Chapter 13: Detention

The law enforcement vehicle, flashing its lights and blaring its siren, departed from Wang’ao Fishing Village and traveled along the coastal highway. Fifty minutes later, it entered the urban area of Fuling City.

Fuling is a coastal city with pleasant scenery and a thriving economy, home to over four million residents. It ranks fourth in economic output within Nanxing Province and is renowned as an excellent seaside tourist destination, gaining some fame both domestically and internationally within Donghua.

Through the car window, Shuisheng gazed curiously at the city he had never visited before despite its proximity. Skyscrapers, charming architecture, vibrant neighborhoods—these were scenes he had only seen on the village chief’s television and newspapers. Now, they were vividly before his eyes.

Indeed, this was his first time in downtown Fuling. His world had previously been confined to the area stretching from Wang’ao Village to Ting’ao Town.

A young man who spent every day struggling under the pressure of survival would hardly have the leisure to appreciate the CBD of a large city thirty kilometers away.

The vehicle pulled into a sprawling compound at the city center. Inside, there were office buildings, garages, and training grounds. A squad of enforcement officers trained loudly on the field, their moves sharp and their cries fierce. Witnessing all this stirred something within Shuisheng.

The car came to a stop in the garage. Lin Shaowei and another person helped Shuisheng out. The young man was not treated like a criminal; aside from Shao Gang gripping his arm firmly, there were no handcuffs or shackles. They led him into a building and took the elevator to the fourth floor.

At the stairwell of the fourth floor, Shuisheng noticed a sign: “Combat Enforcement Division.”

They brought him to a room marked “Interrogation Room,” furnished with a table and two rows of chairs facing each other, equipped with various recording devices. One wall was made of one-way glass—visible from outside, but opaque from within.

Lin Shaowei instructed Shuisheng to sit down. Shortly after, she, Shao Gang, and another young man entered and closed the door behind them.

The newcomer appeared to be about twenty-four or twenty-five, handsome with sharp brows and bright eyes. Though exuding youthful vigor, his demeanor was calm and serious.

“You must be Shuisheng,” the young man extended his hand. “I’m Lu Xingzhou, Deputy Director of the Combat Enforcement Division of the Fuling City Team under the Heavenly Court Organization.”

Shuisheng’s heart stirred. The three great civilian supernatural families of Fuling were Yan, Lu, and Nangong. Could this Deputy Director Lu be from the Lu family?

“Greetings, Director Lu,” Shuisheng shook his hand with neither arrogance nor submission. “I’m Shuisheng, a villager from Wang’ao Village, Ting’ao Town.”

“Please have a seat,” Lu Xingzhou invited him, then took the transcript handed over by Lin Shaowei and studied it carefully.

As he read, he inquired, “Shuisheng, a Level 2 water-element supernatural user?”

“Yes, I just advanced,” Shuisheng replied.

“How did you advance?” Lu asked casually.

“By holding my breath underwater for a long time, surpassing my limits,” Shuisheng answered.

“Oh,” Lu continued flipping through the papers. After a moment, he looked up. “I’ve reviewed the situation. According to testimonies and the chain of evidence, Mr. Shuisheng was indeed acting in self-defense during the incident. However, the sea is vast and the currents unpredictable. Our enforcement vessels and local law enforcement have searched the waters for days but found nothing. Based on the detailed location you provided, we will conduct a thorough search nearby for the fishing boat and the three bodies.”

“I believe that once physical evidence is confirmed, the team’s court will rule this as justifiable defense and you will be acquitted. But until the court verdict, you must remain in the team’s detention center as a suspect. I hope you understand.”

He looked at the young man, concerned he might not accept the reality. Such detention depended on the completeness of evidence and court schedules; it could last years before a verdict of innocence.

“I understand,” Shuisheng nodded, gazing at the modern office building. “Your conditions are far better than where I live... I heard accommodation and meals are free, doctors provide free healthcare, and life here is very orderly and beneficial for physical and mental health... I’m willing to accept it.”

Lu Xingzhou: ...

“Very well, take him to complete the formalities and then to the detention room,” he waved his hand.

Shao Gang escorted Shuisheng to the detention room. Lu Xingzhou donned gloves and began inspecting a box of belongings Lin Shaowei had brought for Shuisheng.

At first, Lu showed little interest, but upon seeing some supernatural cultivation books and then the two titled “Essentials of Immortal Power” and “True Water Technique,” he could no longer contain his astonishment.

“These two... are extremely rare even on the black market. A fishing village orphan cultivating these?” he said incredulously.

Indeed, these two books were scarcely found even among prominent families in the city. Especially the “True Water Technique,” which he himself had only heard of but never seen.

“I don’t know where he got them,” Lin Shaowei replied. “Perhaps Shao Gang can bring him back later for questioning?”

“No, no need. It’s nothing serious and unrelated to this case. Our enforcement agency has no authority to investigate or verify supernatural items unrelated to criminal matters. If he has his own fate and coincidence, that’s his business,” Lu Xingzhou waved dismissively.

After a moment, Lin Shaowei said, “Director Lu, I think this young man is quite remarkable.”

“Hm,” Lu Xingzhou seemed to understand her meaning, a hint of interest appearing on his face. “Tell me more.”

“You’ve read the files,” Lin Shaowei said. “A fishing village youth facing three assailants—one possibly a Level 3 wind-element supernatural user—remained calm under pressure. He quickly devised a plan to jump into the sea and sink the fishing boat, showing sharp wit and adaptability. He even considered the safety of two enforcement officers, rescuing them from the sea floor. This reveals a strong sense of justice deep down. Many supernatural users become timid and frightened when facing us, but he was composed and spoke confidently, showing great psychological resilience. With proper training, and given his Level 2 water-element power—which is impressive for his age and allows him to roam underwater freely—he could be a valuable asset, especially since ocean search and rescue is a weakness for our team.”

With each point, she noticed the deputy director nodding slightly.

“So, if we recruit and train him, he will undoubtedly become a promising talent,” Lin Shaowei concluded.

“He is indeed a fine prospect,” Lu Xingzhou tapped the table with his fingers. “But a concern just occurred to me.”

“The main information we have—especially about what happened at sea—relies entirely on this young man’s testimony. If he’s truthful, that’s excellent. But if he’s partly honest and partly deceitful, then the truth might be quite different.”

Lin Shaowei’s eyes flickered. “You mean he might be lying?”

“Not necessarily lying, but instinctively, I feel he might have something on his mind or be hiding something,” Lu said.

“I’ll continue to keep a close watch on him,” Lin Shaowei said.

“He’s smart, adaptable, and perceptive. Don’t make it too obvious,” Lu Xingzhou advised.