Officer Lin's confidant was stunned.
He didn't understand what had happened.
But it didn't matter. While Young Master Huo lacked the courage to avenge his father, he was different!
He had been promoted by Officer Lin himself. Without Officer Lin, he would have remained a poor country boy. His greatest ambition would have been to become a hoodlum, scavenging for cigarette butts on the street!
Therefore, he had to repay Officer Lin!
He was willing to sacrifice his life for it!
The confidant took a deep breath and resolutely walked towards the governor's office.
He intended to persuade everyone there to issue a warrant for Ying Chen and his group, to make them pay the price!
However, the moment the confidant pushed open the office door and uttered a single sentence, he abruptly sensed something was wrong.
"Everyone, Officer Lin's life is unknown, and he has most likely been harmed. All of this stems from one person! We cannot stand by and do nothing; we should arrest him and bring him to justice..."
What the confidant said sounded perfectly reasonable, but strangely, everyone in the office looked at him with an odd gaze.
It was as if his words contained some significant flaw!
"What's going on?" the confidant was confused.
His impassioned speech involuntarily paused.
After a full minute, a staff member sighed and walked over, patting his shoulder.
"Xiao Zhang, we know how much you care for Officer Lin. However, emotions cannot override conscience and righteousness. We cannot help with this matter, nor should we. Our fundamental responsibility is to the people of Hong Kong, not to Officer Lin."
"You must understand this distinction."
The person patted the confidant's shoulder, speaking earnestly.
The confidant looked at the person blankly, not understanding what he was saying.
It was only then that a video appeared on the office's projector screen.
The footage showed a monstrous sea creature appearing ferocious and terrifying, with Officer Lin trembling on a cruise ship.
Seeing Officer Lin's final moments, the confidant couldn't help but shed tears.
He had expected Officer Lin to confront the sea monster without hesitation and protect everyone.
But to his surprise, Officer Lin made an unbelievable decision.
Officer Lin pushed someone into the sea!
As the person fell into the water, a string of curses immediately erupted from the video.
They were all condemning Officer Lin for deliberately sacrificing someone to save himself!
*Plop!*
Hearing the accusations, the confidant collapsed onto the floor.
"Impossible, impossible... Officer Lin is definitely not that kind of person!"
"He wouldn't even step on an ant, he volunteers at a nursing home every week, how could such a good person harm others?"
"It's fake, it's definitely fake!"
Faced with the confidant's denial.
The office staff couldn't stand it any longer and stood up, saying, "Fine, even if the video is fake, are the testimonies of the dozen or so wealthy individuals present also fake?"
"We just called the magnates who were on the same cruise ship, and they all confirmed this incident as true!"
"Do you think we enjoy seeing this? As Officer Lin's colleagues, we are equally ashamed!"
"Conversely, Mr. Huo truly embodied the righteousness and heroism expected of a Hong Kong magnate! He is worthy of the Huo family's heroic reputation!"
At this moment, the screen showed a scene of Mr. Huo holding a harpoon, bravely sacrificing himself.
The confidant finally understood why Young Master Huo had suddenly withdrawn from their alliance and why he had looked at him with such contempt before leaving!
So that's how it was!
"A den of vipers, in league with each other!"
"You are all in league! I refuse to believe anything you say!"
"Officer Lin has been framed!"
However, even with irrefutable evidence before him, the confidant refused to give up, still shouting hysterically.
A group of staff members shook their heads in unison.
To put it kindly, the confidant's behavior was called blind loyalty.
To put it bluntly, the confidant was simply brainless.
In ancient times, such a person might have been useful as a death warrior.
But in modern times, death warriors are a thing of the past, and such people are destined to be eliminated by society!
Indeed, a person who appeared to be a leader then walked in, holding a letter of dismissal.
"Zhang Qiming, you are involved in an economic case. Effective immediately, you are dismissed."
"Furthermore, you are required to remain at home for 72 hours and not go out without permission. You must await summons from the prosecutor at any time."
"Any attempt to leave will be considered fleeing from justice and will be dealt with according to the law!"
"Do you understand?"
The confidant remained silent.
Only a deep hatred and malice surged in the depths of his eyes!
Clearly, this letter of dismissal had reinforced his suspicion that they were "a den of vipers"!
He was determined to prove with his own actions that as long as one was willing to put in the effort and make sacrifices, both snakes and rats could be caught in one net!
...
"Master Ying, all the flesh and blood of the Qing Qiao have been processed and packed."
"A total of ten barrels of Qing Qiao blood have been bottled, all using oak wine barrels. They are labeled with authentication tags. Even if they are openly brought back to the mainland, no one will investigate."
"As for the bones and meat pieces of the Qing Qiao, they have also been packaged to the specifications of imported beef. The highest-grade preservation technology has been used throughout, ensuring freshness. Theoretically, the value will not be affected, but it is best to use them as soon as possible."
"Additionally, I found these two items from the Qing Qiao."
He Chongxu was reporting to Ying Chen.
As he spoke, he opened his palm, revealing two fiery red crystals the size of lychees.
They were dragon eyes!
"Master Ying, these two core crystals were found within the Qing Qiao's eyes. They have already petrified and are extremely hard."
"However, their specific functions are unknown. Please examine them, Master Ying."
Ying Chen took the two dragon eyes.
Upon receiving them, a warm and smooth sensation washed over him.
It felt like jade, yet it wasn't.
Looking closely, he could see a cluster of azure flames rising from within the dragon eyes and then dissipating.
The entire dragon eye instantly became ice-cold.
Penetrating to the bone.
Extremely miraculous.
However, there were no other effects besides this.
Ying Chen examined them repeatedly and then shook his head: "These items should naturally contain spiritual energy, but since the Qing Qiao is not a true dragon, the spiritual energy contained within is very scarce. It is even less valuable than the flesh and blood of the Qing Qiao."
"Of course, this is from a cultivation perspective. If considered purely as works of art, their value might be considerably higher. After all, such pure gemstones are rare in nature. Not to mention that they possess a certain amount of spiritual energy, which can ward off misfortune and strengthen the body when worn."
"I will bestow one of them upon you! As a token of trust."
"As for the other, it can be used to exchange for other items. This will allow me to complete a refining plan I have conceived."
He Chongxu was overjoyed upon hearing this.
He took one of the dragon eyes, carefully stored it, and thanked him profusely.
At the same time, he curiously asked, "Master Ying, do you have a new refining plan? Are you no longer planning to repair the Haihai Chijin Liang?"
"If I hadn't found that dragon bone spike, I would have indeed followed the original plan to repair the Haihai Chijin Liang. But with that dragon bone spike, I feel it would be better to refine a new magical artifact."
"Moreover, a magical artifact that I forge myself will be more adept and more powerful."
Hearing Ying Chen's words, He Chongxu was slightly startled.
Even more powerful than the Haihai Chijin Liang?
What kind of brand-new magical artifact was Ying Chen planning to refine?
After all, in this era, even the most well-established and technically advanced Xuanmen sects found it extremely difficult to refine a new mid-grade magical artifact.
Refining a new high-grade magical artifact was even more challenging!
Almost all high-grade magical artifacts in the Xuanmen sects were inherited from history, not newly forged!
And Ying Chen's plan to refine a magical artifact superior to the Haihai Chijin Liang meant it was likely to be the first in history, not inherited from the past, but a newly crafted high-grade or top-tier magical artifact!
If this were to spread, it would shock the entire Xuanmen world and draw out reclusive Xuanmen elders to worship and marvel!
Suppressing his excitement, He Chongxu asked, "Then, Master Ying, what materials will you need? I still have some connections in Hong Kong, and as long as they are not too obscure, I should be able to acquire them."
"I'm not sure if these materials are considered obscure now. Bring me some paper and a pen, and I will write them down. You can then look for them."
Ying Chen said.
Then, He Chongxu brought paper and a pen, and Ying Chen wrote them down one by one.
As Ying Chen wrote more and more, He Chongxu's astonishment grew.
If these were not considered obscure, then nothing would be.
When Ying Chen finished writing, He Chongxu showed a wry smile: "Master Ying, these materials are not just difficult to gather; I've never even heard of half of them."
Ying Chen seemed to have anticipated this.
"It's fine. Times change, and things transform. Perhaps the names of some of these materials have already changed. Just take me to places where materials are sold, and I will recognize them when I see them."
He Chongxu pondered for a moment, then his eyes lit up: "How about I take Master Ying to the Sand Sea Ghost Market?"
"The Sand Sea Ghost Market?" Ying Chen raised an eyebrow.
"Yes! Coincidentally, it's the opening days for the Sand Sea Ghost Market. It's not far from Hong Kong, located between Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. It's actually a small sandbar. Because many cultivators like to trade illicit items there, it has gradually evolved into a ghost market."
"The ghost market only opens in the early morning and closes at sunrise."
"Transactions can be settled with money or through bartering. Any transaction made during this period cannot be regretted. In short, whether you make a profit or a loss depends on your own judgment. No one can be blamed."
"I believe you can find some of the materials Master Ying needs there!"