Chapter 425: Have the Guts to Come and Take It

In the Garrison Hall, Liao Zihui looked at the report and confirmed some details with Liu Guocai, the Chief Garrison Commander of Wuqin Township.

"At the time, you didn't notice anything unusual, but your geographical location did change?"

Liu Guocai nodded. "The changes primarily affected the location of the Moxiang Shop and the exit leading to the New Land."

Wuqin Township originally bordered the Moxiang Shop, but a new territory suddenly appeared between the two. According to reports from the Moxiang Shop, they hadn't experienced any abnormalities either.

"Are you sure this territory belongs to Li Qi?"

Liu Guocai replied, "We've sent people to scout the edge of the territory. We didn't see Li Qi, but we did see three abnormals who escaped from Sinner City, as well as He Yuxiu, Ma Wu, and others. The general topography of the territory is also completely consistent with the New Land cultivated by Li Qi."

"A territory deep within the New Land, having been successfully reclaimed, suddenly appeared in the middle of the established land without any surrounding abnormalities, simply forcing its way in," Liao Zihui summarized. Halfway through, he suddenly chuckled. "This place, Pro Prefecture, is truly bizarre. I've been here for so many years and still can't figure it out. Su Jun, how's the data search coming along?"

Secretary Ling Sujun reported, "Chief Commander, based on the information we currently have, a similar situation occurred once before in Pro Prefecture's history."

"When was that?"

"Zongfa City degenerated from established land into old soil due to insufficient population."

Liao Zihui didn't have a strong impression of this event; it must have happened before he came to Pro Prefecture. "Is the Zongfa City incident related to what's happening now?"

Ling Sujun handed the documents to Liao Zihui. "Zongfa City's geographical location also changed, but it was the complete opposite of the current situation: it left its established land position and moved deep into the New Land. The surrounding territories geographically converged directly, filling the void left by Zongfa City, and the entrances to the New Land also changed. Other than that, no obvious abnormalities appeared."

Liao Zihui carefully reviewed the details of Zongfa City and asked Ling Sujun, "Are there no other similar records in Pro Prefecture's history?"

Ling Sujun replied, "The relevant data is very fragmented, and based on what we've discovered so far..."

Liao Zihui shook his head. "Keep investigating. If our information is incomplete, get it from other prefectures. This is a major matter, and all parties must cooperate."

Ling Sujun left the meeting room. Liao Zihui re-examined the documents and asked Liu Guocai, the Chief Garrison Commander of Wuqin Township, "Is your railway broken?"

"Yes, when that nameless land appeared, the railway between Wuqin Township and the Moxiang Shop was severed. However, no trains were passing through at the time, so there was no significant damage. The breaks in the tracks were very clean, with no twisting or deformation, as if they had been instantly cut by an extremely sharp tool."

Deputy Chief Commander Tang Huanjie interjected, "Chief Commander, I've prepared the personnel and equipment. As soon as Li Qi agrees, we can immediately go survey the site and strive to start work as soon as possible."

Liao Zihui frowned. "What for?"

Tang Huanjie was startled. "To repair the railway."

Liao Zihui said, "You're asking Li Qi to repair the railway? What are you thinking?"

"Well, that," Tang Huanjie was momentarily stumped. "Chief Commander, the railway between Wuqin Township and the Moxiang Shop is broken, and the entire line is affected. If we don't repair it soon..."

Liao Zihui interrupted Tang Huanjie. "What's the rush? Let it be affected. Aren't there other railway lines around? Take a detour first!"

"But the transportation costs would..."

"It's fine," Liao Zihui waved his hand. "Li Qi has put us through so much trouble repeatedly; now it's our turn to exact a price from him. He's currently trapped in that territory and can't get out. If he wants the railway, he'll have to beg me! He'll have to pay for the railway repairs, and he'll have to pay for the Garrison Hall's repairs too. He has to pay whatever I demand. If he refuses, he can stay in that wasteland for the rest of his life!"

Tang Huanjie pursed his lips. "It's not just Li Qi who's trapped. The heads of all the major families are also stuck in that wasteland. I'm afraid they'll cause trouble."

"Who would they cause trouble for?" Liao Zihui sneered. "They should go to whoever trapped them. Li Qi caused this, so if they want to make trouble, they should go to Li Qi. What does it have to do with us? Oh, right, how's the investigation into Li Qi's identity coming along?"

This was the advantage of being the Chief Commander: he could ask about anything that came to mind, and his subordinates had to respond.

Fortunately, Tang Huanjie was prepared. "The investigation is almost complete. Li Qi's real name is Song Zhuowen; he's thirty-two years old this year and was born in Haichi Ridge. His family was poor since he was young, and his parents wanted him to become an Anenergy User. Unable to save up for the Anenergy foundation, they took him to San Tiao Cha. On the way, they encountered mountain bandits, and both died. Song Zhuowen survived and became a Wanderer. He began twenty-three years ago and also lived in another prefecture for a period. His current level is five."

Liao Zihui quickly calculated. "Twenty-three years since starting, an ordinary person would usually only reach level three. With some elixirs, accumulated, reaching level five is not far off the mark. Where did you get the information about the mountain bandit encounter?"

"From Haichi Ridge. Someone was traveling with their family at the time and managed to escape from the bandits. He personally saw Song Zhuowen's parents die at the hands of the bandits. He also saw Li Qi return to Haichi Ridge a while ago and tidy up the old house. We also verified this around San Tiao Cha. Over twenty years ago, mountain bandits were indeed rampant around Haichi Ridge, and passersby were killed almost daily."

Liao Zihui pondered for a moment. "Does this Song Zhuowen have any other relatives in Haichi Ridge?"

"That's currently impossible to verify," Tang Huanjie shook his head. "Their family originally moved from the countryside to Toudao Ridge. Nobody who knew them has heard of them having any relatives."

Liao Zihui sighed softly. "The story fits perfectly, but the details are impossible to verify. There's still something suspicious about this. Huanjie, you need to keep investigating. Put the Haichi Ridge lead aside for now and investigate from a different direction."

Put Haichi Ridge aside?

Tang Huanjie looked troubled.

Li Qi is from Haichi Ridge. If they put Haichi Ridge aside, where else could they investigate from?

Liao Zihui pondered for a long time. "I recall Li Qi having some conflict with Ling Family Pictures."

Tang Huanjie nodded. "At the time, there was quite a bit of friction between the two companies as 'Blood Blade Detective' and 'Blood Gun Detective' competed for the market."

"Start the investigation with Ling Family Pictures. Since they have a feud, the Ling family must have investigated Li Qi. See if they have any clues."

He Jiaqing set up cameras and microphones in his apartment, arranged mats and dumbbells, and plugged a wireless network card into his head.

He was currently doing fitness live streams under the name "Xiao Qing Takes You Flying," and his channel was very popular. As soon as he started streaming today, donations poured in.

"Thank you, 'Quiet Years,' for the big rocket [gift]. Xiao Qing will now explain the key techniques for high-frequency push-ups."

The atmosphere in the live stream instantly reached a climax. Everyone loved watching Xiao Qing's push-ups, especially focusing on his core strength.

Popularity points continuously flowed into He Jiaqing's head. He had just gotten into his rhythm when the button on his desk vibrated.

Hearing Shen Rongqing's voice, He Jiaqing temporarily paused the live stream.

"Quiet Years" sent a private message, requesting a private chat.

He Jiaqing casually brushed off the request with a few words, turned off his camera and microphone, and listened carefully to Shen Rongqing's message.

"Jiaqing, the Garrison Commander wants to investigate Li Qi's background."

"I heard they investigated before, and it seemed to have been cleared up."

Shen Rongqing said, "According to their investigation results, Li Qi's real name is Song Zhuowen, and he's from Haichi Ridge."

"Song Zhuowen?" He Jiaqing was taken aback. "Where did this information come from?"

Shen Rongqing didn't know.

Of course she didn't know; this information had been fabricated by Ma Wu at great expense.

Ma Wu had informants in the Garrison Hall and knew the Garrison Commander was investigating Li Qi's identity. Ma Wu spent a fortune to fabricate Li Qi's identity.

Song Zhuowen was a real person, and his background and experiences were genuine. However, this person had no connection to Li Qi; all connections were fabricated by Ma Wu.

Ma Wu first set up the framework, then secretly bought Song Zhuowen's old residence. Li Qi then went there to tidy up the house, and, with the help of subtle hints in newspapers, the connection was thus established.

He Jiaqing played with the button in his hand for a moment and said to Shen Rongqing, "Have our people subtly leak some information too, to solidify the lead that Li Qi is Song Zhuowen."

Shen Rongqing didn't understand. "Jiaqing, are you covering for Li Qi? Are we supposed to deal with the Garrison Commander for Li Qi's sake?"

He Jiaqing said, "Li Qi has many secrets. Some of them I know, but the Garrison Commander cannot."

Shen Rongqing was very curious about this. "Jiaqing, shouldn't we organize a list of all the secrets Li Qi is hiding?"

He Jiaqing was just thinking about how to appease Shen Rongqing when he suddenly saw a private message pop up in his live stream; it was from "Quiet Years."

She wanted to meet He Jiaqing in person.

He Jiaqing was still thinking about how to reply when another private message arrived in an instant. "Quiet Years" sent her home address, followed by a message:

"My sister's home needs a steel wool scrubber. If it's convenient, please bring one along."

Outside a Western-style building south of Bailemen in Greenwater City, a beggar holding a begging bowl walked into the courtyard.

The gatekeeper shouted, "What are you doing here?"

The Greenwater Beggar smiled at him. "I want something to eat."

The gatekeeper cursed, "You stinking beggar, you've got guts, intruding wherever you please? Get lost, quick..." Before he could finish, the gatekeeper's throat constricted, and he suddenly choked.

The Greenwater Beggar continued forward. Several guards tried to stop him, but as they took two steps towards the Greenwater Beggar, their bodies suddenly swelled, engulfing their limbs, tearing their clothes, and fusing their flesh, becoming large, festering pustules standing in the courtyard.

The Greenwater Beggar looked at these guards who had turned into pustules. The pustules seemed to have received some command, as they surrounded the Western-style building and took up their positions.

Their heads cracked open, and pus spewed out. The pus that landed on the ground rapidly writhed, quickly engulfing the entire Western-style building.

The Greenwater Beggar, dragging his bowl, entered the Western-style building and saw Chu Shaoqiang emerging from a bedroom.

Chu Shaoqiang stood by the stair railing, looking down at the Greenwater Beggar. "Green Beggar, you have quite the nerve to come looking for me so openly?"

The Greenwater Beggar chuckled, "I wanted to come secretly, but I can't avoid the magic treasures around you."

"And coming openly, can you avoid them?"

The Greenwater Beggar shook his head. "No, I can't. So I might as well not hide. Coming openly also gives me fewer restrictions. Let's settle things decisively today!"

Chu Shaoqiang frowned. "Why the rush? Let's wait. We'll have plenty of opportunities later."

The Greenwater Beggar rubbed his bowl. "Wait more? How many years have you waited already? Didn't you want Greenwater Bay back then? I'm here now, and Greenwater Bay is in my hands. If you've got the guts, come and take it!"