# 240
Chapter 240 – City-Wide Lockdown
Hearing those words, Lin Qiye didn’t hesitate for a second; he simply nodded.
“No problem.”
Wen Qimo asked in puzzlement, “Shangjing Squad is inviting us for an observation tour? Why? We barely know them and we’ve never had any contact…”
“The Night Watch high-ups have been planning this exchange program for a long time, aimed specifically at second-tier cities’ Night Watch teams, to raise their professional standards,” Chen Muye explained seriously. “They’d just been undecided about which team should go first. I happen to know someone in Shangjing, so I asked him to pick our 136 Squad.”
“Only, Lin Qiye joined us a few days ago, so he wasn’t on the original head-count. The participant list only includes Wu Xiangnan, Hongying, Wen Qimo, Leng Xuan, and Si Xiaonan.”
Everyone showed looks of sudden understanding—except Wu Xiangnan, whose brows stayed knitted in thought.
“How long will the tour last?” Hongying asked curiously.
“Three days at the shortest, a week at most,” Chen Muye answered with a smile. “All expenses will be reimbursed by headquarters. Here’s the official notice—take a look.”
He handed over a document. It clearly listed the itinerary and participants, and bore the formal stamps of both the Night Watch and Shangjing City Squad.
Seeing the seal, Wu Xiangnan’s last doubts vanished. He turned to Chen Muye.
“You and Qiye staying behind in Cangnan—will that be too much? Should I stay too?”
Chen Muye shook his head. “The vice-captain must lead the delegation—that’s a direct order. You have to go.”
Wu Xiangnan hesitated, then nodded reluctantly.
Chen Muye glanced at the time and stood.
“All right, we’re about done eating. Head home, pack up; you leave at seven tomorrow morning.”
…
Early next day, Lin Qiye and Chen Muye sent the five to the airport.
Hongying, dragging two huge suitcases and wearing sunglasses, waved excitedly at them before pushing Wen Qimo and the others toward security.
Lin Qiye watched them go. Chen Muye patted his shoulder.
“Come on, let’s head back.”
Lin Qiye nodded, hesitated, then spoke.
“Captain… why did you lie to them about Shangjing?”
Chen Muye’s body stiffened; he turned his head awkwardly.
“What are you talking about?”
“Captain, you forgot my Forbidden Ruins?” Lin Qiye said wryly. “This morning, while you were forging that document alone in the office, it happened to fall within my perception range…”
Chen Muye: …
“The document is fake, but the study tour is real,” he sighed. “I have a contact in Shangjing Squad; he’ll show them around for a few days. When everything’s over, they’ll come back.”
“When everything’s over?” Lin Qiye caught the key phrase.
Chen Muye was silent for a long time, then looked him in the eye.
“Qiye, in the next few days… something might happen in Cangnan. Just a possibility—very small—but if it does, it’ll be a catastrophe. So…”
“So you don’t want them caught in the danger?”
“Exactly.” Chen Muye nodded. “Are you wondering why, if it’s dangerous, I still kept you here?”
Without waiting for an answer, he continued,
“If I could, I’d send you away with them. But for certain reasons, you cannot leave Cangnan City—orders from above.”
Lin Qiye froze, even more puzzled.
Why couldn’t he leave?
“Don’t worry,” Chen Muye added. “Staying in Cangnan, your safety is guaranteed.”
Though full of questions, Lin Qiye knew pressing would get him nowhere. He followed Chen Muye out of the terminal.
Looking down at the quiet, ordinary little city, he felt an inexplicable unease.
…
Three hundred kilometres from Cangnan City.
A dark military transport roared across the sky, engines droning as it flew straight toward Cangnan.
Inside, eight figures in golden cloaks sat along the sides. A refined-looking man closed a file in his hands.
“…That concludes the detailed case file on the overseas mystery ‘Bell Cranel’. Any questions?”
“Me!”
A curvaceous blonde shot her hand up, waving it eagerly.
The man’s gaze skipped over her and landed on the others. “Any questions?”
“Kong Mama!” the woman glared. “You dare ignore the captain? Want a beating?”
Kong Shang sighed helplessly. “Very well, Captain—what is your question?”
“When we wipe out that so-called Lord Baylor, can we kidnap Lin Qiye and bring him to our Phoenix Squad?” she asked excitedly.
Kong Shang: …
“Captain, he’s already a member of 136 Squad; he can’t join us.”
The blonde slumped, disappointed.
Suddenly the plane banked and turned, heading back the way it had come.
Phoenix Squad stared out the windows, frowning.
“What’s going on?” The blonde unbuckled and stood. “Weren’t we heading to Cangnan to eliminate the overseas mystery? Why turn back?”
A uniformed officer stepped from the cockpit, saluted, and said solemnly,
“Apologies—orders from headquarters. Effective immediately, Cangnan City is sealed. All outside transport—planes, trains, buses, private vehicles—is forbidden entry.”
The squad exchanged puzzled glances. Kong Shang stood.
“We’re a special team.”
“The directive specifically states,” the officer replied calmly, “no exceptions—even for special teams.”