Jiang Che was suddenly reminded of his past life, a world where everyone could freely express themselves, and he was overco with nostalgia.
What’s the big deal about n wearing dresses? Or niche subcultures?
He had seen people with far more bizarre mindsets.
But it all ca back to that one saying.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
Defending the rights of others was, in essence, defending your own.
Because no one could guarantee that they would always be on the side of the majority, at all tis and in all things.
Li Hanchuan stared at Jiang Che for a long ti, as if trying to read sothing in his expression.
But Jiang Che remained unmoved.
He wasn’t afraid of Li Hanchuan.
Because the On hadn’t stirred in the slightest.
This ant Li Hanchuan’s "anger" was just an act.
Sure enough, the stern look on Li Hanchuan’s face softened slightly.
"You’re an interesting one, kid."
He walked back, sat down in his chair, and resud his embroidery.
He started humming a little tune, seemingly in a good mood.
Li Rushan was utterly shocked.
This Gang Leader’s moods were always unpredictable. Within the gang, a single word from him could decide life or death.
When he was ruthless, he spared no one and killed decisively.
Everyone in the gang spoke to him with trepidation, terrified they might accidentally displease him.
Yet unexpectedly, after this kid Jiang Che had been so confrontational, the Gang Leader wasn’t even angry?
"Out with it. What’s the matter?" Li Hanchuan said, still embroidering.
Li Rushan quickly recounted how he and Jiang Che had been ambushed by assassins from the Blood Spirit Sect.
Jiang Che then added his own speculations about Li Yuanwai’s Mansion.
However, he slightly altered the story of how he defeated Sacrificial Envoy Li.
He changed it to say that he and the mysterious senior, the Black Armored Martial Artist, had killed Sacrificial Envoy Li together.
This also provided a logical explanation for why the mysterious Black Armored Martial Artist might intervene again later.
After all, having just run into trouble, it made sense that the protector would remain concerned and continue to watch over them for a while.
As for the Black Armored Martial Artist, Gang Leader Li Hanchuan didn’t seem to pay him much mind.
Li Rushan, standing to the side, didn’t ask any questions either.
This allowed Jiang Che to breathe a sigh of relief.
After hearing their story, Li Hanchuan nodded and said,
"It seems Li Yuanwai’s Mansion is very likely a branch of the Blood Spirit Sect..."
He clapped his hands and spoke to the empty air:
"Shadow Owl, co out. It’s ti to get to work."
The words had barely left his lips when a figure erged from the shadows, wearing a black, ghost-faced helt and a black cloak.
This person moved without a sound, and their body showed no fluctuations of Qi Blood. They seed less like a True Master and more like a sliver of shadow.
"Go to Hengsha City. Investigate Li Yuanwai’s Mansion and see what the situation is,"
Li Hanchuan said flatly.
"Yes, Gang Leader!"
The person’s voice was androgynous, making it impossible to tell if they were a young man or a woman.
With that said, the figure instantly lted back into the shadows and vanished without a trace!
"Fellow Jiang, rest assured. If your parents are truly there, Shadow Owl will get to the bottom of it," Li Hanchuan said to Jiang Che with a smile.
"Thank you, Gang Leader!" Jiang Che felt a stir of excitent. There was finally progress on this matter.
Deep down, he knew that if his parents were really there, so much ti had passed that they had likely already t with misfortune.
But this matter had now beco an obsession.
No matter what, he had to see it through to the end, to give his parents and sister so semblance of closure.
And to give himself closure as well.
’If the Blood Spirit Sect is truly responsible...
’Then this will be a war to the death between and them. I won’t be able to quell my rage until I have utterly eradicated them!’
Seeing that their business was concluded, Li Hanchuan turned his back again and continued his embroidery.
"Since there is nothing else, this subordinate will take his leave!"
Seeing the Gang Leader’s posture, Li Rushan understood they were being dismissed and spoke up.
"Then this junior will also take his leave!" Jiang Che added.
With his back still to them, Li Hanchuan gave a wave of his hand in acknowledgnt.
After the two left the elegant courtyard, Li Rushan noticed Jiang Che’s silence and said with a smile,
"Don’t worry, Shadow Owl will definitely get to the bottom of it."
Jiang Che asked, sowhat curious,
"Who is that senior nad Shadow Owl? They seem very mysterious."
"To be honest, I don’t know much either." Li Rushan shook his head.
"Ever since I’ve known the Gang Leader, that person has been by his side, like his shadow. They’ve never shown their true face and rarely even speak. We Elders don’t know much about them either.
"One thing is for certain, though: they are extrely powerful. Their movents are ghostly and silent. Not even we Elders can see through them."
Jiang Che nodded. ’If they’re that skilled, they should be able to uncover the truth.’
Li Rushan continued,
"Right, you scared to death earlier, kid, talking to the Gang Leader like that! But the strange thing is, he wasn’t angry at all."
"I think the Gang Leader is quite reasonable. Aren’t you exaggerating a bit?" Jiang Che laughed.
"You... you just haven’t seen him when his expression changes..." Li Rushan shook his head, as if recalling sothing unpleasant.
Jiang Che just smiled and said nothing.
In truth, he felt he understood the Gang Leader’s mindset a little.
Everyone was too afraid of him to contradict him to his face.
But he could see that they only feared him; not a single one of them truly understood or accepted him.
But Jiang Che was different.
Though he had seed sowhat offensive,
he had shown genuine understanding and acceptance of the man’s unconventional behavior.
Everyone, being human, longs to be understood.
...
...
...
「In a small grove within the city.」
Red Tiger and Lotus stared wordlessly at the corpse on the ground, which was smashed beyond recognition.
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