Chapter 30: Running Into Trouble

The members of the criminal investigation team didn't even dare to breathe heavily. They never expected that a show about scavenging for junk could stir up such a massive mess.

*Knock, knock, knock...*

The leader sitting in the middle tapped on the tabletop, startling everyone into looking up.

The leader's gaze fell upon the criminal investigation team.

"Has this Jiang Xiaoya been fully investigated?"

The members of the team all bowed their heads in unison, but feeling that this was improper, they instantly raised them again. However, they couldn't control their eyes, and their gazes landed one after another on Qing Tianfeng.

Whether or not the leader's challenge could be met depended entirely on their captain.

Qing Tianfeng was well-prepared. He raised his eyes and met the leader's gaze.

"Investigated clearly," he replied in a slow tone.

This time, it wasn't just the criminal investigation team; people from other departments and various ranks all looked up at him.

In truth, what they were curious about was Jiang Xiaoya.

The internet was full of people echoing rumors, which they didn't believe, but the commotion over the past two days had been so massive that it had piqued their interest.

"How was the investigation?" The leader stared at Qing Tianfeng with furrowed brows.

"No issues."

Qing Tianfeng offered only three decisive, blunt words.

The crowd exchanged glances.

The leader fell silent, and after a long moment, uttered a single sentence.

"Are you certain it's been fully investigated?"

"Yes."

Qing Tianfeng offered no redundant explanation.

The members of the criminal investigation team wanted to give him a thumbs up. *That's a man for you!*

"Fine. Tell us the situation."

A cold smirk played at the corner of the leader's lips; he was determined to get to the bottom of this today.

"The situation... Come, tell everyone about Jiang Xiaoya..."

Qing Tianfeng had the criminal investigation team introduce Jiang Xiaoya's background to everyone.

The team members stood up, holding documents as they gave a formal report.

They summarized three points: she came from a poor family, had average academic performance, couldn't find a job after graduation, and had nearly starved to death during her first three days of work. The commotion of the last two or three days was the only outlier.

In summary, she was an ordinary person, as ordinary as one could be, with absolutely no issues and a family background that was as clean as could be.

As for the commotion she caused, it could be summarized in two words: luck.

Or perhaps, two other words: misfortune.

Even though, in the end, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

The atmosphere fell silent again. Someone couldn't hold back and raised a question that had been bothering everyone.

"Captain Qing, does she really possess that much strength?"

Many people online questioned whether the show and Jiang Xiaoya were merely putting on an act. News Broadcast had verified this with Qing Tianfeng, confirming there was no performance involved, yet they still found it inconceivable.

"Um... she really does."

After saying this, Qing Tianfeng also fell silent.

He still remembered how that blade had nearly pierced him. He had instinctively tried to disarm the attacker, but the moment he touched the cold glint of the large blade, his body was numbed by the shock, nearly causing him to lose consciousness.

That sensation was still fresh in his memory.

To the point where he no longer harbored any suspicion regarding her identity.

If he had to be suspicious, he would suggest sending this girl for an autopsy—where on earth did she get such heaven-defying divine strength?!

Qing Tianfeng took a deep breath. Seeing everyone staring at him, he spread his hands.

"If anyone here doesn't believe it, you are welcome to spar with me or her at any time."

The crowd: "..."

As soon as Qing Tianfeng said this, the crowd, who had been somewhat skeptical, was struck with even greater amazement.

One had to know that Qing Tianfeng had once been a legendary figure in military academy. If a top scholar was considered a god of literature descended to earth, Qing Tianfeng was a mythical existence in the military academy.

Due to his excellence, he had served as an instructor for various military units before being assigned to Licheng by some high-ranking official to serve in the criminal investigation team.

For such a legendary figure to make such an evaluation, it was clear that Jiang Xiaoya's astonishing talent was no mere exaggeration.

The leader's gaze swept across the room. After a long moment of contemplation, he spoke.

"Forget Jiang Xiaoya for now. The main priority is the tomb-robbing gang case. We need to find out who is behind them and where they got the firearms."

The leader tapped the table, visibly furious.

"Regardless of where they come from or who they are, they dare to commit crimes with firearms in our Licheng. Their crimes are unforgivable and will not be tolerated. We must unmask the people behind them in the shortest time possible. No matter how many there are, pull them out. We must uproot them and clear them out completely."

As expected of a leader, his words sent a surge of passion and fighting spirit through the crowd.

"Yes, sir!"

The criminal investigation team rose from their seats and responded with salutes.

The others also responded with solemn expressions.

As Qing Tianfeng exited the meeting room, the group continued their work.

***

When Jiang Xiaoya left the police station, the small amount of food she had eaten at the hospital was no longer enough to sustain her. She found a place to eat, but just as she sat down, a thick, pungent scent of men's cologne wafted over from the next table.

Jiang Xiaoya's brows knit together from the smell. She looked up and caught sight of several bearded men; the physiques of these foreigners were like giants compared to the local Asians.

As if sensing something, the bearded foreigner in the middle raised his gaze and scanned the area.

Jiang Xiaoya quickly withdrew her gaze, looked down at the noodle soup in her bowl, and began slurping it up.

The viewers in the livestream didn't notice the table in front of her. Seeing how heartily Jiang Xiaoya was eating, they all began ordering takeout.

Viewers lurking in internet cafes shouted at their bosses to bring them instant noodles.

For a moment, there was a strange harmony both on and off the screen.

After slurping the last bite, Jiang Xiaoya stood up to go to the restroom. Passing by the middle chair, she tried to detour because it was too crowded, but just then, the person at that table stood up, and the two collided.

"I'm sorry... ha..."

Jiang Xiaoya apologized with a sincere and upright attitude. But as soon as the words left her mouth, two voices rang out simultaneously—no, to be precise, three.

One was the angry roar of the bearded man: "What do you mean by that?"

One was the sound of his palm slamming against the table—*bang, bang, bang!*

The other was... that damn system.

【Ding! Valuable item detected, valuable item detected...】

*Screw you!*

Can't you see she's in trouble?

Jiang Xiaoya cursed inwardly while maintaining a polite expression on her face. "Big brother, I'm so sorry. I was just careless, really. My foot slipped. I apologize to you all. Please be magnanimous and don't hold it against me..."

Seeing that they were still staring at her like hawks, she quickly added tactfully, "I apologize. I'll pay for this table today, consider it my way of making amends to everyone."

She kept a smile on her face, but under their cold gazes, the smile gradually faded.

"Gentlemen..."

She wanted to find an opportunity to slip away, but the system's alarms kept ringing incessantly.

【Ding! Valuable item detected, valuable item detected...】

...

【Ding! Valuable item detected, valuable item detected...】

*Ding my ass.*

Jiang Xiaoya was frustrated, but she also knew that the system's reminders were, in a sense, a way of locking onto a mission. She couldn't stray too far from the target, or the system would force a lock.

But this was a restaurant; where was she supposed to find "valuable items"?

Did she have to flip the tables to look for them?