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Chapter 449: Chapter 445 Feng Shui Takes Turns
Lan Yuxian, accompanied by Lan Bailin and several members she had recruited, quickly left with Lei Jie and Chi Long in custody.
The remaining Sweepers, however, quickly gathered around Gu Jinlai, each one of them wearing a bright smile.
"You truly deserve to be the Ancient Martial King. With just one move, you made Lei Jie have nowhere to escape."
"Lei Jie is ranked ninth on the list of extremely dangerous individuals, with a bounty price as high as 2.2 billion. This time, we were able to capture him, thanks to the Ancient Martial King’s action. I think, once Captain Lan leaves, the position of the new Sweeper Team Captain must undoubtedly go to the Ancient Martial King."
"That goes without saying. I’m here to congratulate Captain Gu in advance."
The crowd all spoke up to offer their congratulations.
They all knew that Lan Yuxian’s tenure as captain wouldn’t last long.
Originally, once Lan Yuxian left, the position of captain would either be selected from Dong Yuji and Black Sword, or, as with Lan Yuxian, someone would be directly brought in from outside.
But the emergence of Gu Jinlai was like a dark horse.
With a strength comparable to that of Peak Heavenly Beings, he was more than qualified to be the captain of a Sweeper Team.
If previously, those big shots could argue that Gu Jinlai didn’t have enough experience and hadn’t made any significant achievements, now...
Assisting Martial Saint Sect Yan in capturing Lei Jie and Chi Long was an undeniable great achievement.
With his formidable strength and this great achievement, no one else could take away the position of the Clearing Department’s Southeast City District Captain from him.
"Everyone is too kind. As for the position of captain, before the appointment from above is finalized, no one knows who will ultimately take the role," said Gu Jinlai.
Gu Jinlai was not complacent because of everyone’s congratulations.
A month ago, the competition between Pan Dali and Jin Yuhai was right in front of everyone’s eyes.
But what was the result?
Nobody got the position of captain, which was snatched away by the directly appointed Lan Yuxian.
Both of them didn’t even become deputy captains.
Especially just now...
Gu Jinlai exchanged pleasantries with the Sweepers for a while and then glanced in the direction where Lan Yuxian had left, his eyes narrowing slightly.
In fact, in the situation just before, he had no choice but to take action.
He was a Sweeper. It was his duty.
As long as he wanted to stay with the Clearing Department, he couldn’t stand idly by in the face of a Demonic Cultist.
For an enforcer to capture Demonic Cultists is only right and proper,
just like the enforcers on Blue Star.
If he chose to let a significant criminal go just because he was being suppressed by his superiors...
then what would set his actions apart from those who are corrupt and break the law?
And Fang Yan from the Fang Family was trying every means to find fault with him.
A Sweeper who had shown a strength comparable to Peak Devas Level but couldn’t even manage to hold another Peak Heavenly Beings for ten breaths would raise suspicion in anyone’s mind.
Extorting Lan Yuxian was actually just incidental.
"However, this matter won’t simply end so easily," said Gu Jinlai.
Gu Jinlai separated from the rest of the Sweeper Team and headed towards the Inner City.
...
Meanwhile, Lan Yuxian, Lan Bailin, and others had already handed over Lei Jie and Chi Long to the headquarters of the Sweepers.
Professional Sweepers would take over from there to interrogate them and extract information about more out-of-control individuals and Demonic Cultists.
The two of them, however, went back to the Lan Family with the rewards from the Sweeper headquarters.
"The seven billion Contribution Value has been credited to the account!" exclaimed Lan Yuxian, her face showing barely containable joy: "Lan Yuhua thought he was worry-free since he destroyed an army led by a Demon King, earning nine billion in Contribution Value. He never imagined I would have such an opportunity! I actually aided Martial Saint Zong Yan in capturing Lei Jie alive! Six billion plus seven billion, that’s a total of thirteen billion! What can Lan Yuhua use to compete with me?"
"Congratulations to the young lady, kudos to the young lady. Unless Lan Yuhua can replicate the miracle of crushing the Demon King’s Army again, the spot to advance into the Grotto Heaven is unquestionably yours," Lan Bailin said with a wide smile.
"He won’t be able to replicate that achievement again," confidently said Lan Yuxian.
"Not to mention the lack of time, even the Demon King’s Army was only defeated because he got lucky. Knowing about the competition for spots, he had already gathered detailed intelligence on that army beforehand, which enabled him to successfully defeat the formidable force that was just within their capabilities and reap a whopping nine billion in Contribution Value in one go," she explained.
From this perspective, Lan Yuhua had cheated.
But there was nothing that could be done, as such things couldn’t be brought to light openly.
Just like her, to find out information about Liu Zhenyuan, Shang Tielong, and others, she had used a lot of connections, but ultimately, she couldn’t find the two individuals’ True Bodies.
On the contrary, she unintentionally forced out Lei Jie.
"Miss, your trip to the Grotto Heaven for further cultivation is indeed foolproof," he said.
Lan Bailin nodded in agreement.
At that moment, he seemed to think of something and suddenly said, "This time we were able to tie down Lei Jie, allowing Martial Saint Zong Yan to rush over at the first opportunity, all thanks to Gu Jinlai’s full effort. We must find time to properly thank this Ancient Martial King..."
"Thank?"
Lan Yuxian let out a cold laugh, "You think Gu Jinlai would be so kind as to help us deal with Lei Jie willingly?"
"Hm?"
Lan Bailin was taken aback.
"Gu Jinlai took action because he wants our Lan Family’s Xuanhuang Zhenyue Tower!"
Lan Yuxian’s jade-like face showed her undisguised disgust for Gu Jinlai, "He really has the gall to ask for our Lan Family’s Dao Artifact? Does he actually believe that, by relying on a single Divine Skill to obtain considerable battle power, he can bargain with us?"
"Miss didn’t agree to him? Then why would he take action?"
Lan Bailin asked, puzzled.
Under the urgent circumstances, I naturally agreed for the time being, but what value does such a verbal agreement hold if I refuse to acknowledge it afterward? Who would believe him? And if he really makes a big fuss about it..."
Lan Yuxian’s face carried a confident sneer, "As a Sweeper, instead of complying with a team captain’s request to assault a Demonic Cultist, he takes the opportunity to covet the captain’s Dao Artifact. What kind of behavior is that? Extortion? Or perhaps... outright endangering Wind and Rain City, disregarding such a hidden threat to the city?"
Hearing this, Lan Bailin suddenly saw the light and immediately exclaimed, "Knowing how to make good use of people is the mark of a truly qualified leader. Miss is truly wise and decisive. I could never have thought of such a countermeasure in that situation."
"Different positions call for different approaches to problems. Gu Jinlai’s combat strength is indeed formidable; even Lei Jie was restricted by the might of his Divine Skills, unable to break free. If it were you, and you did this, you would not be able to bear the consequences of deceiving him afterward. But I am different," Lan Yuxian said as her long hair fluttered, highlighting her ethereal grace, "I am about to proceed to Grotto Heaven for cultivation. After completing my cultivation there, it’s highly probable that I will break through to become one of the Peak Heavenly Beings and be granted a Supreme Treasure, and I might even have the chance to step into the Saint Domain in one fell swoop. For someone like Gu Jinlai, who has not even condensed his Martial Arts Will, offending me is just that, offending me. No matter how unwilling he feels about my actions, he will have to hold it in and endure."
With that, she smiled lightly, "Perhaps when I return from becoming a Saint, he’ll even take the initiative to curry favor with me."
Lan Bailin nodded, as if he had come to a realization, "Exactly, exactly. We Martial Kings can’t compare with the Miss. You are like the stars in the sky, dazzling and brilliant. It’s Gu Jinlai’s good fortune to be able to work for you. He ought to feel happy about it."
Lan Yuxian nodded.
She quickly arrived at the Lan Family residence with Lan Bailin.
With a figure like Martial Saint Sect Yan personally taking action in the Lei Jie matter, the top forces of Wind and Rain City naturally received the news.
Consequently, they also learned of the contributions Lan Yuxian had made in the capture of Lei Jie and Chi Long.
It was only three days away from Lan Yuxue’s return to bring people to the Imperial Capital.
The huge gap between 1.3 billion and 900 million was insurmountable in the short span of three days, no matter what Lan Yuhua tried.
Realizing that Lan Yuxian was on the verge of a meteoric rise, the previously wavering high-ranking members of the Lan Family came one after another, brimming with enthusiasm, bearing various gifts and well-wishes.
Even some young members of the Lan Family who had previously placed their bets on Lan Yuhua were now turning to Lan Yuxian’s side, making her courtyard much livelier.
In contrast stood Lan Yuhua’s once bustling courtyard.
It had changed from a place of constant visits to one where the doors stood desolate.
The saying "fortune turns like a wheel" was demonstrated in full at this moment. 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝔭𝖚𝖇.𝔠𝔬𝖒
...
When Gu Jinlai arrived at the courtyard where Lan Yuhua resided, this was the scene he beheld.
"A gap of four billion isn’t large; Lei Jie alone is worth twenty-two billion. Yet, it isn’t small either; Pu Tizi, Liu Zhenyuan, and others like Shang Tielong, they all have bounties of over four billion on their heads," Gu Jinlai observed for a moment before renting a private room in a nearby tavern, waiting in silence.
He didn’t have to wait long, less than an hour, before he saw Lan Yuhua hurriedly leave the Lan residence with several Martial Kings and Primordial Spirit True Monarchs in tow.
These people placed their bets on Lan Yuhua and were willing to invest significantly to support him in seizing the spot.
The competition between the two Devas-level beings of the Lan Family for the spot did not forbid them from utilizing their connections and favors.
For instance, Wu Tianya’s previous support for Lan Yuxian to ascend as the Sweeper Team Captain was due to her pulling the right strings somewhere.
Seeing this, Gu Jinlai transmitted a message, "Demon Slayer Lan Yuhua, this is Gu Jinlai. Please come alone to Yuncui Building for a talk."
Lan Yuhua, who had just stepped out of the Lan residence intent on making the most of the last two days, paused, his gaze then turning towards Yuncui Building.
At a window that was opened, Gu Jinlai gestured to him with a "please" motion.
Lan Yuhua’s expression went through several changes, but in the end, he whispered something to the people around him, asking them to leave first.
He then made his way to Yuncui Building, entering the private room where Gu Jinlai awaited.
"If it weren’t for you, my spot for cultivation in Taiao Cave Heaven would have been secured. What else is there to talk about between us?" Lan Yuhua’s expression was somewhat unsightly.
"The spot for Grotto Heaven cultivation... nothing’s certain until the very last moment," Gu Jinlai said, looking at the Lan Family Deva with a light chuckle, "Just like now, it seems you might lose the spot, but here I am, and perhaps there’s a new turning point."
