Xu Zifan felt relieved after getting the amulet. Although master and disciple couldn't always be together, at least he could bring his good disciple along in times of danger, so he wouldn't lose his life. As for the usual little misfortunes, he could let them be, since Shaohua would be there to keep watch for him.
Xu Zifan stayed in the office under the pretext of assisting with the case. While Jiang Tianxin was busy with work, he sat cross-legged, "closed his eyes to rest," and continued to study books on physiognomy and fortune telling.
He already possessed a photographic memory, and having spent over a thousand years in the cultivation world, he was naturally exposed to these things and learned them exceptionally quickly, reaping a great deal in a single day.
Jiang Tianxin glanced at him every now and then, guessing that he might be cultivating. She felt a little itchy; now that she was his disciple, could she also learn magic? That was much more powerful than martial arts. She wondered when he would teach her.
After finally getting off work, Jiang Tianxin couldn't wait to invite Xu Zifan home, so she could ask her master to teach her!
Jiang Tianxin was unusually cheerful, but was stopped by her superior as soon as she stepped out the door.
"Xiao Jiang, go to the director's office and bring everyone in your team who has witnessed strange phenomena." After saying that, he looked at Xu Zifan, "Is this the master you mentioned? Perfect, let's go together."
The documents contained photos, so Jiang Tianxin wasn't surprised that he could recognize him. He responded and called Liu Zi and the others to go see the bureau chief together.
On the way, she whispered her guess to them, "The director doesn't seem too surprised by metaphysics. He suppressed the case back then, but now he's coming to us again. I suspect there's some special department in the country that specializes in handling metaphysical cases. When we get there, don't say anything out of line. Just say what you think, don't exaggerate or hold back."
Everyone indicated that they understood. Jiang Tianxin straightened his clothes at the door of the bureau chief's office, knocked three times, and after hearing the bureau chief call him in, he straightened his back and walked in. He saw a man around sixty years old drinking tea with the bureau chief in the office.
She bowed and said, "Reporting! Director Fang, you wanted to see us?"
Director Fang nodded to them, then looked at Xu Zifan with surprise, "This is?"
Jiang Tianxin said, "Director Fang, this is Xu Zifan, the abbot of Qingfeng Temple whom I mentioned in my report. He's here today to assist me in investigating a case, and we've already made some progress."
Director Fang stood up with a smile, stepped forward and shook hands with Xu Zifan, inviting him to sit on the sofa. "That's perfect, I was just thinking of meeting the Taoist priest."
He introduced Xu Zifan and the man, "This is Deputy Director Liao from the National Intelligence Bureau. He came here today specifically for this case and also wants to get to know you, Daoist Master."
Deputy Director Liao poured a few cups of tea and said with a kind smile, "Xiao Fang, don't make it so formal and make the children nervous. Come on, everyone, sit down. Let's just chat casually. Don't call me Deputy Director Liao. My name is Liao Cheng. Just call me Uncle Liao. I like it."
Director Fang smiled. "Alright, I'll do as you say. Xiao Jiang, tell everyone to sit down."
Jiang Tianxin felt that the only people present besides her boss and her mentor were not the ones who should sit down directly, so she and Liu Zi moved chairs to the side and brought out a teapot to refill their tea.
Xu Zifan picked up the tea and took a sip, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Good tea!" He looked at Jiang Tianxin and said with a smile, "This tea has a hint of spiritual energy; it's a rare find. You're in luck today. Have a couple more cups."
Liao Cheng smiled and said, "Daoist Master, you are very skilled. You can tell the difference with just one bite. You take good care of Xiao Jiang. You even remind her when there are good things. I can't even save any for her now."
He wanted to probe the relationship between Xu Zifan and the Jiang family. Xu Zifan glanced at Jiang Tianxin, signaling her to decide whether to speak or not. Jiang Tianxin, of course, wouldn't hide anything. She frankly said, "Uncle Liao, I've become a disciple of a Taoist priest. I'm just benefiting from it." After saying that, she asked Director Fang, "Director Fang, can I learn metaphysics? I think it would be of great help in solving cases."
Director Fang and Liao Cheng were both taken aback. They exchanged a glance and said it was alright. Liao Cheng laughed, "Then you must drink more. This tea is my treasured brew. I brought it here today especially to reward you for solving a major problem and preventing more innocent people from being affected. I heard that the Taoist priest seriously injured that old Taoist? Well done!"
After entering the room, Xu Zifan used the physiognomy he had learned in the past few days to observe the two men. Liao Cheng was blessed with good fortune and had accumulated many merits. Director Fang was slightly less so, but he was also upright and blessed with lasting good fortune. Both of them were people worth befriending.
He smiled and looked at Liao Cheng, saying, "Uncle Liao, you must have already investigated this case since you came here so late. It's quite a coincidence that I received my skills from Qingfeng Temple. Meeting the Jiang family is a matter of fate, so I should naturally help them."
However, I wonder how Uncle Liao plans to resolve this case, and what will happen to the old man and the old Taoist priest?
Liao Cheng waved his hand, "Don't worry about that. Our Special Affairs Bureau is different from the police station. The police station needs tangible evidence, while the Special Affairs Bureau specializes in supernatural and mystical matters. If we confirm that someone is using crooked means to harm people, we can arrest them."
The old man you mentioned has been sent to the First Prison for life imprisonment. I think the Jiang family would prefer this punishment to the death penalty, wouldn't they? What do you think, young Jiang?
Jiang Tianxin immediately said, "Thank you, Uncle Liao, this punishment is just right."
Execution is nothing compared to a fate worse than death. That old man has been harmed by the bead; he'll only suffer day and night in prison, tormented by illness until he dies. Only in this way can the Jiang family vent their anger and let their murdered great-grandmother rest in peace.
Liao Cheng then said with considerable difficulty, "As for that old Taoist... We did know a little about him before. To be honest, he was the Taoist who destroyed Qingfeng Temple ten years ago, and his Taoist name was Changsheng."
"Back then, the Special Affairs Bureau sent people to arrest him, which is why he fled to Hong Kong. This time, he appeared as a body double, perhaps to test whether the Special Affairs Bureau was still watching him, hoping to find an opportunity to return."
"Qingfeng, in a way, he's your enemy too. I really want to help you capture him, but as you know, the Xuanmen are sparsely populated, and every one lost is a loss. The Special Affairs Bureau is also short-handed and might overlook something, so I might not be able to help."
He glanced at Xu Zifan's expression, seeing neither disappointment nor fear, and said, "If Qingfeng is interested in joining the Special Affairs Bureau, the Bureau can provide inside information, making it easier for you to investigate him. I came here today to extend an invitation to you; would you be willing to join the Special Affairs Bureau?"
Xu Zifan asked, "What obligations do I need to fulfill to join the Special Affairs Bureau?"
"Well, once you're in the organization, of course you have to obey their orders, and when you encounter a case, you have to follow the rules..."
Xu Zifan smiled and raised his hand, interrupting him, "Uncle Liao, then forget it. I like freedom and don't like taking orders. Besides, I want to revitalize Qingfeng Temple, and helping people resolve calamities will definitely cost a lot of money. I care so much about fame and fortune, so it's not suitable for me to join an organization."
However, if the organization needs me in any way, I will definitely do my best.
Liao Cheng felt a little regretful, but he didn't necessarily want to recruit him. Hearing this, he smiled and picked up his teacup. "Alright, you're still young, you have a long road ahead of you. Maybe one day you'll feel that it's better to stay with the organization. Let's exchange contact information and keep in touch if needed."
Xu Zifan also picked up his teacup, "Okay, if I encounter any problems that I can't solve, I will also ask the organization for help."
After finishing a pot of tea, Liao Cheng took out a small tin of tea leaves and gave it to Xu Zifan, which was probably a kind of honorary reward similar to a good citizen award. Xu Zifan naturally accepted it.
After they left, Director Fang said worriedly, "Is it okay to leave such a powerful metaphysical master out there? Won't he disrupt order? You know, our police can't let the people believe in ghosts, monsters, gods, or Buddhas; otherwise, chaos will ensue."
Liao Cheng shook his head and laughed, "He's an upright person. What can he do if he doesn't want to join the Special Affairs Bureau? We can't just arrest him. Don't you trust my judgment? This Master Qingfeng is a man of principle. But it's really interesting that the young girl under your command actually became his apprentice. There's never been a member of the Xuanmen sect who's a policeman before. Are you really going to let her use that ability to solve cases in the future?"
Director Fang said with a headache, "I didn't expect this either. Xiao Jiang used to be someone who absolutely didn't believe in metaphysics, and she was one of my most promising subordinates. She had made many outstanding contributions and came from a good family. I was planning to train her to take over my job in the future, but she went straight into the world of metaphysics!"
I reckon she saw that Qingfeng was stronger than her, and she admires strong people, so she probably wants to learn from him and become stronger herself.
Liao Cheng suddenly had a flash of inspiration and clapped his hands. "Qingfeng doesn't like being constrained, and Xiao Jiang is loyal to the organization! Xiao Fang, what do you think about letting Xiao Jiang join the Special Affairs Bureau? Anyway, she has already become an apprentice and entered the Xuanmen sect. Let her come here with me. She will be loyal to the country and can also keep her master in check. If the country needs to send her to do something, can her master just stand by and watch?"
Director Fang nodded silently, while Liao Cheng laughed and patted him hard on the shoulder. "You're probably thinking I'm a cunning old fox! I can't help it, the Special Affairs Bureau only has a few people, and I'm practically half-buried, I'm in a hurry."
"Alright, that's settled then. I'll go back and let my superiors know. See you later."
What could Director Fang say? He was a fifty-year-old man, but in front of Liao Cheng, he was just "Little Fang." If someone wanted to take away a promising talent he had his eye on, he had to give up, whether he liked it or not. Besides, he could see that the police station couldn't keep Jiang Tianxin. Once she learned real skills, she might resign and run off with her master. Since he couldn't keep her anyway, he might as well say nothing.
When Jiang Tianxin learned that she had been transferred to the Special Affairs Bureau, she was quite surprised, but then immediately understood Liao Cheng's meaning. She hurriedly told Xu Zifan about the situation, and hesitated, "Master, won't this affect you? Otherwise... should I go and ask if I can resign?"
Xu Zifan cursed the old fox under his breath, but he didn't feel any resentment. Anyway, he wouldn't go on a heroic sacrifice, so it wouldn't affect him much.
He said to Jiang Tianxin, "Just go ahead, you might even be able to learn some of other people's specialties. And this is good, your work hours will be more flexible from now on. You can officially start training with me starting tomorrow. By the way, the Special Affairs Bureau should have some special privileges. Since you've been tricked into this, make the most of them and don't waste them."
Jiang Tianxin vaguely felt that the constraints of her own rules had been broken, and it felt pretty good. She even had a premonition that she could soar through the sky. She immediately smiled and said, "I understand, Master. I will definitely study hard and not bring shame to Qingfeng Temple."
"Well, let's consider buying Qingfeng Temple back now."