This Martial Saint's Health Bar is Too Thick!

May 22nd.

Early in the morning, the entire investigation team from the provincial capital had arrived at Zhi Ge General Hospital.

"Lord Yan."

The current Chief of Zhi Ge General Hospital in Datong Prefecture, Ding Zhuowen, personally welcomed Yan Shijin and the others at the main entrance along with a group of officials.

"If there's any issue, you could have just mentioned it in advance. Why take the trouble to come here personally?"

Ding Zhuowen asked with a smile.

Yan Shijin's expression was solemn, "I've heard that there has been a breakthrough in the case, and the evidence we've collected is sufficient to close it, so I rushed over to take a look. If we can close the case sooner, we can report back earlier, right?"

His words caused the officials from Zhi Ge General Hospital standing behind Ding Zhuowen to show a look of surprise.

Who didn't know that the investigation team was deliberately sent to cause trouble? They would stay for as long as possible, so why was it that today, against all expectations, they had actively come to push for the case's progress, to close it sooner?

"Ha ha, Lord Yan has a point, but the case is complex and involves a wide range of issues. We're still missing a few key individuals who have not been captured. It might be somewhat difficult to close the case just yet."

Ding Zhuowen said, still smiling.

This also caused many officials behind him to show a look of astonishment, beginning to wonder if they had heard wrong.

How had everyone's roles changed overnight?

"Is that so? Then let this official see what else we're missing."

"Very well, Lord Yan, please."

As they spoke, the two groups together entered the main building of Zhi Ge General Hospital.

A moment later, the news reached Bian Jingru.

"My lord, officials at Ding's side have been dragging their feet as much as they can according to your wishes, but they might not be able to stall for much longer, and..."

In the office, the secretary briefed Bian Jingru.

"Speak plainly."

Bian Jingru, looking at the document in his hand, didn't betray any emotion.

"And the officials beneath are quite perplexed by Ding's actions. If we keep stalling by force, I'm afraid it'll cause unrest among the people."

The secretary said cautiously.

It's no exaggeration to say that from the day the investigation team arrived in Datong Prefecture, the entire bureaucracy hadn't slept a peaceful night!

When the investigation team began to assert itself, sending several imperial officials and more than a dozen subordinate officials to jail, this sentiment reached its peak.

Starting from the second rank subordinate officials, nearly all officials in Datong Prefecture were eager for the investigation team from the provincial capital to leave as soon as possible.

So now that the investigation team had already expressed willingness to close the case earlier, the upper echelons were asking for a deliberate delay, which would certainly cause public discontent and unrest!

After all, the bureaucracy ultimately relies on people to get things done. No matter how great the power, if one loses the hearts of the people, and there's no support from below, it's like building castles in the air.

Therefore, the orders now given by Bian Jingru were bound to be counterproductive.

That was also the reason he had previously said to Qu Xun, "It's hard to get off a tiger's back."

"I understand. Have everyone try to appease those below."

Bian Jingru told his secretary.

"Yes."

The secretary turned and left.

Half an hour later, Bian Jingru received a phone call from Ding Zhuowen:

"Yan Shijin and his people have left."

"How did it go?"

"We can't hold them off for much longer. The entire case has been under their scrutiny from beginning to end; they're just as informed as we are. Now the evidence is irrefutable; Zhang Shiwei and Shangguan Xiao are the culprits. The only thing missing is the capture of a significant Western spy, but closing the case is definitely not an issue."

"Alright, you've worked hard."

"My Garrison Commander, please give me a straightforward answer, how long do you plan to delay this?"

"Old Ding, we've already lost this round. It's now just about limiting our losses."

"...Okay, I understand. I'll do my best."

Not long after hanging up, Bian Jingru received another phone call:

"My lord, the investigation team has gone to the Inspection General Office!"

"I know."

Bian Jingru hung up the phone without showing any expression.

Yan Shijin's actions were a blatant show of force!

The other party would likely take the investigation team on a 'tour' of all six main offices in Datong Prefecture today, causing widespread panic, thereby putting tremendous pressure on Bian Jingru.

After a moment of silence, Bian Jingru picked up the phone and proactively made a call:

"Have you made it clear to the other side?"

"My lord, it has been communicated."

"What's their attitude?"

"They seem to have caught on and expressed their gratitude towards us."

"Good."

Bian Jingru hung up the phone.

...

At Wu'an University.

Inside the dormitory, Li Fei also had just finished a phone call; it was from Xia Huan.

Xia Huan clearly stated over the phone that today Yan Shijin took the investigation team to Zhi Ge General Hospital, pushing for a swift closure of the case, but was stalled.

Furthermore, the investigation team requested to investigate Green-faced Manor and Qingyuan City's Qingyuan City Management Company in Xing City, but were blocked as well.

Li Fei understood upon hearing this that Bian Jingru and others were trying to make amends with him.

By now, they also had realized that it was a trap set by the provincial capital, so they sent someone to make it clear to Li Fei:

Don't hold a grudge against us; we were also just scapegoats.

If it had been Li Fei before the Breakthrough, he certainly wouldn't have the status to make a Garrison Commander like Bian Jingru act this way.

But having achieved a Breakthrough at a speed unparalleled in history, receiving the highest level of attention from Wuda, and being taken in as a student by Shi Caiming.

Not to mention being dubbed the Green-faced Ghost King.

Such a combination was enough for Bian Jingru to strive to win over.

Political enmities sometimes play out quite dramatically.

Only the day before, Li Fei had received a "Tragedy of the Heavenly Proud", and today he had become the person whom the other side was eagerly trying to win over.

Li Fei actually admired Bian Jingru's decisiveness.

The other side may not have known as much as he did, but they were able to make a decisive judgment and then a decision, trying their best to recoup losses.

However, this was already the limit of what Bian Jingru could do.