Chapter 56: Tearing Off the Facade
In the Breaking Army Legion command office, Commander Bai ZhongShan—dressed in the Empire’s high-collared officer uniform—stood before a wall map of Vermilion Pgoenix City, hands clasped behind his back.
He narrowed his eyes at the map and asked slowly, “Are you certain that the demigod Pang QingYun has appeared in our city?”
Major Hu Gang stood straight-backed, gaze steady.
“Reporting to Commander, if Chen Ning and Liew Ruyan are not lying, then the report should be true. I also noted that Liew Ruyan is a frail woman, and Chen Ning is only a Level-Three War Soldier. There’s no way either of them could kill Leng JianFeng, who is Level-Six. Their story is likely truthful.”
Bai ZhongShan frowned. “Pang QingYun hasn’t been active for years—people have almost forgotten him. Why would he suddenly show up in Vermilion Phoenix City?”
Hu Gang: “Commander, why he appeared isn’t the immediate problem—the problem is how dangerous he is. Also, demigods carry the zombie virus in their bodies. I worry his presence could spread contagion throughout the city.”
Bai ZhongShan: “Order more searches. Dig until the earth runs out—find Pang QingYun at all costs.”
“Yes, Commander.”
Hu Gang turned to leave and met Bai Yuhao and his companions at the doorway. He recognized Bai Zhongshan’s son and greeted him with proper courtesy.
Bai Yuhao, anxious, nodded briefly and ushered Su Luo and the others inside to find Bai ZhongShan.
Bai ZhongShan was surprised to see his son—Bai Yuhao should have been on his way back to the Azurebird Base.
But he wasn’t foolish; Bai ZhongShan read the urgency on his son’s face and immediately guessed why he’d come.
He remembered Bai Yuhao mentioning Chen Ning was training at Azurebird Base with him—and that the two were close. Now it was clear: Bai Yuhao had come for Chen Ning.
A mixture of annoyance and surprise rose in Bai ZhongShan. His son had always been exemplary—diligent and superior in everything—but he would now risk delaying his return to base and possible punishment just to help Chen Ning?
Bai Yuhao didn’t waste time. “Father, I—”
Bai ZhongShan cut him off coldly.
“Speak slowly. Don’t be flustered. Have your friends wait outside. I have things to discuss with you.”
Su Luo and the Luo brothers saluted and left the office to wait outside.
Bai Zhongshan glanced at his son and told him to sit.
“You delayed the trip back and came here because of Chen Ning, is that it?”
Bai Yuhao nodded.
“Father, Chen Ning is being framed. He’s from the lower level and only trained at Azurebird for four months. Even though his advancement to Level-Three was meteoric, there’s no way he killed Leng JianFeng.
And Leng JianFeng being there in the first place was suspicious—he clearly went looking for trouble. Unluckily for him, he ran into Pang QingYun.”
Bai Zhongshan’s brows tightened.
“Leng JianFeng’s status and Chen Ning’s are worlds apart—one in the heavens, one in the dirt. Why would Leng JianFeng go after Chen Ning?”
Bai Yuhao lowered his voice. “Not Leng JianFeng—Liu LuanLin, or rather the Liu family, wants revenge on Chen Ning.”
Bai Zhongshan was stunned. The revered Major General of the Verocious Wolf Legion, Liu LuanLin, would seek revenge on a lowly Phoenix Leogion soldier?
Bai Yuhao explained in hushed tones: “Liu LuanLin’s most favored concubine is Shi LiLi. She bore him a son, Liu Xi—an illegitimate child who wants to make a name for himself in the army.
Liu Xi is talented but arrogant. When he was at Azurebird Base he bullied Chen Ning and even tried to kill him during the assessment night.
Chen Ning turned the tables and killed Liu Xi—few people know the details, but the Liu family suspects Chen Ning and sees him as an enemy. Leng JianFeng’s presence was clearly ordered by Liu Luanlin to exact revenge.”
Bai Zhongshan sneered. “Shameful conduct.”
Bai Yuhao blinked, caught off guard—did his father mean Chen Ning was shameful, or did he mean the Liu family?
Bai Zhongshan clarified: “I mean Liu LuanLin. Though he rose from low status to great power, he’s narrow-minded. If his son died, of course he would seek revenge. It’s unbecoming for a man of his rank, but it fits his character.”
Only then did Bai Yuhao realize that his father’s seemingly nonsensical comment was actually an evaluation of Liu LuanLin.
The Verocious Wolf Legion and the Breaking Army Legion were the main defenders of Vermilion Phoenix City, yet Bai Zhongshan and Liu LuanLin were not on friendly terms—they looked down on each other.
Bai Yuhao seized the moment. “Father, Chen Ning is my friend—he’s full of potential. I want to help him.”
Bai ZhongShan: “If it’s a small favor, sure. But Chen Ning killed Liu Xi—Liu LuanLin will absolutely want Chen Ning dead. The Bai family won’t openly go to war with the Liu family over one man. We can’t storm the Verocious Wolf barracks to pry him loose.”
Outside, Su Luo and the others waited half an hour before Bai Yuhao emerged. They hurried over.
“Bai Yuhao, how did it go?”
Reluctance showed rarely on Bai Yuhao’s face.
“My father says Chen Ning’s situation is complicated—he can’t help.”
Su Luo and the others knew some of the truth about Chen Ning killing Liu Xi; they were terrified of what would happen if Chen Ning fell into the Liu family’s hands.
Su Luo muttered in despair, “Are we just going to stand by and watch him be taken?”
…
_______________________________________________________
Chen Ning and Liew Ruyan were taken to the Verocious Wolf base and locked in the interrogation chamber.
Both strapped into heavy restraint chairs—designed for the most dangerous military criminals, with manacles on wrists and ankles and a collar locking the neck to the chair backing so escape was impossible.
Major Liu ZuoWu, after a short report to Liu LuanLin and receiving orders, personally led the questioning.
He sat across a long table from Chen Ning and Liew Ruyan, flanked by a dozen or two armed Verocious Wolf soldiers.
He eyed Chen Ning and spoke in a businesslike tone: “A special investigative team has been formed for Major Leng’s death. I’m in charge. You two are the prime suspects. You’d best cooperate. Name?”
“Chen Ning!”
“Gender?”
“Male.”
“Identity?”
“Elite squad soldier, Azurebird Training Camp, Phoenix Legion.”
Liu ZuoWu followed procedure, recording identities and taking statements.
Both suspects stuck to the same story: Leng JianFeng was killed by Pang QingYun.
Hours passed; the interrogation wore on until 9 p.m.
There was a knock and two officers ushered in a middle-aged man—Liew Ruyan’s father, Liew Yu, the second master of the Liew family.
Liu Yu held a certain status in Vermilion Phoenix City as a wealthy merchant. The Liew family had always maintained good relations with the city’s governor, Yu WenYuan.
So when Liew Yu learned that his daughter had become entangled in the case of a murdered officer, he immediately went to seek Yu WenYuan’s help.
Yu WenYuan had already received reports from Bai ZhongShan and Liu LuanLin and was vaguely aware of Liew Ruyan’s insignificant role in this case.
He rang Liu LuanLin and instructed him not to make things difficult for Liew Ruyan unless special circumstances warranted it.
Although Liu LuanLin led the Verocious Wolf Legion, Yu WenYuan was the city’s highest authority—Liu LuanLin had to show deference and sent two aides to accompany Liew Yu to collect his daughter.
When Liew Ruyan learned her father was there to secure her release, she begged him to also secure Chen Ning’s freedom. Liew Yu was about to speak when more people entered.
Leading them was a woman bedecked in jewels and finery. She swept in and declared coldly, “This woman may be released, but that little bastard Chen Ning must die!”
The woman was Shi LiLi—the concubine of Liu LuanLin, mother of Liu Xi and sister of Shi Yu.
Her words stunned everyone. Not only did she lack the dignity of a noble, shown by using crude words the moment she entered the chamber, but she was already calling for Chen Ning’s execution before the investigation had concluded.
Major Liu ZuoWu felt embarrassed—Liu LuanLin had indeed ordered Chen Ning killed, but it was to be done with discretion, to manage the Phoenix Legion’s and public perception.
The plan was to frame the death of Major Leng on Chen Ning, then execute him—so it would not appear as blatant personal vengeance by the Liu family.
But he had not expected Madam Shi to appear and loudly demand Chen Ning’s death.
Her outburst effectively ripped off the veil of pretense—shamelessly exposing the family’s intent—and left Liu ZuoWu in an awkward position.
Join the Discussion