Chen Ling raised an eyebrow and halted his steps.
"Brother, since you're not with the Stellar Chamber of Commerce, why insist on opposing me?" Jian Changsheng asked, his face pale.
After these exchanges, Jian Changsheng had realized that this mysterious opponent was formidable. Even in his near-death state, he could only fight to a draw. If the other party also entered a near-death state, enhanced by [Blood Robe], he might not stand a chance.
Moreover, Jian Changsheng was severely injured. Continuing the fight would likely leave him incapacitated and at the other's mercy.
To Chen Ling, Jian Changsheng's seemingly casual words carried significant information.
Stellar Chamber of Commerce… So those people inside were from the commerce?
Though Chen Ling had tailed them all the way, he hadn’t known which faction the people in the car belonged to. Now, Jian Changsheng had given him the answer… But what puzzled him was that Jian Changsheng should also be part of that commerce. Why did he now seem to harbor such deep hatred for them?
After a moment’s thought, Chen Ling understood. Having killed Yan Xicai once, Jian Changsheng must have completely burned bridges with the Stellar Chamber of Commerce.
"I told you, I don’t care about anything else," Chen Ling replied calmly. "I only want that corpse."
"Fine, the corpse is yours… but the live one stays with me."
Apart from the corpse, Jian Changsheng had deliberately held back from killing the man called Brother Chen. As a member of the Stellar Chamber of Commerce and the apparent leader of this cover-up operation, he likely held valuable information.
This was the biggest concession Jian Changsheng could make. He couldn’t just return empty-handed after tracking them all this way and taking such a beating.
Chen Ling was about to refuse—the live captive held equal value for him but then he reconsidered and said, "The corpse is mine. As for the live one, we can share."
"Share?"
Confusion flashed in Jian Changsheng’s eyes.
"You want the live one just to extract information, right? In that case, our goals don’t conflict." Chen Ling spoke unhurriedly. "We can find a place and take turns interrogating him. What do you think?"
Jian Changsheng frowned, deep in thought. Given their current state, continuing to fight would be the worst outcome. Sharing the captive would serve both their purposes. He had considered taking the man away separately for interrogation before handing him over, but neither would trust the other. More importantly, Jian Changsheng didn’t want his doghouse living situation exposed. After weighing the options, this proposal seemed the best solution.
"Fine. But I pick the location."
---
Over ten minutes later, Jian Changsheng carried the unconscious Brother Chen like a dead pig deep into the woods.
Chen Ling followed with his hands in his pockets, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the dark, eerie forest around them.
"This is the place you meant? An open forest?"
"Yeah."
For Jian Changsheng, interrogating Brother Chen in the city was too risky. He needed a completely deserted, open area where he could use [Blood Drop Step] to escape at any moment—especially since he still didn’t fully trust Chen Ling.
Once the effects of his [Blood Robe] wore off, he’d be extremely vulnerable. If Chen Ling suddenly attacked while he was focused on interrogation, his life would be over.
Chen Ling had no objections. More than the location, he was curious about what had happened to Jian Changsheng. Keeping his distance, he observed Jian Changsheng closely, his narrowed eyes glinting thoughtfully.
This Jian Changsheng was killed by me once in the Soldier's Ancient Repository—he must hold a grudge. If he ever learns my true identity, it’ll be trouble… Should I kill him again now while he’s weak?
Killing him would not only avenge my exposure in Aurora City but also let me monopolize the captive. Nothing but benefits.
Rubbing his chin, Chen Ling carefully calculated the feasibility of killing him.
Just then, Jian Changsheng stopped.
"Here." Jian Changsheng tossed Brother Chen to the ground like trash, not even bothering to tie him up, as if unconcerned about him escaping upon waking. He glanced back at Chen Ling. "You first or me first?"
"You go ahead." Chen Ling politely deferred.
As he spoke, he walked to a nearby tree and sat cross-legged on the ground, half-closing his eyes as if about to nap.
Seeing this, Jian Changsheng didn’t waste words. He slapped Brother Chen hard across the face—
Smack!
The corpse-like man was sent tumbling several times until he crashed into a tree trunk. His eyes flew open in terror as he spat out several bloodied broken teeth.
"Cough… cough cough…" Brother Chen’s vision swam. Before he could recover, a strong hand yanked him up by the collar, hoisting him into the air.
"Well, well, if it isn’t our old friend Liu Chen." Under the dim moonlight, Jian Changsheng’s blood-streaked face looked utterly sinister.
Liu Chen froze, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"What? Don’t recognize me?" Jian Changsheng said coolly. "It’s me, Xiao Jian… Back in the Yan family, I sure received plenty of your… kindness."
He emphasized the word kindness, his tone dripping with murderous intent.
Liu Chen definitely recognized him. He remembered all too well how he’d bullied Jian Changsheng in the past. Now that Jian Changsheng was a wanted fugitive with a burning hatred for the commerce, Liu Chen couldn’t imagine what this madman might do to him.
But Liu Chen was no pushover—someone capable of handling the guild’s dirty work alone had nerves of steel. Suppressing his fear, he replied expressionlessly:
"So it’s you… Seems life as a stray dog hasn’t treated you well? The commerce’s pursuit must have been rough."
Jian Changsheng’s face darkened. He drove a fist into Liu Chen’s abdomen with enough force to shake the tree behind him.
Liu Chen’s face turned white as he dry-heaved, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth onto the ground.
"If you won’t let me live in peace, I won’t let you either." Jian Changsheng’s voice was icy. "The pain of four soul-crushing interrogations—I’ll make sure every last member of the Yan family tastes it… Starting with you."