At nine o'clock, the luxury cruise liner slowly sailed towards the Jinling pier.
Due to Jiang Wuming killing Yuan Qing and Qin Xiaozhi crippling Yuan Hao, the luxury cruise liner's return journey was advanced by an hour. Moreover, the lively and festive atmosphere from when it departed was gone, replaced by an unusual silence, making it akin to a ghost ship.
The wealthy figures from the Jiangnan business circle stood on the deck, their gazes fixed on the pier.
"There are police cars at the pier, and not just one. The police have been mobilized!"
Suddenly, someone with sharp eyes noticed the situation at the pier and broke the silence on the cruise liner's sixth-floor deck.
"Is the Yuan family going for direct retaliation?"
"It's likely. Otherwise, why would so many police cars be dispatched?"
"But martial artists are managed by the Martial Affairs Department. This matter shouldn't be handled by the police, should it?"
The person who spoke first seemed to have opened Pandora's Box, and many others chimed in. The previously quiet sixth-floor deck became lively.
"When gods fight, mortals suffer. With people from both the Martial Affairs Department and the police present, I advise you all not to spread rumors aimlessly, lest you bring trouble upon yourselves!"
Some also spoke up to remind others, while secretly glancing at Ren Yun and the two police officers on the seventh floor.
Ren Yun ignored the chatter and frowned, gazing at the pier with a slightly solemn expression.
Although he had received a call from Meng Yonggang, the director of the Jinling office of the Martial Affairs Department, and learned that Meng Yonggang was accompanying Yan Jun, the minister of the Martial Affairs Department's Jiangnan branch, on their way to the pier, he had not yet seen their vehicles.
Subsequently, as the cruise liner prepared to dock, Ren Yun turned and left. He then took out his phone and dialed Meng Yonggang's number: "Director, the cruise liner is about to dock. Have you and Minister Yan arrived?"
"We are rushing to the pier with all our might."
On the other end of the line, Meng Yonggang, the director of the Jinling office, was moving like lightning towards the pier while angrily cursing, "These bastards are too cunning. They set up roadblocks to check for drunk driving on our way, causing traffic jams, and then set up checkpoints near the pier, claiming that criminals from a case might be heading towards the pier, delaying us."
"Uh..."
Ren Yun was stunned. He knew who Meng Yonggang was cursing, and then said, "Director, there are many police officers here..."
"I know. Shi Yunfeng is leading the team."
Meng Yonggang, as if anticipating Ren Yun's question, interrupted him directly and gave instructions, "Ren Yun, remember, no matter what, you cannot hand Qin Xiaozhi and that young man named Wuming over to Shi Yunfeng. Wait until Minister Yan and I arrive!"
"Yes, Director!"
Ren Yun took the order, but a hint of doubt lingered in his heart.
A few years ago, the Gu family advocated for reforms, including special institutions like the police, to recruit a small number of martial artists to handle urgent matters.
The position of Chief Instructor of the Police Force came about because of this. His rank was half a level lower than that of the head of the Jiangnan police, but he was a martial arts Grandmaster, possessing strength equal to Yan Jun's!
And he was merely a seven-star martial artist. If Shi Yunfeng were to forcefully take Qin Xiaozhi and Jiang Wuming, he would be powerless to stop him.
With his worries, Ren Yun decided to go to the ship's cabin and ask Jiang Wuming and Qin Xiaozhi to disembark later, thereby delaying time as much as possible until Yan Jun and Meng Yonggang arrived.
However—
Just as Ren Yun was about to turn, he suddenly sensed a powerful aura disappear from one of the police cars and rapidly approach the cruise liner.
Clang!
This discovery sent a jolt through Ren Yun's heart. He immediately deduced that the person was Shi Yunfeng, who intended to board the ship directly and act before Yan Jun and Meng Yonggang arrived.
The situation was indeed as Ren Yun had judged.
Shi Yunfeng, as the Chief Instructor of the Jiangnan police force, was an absolute confidant of Yuan Zeping. After receiving Yuan Zeping's call, in addition to bringing his men to the scene, he had also issued two orders: setting up roadblocks for drunk driving checks and apprehending suspects!
This was also the reason why Meng Yonggang was cursing on the phone earlier!
And now, as the cruise liner was about to dock, Yan Jun and Meng Yonggang had yet to arrive. Shi Yunfeng naturally wouldn't wait foolishly in his car for Jiang Wuming to disembark; he wanted to seize the opportunity to board the ship and take Jiang Wuming away!
Subsequently, as the cruise liner docked at the pier, Shi Yunfeng used his running momentum, sprang off the ground, and directly landed on the cruise liner's third-floor deck. He then used the force of the leap to spring up again, like a nimble monkey, and directly jumped onto the sixth-floor deck.
"Thump!"
To the stunned gaze of everyone, Shi Yunfeng landed steadily on the deck. His eyes, sharp as knives, swept across the surroundings as he searched for Jiang Wuming's figure.
He had already learned from reports from his subordinates that Jiang Wuming could conceal his aura!
Shi Yunfeng scanned the area. Not seeing Jiang Wuming, he finally focused his gaze on Yuan Hao, who was covered in blood but still breathing. He then said to the two subordinates of Yuan Qing on the seventh-floor deck, "What are you still standing there for? Take Yuan Hao off the ship immediately. There's an ambulance at the pier; have the doctors take him to the hospital for treatment right away."
"Yes, Instructor Shi!"
On the seventh-floor deck, the two subordinates of Yuan Qing immediately saluted and accepted the order.
Shi Yunfeng withdrew his gaze, treated Ren Yun, who was standing not far away, as air, and moved directly towards the ship's cabin.
He hadn't seen Jiang Wuming's figure on the sixth-floor deck but had sensed Qin Xiaozhi's aura. He believed that Jiang Wuming should be in the cabin with Qin Xiaozhi.
"Instructor Shi, what do you think you're doing?"
Ren Yun's expression changed. With a flicker of his feet, he flashed forward, directly blocking Shi Yunfeng's path at the entrance to the ship's cabin.
"Move aside."
Shi Yunfeng replied without answering the question, his tone exceptionally commanding, showing no regard for Ren Yun.
On one hand, his rank was higher than Ren Yun's.
On the other hand, he was a martial arts Grandmaster, while Ren Yun was merely a seven-star martial artist!
More importantly, he had come on Yuan Zeping's instructions, so how could he leave because of Ren Yun?
"Instructor Shi, it seems you know about tonight's events. Our Martial Affairs Department is responsible for handling this matter..."
Ren Yun remained unyielding, still standing at the entrance to the ship's cabin, preventing Shi Yunfeng from passing.
"Ren Yun, I remind you, you are just a lowly deputy director of the Jinling office of the Martial Affairs Department. It's best not to meddle in other people's business, or you'll face the consequences!"
Shi Yunfeng frowned and threatened in a cold tone.
Ren Yun heard Shi Yunfeng's threat but fearlessly replied, "Instructor Shi, I also remind you that I am not meddling in other people's business, but fulfilling my duties. As for you, openly disregarding and violating the rules of the Martial Affairs Department like this, if the higher-ups pursue it..."
"I'll ask you one last time, are you going to let me pass or not?"
Shi Yunfeng said coldly, his aura suddenly surging, like a lion on the verge of being enraged.
"Minister Yan Jun and Director Meng Yonggang are arriving very soon. Their instructions to me are that no one can take Qin Xiaozhi and that young man named Wuming before they arrive!"
Ren Yun was also annoyed. He stared fixedly at Shi Yunfeng and said with grit, "If you want to take them, you can, but you'll have to step over my dead body!"
Huh?
Shi Yunfeng's pupils instantly contracted.
He hadn't expected Ren Yun to be so resolute. Moreover, he could sense Yan Jun's aura already appearing at the pier and rapidly approaching the cruise liner.
"Scram!"
Shi Yunfeng suddenly let out a low roar and lunged directly at Ren Yun.
Sensing Shi Yunfeng's terrifying aura, Ren Yun's body tensed, and his hair stood on end, but he still didn't dodge.
Then, just as Ren Yun thought Shi Yunfeng was about to make a move, Shi Yunfeng feinted, swept past Ren Yun, and entered the ship's cabin.
"Shi Yunfeng!"
Ren Yun's face changed drastically. He roared angrily, then turned and flashed into the ship's cabin, only to see Shi Yunfeng already rushing towards the table where Jiang Wuming, Qin Xiaozhi, and Su Shiyun were sitting.
"If I tell you that not only will you be unable to take me today, but you will also pay a price for this matter, do you believe me?"
Facing Shi Yunfeng, who exuded the aura of a martial arts Grandmaster, Jiang Wuming knew his intentions but showed no panic, only calmness on his face.
"Instructor Shi, do you intend to openly challenge the authority of the Martial Affairs Department and trample on its regulations?"
As if to confirm Jiang Wuming's words, a furious roar suddenly sounded, approaching from a distance.
Yan Jun, the person in charge of the Jiangnan Martial Affairs Department, was rapidly heading towards the cruise liner while shouting loudly.
"Minister Yan, someone killed our Jiangnan police personnel. Is it unreasonable for us to take them back to understand the situation?"
Hearing the shout, Shi Yunfeng's expression flickered between gloom and uncertainty. Ultimately, he did not directly seize Jiang Wuming. Instead, he turned his head and shouted back.
"If you want to understand the situation, come to our Martial Affairs Department later, and I'll tell you!"
Yan Jun responded loudly, and had already reached the bottom of the cruise liner. Then, just as Shi Yunfeng had done earlier, he leaped up and onto the cruise liner.
"No need. After I understand the situation, I will send the people over to you!"
Shi Yunfeng, sensing that Yan Jun had boarded the ship, responded coldly and then reached out to grab Jiang Wuming.
Jiang Wuming remained unmoved.
"Shi Yunfeng, I'm telling you clearly, you will not be able to take him away!"
Yan Jun arrived on the sixth-floor deck of the cruise liner and shouted loudly, "If you remain stubborn and insist on your own way, then we shall settle this with our hands!"
Swish!
Hearing Yan Jun's words again and feeling the determination in his tone, Shi Yunfeng's expression changed. He finally withdrew his hand, turned, and walked out of the ship's cabin, asking Yan Jun, "Minister Yan, I'd like to know, is this your personal decision, or is it the intention of Commander Qin Yuanzheng of the Martial Affairs Eastern Region Corps?"
"The Commander said to get lost as far away as you can!"
Yan Jun relayed Qin Yuanzheng's words verbatim.
Swish!
Shi Yunfeng's expression changed wildly again. Astonishment, anger, and humiliation appeared on his face in quick succession. He stared at Yan Jun for a full ten seconds.
After ten seconds, Shi Yunfeng abandoned his intention to take Jiang Wuming and left the sixth-floor deck dejectedly.
He couldn't afford to offend Qin Yuanzheng and left in defeat.
Jiang Wuming's words had come true, proving his strategic brilliance!