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Boom!
At the critical moment, Gu Chen rushed forward and blocked Yan Hua's strike.
"You dare obstruct an investigation?" Yan Hua's eyes immediately darkened.
Seeing Gu Chen charge ahead, Song Yu and Wang Yan's expressions changed, and they inwardly cried out in dismay.
"You're not conducting an investigation; you're committing murder!" Gu Chen's eyes were piercingly cold as he locked gazes with Yan Hua, not giving an inch.
Upon hearing this, Yan Hua cracked a smile with a chilling look in his eyes, saying, "So what? Dare to obstruct the investigation of the Mingjing Department, or even assault an official of the Mingjing Department in public; that is a capital offense. It's not just this child; even if I slaughtered everyone here, no one could do anything to me!"
"You're welcome to try!" Gu Chen's eyes were icy and sharp.
"Courting death!"
Cheng Song, who was nearby, saw Gu Chen daring to make a move and became furious. He drew his sword and stepped forward, while the other third-rank Mirror Holders seeing this, also turned cold, drawing their long swords and pointing them at Gu Chen.
Song Yu and Wang Yan changed color, quickly running over and standing in front of everyone, Song Yu making a placating smile, saying, "A misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding. We're all on the same side—why turn it into this?"
"Ask him!" Yan Hua said coldly, his complexion exceedingly grim.
Song Yu tugged at Gu Chen's sleeve, signaling him not to escalate the situation, while whispering, "What are you doing, don't be impulsive!"
In fact, Gu Chen understood Song Yu's meaning. After all, the Jing Tian Department and the Mingjing Department were two separate entities. With the Mingjing Department conducting an investigation, Gu Chen's obstruction was inappropriate both emotionally and logically.
If things blew up, Gu Chen alone would bear all the consequences, and it might even lead to discord between the Jing Tian Department and the Mingjing Department.
If such a scenario unfolded, the higher-ups of the Jing Tian Department certainly wouldn't protect Gu Chen. His fate would be extremely bleak, with the lightest consequence being expelled from the Jing Tian Department.
Moreover, Yan Hua and Cheng Song had been second-rank Mirror Holders for some time, and both were martial artists of the External Qi realm. If it really came down to a fight, Gu Chen, who was only at the Meridian Opening realm, was obviously no match. If Yan Hua decided to teach him a harsh lesson, the Jing Tian Department couldn't say much.
But Gu Chen remained unswayed, still standing there, confronting Yan Hua.
Seeing Gu Chen so resolute, Yan Hua laughed, "Brave indeed, it seems you are truly unafraid of death."
Yan Hua was not at all concerned, in fact, somewhat hoping for Gu Chen to make a move so that he could justifiably strike and profoundly humiliate Gu Chen.
What did beating a few people count for? In his many years at the Mingjing Department, Yan Hua had done this plenty. In his view, the very fact he hadn't killed anyone was already a grand display of mercy.
Gu Chen attacking Mingjing Department officials was no small matter. Even if Gu Chen was with the Jing Tian Department, if things got out of hand, as long as he held onto this point, Yan Hua would be invincible.
But at that moment, Gu Chen moved even faster. With a slight movement, he evaded the knife energy to everyone's astonishment, appearing at Cheng Song's landing spot and delivering a solid palm strike to Cheng Song's chest.
"Pu!"
Cheng Song's fate was not much better than Yan Hua's; he too spat out blood and was sent flying.
Clang!
Seeing their superior injured, eighteen third-tier Mirror Holders drew their swords and rushed towards Gu Chen.
Swish!
At this moment, Gu Chen moved like the wind, swiftly passing through the hall. The eighteen third-tier Mirror Holders were struck down one after another, wailing in pain.
"You... you dare to strike and injure people?!" Yan Hua and Cheng Song stared wide-eyed at Gu Chen.
"Dissatisfied?"
Gu Chen's eyebrows lifted slightly, and he took a few light steps forward. Seeing this, the people from the Mingjing Department turned pale with panic, scrambling backwards on hands and feet.
Yan Hua and Cheng Song were also somewhat fearful, not expecting Gu Chen to have such strength. Nonetheless, they said with a feigned firmness, "You... wait for us. Interfering with the Mingjing Department's case and daring to injure people, when we return to Tiandu, I will definitely file a report against you, and you won't get away with it!"
"I'll be waiting." Gu Chen responded indifferently, his face unconcerned.
This attitude from Gu Chen infuriated Yan Hua and Cheng Song to the point where they nearly ground their teeth to dust, yet they found themselves utterly helpless against Gu Chen. The two of them could only hastily get up and make an embarrassed retreat with the rest of the Mingjing Department personnel.
Song Yu and Wang Yan looked at Gu Chen with surprise, not having expected this newly promoted Metropolitan Procurator to possess such strength that he could easily subdue Yan Hua and Cheng Song.
Song Yu took a breath and said, "Thank goodness you kept your cool. I was really afraid you'd let your blood heat up and end up slaughtering them outright."
Gu Chen smiled slightly, replying, "I'm not that foolish."
After all, Yan Hua and Cheng Song were second-tier Mirror Holders from the Mingjing Department,—a scolding was one thing, but they were all officials of Da Xia, and Yan Hua had been the first to initiate the fight, so Gu Chen felt justified.
But had he truly killed the two men that day, the matter would have escalated, and even Chen Yu wouldn't have been able to protect him.
"Once those two make a complaint against you when they return, you'd better be careful," Song Yu cautioned.
Gu Chen smiled faintly and said, "It's fine, isn't there Commander Chen?"
Upon hearing this, Song Yu gave a resigned smile; indeed, with Gu Chen's strength, Chen Yu would certainly shield him thoroughly. His own worry had been superfluous; after all, this was no big deal. It had been Yan Hua and Cheng Song who had started the trouble, and their beating was well deserved.
Even Wang Yan couldn't help but show a hint of amusement at the corner of his mouth as he thought about how the two would look after their setback.