132: Chapter 132 Right of First Refusal

Zhang Zhiyang is the section chief of the Investigation Division of the Quancheng Bureau of Religious Affairs.

He seems to have little presence, but in reality, he wields immense power.

The Bureau of Religious Affairs is already a department easily overlooked, let alone the Investigation Division.

Put it this way, the Investigation Division is specifically responsible for investigating all matters related to every religious and metaphysics practitioner within its jurisdiction.

It is like a special department in the imperial court dedicated to handling martial arts world affairs; it not only handles intelligence work but also other tasks, and it has an independent financial system—a classic case of having a low rank but heavy power.

Ordinary metaphysics practitioners, including Monk Delin from Thousand Buddha Mountain, dare not be negligent when they see Zhang Zhiyang.

But when facing Han Jingyang, Zhang Zhiyang really dares not put on airs, because according to intelligence, the combat power Han Jingyang has displayed is not only strong but also very bizarre; it is somewhat like metaphysics, yet in all aspects, it exceeds the scope of metaphysics.

For example, regarding the annihilation of He Dingkun's entire family, Zhang Zhiyang investigated for a long time but simply could not figure out how Han Jingyang managed to do it; he only found out that Han Jingyang and Liu Jing spent a few dozen minutes on the rooftop opposite the Dingshen Group building.

Therefore, Zhang Zhiyang's colleagues jokingly said that Han Jingyang is not a Feng Shui Master at all, but a legendary cultivator who uses the name of metaphysics to practice immortality.

Subsequently, the series of events involving Han Jingyang made Zhang Zhiyang and the others look at each other in dismay.

They originally wanted to use some methods to probe Han Jingyang's background.

But Han Jingyang turned around and got involved with Li Jianjun.

Therefore, Zhang Zhiyang had to make the trip himself, and he even controlled his temper so well.

Zhang Zhiyang struggled for a long time before nodding heavily: "I will give you the right of first refusal."

Han Jingyang raised an eyebrow: "Including that large tripod?"

"Including it."

"Deal."

"Clap—"

The two high-fived, sealing the deal.

The atmosphere instantly relaxed, no longer as tense as before.

Han Jingyang rolled down the car window and nodded at Liu Jing, who was extremely nervous outside, to indicate that everything was fine, before asking Zhang Zhiyang: "Where are Sun Hailu and those few Japanese people now?"

"Still in Quancheng."

"Huh? What's the situation? They didn't leave immediately after succeeding?"

"Not sure, anyway, both the people and the tripod are hiding in Quancheng. I don't know what they are planning, but there's no need to worry about what they want to do. Our operation should be as fast as possible. Kill the people and bring the items back; even if they have a grand scheme, it will all be in vain."

"Pulling the firewood from under the cauldron."

"Right, that's exactly what I mean. However, it would be best if we could capture them alive. We are quite good at interrogation."

"Then why don't you take action directly? Don't tell me your combat power is insufficient. I know you definitely have the authority to mobilize other armed departments, or at least apply for support from other departments."

"Hehe, it is possible, but if other departments take action, the nature of the matter will change."

"Oh, the bottom line is that the government cannot take action."

"At least on the surface, that is the case. Our people in Japan and other countries are the same. This is a consensus reached by the highest levels of each country, the kind with formal documents signed."

Han Jingyang raised an eyebrow: "Is this something I should be hearing? Aren't you afraid of leaks?"

Zhang Zhiyang smiled: "Mr. Han, you are the exceptional one. We have studied your behavioral patterns and finally unanimously concluded that it is best to be open and honest when dealing with you."

Huh? Open and honest? Studied my behavioral patterns? Do these people like Zhang Zhiyang value me this much? It's reasonable, though.

My appearance was not only abrupt but also high-profile, and everything I've done is extraordinary. Especially the ability displayed in the battle to destroy the Dingshen Group is definitely worth these people's attention.

If even this cannot make these people like Zhang Zhiyang value me, that would not be a good thing.

Because this can only prove two things. First, the level of these people like Zhang Zhiyang is really mediocre; they cannot distinguish between the important and the trivial, and cannot see my value. Second, my strength is not yet enough to make these people like Zhang Zhiyang value me.

The former is equivalent to having teammates who are pigs. The latter is equivalent to having opponents who are gods. Neither is good news.

Of course, Han Jingyang is well aware of one thing: no matter what the world is like, self-improvement is the ultimate truth. Being strong yourself is more reliable than any backer.

However, it is naturally better if the teammates are not pigs. I don't ask for them to be extremely powerful, just that their intelligence is online.

The intelligence Zhang Zhiyang has shown so far is online. He hasn't relied on his official status to boss people around, but he hasn't been overly servile either. His attitude is handled very well—firm to a certain extent, but not enough to be annoying.

I don't know if it's just Zhang Zhiyang whose intelligence is online, or if the overall intelligence of this department is online.

While pondering Zhang Zhiyang's situation, Han Jingyang nodded and smiled: "Good, I like dealing with honest people. Old Zhang, keep this up, and you will earn my friendship."

"I hope so," Zhang Zhiyang said, then addressed Han Jingyang: "Mr. Han, when shall we take action?"

"Anytime is fine, but I want to bring Liu Jing along."

"Are you sure?"

"Is there anything wrong with that?"

"Can you trust her one hundred percent?"

"She knows everything about me."

"Everything?"

"Everything."

"So, the rumors are true? Is it you who turned her from an ordinary girl into the little expert she is now?"

Han Jingyang laughed: "Little expert?"

"Yes, that's what we call her."

"What level does this 'little expert' you speak of rank at in the current martial arts world?"

"Upper second-rate, perhaps. But real combat has no specific standard. It's common for experts to flip over. Some people have never lost a sparring match but have never won in real combat, while others have never won a sparring match but have never lost in real combat. Your little shop assistant is the real-combat type. She looks like an ordinary person, but when in real combat, she can display super-strong combat power and has very rich combat experience. This is very strange."

As expected of intelligence gatherers. Liu Jing has taken action so few times, yet these people have already figured out her background.

Han Jingyang was secretly vigilant. But there is no need to be afraid. Liu Jing is my shield, a meat shield to draw aggro for me; I am not afraid of exposure. In the future, another meat shield like her will be added: Shi Xiaoya. It doesn't matter if they figure it out.

Thinking this, he replied: "We can spar when there's an opportunity. She hasn't had contact with serious martial arts practitioners and doesn't really know unarmed combat; she only knows how to use a knife."

"I can tell. It's battlefield saber technique with strong killing intent. In ancient times, she would have been a fierce general," Zhang Zhiyang said, glancing at Liu Jing outside the window: "Mr. Han, can you tell me how you did it?"

"Classified."

"Is it the credit of those dharma instruments?"

"You guess. Anyway, there's no reward even if you guess correctly."

"If there are such opportunities in the future, please give me a chance to compete. Our unit is severely lacking in experts."

"Is it that bad? In our Lu Province, an official unit with permanent staffing is short on people? Don't tell me there are no martial arts experts in our Lu Province willing to take the civil service exam."

"There are, but there are too many wolves and too little meat. Every city needs people. Moreover, what we want are not ordinary practitioners, but experts with real combat capabilities—the kind who aren't afraid to see blood or even risk their lives. Do you understand now?"

"Is it that miserable? You are, after all, a provincial capital unit."

"Otherwise, I wouldn't be begging people everywhere. Mr. Han, give me a straight answer: can you give me a few opportunities?"