Something happening, it’s probably hard to bear...
But she still couldn’t believe it, did that big bad guy really just die like that?
Lin Jingzhu sat on the ground, leaning against the railing, hugging her knees, her pretty face as pale as paper.
Her vacant eyes were unfocused, not knowing what she was thinking.
Even when the flying boat stopped, she was oblivious, like a statue, completely still.
Zhong Lihe came forward and said, "Miss Lin, we’ve arrived... Miss Lin?"
At his call, Lin Jingzhu came back to her senses, looking up blankly.
She slowly got up, staggering as she walked off the flying boat.
Watching her desolate back, Zhong Lihe furrowed his sparse eyebrows.
"It seems Chen Mo and Lady Lin have quite a relationship, no wonder he could win Her Majesty the Empress’s favor."
"Alas, that guy was a talent, and to die so vaguely, what a pity..."
In Lin Jingzhu’s current state, Zhong Lihe dared not let her wander around alone.
He lifted his sleeve with a wave, a breeze stirred, as if an invisible giant hand wrapped Lin Jingzhu, then with Shrinking Ground into Inches, headed towards the Imperial Palace.
Sky Scale Guard, Fire Department Government Office.
Li Yuan was sparring with several assistant officers in the training ground, wielding an unsheathed stray blade like a stick, forcing everyone to flee holding their heads.
"With such a slow reaction time, if it were a life-and-death fight, you’d be a corpse by now!"
"Bleed more in practice to save your life in battle!"
"This blow has twenty years of power, can you withstand it?"
Li Yuan smashed two junior officers away with a single strike.
Qin Shou stood aside watching, feeling a chill down his back.
He thought with Mr. Chen’s restraint, this fierce woman’s temperament might have abated a bit, but she was still as ferocious as ever!
Watching the tumbling figures, Li Yuan frowned, her voice cold:
"Remember, the Fire Department doesn’t keep idle people!"
"I told you to go back and train diligently, it’s been twenty days, and there hasn’t been any progress!"
"If only you’d focus as much on training as you do on visiting brothels, you wouldn’t be so pitiful!"
The others struggled to get up from the ground, lowering their heads, not daring to say much.
Li Yuan waved her hand impatiently, "Each of you go to the accounts office and collect five taels of silver, buy some ointment for bruises and injuries. Ten days later, I’ll assess you again, if you’re still , don’t blame me for being ruthless!"
"Thank you, General Li."
They all cracked a smile.
Although the Fire Department’s rules were strict, they were generous to their own. Despite getting a harsh beating, the injury compensation was equal to a month’s salary!
Li Yuan sighed silently.
She wasn’t trying to show off strength, it was out of necessity.
Currently, the Ding Fire Department was understaffed and lacked experienced leaders, they needed to cultivate some quickly.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t know how to report to Chen Mo...
"Speaking of which, it’s been several days, even with a long journey, they should be back by now?"
"Could something have gone wrong at the Southern Border?"
Li Yuan’s expression showed faint worry.
Just then, she spotted a group approaching, her eyes lit up, hastily moving forward to greet them.
"Hundred Household Officer Qiu, you’re back!"
"Where’s Mr. Chen? Why can’t I see him?"
Li Yuan scanned the crowd, but didn’t see Chen Mo.
The assistant officers looked pale, hanging their heads speechlessly.
A bad omen rose in Li Yuan’s heart, her sharp eyes fixed on Qiu Longgang, she asked gravely, "What exactly happened? Where’s Mr. Chen?"
Qiu Longgang paused before speaking in a low voice, "We were ambushed by the Blood Demon in Tiannan State, Mr. Chen was severely injured saving us, and now... now his fate is unknown."
These words hit like a bolt from the blue!
Li Yuan felt dizzy, her figure swayed, nearly falling to the ground.
She managed to steady herself with her long blade, gritting her teeth, she asked, "You mean, everyone else on this trip is safe, only Mr. Chen is in trouble?!"
The assistants bowed their heads in shame.
Qiu Longgang’s eyes reddened, his nails deeply embedded in his flesh, he said, "After I report to the superiors, I’ll take people out to search, I won’t return without Mr. Chen!"
"Uh, are you looking for me?"
At this moment, a familiar voice rang out.
The air suddenly fell silent.
The Fire Department constables stiffly turned their heads, only to see Chen Mo standing behind them, glancing at them in confusion, "How many days has it been, don’t tell me you’re just getting back now?"
Qiu Longgang rubbed his eyes hard, confirming he wasn’t mistaken, stammering, "M-Mr. Chen?! Where have you been?!"
Chen Mo instinctively covered his lower back, "Imperial Music Bureau, what’s up?"