High-Martial World: System Arrives 30 Years Late-Chapter 65: Assessment Passed, Library Director

Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Assessment Passed, Library Director
"Su Mu, calm down!" Luo Cheng spoke again.
Su Mu dispersed his Blade Qi, sheathed his sword, and handed it to Luo Cheng.
With everything settled, Su Mu was locked in the confinement room of the Linjiang City Lord’s Mansion. As the door closed, Su Mu exhaled lightly, a slight smile on his lips.
In fact, his decision to kill Lu Lin wasn’t solely impulsive; Lu Lin’s final provocation was secondary. It was intentional on Su Mu’s part.
Family is Su Mu’s reverse scale; touching it means paying a price.
Thus, after recognizing Li Yue, Su Mu became even more resolute in his desire to slaughter Lu Lin.
Li Yue and the teacher were close friends, with a deep friendship. The teacher had mentioned Li Yue several times to Su Mu, and Li Yue, considering the teacher’s connection, would likely be lenient on Su Mu for his first offense.
Furthermore, Lu Lin was about to retire and get promoted to the South China Governor’s Mansion. The Governor of South China typically favored cadres who had spent years locally. Hence, if Su Mu didn’t kill him this time, it would be akin to letting the tiger return to the mountains, making it harder to kill him later.
Most importantly, Lu Lin could leak Su Mu’s information to the Demon Cultists, marking him as ill-intentioned.
A thief might succeed for a thousand days, but there’s no sense in guarding against one for a thousand days.
Resolute to gamble, he chose to eliminate the threat to avoid constantly being concerned.
Being put in the confinement room instead of the Martial Association Prison indicated that his gamble had paid off.
...
With Li Yue’s arrival and Lu Lin’s death, coupled with the clarity provided by Su Mu’s actions that day, the investigation direction was clear, and despite obstacles, efficiency was high.
Before Ding Yu died, he’d left a video recording. Perhaps out of conscience or as a backup plan, he handed the recording to his wife.
Lu Lin had promised Ding Yu a reward of Spirit Stones and a position for his son as the archives’ director after the matter.
However, with Lu Lin dead, Ding Yu’s wife broke down and revealed the video, laying everything bare.
The original cause and result of events were quickly thoroughly investigated, uncovering Chang Yuanqing as Lu Lin’s scapegoat to throw off suspicions.
The matter involved several disappearance cases from years ago, crimes committed by Lu Lin, who had conflicted with a hunting team in the Fierce Beast Mountain Range and later killed several members at night.
Recently, as Lu Lin was handling official duties, he received documents mixed with letters from Demon Cultists, discreetly mentioning the disappearance cases from years ago and warning him of Chang Yuanqing’s renewed investigations.
The Demon Cultists wanted Lu Lin to sabotage the Training Camp assessment.
Lu Lin, soon to finish his term as the Linjiang Base City Lord and be promoted to the South China Governor’s Mansion, saw a promising future and developed murderous intentions, thus scheming everything.
Using Chang Yuanqing’s death to prompt an assessment, Lu Lin planned to use the assessors to kill the Demon Cultists threatening him.
That day, he instructed Ding Yu to cause an explosion not to divert attention for the Demon Cultists but to pretend it was the work of the Demon Cultists, destroying old records related to the disappearance cases.
...
Three days later, the heavy door of the confinement room opened, letting light spill into the pitch-black confinement.
Inside, Blade Qi was rampant, with Su Mu peacefully cultivating, stunning Luo Cheng and Gong Wu with his composure.
"The investigation concluded, confirming Lu Lin was the mastermind. Shenjiang City’s decision regarding you is out; given you openly violated rules by assassinating Lu Lin, who was still the City Lord, before fully investigating the truth, your merits offset your faults, and Shenjiang City won’t award you anything."
"We’ve had people guarding your family’s safety around the clock these past few days."
"Rest assured, all involved will remain confidential; it won’t leak, and there’s been a thorough internal purge at Linjiang Base."
"Regarding the photos, they were indeed leaked by Lu Lin, but our tech experts thoroughly checked them over several days, confirming no electronic channels were used for further leaks, rest assured."
"Moreover, we’ve examined the communications of these individuals over the days, confirming no leaks."
Su Mu let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this, not caring about rewards at all; his sole concern during his confinement was his family’s safety.
"Good, thank you."
"This was Linjiang Base’s oversight. Congratulations, Su Mu, you’ve passed the Training Camp assessment. Any items you seized from killing Demon Cultists are yours, but Lu Lin’s possessions will be reclaimed."
"Good, thank you for the information."
Luo Cheng’s hand flickered, revealing a sword.
Su Mu took the sword, brushing past as Gong Wu bowed deeply, handing him a card, "Su Mu, I admit I deliberately shifted everyone’s focus onto you, suspecting you; please forgive me."
"Please accept this card as a token of my apology."
"You’ve successively eliminated Demon Staff, Scarface, and Lu Lin; your contributions to the base are considerable. However, due to Shenjiang City’s circumstances, the base won’t publicize your awards. Currently, there’s a vacancy at the base library for a curator position, should you need it, we can arrange it for your family anytime. The position is equivalent to the City Lord’s Mansion director, with Fourth Level Martial Artist benefits."
"In addition, the base is prepared to provide at least one Fourth Level Martial Artist for protection anytime."
"Good, I’ll consider it." Su Mu was somewhat surprised; Fourth Level Martial Artists were scarce at Linjiang Base, as even Vice City Lord Chang was merely a Fourth Level Martial Artist.
Linjiang Base’s sincerity this time was genuine, likely reflecting Shenjiang City’s intentions too.
"Su Mu, you’re someone who came from Linjiang Base. We wish you greater achievements in the Training Camp, and may your martial fortune flourish!"
Exiting the City Lord’s Mansion, Su Mu took deep breaths of the free air under the bright sun, momentarily unaccustomed.
He was eager to return home.
...
"Sister Mei, Uncle Yan, come on down, we’re going fishing. Dahuang, hurry, let’s have some fun."
"Alright." A woman in her mid-twenties smiled dotingly while carrying fishing rods.
"Coming, coming."
A young man descended, carrying a bucket, stool, and tackle box.
Three people and a dog walked towards the small river east of the village.
Luo Mei and Gong Yan had arrived at Xiaoyue’s grandmother’s house three evenings ago, without hiding their intentions—to protect Miaomiao and others.
That day, Miaomiao privately asked Luo Mei and Gong Yan about her husband Su Mu.
Luo Mei looked admiringly, "Mr. Su is on a special mission, but Ms. Jiang, don’t worry; Mr. Su is a strong man, he’ll be okay!"
"That’s right, Mr. Su is very strong!" Gong Yan’s tone was respectful.
Miaomiao was puzzled, unsure where their confidence in Su Mu stemmed from, but felt reassured.
...
A car stopped at the village entrance, and Su Mu quickly paid the fare with his phone.
"Hey? Are you from East Village? I’m from the neighboring Charcoal Village, but I don’t recall seeing you."
"I don’t stay in the village often."
"I see." The middle-aged man scratched his head, turned the car around, and left.
Su Mu had just returned to the village and saw his daughter Xiaoyue’s figure.
"It’s Daddy, Daddy is back!" Xiaoyue ran toward him.
Su Mu was emotionally moved, striding forward to embrace his daughter Xiaoyue, then noticing the young strangers with fishing gear, both of whom seemed excited, intently fixating on Su Mu.
"Who are you?"
"She’s Sister Mei, he’s Uncle Yan, and we were just about to go fishing."
"Hello, Mr. Su, I’m a member of the Linjiang Martial Arts Association, Luo Mei, Fourth Level Initial Stage."
"Gong Yan, Linjiang Armed Forces Department member, also at Fourth Level Initial Stage."
"Luo Mei, Gong Yan? ... What relation do Luo Cheng and Gong Wu have to you two?"
"Mr. Su, Luo Cheng is my father."
"Gong Wu is my uncle."