Chapter 123: The True Face of the Arms Company?

Early the next morning, Zhang Ze, clutching his new weapon, followed Zhang Yue as they left Heyue City.

Zhang Yue looked puzzled and asked, "Why are you so fixated on the weapons company?"

In response to her confusion, Zhang Ze explained, "Including the task we took on today, we've already uncovered three cultists connected to the provincial weapons company. Why wouldn’t I focus on it?"

Suddenly, he slammed on the brakes.

Zhang Yue stared at him in disbelief.

Zhang Ze shrugged slightly but offered no further explanation.

...

Jiuhua Sect.

“What did you say?”

Duan Qingyang rarely lost his temper so severely, but at this moment his voice was icy as he questioned Duan Qingkuang, “You’re telling me that Duan Hong and the others have lost their equipment?”

With his head lowered, Duan Qingkuang wisely chose silence.

The hall fell into a long silence.

Only after Duan Qingyang calmed down did he ask, “Explain exactly what happened…”

Duan Qingkuang hurriedly responded, “Zhu Wu assigned a man named Wang Tianguang to escort this batch of equipment.”

“But this Wang Tianguang is a cultist, and he’s wanted by the Anqing Martial Bureau. The man was captured by the bureau’s trainees and sent to the Heyue City Investigation Division.”

Upon hearing this, Duan Qingyang cursed the fool in his heart.

He couldn’t help but ask his younger brother, “Didn’t Zhu Wu try to negotiate with the Anqing Martial Bureau?”

“You have to understand, if Wang Tianguang was just a pawn placed openly by them to sharpen the bureau trainees, once the Anqing Martial Bureau learned the truth, how could they have detained our equipment?”

Duan Qingkuang replied, “Last night, the Anqing Martial Bureau told Zhu Wu that the trainees who took the equipment were working for Woody…”

Duan Qingyang’s eyes widened, barely able to believe what he’d heard. “Which Woody?”

“Who else could it be?”

...

Liuxing City, a residential complex.

Zhang Ze got out of the car and quietly asked, “Are you sure Ma Wu is here?”

“Yeah,” Zhang Yue replied immediately.

After their brief exchange, the two strode towards the main entrance of the complex.

Ten minutes later, they arrived downstairs.

Together, they climbed to Room 302 on the third floor.

Learning from past failures, Zhang Ze kicked the door open without hesitation and led Zhang Yue inside.

It’s worth noting that the situation they faced this time was quite simple.

Inside, Ma Wu was nibbling sunflower seeds while watching a show.

At first, seeing Zhang Ze and Zhang Yue, he looked confused and was about to scold them.

But suddenly remembering his identity, he dashed toward the balcony.

Living on the third floor, and with a second-rank cultivation level, he could jump without harm.

However, just as he was about to step onto the balcony, a sturdy iron rod blocked his way.

“Heh,” Zhang Ze taunted, “Trying to run now?”

With a sharp swing, the iron rod crashed heavily onto Ma Wu.

Though Zhang Ze knew the old man who gave him the staff was unreliable, he quickly realized that the rod he’d taken last time was truly effective.

Bang!

The rod made intimate contact with Ma Wu.

In the next instant, Ma Wu was sent flying backwards.

Seeing this, Zhang Yue silently sheathed her long knife.

Clearly, there was no need for her to intervene.

...

The entire encounter lasted barely two minutes.

Now, Zhang Ze pressed the iron rod against Ma Wu’s chest, demanding, “Are all of you at the weapons company cultists?”

Actually, Zhang Ze had said it casually, but Zhang Yue was extremely sensitive and unwilling to let such thoughts fester.

Suddenly, she struck Ma Wu with the blade of her long knife, knocking him unconscious.

Then she spoke gravely to Zhang Ze, “The weapons company and the elixir company are the lifeblood of our martial artists. The upper levels would never allow such things to happen.”

After a moment’s thought, she added, “Besides, with our current strength, this isn’t something we should be worrying about!”

Zhang Ze shrugged slightly and asked, “So what are you trying to say?”

Zhang Yue said quietly, “Although Ma Wu is part of the weapons company, you can’t deny that he might be a leftover pawn planted by the company and the Martial Bureau’s leadership.”

“He’s the whetstone left for us!”

Zhang Ze no longer argued, responding, “Then I hope you’re right. I must have been too suspicious.”

...

From that day forward, driven by Zhang Ze’s faint unease and Zhang Yue’s steadfastness, the two kept their focus on individuals connected to the provincial weapons company.

In just one week, out of six second-tier missions completed, three cultists directly linked to the provincial weapons company were uncovered!

The remaining three also showed strong ties to the same company.

This deepened Zhang Ze’s doubts even further.

...

After completing seven days of mission sweeps, on September 14th, Zhang Ze and Zhang Yue returned to the Anqing Martial Bureau.

During this time, the six second-tier missions earned Zhang Ze another 240 points.

After reporting the mission completion to Woody, Zhang Ze did not immediately leave.

Woody noticed his unusual demeanor and asked, “Did you discover something?”

Zhang Ze didn’t hide anything, saying, “Maybe I’m overthinking, but it feels like the recent crackdown on cultists in the province has just ended, yet the weapons company’s activity seems unusually strange.”

“Why do we keep getting intel about first- and second-rank cultists from them?”

“In our bureau’s mission hall, even one in every ten missions is issued by the provincial weapons company…”

Zhang Ze poured out his confusion.

For a long while, Woody said nothing.

...

When Woody finally spoke again, it was to ask an unrelated question.

“Have you had a duel arranged with Li Ziyang recently?”

The topic shifted, and Zhang Ze was momentarily taken aback.

But soon, he keenly sensed that there were things beyond his reach at present.

He just went along with Woody’s inquiry, replying, “If it weren’t for the missions you assigned, I would have fought him today.”

“I’ve just been out on missions lately, so I haven’t paid him any mind.”

Woody chuckled and retorted, “So that’s my excuse for you to avoid getting beaten into a pig’s head, huh?”

Zhang Ze snorted disdainfully, muttering, “Who says I’d lose to him?”

“Heh,” Woody laughed lightly and advised, “Get some rest. He’ll come looking for you again soon. I’ll be there to watch your match.”

“If you embarrass me, don’t ever say you’re my trainee again!”

In truth, Zhang Ze had never feared Li Ziyang.

Hearing Woody’s words, he felt no pressure and smiled, “Understood.”

After a few more instructions, Woody sent Zhang Ze on his way.

...

Back at the dormitory, Zhang Ze paid little mind to the sparring with Li Ziyang.

He pulled out his phone and called Cai Hu from Nanye.

“What’s up, Ze Ge?” Cai Hu’s voice came through.

Without preamble, Zhang Ze asked, “How is the Nanye City Investigation Division handling Bright Investment?”

“Has Chen Hao confirmed their cult status? Has Bright Investment been sealed off?”

...

At the same time, in the Martial Arts Department conference room, Zhao Jinghong sat at the head of the table.

Rarely seen, Woody was also present.

Zhao Jinghong looked at Woody with a light smile. “I didn’t expect Instructor Woody to attend our department meeting…”

“Hmph,” Woody replied scornfully, “Cut the chatter. Just tell me your plans.”

As Woody finished, Sun Qiang frowned and reproached, “Woody, you shouldn’t have let those two youngsters keep chasing after the small fry at the weapons company…”

“Do you think I need you, Sun Qiang, to teach me how to train my trainees?”

Woody snapped at Sun Qiang, then added, “If they’re willing to release some small fry, why not use it as an opportunity to train my trainees’ combat skills?”

Seeing the tension rise between the two, Zhao Jinghong interjected, “Enough arguing. Let’s discuss our stance toward the provincial weapons company.”

Though Minister Zhao was a grandmaster, Woody still showed no respect.

Before Zhao Jinghong could finish, Woody challenged him, “Are you sure those people aren’t cultists?”

“If you’re certain, then take action and wipe them out!”

“If you’re not certain, what’s the point of talking?”

Woody’s words left Zhao Jinghong embarrassed and speechless.

...

“Bang!”

At the Anqing Martial Bureau training ground, a heavy thud echoed.

Everyone saw Lu Mingyu thrown harshly aside by a youth.

Releasing Lu Mingyu’s arm, the youth surveyed the bureau’s trainees below and asked, “Well?”

“In this vast Anqing Martial Bureau, is there not a single person who can defeat my third-rank warrior, Shi Jin?”