Chapter 399 The Dissipated Grand Elder

Chen Qingdi mimicked Dai Xueli, adopting a meek and subservient demeanor.

“I will go and interrogate him again. I’m certain I’ll get a result.”

A vicious glint, the likes of which had never been seen before, flashed in Wan Qisong’s murky eyes.

“Remember, do whatever it takes. Just get him to talk.”

Chen Qingdi never imagined the Grand Elder’s hatred for him ran so deep.

He remembered how he was the one who had snatched the man back from death’s door when he’d suffered a sudden heart attack.

The man was all smiles whenever they met. To think that behind closed doors, he wore such a vile mask.

“Teacher, that man is incredibly influential. If word of this gets out, it won’t be good for us.”

Wan Qisong snorted. “Do you think our investigation team is a place one can enter and leave as they please? The only way I’ll allow him to leave is as a pile of ashes. Don’t even think about anything else!”

Overcome with agitation, he suddenly felt his heart rate falter. It was as if someone were strangling him; his mouth gaped open, but he couldn’t draw a single breath of fresh air.

“Quick… my medicine…”

Though filled with contempt, Chen Qingdi quickly found a Life-saving Pill and shoved it into the man’s mouth. When there was still no sign of relief, he fed him two more in quick succession. Only then did Wan Qisong finally calm down.

“Teacher, this is a life-or-death secret. Perhaps we should discuss it somewhere else. Also, it would be best to disband that ‘Joy Valley’ group!”

Wan Qisong was instantly agitated again.

“Who gave you the right to take away my joy?! You’ll disband them over my dead body!”

‘If I weren’t trying to root out all you parasites,’ Chen Qingdi thought, ‘do you think I’d give a damn whether you live or die?’

He pushed the wheelchair into a private elevator and took the Grand Elder back to his personal suite.

The security here was top-tier. Before an ordinary person could even get close to the courtyard, they would likely be riddled with bullets by the rooftop snipers.

After the heavy doors sealed them in, the Grand Elder finally spoke to Chen Qingdi.

“I’m tired. Hurry up and call Mei Feng from Joy Valley to my chambers. You are dismissed. I will not tolerate any mishaps before I accept the transfer of power!”

Chen Qingdi gave a sly chuckle. “Mei Feng said she’s not feeling well and took the day off.” He had no idea who Mei Feng was, but thinking of the “Joy Valley” group, it wasn’t hard to guess her role.

Such an organization was, by all rights, illegal. However, given the Grand Elder’s current status and power, no one would dare blow the whistle, even if they saw it.

If the lid were ever blown off, there was no telling what secrets would be exposed, or how many other officials would be dragged down.

But Chen Qingdi was thinking, ‘A reckoning is coming. On the day of the final showdown, not a single one of you will escape!’

But unexpectedly, Wan Qisong’s rage soared.

“Who told her to take the day off? Does she even have the right? She defied me! Not even Jesus could save her now, and that’s a promise!”

Chen Qingdi sneered. “And what if you were dead?”

Hearing this, Wan Qisong’s face immediately became as grim as Yama’s.

“Dai Xueli, have you lost your mind? How dare you speak to me like that!”

Chen Qingdi slowly removed his mask and let out a cold laugh.

“You old traitor, you usurper of state and title! Take a good look at who I am!”

It was as if seven of Wan Qisong’s ten souls had been scared from his body. He stared in disbelief. “Chen Qingdi…”

“Chen Qingdi, but you’re not… you were…”

“Not supposed to have one foot in the Yellow Springs Dao? You’re wondering why I’m out, aren’t you? And where, oh where, has your dear student Dai Xueli gone?”

These were the very questions burning in Wan Qisong’s mind. He struggled to press the alarm, but Chen Qingdi’s hand shot out and crushed the device to pieces.

“Grand Elder, now… shall we have a proper chat?”

Even though Chen Qingdi hadn’t laid a hand on him, the mere sight of him made the Grand Elder’s stomach churn with terror.

“What do you want to know?”

“For your own selfish gain, you orchestrated the tragic fate of the former Seventh Elder. Start talking. Who else was involved?”

The Grand Elder glared at him, his face contorted with rage.

“Brat, do you really think I’d tell you that easily?”

Chen Qingdi sneered. “The sea of suffering is vast, but salvation is found in repentance.”

Wan Qisong stared at him as if he were an idiot.

“I’ve tasted every delicacy under the sun. You think I’m going to swallow that kind of sentimental drivel?”

Chen Qingdi snorted. “Countless people have died because of your insane ambitions for power. Don’t you feel any guilt at all?”

Wan Qisong scoffed. “You’re just a wet-behind-the-ears brat. What do you know of true ambition? ‘A great man should feast from five cauldrons, or, failing that, be boiled in them.’ What is there to fear! A coward like you, afraid of every shadow… A doctor is nothing more than a glorified servant, a lackey!”

Chen Qingdi sneered. “Believe it or not, I know a hundred ways to saw off your legs and replace them with a dog’s.”

“Oh, I believe you. Of course, I do. If there’s one thing I trust, it’s the medical arts of Medical God Island!”

Suddenly, Wan Qisong burst into wild, unrestrained laughter.

“But if you do that, you’ll just become me! This ‘eradication of evil’ you’re so bent on? It just means swapping me, the demon, for you. For the rest of the world, nothing will change!”

Chen Qingdi had no time to debate such nonsense with him.

“So, you’re not going to say anything.”

At this point, Wan Qisong had the true air of a desperado with nothing left to lose.

“I’ve had my fill of life’s pleasures. I’ve done what I’ve done, and I never expected to die peacefully in my bed. So bring it on! Show me the methods of your Medical God Island!”

Chen Qingdi found some silver acupuncture needles in the suite. ‘The old bastard really treasures his life,’ he thought. ‘He must have doctors on call to tend to him.’

Without another word, he drove a needle deep into the man’s Baihui acupoint.

Wan Qisong blacked out instantly.

Chen Qingdi then inserted several Golden Needles into a few more of his acupoints. When Wan Qisong came to, his eyes were clouded and vacant.

Then, using a voice that seemed to hold a mesmerizing power, Chen Qingdi began to implant his will.

“I am the master of your soul. I control your life and death, your honor and disgrace. You will answer whatever I ask.”

Wan Qisong repeated the words mechanically.

Chen Qingdi spoke again. “Tell me, who else is involved in your plan?”

Wan Qisong rattled off a list of names. They were identical to the ones Dai Xueli had provided, but with one shocking addition.

It was the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard, Song Gang.

Chen Qingdi had always known this man as stern and humorless, a person who couldn’t tolerate the slightest infraction, someone reputed to be the bane of all evil.

Chen Qingdi could treat anyone as an equal, no matter their status. And yet, he always felt constrained in Song Gang’s presence.

It wasn’t for any particular reason, other than the man was just so damn uncompromising.