Chapter 054: Beneficial Deeds for the Public.

People had grown accustomed to witnessing killings in the apocalypse, but it was rare to see someone's martial arts skills negated so effortlessly. The city defense team was still on the scene, finding it surreal to watch a frail young man disable another's martial prowess with a single slap.

Captain Wang warned his subordinates, "Don’t underestimate that inconspicuous lad; he’s more formidable than he appears."

"Captain Wang, Major Ye mentioned that these folks killed Master Hu. Aside from this handsome young fellow, there's just a woman and a dying man in the car. Could he have been the one to kill Master Hu?"

"It can't be…" Captain Wang was taken aback. He had initially thought Ye Lipai's accusations were merely excuses. But after hearing parts of the interrogation confirming Hu Shi'en's death, he began to doubt who the real murderer might be.

"Master Hu, with his superior martial arts, wielded significant power in the Jiangnan Base. Even the commanding officers had to show him utmost respect. It’s not entirely implausible that he could have harmed other martial artists. It seems the Zhongjian Sect will undergo a significant reshuffling." This upheaval was bound to affect the division of power within the military zone, potentially leading to internal strife.

Captain Wang gazed at the damaged city gate, took a deep breath, and, pinching his cheek to muster a smile, approached them. "May I ask your name, sir?" He recognized them. These two were the very ones who had embarrassed Lin Zihua the day before, leading him to take a few days off due to sheer humiliation.

Shao Qi nodded in acknowledgment. The city defense team's recent stance could be generously described as "neutral," but a more critical view would label it as "inaction." They allowed events to unfold without upholding even their basic responsibilities.

"Bill the military for the gate repairs. The armored vehicle will be moved out, but you must ensure the inner city’s safety and not play both sides!"

"Yes, sir!" Captain Wang instinctively snapped his heels together, causing a sharp sound as his military boots met the ground. After giving a formal salute, he wondered why he felt so anxious whenever he heard this man speak.

Shao Qi returned the salute, nodded, and said, "We'll be departing now. Detain the subdued criminals and send more personnel to maintain order at Qiu Shui Square." He handed over a report, slapped it onto Captain Wang's chest, and left with Zhou You.

Looking at the document, Captain Wang realized it was a temporary application to use Qiu Shui Square. Just the day before, Captain Lin had accused them of causing a disturbance. Now, with this official document in hand, nobody could make such a claim.

"Someone's actually teaching martial arts to ordinary citizens? Can people really be this benevolent?" he muttered, deciding to check out the nature of the instruction.

Ye Lipai's entire body was rendered dysfunctional, unable to even walk properly, let alone perform martial arts. Two guards dragged him into the law enforcement vehicle to be detained.

The night's events were profoundly unsettling. The public awoke to a changed world. Deputy Chief of Staff Cheng was challenging the military based on evidence that the Zhongjian Sect had harmed their peers, leading to the arrest of all officers affiliated with the Zhongjian Sect.

Both in public and private opinion, this move garnered substantial support from the majority of the military. Commander Ren sent a delegation to take charge at the Zhongjian Sect and, incidentally, to prepare a memorial for his father-in-law. Upon arrival, they discovered Hu Shi'en's body had been mutilated by the outraged families of his victims.

Moreover, in the remaining underground chambers, they found handwritten martial arts manuals from various sects, filled with errors and gaps. Some even contained evidence left by the deceased. News spread, and the affected families and their associated sects called for the Zhongjian Sect's banishment and punishment for the murderers.

"Such actions are heinous. If everyone resorted to stealing martial art secrets in this manner, future sect leaders would hesitate to teach their exclusive arts. We're already struggling with undervaluing our treasures; if masters withhold knowledge even from disciples, how will Chinese martial arts ever prosper?" At the Martial Arts Association's Jiangnan branch, with the previous president Hu Shi'en now dead, the vice president took the reins and convened an emergency meeting.

The Martial Arts Association was the most authoritative and respected institution, overseeing martial artists throughout the country. Its vast influence meant that even the military was hesitant to offend them.

Power struggles were inevitable wherever people gathered. This was even more pronounced within the Martial Arts Association. Here, deceit and subterfuge were mere child's play; real power came from genuine strength.

The conference room door swung open, and an attendant rushed in, exclaiming, "Vice President, there's a problem..."

At 10 a.m., when most people were at their most alert and busiest, a post suddenly appeared on the StarNet forum: "Capture this quickly – you have only one chance!!!"

Not many people browsed the internet aimlessly at this time, but Li Yanqing and Mi Ai were exceptions. No longer of school age and without formal jobs, their days revolved around gaming and reading online, a mix of leisure and monotony.

After morning martial arts practice in the square, the two agreed to continue their training at Li Yanqing's home. At 10 o'clock, Mi Ai urged Li Yanqing to log onto a gaming website to tend to their virtual crops and feed pets. Since food cultivation was centralized outside the city, and livestock were heavily guarded, urban residents had limited exposure to nature. This isolation led to a resurgence of farming and pet games.

StarNet was a must-visit forum for the pair, as it was the only nationwide networked site, offering updates from other bases. Other sites were limited to local networks.

"What's this?" As soon as Li Yanqing logged in, he spotted a pinned post with an enticing title. But such posts often led to explicit or violent content, leaving a bad impression.

"Let me check. I recently learned some hacking techniques. If it's a scam, I'll hack their account," Mi Ai declared confidently. Upon opening the post, she saw a series of images and muttered, "Someone uploaded their study notes. Let's see what treasures they’ve shared."

It's evident the photographer's skills were lacking, or perhaps their hand trembled with excitement. The images were far from clear. As Mi Ai zoomed into one and studied it, she was baffled. "What on earth is this? Some dreamer's fabricated martial arts manual? It's disjointed, riddled with typos. Ridiculous!"