The 36th Dragon Unit is a subordinate organization under our command.

"King Wind" queried over the phone, "The 'Big Princess of the Beijing Circle'? You went to a commercial karaoke club?"

After Liu Lang provided a lengthy explanation, King Wind finally understood: his subordinate had beaten someone, and the beating was not light.

"I’ve never heard of such a person. They were obstructing official business; pay them no mind. If you hit them, you hit them—be a little bolder."

Liu Lang let out a long sigh of relief. A full day had passed, and now that the adrenaline had faded, he had been worried about whether he had invited disaster.

Suddenly remembering something, he hurriedly shouted, "Don't hang up! Don't hang up! These people actually managed to snatch away a key witness from the police station!"

King Wind sounded impatient. "Don't be afraid! Go ahead and do what you need to do! Don't bring shame to our Special Ability Task Force!"

King Wind hung up the phone and turned to East Wind and Orchid. "How is it going? We sent the whole team; we can't come back empty-handed."

East Wind held a tablet, his expression serious. "There is only one opponent. Despite her immense power, she is a cultivator, and our world’s spiritual energy is too thin. We will slowly exhaust her. As for her identity, the team reported that when they first engaged her, she claimed to be the Sect Leader of the Joyous Union Sect."

"Liu Yurong, brought back from Min Province by Senior Wan Hao, also claims to be a saintess of the Joyous Union Sect and is also a cultivator. I suggest we ask the Kunlun Academy to assist with the investigation," Orchid said, handing King Wind a cup of tea.

"I see. Get to work," King Wind said, downing the tea. "By the way, have you heard of someone called the 'Big Princess of the Beijing Circle'? This person obstructed justice, so Liu Lang burned her with his Amaterasu."

East Wind laughed. "The 'Big Princess of the Beijing Circle'? With a name that stupid, she must be the daughter of some nouveau riche."

Orchid, however, seemed to recall something, her expression complex. "I think I know this person..." She seemed to be wrestling with some dark history, forcing herself to suppress unpleasant memories. "She is the eldest daughter of Zhang Jun, the chairman of the Qianzhang Peak Group—Zhang Lingyan. They hold some influence. Last time I went home, I heard that Zhang Lingyan had joined an official organization called the Dragon Group."

King Wind waved his hand dismissively. "Understood. As for this 'Dragon Group,' they will be our subordinate unit in the future. Look how they scared our Liu Lang."

Qin Chuan gave Liu Lang a look of concern. Liu Lang replied with an "OK" gesture. Qin Chuan turned back and signaled "OK" to the local precinct chief waiting outside the conference room.

The precinct chief walked outside the reception room, where the criminal investigation captain was pouring tea for two guests wearing sunglasses and black leather jackets. Seeing the chief’s signal, he remained composed and invited the guests to drink.

***

In the Bureau Chief’s office, a police officer knocked on the door. After being granted permission, she brought in a thermos and set it before the Chief.

"Forgive me, I’m getting on in years and my blood pressure, lipids, and sugar won't come down. I have to drink herbal medicine every day," the Chief said with a self-deprecating smile. He unscrewed the lid and glanced at the "OK" mark written on the inside.

*Thwack!* He slammed his hand on the desk without warning.

The people sitting opposite him and the large monk standing behind them were startled. Seeing the Chief change his demeanor as easily as flipping a page, the Dragon Group leader’s momentum for holding them accountable was completely broken.

"What is the meaning of this, Chief Li?" the Dragon Group leader probed.

Chief Li’s weathered face, etched with deep lines like knife strokes, remained as stoic as ever. Resilience was his hallmark, and his reputation was that of a man who faced death without flinching. In his thirty years as a criminal investigator, he had seen it all; he was not about to be intimidated by these people.

"You ask me what this is?" he said coldly. "You come here to hold me accountable? I haven't even gone after you yet, and here you are, the villain complaining first!"

The Dragon Group leader was about to retort, but Chief Li cut him off. He was nearing retirement; was he going to let a youngster out-intimidate him?

He continued his barrage: "This case is under the jurisdiction of my bureau! Do you have an objection? Why did you take away the key witness, Xiaobao, without our consent?"

The large monk’s eyes widened. "It was your..." He got only three words out before the Dragon Group leader silenced him.

Chief Li smiled faintly, calming his emotions as if taking a brief respite in battle, preparing for his next wave of attacks. Fortunately, Expert Liu had requested that Xiaobao stay in the duty room with him, and no formal detention paperwork had been filed. At the time, the Dragon Group had been so overbearing that he had only agreed verbally, leaving no evidence behind.

"Furthermore, although you brought an official mandate, strictly speaking, your 'Dragon Group' has not yet been formally established. You are only here to assist under our command! And look what you've done!"

"Expert Liu had already stabilized Song Lili! It was your reckless interference that led to the death of the key witness, Xiaobao..."

The large monk could no longer restrain himself. "That thing was no longer human..."

"Shut your mouth!" Chief Li was furious. "You ruined a golden opportunity! You provoked Song Lili, and now that the prime suspect has escaped, you will bear full responsibility!"

"We didn't expect that clothing store to have a secret passage!" the monk finally found a chance to argue.

Chief Li laughed in disbelief. "'Didn't expect' counts as a reason? Fine! Even so, it is plain for all to see that your combat strength is higher than Expert Liu’s, and higher than the suspect Song Lili’s—why were you standing at the door of the shop staring blankly? If you had captured her in time, would she have escaped?"

"Those people were... naked... I am a man of the Buddha..."

"Religious belief is no excuse! Working for the people—only the people are our faith!"

Chief Li radiated an intensity that made both the Dragon Group leader and the monk wince. As the monk opened his mouth to protest again, the Dragon Group leader patted his shoulder, stood up, and nodded calmly. "Chief Li, we won't disturb you further. We are leaving."

***

Ginger is indeed spicier when it’s old; superpowers are merely tools—it is the person that matters.

As the Dragon Group leader led his team away, Liu Lang, Qin Chuan, and the others crowded into the office, cheering in hushed tones.

"Alright, alright, back to work! Leave the dirty business of negotiation and communication to me. You focus all your energy on finding Song Lili!" Chief Li said, clenching his fist at them.

In the car, the large monk drove, with the Dragon Group leader and two other subordinates—a man and a woman—accompanying him. The leader wanted to light a cigarette but refrained, remembering his subordinates didn't smoke.

The number of superpower-related crimes in Tianjing was rising, and the Special Ability Task Force had limited manpower and heavier responsibilities, which led to the birth of an official organization specifically targeting such crimes. This incident was his attempt to prove their worth to his superiors. If they successfully solved the case with their help, the Dragon Group would make a name for itself.

"Children of noble families," he thought to himself, "still incapable of bearing heavy responsibilities."

His intention had been to use Zhang Lingyan as a background presence while he and the monk, Yuanjian, handled the perimeter. Song Lili was not simple; she clearly had support. She was not someone an ordinary person could catch, and that "Expert Liu" was only a D-rank. He had calculated that Song Lili would likely escape the mall, providing them the perfect opportunity for the "mantis stalking the cicada" tactic. Even if they failed, they could have gathered valuable intelligence.

But he had never expected Zhang Lingyan to be so undisciplined and glory-hungry, even bringing along her own hired thugs...

It was a hellish start. The Dragon Group leader began to doubt his decision to compete for this leadership position.

"No regrets! Regret is for cowards! I, Tang Feng, am no coward!" Tang Feng clenched his fists.

They parked the car in front of the hospital.