Chapter 119: Truth and Reality

Chapter 119: Truth and Reality

To those unaware of the situation, Gao Zhiting's request seemed a little odd.

However, not a single person present found it strange.

Lu Heng smiled, indulging his request. He stood up, extended his left hand, covered his mouth from behind, and then raised his right hand, mimicking the action of inserting a needle into his neck:

"Is that so?"

In that instant, Gao Zhiting's pupils contracted sharply, as the sensation was too familiar.

His heart pounded, and he panted heavily, "It's you, isn't it?"

Lu Heng laughed and sat back down in his chair. He turned to Chen Lianian and said, "Does your apprentice also rely on intuition when handling cases? Did you teach him that?"

Chen Lianian's expression returned to calmness as he replied, "My intuition is rarely wrong."

Lu Heng teased, "Unfortunately, intuition can't be used as evidence."

In truth, Chen Lianian already understood what had transpired.

This was a dispute between two powers, and it was difficult to discern who was right and who was wrong.

First, Lin Zeyu was attacked and nearly killed.

Everyone knew that this was the doing of the Asia-Pacific Regional President of the Springtop Group, Kenji Kino, but there was no evidence.

Until today, the Lin family had been negotiating with Kenji Kino, but without any results.

Today's incident was clearly Lin Zeyu's counterattack.

From a basic moral standpoint, Kenji Kino had taken the first step by resorting to violence, and he should bear the primary responsibility for the conflict between the two families.

However, he was not dead.

And the law never follows common sense; it only considers evidence.

In other words, if the Ironblood could find evidence that Lu Heng and Lin Zeyu had assassinated Kenji Kino, the case would undoubtedly be pursued.

Reality is not like movies and TV shows; justice and the law do not always align.

Moreover, Kenji Kino's identity was highly sensitive, making the situation extremely complex.

When faced with complexity, the best approach is to—cut through the chaos with swift action.

That's precisely what Lu Heng did; he resolved the issue with a single move, leaving the rest of the trouble for others to deal with.

...

Chen Lianian didn't obtain any useful information, so he bid farewell and left.

Lin Zeyu saw him out and, at the door, handed him a business card with a smile, saying, "Inspector Chen, if it's just an old friend having a drink and a chat, you're always welcome. But if it's about the case, please contact my lawyer directly."

Chen Lianian sighed and, after hesitating for a while, said, "Tsukasa Hideyoshi is the successor of the Kashima Shindo Swordsmanship School in Japan. Now that he's dead in Haibin, things won't be that simple. You should take care of yourselves."

Lin Zeyu, unperturbed, replied, "I was forced into this. I got shot, and it's been so many days, yet no one has told me how the investigation is going. I hope that when Inspector Chen investigates, he won't be biased."

Chen Lianian didn't say anything else. He pocketed the business card and turned to enter the elevator.

...

On the road.

Gao Zhiting drove in silence, not uttering a word.

Chen Lianian was curious and asked, "Why aren't you talking? When the suspect pretended to be you, you didn't say a word either."

"It's him!" Gao Zhiting blurted out.

"And then?"

"There's no 'and then'," Gao Zhiting sighed heavily.

"Weren't you the most persistent one? You always said that once you found a clue, you'd investigate to the end." Chen Lianian smiled teasingly.

"Master, you know who it is, don't you?" Gao Zhiting countered.

"The world has never lacked secrets that everyone knows. It was like that before, and it's like that now."

"Then what should I do?" Gao Zhiting asked, sounding a bit helpless.

"What do you want to do?"

"I don't know. I suddenly don't want to investigate anymore."

"Why?"

"There's no reason. I just don't want to investigate anymore. Kenji Kino sent people to kill, but he ended up getting killed instead..."

Gao Zhiting pulled over to the side of the road and turned to face Chen Lianian, saying angrily,

"Does being hunted down by Kenji Kino's men mean we can't fight back? If we can't find evidence that Kenji Kino hired assassins, does that mean he can get away with it forever?"

Chen Lianian shook his head and smiled, "Yes, as long as there's no evidence, he can get away with it forever. Welcome to the real world."

Gao Zhiting was taken aback for a moment, and in that instant, he couldn't even distinguish who his master was referring to.

After a while, Gao Zhiting asked, "But they found Lu Heng's fingerprints and skin tissue in Kenji Kino's courtyard."

"So what?"

"That proves he was there, and he might have killed everyone there."

"When facing a group of people with illegal firearms, you have the right to self-defense. Even if he admits to killing them, what can be done?" Chen Lianian had already anticipated the outcome of the investigation.

In truth, after observing the scene at Kenji Kino's mansion, Chen Lianian could already piece together the general sequence of events in his mind.

It was indeed a trap set by Kenji Kino.

However, Kenji Kino had kicked the iron plate.

If the one who died was not Kenji Kino but the person he had harmed, the outcome would have been different.

In that case, the law enforcement team wouldn't have been able to enter Kenji Kino's mansion to investigate.

...

Jinxiu Yongjing.

After seeing Chen Lianian and his apprentice off, Lin Zeyu returned and said, "Before he left, Inspector Chen told me that Tsukasa Hideyoshi is the successor of the Kashima Shindo Swordsmanship School in Japan, and that things won't be that simple."

In his previous life, Lu Heng had heard about the Ryugaku Shindo Swordsmanship from Japan. It was a powerful force during the Abyssal Descent era.

After the Abyssal Descent, the four islands of Japan were divided into four factions, and the Ryugaku Shindo played a significant role in this division.

Ryugaku Shindo was actually a derivative school of the original Shinto Katori Shindo.

The Ryugaku Shindo sword saint was a leading figure in this new school and became famous in later generations, known for his peak combat strength.

Lu Heng wasn't sure about the relationship between Hideyoshi Tsutsugawa and the Ryugaku Shindo sword saint, but even if this world-renowned sword saint came looking for trouble, Lu Heng was ready to fight.

In this new life, he aimed to be the strongest.

Therefore, no matter who came, he was ready for a battle.

...

Lu Heng took out the Mental Resistance Ring and slowly twisted it onto his finger. Then, he retrieved the famous Fushimi-tora no giri.

This Fushimi-tora no giri was the katana used by Hideyoshi Tsutsugawa, and it had already undergone Abyssal Rule Assimilation.

Fushimi-tora no giri +6 (Assimilated)



Item Level: B

Specifications: Length 121 cm, Blade Width 3.2 cm, Weight 1.5 kg

Attribute: Attack Power 200

Effect: Sharpened Blade

Evaluation: A weapon forged with the Sanmai-Hicho steel technique, extremely sharp.

This weapon was also B-level, the same as the Aurora Blade.

Previously, when the Aurora Blade was C-level, it was tempered with the B-level Crimson Blood Sword, allowing it to reach B-level.

Now, this B-level Fushimi-tora no giri could also be used as tempering material.

However, being only B-level, using it as material to temper the Aurora Blade wouldn't raise it to A-level.

So, Lu Heng put it away for the time being, planning to forge it later when he had gathered more forging materials.

Alternatively, if the price was right, he could consider selling it.

However, being a famous Japanese blade known to be Hideyoshi Tsutsugawa's weapon, selling it would be complicated.

He decided to wait until he had enough materials to use it for upgrading the Aurora Blade.

Lu Heng held the Fushimi-tora no giri and demonstrated a few sword techniques.

Lin Zeyu, curious, asked, "Is that Hideyoshi Tsutsugawa's sword? Let me see."

He reached out to take it.

"Stop! You, with your gun hand, dare to touch this sword?" Lu Heng glared at him.

"Hey! I'm not having it this time," Lin Zeyu said, getting serious.

Lu Heng was just joking, and he casually handed it over, saying, "A famous Japanese blade like this, if sent to a Japanese auction, would probably fetch a sky-high price."

It would indeed fetch a sky-high price, and its Tempering Level had already reached 6.

Lu Heng estimated that this sword was likely a work of the 'Tempering Master' He Shangyong, tempered in the Abyssal World.

Lin Zeyu, holding the Fushimi-tora no giri, exclaimed, "Tempering Level 6, and it has an effect too! This sword is pretty fierce."

As time passed since the Abyssal Descent, the number of Tempering Masters appearing worldwide would gradually increase.

Not only that, but there would also be the emergence of secondary professions like Forgers.

Major powers, as long as they were willing to spend, would gradually acquire more weapons with effects.

Lin Zeyu clenched his fist and said, "No way, I think our dual-effect weapon is losing its overwhelming advantage. We must continue upgrading."

"Can you still acquire Tempering materials?" Lu Heng asked.

"It's difficult. The price of Tempering materials changes daily, rising more dramatically than Bitcoin," Lin Zeyu complained.

Not just Tempering materials, but Soul Infusion materials were also experiencing a price surge.

This was an expected development.

As the demand for weapon tempering among Energics increased, the price of Tempering materials would skyrocket.

Moreover, with other Energics now able to enter the Tempering Castle, more and more Energics would seek Gulu for tempering.

However, the opening times of the Tempering Castle were uncertain, all depending on fate.

It mainly depended on Gulu's mood; whenever Gulu wanted to invite Energics to the Tempering Castle to enjoy delicious food, that's when the castle would open.

Additionally, ordinary Energics seeking Gulu for tempering could only get their weapons tempered; the idea of taking on tempering orders was basically impossible.

The 'Tempering Master' He Shangyong, having failed the tempering assessment, had lost his qualification to temper in the Tempering Castle.

So, currently, the only one capable of taking tempering orders remained Lu Heng.

Lu Heng started considering an idea, "Why not have the B-side pay tempering fees with Tempering materials, and in exchange, we can slightly increase the guaranteed success rate."

Lin Zeyu's eyes lit up, saying, "I think this method is feasible. How much can we raise the guaranteed success rate?"

Lu Heng thought for a moment and replied, "I personally believe 80% is achievable, but we should leave some margin."

Lin Zeyu clapped and said, "Then 75%. This guaranteed success rate will scare off other Tempering Masters."

The guaranteed success rate required Tempering materials to make up for any shortfalls.

If a tempering attempt failed and the success rate dropped below 75%, they would have to pay out of pocket to make up for the lost Tempering level.

Of course, with more tempering attempts, the overall success rate would be sufficient.

Lu Heng's current tempering success rate was stable at around 85%, so offering a 75% guaranteed success rate wasn't a problem.

...

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end