85: Jiang Fei has defected!?

"What happened to Jiang Fei?" Chu Yuan contacted Chen Yun first and asked directly.

On the other end of the terminal, Chen Yun's tone was urgent: "I'm not sure of the specifics, but... the captain says he defected!

How could Brother Fei possibly defect!? There must be some hidden reason for this!"

Chu Yuan was shocked. Defection was no minor charge... What exactly had Jiang Fei done?

"What can I do?"

"Chu Yuan, you are a zhenwu token holder. Please, contact our captain and find out exactly what happened!"

"Alright." Chu Yuan agreed without hesitation. He hadn't known Jiang Fei for long, but in his gut, Jiang Fei didn't seem like the type of person who would defect.

Afterward, Chen Yun sent over a number. Just as Chu Yuan was about to dial it, Qi Da's communication came through.

"Chu Yuan, there's a problem with the Cultivation Technique."

He had just had a few days of peace; why were all these troubles piling up at once...

Chu Yuan complained inwardly, but replied aloud: "Principal, I saw your message. What kind of problem could the Cultivation Technique have?"

Qi Da said in a low voice: "The person responsible for transporting the Cultivation Technique this time was a member of the Chenyang City Zhenwu Bureau;

however... he disappeared with the Cultivation Technique!

The Zhenwu Bureau has already initiated pursuit procedures. Retrieve the Cultivation Technique, and execute the person... on the spot!

But, you should still prepare yourself mentally."

"..." Chu Yuan was silent for a moment, then asked: "Is that Martial Artist from the Zhenwu Bureau named Jiang Fei?"

Qi Da was surprised: "You already know?"

"..."

So the two matters were actually one... Had Jiang Fei run off with his Cultivation Technique?

Although the Zhenwu Bureau had already determined the nature of the case, Chu Yuan still felt that Jiang Fei wouldn't do something like this.

Given Jiang Fei's age and cultivation level, it was impossible for him to have absolutely no background.

He wasn't in desperate need of the Cultivation Technique;

although the Martial God Scroll was powerful, if the cost was being hunted by the Zhenwu Bureau... it was far too not worth the loss!

However, he really did have to do something.

After all, he was the victim, and also a zhenwu token holder.

If he got involved, he would have more room to maneuver!

Chu Yuan didn't rush to contact the captain of the Chenyang City Zhenwu Bureau; instead, he went home first.

At the dinner table, Han Cui didn't ask him anything; everything was as usual.

Chu Ying secretly cast a look asking for credit, as if to say, 'See, I didn't say anything'...

Chu Yuan was in no mood to pay attention to her now and said: "Mom, I won't be coming home for the next few days."

"What's wrong?"

"Jiang Fei... he ran into some trouble, and I need to go help."

Han Cui's chopsticks paused for a moment, and she smiled: "Jiang Fei is a leader at the Zhenwu Bureau; what help could you possibly provide?"

"I can help."

Seeing Chu Yuan's serious expression, not looking like he was joking, the smile on Han Cui's face slowly faded: "...Alright then, go ahead, but stay safe."

Her son was also a formidable Martial Artist;

what kind of help could Martial Artists provide each other? Especially since her son was just a student without any other status...

It was nothing more than fighting!

Although Han Cui was worried, she didn't stop him; she understood that this was the fate of a Martial Artist.

Moreover, Jiang Fei had once saved her and Chu Ying...

Chu Yuan nodded. Sensing the atmosphere had become somewhat heavy, he smiled and said: "Oh, that's right, Mom, there's something I forgot to tell you.

I've been recommended for admission; I don't need to take the College Entrance Examination."

Han Cui was stunned for a moment and quickly asked: "Really? Which Martial Academy?"

Chu Ying also perked up her ears, listening carefully.

"If nothing goes wrong, it should be the Shendu Martial Academy."

"Pah, pah, pah! Brother, can't you just say Shendu Martial Academy? What's with the 'if nothing goes wrong'... Don't you know that in those TV dramas, whenever that line is said, something goes wrong in the end?"

Chu Yuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Are you cursing me?"

"No! I... ugh!"

Chu Ying was so anxious she scratched her head, not knowing how to retort.

Chu Yuan ignored her and continued: "The official notice hasn't come down yet, but our principal has already tipped me off in advance."

"Good... that's a good thing!" The happiness on Han Cui's face was visible to the naked eye.

"Brother, does that mean you'll be in Shendu from now on?"

"We can all go there together when the time comes." Chu Yuan promised confidently.

Even though it was Shendu, he didn't believe he wouldn't be able to afford a house there.

"We'll see, let's eat first..."

"I am Ma Hui."

"Hello, Captain Ma, I am Chu Yuan." Chu Yuan said in a low voice: "I heard Jiang Fei ran into trouble, and I would like to understand the inside story."

"Chu Yuan..." There was a silence of a few seconds on the other end of the terminal: "Did Chen Yun tell you?"

Chu Yuan didn't answer directly: "As far as I know, Jiang Fei's mission was to escort a Cultivation Technique; and then he disappeared on the way... How did you determine that Jiang Fei defected, rather than being attacked?"

"You even know about this?" Ma Hui was somewhat taken aback.

"That Cultivation Technique is mine. I have already received notification that the Cultivation Technique has been lost."

"So that's how it is..." Ma Hui realized, explaining: "After Jiang Fei escorted you to participate in the Secret Realm trial, he received another mission dispatched by the General Bureau; only after completing the previous mission did he receive the mission to escort the Cultivation Technique. During that period, he stayed in Qiyang City for nearly a day, which can be verified by surveillance; after that, he went missing, and his terminal could not be contacted... After our investigation, we determined that it was Jiang Fei who actively mobilized energy to block the surveillance; and at the milk tea shop where he began to erase his tracks, there were no signs of a struggle... Personnel from the Qiyang City Zhenwu Bureau questioned the staff at the milk tea shop, and the conclusion was also that Jiang Fei had intentionally hidden himself."

Chu Yuan couldn't help but ask: "Does that count as defection? Perhaps there is some other hidden story? If Jiang Fei had developed a greedy desire for the Cultivation Technique, why would he do it only in Qiyang City? Couldn't he have run off with the Cultivation Technique long before that?"

Ma Hui sighed: "What else could it be? Does he have to kill a few people or steal some classified information for it to count as defection? If it were normal times, being temporarily uncontactable might be fine; but now it is during a mission, and the level of this mission is not low..."

"The Cultivation Technique is mine. What if I don't pursue the matter?"

"Whether you pursue it or not is useless; this is discipline; what you say doesn't count, and what I say doesn't count..."

"Then what if I demand the removal of Jiang Fei's status as a defector in my capacity as a zhenwu token holder?"

"..." Ma Hui's attitude seemed to soften, and he fell silent: "At the very least, we must find him first! Only then can we discuss other matters."

"Alright, I request to participate in the search for Jiang Fei!"

"...I will send you a complete investigation report later."