Qi Yue Zai Ye

Chapter 505 Death Is Not the Worst Fate

Li Qiutao glanced at Chen Jinzhao's complexion and dismissed the idea.

Telling him now would only complicate matters.

"Let's wait for the right time," Li Qiutao thought to himself. "He's not mentally prepared yet."

Meanwhile.

Chen Jinzhao had also calmed his emotions and sincerely thanked Li Qiutao.

If Li Qiutao hadn't told him these things, he wouldn't know how long it would take to uncover the truth of what happened back then.

Li Qiutao chuckled dryly, "Why thank me? This is what I should have done. These things shouldn't have been kept from you any longer."

Chen Jinzhao grunted.

Li Qiutao patted his shoulder, advising him to rest well before taking any action.

After a few more words of caution, Li Qiutao turned to leave.

Chen Jinzhao's gaze followed Li Qiutao's retreating back, and he stood alone by the ventilation shaft, lost in thought.

Having learned about his origins, his thoughts turned to the future. However, the current situation was shrouded in uncertainty, leaving Chen Jinzhao feeling a sense of bewilderment about his path forward. After much contemplation, he couldn't find any clear answers, so he decided to focus on the immediate matters.

First, finding the headquarters of the Divine Kingdom Research Institute, and second, recovering his father's remains.

No matter how the situation changed, it couldn't alter Chen Jinzhao's resolve.

Chen Jinzhao returned to his hospital room.

He assessed his own condition and felt he had recovered sufficiently to be discharged. So, he first underwent a full physical examination by the doctor, and after confirming he was in good health, he completed the discharge procedures and returned to his residence.

The Ji family, upon hearing the news, came to invite Chen Jinzhao to their manor for a banquet, wanting to express their apologies.

Initially, Chen Jinzhao was reluctant to accept, but after some consideration, he agreed.

The Ji family was exceedingly cordial. They first thanked Chen Jinzhao for his righteous intervention in purging the rot within their family and declared that they would henceforth obey Chen Jinzhao's commands, never daring to deviate from his word.

Regardless of what the Ji family members thought in their hearts, Chen Jinzhao only cared about their actions.

The Ji family even proposed that Chen Jinzhao further elevate his status to be on par with Li Tiange and Qin Fengwu, but Chen Jinzhao refused.

That was not what he desired.

The Ji family's current task was to guard the three northern provinces. A stable region was crucial to prevent it from being encroached upon by those with ulterior motives.

The Ji family members naturally dared not press further.

At night.

Chen Jinzhao left the Ji family alone and unexpectedly encountered Man Xiong at the entrance.

Man Xiong, seeing Chen Jinzhao emerge from the Ji family's residence, hurried forward and said, "I've finally caught you. I thought you were going to spend the night at the Ji family's place."

"If I had stayed at the Ji family's, would you have waited outside all night?" Chen Jinzhao asked with a smile.

Man Xiong scratched his head, "Of course not."

Chen Jinzhao smiled and continued, "Waiting for me here so late at night must mean you have something important to discuss. I can tell from your expression."

"Indeed, nothing escapes you," Man Xiong chuckled heartily.

"I do have something very important to discuss with you. If you can still handle a drink, perhaps we could move to a small eatery and have a couple?"

Chen Jinzhao nodded, "Alright, lead the way."

The two arrived at a nearby small eatery, ordered a few bottles of white wine and some accompanying dishes. Chen Jinzhao, naturally, had no appetite for drinking and got straight to the point, "Tell me, what is it?"

"Do you remember that island I had people scout before? There was indeed something amiss. All five of my men died. If I'm not mistaken, this island must be related to the Divine Kingdom. This information is very important, and I haven't dared to report it to Elder Xu yet, mainly because I wanted to hear your opinion first." Man Xiong's words made Chen Jinzhao frown.

Chen Jinzhao took out his phone and zoomed in on the island's location on the map.

He was surprised to find that the island's position was quite strategic, situated precisely on the border with a neighboring country, an uninhabited island not under the jurisdiction of either party.

"If we send a large number of troops there, it will surely attract the attention of the neighboring country, and it might even lead to a standoff at the border. In such a situation, any accidental discharge could have dire consequences," Chen Jinzhao murmured to himself, earning Man Xiong's agreement.

Man Xiong continued his thought, "So, we can only send people in secretly."

"But doing so puts us at a complete disadvantage."

"Candle Dragon, I even suspect that laboratory has the support of other countries. Only then can we explain the Japanese identity of the three dead men you killed a while ago."

"Highly likely," Chen Jinzhao nodded.

A century ago, Japan had conducted extremely cruel anti-human experiments, and perhaps they had continued such experiments in secret over the years.

Man Xiong looked up at Chen Jinzhao, "Then what should we do?"

Chen Jinzhao pondered for a moment and asked Man Xiong to recount the specific information about the island. Upon hearing that the island was only a little over a square kilometer in area, he frowned and interrupted Man Xiong, "This island might be a Divine Kingdom outpost, but it's unlikely to be their headquarters. To my knowledge, the Divine Kingdom Research Institute's headquarters can accommodate over ten thousand people living there simultaneously, so this island clearly doesn't fit that description."

"So—"

"I plan to go and see for myself."

Man Xiong's expression changed slightly, and he quickly tried to dissuade him.

Chen Jinzhao's mind was made up. He raised his hand to stop Man Xiong, "Defending our country is the sacred duty of us soldiers. If we fear death, will our nation still have any backbone?"

"I have a premonition that this trip will be extremely perilous. You should reconsider," Man Xiong urged again.

Chen Jinzhao forced a smile, "Someone has to do these things. Rather than letting them die in vain, it's better for someone with my abilities to bear more responsibility."

"But—"

Man Xiong still wanted to say more.

Chen Jinzhao had come to terms with it and smiled, "It's all the same, isn't it?"

Man Xiong was taken aback. He sensed Chen Jinzhao's determination. Once he made up his mind, no one could change it.

"Alright, I understand," he said.

"Since you've made your decision, I'll accompany you on this perilous journey."

"Let's toast this drink to bid us farewell."

Chen Jinzhao's smile remained undiminished, "Don't make it sound so tragic. We're not going to our deaths. Help me prepare some equipment tonight, and we'll set off for the island tomorrow night. If all goes smoothly, we should arrive by the morning of the day after tomorrow."

Man Xiong readily agreed.

They clinked glasses and finished the wine in their cups.

Man Xiong felt a bitter taste in his mouth and murmured with a strange expression, "Why is this wine so bitter? Such an ominous sign."

Chen Jinzhao continued to smile at his words.

"At worst, we die. What is there to fear?"