Chapter 44: If You've Done Wrong, Don't Speak Words of Apology

"What you mean is…"

"Every six months, Heitu Gu'eryuan holds a 'Great Exam' that divides the children in the orphanage into two categories. Those who meet the standard are allowed to leave the orphanage, while those who don't are kept here until they come of age and leave."

The female teacher nodded and said seriously:

"This rule isn't unique to Heitu Gu'eryuan—other large orphanages have similar regulations."

"No one knows where those children who met the standard went, and no one can contact them. Occasionally, letters arrive saying they're living new lives."

"Most importantly… as far as I know, not a single child who left has ever come back."

At first glance, nothing seemed off.

Selection existed everywhere in the world. Since they were adopting children, of course the wealthy preferred clever ones—after all, who wouldn't like a smart child?

The orphanage setting up a 'Great Exam' was harsh, but understandable.

But holding a Great Exam every six months, with at least ten thousand orphans across all of Heitu Cheng, and every orphan who met the standard successfully adopted—that was the biggest problem.

Where could there possibly be so many families needing to adopt children?

And not a single one sent back? That was simply impossible. No matter what, there should have been at least one or two who couldn't adapt to their new environment and returned to the orphanage.

Jiang Qin already had the answer in his heart.

"Thank you for your cooperation. One last question—where is the director's office?"

"Just walk straight down this corridor to the end. It's the very last room."

"Good."

He turned and walked toward the end of the corridor, saying without looking back:

"While there's still time, go notify those children and teachers immediately and have them leave quickly. From here on, this orphanage might be… very dangerous."

Something occurred to the female teacher. Fear flashed through her eyes, and she hurriedly ran downstairs.

She was a smart woman—otherwise she wouldn't have been observing these things.

But cleverness often fools the clever. If Jiang Qin hadn't come today, and this female teacher had continued her investigation, the result awaiting her would likely have been tragic.

At the end of the corridor, inside the director's office.

The sound of flirtatious laughter echoed through the office. Two young female caretakers were sitting on the sofa with the director, their coats tossed carelessly on the floor, wearing only their undergarments.

A flash of spring scenery, soft gasps rising between them.

It was hard to imagine such things happening in a place like an orphanage.

Just as they were about to take the final step.

"Bam—!"

The solid wood door was kicked in as if it were a block of tofu. Two wooden fragments, driven by tremendous force, happened to pierce through the bodies of the two young female caretakers, taking their lives.

Two living people dying before his eyes, Director Chen Zhenting was so frightened his legs trembled. He instinctively looked at the black-clad youth walking in from the doorway, his eyes full of cold.

A chill, faint yet unmistakable, spread through the office.

"Wh-what are you?"

Jiang Qin didn't answer his question. With one hand, he effortlessly lifted Director Chen into the air and asked with no patience whatsoever:

"Tell me—where exactly did those children who met the standard go?"

A thought flashed through Chen Zhenting's mind. He wasn't a fool to have been placed in this position at the orphanage. Could it be that someone from Zhenling had investigated something and come knocking?

But from the looks of it, they probably hadn't found any evidence.

As long as he stalled until Mayor Wang brought people to rescue him, he'd be fine.

"I don't know who you are, but if you've come about this question, I can answer you—those children were naturally sent to families willing to adopt them! They have new homes and new families."

Jiang Qin expressionlessly extended his other hand and snapped off his right thumb.

The intense pain made Chen Zhenting scream!

"Still lying at this point."

Jiang Qin said coldly: "You probably don't know yet, but Mayor Wang and Yang Hao behind you have already been arrested by Zhenling. They've given you up—it's you who's been colluding with the cultists."

"…What!"

This news made Chen Zhenting forget even the pain. Cold sweat soaked his back. Terror and panic surfaced in his eyes. The relentless pressure on his mind broke down his inner defenses, yet he still hesitated.

Jiang Qin struck again, this time even more ruthlessly.

He cleanly severed that thumb in one stroke.

"I don't want to ask the same question twice. You have one minute. Every five seconds, I'll cut off one of your fingers. If you're still being stubborn after one minute, I'll personally chop off your head!"

"1"

"I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!"

"Those children were never actually sent away—they're in the hands of those Church of Gods people! Those cultists are hiding right now in the underground air-raid shelter beneath this building. Everything was arranged by that surnamed Wang. I was threatened by them, Officer!"

"Right… I have money. I can give you a lot, a lot of money. As long as you're willing to spare my life, I can give you every penny I've saved up over these years!"

"I know I've wronged those children. I'm not a qualified director, but I have a wife and kids too… please, spare me."

The director was begging frantically for his life.

But the coldness in Jiang Qin's eyes didn't waver in the slightest. He only said indifferently: "Since you've already done things that wronged them, there's no need to say words of apology. Once you chose to act that way, you should be prepared to bear the consequences."

Good and evil always meet their reward.

It's not that they don't—it's just that the time hasn't come!

A moment later, Jiang Qin walked out of the director's office and headed toward the underground air-raid shelter beneath this building.

The office behind him was utterly silent, devoid of any chaotic screaming or begging. Apart from the two female corpses in the corner, there was now also a pile of blood-soaked chunks of flesh.

Jiang Qin's footsteps were very slow.

He was originally buying time for the children evacuating from the orphanage.

But the Church of Gods members hiding in the air-raid shelter seemed to have gotten word. Rather than continuing to hide or escaping through other exits, they charged straight at Jiang Qin.

Dozens of Spirit Sea Realm auras were unleashed without concealment, their might overwhelming.

Their mission had been to secretly sacrifice "premium supplies" to the deity they worshipped, but the moment Jiang Qin appeared, their mission changed.

That mission was—

To eliminate Jiang Qin here at any cost, even if it meant total annihilation!

Sensing this, the corner of Jiang Qin's mouth curved into a subtle arc:

"Interesting. They didn't choose to flee, but instead came to surround and kill me on their own initiative."

"Good—it suits me perfectly!"

The battle erupted in an instant!

The cultists erupted with Spirit Energy and charged in to kill. The instant both sides met inside the building, there was no superfluous talk—each unleashed their strongest killing move, blasting it toward Jiang Qin.

Jiang Qin raised a hand, and a Spirit Energy shield condensed before him.

Attack and shield collided…