Chapter 183: Is he deceiving us?

"Crack."

Hong Cha opened the door and walked in.

"How is it?"

Bing Li, sitting behind the desk, lifted his head.

In front of him lay a laptop; the screen showed, unmistakably, a conference room surveillance feed.

"It's not him."

Hong Cha shook his head.

"When I first probed him, he was genuinely shocked—his reaction didn't look faked. The second probe, if he were the one, he'd surely slip up, after all he's only a Level One Force Warrior, yet his face showed no panic or fear."

"Mm, I saw what you said too; indeed it doesn't look like him."

Bing Li nodded.

"But there's also the possibility that his acting is too good, fooling both of us."

"No way?"

Hong Cha furrowed his brows.

He asked himself, having seen countless people.

Could a kid under twenty escape his eyes?

Bing Li also furrowed his brows.

After a long pause, he said: "Maybe I'm overthinking; there are many experts in gunmanship in the Outer City District, and many whose skill surpasses his—how could it be him?"

"Yeah."

Hong Cha agreed deeply: "If I were merely a Level One Force Warrior, no matter how good my gunmanship, I wouldn't dare take on an entire Enforcement Squad alone—would I get killed? That's a question; given the situation, how many could I kill? Also a question, let alone headshots every shot."

"Mm, thanks for your hard work; you can go attend to your duties now."

Bing Li smiled, tacitly accepting his explanation.

Hong Cha walked halfway, then turned back, curiously asking: "Bing Li, if, I say if, that person really is him, what would you do? Hand him over?"

"Do you think that hundred‑thousand bounty would move me? The Law Enforcement Bureau treats people like fools, offering such paltry money."

Bing Li glanced at him: "But if that person really is him, I'll make him hand over all the money as a warning for violating the rules; if there's a next time, it won't be just a fine."

Hong Cha shuddered.

"Did that person take a lot of money?"

"Conservatively, two million."

Hearing that, Hong Cha stared wide‑eyed in shock.

Two million! No wonder Bing Li called early this morning, asking him to test the waters.

Not even two million—

just flipping a coin would tempt him.

"Alright, treat what just happened as if it never happened; don't mention it to anyone, especially him, got it?"

"Don't worry, I'm not an idiot."

Hong Cha smiled, walked out, and closed the door.

Frankly, Bing Li's words moved him.

If that person really is Jiang Cheng, then is that money hidden in his room?

If I go, his family knows me; entering the room isn't hard, and I could find a pretext—say Jiang Cheng sent me to fetch something—and search the room.

Thinking this, Hong Cha furrowed his brows again, feeling uneasy.

Even if I could find it or not—if I find it, great; if not, what's the point? Moreover, if it's not him, tearing the room apart would be useless.

If Jiang Cheng finds out and calls to question me, what then? Besides, looking at his earlier demeanor, he doesn't seem to be acting.

"Forget it."

Hong Cha smiled: "Why bother trying to catch a fox and end up reeking? Just follow Bing Li's advice and pretend nothing happened."

"Is it not him?"

Bing Li sounded a bit disappointed.

But if it really were him, with that huge sum he wouldn't hide it; he'd surely spend it on Secret Medicine and Secret Martial Arts. Thinking this, Bing Li immediately pulled up Jiang Cheng's recharge record.

He noted the data on the screen in his mind.

He was also thinking of giving it a try.

If there's any movement in a few days, great; if not, forget it.

At the same moment, Jiang Cheng walking down the street looked somewhat solemn.

He's no fool; how could he miss that Hong Cha was testing him? Moreover, he could tell Hong Cha's actions were ordered by someone—that person is Bing Li.

To be honest, the first glance at him made me feel he's dangerous.

Now I see I need to guard against Hong Cha as well.

Jiang Cheng suddenly felt that hiding the money at home might not be safe.

But if he rushed back now anxiously, it would only throw his own plans into chaos.

Moreover, he had kept an extra eye out and hadn't hidden the money in the bedroom.

"For the time being, I'll stay careful; perhaps Bing Li's side will have people watching me."

Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes.

He had originally planned to go to the Black Market in a few days, but now it seems better to lie low for a while.

Greater strength means higher safety.

And there's that Special Action Squad.

Jiang Cheng wasn't really afraid inside, because almost everyone who knew was already dead.

Moreover, he was operating at night, so the chance of being exposed was even smaller.

But these days he still lingered around his home's entrance, just to gather some information.

……

A week slipped by in a flash.

At first, for two or three days, the entire Outer City District was inspected very strictly.

A large number of Law Enforcement Bureau officers would stop people on the street and inspect them; if they couldn't produce identity documents, they would be taken away.

Getting arrested was easy; to get out, you had to pay a sum of money.

Thus people became uneasy, and there were few pedestrians on the road even in broad daylight.

In the following days, the situation improved a bit, but many Law Enforcement Bureau officers were still patrolling; whenever they saw someone who looked suspicious, they would go up and interrogate them.

Even if Jiang Cheng wanted to go to the Black Market, seeing the situation on the streets would have dispelled that idea.

Going during the day would definitely get noticed; wearing a mask or a face covering is like writing the word "suspect" on one's face.

Going at night might be better; even if seen, one could shake it off, but there are ambushes near the Black Market, and the danger factor skyrockets. His Second-level Force Warrior strength, even with a gun in hand, isn't enough.

Jiang Cheng estimated that not many would attend this mid‑month Black Market Auction.

Two more days passed, and few people still talked about what happened in Po Luozi Alley; the main street gradually returned to normal.

Inside the meeting, Bing Li also went from checking Jiang Cheng's recharge records dozens of times a day to only a dozen times a day, and now doesn't even want to look.

Occasionally recalling it, he would open the computer for a glance and then laugh at himself.

"Exactly, how could that person possibly be him? I've gone crazy for money."

The third day.

Jiang Cheng sat in the Quiet Room.

Accompanied by several Force Light Points being refined.

The Experience Bar for Broken Jade Skill finally completed.

A massive influx of Force surged in, the tenth Acupoint was instantly blasted open, and every part of the body greedily absorbed the surrounding Force.

After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Cheng slowly opened his eyes, a hint of a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Level Three, achieved.

Without using the Spirit Nourishing Pill, it was two days faster than the expected twelve days.

(End of Chapter)