Light Fortress
Chapter 89 - 84 Sincere Heart Association (Seeking First Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets)_2

Chapter 89: Chapter 84 Sincere Heart Association (Seeking First Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets)_2

Even out of fear of angering Mr. Zhao, there was no need to reject me so coldly.

Entrusted by Mr. Zhao, I came to Huazhi without bringing a single penny. It’s Zhao Qi who loses face, and it’s Cui Zhongcheng who gets slapped.

Liu Yi hit a dead end and ceased to press, simply sighing, "I will relay the message truthfully."

Having said this, she suddenly looked towards the partly closed door inside the office, frowning slightly.

"Who is he?"

Liu Yi’s interest was piqued as she narrowed her phoenix eyes.

From what she knew of Cui Zhongcheng, this man, whose actions were as rigid and inflexible as a machine, always adhered strictly to rules, fastidiously so.

In Huazhi Building, different reception rooms were present to accommodate different guests.

That room, however, was Cui Zhongcheng’s personal resting chamber, off-limits to outsiders. Who could possibly have the privilege to enter?

Tap tap.

Cui Zhongcheng tapped on the desk twice. With two finger taps, he drew Liu Yi’s gaze back and offered an answer that was completely convincing.

"...Someone whose identity you absolutely do not want to know."

Liu Yi immediately averted her eyes.

During these past years at the Zhao Family, the person she was most curious about was Cui Zhongcheng, a man who always had an incomprehensible aura that beckoned one to unravel the mystery.

But the person she was least curious about... was also Cui Zhongcheng.

Because in these past years, those who, out of curiosity, tried to test Cui Zhongcheng’s limits... had all disappeared.

It wasn’t an overstatement.

Liu Yi had come to regard Cui Zhongcheng’s words as another form of iron rule in her heart, one that was followed absolutely, with corresponding consequences.

Zhao Qi wanted to borrow money, and Cui said that he wouldn’t lend it until the old master and mistress spoke up, so he absolutely wouldn’t lend it.

Not even if the sky fell.

He said that he would regret knowing the identity of that person... If she truly came to know it, she would definitely regret it.

Therefore, Liu Yi immediately closed her mouth obediently. She no longer asked, nor did she think any further.

"If that is all... You may leave."

Cui Zhongcheng lowered his head to open his notebook, flipping through it slowly, while softly saying, "Also, relay a message to Mr. Zhao... the old man has been very dissatisfied with him recently, he should stay away from Chen San’s underlings."

...

...

After Liu Yi left.

Cui Zhongcheng still remained bent over his work, but spoke calmly.

"Since you’re awake, come out."

His voice carried clearly to the resting chamber.

Consequently, Gu Shen, who had been eavesdropping against the wall for quite some time, was caught by this remark. Sitting awkwardly and unable to continue his pretense, he was forced to reveal himself, walking out with some embarrassment.

Gu Shen took a seat across from Cui Zhongcheng, finding a chair to sit down. Looking at that poker face as undisturbed as an ancient well, the anger that had nearly died down in his heart suddenly flared up again.

"You’re very angry."

Without waiting for Gu Shen to lash out, Cui Zhongcheng was the first to speak.

He stopped flipping through the notebook, looked up at Gu Shen with a slow, deep voice, "Being used as bait without any knowledge, nearly dying... you are angry at my deception, angry at being played. Perhaps there’s also anger stemming from your sense of justice within you, completely capable of solving the communal insomnia, I chose to watch the symptoms spread first..."

After these words, Gu Shen froze.

Every word had hit him in the heart; he felt as if Cui Zhongcheng had ripped open his chest, the man understanding his anger more than he understood himself.

"But in fact... is the truth really what you’re angry about?"

Cui Zhongcheng pushed his glasses up, starting with some disappointment, "If you had been sharper on the plane... noticed the details in what I said, you would have known what you were facing. The review team says your memory is good, never forgetting what you’ve seen. Do you still remember every sentence of our conversation by the lake? Since you’ve already experienced a fire incident... you should know better than anyone that the Changjiu Foundation are fanatics who will stop at nothing to achieve their aims, they will be crazier than you could imagine."

Gu Shen was suddenly at a loss for words.

Because... every sentence Cui Zhongcheng had said was the truth.

In some sense, Cui Zhongcheng had not hidden anything from him, for in the case of the fire, he knew no more than Gu Shen himself did.

"The best way to uncover the mastermind behind the fire incident and to reconnect the broken clues is to use yourself as bait..." Cui Zhongcheng’s voice poured down like a bucket of cold water, saying, "I’ve already told you, this mission is not as simple as you think. If you still underestimate it, even losing your life will be nobody’s fault but your own."

Gu Shen sat in silence on the chair.

His chest had been filled with rage, and he had prepared many accusing questions, but now, under Cui Zhongcheng’s few words, his rage found no outlet, as if doused by cold water, and he couldn’t even utter a word in rebuttal.

"You can continue to hate me until you become a true ’S-rank’."

Cui Zhongcheng continued, "As long as you remember the lesson and live well... The emotional price of hatred is too small. If your file gets released, you will be facing ten to tens of times more out-of-control and extremist individuals than now. I don’t wish for ’complacency and underestimation’ to become the epitaph on your tombstone."

First a heavy stick, then a sweet date.

But that was Cui Zhongcheng’s nature... Even words of comfort sounded cold when they came from his mouth.

I am still too young.

This is an old fox with profound skills, retreating in order to advance.

Now there was nothing left to say.

Gu Shen was silent for a long time, finally took a deep breath and said gravely, "I’ve learned my lesson this time."

"Since you came here in anger... then you must have realized the meaning behind our conversation on the plane," Cui Zhongcheng explained slowly, "Not rushing to give you the ’S’ title, the main reason is this Da Du mission... The solemn stone sculptures were just the beginning, using the sealed files, we managed to lure out a suspect."

Members of the Changjiu Foundation are lurking in various places in East Continent, some have even infiltrated the Council.

Gu Shen’s expression became intense.

Before landing in Da Du, his file had been sealed, just to bait the mastermind behind the scenes.

"Take a look at this file," Cui Zhongcheng said.

He took a document out of the drawer.

"Shi Li, 37 years old, leader of the fifth group of Sincere Heart South Hall..."

It took Gu Shen three minutes to read through the life file of this man named Shi Li.

He looked up and asked seriously, "Sincere Heart Association... This is not the first time I’ve heard of it. What kind of organization is it?"

"Da Du provides a communal living space for unofficial Transcendents."

"If you want a precise definition, Sincere Heart Association... is a legal illegal organization," Cui Zhongcheng said indifferently, "The largest speaking power of East Continent Council is in the north at Changye, in the south it’s Da Du, while Judgment Institute, prison headquarters, and Federation Security Committee... There are only so many places in these Transcendent institutions, and with stringent control, not just anyone can enter. So where should the homeless Transcendents stay? Thus, in Da Du, Sincere Heart Association was established."

Gu Shen was startled.

"You should also be aware... if there’s white in this world, there’s black, and some matters can’t be handled on the official stage and must be done by others," Cui Zhongcheng explained patiently to a Judgment Institute newbie, "Da Du’s status is destined to bear a great mission. Its every move affects the surrounding three large regions, across the river bank is Yinghai, to the west is Qing River, and to the north is Redwood. In recent years the Judgment Institute is severely short-staffed... Not every Transcendent incident can be resolved by someone."

"An organization with too many people is often difficult to control."

"Now, the Sincere Heart Association in Da Du is generally divided into the North Hall and South Hall, and the highest speaking authority corresponds to that held by two Council members. One is named ’Chen San’, and the other is..."

He pointed at himself.

Behind Cui Zhongcheng is the Zhao Family.

Gu Shen looked silently at Mr. Xiao Cui, across a long table, as if looking at a towering mountain.

He suddenly remembered what Nan Jin had said to him.

Above the crown, for justice.

Beneath the sword, for judgment.

If the Judgment Institute is a dazzling crown, boasting of righteousness with a blinding whiteness.

Then Sincere Heart Association... is a blade hidden in the dark tides, secret and silent, pitch-black and intangible.

East Continent is vast, the crowns in the light are few, but beneath that light, dark tides churn, hiding countless blades.