Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life-Chapter 163: Law Enforcement Hall

Deep within the sea of clouds, in a suspended cave abode.

A game of Go had already concluded.

The blue-robed middle-aged man, holding the black stones, had slaughtered the white's large dragon, wiping it out completely.

The water mirror technique was currently reflecting the tense, drawn-swords-and-strung-bows scene in the Maintenance Department.

Seeing the formation plate go silent, Steward Sun lose composure, and Su Ming presenting the ancient text to turn the tables, the blue-robed middle-aged man casually placed a stone on the board. His tone was flat, as if discussing a trivial matter that had nothing to do with him.

"This lad is indeed cautious, knows how to use an opponent's strength against them."

"Pity, his bone structure is a fatal flaw. He will ultimately find it difficult to achieve greatness."

Opposite him, Elder Ma, with white hair and beard, had a calm and steady aura.

He picked up a white stone, pondered for a moment, and placed it in a corner of the board, attempting to revive a dead group. His movements were neither hurried nor slow.

"Senior Brother, I must disagree with that statement."

Elder Ma's voice carried the hoarseness unique to the elderly, yet each word was clear.

"This lad can perceive the essence in the minutiae. His temperament is calm, his thinking unconventional and ingenious."

"He can dig out a century-old case from dusty old records to extricate himself. This resourcefulness and solid foundation is no worse than simply charging ahead with brute force."

He raised his eyes, a glimmer of imperceptible wisdom flashing in his cloudy gaze.

"In my opinion, he could become one of the sect's managers."

As these words fell, the air within the cave abode seemed to still for a moment.

Manager.

These three words carried immense weight.

They represented not just power, but responsibility, a position significant enough to influence the operational structure of the entire sect.

Elder Ma fell silent for a moment, looking at the youth in the water mirror who remained bowed, posture humble, and finally let out a sigh.

"It's just... isn't this tempering a bit too harsh?"

The blue-robed middle-aged man's gaze returned to the water mirror, watching the entire process of Su Ming presenting the ancient text and turning the tables.

The corner of his mouth seemed to lift in a barely perceptible curve, but it vanished just as quickly.

"Harsh?"

He picked up his teacup, blowing on the floating tea leaves.

"Real storms are a hundred times more perilous than this."

"However..."

He changed the subject.

"Since I intervened, I naturally have my measure. Giving Steward Sun an opportunity to vent his malice is also giving Su Ming a chance to see the undercurrents within the sect."

"That Steward Sun is of unsound mind, making this a good opportunity to clean house. The 'rivet' you chose won't be broken by this."

The blue-robed middle-aged man neither confirmed nor denied, simply shifting his gaze away from the water mirror.

He gave a slight flick of his wide sleeve.

A wisp of gentle breeze emanated from his fingertips, pierced through the cave abode, and silently merged into the Cloud Hidden Sect's vast mountain-protecting formation, disappearing.

After this action, he changed the topic, as if everything just discussed was merely idle chatter between moves.

"Your lifespan is nearing its end. Are you confident about your next attempt to break through?"

He looked at Elder Ma, a trace of concern appearing in his eyes.

"I can still get you a 'Realm-Breaking Pill'."

Elder Ma laughed freely and easily, tossing the white stone he had been unable to revive into the nearby Go stone container.

The crisp sound of the stone landing echoed in the silent cave abode.

"Thank you for your kind intention, Senior Brother."

"No need."

"Formation, abiding, decay, emptiness—all follow their destined course. Being able to select one more capable talent for the sect before my path dissipates brings me great comfort."

He looked at the youth in the water mirror, his gaze gentle.

"This lad may be the last bit of effort I can contribute to the sect."

His tone was transcendent, detached from worldly concerns, carrying the release of one who has seen through life and death.

The blue-robed middle-aged man's gaze swept over the calm figure of the youth in the water mirror once more.

This time, there was less casual appraisal in his eyes, replaced by a hint of ineffable depth.

He did not speak again.

...

Basic Formation Lines Maintenance Department.

Chen Ping looked at Steward Sun, who lay collapsed like mud at his feet, not a single ripple of emotion remaining in his eyes.

As if suddenly remembering something, he retrieved a crimson jade slip from his robe.

He slowly raised the jade slip.

"Fellow disciples harming each other, the evidence is conclusive."

"Such a matter is no longer something I can handle."

He looked at Steward Sun, enunciating each word clearly.

"Sun Quan, do you admit your guilt?"

With that, his five fingers suddenly exerted force!

"Crack!"

The jade slip shattered in response!

A red light shot into the sky, instantly piercing through the stone hall's dome, exploding into a bloody cloud pattern high above Formation Peak!

That was... the Law Enforcement Hall's summoning token!

Everyone was stunned.

No one had expected Chen Ping to be so resolute!

He didn't choose to handle it privately, nor did he even report it to the Formation Peak elders.

He directly escalated it to the sect's enforcement arm—the Law Enforcement Hall!

"No! Don't!"

Steward Sun let out a despairing wail.

He struggled to get up, trying to cling to Chen Ping's legs.

"Senior Brother Chen! I was wrong! I lost my mind for a moment! Spare me! Spare me this once!"

Chen Ping kicked him away with one foot.

"Too late."

Almost the instant his words fell.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Three figures clad in black tight-fitting garments, with icy auras, appeared at the great hall's entrance like ghosts.

They wore standardized black soft armor, engraved with ancient punishment runes.

Each face was half-covered by a bronze mask, revealing only a pair of emotionless eyes.

The leader's aura had already reached the mid-Golden Core stage.

He merely swept a glance over the situation inside the hall before locking his gaze onto Steward Sun, who lay collapsed on the ground.

He didn't ask any questions.

He simply retrieved a black scroll of orders from his robe and slowly unfurled it.

"By order of the Law Enforcement Elder!"

"Formation Peak Steward Sun Quan is suspected of using a formation trap to murder a fellow disciple. Preliminary evidence is conclusive."

"Take him into custody immediately and bring him to the dungeons of Punishment Peak to await interrogation!"

The icy voice held not a trace of emotion.

Two Foundation Establishment stage law enforcement disciples stepped forward. Two black chains crackling with electric light appeared in their hands out of thin air.

"Clank!"

The chains, like venomous snakes, instantly coiled around Steward Sun's limbs and Dantian, completely sealing off all his spiritual energy.

"No—!"

Steward Sun let out one final despairing roar.

Then, like a dead dog, he was dragged out of the great hall by the two law enforcement disciples.

From the appearance of the Law Enforcement Hall disciples to the removal of Sun Quan.

The entire process took no more than ten breaths.

Clean, decisive, efficient.

Deathly silence filled the great hall.

All the menial disciples hung their heads, not even daring to breathe heavily.

The looks they cast at Su Ming had completely changed.

From earlier schadenfreude, to shock, and now to... reverence and fear.

This seemingly gentle, harmless Accounting Office menial disciple.

Without any visible fuss, he had toppled a Foundation Grand Perfection steward!

And in such a resolute, such a devastating manner!

Chen Ping slowly turned and walked over to Su Ming.

He looked at Su Ming's face, which still wore an expression of "alarm" and "lingering fear," his own expression complex.

"You, come with me."