Chapter 524

One hour later, Hong Chengshi woke up.

He slowly opened his eyes, his pupils scattered, his gaze empty, as if he had just walked from the Gate of Ghosts.

He did not die.

He actually did not die.

Hong Chengshi's body shuddered violently, his expression changing from bewildered to shocked.

He jerked upright, gasping heavily, his chest rising and falling violently, his hands gripping the sofa's armrests, his knuckles turning white.

Then, he collapsed.

"Why won't you let me die!"

Hong Chengshi wailed loudly, his voice shrill, like that of a wounded beast.

He pounded the sofa, pounded his own chest, venting his inner suffering and despair.

"Let me die! Let me die! What use is there in my living!"

At that moment, Jiang Feng appeared coldly, standing before him, looking down on him with a calm expression.

He spoke lightly.

"Using the Fatal Hook as a poison fang, it seems the people behind you aren't very at ease with you."

The Fatal Hook is a deadly poison specially used to control death warriors.

The poison fang is hidden in the mouth; once bitten, the toxin spreads throughout the body within a minute, causing death in extreme agony.

Hong Chengshi lifted his head, looked at Jiang Feng, his whole body trembling, and said with a look of shock.

"Was it you who saved me?"

His voice trembled, his eyes full of disbelief.

He knew how potent the Fatal Hook's poison was, and knew there was no antidote for it. Yet he did not die; he came back to life.

Then there is only one explanation.

The person before him used some means he didn't know to pull him back from the Gate of Ghosts.

Jiang Feng nodded lightly, his tone very calm, as if stating something quite ordinary.

"As long as I don't agree, you cannot die."

Upon hearing this, Hong Chengshi completely collapsed.

He slumped on the sofa, covering his face with both hands, wailing loudly, his whole body trembling violently.

"Let me die! Please let me die!"

His voice was hoarse, filled with endless suffering.

"If I don't die, my family in Kyoto will all die. I've already been exposed; those above won't spare my family! They will surely kill them!"

Hong Chengshi's sobs grew louder and more shrill.

"If I die, they might still live; if I live, they are doomed!"

Jiang Feng looked at him, his expression calm, his eyes showing no fluctuation.

He spoke directly, his tone very firm.

"Jiang Yan and I came to find you, and our presence hasn't been exposed yet. If you tell me clearly who's behind you, I can guarantee your family's safety."

Upon hearing this, Hong Chengshi immediately lifted his head, looking at Jiang Feng with anticipation, his eyes full of conflict.

"Really?"

"You can really guarantee my family will be fine?"

Jiang Feng didn't answer, but directly took out his phone and dialed a number.

The phone rang twice, and the other end picked up.

He put it on speaker in front of Hong Chengshi.

Soon the call connected, and a low, powerful voice came from the other end.

"Mr. Jiang, what do you command?"

It was Jiangnan Wang's voice.

Jiang Feng spoke lightly.

"Jiangnan Wang, I need you to help me go to Kyoto to rescue a family. Is that convenient?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then Jiangnan Wang's voice sounded again.

"Mr. Jiang, rest assured; even if that family is in a Kyoto death prison, as long as you give the word, I can also rescue them!"

Jiangnan Wang's tone was very confident, but everyone present could tell he wasn't boasting.

As a member of the Xuan Yuan Royal Clan, Jiangnan Wang indeed has this capability.

Jiang Feng gave a light smile, hung up the phone, and put it back in his pocket.

He looked at Hong Chengshi and spoke lightly.

"Jiangnan Wang's words, you should be able to believe them, right?"

Hong Chengshi slumped on the sofa, tears still on his face, but his eyes had shifted from despair to hope.

He murmured a nod, his voice hoarse.

"Jiangnan Wang, after all, is an Imperial Clan member; if he steps forward to save people, I can indeed believe him."

Imperial Clan, that is the true privileged class.

In a place like Kyoto, having an Imperial Clan member step forward to protect someone, even the Four Great Gate Clans would have to give some face.

Hong Chengshi took a deep breath, striving to calm himself.

He wiped the tears from his face, sat upright, looked at Jiang Feng, and his eyes became resolute.

"Alright."

His voice was still a little hoarse, but he no longer had that despair from before.

I can tell you everything I know.

He paused, then gave a bitter laugh.

But I'm just a minor figure; I know only limited things, and might not be able to help you at all.

Jiang Feng gave a faint smile, extended his hand, and made a gesture of invitation.

Hong Chengshi leaned against the sofa, staring at the ceiling, his gaze growing dazed as if recalling something from long ago.

He remained silent for a long time, then spoke.

I went to college forty years ago with the support of the Eastern family.

His gaze grew deeper.

Back then, my family was poor and I couldn't afford schooling. People from the Eastern family found me, gave me tuition and living expenses, and arranged work for my relatives. They asked for nothing in return, only saying that after I graduated I had to do something for them.

Hong Chengshi paused, then continued.

Back then I was young and thought I had met a benefactor. Only later did I realize everything came at a price.

His voice carried a hint of bitterness.

After graduating college, I went to work at a research institute under the Eastern family. From that point on I became completely a retainer of the Eastern family, gathering records concerning spacetime laws for them.

As soon as he said that, Jiang Feng's pupils contracted slightly.

Spacetime laws.

Spacetime laws again.

The Eastern family is also seeking spacetime laws.

This cannot be a coincidence.

Jiang Feng looked at Hong Chengshi and asked.

Why does the Eastern family seek spacetime laws? Have they already found something?

Hong Chengshi shook his head and gave a bitter laugh.

I don't know. I'm just a minor figure responsible for gathering data at the lowest level; they won't tell me about higher matters.

He paused, then continued.

But I can tell you, the Eastern family attaches great importance to this. They have poured massive funds into it, placing informants nationwide. Whenever there is any clue about spacetime laws, they get the news immediately.

Jiang Feng's brows furrowed.

Nationwide informants—what kind of investment must that be?

How long has the Eastern family been preparing for spacetime laws?

Hong Chengshi continued.

I came to Jiangnan because the Eastern family arranged it. They said there might be an important discovery here, and asked me to keep watch.

He glanced at Jiang Yan, his eyes full of apology.

Later Xiao Yan brought those photos to me, and I knew the thing I'd been waiting for had finally arrived.

Jiang Feng fell silent for a moment, then asked.

Besides you, who else does the Eastern family have in Jiangnan?

Hong Chengshi thought for a moment, then said.

I don't know much either. But as far as I know, the Eastern family has a contact point in Jiangnan Province; I don't know exactly where. Their people contact me every so often to pick up the data I've gathered.

He paused, then added.

The last time they contacted me was three days ago. They said there would be an important operation soon, and told me not to act rashly.

Three days ago.

That was precisely the day before the Qilin Guard attacked the Su family.

The timing matches.

Jiang Feng already had a rough judgment in his mind.

He stood up, looked at Hong Chengshi, and said lightly.

During this time, you must not contact anyone, nor mention today's events to anyone.

Hong Chengshi quickly nodded.

I know, I know.

Jiang Feng turned and glanced at Jiang Yan.

Let's go.

Jiang Yan stood up, walked over to Hong Chengshi, looked at him, her eyes full of complex feelings.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end said nothing.

She merely said softly.

Teacher, take care.

Having said that, she turned and followed Jiang Feng out of the villa.

Hong Chengshi sat on the sofa, watching Jiang Yan's retreating back, tears streaming down again.

He muttered to himself.

I'm sorry… I'm sorry…