Chapter 358: I Want to Die with Dignity

Xiao Zhenggong pushed open the door to the ward, holding a white shirt, and first glanced at He Jiaqing lying on the bed.

"Dark Star Bureau investigation—get out!" Xiao Zhenggong turned to He Haisheng, who was smoking.

He Haisheng exhaled a plume of smoke that lingered around Xiao Zhenggong's face for a moment.

Xiao Zhenggong pulled out a lighter from his pocket, lit a cigarette himself, and spun the lighter twice around his fingertip, as if ready to hurl it at He Haisheng.

He Haisheng raised both hands: "Captain Xiao, don't act rashly—watch out for accidental discharge. If you're investigating, I'll leave."

With that, He Haisheng left the ward.

Xiao Zhenggong closed the ward door and stared at He Jiaqing on the bed.

"Do it, Senior Brother," the clothing spoke.

"I'm not sure this is really He Jiaqing," Xiao Zhenggong hesitated.

"Whether it is or not, better to kill by mistake than let one slip away."

Xiao Zhenggong stayed alert, keeping more than a meter's distance from He Jiaqing on the bed.

If this man was truly He Jiaqing, he could spring up at any moment and fight to the death.

A Traveler versus a Martial Cultivator in a life-or-death struggle is unpredictable—if their cultivation bases are equal, the Martial Cultivator has the edge, but what if He Jiaqing's base is higher than mine?

After observing for a long while, the man on the bed remained motionless, only sweat dripping one drop after another from his cheeks.

"Kill him, Senior Brother—killing the wrong one won't hurt you."

It's impossible that there'd be no cost.

Though Xiao Zhenggong is a Balance Man, some things can't be pushed too far—the Bureau values He Jiaqing deeply; killing him wouldn't be explained away by a simple report, and might even force Xiao Zhenggong to use the Balance Seal.

The cost of the Balance Seal is immense; Xiao Zhenggong didn't want to go this far unless absolutely necessary.

While hesitating, Xiao Zhenggong suddenly turned toward the door.

Through the door, he felt a pair of eyes watching him.

Xiao Zhenggong walked to the door, opened it, and saw Captain Chen Zhangrui standing outside, wearing a jacket, smoking a cigarette, smiling.

"Captain Chen, when did you get here?"

"Just arrived," Chen Zhangrui drew on his cigarette, grinning. "I heard you're investigating, so I didn't interrupt. Go ahead—finish your work, then we'll talk."

Xiao Zhenggong stared at Chen Zhangrui, his cheek twitching.

Chen Zhangrui glanced at He Jiaqing on the bed and gestured for Xiao Zhenggong to proceed.

He seemed to be telling Xiao Zhenggong: you can kill He Jiaqing anytime.

Old bastard, you're just waiting for me to act!

Xiao Zhenggong slipped the lighter into his pocket and left the ward.

Once in the car, the white-clad figure couldn't help asking: "Senior Brother, what are you afraid of? That old man's cultivation base shouldn't surpass yours."

"It's not about cultivation base," Xiao Zhenggong started the car. "If I move against He Jiaqing in front of Chen Zhangrui, I might get reassigned out of the Public Order Unit."

"Why must you stay in the Public Order Unit? With your status, there are plenty of better postings."

"You wouldn't understand," Xiao Zhenggong floored the accelerator, pulling out of the parking lot. "The Public Order Unit is the best place!"

"Senior Brother, if you keep being so cautious, you'll never complete Master's mission."

Halfway there, Xiao Zhenggong slammed on the brakes—cars behind nearly rear-ended him.

The white-clad figure didn't understand, but heard Xiao Zhenggong mutter: "Something's wrong… this doesn't add up."

"What's wrong?"

"Why was he smoking just now?"

"You mean Chen Zhangrui? I thought you said he's a chain-smoker."

"Something feels off…" Xiao Zhenggong rubbed his forehead, trying to recall Chen Zhangrui's habits.

His phone buzzed suddenly—it was a Bureau mission alert.

"Tulou Village, Baihe Road, Huichi Community: suspected anomalous lifeform detected. All units, proceed to location immediately."

Chen Zhangrui's voice?

Where is Chen Zhangrui really?

Xiao Zhenggong started the car—he wanted to return to the hospital.

The white-clad figure in the backseat said: "Senior Brother Xiao, you should've made this decision sooner!"

Xiao Zhenggong turned the steering wheel halfway—but didn't reverse.

He had a feeling someone had set a trap here.

"Chen Zhangrui wants to drive me out—this old bastard's playing games with me. Let's see who ends up leaving today…" Xiao Zhenggong muttered, then drove toward Tulou Village.

…

"Chen Zhangrui" stood by the ward door for a moment, then turned toward the end of the corridor and entered the restroom.

Soon after, "He Haisheng" walked out of the restroom, still wearing his suit.

Both the earlier "Chen Zhangrui" and the current "He Haisheng" were He Jiaqing in disguise—even his clothing was altered by a Performance Cultivator technique.

He Jiaqing sat beside He Haisheng and wiped the sweat from his brow.

After a moment's thought, he pinched two fingers against He Haisheng's forehead, as if severing a thread.

He Haisheng suddenly sat upright, grabbing He Jiaqing's collar: "You bastard!"

He Haisheng could move—He Jiaqing had lifted the Binding Cultivator technique on him.

"Uncle Three, let me explain—"

"Explain what? I'll kill you—"

Footsteps suddenly approached outside the door—the ward doctor was coming.

He Haisheng hesitated, then lay back down, pretending to be He Jiaqing again.

Some things he didn't want outsiders to know.

He Jiaqing straightened his clothes and watched the doctor enter.

The doctor sniffed, frowned: "You're smoking in the ward again? Don't you know hospital rules? Have you thought about the patient? Look at your conduct—"

This doctor was new—he didn't know He Haisheng well, nor did he understand He Jiaqing's status or position.

After completing routine checks and questions, He Jiaqing bowed with a forced smile and escorted the doctor out.

Confident no one would disturb them for now, He Haisheng sat up again and grabbed He Jiaqing's collar: "Bastard, explain this—what the hell is going on?"

He Jiaqing smiled: "Do I even need to explain? I want to live with dignity—but right now, I don't.

You saw that doctor just now—barking orders at me. Do you think I dare say a word back?"

"That's just hospital policy—no smoking inside. I went downstairs!"

"Xiao Zhenggong just tried to kill me—in this very ward. Is that hospital policy too?"

He Haisheng said nothing.

"I disguised myself as Chen Zhangrui—so Xiao Zhenggong wouldn't dare kill me. My life hangs on the whim of two outsiders from outside the province."

He Haisheng paused, then said: "Xiao Zhenggong is from Pulu Province."

"I know he's from Pulu Province—he's the boss of the Jiangxiang Gang. With his status in Pulu, would he dare touch me?

He dares kill me now because he has another identity outside the province—he's Deputy Commander of the Dark Star Bureau's Public Order Unit! Once you gain status outside the province, you can kill anyone, anytime."

"If you're willing to stay outside the province, you must follow its rules."

He Jiaqing laughed: "Uncle Three, you've stayed outside too long—you've started telling outsider jokes."

"This isn't a joke…"

"It is a joke. Ask the border guards outside the province—do they follow Pulu's rules? Do they care about Pulu's laws?"

He Haisheng pressed his lips together: "If you don't want to stay outside, go back to Pulu. Back home, you're still He family's heir—you won't suffer this humiliation."

"You say I won't suffer? Uncle Three, your joke's getting funnier. How did the head of the Chu family die?"

"He died during the land reclamation with the Lu family…" He Haisheng's voice grew quiet.

"Uncle Three, you can lie to me all you want—but can you lie to yourself?

The Chu family head was killed by a border guard—you saw it with your own eyes.

Since then, you've refused to return to Pulu. Do you think I don't know?"

He Haisheng rubbed his forehead, memories flooding back, his thoughts in chaos.

He Jiaqing sighed: "Talk about the Four Great Families—in the eyes of border guards, they're just four dogs.

Alive, they serve outsiders as dogs; dead, they serve the inner provinces as dogs. Is a Pulu person's life really this worthless?"

He Haisheng took the cigarette pack from He Jiaqing, pulled one out, and bit it between his lips.

After smoking one, he calmed down and asked: "What exactly do you want to do?"

He Jiaqing said: "I just said—I want to live with dignity. I want Pulu people to live with dignity."

He Haisheng lit another cigarette: "Earlier, your sister came to visit me…"

"Uncle Three, Big Sister came to see me."

He Haisheng slapped He Jiaqing's head: "Don't you dare bring that up again! Do you think I want to lie here for you?

Big Sister said Brother suddenly vanished—even the Nightmare Cultivator couldn't summon his soul. Did he reach the tenth level and go to the inner provinces?"

He Jiaqing answered honestly: "I gave Father so many elixirs—he definitely had enough to reach the tenth level."

"How dare you—"

"Uncle Three, it was Father's wish. I'm helping him—he didn't want to be anyone's dog anymore."

He Haisheng held the cigarette, drew a deep breath: "Your sister runs the family business. She's terrible at it—go back and check on things when you have time."

He Jiaqing shook his head: "I won't go back—not until this is finished."

He Haisheng angrily said, "At least go ask someone—those are our family's own business dealings!"

He Jiaqing contacted Duan Shuqun, and indeed, He family's business had run into trouble.

……

He Yuxiu sat inside the mansion drinking, and the accountant Sheng Shanzhou sighed, "Miss, the shipment from Hei'er Mountain still isn't cleared by the Waizhou Society."

You should've listened to me—back then, you shouldn't have cut the bribe to the Customs Inspector."

He Yuxiu snapped, "We lost money on it, and you still want to pay him the full amount? Half's more than enough! He took every single copper coin of the freight charge!"

"Freight is official, the bribe is personal—whether we profit or lose, we must pay in full…"

"Bullshit! If he hadn't meddled, we wouldn't have lost this deal—how do you account for that?" He Yuxiu smashed her wine cup to shards.

Yan Yulin, He Haiqin's principal wife, heard the commotion and stepped out of her bedroom: "Yuxiu, what are you doing? Why are you quarreling with family?"

Sheng Shanzhou also felt wronged and lowered his head in silence. He Yuxiu sighed, "I'm not yelling at you—I can't stand those bastards from Waizhou. What do you suggest we do?"

Sheng Shanzhou had served He Haiqin for years and still had some influence with the Customs Inspector: "Miss, I'll arrange to meet him for a meal, make up the payment, and have you apologize—this will settle it."

"I apologize to him?" He Yuxiu exploded.

Sheng Shanzhou grew urgent too: "Miss, this is business—who doesn't suffer indignities? Your father never told you how many he endured!"

"You can't be so proud. Because you offended the Customs Inspector before, he's been making trouble for us at every turn!"

He Yuxiu stood up. "Fine, go find whoever you want—I'm done with this!"

Yan Yulin rushed forward and grabbed He Yuxiu's arm: "Yuxiu, you can't talk like this—the whole family depends on you. Don't say things like that…"

……

Duan Shuqun relayed the news to He Jiaqing—not only about the business, but another matter as well.

Jiangxiang Bang had been hit.

He Jiaqing looked at He Haisheng. "Third Uncle, two halls of Jiangxiang Bang have been wiped out."

He Haisheng was startled: "Did you do it?"

He Jiaqing snapped, "How could I have done it? I've been in Yuezhou this whole time!"

He Haisheng was startled again: "Did you send someone?"

He Jiaqing laughed bitterly. "Third Uncle, why do you always assume it's me?"

"If not you, why would Xiao Zheng kill you?"

"What kind of logic is that…" He Jiaqing didn't know how to explain.

He had many grievances with Xiao Zheng, but some things he couldn't tell He Haisheng.

He Haisheng sat silently for a moment, then said, "You can't stay in the hospital. Leave now—I'll find a way to get out myself."

PS: Chen Zhangrui never smokes in the hospital—this scene first appeared in Chapter Four.

(End of Chapter)