.....

Lu Ding quickly stepped forward to mediate: "Wait wait, let's all calm down first. Director Chu, Director Ji, let's talk this through properly."

"It's my fault for not handling things properly. No need for this, really no need."

As he spoke,

Lu Ding turned to Deputy Director Ji: "Deputy Director Ji, did you need something from me? Please speak up now that I'm here. I'm all ears."

Only after hearing Lu Ding's words,

did Ji Tai stop unbuckling his belt.

"At least Lu Ding understands reason!"

"Chu Jiabao, I've seen your true colors now!"

Deputy Director Chu, whose anger had just subsided slightly, raised his hand again upon hearing this: "I'm gonna make sure you remember this beating today!!"

Lu Ding quickly grabbed his arm: "Alright alright, Director Chu, calm down too. Deputy Director Ji, just say what you need to say!!!"

Deputy Director Ji took a step back inside.

Although he genuinely couldn't win against Deputy Director Chu,

that wasn't the point.

The real issue was that if he took a beating from Deputy Director Chu, he wouldn't fight back.

The man had done him favors before.

This was just venting frustration.

Now somewhat calmer, he said: "As I mentioned earlier, our bureau is short-staffed with many unresolved cases, and now we're expanding operations again."

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"If Lingshun doesn't step up now, who knows how many years it'll take to recover."

"But frontline assignments naturally prioritize 749 agents without other commitments - Lingshun doesn't quite meet that requirement."

"Yet everyone from top to bottom at Lingshun wants to contribute - not a single coward among us."

"Yes, because the previous deputy director left such a mess unresolved, both our director and I have been overwhelmed, unable to properly supervise our investigators."

"But let's be honest - they only acted out because Lingshun is poor."

"I'm not making excuses for them - what they did was wrong. But should the majority suffer because of a few bad apples?"

"I know you're capable and outstanding, which is why I came - to see you in person and confirm."

"After confirming, I wanted to discuss temporarily transferring you to Lingshun to help resolve several stalled cases."

During Lu Ding's dragon-slaying investigation, he'd traveled extensively,

earning a perfect approval rating.

Who in the entire 749 Bureau hadn't heard of him?

So Deputy Director Ji seized this opportunity to request Lu Ding's assistance.

"You should've said so earlier! I thought you came looking for trouble!"

Deputy Director Chu said irritably.

"Say what earlier? If I'd spoken up sooner, you'd have laughed at me for days!"

"Have I caused any problems these past few days? None at all! I didn't make a scene or demand anything - when you said Lu Ding was in seclusion, I waited patiently."

"What more could I do? You know I'm not good with words."

This response left Deputy Director Chu momentarily speechless.

Well...

he did have a point.

"Alright alright," Chu chuckled awkwardly, "just a misunderstanding. Let's sit down and talk properly."

He picked up the chair, with Lu Ding helping.

The three men sat down.

And so,

the discussion began.

"Here's the situation - Lingshun currently has two particularly... spicy problems, I—"

"You mean 'thorny'," Deputy Director Chu corrected.

This immediately pricked Deputy Director Ji's temper again.

"I like saying 'spicy'!!! Got a problem with that?! Spicy problems spicy problems!!!"

"Fine fine, spicy it is. Continue."

Deputy Director Ji went on: "Our area has many temples. When I first took office, to better stabilize local conditions, we established cooperative relationships with most temples, offering lenient policies."

"In return, they'd assist our Lingshun 749 branch during busy periods."

"Everything was fine initially, but gradually... things changed."

"Particularly with Moon Toad Temple."

"Initially, Moon Toad Temple upheld their end while enjoying our policies. But after they suppressed a certain demonic entity—which we classified as 'Most Violent Victory'—"

"I'll send you the files later."

Most Violent Victory!?

This name struck Lu Ding like thunder.

No files needed - he already had complete information in his mind.

From a previous life's anime, Inuyasha featured such creatures.

But it wasn't original to Inuyasha.

Rather, it came from Buddhist scripture - the "Sutra on the Formation of the World":

"In the Pus-blood Hell, there are insects called Most Violent Victory... they enter from outside the body, first breaking the skin, then the flesh... then the bones, extracting and consuming the marrow."

Simply put, the Pus-blood Hell contained no mosquitoes, only wasps.

These wasps were called Most Violent Victory.

Far more vicious than hornets - they don't sting, they bite.

Once they identify a suitable target,

they tie on their bibs!

"Let's eat!!!"

First gnawing through skin, ruining it without consumption,

then the flesh - same treatment,

then tendons - still just wrecking,

until finally...

they feast on bone marrow.

How utterly despicable.

But this also illustrates their vicious nature.

Moreover, they originate from hell itself.

Prestigious background and all.

Definitely not something to trifle with.

Was Lu Ding scared?

No!

He was excited!

If contained properly, this could yield something extraordinary!

Perhaps even a magical technique.

But he needed confirmation whether this matched his understanding of Most Violent Victory.

Deputy Director Ji continued:

"After Moon Toad Temple suppressed Most Violent Victory, we repeatedly requested transfer, but they kept making excuses."

"With so many cases, we couldn't focus solely on this - days turned to weeks."

"Furthermore, Moon Toad Temple isn't the only one suppressing demons in our region - places like Lionheart Temple have their own."

"Eventually when I finally cleared my schedule to personally investigate, Moon Toad Temple claimed Most Violent Victory had escaped!"

"Causing significant casualties they concealed. My fault for delegating authority to them initially, but we were desperate - a young wife can't cook without rice, as they say."

Lu Ding: "........."

Deputy Director Chu couldn't take it anymore: "What young wife?! It's 'a clever wife can't cook without rice'!!!"

"If you don't know the saying, don't use it! It sounds ridiculous!"

"Then don't listen! Always nitpicking!"

After this exchange, they continued:

"After the escape, we naturally demanded accountability. They refused transfer earlier - now they must answer for the consequences."

"Since they failed their delegated responsibilities, we'll revoke those privileges."

"They enjoyed 749 benefits before - I won't demand repayment, but starting today, those end due to their failures."