twelve directors!

Yang Ling was secretly astonished. If you also counted the director of the First Division of the Strategy Division, the Ironclad Department had placed nearly half of its strength on this fleet.

"Barring any accidents, we should arrive at Fire Flood Dragon Island in half a month."

"This half month should best be spent cultivating, maintaining peak condition, to deal with all sorts of dangers on Fire Flood Dragon Island."

Zhao Zheng gave his instructions, then took his leave from Yun Buchuan and the others, heading to his own cabin.

Xu Wuji and Zhang Wei naturally followed at his side.

"Director Yun, I never expected to see you here this time."

Yang Ling looked at Yun Ruo, his tone carrying a hint of delight.

Yun Buchuan and Zhao Xun exchanged a glance, then dragged Lu Yunchen off to inspect other parts of the great ship.

Apart from the slight change in her expression when she first saw Yang Ling, Yun Ruo had since returned to her former cold and aloof state.

She thought about it very seriously for a moment before answering Yang Ling's question:

"A few days ago, my father wanted to transfer me back to the Capital. I originally disagreed, after all, it wouldn't be fair to the other directors.

But my father said this trip to Fire Flood Dragon Island was quite dangerous, and the Capital needed more fresh strength.

So I agreed to return to the Capital Ironclad Department. I'm now serving as an ordinary Seventh-Rank Ironclad agent in the Third Division, without any official position."

A director of the Second Division of the Public Security Department at the Changhe Prefectural Capital, transferred back to the Third Division of the Capital Ironclad Department to serve as an ordinary Seventh-Rank Ironclad agent?

Yang Ling thought it was actually fairly reasonable. As long as she polished herself for another year or two, Yun Ruo could naturally become a Chief Constable.

After all, she did carry some merits on her record, which could all be counted as political achievements later on.

"Junior Martial Sister Yun."

Several figures walked over, led by an Upper Sixth-Rank expert from the Nine Immortals Dao Palace.

Yang Ling had already seen this person before at the Four Directions Lodge. He was someone who had passed the life tribulation, with attributes comparable to Jiu Xingkong's.

Barring any accidents, this person should be able to represent the standard of Zhao State's most elite younger generation.

Behind him followed two other Nine Immortals Dao Palace disciples, one of whom was an old acquaintance of Yang Ling's, Chi Qingyao. They had gone to the Water Qilin Cave together last time.

"Senior Martial Brother Hua Zhuo, it's been a long time."

Yun Ruo was slightly startled upon seeing the newcomer, then politely cupped her fists in greeting.

Hua Zhuo glanced at the Seventh-Rank Ironclad outfit on Yun Ruo and the Sixth-Rank Ironclad outfit on Yang Ling, then continued with a smile:

"Junior Martial Sister Yun, back when you were cultivating at the Nine Immortals Dao Palace, your talent was outstanding, and Elder Lu even built your foundation and tempered your bones and tendons.

If you had kept at it back then, among the fifty Sixth-Ranks heading to the island today, one of them might well have been you."

He paused. "How about this, once this trip to Fire Flood Dragon Island is over, you come back to the Nine Immortals Dao Palace with me. You count as a disciple of the Nine Immortals Dao Palace after all. Staying in the Ironclad Department, wasting away your years, just isn't worth it."

Although his words were still somewhat polite, when he mentioned the words "Ironclad Department," there was still a trace of contempt in his tone.

Yang Ling was somewhat surprised. Did this guy have a problem with the Ironclad Department?

Or did he think of himself as a sect disciple, viewing Ironclad agents as imperial court hounds, naturally carrying a sense of superiority?

Yun Ruo's brow furrowed slightly, her tone already carrying a bit of stiffness and distance:

"Senior Martial Brother Hua Zhuo, I can cultivate in the Ironclad Department too."

Hua Zhuo didn't catch Yun Ruo's displeasure and continued patiently trying to persuade her:

"Junior Martial Sister Yun, Elder Lu is the elder at our Nine Immortals Dao Palace with the greatest hope of breaking through to the Fourth-Rank Grandmaster realm.

If you can return to the Nine Immortals Dao Palace, once Elder Lu breaks through, you'll have a Grandmaster personally guiding your cultivation.

But if you keep staying in the Ironclad Department, letting those daily trivial matters grind away your time, your martial arts path will naturally be delayed."

After speaking, he looked at Yang Ling, a hint of apology appearing on his face:

"Chief Constable Yang, I'm not saying the Ironclad Department is bad, but it truly isn't suitable for a martial artist's cultivation. It isn't pure enough.

Help me persuade Junior Martial Sister Yun. Returning to the Nine Immortals Dao Palace is her best choice."

Yang Ling's expression was odd: "How is the Ironclad Department not pure enough? When we kill Rong Tribe spies, we can also absorb combat experience.

When we earn merits, there are all kinds of rewards too, including but not limited to Foundation Consolidation Pills, Spirit Nurturing Pills, and so on..."

Hua Zhuo frowned, then gently shook his head:

"Forget it. Your vision and understanding are still at the very bottom level. Talking to you about this, you wouldn't understand anyway."

Chi Qingyao's expression was somewhat strange, but the other one let out a laugh and muttered:

"Aren't they just imperial court hounds..."

Upon hearing this, Hua Zhuo closed his mouth and said nothing, a faint smile hanging on his face.

Yun Ruo frowned and looked at this person.

Yang Ling addressed the other party: "You need to apologize for what you just said, or else I'll slap your senior martial brother across the face."

Hua Zhuo's expression turned cold.

That Sixth-Rank disciple of the Nine Immortals Dao Palace was also somewhat taken aback. What did Senior Martial Brother Hua Zhuo have to do with this? Was this guy a bit too arrogant?

Chi Qingyao wore a wry smile, but unfortunately, she had the least seniority and couldn't say anything at this moment.

"Chief Constable Yang, your temper is still this blunt. Don't forget, you've taken so many Foundation Consolidation Pills from the Nine Immortals Dao Palace, and now you're just turning your back on them like this?"

A middle-aged man around forty-something years old walked over, accompanied by several others of similar age, some from the Nine Immortals Dao Palace, some from the Extreme Flame Sword Manor.

Yang Ling was utterly bewildered. Li Ruhai?

The same Sixth-Rank who had led the Divine Sect team to the Water Qilin Cave back then?

He recalled the Eldest Princess mentioning that over a hundred other Sixth-Ranks would be entering Fire Flood Dragon Island this time.

This man in front of him wasn't planning to go too, was he?