383: Chapter 383 An Important Commission Worth One Hundred Million

Inside the dark hall, two figures stood facing each other.

The golden orb of light emitted a warm and pure radiance.

Fang Cheng stood beneath the orb of light, speaking with complete seriousness.

It was as if he were a monk who had seen through the Mortal World, or perhaps as if he were describing his condition to a doctor.

"..."

The corners of Cheng Jiashu's mouth twitched once more.

Eating a vegetarian diet and chanting Buddhist scriptures? Cultivating one's moral character?

You, a ruthless person capable of slaughtering over two hundred gang members with your bare hands, are telling me this?

This excuse was simply nonsensical to the extreme.

Yet, it happened to fit perfectly with the persona of a fellow psychiatric patient that Fang Cheng held in his heart.

After all, the thought processes of a psychiatric patient could never be fathomed by conventional logic.

"Smiling Demon, your proposal is indeed very good."

Looking at Cheng Jiashu's expression of holding back a retort, Fang Cheng spoke with a hint of regret in his tone:

"But there is no help for it. My biggest flaw is that my emotional fluctuations are large, I easily lose control, and I go crazy and kill people at the drop of a hat."

As he spoke, he spread his hands, making a helpless gesture.

"Look at how I struggle even with normal socialization, hiding in a small dark room all day. How could I possibly participate in such intense and bloody battles?"

"In case I am halfway through cultivating my moral character, suddenly have a relapse of my old illness, go on a killing spree, and wipe out the Special Investigation Team in one go, that would be bad. Wouldn't that harm you and that Officer Gao?"

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze as sincere as if he were speaking of something entirely natural:

"Therefore, let us talk about cooperation again when my mental state improves and I can face all living beings with a calm mind."

Cheng Jiashu was choked by these words to the point where he couldn't say a single word for a long time.

He opened his mouth, but ultimately gave up on continuing to persuade him.

He also had his own pride.

He had invited him time and time again, even lowering his posture, yet the other party fobbed him off with such an absurd reason.

Originally, this was a good thing that benefited both parties.

Since the other person politely refused with such an outrageous excuse, then so be it.

Persuading Fang Cheng was merely to have one more powerful helper and increase their chances of winning by a few points.

Without his joining, the operation could still unfold smoothly according to plan.

"Very well."

Cheng Jiashu took a deep breath, striving to regain his calm, his face once again hanging with that signature smile:

"Since Brother Fang Cheng insists on wholeheartedly practicing, then it is not convenient for me to disturb you further."

"I wish you an early attainment of the Realm of a mind as still as stagnant water, detachment from the sea of suffering, and salvation for all living beings."

He said a few perfunctory polite words, then turned around to prepare to take his leave.

"Long time no see, won't we chat for a little longer?"

Fang Cheng's voice sounded right on cue behind him, detaining him like an old friend:

"Right, when are you guys taking action?"

"Although I cannot go, I can cheer you on, let the Buddha bless you to be safe and sound, and bring Noah Organization to justice at an early date."

Cheng Jiashu's footsteps paused for a moment without turning back:

"Word has come from the Special Investigation Team that actions will be taken as early as this weekend."

"Dealing with a powerful enemy like Noah requires a lot of preparatory work. I am not as carefree as you, able to have time to eat a vegetarian diet and chant Buddhist scriptures."

There was a faint sarcasm in his tone as he waved his hand.

"Then, farewell for now."

He immediately strode forward, walking toward the gate of light through which he had come.

Fang Cheng did not continue to detain him, only quietly standing in place, his gaze profound as he stared at Cheng Jiashu's back.

However, at the very moment before Cheng Jiashu was about to step into the gate of light,

he suddenly stopped his footsteps once more, turned around, and faced Fang Cheng.

"Right, there is one more matter."

Cheng Jiashu's tone became serious as never before.

Pale green light leapt across his body, making his expression appear blurry and solemn in the darkness, as if separated by a layer of veil.

"I have a request. If... I mean if, by the day of April 13th, I do not contact you again, I hope you can help me take care of someone."

Fang Cheng looked at him without replying.

"You don't need to watch her every day."

Cheng Jiashu continued to speak, his tone slowing down as if weighing his words.

"You only need to go see her once a week to confirm her safety. If she encounters any difficulties, within the scope of your abilities, just help her resolve them."

Afterwards, he raised a single finger, offering his own price:

"As remuneration, I can pay you one hundred million in advance. The term of this commission is fifty years, meaning you only need to take care of her for fifty years."

One hundred million, fifty years, solely to take care of one person.

These words sounded somewhat off; rather than a transaction, it felt more like entrusting an orphan on one's deathbed.

"Who is it?"

Fang Cheng's brows moved slightly, a trace of curiosity flashing in his eyes.

What kind of person could possibly be worth making this perverted serial killer so solemn, even willing to spend a huge fortune to entrust them?

"When the time comes, someone will tell you."

Cheng Jiashu smiled with affected mystery.

That smile appeared somewhat blurry against the backdrop of the green light, carrying an indescribable meaning.

Fang Cheng fell silent for a moment.

Past intersections with Cheng Jiashu surfaced in his mind.

The two of them meeting by accident for the first time in a rainy night.

Subsequent meetings in the chat room many times, acquiring much knowledge from him.

And utilizing him to substitute for his own White Owl identity...

After weighing things up, Fang Cheng raised his eyes to look at Cheng Jiashu, and spoke:

"Do you trust me this much? I am a serial killer who could lose control and go crazy at any moment..."

Hearing this, the smile on Cheng Jiashu's lips deepened a fraction.

"Precisely because you are a madman, you are worth trusting and entrusting."

He slightly raised his head, a strange light flashing within his eyes.

"I can sense a certain principle within you. You and I are the same, the exact same kind of people deep in our bones."

"Besides, this one hundred million in remuneration should be enough to make this principle incomparably stable."

Finishing his words, he shrugged his shoulders, his behavior appearing very carefree.

Fang Cheng gazed at him, attempting to see through him.

Vaguely, he could sense that Cheng Jiashu's words truly came from the heart, not resembling falsehood, nor carrying the slightest hint of threat or temptation.

This bizarre sense of trust could not help but slightly touch a certain corner of Fang Cheng's inner heart.

Ultimately, Fang Cheng chose to nod, replying in a deep voice:

"I can only say, I will do my best."

"As long as you do your best, that is enough."

A relieved smile appeared on Cheng Jiashu's face, possessing the lightness of a heavy burden lifted.

He gave Fang Cheng a deep look, as if wanting to carve this man's appearance into his mind.

Then he solemnly bowed, and said in a low voice "Many thanks".

Following that, he turned around and stepped into the gate of light, his figure gradually growing illusory amidst the radiance.

Finally, it turned into specks of green light, completely vanishing from sight.

Inside the dark hall, silence was restored once again.

Only the golden orb of light remained, emitting a faint and constant radiance within the endless darkness.

The wind wove through, emitting a sobbing sound, like the whispers of ancient wandering ghosts.

Deep within the hall, those giant stone pillars cast overlapping shadows, making the already profound Secret Realm appear even more spacious and mysterious.

Fang Cheng stood alone in the center of the grand hall.

His gaze penetrated the darkness, looking toward the direction where this palace's first visitor had disappeared.

That white gate of light gradually shrank until it completely closed, concealing itself like a star, as if it had never existed.

Fang Cheng gazed intently for a long time before withdrawing his sight, slowly walking back beneath the golden orb of light.

His fingers gently brushed across that warm halo, feeling the powerful pulsation like a heartbeat.

Everything seemed logical, developing along the anticipated trajectory.

Cheng Jiashu and the Special Investigation Team had finally been pulled together by him with an invisible thread, to jointly confront head-on the behemoth that was Noah Organization.

And he, the mastermind hidden behind the scenes, should also do something.

The reason Fang Cheng rejected Cheng Jiashu's cooperation invitation was not truly to stand by with folded arms, or to "eat a vegetarian diet and chant Buddhist scriptures".

The enemy of an enemy is a friend; he understood this logic.

Noah Organization was a sharp sword suspended above his head; being able to heavily damage or even eradicate it would bring him a hundred benefits without a single harm.

Besides, the existence of this organization had gradually begun to affect his normal life.

Now that Cheng Jiashu proposed the plan to join forces with the Special Investigation Team, Fang Cheng naturally had to go "help".

But he must absolutely not help publicly under the identity of the ordinary person "Fang Cheng", and even less could he come into direct contact with Gao Jin.

That late night, on the wasteland beside the suburban highway, this Advanced investigator wearing bio-armor had fought a massive battle with him.

Although he was wearing a mask at the time, they could be considered to have had a close-range "intimate contact".

With just a single encounter, there was an extremely high probability that the other party could recognize him as the true White Owl through his physique, aura, and combat style.

By then, the layout he painstakingly set up—letting Cheng Jiashu substitute for the identity of White Owl to attract firepower and thereby hide his own secret plan—would probably be completely exposed.

This was definitely not what Fang Cheng wanted to see.

That was why he used a reason that Cheng Jiashu could not refute and that fit his own "persona" to politely refuse.

Fang Cheng's eyes flickered, many plots and plans surfacing in his mind.

Perhaps he could act like a ghost, continuing to hide in the shadows and observe this upcoming storm.

When the Special Investigation Team and Noah Organization engaged in fierce conflict, he would then seize the right opportunity.

Brazenly appearing under the identity of White Owl, striking uninhibitedly, and slaughtering all enemies...

Thinking of this, Fang Cheng raised his eyes, looking at the giant orb of light emitting soft golden light.

Countless slender threads of light spread out from the sphere like a neural network, connecting the "stars" on the dome that represented connected targets.

His line of sight swept across the starry sea on the dome.

Ultimately, it landed on a bright and stable star.

A thought subsequently formed in his mind.

Fang Cheng's eyes narrowed slightly, and his consciousness instantly cast toward the target like an arrow leaving a bowstring.

The dark hall before his eyes was instantly torn apart by endless flowing light.

His consciousness passed through a gorgeous tunnel composed of light and shadow.

Countless scenes flashed past rapidly: tall buildings, streets, neon lights...

The next second, his field of vision abruptly regained clarity.

A wave of warmth mixed with the aroma of food and the scent of old furniture rushed over his face.

Before him was a small square table, upon which were placed three dishes and one soup.

A plate of glossy, bright braised pork ribs, a plate of emerald-green stir-fried vegetables, as well as a small dish of smashed cucumbers and a steaming bowl of pickled vegetable and tofu soup.

For an ordinary family, this was already a quite sumptuous meal.

"A-Ren, eat more meat. Look at how thin you've become from being tired recently."

A gentle voice sounded.

Through Xiaosa's eyes, Fang Cheng saw an elderly woman with graying hair sitting opposite.

Although her eyes were open, her pupils were turbid and devoid of light, lacking any focus. She was clearly blind for many years.

Yet upon her face, there was a satisfied and serene smile.

It was precisely Xiaosa's mother, Li Guifen.

"Mom, I'm not thin, I'm quite robust."

Xiaosa's voice came over, carrying a deliberately slowed-down gentleness:

"You eat too. When we went for a physical check-up last time, the doctor said you need to supplement more vitamins and protein nowadays."

As he spoke, Xiaosa picked up a piece of pork rib with a mix of fat and lean meat, carefully removed the bone, and placed the meat into his mother's bowl.

Fang Cheng did not immediately make a sound to disturb them.

Like a silent ghost, he quietly "sat" at this dining table, observing everything before him.

This small cabin of less than thirty square meters was much brighter than when he last saw it.

The walls had been repainted, and a brand-new LCD TV had been added in the corner.

Although the screen was not large, for this family, it was already a luxury item.

Xiaosa's clothing was no longer stall-bought goods, but rather a shirt that looked rather textured.

His sitting posture was very straight, and his eating manners had become much more refined, unlike his previous wolfing down of food.

It could be seen that he was striving to adapt to his new identity, and also striving to let his mother live a better life.

"A-Ren, is your work... at the company going smoothly? You A-Ren't being bullied by anyone, are you?"

Li Guifen asked with concern while chewing slowly.

"Smoothly, of course it's going smoothly."

Xiaosa replied immediately, his tone relaxed:

"Mom, rest assured, I am now an assistant to the department supervisor, managing several people under my command. Moreover, General Manager Chen thinks very highly of me, so no one dares to bully me."

"That's good, that's good."

Li Guifen nodded with gratification:

"You, you must be diligent in your work, speak less, and do more. For a family like ours, it's not easy to have a decent job, so you must cherish it well."

"Understood, Mom."

Xiaosa replied with a chuckle, chewing rice in his mouth.

Fang Cheng silently watched all of this.

He saw Xiaosa, after finishing dinner, skillfully tidy up the bowls and chopsticks, rushing to go wash the dishes in the kitchen.

The cramped kitchen appeared somewhat restricted, but his movements were exceptionally earnest.

The sound of running water rustled loudly. While washing the pot, he even hummed an out-of-tune little ditty.

Until Xiaosa dried his hands and walked out of the kitchen did Fang Cheng decide to end this brief tranquility.

Subsequently gathering his consciousness, deep within Xiaosa's mind, he called out with a steady, wave-less vocal tone.

"A-Ren."

Xiaosa, who was pouring water for his mother, suddenly stiffened his body.

The unheralded call caused the thermos flask in his hand to almost slip from his grasp.

Chairman!

Xiaosa's brain went "buzz," and his heartbeat abruptly tightened.

Because according to the prior agreement between the two of them, if the situation was urgent, he could directly recite the Chairman's esteemed name silently in his heart.

Then through a magical method of spiritual connection, they could contact each other and make response measures in a timely manner.

If it were merely routine work reports and the like, they would use phone contact.

A few days ago, the Chairman had just given an order to temporarily interrupt all unnecessary contact in order to evade risks.

And now, the Chairman actually took the initiative to contact him again.

This only meant one thing—there was an extremely important, perhaps even life-or-death-related task to be issued.

"A-Ren, what's wrong? Did you spill the water?"

Li Guifen's ears were very sharp, and she heard the sound of the teacup shaking.

"No, nothing's wrong, Mom."

Xiaosa quickly steadied his mind, handing the teacup over. His voice was very well-controlled, and not a trace of abnormality could be heard.

"I'm just a little tired and want to go back to my room to lie down for a bit."

"Go on, rest early if you're tired, you still have to go to work tomorrow."

Xiaosa acknowledged, briskly walking into his bedroom, and with a backhand, gently closed the door and locked it.

He leaned against the door, took a deep breath, and respectfully responded in his heart:

"Chairman, A-Ren is here, please give your instructions."