Era of Magic and Martial Arts-Chapter 376 - 360: Overwhelming Swagger, Damn It

Four hours have passed since Feng Mu voluntarily cooperated with the Patrol Office, which means he has been undeservedly wronged for precisely one hundred years and four hours at the Patrol Office.

As his shoes stepped out of the front steps of the Patrol Office, Feng Mu breathed in the fresh air outside, suddenly feeling like he was reborn.

"My innocence has been tainted. Although Detective Li Shang finally cleared my name, the stain remains on me permanently, causing an indelible trauma."

Feng Mu turned his head to glance behind, a reluctant sparkle in his eyes, thinking he would find a chance to return to the Patrol Office to claim his spiritual damages.

Chang Erbing observed Feng Mu’s expression, feeling a hint of surprise. For some reason, he kept sensing something slightly odd in Feng Mu’s gaze, as if something important was left behind.

Chang Erbing walked over and asked, "Is there anything else?"

Feng Mu shrugged his shoulders, shaking his head with a smile, "Where’s Captain Li? Am I still in time to thank him?"

Chang Erbing replied expressionlessly, "Captain Li has other matters to attend to, so..."

Feng Mu narrowed his eyes slightly but didn’t press further.

He could feel a subtle change in Li Shang’s attitude toward him, and though puzzled, he could guess part of the reason.

With a light sigh, he politely and sincerely said:

"That’s quite unfortunate. Please convey to Captain Li that Feng Mu is not someone who fails to return kindness. I will definitely visit again to thank him personally."

Chang Erbing gave a perfunctory nod.

At that moment, two men dressed in black suits came briskly, carrying a brass brazier, and respectfully placed it at Feng Mu’s feet.

Inside the brazier, the charcoal was burning brightly, the orange-red flames licking the air, making a crackling sound that cast fleeting shadows on Feng Mu’s face.

He grinned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the convoy opposite.

Those vehicles were not luxury cars, but each one was clearly emblazoned with the prison’s emblem—a black shield entwined with a silver chain, the emblem glinting coldly in the air.

As Feng Mu’s gaze swept over them, the group of men in black suits all bowed slightly in unison, their voices deep but in sync:

"Minister!"

Their voices echoed down the deserted road, drawing the attention of passersby, who, upon seeing the emblem on the cars, displayed a reverence even greater than when seeing luxury cars.

Feng Mu remained speechless at heart, but his face stayed calm.

He looked ahead, where Gong Qi was spreading his arms, striding toward him like a peacock showing off its plumage.

Feng Mu stepped over the brazier, beaming as he gave Gong Qi a hug, and asked lightly:

"What play is my senior brother putting on this time?"

Gong Qi raised an eyebrow and responded helplessly:

"Hong Ya sent me a clip from some TV series last night, insisting I use that scene to greet you today."

Lowering his voice, his tone was one of complaint yet seemed to enjoy it:

"You better like it. Hong Ya might be watching secretly nearby."

Feng Mu instantly understood, with his smile widening:

"Looks like our junior sister is finally done with just watching dramas; she’s racing toward a director’s path now."

Feng Mu’s gaze subtly swept the surroundings, as if searching for someone hiding in the shadows.

Gong Qi let go of Feng Mu and suddenly kicked the brazier over.

The brass bowl rolled on the ground, spreading charcoal and sending sparks drawing brief trails in the air before dying out on the damp ground.

Gong Qi, in an overbearing manner, spat out two words: "Bad luck!"

Feng Mu internally scoffed—a prison worker detesting the Patrol Office as bad luck? It all seemed a bit of magical realism.

But outwardly, he remained calm, as if accustomed to Gong Qi’s behavior.

He stepped toward the middle sedan, its door already opened by Jiang Li.

Song Ping’an stood by the car, his posture straight, gaze stern, like a silent statue.

Feng Mu had no idea that to earn the honor of opening the car door, Song Ping’an had exerted immense effort this morning to barely suppress the competition from Jiang Li, Liu Yi, Guan Chong, and other colleagues.

Only after Feng Mu sat in did the subordinates straighten from their bows and briskly get into the car in a well-coordinated manner.

The car doors closed, engines roared quietly, and the convoy started moving slowly, leaving the Patrol Office like some ceremonial procession—steady and orderly.

At the entrance of the Patrol Office, only the overturned brazier remained, with weak flames whimpering in the wind, mocking silently.

Chang Erbing watched the convoy leave with a slightly disgruntled face, emotions flickering in his eyes—displeasure, envy, bitterness, and the thought "I could take his place."

Finally, he stomped out the brazier, muttering weakly:

"Nowadays, even being a prison guard has such prestige. Damn it, so domineering. Damn, damn."

Dong Ping, who had similar thoughts, stood at the window, covertly watching the scene on the street, his mind swirling with mixed emotions:

"These young folks are really arrogant, but I get the feeling Captain Feng’s son has even risen above Captain Feng. If the father can’t surpass the son, could Captain Feng be...?"

Dong Ping gasped, suddenly finding Captain Feng’s generosity narrow, some sense of betrayal wrapping around him like vines, getting stronger and stronger.

Meanwhile, in the alley opposite the police station, several figures stood quietly.

Their eyes followed the receding convoy, their expressions complex—a mixture of joy and strong regret, like the emptiness after an unfulfilled expectation.

"Just as Little Junior Brother said, he came out on his own."

Zhao Zhixin yawned, lazily taking off a pig-face mask from his face.

"I said everyone should trust Little Junior Brother; there was no need to come today."

His tone was relaxed, but still carried a faint trace of disappointment.

Yuan Xidi stood beside him, gripping a hyena mask just taken off, his knuckles white from the force.

His voice squeezed from deep in his throat, twisted with a kind of sickly affliction:

"We prepared for nothing... for nothing... this Patrol Office is simply useless!"

Hong Ya was the only one without a mask, having profound trust in her Little Junior Brother. Though feeling slightly regretful, it wasn’t much.

Because she was currently fiddling with some very expensive-looking camera equipment, having recorded the exciting moments just now, ready to savor them repeatedly later.

"Exactly, Senior Brother Gong Qi’s smile was so wide it stole the scene. Damn it, he’s the one who kicked over the brazier, adding drama for himself secretly, hmph—"

Hong Ya pouted, with a faint dissatisfaction in her tone.

"Why doesn’t the Second Prison hire female guards? It’s all because there are too few female offenders in Zone 9, sigh. When will the female crime rate in Zone 9 catch up with the men’s?"

Her eyes rolled around, mind abuzz with who-knows-what ingenious ideas, with a sly smile like a little fox. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

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