Chapter 130: Madelent District

Back home, Li Changqing fell into a deep, pleasant sleep as usual, waking only when evening had arrived.

"How was your training last night?" Tang Xiaoyu poked her head out from the kitchen, where she was busily and skillfully preparing dinner.

"It was alright," Li Changqing nodded. After a brief pause, he added, "I won't need to go anymore starting tonight."

"Why not?" Tang Xiaoyu blinked.

"Mr. Xie has left."

Tang Xiaoyu had never been to the riverside, but Li Changqing often mentioned the mysterious expert upon his return, which had piqued her curiosity. She asked, "Tell me, who exactly is that expert? Is he really as formidable as you say?"

Li Changqing poured himself a cup of tea. As he sipped, he contemplated her question and shook his head. "I asked him, but he wouldn't say. As for how strong he is..." He found it difficult to put the man's true strength into words.

"Hurry up with dinner, I'm starving."

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Li Changqing got up to open it.

"Well, look who it is," Li Changqing said with a smile. "Old Hu, what brings you here for a visit?"

Hu Xiong was all smiles, sniffing the aroma of the food from the kitchen. "Came for a free meal, and to discuss a few things."

He walked into the living room and plopped down on the sofa. Li Changqing poured him a cup of tea, asking curiously, "Couldn't you have said whatever it was over the phone?"

"It's about the Jiade Group." Hu Xiong pulled out a file and handed it to him. "These are the five key leaders within the Shen Yan monster organization."

Li Changqing took the file and began to read. At the top of the list were Shen Qingzhen, followed by Shen Qingchi and Shen Qingdai. There were two other monsters who did not share the Shen surname.

Hu Xiong explained from the side, "This one, Zhang Xun'er, is a snake demon referred to by Shen Qingdai as her 'Second Sister.' The other, Huang Shangui, is Shen Qingdai's 'Third Brother'—a century-old turtle demon, according to her. Those two, along with Shen Qingzhen, Shen Qingchi, and Shen Qingdai, are the right-hand men and women of Shen Yan. Aside from them, there are about a hundred other monsters under Shen Yan, though they are much weaker."

Li Changqing nodded slightly, then frowned. "Isn't this something the Bureau of Supernatural Investigation should handle? Why are you being so generous with your time, coming here to tell me all this?"

Hu Xiong lowered his voice. "The Investigation Bureau doesn't dare to act rashly just yet. We are in the capital of the Federation, after all, and this Shen Yan has hidden many semi-finished monsters all over the city. The Bureau needs to track down their locations and eliminate them one by one before we can move against Shen Yan."

"We haven't had much luck lately, but Shen Qingdai highly recommended you to the Bureau, claiming you are a very skilled detective."

Li Changqing: "..."

*Dammit.*

He was speechless. Was Shen Qingdai still holding a grudge?

Hu Xiong continued calmly, "The Bureau's plan is for Bai Chuan and me to accompany you to the capital to investigate."

After a moment, Li Changqing nodded in agreement. "While I'm away, the 36th Bureau must ensure the protection of my sister and cousin."

Hu Xiong looked surprised. "You're usually so difficult—how come you're agreeing so readily this time?"

"Don't worry, Director Zhang will send people specifically to guard them."

Shen Qingzhen had touched Li Changqing's red line by threatening Li Lin and Li Qingxue. If he didn't eliminate those monsters, he would never stop worrying about his family's safety.

Hu Xiong reached into his briefcase and pulled out a stack of Lang coins, handing them to Li Changqing. "By the way, here is your salary for the month: fifty thousand Lang coins."

Li Changqing smiled and nodded. Hearing the mention of the money, Tang Xiaoyu peeked out from the kitchen, her eyes fixed on the cash.

"Don't worry, you'll get your share. Finish cooking first, and I'll count it out for you later," Li Changqing said, giving her a side-eye.

Dinner was soon served. After the meal, Hu Xiong stood up, not intending to stay long. "Alright, Bai Chuan and I will come to pick you up tomorrow morning. Pack some clothes; we'll likely be there for several days."

Once Hu Xiong left and the door was shut, Tang Xiaoyu happily ran to the coffee table to count the money. "Li Changqing, your salary is really high! Fifty thousand Lang coins!"

"I'll give you half," Li Changqing said. "Take your share."

"Can I?" Tang Xiaoyu frowned. "But this is your salary, and I didn't help with anything." She actually pushed the money back—a rare display of principle.

"The detective agency hasn't been able to operate lately; just consider this payment for all the cooking you've been doing. Keep it." Their debts were paid off, and their main expenses now were just buying cinnabar and talisman paper.

"Okay!" Seeing his insistence, Tang Xiaoyu happily accepted the money. While counting it, she asked, "By the way, since we're going to the capital, can you bring me along?"

"You stay here in Nanlin City and wait for me to come back," Li Changqing replied. "We're going there to deal with monsters, not for a vacation."

"I know that, but I just want to see the capital." That wasn't what she was thinking, though. Since he had given her half his salary, she felt she should go and help out, or else it wouldn't feel right to keep the money.

Li Changqing pondered for a moment and nodded. "Fine. But first, clean up the house properly. Once we're in the capital, if there's time, I'll take you sightseeing."

With that, he headed to his bedroom to prepare talismans. He had been exhausted for the past month and hadn't been able to make many, so he needed to work through the night to stock up—especially the Heavenly Sword, Divine Mobility, and Mount Tai talismans. He needed to draw as many as possible.

He drew talismans until two in the morning, and when exhaustion finally overtook him, he collapsed into bed.

At dawn, downstairs from the detective agency, Li Changqing stood in white sportswear, with Tang Xiaoyu next to him in a white dress. They looked more like they were heading out for a picnic. The morning sun was mild and warm.

Soon, a black sedan pulled up in front of them. Hu Xiong was driving, with Bai Chuan in the passenger seat.

"Get in!" Hu Xiong waved his hand.

Li Changqing nodded, and he and Tang Xiaoyu climbed in. The car sped off toward the capital!

The capital of the Vermilion Federation was known as the Madelent Special District. It was said that Madelent was one of the founding fathers of the Federation and had performed such great deeds that the capital was named in his honor.

The Madelent Special District was highly developed, filled with skyscrapers and covering a vast area, with a population reaching twenty million. Compared to it, Nanlin City seemed like a small, second-tier town.