Free Web NovelChapter 447: 64 Chapters: Blue Gate
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By this point, Ming Che had actually come to believe Bai Wu’s words. Although what Bai Wu said was extremely absurd, Ming Che knew very well that Bai Wu was someone who could be trusted.
"We can’t hand him over to the Garrison Corps because they can’t hold him. Honestly, I’m also not clear on how they would handle him, because in this world, he has never shown his true face. Although I think I’m prepared, it’s very likely that he will still toss me some... surprises, neither big nor small."
Bai Wu looked at Ming Che and said after a slight pause:
"In any case, this person, we can’t hand him over to you, because he is—extremely dangerous."
Ming Che understood and said:
"It seems I’ve underestimated the dangers within the High Tower; I never expected to have been so close to someone so dangerous on a daily basis. I understand now, and I will cooperate completely with the following procedures concerning Jiang Xuan’s death."
"Aren’t you afraid I’m deceiving you? This is a matter of human life," said Bai Wu.
Ming Che smiled:
"I’m a merchant, and when it comes to business, what matters is the ability to judge people. Not just any rotten fish and shrimp are worthy of someone like Wu Jiu’s favor. He’s a big headache for the Garrison Corps, but there’s no one in the Garrison Corps who doesn’t respect him. And you, you’re someone even he respects. Even if you hadn’t told me all this today, I would still trust you."
Bai Wu said:
"I really like merchants like you. Although there’s no trade without guile, you still have principles and value integrity, which makes you better than some other merchants I know. Captain Ming, perhaps one day in the future, your business will become very big."
"Hahaha, not to hide it from you, I’m already considered a top merchant on the third layer; I’ve basically reached the peak. To go any higher, I’d have to climb to the fourth layer, which I don’t like. I just like money and other people’s wives, not interested in being an official," Ming Che responded.
Bai Wu laughed. This man really doesn’t consider me an outsider:
"Your vision is limited. Who knows what the future might bring, maybe suddenly there will be new business channels? But I must go now, need to deal with ’Jiang Xuan’s’ affair."
Ming Che didn’t understand the first part of what Bai Wu said, but he understood the second part:
"Okay, be careful with everything."
...
...
At the Investigation Corps branch on the second layer of the High Tower, in the office of the head of the seventh team.
After Jiang Xuan arrived in the office, he was very surprised.
There was a significant change in Bai Wu.
Even though Bai Wu had cut his long hair and appeared no different from the last meeting, Jiang Xuan could clearly sense that Bai Wu’s aura had changed.
"You’re here, sit down."
"What do you need me for, Captain?" asked Jiang Xuan, frowning slightly as Bai Wu closed the door.
Bai Wu smiled:
"Nothing much, just catching up."
"Catching up?"
"Yes, catching up. There aren’t many people I can catch up with, and even fewer worth catching up with. Since both of us happen to be here, why not have an open chat?"
Bai Wu intended to confront the issue directly; whether it be plots in the dark or open scheming, or all sorts of calculations, it was very necessary.
But right now, the fastest way to clarify some things was to confront them directly, especially when the other party no longer posed any threat.
"I don’t understand what you mean, Captain," Jiang Xuan said, his heart guessing at a possibility.
A normal conversation would definitely not start this way, but his acting skills were no less than Bai Wu’s—not giving away any flaws.
However, Bai Wu wasn’t here to play a matching scene with Jiang Xuan; he got straight to the point and said: freёweɓnovel.com
"You’ve deceived me, and I’ve deceived you, so we’re even. Last time you went to Baichuan Middle School, you received an assignment that was so intriguing, so puzzling that you couldn’t discern whether it was true or not, yet you were bound to accept it. If you don’t want to continue this topic, we can certainly stop here. You can go on pretending to be Jiang Xuan."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Jiang Xuan, who was even better at acting than Bai Wu, finally showed a crack at that moment, and Bai Wu could clearly see the astonishment flooding into his eyes.
"You’ve probably also wondered where exactly the principal and his people went. If you insist on playing Jiang Xuan, then these questions remain unanswered. Mr. Jiang, is it fun to be in the Investigation Corps?"
Bai Wu’s tone was mockingly playful, his eyes amused as he looked at Cain.
There was a time when "Jiang Xuan" had looked at Bai Wu and Wu Jiu in the same way.
But at this moment, "Jiang Xuan’s" emotional turmoil was exceptionally intense.
For seven hundred years, he had enjoyed the feeling of having his lies exposed time after time.
After Bai Wu left, the captains of the Investigation Corps carried their heads higher than before, clearly strutting with pride.
Yet just a few months ago, when the Guardians had come here, the strongest of the captains had been beaten down by Liu Hu, unable to raise their heads.
External tower forces.
These words were well understood by all the Guardian families, as well as their rulers’ relations with the external tower forces.
The meeting ended quickly, and Qin Xuan’s face was ashen. The position of Deputy Commander of the Investigation Corps, or rather, the person Gu Qingyu, was clearly more important than he had anticipated.
However, all these scenes were just for show.
When the meeting concluded and everyone had returned to their respective posts, Qin Xuan’s lips actually curved into a smile:
"I thought you, a person so methodical and straightforward, would be too blunt in your actions. I never expected that such an honest person could lie so flawlessly."
Qin Xuan didn’t need to worry about how to report this; after all, Qin Chu, who held a higher family position than him, was there. Some things were not his to presume upon.
His eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he now sat in his office, feeling in high spirits.
Although... he did feel embarrassed about being threatened by members of the Investigation Corps.
...
...
High Tower, third level.
Mingyu Estate was hosting yet another gathering for elite couples of the High Tower.
Ming Che always enjoyed such events, as he could feel the warmth of other families.
And he wasn’t tearing other families apart, just experiencing them temporarily. Was there anything better in the world?
If there was, it would probably be doing such things with Bai Wu.
Bai Wu was busy now, and Ming Che had a feeling that this person was truly involved in significant matters, with his strength increasing more and more dramatically.
In the past, Ming Che treated Bai Wu as a favored team member, but now he realized... Bai Wu was starting to exude Wu Jiu’s aura.
Ming Che was pleased that Bai Wu had come to see him this time.
Although there was friction between the two corps, his feelings toward Bai Wu were indeed good, and Bai Wu’s response to this friendship made him feel that he had not misjudged him.
Mingyu Estate was bustling at the moment, busy arranging the large family integration party for the evening.
Bai Wu was in Ming Che’s office.
His purpose was actually to inform Ming Che about something concerning Jiang Xuan.
"But I just contacted him the day before yesterday... how could he suddenly be dead? I’ll make a call and ask."
Ming Che was astounded, for Bai Wu had brought him the news of Jiang Xuan’s death.
"No need. He is indeed dead. In a few days, if I’m lucky, I might deliver his body to you. As for the person who spoke with you on the phone, it wasn’t Jiang Xuan."
Ming Che didn’t understand the meaning of Bai Wu’s words. That person was clearly Jiang Xuan, so how could he not be Jiang Xuan?
Bai Wu did not offer much of an explanation:
"I just don’t want our relationship to suffer because of this. Think carefully, would the Jiang Xuan you know resign from his current position for a moment of excitement and join the Investigation Corps as a field agent?"
Ming Che shook his head. It was indeed something he found very puzzling, but was this enough to prove that Jiang Xuan wasn’t Jiang Xuan?
"Jiang Xuan came to me; I remember the case he was working on before, the disappearance of an art teacher and several students, do you remember?" asked Bai Wu.
Ming Che nodded.
"Actually, there’s another case, also under investigation by your Garrison Corps, about a large quantity of emotion stabilizing reagents being stolen before the military exercise between the two armies. This case probably hasn’t been closed yet, right?"
Ming Che was taken aback; how did Bai Wu know about this?
This case was not under Ming Che’s responsibility, but he was aware of it. The prime suspect to date was the Tower God Society.
But the Tower God Society had been out of sight for a long time.
Bai Wu continued:
"Liu Mu was injected with a reagent during the military exercise, becoming Evil Fallen. Those reagents came from the stolen batch, and the person who injected the reagents is currently believed to be the missing teacher from the Noble Academy. This is the same case that you entrusted to Jiang Xuan."
Ming Che couldn’t believe that these cases were connected in such a way. He didn’t know what to say.
He was also well aware of Bai Wu’s capabilities, and Bai Wu had no reason to deceive him.
Bai Wu went on to say:
"This person possesses a power that can steal the bodies of others. You might find it exaggerated, but that is the truth."
"Are you saying that Jiang Xuan’s body was taken by him? How is that possible... such a thing is unheard of!"
"As I said, the truth is indeed the truth."
Bai Wu seriously added:
"I consider Captain Ming a friend. Previously, due to certain reasons, I had to endure, but recently, I’ve been fortunate to make some inconsequential progress, so I don’t need to hold back anymore."
Ming Che thought to himself that Bai Wu should speak more directly instead of suddenly becoming so cryptic.
Although Ming Che disliked combat, his strength was not weak. With his Sequence Four Innate Force, he could sense that Bai Wu had changed radically from before.
"He and I have some scores to settle, and these issues are important, so... ’Jiang Xuan’, I hope Captain Ming will just consider him dead. He will no longer appear. In my report, I will state that Jiang Xuan died in action outside the tower while on an investigation."
Ming Che understood Bai Wu’s meaning:
"Then what will happen to him? You surely won’t hand him over to our Garrison Corps, will you?"
But the scene should be, the one where the other party loses everything, or finally loses their human identity, or thinks they have survived the ordeal only to look back in terror and discover they have been deceived, ultimately confronting the person who has been manipulating them and falling into despair.
Yet at this moment, with the lies exposed, "Jiang Xuan" felt absolutely no satisfaction.
When he came to the Investigation Corps, he originally thought he would soon be able to steal one of the two containers—Wu Jiu, or Bai Wu.
But Bai Wu’s exit from the tower was completely impromptu, like he was walking down the road, talking about something totally unrelated to leaving the tower one second and deciding to leave the tower the next, exiting hastily.
What’s more, Wu Jiu did exactly the same. As soon as Bai Wu called for a tower exit, this workaholic dropped everything without a word and left.
Many times, "Jiang Xuan" found he couldn’t keep up with the other’s pace; the squad leader was elusive.
Up to this point, the only time they exited the tower together was after the establishment of the oversight team, when they finally seized the opportunity to leave together.
But that time, it was extremely dangerous. If not for the Lake God being defeated by Yan Zizai and a monstrous girl, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
After coming back, he realized he was completely being led by the nose.
Bai Wu was different from all the others I had deceived before because the pleasure of deception was nowhere to be found on him.
At that moment, "Jiang Xuan" finally understood why and quickly calmed down, still showing the same unflappable expression from the past:
"When did you discover it? Although I did not hide it deliberately, you couldn’t possibly have suspected me."
Bai Wu thought to himself, would I tell you that Prayle’s Eye is the best in the world?
"From the first day you joined, I felt your motives were unreasonable, so I have been investigating you. And you should have thought of it, Nie Chongshan, Liu Mu, they are all my people, so it wasn’t difficult for me to discover your true identity—Cain."
When Bai Wu uttered this name, Cain suddenly felt as if he had lost.
It was a strange and unfamiliar feeling.
"Then you should know that this is not my true form. Don’t you think you’ve struck the grass and startled the snake?" Cain retorted,
"Don’t you think that if you don’t send out your true form, you would be unable to find out much information?" Bai Wu disdained Cain’s secrecy.
"You have already lost the opportunity, and you must know what I’m talking about. My rate of growth has, indeed, been quite quick; if I were you, I would also find it hard to imagine your loss being undeserved."
Cain nodded. Although the words seemed comforting but were actually mocking, he really had underestimated Bai Wu’s rate of growth as Bai Wu said.
"Actually, continuing to wear you down wouldn’t be bad for me, after all, I could use you to help me kill Yan Zhao, and could also use you to kill other rulers. I must admit, your strength is formidable. But now, I am no longer wary of you.
However, I have more important things to do, things that force me to reveal my identity openly."
Bai Wu didn’t show his power, and Cain didn’t need Bai Wu to demonstrate his strength. Even if his current body couldn’t unleash all of his power, he could still sense—
This man had been reborn.
Remembering that Wu Jiu had disappeared for ten days... Cain speculated that the next time he saw Wu Jiu, that person would also have been reborn.
"So it turns out my biggest mistake was treating the hunter as the game, haha... What a fatal mistake."
The air about Jiang Xuan changed drastically at that moment.
It was as if he was indeed the same person, but in an instant, everything from his gaze to his breathing turned into someone else.
Cain sized up Bai Wu. Over the past seven hundred years, he had deceived many, and had been deceived as well, but being purely outmaneuvered by information to the point of being used was extremely rare.
"I don’t know whether to say it’s interesting or uninteresting. Ah, I really wanted to continue impersonating someone you trust, but why was I exposed so quickly? Tsk tsk tsk, it looks like you must have encountered something you really wanted to know."
Bai Wu said:
"Exposing your lies doesn’t really matter to you. After all, you just can’t continue under the identity of Jiang Xuan anymore, but you have many other identities. Your Sequence is very troublesome, as long as your true form can’t be found, you can go on with the next deception, and the one after that."
This statement was true and was also the reason why Cain was not the least bit flustered when exposed.
However, Bai Wu had clearly come prepared this time:
"But last time’s big gamble let me know what truly interests you. Back then, in Violet Manor, you deceived Violet to escape from her family’s game."
Cain was stunned for a moment. How did it come to Violet? That unfortunate mad girl, descendant of an extreme hedonist.
"You left me a letter in Violet’s manor. You thought that the boat ticket was useless. I remember you scoffed at the people on the boat, living within a lie."
Cain remembered; indeed, he had left such a letter.
The purpose was to make Bai Wu or Wu Jiu realize the atrocities committed by the rulers, to make them hate the Zhong Family even more.
But what was wrong with that boat ticket?
Looking at the somewhat puzzled Cain, Bai Wu revealed blockbuster news:
"That ship, it can sail out of the Hei Wu. And the world beyond the Hei Wu, I have been there."
