Chapter 522: Seeing Hong Chengshi!

Early the next morning, as the sky just began to lighten, Jiang Feng took Jiang Yan and left the Su family.

In the car, Jiang Yan sat in the passenger seat, her face somewhat pale.

Jiang Feng drove, glancing at her.

"Didn't you sleep well last night?"

Jiang Yan nodded, giving a bitter laugh.

"I can't sleep. As soon as I close my eyes, I think of those people."

Jiang Feng didn't say much, just said lightly.

"Don't worry, I'm here."

Jiang Yan looked at him, a warm feeling welling up in her heart.

She took a deep breath, tried to calm herself, then began to tell Jiang Feng about her advisor.

"My advisor is Hong Chengshi, the vice president of Ninghai University and an authority in the domestic field of ancient script studies."

Jiang Yan's voice was soft, tinged with complexity.

"He once served as a professor at Capital University in his early years, renowned in academia. After retiring, Ninghai University invited him to be vice president, so he came to Jiangnan. Over the years he has kept a low profile, aside from academic research, rarely interacting with outsiders."

Jiang Feng listened, his brows slightly furrowed.

"When you previously went to him for advice about those photos, what was his reaction?"

Jiang Yan thought for a moment, then said.

"When the teacher saw those photos, he was very surprised, saying they were the highest-level ancient script he had ever seen in his life, of immeasurable value. He asked where I got them; I didn't say, and he didn't press further."

She paused, then continued.

"Later I left a few photos with him for him to study. After a few days I went to pick them up, and he said the texts were too profound, and he could only translate a small part."

Jiang Feng's gaze grew deep.

"Did he ask you for more photos?"

Jiang Yan was taken aback, thought back, then nodded.

"I asked. He said if he could have all the photos, he might be able to translate more. I didn't agree, because those photos are yours; I can't just give them to anyone."

Jiang Feng didn't speak, but a vague guess had already formed in his mind.

The car drove for over forty minutes, entering the campus of Ninghai University.

Jiang Feng parked the car beside a small building and got out.

Jiang Yan pointed to a villa ahead and said.

"That's the villa the school arranged for Professor Hong."

Jiang Feng looked in the direction she pointed; it was a two-story small building with red bricks and gray tiles, looking somewhat aged but well maintained.

The two walked to the villa's gate; Jiang Yan stood before the door, hesitating.

She turned her head, looking at Jiang Feng, her eyes holding a hint of complexity.

"Jiang Feng, is it really possible that the teacher betrayed me?"

Her voice was soft, carrying a hint of reluctance and sorrow.

"Over the years he has looked after me in every way, academically and in life, helping me a lot. I don't believe he would harm me."

Jiang Feng looked at her and let out a long sigh.

No matter what, we need to get to the bottom of it.

"Let's knock on the door first."

Jiang Yan took a deep breath, raised her hand, and was about to knock.

The door suddenly opened from inside.

An old man stood at the doorway.

The old man was about seventy, with white hair, a face full of wrinkles, wearing presbyopic glasses and a gray Zhongshan suit.

He was not tall, slightly stooped, but his spirit seemed fine.

It was Hong Chengshi.

Seeing Jiang Yan, Hong Chengshi's expression changed slightly.

Then he saw Jiang Feng standing behind Jiang Yan, and his expression instantly became somewhat unnatural.

His lips moved as if he wanted to speak but held back; finally he let out a long sigh.

"You came for those few photos, right?"

His voice was somewhat hoarse, tinged with helplessness and fatigue.

Hong Chengshi glanced around, confirming no one was following, then stepped aside to let them in.

"Please come in."

Jiang Feng and Jiang Yan followed him into the house.

……

Meanwhile, elsewhere, in Kyoto, the Dongfang family.

The Dongfang family's estate lies in the eastern suburbs of Kyoto, covering a vast area, with high walls and towering gate; two stone lions crouch at the entrance, giving it a majestic aura.

At this moment, in the main hall, the atmosphere was so heavy it seemed about to freeze.

Dongfang Lin sat in the seat of honor, his face grim and terrifying.

He slammed his hand on the table before him, causing the teacups to jump and tea to spill all over.

"What did you say?"

His voice was loud, filled with uncontrollable anger.

Beliau Qilin Guard's Shadow Corps still hasn't sent any news back? Not even Xuan Shui has been heard from!

Kneeling before Dongfang Lin was, surprisingly, the Qilin Guard Commander Jiang Guangzheng.

He is a fierce general in the army, commanding this elite Qilin Guard; usually imposing and mighty, but before Dongfang Lin he dare not even breathe.

Jiang Guangzheng lowered his head and spoke solemnly.

"Yes, Town Prefect. After the Shadow Corps entered Jiangnan last night, they have not sent back any news. Our people tried to contact them, but couldn't get through. Even the Xuan Shui Dharma Protector's phone wouldn't connect."

Dongfang Lin's complexion grew worse, the veins on his forehead jumping.

He stood up, pacing back and forth in the main hall, his leather shoes making a dull thud on the floor.

"One Half-step Martial Ancestor, five Heavenly Human Realm cultivators, just vanished like that?"

His voice grew colder and colder, as cold as ice.

"What kind of place is Jiangnan? A tiny speck—what kind of experts could there be?"

Jiang Guangzheng's forehead beaded with fine sweat.

"Sir, I suspect that the person called Jiang Feng may be much stronger than we imagined."

Dongfang Lin stopped, turned, and looked at Jiang Guangzheng.

"How much stronger? How strong could he be? A twenty-something young man, even if he started cultivating from the womb, how strong could he get?"

Jiang Guangzheng opened his mouth, but dared not answer.

Dongfang Lin remained silent for a long time, his expression shifting from anger to gloom, and then from gloom to an indescribable cold smile.

He slowly sat back down in the chair, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, one tap after another, with a steady rhythm.

"It seems this Jiang Feng is far more terrifying than I imagined."

His voice wasn't loud, but each word carried a chill.

Jiang Guangzheng hesitated a moment, then asked cautiously.

"What should we do next? If we mobilize more of the Southern Army's forces here, the Northern Army might notice us."

His concern is not without reason.

Although the Southern Army and Northern Army are both military forces of the empire, there has always been competition and surveillance between them.

If the Southern Army makes a large-scale mobilization, the Northern Army will surely notice the abnormality, and then things will become difficult.

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Lin waved his hand, his tone carrying a hint of disdain.

"The Linghu Family currently has no time to bother with us."

He paused, his gaze becoming deeper.

"But this Jiang Feng is not so easy to deal with."

Jiang Guangzheng lowered his head, waiting for Dongfang Lin to continue speaking.

Dongfang Lin stood up, walked to the window, looked at the courtyard outside, and fell silent for a moment.

"First, let's clean up the loose ends in Jiangnan."

His voice was very flat, as if he were stating something quite ordinary.

Jiang Guangzheng raised his head, looking at Dongfang Lin's back, a chill rose in his heart.

He knew what Dongfang Lin meant.

But that was the result of years of painstaking planning by the Qilin Guard...

"The Town Prefect says to give up, and just gives up?"

Jiang Guangzheng lowered his head and spoke in a low voice.

"Yes, Town Prefect."

Dongfang Lin did not turn back, merely waving his hand.

"Go."

Jiang Guangzheng stood up, bowed, turned, and walked out of the main hall.

His footsteps gradually faded away in the corridor, soon disappearing.

Dongfang Lin stood by the window, looking at the courtyard outside, his eyes full of coldness.

"Jiang Feng."

He muttered to himself, his voice very low.

"Interesting."