I Want Dignity

Xiao Zhengong, with a white shirt draped over his left hand, pushed open the door to the ward and first looked at He Jiaqing lying on the bed.

"Dark Star Bureau is investigating a case, get out!" Xiao Zhengong turned to look at He Haisheng, who was smoking.

He Haisheng exhaled a puff of smoke, which lingered on Xiao Zhengong's face for a moment.

Xiao Zhengong took out a lighter from his pocket and lit a cigarette. He spun the lighter between his fingers twice, as if it were about to fly towards He Haisheng at any moment.

He Haisheng raised his hands. "Team Leader Xiao, don't be impulsive, be careful not to go too far. If you want to investigate the case, I'll leave."

After saying that, He Haisheng left the ward.

Xiao Zhengong closed the door to the ward and looked at He Jiaqing lying on the bed.

"Let's get started, senior brother," the clothes said.

"I'm not sure if this is He Jiaqing," Xiao Zhengong hesitantly.

"Regardless of whether it is true or not, it's better to kill the innocent than to let the guilty go free."

Xiao Zhengong remained on guard, keeping a distance of more than a meter from He Jiaqing on the bed.

If this person really is He Jiaqing, he might jump up and fight Xiao Zhengong to the death at any time.

When Travel Cultivator fight to the death, the outcome is unpredictable. If their cultivation levels are equal, the martial artist has the advantage. But what if He Jiaqing's cultivation level is higher than his?

After observing for a while, the person on the bed remained motionless, with only beads of sweat sliding down his cheeks.

"Kill him, senior brother. Killing the wrong person won't cost you anything."

It's impossible to avoid losses.

Although Xiao Zhengong is Balance Person, there are some things he can't go too far with. The bureau takes He Jiaqing very seriously. Killing him is not something that can be explained away with just a report. It might even force Xiao Zhengong to use the Balance Seal.

The cost of the Balance Seal is too high, and Xiao Zhengong doesn't want to go to that point unless absolutely necessary.

Hesitating for a moment, Xiao Zhengong suddenly looked towards the door.

Through the door, he felt a pair of eyes watching him.

Xiao Zhengong walked to the door, opened it, and saw Team Leader Chen Changrui, wearing a jacket, smoking a cigarette, standing smiling at the door.

"Team Leader Chen, when did you arrive?"

"Just arrived," Chen Changrui said with a chuckle, taking a drag of his cigarette. "I heard you were investigating a case, so I didn't want to bother you. Go ahead and investigate; we'll talk after you're done."

Xiao Zhengong looked at Chen Changrui, his cheeks twitching repeatedly.

Chen Changrui glanced at He Jiaqing on the bed and gestured for Xiao Zhengong to proceed.

It was as if he was telling Xiao Zhengong that he could kill He Jiaqing at any time.

You old fool, you've been waiting for me to take action!

Xiao Zhengong put the lighter in his pocket and left the ward.

Once in the car, the White Clothes couldn't help but ask, "Senior brother, what are you so afraid of him for? That old man's cultivation level shouldn't be lower than yours, right?"

"This isn't a matter of cultivation level," Xiao Zhengong started the car. "If I were to lay a hand on He Jiaqing in front of Chen Changrui, I might be transferred out of the Public Security Team."

"Why do you insist on staying in the Public Security Team? With your status, there are plenty of better places you could choose."

"You wouldn't understand even if I explained," Xiao Zhengong said, stepping on the gas and driving out of the parking lot. "The Public Security Team is the best place!"

"Senior brother, if you're so timid and hesitant, you're unlikely to be able to complete the task assigned by Master."

Halfway there, Xiao Zhengong suddenly slammed on the brakes, nearly causing a rear-end collision.

The White Clothes didn't understand what Xiao Zhengong meant, but he heard Xiao Zhengong mutter to himself, "Something's not right, this isn't right."

"What's wrong?"

Why was he smoking just now?

"You mean Chen Changrui? I remember you said he was an Old Smoke Cannon."

"I feel like something's not right..." Xiao Zhengong rubbed his forehead, trying to recall Chen Changrui's habits.

My phone suddenly buzzed; it was a message from the bureau about a mission.

"A suspected mutated creature has appeared in the Baihe Road Huichi Community in Tulou Village. All team members, please rush to the scene immediately."

Chen Changrui's voice?

Where exactly is Chen Changrui?

Xiao Zhengong started the car; he wanted to go back to the hospital.

The White Clothes said from the back seat, "Senior Brother Xiao, you should have made this decision a long time ago!"

Xiao Zhengong turned the steering wheel halfway but did not turn around.

He always felt that someone had set him up.

"Chen Changrui is trying to force me out. That old bastard is playing this trick on me. I'll see who leaves today..." Xiao Zhengong muttered to himself before driving to Tulou Village.

"Chen Changrui" stood at the door of the ward for a while, then turned and went to the bathroom at the end of the corridor.

A short while later, "He Haisheng" came out of the bathroom, still wearing a suit.

Both the previous "Chen Changrui" and the current "He Haisheng" are played by He Jiaqing in disguise. Even the clothes he wears are created using acting skills.

He Jiaqing sat down next to He Haisheng.

After a moment's thought, he used two fingers to make a snip on He Haisheng's forehead, as if he had cut a thread.

He Haisheng suddenly sat up in bed and grabbed He Jiaqing by the collar. "You beast!"

He Haisheng was able to move again, and He Jiaqing released the Binding Cultivator techniques from his body.

"Third Uncle, please listen to me first..."

"What are you talking about? I'll fucking kill you..."

Footsteps suddenly came from outside the door; the doctor on rounds had arrived.

After a moment's consideration, He Haisheng lay down on the bed and continued to impersonate He Jiaqing.

There are some things he doesn't want outsiders to know.

He Jiaqing straightened his clothes and watched the doctor enter the ward.

The doctor sniffed and frowned, saying, "You're smoking in the ward again? Do you know the hospital rules? Have you ever considered the patients' needs? Look at the quality of your behavior..."

The new doctor didn't seem to be very familiar with He Haisheng, nor did he seem to know much about the He Family's status and position.

After completing the routine questioning and examination, He Jiaqing, with a beaming smile, saw the doctor out.

Indeed, no one would disturb them for a while. He Haisheng sat up and grabbed He Jiaqing's collar again. "You beast, what exactly is going on? Explain yourself!"

He Jiaqing smiled and said, "Do I need to explain this? I want to live with dignity, but I'm not dignified right now."

"You saw it yourself, that doctor just now, ordering me around like that. Did you think I dare say a word?"

"That's the rule in the hospital; smoking isn't allowed here. I'm going downstairs too!"

"Xiao Zhengong just tried to kill me, right here in this hospital room? Is that part of the hospital's policy?"

He Haisheng remained silent.

"I impersonated Chen Changrui, so Xiao Zhengong didn't dare to kill me. My life was in the hands of two Outer State, and my life or death was up to Outer State."

He Haisheng paused for a moment and then said, "Xiao Zhengong is from Pro State."

"I know he's from Pro State and he's the Gang Leader of the Jiang Xiang Gang. Given his status in Pro State, would he dare to touch me?"

He dares to kill me now because he has another identity in Outer State: he's the deputy Team Leader of the Dark Star Bureau's Public Security Brigade! As long as he has an identity in Outer State, he dares to kill me anytime, anywhere.

"Since you're willing to stay in Outer State, you have to abide by the rules of Outer State."

He Jiaqing laughed, "Third Uncle, you've been in Outer State for too long, so you also like to tell lame jokes about people from Outer State."

"This is no joke..."

"That's a joke. Ask the Guanfang Envoy from Outer State if they follow the rules in Pro State. Do they even care about the rules in Pro State?"

He Haisheng pursed his lips and said, "If you don't want to stay in Outer State, go back to Pro State. If you go back to Pro State, you'll still be the eldest young master of the He Family, and you won't have to put up with this!"

"You're saying we don't have to put up with this? Third Uncle, your jokes are getting more and more interesting. How did the head of the Chu family die?"

"He died while reclaiming wasteland with the Lu Family..." He Haisheng's voice was a little soft.

"Third Uncle, you can lie to me however you want, but can you lie to yourself?"

The head of the Chu family died at the hands of the Guanfang Envoy; you witnessed this yourself.

Since then, you've never wanted to go back to Pro State. Do you think I didn't know?

He Haisheng rubbed his forehead, his thoughts reeling from past events.

He Jiaqing sighed and said, "What do you mean by the Four Great Families? In the eyes of the Guanfang Envoy, they're just four dogs."

"Living as dogs for Outer State, even if you reach the Tenth Layer of cultivation, you'll still be dogs for Inner State after you die. Are the lives of people from Pro State really that cheap?"

He Haisheng took the cigarette case from He Jiaqing, pulled out a cigarette, and put it in his mouth.

After smoking a cigarette, He Haisheng calmed down a bit and asked, "What exactly do you want to do?"

He Jiaqing said, "As I just said, I want to live with dignity, and I want the people of Pro State to live with dignity."

He Haisheng lit another cigarette. "My older sister came to visit me in the hospital before..."

"Third Uncle, Aunt came to see me."

He Haisheng slapped He Jiaqing on the head. "You still dare to bring this up! Do you think I want to lie here for you?"

The eldest sister said, "My eldest brother suddenly left, and even the Nightmare Cultivator couldn't bring him back. Could it be that he went to the Tenth Layer and went to the Inner State?"

He Jiaqing answered truthfully, "I gave my dad so many pills, it's definitely enough for him to go up to the Tenth Layer."

"How dare you, you brat..."

"Third Uncle, this is my father's wish. I'm helping him. He doesn't want to be a dog for Outer State anymore."

He Haisheng took a deep drag of his cigarette and said, "My eldest sister manages all the family business. She's not good at business. Go back home when you have time and see what's going on."

He Jiaqing shook his head and said, "I'm not going back. I haven't finished things here yet."

He Haisheng retorted angrily, "You should at least ask someone about this! It's our family business!"

He Jiaqing contacted Duan Shuqun, and it turned out that the He Family's business had indeed run into trouble.

He Yuxiu was drinking in the mansion when her accountant Sheng Shanzhou, sighed, "Miss, the goods from Black Ear Mountain are still not being released by the Outer State."

You should have listened to me on this matter; you shouldn't have shortchanged the Guanfang Envoy's Bonus Money back then.

He Yuxiu angrily said, "The business lost money, and you still expect me to pay him the full amount? Giving him half is already generous! He didn't skimp on the high freight fees!"

"The shipping costs are paid by the company, Bonus Money is their own responsibility. Regardless of whether they make a profit or loss, we have to pay them the full amount..."

"Bullshit! If it weren't for his meddling, we wouldn't have lost money on this deal. How do you even account for this?" He Yuxiu smashed her wine glass to pieces.

He Haiqin's legal wife, Yan Yulin, heard the commotion and came out of the bedroom. "Yu Xiu, what are you doing? Why are you getting angry with your own family?"

Sheng Shanzhou also felt wronged and lowered his head without speaking. He Yuxiu sighed and said, "I'm not talking to you, I really can't stand those bastards from Outer State. What do you suggest we do about this?"

Sheng Shanzhou had served He Haiqin for many years and still had some influence with the Guanfang Envoy: "Miss, I'll try to arrange Guanfang Envoy for a meal. We'll make up the money, and you can apologize to him. That way, the matter will be over."

"Should I apologize to him?" He Yuxiu asked anxiously.

Sheng Shanzhou also got anxious. "Miss, we're doing business. Everyone suffers some grievances. The master didn't tell you before, but he suffered a lot of grievances!"

"You can't be so stubborn. It's because you were disrespectful to the Guanfang Envoy that they're making trouble for us everywhere!"

He Yuxiu stood up and said, "Go find whoever you want, I'm done!"

Yan Yulin quickly stepped forward and pulled He Yuxiu back. "Yu Xiu, you can't do this. The family is counting on you. You can't say such hurtful things..."

Duan Shuqun told He Jiaqing the news, including business matters and another matter.

Jiang Xiang Gang is in trouble.

He Jiaqing looked at He Haisheng and said, "Third Uncle, two of Jiang Xiang Gang's gangs have been wiped out."

He Haisheng was shocked. "You did this?"

He Jiaqing became anxious. "How could I have done it? I've been in Yuezhou all this time."

He Haisheng was startled again. "You sent people to do this?"

He Jiaqing was both amused and exasperated. "Third Uncle, why are you so sure it's me?"

"If you didn't do it, why would Xiao Zhengong want to kill you?"

"What kind of logic is this..." He Jiaqing didn't know how to explain it.

He had many grudges with Xiao Zhengong, and there were some things he couldn't tell He Haisheng yet.

He Haisheng sat silently for a moment and then said, "We can't stay in the hospital. You go first, and I'll find a way to get out of here."

PS: Chen Changrui never smokes in the hospital; this plot point first appears in Chapter 4.