Chapter 1139: I Won't Lie to You

"Big brother, we can't just let that bastard..."

"Say no more." Chen Bin let out a long sigh and lowered his head. "You two need to take care of yourselves," he said softly. "When we left the village, our elders told me to look after you. Now that Old Zhang is gone, I absolutely cannot let anything happen to either of you."

"Big brother!"

But no matter what the two brothers said, Chen Bin refused to yield.

How could the two brothers fail to understand? Big Brother Chen was clearly planning to handle this himself.

How could they let that happen?

Exchanging a glance, the two stopped pestering him. As if reaching a silent decision, they feigned agreement.

Chen Changsheng leaned back against the pile of straw and lay down. The Old Sword Cultivator didn't mind the filth, lying down right beside him.

"How pitiful..."

The Old Sword Cultivator muttered, glancing toward a corner of the cell.

Chen Changsheng followed his gaze. Crouched in that corner was a person—or rather, not a person, but a soul, a departed spirit.

A recently deceased ghost.

Sensing their gaze, Zhang Baoyi immediately looked up.

But when he met their eyes, the two quickly looked away, acting as if they hadn't been watching him at all.

Zhang Baoyi froze for a second, then hurriedly approached.

"You can see me?"

"Can you see me?!"

Hovering around Chen Changsheng and the Old Sword Cultivator, Zhang Baoyi bombarded them with questions. He was frantic, desperately praying for an answer.

The Old Sword Cultivator rolled over and let out a yawn, ignoring him completely.

Chen Changsheng remained still, but a moment later, he suddenly turned his head to look at Zhang Baoyi.

Man and ghost locked eyes.

Zhang Baoyi's heart lurched. "You can see me! You really can see me?!"

Chen Changsheng shook his head. "It's late. Don't be so loud."

Zhang Baoyi hastily lowered his voice. "Help me. I'm begging you, help me! Please persuade Big Brother Chen. Tell him not to seek revenge—absolutely not!"

Chen Changsheng paused at those words.

"You evaded the Patrol Spirits all the way here, just for this?"

Zhang Baoyi nodded. Overwhelmed with emotion and terrified that Chen Changsheng would refuse, he dropped straight to his knees.

"I'm begging you. If my miserable life is gone, then it's gone—I can only blame my own terrible luck. But I pray that I don't drag my brothers down with me. The four of us relied on each other all the way to get where we are today. If their futures are ruined because of a dead man like me, how can I ever rest in peace?"

Chen Changsheng smacked his lips. "Even if you aren't at peace, someone will put you at peace. You are now separated by yin and yang; it's best you interfere as little as possible."

Anxiety gripped Zhang Baoyi's heart. He was already on his knees, yet it was still useless.

"My Lord!!"

"I'm begging you."

But Chen Changsheng merely said, "Wait until the final verdict comes down. They still haven't caught the culprit. It was too chaotic at the time—did you clearly see who drew the knife on you?"

Zhang Baoyi stared blankly. "I don't know. I didn't see anything clearly. I didn't even feel it when the blade went in. I only realized it a moment later, and by the time I looked, the person was gone."

He opened his mouth, his memory of the event completely hazy.

He sighed, at a loss for words.

Amidst the chaos, he hadn't even gotten a clear look at his murderer.

"Then wait," Chen Changsheng said.

This matter definitely wouldn't be delayed. Tomorrow was the enthronement ceremony. With such an incident occurring the night before, the officials had no choice but to work overtime to resolve it. Xu Ye and that group of soldiers were still here; after all, they were also on the list of military officers set to receive titles.

Before long, guards arrived and summoned several people for interrogation in succession.

Chen Changsheng and Zhang Baoyi glanced outward from time to time.

Zhang Baoyi watched the men walk out one by one, staring at their faces, trying to recall the moment.

"This one?"

"Not this person."

"No."

"Not this one either."

"Not him."

After several men were taken out in a row, another person was summoned.

"Tang Xun, come out."

When this man named Tang Xun emerged...

Zhang Baoyi got a clear look at his face and said, somewhat uncertainly, "I think... it's this person."

Chen Changsheng cast a sidelong glance at him. "Are you sure?"

Zhang Baoyi shook his head. "I'm not sure. But he was the closest to me at the time. It's highly likely it was him."

He paused for a moment, then told Chen Changsheng beside him, "I—I'll go out and take a look."

Chen Changsheng nodded. "Go if you want to. This Chen isn't in charge of you."

"Mhm."

With a quick sound of agreement, Zhang Baoyi walked straight through the cell bars, following Tang Xun and the bailiffs toward the interrogation hall.

Once Zhang Baoyi was gone, the Old Sword Cultivator rolled over, looked at Chen Changsheng, and said, "You really know how to beat around the bush, don't you?"

Chen Changsheng shook his head but didn't say a word.

The Old Sword Cultivator scoffed. "The moment your lips twitch, I know exactly what you're thinking. You think I don't understand a damn thing, don't you!"

Chen Changsheng glanced at him and nodded.

The Old Sword Cultivator rolled his eyes. "I can't be bothered with you."

With that, he climbed to his feet.

Chen Changsheng asked, "What? Can't stand staying here anymore?"

"What do you think?" the Old Sword Cultivator said. "This place is boring as hell. Things are just getting lively outside. I might as well go have some fun."

"The only fun you know is the fun at night."

"You don't know shit."

Hearing this, Chen Changsheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He simply waved his hand. "Go on, go on. This Chen was just worrying about having nowhere to sleep. This place is quite nice, and peaceful too."

The Old Sword Cultivator cast a glance around the cell. "Well, I don't have the fortune to enjoy it."

Plucking a single strand of hair from his head, he blew on it, transforming it into an exact clone of himself. The replica lay on the hay as if sound asleep, while he himself swaggered right out through the cell window.

With the Old Sword Cultivator gone, Chen Changsheng's ears were finally at peace.

He narrowed his eyes and took a nap.

But he hadn't rested for long before Zhang Baoyi returned.

He was accompanied by frantic shouting.

"My Lord, save me! Save me! I can't leave yet! I just can't!"

Zhang Baoyi rushed into the cell and darted to Chen Changsheng's side.

Chen Changsheng opened his eyes and saw two underworld deputies stepping into the cell.

The underworld deputies wore gloomy expressions. Stopping in front of Chen Changsheng, they declared, "We are the Night Patrol serving under the Shangjing City God Lord. Zhang Baoyi, you no longer belong to the world of the living. We have come specifically to escort you to the Netherworld Bureau for Reincarnation. Do not stubbornly resist!"

Seeing this, Chen Changsheng sealed the surrounding sounds.

He then spoke to Zhang Baoyi, "The cycle of life and death has its own logic. Go with the underworld deputies."

Zhang Baoyi shook his head. "My Lord, Big Brother Chen, he... I still can't leave."

Chen Changsheng said, "I will help you look after your three brothers."

Zhang Baoyi calmed down slightly. He looked at Chen Changsheng and asked, "You aren't lying to me, My Lord?"

"I won't lie to you."