Villain? No, I'll catch up with the protagonist after passing the civil service exam.

"Don't underestimate a young person's potential."

As Lu Jingyan watched the teenager on the big screen, bathed in flames and roaring to the sky, he felt a throbbing pain in his temples again.

Those familiar lines, that familiar pretentious style...

We just said goodbye to the "treasure-collecting" trend, and now we have the "annulment" trend?

Isn't the rate at which the "protagonists" of this provincial capital are refreshing a bit too fast? And each one of them comes with their own special effects, as if they're afraid others won't know they're chosen ones.

"Captain Lu, we've found out."

Su Xiaoxiao's fingers left afterimages on the keyboard, and an emergency report was generated instantly.

"Fire location: Nalan family villa, Longyin Mountain, Qingcheng City."

"The cause of the fire... According to the statements of the villagers who witnessed it and the surviving bodyguards, it was... a young man named Xiao Yan suddenly... breathed fire, igniting the entire manor."

Zhao Tiezhu, listening nearby, gaped in astonishment: "Breathing in fire? Is this kid a fire-breathing dragon?"

"According to our intelligence analysis," Su Xiaoxiao's expression was also extremely strange, "this Xiao Yan was originally the young master of the Xiao family of Qingcheng, and was engaged to Nalan Yanran, the eldest daughter of the Nalan family. But because Xiao Yan suddenly lost all his 'battle qi' three years ago and became a cripple, the Nalan family came to break off the engagement today."

"Then...then that kid exploded, shouted 'Don't underestimate a young man's potential,' and then...he started breathing fire."

Lu Jingyan: "..."

He felt as if he wasn't listening to a case report, but rather the opening of a fantasy novel.

The elements of a broken engagement, a useless person, and a cheat ability awakening are too complete.

"What about casualties?" Lu Jingyan quickly grasped the key point.

"The Nalan family lost three bodyguards and injured seven. Nalan Yanran and her grandfather were taken hostage by Xiao Yan... no, 'captured'. Xiao Yan declared that three years later, he would personally go to the Yunlan Sect... no, to the Nalan family's main branch, to avenge today's humiliation."

"As for him, after setting the fire... he just disappeared."

"Disappeared?"

Lu Jingyan narrowed his eyes. "I want to see him alive or dead. You're telling me a 'walking arsonist' who can breathe fire has simply disappeared?"

He walked up to the huge map of the provincial capital, on which the red lines drawn during the last pursuit of Ye Tian still remained.

[Ding! High concentration of 'protagonist aura' energy fluctuation detected!]

[Target: Xiao Yan. Identity: Protagonist of the "Broken Engagement" genre.]

[Cheat codes: 'Strange Fire' (not fully awakened), 'Old Man' ring (soul form)]

[Danger Level: A+!]

The system's alarm confirmed his suspicions.

This is another guy with a built-in cheat. And this cheat sounds much more powerful than that "treasure appraisal system" that only looks at junk.

"Captain Lu, how should we classify this case?"

Zhao Tiezhu scratched his head, feeling his legal knowledge was being challenged like never before. "Spitting fire...that's not mentioned in the criminal law, is it? Does that...does it count as illegal possession of weapons of mass destruction?"

"Constitute arson, intentional homicide, and kidnapping."

Lu Jingyan's voice was as cold as ice, "Whether he used a lighter or a sacred fire, as long as he started a fire, burned down a mountain, and injured people, he must accept the punishment of the law."

"As for his saying, 'Don't underestimate a young person's potential'..."

A cold smile curled at the corners of Lu Jingyan's lips.

"Poverty is not a reason for him to do whatever he wants."

"Before the law, the rich and the poor are equal."

"Su Xiaoxiao, immediately establish a special task force for the 'January 1.19th Dragon Roar Mountain Arson Case.' List Xiao Yan as an A-level wanted criminal and issue a province-wide warrant for his arrest."

"Zhao Tiezhu, take a team and head to Qingcheng immediately to seal off the scene, collect evidence, and comfort the victims' families."

"yes!"

The two responded in unison and immediately began to act.

Lu Jingyan was the only one left in the office.

He gazed at the sky outside the window, which appeared somewhat eerie due to the "revival of spiritual energy," and fell into deep thought.

From Ye Tian's "treasure-seeking eye" to Zhang Sanye's "talisman" and then to Xiao Yan's "breathing fire".

All of this indicates that the rules of this world are undergoing some kind of irreversible change.

Those ancient martial arts families and reclusive sects that have been dormant for hundreds of years and possess supernatural powers are awakening.

These awakened "strong individuals" seem to share a common characteristic—

They do not believe they need to abide by the laws of modern society.

In their eyes, power is everything. Seeking revenge, killing and plundering—that's their right.

"Do family rules supersede national laws?"

Lu Jingyan chuckled lightly, his laughter filled with disdain and... a hint of excitement.

"That's interesting."

He picked up the red phone on the table and dialed the special line for the top leader of the provincial department.

"Commander, it's me, Lu Jingyan."

"I have a new idea regarding the functions of the 'Cross-Regional Major Crimes Supervision Team'."

"I suggest that, under the supervisory team, a special department be established, called—"

"Office for the Conduct of Personnel with Ancient Martial Arts/Special Abilities"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by the leader's calm and powerful voice: "Go on."

"It's very simple."

Lu Jingyan looked out the window, his eyes sharp as knives.

"Establish rules and draw red lines for all these 'extraordinary people and events'."

"Whether you are a family with a thousand-year history or a sect with ten thousand years of history, as long as you are active within the territory of China, you must register your identity and abilities."

"Want to fight? Sure, go to the designated 'martial arts hall' and fight. You'll have to pay for any damages yourself."

"Want to refine pills? Sure, first go to the drug administration bureau to apply for a 'Drug Production License'."

"Want to fly on a sword? You can do that too. First, apply for a flight route at the air traffic control bureau and get a 'flying sword pilot' license'."

"In short, all supernatural abilities must be brought under the rule of law."

"Those who obey me prosper, those who defy me... are arrested."

"I want to see whether their 'family rules' or China's 'Criminal Law' are more powerful!"

These words made the leader on the other end of the phone gasp in shock.

Issuing "flying sword piloting licenses" to cultivators?

How is this kid's brain structured?

"Okay! We'll do it your way!"

The commander slammed his hand on the table, his voice filled with appreciation and decisiveness, "I'm giving you the highest authority! People, funds, resources—give me whatever you want! I only have one request—"

"Get these 'old fogies' who just woke up under complete control! Let them know that times have changed, and now they're the boss!"

"yes!"

Lu Jingyan hung up the phone, feeling his blood boiling.

Just then.

The office door was pushed open again.

Su Xiaoxiao ran in with a panicked expression.

"Captain Lu! Something's happened again!"

"What's wrong?"

"Look at the live stream! In the most bustling shopping mall in the provincial capital, Taikoo Li... there's... there's a martial arts competition there!"

Lu Jingyan turned on his computer.

In a live stream by an internet celebrity, two figures were seen fiercely clashing in the central square of Taikoo Li.

A man wielding a long sword, his sword energy crisscrossing, shattered the glass windows of the surrounding luxury stores.

Another man, unarmed, with a whistling sound, completely destroyed the million-dollar musical fountain in the center of the square.

The surrounding crowd was so frightened that they scattered and fled, leaving the scene in a mess.

The two young men, caught up in the fight, were still shouting at each other.

"I am Lin Dong of the Xingyi School! You from the Xiao family, dare you withstand my 'Crushing Fist'?!"

"What's there to be afraid of! Behold the Xiao family's 'Eight Extremes Collapse'!"

Lu Jingyan looked at the two "protagonists" on the screen who were "demolishing" something, and helplessly rubbed his forehead.

"Did these people... plan to all come out today to make their presence known?"

He picked up his coat, which he had just hung up, and said coldly into the walkie-talkie:

"Zhao Tiezhu, don't go to Qingcheng. Take your men and come with me to Taikoo Li."

"There are a few 'traditional martial arts inheritors' who don't seem to understand the Property Law very well."