Chapter 42 - 40: Result

Lu Ze approached with a smile, flanked by two senior brothers from the Law Enforcement Team who wore special badges.

Lu Ze said with a smile, "Just taking care of some business. I didn’t expect to run into you. What a coincidence."

Zhang Deming glanced at the two Law Enforcement Team members at Lu Ze’s side. "Seeing you like this, Senior Brother Lu, you must be busy. I won’t get in your way."

With that, Zhang Deming turned to the side, intending to leave.

"Junior Brother Zhang, hold on a moment."

Zhang Deming turned to Lu Ze, a questioning look on his face. "Senior Brother Lu, you need something?"

Lu Ze smiled. "Oh, it’s nothing major. We’ve just misplaced a Tier Two Cultivation Technique."

Zhang Deming paused, then smiled. "Oh? Then why did you stop me, Senior Brother?"

Lu Ze smiled. "According to the eyewitness accounts of several junior brothers, the Cultivation Technique is supposedly in your possession."

Hearing this, Zhang Deming’s expression darkened. "Senior Brother Lu, be careful what you say. Some words can’t be spoken lightly."

Lu Ze smiled. "Is that so...? Lanye!"

As Lu Ze spoke, a figure suddenly materialized not far from them.

Zhang Deming’s expression shifted. ’This person was following me the entire time, and I never noticed.’

After revealing himself, Lanye wasted no words and took out a Memory Stone.

It showed a single image: Zhang Deming holding the Cultivation Technique and flipping through its pages.

"Junior Brother Zhang, do you have anything to say now?" Lu Ze asked.

Zhang Deming looked at the image, remaining remarkably calm. "Senior Brother, are you going to convict me based on a single Memory Stone recording that can be easily fabricated?"

"It wouldn’t be hard for any senior brother proficient in Illusion Skills or Illusion Arrays to create an image like this, would it?"

Lu Ze smiled. "We can’t convict you, of course, but we can conduct a search. Isn’t that right, Senior Brothers?"

The two from the Law Enforcement Team, who were clearly on good terms with Lu Ze, nodded. "Yes. With sufficient evidence, a search is permissible."

With that, the two prepared to act.

Zhang Deming immediately said, "Wait!"

One of the Law Enforcement Team members, Chai Dajun, spoke with a mocking tone, "What, are you thinking of resisting?"

’He’d done this sort of thing plenty of times over the years.’

’He could tell at a glance that today’s matter was a well-prepared, open-and-shut case.’

Zhang Deming smiled at Chai Dajun. "You’re overstating things, Senior Brother. I’m just an honest disciple. Why would I resist?"

"I’m just asking, what happens if you search me and find nothing?"

"What if Senior Brother Lu then claims I’ve hidden it somewhere? Are you going to start interrogating me for its location then?"

Lu Ze’s brow furrowed at his words, and he glanced at Lanye.

"After I found the thief, I followed him from a distance the entire time. He has it on his person; he didn’t hide it," Lanye whispered.

Seeing this, Zhang Deming spoke up. "So, you’re certain I haven’t hidden it, but that I have it on me right now."

"In that case, what happens if you don’t find it?"

Lu Ze frowned slightly as he looked at Zhang Deming’s completely composed expression.

"I saw you put it on your person with my own eyes. I can’t be mistaken," Lanye replied.

Seeing this, Chai Dajun decided the matter was settled. "If we don’t find it, I’ll give you a proper accounting. We’re not going to frame an innocent man."

That was exactly what Zhang Deming had been waiting for. He spread his arms wide, looked at the senior brother from the Law Enforcement Team, and said, "Be my guest, Senior Brother."

Hearing this, Chai Dajun turned to his teammate, Miao Yu.

Miao Yu had only been dragged along to help. Seeing that a decision had been made, he formed a hand seal, and a faint, dense light glowed in his eyes.

Then, he scrutinized Zhang Deming.

After a long moment, he seemed taken aback. Zhang Deming then spoke up. "Had your fill of looking, Senior Brother? I know I’m well-endowed, but you don’t need to stare."

"Did you find me hiding even half a Cultivation Technique?"

Miao Yu’s face stiffened. He deactivated the penetrating gaze of his Spiritual Eye, turned to Chai Dajun, and shook his head. "Nothing."

"Impossible!" Lanye blurted out before anyone else could speak.

Lu Ze froze. He quickly pulled a card from his pocket. It was covered in countless runes that formed a tracking mark.

He immediately activated the card. It flickered once, then did absolutely nothing.

Now, Lu Ze was utterly dumbfounded.

Chai Dajun’s face darkened at the sight. ’What the hell is this? Why drag me into it if you weren’t absolutely sure?’

’Did you just want to make me lose face?’

He shot Lu Ze a glare, then turned to Lanye. "For framing a fellow disciple, you’re coming with me."

"No, I didn’t frame him! The item really is on him! Senior Brother Lu, you..."

"Shut up! Who told you to frame a fellow disciple? Was it you who stole my Cultivation Technique? I’ll deal with you later!" Lu Ze instantly cut off the panicked Lanye.

Yelled at so fiercely, Lanye froze for a moment. He then fell silent and was obediently led away by the two Law Enforcement officers.

Zhang Deming smiled. "Senior Brothers, please be sure to handle this matter impartially. I’m sure Steward Luh would be very interested in the outcome."

Miao Yu, who had looked indifferent up to this point, his expression shifted.

He glanced back at Zhang Deming and said, "Rest assured. On my end, at least, I can guarantee impartiality."

Lu Ze’s face darkened instantly upon hearing this.

Chai Dajun didn’t even turn his head, tacitly agreeing with Miao Yu.

After the two had left, Zhang Deming looked at Lu Ze with a smile. "Senior Brother Lu, you really should be more discerning when choosing your friends."

"Don’t befriend petty thieves like that next time. It sets a terrible example."

Lu Ze’s face grew even darker. "Hmph. Don’t get cocky. This isn’t over."

Zhang Deming’s faint smile vanished, replaced by a cold expression. "Oh, we certainly will."

"There won’t be a third time. I considered our last encounter me paying my respects upon arrival. This time, I’ll be sure to remember to return the favor."

"Otherwise, if I let people think that anyone can just walk all over me right after I’ve arrived at Little Hui Peak, I won’t have a future here. My days would just be spent waiting for the next person to step on me, and that’s no way to live."

With that said, Zhang Deming turned and walked away.

Watching Zhang Deming leave, Lu Ze had a strange feeling that the rumors he’d spread had been accidentally correct. ’This Junior Brother Zhang really didn’t seem like someone who got by on luck alone.’

’With these kinds of methods, perhaps they really had been schemed against for the positions they’d lost.’

’The only thing he couldn’t figure out was why a person like this would lay low in a place like Little Qing Mountain for ten whole years.’

’Lu Ze felt there was a crucial piece of the puzzle he was missing.’

Lu Ze watched Zhang Deming’s retreating back, his expression dark and pensive.

...

Zhang Deming left the market. Once he was sure no one was around, his Heart Spirit stirred.

A pair of miniature wings appeared at his heels. With a slight vibration, Zhang Deming shot forward like a bolt of lightning, vanishing on the spot.

After returning to Qingyou Pool, Zhang Deming first cast his skills on the medicinal herb garden. Only after completing his daily routine did he enter his room.

He opened the editing panel. Inside the repository, four orbs of light—one gold and three white—shimmered faintly. The surface of each orb was covered in runes that formed the word ’Branch.’