Chapter 504: I Will Obey Any Demand Unconditionally
Besides, while Arhat may have come to his senses before death, that didn’t change the fact that his actions were those of a traitor.
Was he worth Jiang Xinghai’s intervention?
’Even if I saved him, he would still die within seven days at most. Besides, he has already resolved to die. Saving him would only make him feel more guilt. There’s no need.’
Jiang Xinghai glanced at Arhat and ultimately abandoned the idea.
If Arhat hadn’t been so cooperative, recounting everything he wanted to know, Jiang Xinghai wouldn’t have even given him a second glance.
He rose and picked up the sandalwood box. "Since he had a moment of clarity before his death, have the items in this room preserved and sent back to the Dragon Country. When the time is right, they can be handed over to his family."
With that, he turned and left.
Nightingale nodded, assigned the task to two of her subordinates, then followed after Jiang Xinghai.
"Young Master Jiang, since this matter is settled, I should return to the Dragon Country," Nightingale said. "As for the matter of Mirror Lake Manor, I will begin investigating as soon as I’m back. I hope to have a complete answer for you by the time you return."
This was in line with Zhong Yunman’s prior instruction to her: to assist Jiang Xinghai with everything she had.
Jiang Xinghai considered for a moment. ’Handing the search for Mirror Lake Manor over to the War Department would be much more convenient.’ "Alright," he said. "Start the investigation in Shanghai. Try not to alert the public; just investigate the clues secretly. After I deal with those fraudsters, I’ll return to the Dragon Country and go to Shanhe Province to conduct a simultaneous investigation."
After all, his parents had disappeared from Shanhe Province all those years ago.
Nightingale in Shanghai, he in Shanhe Province, sharing information with each other.
After he returned to Shanhe Province and dealt with the Sun and Wei Families, he would still need to make a trip to Shanghai.
As for Mr. Long of the Black Cloak in the Imperial City, and his uncle Ji Xiao—a man he’d never met but with whom he shared a deep-seated hatred!
He could only put them aside for now!
"Young Master Jiang, are you sure you don’t want me to accompany you?" Nightingale still wanted to go with Jiang Xinghai to Jing County.
"I’m sure. It’s not appropriate for the Dragon Country’s War Department to operate here. I’m going to look for my Third Senior Sister’s Celestial Net Mercenary Corps."
Jiang Xinghai placed the sandalwood box into his shoulder bag and bid Nightingale farewell.
"Young Master Jiang, there’s one more thing..."
Nightingale suddenly hurried after Jiang Xinghai to walk beside him, her face gradually turning crimson.
"Is there something else?" Jiang Xinghai narrowed his eyes, looking at the bashful Nightingale before him.
"If you... if you have any needs—and I mean *any* kind of need—I can obey unconditionally." Nightingale’s head sank lower and lower, leaving one to imagine her bashful expression.
"Then listen to me: go back to the Dragon Country," Jiang Xinghai said, slightly taken aback.
He knew, of course, what she meant by "any kind of need." The feeling gave him a strange sense of excitement.
’But is this Nightingale’s own idea? Or is it an order from my Second Senior Sister, Zhong Yunman?’
Regardless of whose decision it was, he had no reason to get involved with a woman he had just met.
"Fine. The next time we meet back in the Dragon Country, I’ll be at your beck and call," Nightingale said before turning and walking away.
Jiang Xinghai was left speechless as a peculiar feeling stirred within him.
He realized that Nightingale’s beauty wasn’t just in her delicate features, but also in her shy, sincere, and yet resolute demeanor.
And with that, Jiang Xinghai followed the map and quickly vanished from Daning Village.
He had already communicated with Jin Lin, one of his Third Senior Sister’s people, who had told him they would rendezvous at a small town to the southeast called Mangping.
As he traveled, his thoughts dwelled on everything Arhat had recounted, his expression a mixture of sorrow and rage.
Five years!
His parents had fallen into the hands of Mirror Lake Manor. After five years, were they even still alive?
There was no way to know!
"Mirror Lake Manor!"
Jiang Xinghai’s features twisted into a savage mask.
No matter how extraordinary this Mirror Lake Manor was, he would crush it underfoot!
He traveled through the mountain forest for an hour and a half, by which time it was noon.
In the subtropical rainforest at midday, the oppressive heat felt like an invisible steam basket, making it hard to breathe.
Mosquitoes buzzed incessantly, their harassment an endless source of irritation for Jiang Xinghai.
However, Jiang Xinghai paid the insects no mind, enveloping himself in True Qi to block their bites.
The oppressive heat, however, made him feel extremely uncomfortable.
Although his cultivation had reached the Celestial Destiny Realm and he could use his True Qi to ward off the heat, the thought of his parents’ fate filled him with anxiety and agitation.
His heart felt as if it were being scorched by flames, a pain that words could not describe.
Suddenly, the sound of running water broke the surrounding tranquility.
Jiang Xinghai looked up to find a mountain stream not far away and immediately quickened his pace.
The mountain stream was about seven or eight meters wide. Though it was over two meters deep, the water was still clear to the bottom, its surface rippling gently.
He could see small fish swimming happily in the water, a sight teeming with life.
Without hesitation, Jiang Xinghai leaped into the stream, and the agitation in his heart seemed to be washed away by the clear water.
Gazing at the distant mountain peaks, his eyes glinted with a determined light.
In the distance, he saw houses built along the mountainside. ’I’ve finally reached Mangping!’