CHAPTER 125: CHAPTER 125: BLUFF?

Yun Bing had to admit it: she was intrigued.

When she wanted something, she went after it—such was her character. Since he doesn’t have a girlfriend, it’s a fair competition. Why should I back down just because you met Xia Liang first? With that thought, a fierce determination emanated from Yun Bing.

She handed over her ID card and said, taking on the tone of an older sister, "Su Yi, you shouldn’t make jokes like that. It can easily cause unnecessary misunderstandings."

Not to be outdone, Su Yi took back the ID card. "I always carry my ID. We were just joking; I wouldn’t put him on the spot."

The two women faced off, their words like daggers.

Xia Liang, however, was completely bewildered. What are these two doing?

In contrast, the viewers in the live stream understood perfectly.

"BOOHOO... I’m so damn jealous!"

"Oh my God! Why don’t I have two women fighting over me?!"

"I’m so jealous! Just look at that! That female Protector has definitely fallen for Summer God Hao!"

"This is just like me, fighting tooth and nail with other suitors for my goddess."

Finally, Xia Liang couldn’t stand it any longer. "I mean, didn’t I come here to give a statement? What’s with the staring contest?"

His words finally brought their tense standoff to a halt.

Yun Bing was the first to turn away, smiling at Xia Liang. "Yes, that’s right. Please follow me."

She led the way into the Security Bureau. When they reached the landing of the second-floor staircase, Yun Bing suddenly turned back to Su Yi. "Little sister, I’m taking Xia Liang to the Bureau Chief’s office to give his statement. Only he can go in, so I’ll have to ask you to wait out here."

"You!" Su Yi was aghast. She realized Yun Bing had waited until this exact spot to say that, all to get back at her for earlier. But she was helpless. This was the Security Bureau, not a place for throwing tantrums. All she could do was bite her lip and look at Xia Liang with longing eyes.

"Don’t be long."

"Mm." Xia Liang nodded, then looked at Yun Bing. "Let’s go."

Yun Bing stopped teasing Su Yi. She nodded and led Xia Liang upstairs, arriving at the innermost office. She knocked on the door.

"Come in," a serious voice called from inside.

Only then did Yun Bing push the door open and enter. "Chief, I’ve brought Xia Liang."

Yun Long looked up, sizing up Xia Liang before bursting into laughter. "Haha, a true young hero! To think the one who caught an S-level fugitive is the same person who helped us crack the human trafficking case!"

Hearing Yun Long’s praise, Xia Liang just smiled faintly. "I was just lucky," he said calmly.

His lack of arrogance or pride made Yun Long’s opinion of him rise even higher. He glanced at his daughter, saw that she had no intention of leaving, and so didn’t ask her to. "Xiao Bing, go bring two chairs over. You can take Mr. Xia’s statement here."

"Yes, Chief."

Adopting a thoroughly professional manner, Yun Bing brought over the chairs and took out a file to begin recording the statement. Xia Liang concealed the real reason he went to the back mountain, saying only that he saw Scarface abducting a girl and rescued her. His story was more or less the same as Chen Xiao’s account.

It was all done in just over ten minutes.

After Yun Bing took the file downstairs, Yun Long suddenly extended his hand. "Thank you so much, young man. Without you, who knows how many more people would have suffered at his hands. I, Yun Long, on behalf of the entire Qingyun Security Bureau, thank you."

This gesture from Yun Long was somewhat unexpected. A Chief of the city’s Security Bureau, acting like this... So, she’s his daughter. That explains why Yun Bing dared to give the Chief such a cold look. She’s his ’little padded jacket,’ I see. Though, this one seems a bit drafty.

Xia Liang shook his head. "It was nothing, not worth mentioning."

"Hahaha." Yun Long roared with laughter. "Are you implying, Mr. Xia, that you’re mocking us Protectors for being unable to catch the man ourselves?"

"Uh..." The words certainly caught Xia Liang off guard.

Luckily, Yun Long quickly defused the situation with a wave of his hand and a laugh. "Just joking, just joking! No need to be tense, Mr. Xia."

Xia Liang certainly wasn’t tense. But he guessed that Yun Long was finally about to get down to business. From the moment Yun Bing mentioned taking his statement here, he’d felt something was off. A statement could be taken anywhere, even an interrogation room. Why would they bring him all the way to the Chief’s office? Unless, of course, they had a favor to ask.

Sure enough, seeing Xia Liang remain silent, Yun Long’s expression turned serious. He gazed intently at the young man. "I hear from Yun Bing that you have a special skill, Mr. Xia... a form of hypnotism. I wonder, is that true?"

"That’s not true," Xia Liang answered flatly. This can’t be good. If I agree, a mountain of trouble will come knocking.

Xia Liang’s blunt reply clearly caught Yun Long off guard. "Ah... AHEM, AHEM!" All the words Yun Long had prepared to say next were caught in his throat, and he coughed to cover his embarrassment.

To be honest, Yun Long was inclined to believe it. After all, Dragon Country was full of extraordinary people, and his own daughter had been the eyewitness. But damn it, why wasn’t this kid playing by the script? At his age, shouldn’t he be eager to show off? Yun Long had been all ready for Xia Liang to say ’yes,’ so he could follow up with, ’Could you demonstrate for me?’ That would have allowed him to confirm it for himself. But clearly, that plan was dead in the water.

Fortunately, Yun Long was old and wily. He recovered quickly, his eyes darting as he found a new way to steer the conversation. "You’re too modest, Mr. Xia. As the saying goes, ’With great power comes great responsibility.’ Possessing such a skill, don’t you want to contribute to Qingyun City?"

Had it been any other hot-blooded young man in his twenties, hearing this from the Chief of the city’s Security Bureau might have been enough to make him agree on impulse. But Xia Liang wasn’t like them. He didn’t have that much passion driving him to be impulsive.

He just stated faintly, "I know my own limits. I’m not up to such a great responsibility."

What is with this kid?! Why won’t he take the bait?! He’d thought persuading a young man in his twenties would be a piece of cake, but he never expected Xia Liang to be so difficult. It seemed he’d have to try another approach.

He put on a serious face. "Yun Bing? Did you see her? The girl who brought you in and took your statement?"

Xia Liang was puzzled but also wary, not knowing what Yun Long was planning. "Yes, I saw her. What about it?"

"My daughter," Yun Long said with a hint of pride, sitting up straighter and looking at Xia Liang without blinking. "The flower of the Qingyun Security Bureau. Pretty, isn’t she?"

"Pretty."