Conversing with Dong Chao

Long Chen returned to his house. As he stood in front of his house, he noticed that the door was open.

'…I need to remain absolutely calm. I cannot mess up at this moment,' Long Chen thought.

He soon entered the house and saw an individual seated on the couch of his living room. He was naturally Dong Chao, who had managed to escape already.

"It's good that you managed to conceal your tracks perfectly, or else I would have been captured already," Long Chen spoke while maintaining a calm countenance.

He didn't seem to care that Dong Chao was much stronger than himself.

"I did as you ordered and escaped. But how long can I hide from the Law Enforcement Officers? Eventually, they are bound to search this house and find me," Dong Chao spoke with a frosty expression.

"That's correct. But unfortunately, the search method of Law Enforcement Officers has a massive loophole. We need to take advantage of it," Long Chen spoke.

"What is that loophole?" Dong Chao asked, wondering what Long Chen meant.

"How many personnel are in the Law Enforcement Department? How many personnel are currently checking each house in Suqui Town? How many personnel are currently stationed around the borders, and what is their cultivation rank?" Long Chen inquired about these three questions.

Dong Chao's eyes widened slightly as he heard these three questions.

"I see…Most of the Law Enforcement Department is focused on capturing me, so their forces are utterly thin near the borders! Moreover, since I am a 3 Star Warrior, they must have sent their strong warriors to search the houses, so the ones stationed around the Suqui Town are probably weak. There will only be a single 3 Star Warrior in one team," Dong Chao realized what Long Chen meant by those three questions.

Long Chen remained calm as he noticed that Dong Chao understood everything without further explanation.

He went to the kitchen, asking Dong Chao, "Coffee or Tea?"

"What?" Dong Chao was startled to hear this question.

"Isn't it a tradition to offer something to the guest? So, would you prefer tea or coffee? I personally prefer coffee."

Dong Chao hadn't expected such hospitality from Long Chen, "…I will have coffee as well."

"Alright," Long Chen responded calmly.

After a few minutes, Long Chen returned to the living room while holding a white tray and two porcelain cups.

The aroma of coffee spread in the room, and Dong Chao felt a bit energized just smelling it.

It had been nearly three years since he last drank coffee. There was no such facility in the prison.

He held the coffee while gazing at Long Chen with a puzzled expression, "Why did you save me?"

Long Chen calmly sipped his coffee and spoke, "Why do you think?"

"…I don't know. Weren't you worried that I would show that slip to the guards if I were caught? It created stated this address," Dong Chao asked while enjoying the aroma of his coffee. He had yet to take a sip. He was worried that Long Chen might have added something to it.

"It wouldn't have mattered if you handed this slip to the guards or officials. They would only think that someone was framing me. After all, how can a lowly clerk know the method of removing the Anti-Ardor Bindings? They could have started keeping an eye on me, but it wouldn't have affected my life that greatly," Long Chen responded while calmly sipping his coffee.

He noticed that Dong Chao hadn't yet taken a single sip.

"Are you worried that I have mixed something in the coffee? Hmm. You are right in worrying about it. I can take a sip for you and confirm that it's absolutely safe," Long Chen spoke.

Dong Chao looked into Long Chen's eyes and saw no trace of deceit. He started drinking coffee and was surprised by its taste. It was pretty good. It wasn't too sweet or too bitter. Just the right balance, making it a perfect coffee.

"As for saving you, the reason is a bit complicated," Long Chen spoke. He noticed Dong Chao looking at him with interest and confusion.

Long Chen clarified, "I didn't exactly save you. I just planned to free someone who was a 3-Star Warrior. My only motive was to create chaos in prison. Your release happened to be a method to achieve my objective."

Dong Chao was startled to hear Long Chen's reason. He never expected to regain his freedom in return for nothing.

"…I still find it challenging to believe that I was chosen randomly out of all the 3 Star Warriors in prison. It's like I won a lottery," Dong Chao spoke with a wry smile.

Long Chen spoke, "Not really. After deciding that I had to free a 3-Star Warrior to cause chaos, I checked the background history of all the currently imprisoned 3-Star Warriors. Currently, thirty-one warriors at 3 Star Rank are imprisoned in Suqui Prison. They are imprisoned for serial killing, smuggling, fraud, rape, and other crimes."

Long Chen then focused on Dong Chao, "You were imprisoned for murder. You killed your old classmate's father, Pei Yan. However, the reason you gave for this murder was that you believed Pei Yan was responsible for the death of your parents."

Dong Chao suddenly shouted, "That bastard was the one who did it! I am sure! He even admitted it to me just before his death!"

Long Chen rolled his eyes in response, "The fact remains that you held no evidence which could prove your words."

Dong Chao clenched his fists in anger as he recalled Pei Yan.

Long Chen noticed his anger and added, "However, when I was selecting whom I should save, I instantly chose you. Do you know why? Because I believed you were telling the truth."

Dong Chao was startled upon hearing Long Chen's words.

"W-What?"

"I believe in you. I also felt that you were wronged. You had no suspicious history. And I don't believe you would kill someone on impulse if the reason wasn't good enough. Moreover, your parents' murder did seem too strange to be closed as a random act of murder. Pei Yan benefited greatly after your father died, as he inherited the entire business and kicked you out."

"…Thank you. Thank you for believing in me," Dong Chao actually had tears in his eyes as he spoke. His heart broke when no one believed his words. No one dared to speak against Pei Yan.

Actually, no one believed that Pei Yan was such a diabolical individual. He had maintained his prestige well.

Soon, the coffee was finished. Long Chen stared in Dong Chao's direction and asked, "You want a refill?"

"No."

Long Chen picked up the tray and carried these two cups to the sink.

"…What do you want me to do? I can never forget this grace," Dong Chao spoke while wiping his tears.

"Well, you need to get away from the Suqui Town. Maybe go to the cities in the north. Nobody should recognize you there and you can start from scratch. You are a 3 Star Warrior. I don't think it will take much time for you to get a job and live properly."

"En," Dong Chao grunted in response.

"I will help you get out of the Suqui Town tomorrow morning. For now, you can get some rest in the guest room," Long Chen spoke before heading to his room.

It was time to cultivate Moonlit Phantasm True Scripture.

"…Do you have a spare Voice Transmission Array Stone? I wish to stay in touch with you," Dong Chao suddenly spoke.

Long Chen paused and tilted his head in Dong Chao's direction.

"I do have a spare Voice Transmission Array Stone. Wait here, I will get it for you," Long Chen spoke.

'There isn't any harm in maintaining contact with him. I might need his help someday,' Long Chen thought.

Dong Chao was twenty two years old. If he continued to train his Ardor, he could reach the 4 Star Rank. And if he had the chance to receive guidance of an expert, Dong Chao could even become a 5 Star Warrior.

After handing a Voice Transmission Array Stone to Dong Chao, Long Chen returned to his room and began cultivating.

In the meantime, Dong Chao slept on the bed in the guest room. It had been quite some time since he last slept on such a comfortable bed. He instantly fell asleep.