"Wan Kui—" Suddenly, a student pointed at Wang Lan's feet, where, under the streetlight, a pale face was revealed.

Right in the chest, there was a hole punched through by a Crescent Arrow. The positioning, the scene—it was a perfect crime scene, and one where the culprit and evidence were caught red-handed.

"Suzhou City's Wang Lan?" The teacher strode forward. He had barely taken three steps when his expression suddenly changed drastically. "Wan Kui! A Crescent Arrow… Did you… did you kill Wan Kui?"

"If I said I didn't kill him, would you believe me?"

"Take him down! Take him to the Tianjian Bureau!" The teacher from the Tong City representative team acted in an instant, his figure flashing as he attacked Wang Lan.

The teacher was from Star Martial High School, which, honestly, was about on par with Suzhou City's Star Martial High School, reaching the Star Shine Stage at most.

Capture Wang Lan? Even if Wang Lan didn't use any Star Martial Skill and relied solely on hand-to-hand combat, he could knock him to the ground. As the teacher from Star Martial High School threw a punch, Wang Lan stood his ground, unmoving.

The moment the teacher's fist swung down, leaving an afterimage, Wang Lan's figure disappeared. When he reappeared, he was already five meters away.

"Sir, could you listen to my explanation?"

"What's there to explain? If you have explanations, give them at the Tianjian Bureau!" the teacher yelled furiously, and the students from the Tong City representative team instantly surrounded him. Moreover, the students from the Tong City representative team were on a completely different level of strength compared to their teacher. Wang Lan could easily fend off the teacher's attacks, but he couldn't withstand an assault from a group of exceptionally talented Star Cloud Stage students.

"Alright, to the Tianjian Bureau then?" Wang Lan took out his credentials from his pocket and spread them out, holding them under the streetlight before the Tong City teacher. "I am from the Tianjian Bureau."

At this moment, Wang Lan felt an odd sensation, as if the phrase Who in the court below dares to accuse this official? echoed in his mind.

"Hmph, so young and already faking documents? You're just a high school student, yet you claim to be from the Tianjian Bureau. You kill someone and impersonate the Tianjian Bureau? You really don't know how the character for 'death' is written, do you?"

"Who's impersonating the Tianjian Bureau?" A cool voice interjected, and the figures of Lige, Zhang Yeqiu, Zhang Xiaoxue, and Wang Qianfeng instantly appeared beside Wang Lan.

Wang Qianfeng's black military uniform was inconspicuous in the dimly lit park, but the bright red military uniforms of Lige and the others were quite eye-catching.

"I am Wang Qianfeng, Director of the Intelligence Department of the Tianjian Bureau. Is there a problem, sir?"

Looking at Wang Qianfeng and the others beside him, confusion flickered in the eyes of the Tong City team leader. "Really from the Tianjian Bureau? And Wang Lan is too?"

"Wang Lan is a special agent of my Intelligence Department. Could there be some misunderstanding?"

"Misunderstanding? Then, why don't you deal with Wang Lan for murder?" the Tong City team leader pointed at Wan Kui's body on the ground. "My Tong City student was shot dead with a Crescent Arrow, and it happened just now, right before my eyes! If the Suzhou City Tianjian Bureau intends to cover this up and not deal with it, I will file a report with your superiors."

Wang Qianfeng looked at the body on the ground, then at Wang Lan. "What exactly happened?"

"I had just returned and saw a figure in our Tianjian Bureau uniform flash by. He looked furtive, and since he was in uniform, I suspected a connection to the mole, so I followed. When I arrived here, that person had disappeared. I guessed I was about to be framed, so I sent a message to the organization."

"Then, a dark figure attacked me from a tree, and I reflexively shot an arrow, never expecting… this to happen."

"That's just nonsense! Can you make any logical sense? What grudge did Wan Kui hold against you to attack you suddenly?"

"Exactly! I have no grudge against Wan Kui, so why would I kill him? Besides, why was Wan Kui here so late? Why would I be here? It's clear that there are many suspicious points to this case. Can't you see that?"

"But Wan Kui is dead, and you are alive, and his death is related to you. Even if you are from the Tianjian Bureau, you should cooperate with the Tianjian Bureau investigation. Only after it's confirmed you're not a suspect can you be freed."

At these words, Wang Lan's expression instantly changed, his gaze fixed intensely on the Tong City team leader.

"I have a match tomorrow. Is that your real goal?"

"How ridiculous! It's just common sense. Your opponent tomorrow is from Jin City, not from my Tong City. Why would I frame you for that? Director Wang, I understand the Tianjian Bureau has great authority, but even the greatest authority is not above the laws of Jade Country, right?"

Wang Qianfeng thought deeply, silent for a long while. Then, he finally spoke, "First, take Wang Lan back to the Tianjian Bureau for investigation."

Sitting in the car, Wang Lan, arms crossed, looked sullen. Lige was driving, glancing over at Wang Lan beside her and then at Wang Qianfeng in the back seat.

"Wang Lan, Director Wang is just following procedure; don't take it to heart. That teacher from Tong City may not be much, but he is, after all, the team leader of their representative team and represents the face of Tong City. We must act according to the rules. Besides, this case is clearly a set-up. We'll be able to clear your name quickly."

"That's not what I'm thinking about. I'm thinking that for a Demon Clan spy to use such a childish and crude method to frame someone, their objective obviously isn't to truly frame me. Their aim is merely to delay me."

"The Tong City team leader's words made me realize that they simply don't want me to continue in the competition. I'm the first match tomorrow, and if I miss it, it's considered a forfeit, and I can't participate. But how does it benefit them if I can't compete?"

"That's simple. What if the Demon Clan's plan is set during the competition itself? If you can't participate, they can exclude you."

"No, even if I miss the competition, I will still be in the stands, and many brothers from the Tianjian Bureau will also be at the venue maintaining order. Just kicking me out of the competition doesn't make any sense, unless they can get all of us out of the venue."

"Don't worry about it for now," Wang Qianfeng interrupted from the back seat. "I will clear your suspicion tonight. When we get back to the Tianjian Bureau, you go straight to rest. Don't bother with anything; just recharge for tomorrow's competition."

「In the conference room」

Lu Zhao and the heads of each department were gathered.

"Director, the preliminary results are out," He Mingxue said with a solemn expression. "We found surveillance equipment in Ma Dongwei's phone. It's very small and can bypass our most advanced counter-surveillance devices."

"A listening device in Ma Dongwei's work phone?"

"Yes, his work phone. This is also why the enemy knew Xuan Lin was inviting Ma Dongwei out to eat and was able to set up an ambush."

"Is there a problem with Ma Dongwei?"

"No!" He Mingxue shook his head. "It was Xuan Lin who reached out to Ma Dongwei first. They grew up together and hadn't contacted each other for a long time. Xuan Lin initiated contact after learning that Ma Dongwei was in the Suzhou City Tianjian Bureau."

"Then how did Xuan Lin find out about Ma Dongwei?"

"Li Xiao, the head of the Confidential Department," He Mingxue gently pushed his glasses up. "When arranging accommodations and security for Eld Di, Li Xiao mentioned Ma Dongwei to Xuan Lin, and it was Li Xiao who gave Xuan Lin Ma Dongwei's cell phone number."

"Moreover, it wasn't just Ma Dongwei's phone. One-third of the phones in the Action Department have been installed with surveillance devices. These work phones were all distributed by the Confidential Department. Last year, coincidentally, was when the second-generation phones were updated. Two departments were responsible for phone distribution: General Affairs and Confidential."

"General Affairs handled the distribution of new phones, and Confidential was responsible for exchanging old ones. All the phones involved in incidents were distributed by the Confidential Department."

"Does this mean there's an issue with the Confidential Department?"

"Barring any surprises, the mole we've been desperately searching for is Li Xiao from the Confidential Department."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Lu Zhao asked with a displeased expression.

"But Li Xiao has disappeared," He Mingxue said, his face grim. "We cannot determine whether Li Xiao has fled to escape charges or has been silenced after being framed as a scapegoat. We can only reach a conclusion after finding Li Xiao—we need to see him alive or find his body."

"Also, there's another matter. Tonight, Wang Lan was framed on his way back. The figure in a Tianjian Bureau uniform who lured Wang Lan, after comparison, appears to be Li Xiao."

Wang Qianfeng's words all but confirmed Li Xiao as the mole. However, the more seamlessly all clues pointed in one direction without contradiction, the higher the chance it was an enemy ploy to frame someone.

"What's this about Wang Lan being framed?"

"Wang Lan's suspicion has already been cleared. Although the deceased Wan Kui was shot in the chest with Wang Lan's Crescent Arrow, Wan Kui's actual time of death was three days ago. This means that Wang Mingling's hand has already reached into the provincial martial arts tournament."

"The purpose of framing Wang Lan isn't hard to guess: to make Wang Lan lose his qualification to compete. Either the Demon Clan is deliberately taking revenge on Wang Lan, preventing him from being admitted to one of the four major Star Martial Academies, or the enemy's plan is heavily dependent on whether Wang Lan is present or not."

"Being valued so highly by the Demon Clan… it's hard to say if it's a good or bad thing for Wang Lan."

"Regardless, Wang Lan will compete as scheduled tomorrow. He's already resting."

"Since Wang Mingling hasn't given up on assassinating Eld Di, then let's ensure none of them leaves alive. Starting tomorrow, all combat personnel from the Tianjian Bureau will be deployed at the provincial tournament venue. If Wang Mingling dares to come, he won't leave here alive."

"Yes!"

「That night」

Wang Lan slept soundly, without any pressure. Since he hadn't done anything wrong, he naturally felt no guilt.

But the Tong City team wasn't idle after returning. Overnight, the news that Wang Lan from the Suzhou City team had killed Wan Kui from the Tong City team and was now being investigated by the Tianjian Bureau had spread like wildfire throughout the city.

There were many onlookers, and discussions were varied and sharply divided. Some believed it; others didn't. But strangely, no one from the Suzhou City team came out to dispel the rumors or offer any explanation.

It was as if all the outside commotion and gossip had nothing to do with them.

For Jiang Xinyu, the concern wasn't Wang Lan's situation, but whether he could make it to the first match of the day. The provincial tournament was a serious and formal event. Just as being late for college entrance exams meant you couldn't enter the examination room, arriving late for a match naturally meant forfeiture.

「Inside the sports arena」

The colorful flags still fluttered. Jiang Xinyu kept turning to look towards the entrance, but Wang Lan's figure was nowhere to be seen. For the first time, Jiang Xinyu hoped that the director on stage, who was rambling on, would ramble even more to delay things a little longer. But the countdown to the start of the competition still sounded punctually.

"Now, please welcome the contestants for the first match of the fourth round of the Jiang Province Provincial Martial Arts Tournament: Wang Lan and Zhang Yu—"

"Zhang Yu has already entered. Wang Lan? Is Wang Lan here?"

"Wang Lan has gone to the restroom. Please wait a moment..."

"There is no waiting! If Wang Lan does not enter now, it will be considered a forfeit… Welcome, Wang Lan, to the arena!" The referee suddenly changed his tune as, in the distance, he saw a figure sprinting towards the venue. This morning, the roads were completely gridlocked, so Wang Lan had to sprint thirteen kilometers to get here.

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