Chapter 254: The Arrival of the Security Bureau

Hua Yueqing was dressed in light, casual clothes, and the other two were also in plain attire. They were so ordinary that the bodyguards thought they were just a few rich kids on vacation in Lijiang.

Once they were on the shuttle, Xie Kun's expression relaxed a little. Hou Jiufang chose his words carefully before speaking up, "May I ask why the three of you have graced our Xie Family with your presence?"

Hua Yueqing waved her hand dismissively, her attitude exceedingly casual. "It has nothing to do with you. We're here for Chen Erbao."

Hearing this, Hou Jiufang was instantly relieved.

He couldn't reason with Chen Erbao; after all, Xie Yuan was in the wrong, and they could only grit their teeth and scrape together the one billion.

But now, people from above had arrived. 'You can't just go around attacking people, Chen Erbao,' he thought. 'If you really do something like that, the military police will be deployed in droves this afternoon.'

Times had changed.

A hundred years ago, a Grandmaster could be said to roam Jiuzhou unopposed. Forget the Patrols; even ministers and high officials of the Court had to treat a Grandmaster with the utmost hospitality.

Dare to make an enemy of a Grandmaster?

If one risked their life to perform a White Rainbow Piercing the Sun, what could anyone do about it?

But things were different now.

No matter how powerful a Grandmaster was, they were finished when faced with airplanes and cannons. Refuse to be disciplined? You wouldn't even need ten thousand troops. A single regiment with heavy weaponry would be enough. They didn't care what kind of monster or demon you were; one cannon blast and it would all be over.

The development of thermal weapons was a complete game-changer for the world of Martial Arts.

In traditional cold weapon warfare, the pinnacle of individual might was, at best, someone like the Overlord of Jiangdong. He was said to be a match for ten thousand men on the battlefield, but Hou Jiufang reckoned you wouldn't even need that many. A few thousand soldiers, even if they just stood there, could probably exhaust the Overlord to death.

Thermal weapons had no such limitations. A single missile could pulverize flesh and bone into dust. It wasn't that numbers were useless, just that their use was limited.

Therefore, Hou Jiufang felt that as long as Chen Erbao wasn't an idiot, he wouldn't dare to pick a fight with people from the Security Bureau.

He didn't know why the Security Bureau was looking for Chen Erbao, but as long as someone could keep Chen Erbao in check, he was relieved.

The shuttle quickly arrived in front of the villa. The bodyguards stood around in small groups, watching the spectacle.

The chaos today had been far too great. They were used to looking imposing with their guns, but today they learned that in the eyes of a true master, their firearms were no better than fire pokers.

Completely useless.

Stepping into the courtyard, Hua Yueqing's gaze immediately fell upon Chen Erbao, who was sitting brazenly on a chair.

Chen Erbao wasn't particularly muscular, but his physique was well-proportioned. His eyes, in particular, were frighteningly bright. Perhaps because he had just killed over a hundred people, a faint killing aura hung about him, letting anyone know with a single glance that he was not to be trifled with.

This killing aura was something you couldn't see or touch, but it was just like a person's presence—you could feel it with just one look.

A high-ranking official, after many years in their position, would naturally develop an air of authority. Without even getting angry, just by standing there, he could not be ignored.

It was the same for someone who had killed many people.

The moment Hua Yueqing entered, Chen Erbao looked up, his gaze landing on her and the two young men.

Their gazes met, and the atmosphere instantly froze.

After a long moment, Chen Erbao, slightly surprised, spoke with a smile, "The Xie Family still hasn't given up? Found some helpers?"

Xie Kun was furious but didn't dare to speak. Hou Jiufang stepped forward and said, "Mr. Chen, you misunderstand! The Xie Family doesn't have that kind of influence to invite three young Grandmasters. These three are here specifically for you!"

"For me?"

Chen Erbao looked at Hua Yueqing, certain that he didn't know her.

"Mr. Chen, could we speak in private?"

Hua Yueqing said slowly, looking at Chen Erbao.

Chen Erbao nodded. Under Xie Kun's arrangement, the four of them entered the house and closed the door.

"Miss, I don't believe I know you, do I?"

Chen Erbao asked as he walked into the room and sat on the sofa.

Hua Yueqing and the other two young men seemed to sit down casually, but in reality, their positions formed a perfect triangle, subtly surrounding Chen Erbao.

Seeing this, Chen Erbao's eyes flickered for a moment, and he placed his hand behind his back.

The cool hilt of his sword gave Chen Erbao a measure of reassurance.

The three from the Security Bureau also sat up straight, each placing one hand behind their back as if gripping a weapon.

The room fell silent.

Hua Yueqing, inwardly cautious, carefully sized up Chen Erbao before speaking softly, "Let me introduce myself. I'm Hua Yueqing, from the Security Bureau. I'm the current captain of the First Squad. These are my team members, Chen Fang and Lu Shan."

Chen Fang was the young man who liked to play games, and Lu Shan was the handsome one who read novels.

Chen Erbao said nothing, waiting for the beautiful woman to continue.

"We've investigated your background. Aside from your cooperation with Medicine King Hall and your connection to the Jiangnan Zhao Family, you're just an ordinary young man from a mountain village. May I ask who your master is? Anyone who could train a young Grandmaster like you couldn't possibly be a nobody."

Hua Yueqing had investigated Chen Erbao's family back for three generations.

Chen Erbao understood. 'So, they're from the government!'

'The Security Bureau... It seems to be the department that specifically handles matters related to Ancient Martial Artists.'

He still needed to get by in Jiangnan Province, so he obviously couldn't be stupid enough to go against the government. After a moment's thought, he began to spin a tale. "When I was a kid, I studied for a few years with an old traditional Chinese doctor in the mountains. The old man never told me his name and later just disappeared. I haven't had any contact with him in all these years."

Hearing Chen Erbao's words, Hua Yueqing was very disappointed. This was not the answer she wanted to hear.

'What kind of old traditional Chinese doctor is that fierce?'

'Able to train such a young Grandmaster?'

"Mr. Chen, you've misunderstood. We mean no harm... The Security Bureau needs to register all Ancient Martial Artists within China's borders to ensure domestic stability. As you know, if people like us aren't restrained, it can cause major chaos in society."

She assumed Chen Erbao was being guarded with her and was therefore hiding information about his sect.

"The first time we noticed you was on Changbai Mountain. You fought a hundred men alone and emerged unscathed. That's already beyond the scope of an ordinary person. We originally planned to talk to you in Binhai, but you left in a hurry, which is why we've come to Lijiang... Mr. Chen, being registered is also beneficial for you. Take today's incident, for example. The Xie Family provoked you because they didn't know how formidable you are. If something like this happens again, we can step in and issue them a warning. Then they naturally won't pester you anymore."

Hua Yueqing explained.

When Chen Erbao heard this, he breathed a small sigh of relief.

'It seems the Security Bureau really did come looking for me for the sake of social stability.'

'However, the matter of the Joyful Technique must absolutely not be known by anyone.'

"Miss Hua, I'm telling the truth. The old man never told me about his origins or his name. All I know is that he was a barefoot doctor. I was never even a formal disciple; I just followed him and learned for a few years. After that, I figured everything out on my own."

Chen Erbao said with great sincerity.

Hearing this, Hua Yueqing exchanged a look with Chen Fang and Lu Shan, a murmur of doubt rising in her heart.

'Could it be that this kid really did run into a reclusive master?'