Chapter 23 Cooperation

The fatty glanced at the rear of the haunted house and took a deep breath. "No wonder they had to use a mortuary tablet and cenotaph to suppress these wronged souls. Marquis Zhennan's title was earned with their blood..."

In any case, tonight's mission was over. Lu Qin was the only casualty. Recalling the dangers of the mission still gave him lingering fear.

Fortunately, the embroidered ball was in hand, and the identity of the first madam had finally been confirmed. According to General Yuwen, they would be heading to Spring God Lake today.

If nothing unexpected happened, that would be their final destination as well.

After a night of turmoil, everyone was exhausted. They needed to rest to face the upcoming crisis.

After a brief discussion, they decided not to report back to General Yuwen just yet, but to return to the haunted house's side room to rest. After all, tonight's mission was over, the sun was about to rise, and the haunted house was even safer than other parts of the Marquis's mansion.

As for the life or death of the Disaster Woman, they couldn't care less, nor did they have the mood to.

Winding through the dim corridor, they returned to the side room. Everything was the same as before. The cloth used to wrap their clothes was still on the floor. For safety, they didn't immediately change back.

"You guys rest, I'll keep watch until it's completely bright."

At this moment, Jiang Cheng had become the core of the team. Lu Qin was dead, the biggest variable in the team had disappeared, and Shao Tong had also seen the situation clearly and defected. Everyone could finally get a good night's sleep.

The fatty yawned and was about to climb onto the bed. He was sore and achy from lying on the cold bluestone slab earlier, but Jiang Cheng patted him on the shoulder. "Don't sleep yet, keep watch with me."

The fatty turned his head and instantly understood Jiang Cheng's intention. The doctor rarely took him along for guard duty because he was enough on his own. He must have something to say to him.

"I'm not sleepy either, I'll keep watch too."

Perhaps Shao Tong also knew that he wasn't likable, so he didn't plan to sleep on the bed. He sat alone at the table, isolated and out of place.

No one objected. There were only two beds, and there wasn't much room for fuss in a place like this. Li Bai and Zhu Jie took one bed, and Tang Qisheng, Yao Shunyu, and Zhang Qizheng squeezed into the other.

In less than five minutes, faint snores could be heard.

After everyone was asleep, Jiang Cheng pushed open the door and walked out. Shao Tong finished the tea in his cup and followed.

The fatty watched for a while, confirming that no one seemed to be waking up, then tiptoed out as well, gently closing the door behind him.

What the fatty didn't know was that as soon as he turned around and closed the door, the snoring in the room stopped. The room was silent, with only barely audible breathing.

Jiang Cheng stood in the courtyard, looking towards the east. The sun was gradually rising in the distance, about to take over the new day.

"You're calling me out so blatantly, aren't you afraid the others will suspect something?" Shao Tong walked to Jiang Cheng's side, his gaze playfully sweeping over the side room behind them. "Those people are all clever. None of them are asleep."

"Being blatant is better than being secretive. I have something to ask you," Jiang Cheng said directly.

When they discussed cooperation earlier, there was limited time. Jiang Cheng didn't completely understand Lu Qin and Shao Tong's purpose. He only knew that they were sent by the Night Watchers to deal with him.

Sensing the subtle atmosphere between the two, the fatty perked up. This matter involved more than just him and the doctor.

"Who sent you?" Jiang Cheng asked.

"The Night Watchers," Shao Tong replied. "The person who came was extraordinary. Everyone respected him, or rather, feared him. Unfortunately, I didn't remember his face."

Jiang Cheng suddenly thought of Lin Wan'er. Her ability was very similar to Shao Tong's. "Was it a man or a woman?" he asked, trying to remain calm.

Shao Tong shook his head. "I don't know."

"You have the ability to change people's memories, but you can't even remember a face?"

There was a hint of sharpness in Jiang Cheng's voice. Shao Tong explained, "My ability was given to me by him. He was an extremely terrifying guy. Oh right, he also brought a woman."

Jiang Cheng frowned. "Go on."

Shao Tong chuckled. "She was a very beautiful woman, but she was injured and had fallen into a coma. Her name was Lin Yuan."

After a pause, Shao Tong looked closely into Jiang Cheng's eyes. "But for you, you should be more familiar with her other name, Lin Wan'er."

"She's my sister."

Jiang Cheng didn't like being led by Shao Tong. He wanted to control the pace himself. Shao Tong clearly wanted to trade information with him.

Shao Tong grinned, his smile becoming more and more unrestrained, as if he had seen through Jiang Cheng. "Really just a sister? She was your instructor, raised you, and created Deep Red. But perhaps you're not grateful to her, because if it weren't for her, you wouldn't be in this situation."

"Xiao Cheng, am I right?"

Shao Tong suddenly changed his tone, the tenderness in his eyes catching Jiang Cheng off guard, because it was exactly what Lin Wan'er would do.

But the next second, Shao Tong, who was still smiling, was slapped hard across the face, the force knocking him to the ground.

"Don't imitate that person and talk to me. You're not worthy."

Jiang Cheng withdrew his hand, a hint of violence in his brows. He squatted down in front of the panting Shao Tong, grabbed him by the collar, and forced him to look at him. "Don't be so clever. Your situation is more difficult than mine. You betrayed Lu Qin. You're a traitor to the Night Watchers. They won't let you go. Now, no one can save you except me."

Shao Tong wiped the blood from the corner of his lip, not caring at all. "I understand. That's why I'm wholeheartedly cooperating with you, Jiang Cheng. We're the same kind of person. We have no way out."

The fatty was extremely anxious at the moment. He didn't want anything to happen to Lin Wan'er. "Shao Tong, Boss Lin... Lin Wan'er, how is she? What did you do to her?"

Shao Tong wanted to turn his head, but his collar was tightly gripped by Jiang Cheng, making it difficult to breathe.

"This..." Shao Tong looked at Jiang Cheng, then pointed to his collar.

After a few seconds, Jiang Cheng finally let go. Shao Tong turned his head and said to the fatty, "Lin Wan'er is fine. That person stole part of her ability and transferred it to me."

"In order not to arouse your suspicion, the Night Watchers didn't kill her. Instead, they found another opportunity to release her."

"Her identity as an undercover agent has been exposed. Whether she lives or dies won't have a big impact on the Night Watchers' plan."

"Because I inherited part of her ability, I can also read part of her memory. In her memory, you two occupy a very important position, as well as the others in Deep Red."