Chapter 315: Interrogating

Chapter 315: Interrogating

Cao Li was immediately reminded of the scene that had happened at the banquet earlier.

At that time, after witnessing the intimate act between Wei Ru and Yi Chen, just like the majority of the guests, her suspicion towards Yi Chen had also long dissipated.

Therefore, to see him standing right next to her with a haughty grin on his face, she couldn’t help but feel both surprised and infuriated.

"You bastard-UCK!"

Gritting her teeth in anger, she circulated her Qi only to end up convulsing in pain the very next second.

"Oh, I wouldn’t do that if I were you..." Yi Chen feigned a concerned appearance while pointing towards her lower abdomen.

"...My blade has clearly impaled your spirit root. Don’t worry, though, I had made sure to keep that blade thinner than the rest, so your spirit root should still be intact.

Although I can’t guarantee that it would remain the same if you keep trying to do what you’re doing right now. Anyways, aren’t you glad that I didn’t completely obliterate your spirit root?"

An amused smile formed on Yi Chen’s face as he asked that question.

After witnessing her actions earlier and clearly knowing what the organisation behind her was responsible for, Yi Chen didn’t have an iota of sympathy for her.

Glaring daggers at him while breathing heavily, Cao Li asked with reddened eyes, "You...what do you want?"

"Your cooperation, that’s all I ask." Yi Chen answered with a smile and continued, "So how about it? Would Madam Cao like to cooperate with me?"

Hearing Yi Chen’s answer, Cao Li’s mind moved at the speed of light as various scenarios flashed past it, trying hard to guess just in what regard Yi Chen wanted her cooperation.

However, that was to no avail.

No matter how hard she tried to think, it was like hitting her head against an iron wall. Since she had only met Yi Chen for the first time today, there was no way for her to accurately guess what he wanted her cooperation for.

Seeing the changes taking place in her gaze, Yi Chen’s smile only widened as he patiently waited for her response.

"...What do you need my cooperation with?" she asked a few moments later. The previous anger in her voice was subtly replaced by cautiousness.

"Well, it’s pretty simple actually..." Yi Chen stated with a carefree expression and the next second a grey orb appeared in his palm.

"You...just what are you planning?" Cao Li asked with an intense frown, recognising the Video Capturing Stone he held in his palm.

Yi Chen didn’t answer her immediately and instead activated the stone before placing it on a chair next to the two of them, making sure that from that position, the two of them were clearly visible.

Growing impatient because of the uncertainty, she roared, "I asked, what are you planning with that?!"

"I can hear you just fine. There’s no need to shout, you know?" Yi Chen answered with an irritated expression and said while rubbing one of his ears, "It was one thing if you had a good voice, but with such an irritating voice, shouldn’t you take others into consideration before pulling off such stunts?

If I were in your position, I would have been ashamed to even speak. In that regard, you really have my admiration."

In all her years, no one had ever talked down to her like this, not even her parents, so naturally, Yi Chen’s words struck a chord, making her go wild the very next second.

"You insolent bastard! Do you even know who I am? Just one word from me and your entire nine generations would be swept off this continent!" she declared, seething with anger.

SLAP!

Feeling the stinging pain on her cheek, disbelief filled Cao Li’s face as she raised her gaze to look towards Yi Chen, still trying to process what had just happened.

"...YOU DAR-"

SLAP!

Before she could lose control of herself again, Yi Chen helped her rein in her anger with another slap on the other side of her face.

"That’s better." Yi Chen nodded, seeing that Cao Li had come to understand her position and didn’t try to raise her voice again.

Not minding the burning rage that was present in her glare, he continued, "We can finally proceed to the next step then..."

Before Cao Li could raise any questions, he said, "You asked earlier where I need your cooperation, right? Well, it’s like this..."

Pointing towards the Video Capturing Stone, he added, "While we are being recorded, I’ll be asking you a few questions. As long as you answer all of them truthfully, we’ll have no problems, and I’ll let you go immediately.

If not, then I’ll have to spend a few extra hours to get the truth out of you. I don’t mind any, but I’m sure you would."

The smirk on Yi Chen’s face widened as, in the next second, he raised his index finger. "Here’s the first question then..."

Hearing Yi Chen’s words, a wave of relief swept over Cao Li’s heart. If it were just answering some questions, then there would be no problem.

’How would a brat like you know whether I’m lying or not?’ she thought with contempt while maintaining an expression as if she were waiting for his question.

"Who are you, and what is your identity? Answer while looking towards the Video Capturing Stone," Yi Chen stated while pointing to his right.

With an annoyed snort, Cao Li did as she was asked and, glancing towards the stone, stated, "I am Cao Li, the head of the Violet Heaven House’s branch in the Black Rock Kingdom.

Apart from that, I’m also the only granddaughter of the Violet Heaven House’s Eleventh Grand Elder. Therefore..."

Turning her head towards Yi Chen, she said with hate evident in her gaze, "...It would be best if you stuck to your words and let me go after we are done with this questioning. Otherwise, if anything untoward happens to me, then only a fate far worse than death awaits you..."

"Everything rests on how well you answer my questions. I don’t give a fuck if your grandfather is a person of status, for the person in front of me is you and not your grandfather." Yi Chen snorted in ridicule.

"You insole-"

Sensing Yi Chen’s palm hurtling towards her face, Cao Li immediately went quiet, prompting Yi Chen to stop before contact.

"Good." He nodded in satisfaction and said, "Now that the first question is taken care of, here’s the next question."

Yi Chen paused for a second and continued.

"It has come to my knowledge that the Brown Flu isn’t a disease that’s spread from inhaling the polluted fumes that engulf the Black Rock Kingdom...instead, it’s a human-made virus and was specifically manufactured by the Violet Heaven House... Just why did you guys do it? That’s my question."

The more Cao Li heard Yi Chen’s words, the more intensely her face began to contort as an expression of intense surprise and disbelief appeared on her face.

Therefore, the moment Yi Chen stopped speaking, she immediately exclaimed, "Who?! Who told you about it?!"

It was also at that instant that she was reminded of the fact that she was being recorded and added, "There’s no way our Violet Heaven House can do such a thing! A bastard who’s spreading such malicious misinformation must be executed immediately. Tell me who it is!"

Clearly noticing Cao Li’s initial expression, Yi Chen had already confirmed that Cao Li was indeed aware of this secret.

The only thing he needed to do now was to pull the truth out of her in words so that he could show the video proof to Bai Tianhe later.

"Now, now, don’t be so impatient to deny facts, Madam Cao. Didn’t I say earlier that if you don’t answer truthfully, then this small session of ours would end up spanning several hours?"

As he said those words, he gently swept his hand towards the seat next to her, which was soundlessly cut into two halves with just his Qi.

"!!!"

’The Stage of Becoming the Sword!’ Cao Li’s eyes widened at the sight as her eyes met Yi Chen’s the next instant.

"Since I don’t want to hurt Madam Cao unnecessarily, I’ll ask again. Why did the Violet Heaven House create the Brown Flu virus?" Yi Chen asked with narrowed eyes, seeing a trace of hesitation on Cao Li’s face.

However, he had judged wrongly.

’So, what if you’re an expert swordsman?!’ she exclaimed in her mind and, taking a deep breath, said intently, "I don’t know from which of our enemy factions you are, but your tricks won’t work here! No matter how much you try to scare me, I’ll never agree to your lies!"

"Then Madam Cao leaves me with no other choice..." Yi Chen said with narrowed eyes and, walking a few steps in her direction, bent on one knee.

A trace of confusion appeared on Cao Li’s face the next second, but it didn’t last for long as she saw him reaching for her hand.

"I-It won’t end well for you if you harm-"

Before Cao Li could finish her words, Yi Chen gently grabbed her hand and, while caressing it, said, "Unlike your foul mouth, Madam Cao’s fingers look so delicate, don’t they?"

As Yi Chen said those words, he met the tip of his index finger with hers and, looking up, met Cao Li’s gaze, asking, "Can you guess what I’m going to do next?"

"YOU-!"

A straw-sized Qi blade stretched out of his finger that very moment and pierced beneath her fingernail before driving all the way in.

A blood-curdling screech echoed in the entire hall, making Cao Li’s body convulse in pain.