Chapter 148 - 102: The Mastermind Behind Jiang Mu

Chapter 148: Chapter 102: The Mastermind Behind Jiang Mu

"I suggest you return to the Bureau first. Do some digging. Find out what’s happened since the fog demon invasion, and find out what this Master Jiang has done."

She took a step forward, her ice sword angled toward the ground, her presence imposing.

"If you really intend to pull rank with your seniority and flaunt your authority here, then I, Ling Ye, don’t mind trading a few blows with you. As long as I’m here, you won’t touch a single hair on his head!"

Tian Wenjing’s expression flickered uncertainly.

He was no fool.

Ling Ye’s attitude was so unyielding, willing to turn hostile against him, that it proved this boy, Jiang Mu, was no ordinary wastrel.

’Perhaps... I really was being too prejudiced?’

His gaze swept over Yan Fenghuo and the others, who stood with their heads bowed in silence. Then he looked at Jiang Mu, who stood calmly behind Ling Ye’s protection. Tian Wenjing’s mind raced.

He finally suppressed the anger in his heart and let out a cold snort.

"Fine. I will go back and investigate."

With that, he said to his confidants behind him, "Let’s go! Back to the Bureau!"

His men didn’t dare act presumptuously in front of Ling Ye, so they trailed dejectedly after Tian Wenjing.

The bearded man Jiang Mu had kicked flying scrambled to his feet. Before leaving, he didn’t forget to shoot Jiang Mu a hateful glare, his eyes filled with venom.

Jiang Mu didn’t like that one bit.

’You still dare to glare at me at a time like this?’

He immediately tattled to Ling Ye.

"Lord Patrol Envoy, it was this guy! Just now, he attacked me with a whip without asking a single question. Look, this wound on my stomach is from him. Xu Fu and the others have whip marks on them too."

As he spoke, Jiang Mu pulled open his clothes, revealing the abdominal wound he had previously received at the hands of Beitang Batian.

Hearing this, the bearded man almost spat out a mouthful of blood in disbelief.

’Seriously?’

’How can someone be so shameless?’

Ling Ye had only just arrived and didn’t know what had happened earlier.

Her beautiful eyes swept over them, and sure enough, she saw whip marks on Xu Fu, Yan Fenghuo, and the others through their torn clothes.

In the dim light, she could also see what looked like a genuine wound on Jiang Mu’s abdomen. A flame of fury instantly shot up within her!

’You dare harm one of my own?!’

A frigid aura erupted from Ling Ye, and the ice sword in her hand hummed and trembled.

Seeing this, Tian Wenjing knew things were bad and hastily shouted, "Inspector Ling, don’t listen to his nonsense! He’s lying to you!" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

’Nonsense!’

’Xiaojiang would never lie to me!’

Ling Ye didn’t believe him at all. She immediately unleashed a biting slash of Sword Qi.

Tian Wenjing’s expression changed drastically. "Ling Ye, you dare!" he roared.

Reacting in an instant, he thrust his right hand forward, and a massive, illusory palm—condensed from immense Star Power and shimmering with faint lightning—materialized out of thin air to shield the bearded man.

PFFT!

The ice-blue Sword Qi collided with the giant, lightning-wreathed palm.

The illusory palm trembled violently, and the Sword Qi actually managed to pierce a crack through it.

Although most of its power was neutralized, a residual wisp of frigid Sword Qi still struck the bearded man, who couldn’t dodge in time.

"Ugh!"

The bearded man screamed, spat out a mouthful of blood, and was sent flying backward again. He crashed heavily to the ground and passed out cold.

"Ling Ye, you—"

Tian Wenjing’s hair and beard stood on end, his fury uncontrollable.

Faint arcs of lightning flickered around his body; he was clearly enraged.

Ling Ye, however, was completely unfazed. She held her sword horizontally before her chest, the ice-blue blade reflecting her cold, stunning face.

She said coldly,

"Shall we fight? I’ve long heard that Vice Director Tian’s ’Rushing Thunder Hand’ is a skill of divine mastery. Today, I, Ling Ye, would like to experience it for myself!"

However, after his burst of rage, Tian Wenjing calmed down just as quickly.

’Something’s not right!’

Ling Ye had always been calm and rational, not a reckless or impulsive person.

For her to disregard her status today, to be willing to have a complete falling out with him just to protect this boy—it couldn’t be as simple as her being protective of her own.

It seemed Jiang Mu’s background was far more formidable than he had imagined.

’I must go back and investigate this thoroughly. I cannot act rashly again.’

Tian Wenjing took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his roiling Qi and Blood and his anger. He gave Ling Ye and Jiang Mu a deep look, and his tone returned to calm.

"Since Inspector Ling is so eager, it wouldn’t be too late for me to ask for a lesson another day. I won’t indulge you today."

He gave a look to the confidants by his side.

His men hurried forward and clumsily lifted the unconscious Wang Meng, carefully placing him on a horse’s back.

Without another word, Tian Wenjing left with his entourage.

Watching Tian Wenjing and his group retreat in disarray, Xu Fu and the others were green with envy.

’So jealous!’

’Why is Inspector Ling only so good to Old Jiang?’

’We’re talents of the Demon-slaying Bureau, too!’

But on second thought, they rationalized it.

Ling Ye was willing to offend Tian Wenjing to protect Jiang Mu entirely out of appreciation for his outstanding talent and immense potential. She was protecting a future pillar of the Demon-slaying Bureau.

’This is just her cherishing talent.’

’As for any romantic feelings...’

’Heh, don’t be ridiculous.’

’Inspector Ling is a famous ice queen. How could she possibly be swayed by worldly desires?’

"Lord Patrol Envoy, didn’t you already leave the city? Why did you come back?"

Jiang Mu sidled up to Ling Ye and asked curiously.

Ling Ye’s beautiful eyes swept over the few remaining onlookers who had not yet completely dispersed, as well as her subordinates like Xu Fu, but she didn’t speak.

Jiang Mu immediately understood. He straightened his back and announced in a clear voice,

"My lord, this subordinate has urgent official business to report to you in private!"

Ling Ye nodded faintly. "Come with me."

With that, she turned and left, leaving only her cold and stunningly beautiful back to the crowd.

Jiang Mu turned back to Zhang Daxie and his brother, saying, "You guys head back first. Remember to take care of that woman’s matter."

After speaking, he eagerly trotted after Ling Ye.

Xu Fu clutched the stinging whip mark on his shoulder, grimacing as he cursed,

"Damn it all, that inspector surnamed Wang is fucking ruthless. He acts so lawlessly just because he’s got Vice Director Tian backing him up."