Start with push-ups to gain experience

Chapter 472 Ideal Land, the Name of That Person

The moment those three words were uttered...

Lin Chuqiao, Pan Wendi, Bai Ling, and even Chen Xu'an all looked bewildered, clearly having never heard of this before.

Fang Cheng was deeply shaken.

He had certainly heard of this organization.

The person who told him was Shi Chengyi, the former head of the Special Investigation Team's Operations Department.

The mastermind behind the "Guangwu Gate Shooting Incident," which shocked the entire nation and even led to the downfall of the military government, is said to be a mysterious organization called "Utopia."

Shi Chengyi personally led the investigation, mobilizing the most elite members of the special search team to investigate this shocking case.

Ultimately, however, they suffered a crushing defeat and their efforts were in vain.

Before the organization's mysteries could be unveiled, then-President Feng Zhonglin resigned, and the investigation was put on hold.

Then, the case was taken over by Ling Shaofeng, a former intelligence officer and now the chief of the special investigation team, who eventually solved it successfully.

His father, Fang Shijie, was implicated in this huge upheaval and tragically died.

Chen Hongye took in the subtle changes in Fang Cheng's expression and smiled knowingly.

"It seems you already heard something when you were investigating your father's case."

Then, his smile vanished, and his expression instantly became serious and solemn:

"Speaking of which, your father's death was directly related to a betrayal that our organization experienced back then."

Upon hearing this, Fang Cheng's gaze suddenly sharpened.

The killing intent that had just subsided on his body showed signs of reigniting.

"The ideal world..."

Chen Hongye ignored this, as if he were completely immersed in his own memories, his voice low and distant.

"Ah, the world's mediocre people, many of whom have never even heard of its name."

He let out a soft chuckle and said to himself:

“We are different from those wealthy families that pursue fame and fortune, and we are not a large multinational corporation.”

“We follow an absolute elite path. When the organization was first established decades ago, there were only a handful of people, including myself.”

"Those qualified to join us are all exceptional talents, at least B-level ability users, and must pass rigorous tests and uphold the same ideals."

He paused, his tone brimming with undisguised pride:
"The organization we created has no strict hierarchy, no backstabbing or scheming. The members are more like family, brothers and sisters walking side by side."

"Because we all share a distant and great common ideal."

Chen Hongye slightly raised his head, and his face, covered in incantations, revealed a near-holy light:

"That is to create a truly beautiful world without oppression, where everyone is equal."

"There, everyone can enjoy a happy and peaceful life. There is no war, no hunger, no racial division, and no distinction between high and low status."

“Even those of us who are considered monsters by ordinary people don’t have to hide in dark corners; we can live freely.”

These words are so sublime.

But to Lin Chuqiao and the others, it only evoked a strong sense of absurdity.

Before me stood a charred and terrifying monster, which had just been openly sucking the blood of living people.

At this moment, however, he speaks in a compassionate tone about the great ideal of creating a better world.

Such an incongruous art style is really hard to accept.

Chen Hongye seemed oblivious, ignoring the strange looks from the crowd, and remained engrossed in his own words:

"Our members come from all walks of life, including scholars, soldiers, and politicians..."

"They are all quietly contributing to this common goal in their respective fields, waiting for the day when dawn will break."

"but……"

His tone suddenly changed, and his voice turned cold:

"As the organization grows, disagreements also arise."

"Some people believed that to realize their ideals, they had to seize power, so they chose to cooperate with the military government at the time and accept the offer of amnesty."

"But another group of people, including your father and me, strongly oppose it, believing that once you collude with evil, even if you try your best to stay true to your original intentions, you will eventually become evil yourself."

Fang Cheng coldly interjected:
"So, the shooting at Guangwu Gate was orchestrated by you?"

"It is us, and it is not us."

Chen Hongye shook his head, his eyes flashing with undisguised contempt and hatred:

"Just like I said, it was the work of those short-sighted fools who chose to compromise with power!"

"Blinded by greed, they have become the former president's lackeys, secretly eliminating dissidents for him, their hands already stained with blood."

"The shooting incident at Guangwu Gate was a tragedy they orchestrated to frame their political enemies."

"The result was that they played with fire and got burned!"

Chen Hongye sneered repeatedly, his voice revealing a hint of pleasure, yet also filled with deep disappointment.

"When the military government collapsed and the new government came to power, their dirty deals with the old regime were exposed and immediately met with the most severe crackdown from the authorities."

"The special search team mobilized in full force to indiscriminately eliminate all members suspected of being members of 'Utopia'."

"During that period, the entire Xia Kingdom was in a state of panic, with everyone on edge. Those of us who held fast to our ideals were also implicated and had to go underground and lie low."

"However, the most fatal blows often come from within."

At this point, Chen Hongye suddenly became a little excited, his hands clenched into fists, and his knuckles made a "crackling" sound.

"At the most critical moment for the organization, a traitor appeared and leaked a list of core members!"

"After that, the organization completely fell apart. Members were either arrested and imprisoned, spending the rest of their lives in dark cells, or hunted to the ends of the earth, dying far from home..."

"The 'ideal land' was severely damaged from then on, and it has not fully recovered to this day."

After recounting this memory, he slowly loosened his fist, looked at Fang Cheng, and his eyes were filled with complex emotions.

“Your father, Fang Shijie, has not been in the organization for long and is not actually a core member. He was not on the special search team’s list of key targets for capture.”

"He is mainly responsible for external liaison work and knows the real identities of many members of the organization, including myself."

"Originally, Fang Shijie could have continued to lie low and live peacefully with his family as usual until the storm passed..."

"But later, he was still betrayed by a traitor who deserved to die a thousand deaths!"

Chen Hongye sighed deeply, his tone becoming somber, as if he were truly lamenting the loss of a deceased friend.

"In order to avoid falling into the hands of the special investigation team and to prevent the whereabouts of other members of the organization from being discovered through special interrogation methods."

"He chose the most heroic way... to die a martyr in a fire, using his own life to cut off the special search team's trail."

"He truly deserves to be called a hero!"

Chen Hongye's voice suddenly rose a few decibels, carrying a deliberately crafted tragic tone.

After he finished speaking, a brief silence fell over the courtyard.

The night wind suddenly picked up, making the campfire crackle and sending sparks flying everywhere.

Fang Cheng stood quietly.

The firelight cast flickering shadows on his face, making it impossible to discern his emotions.

It seemed as if it was processing this long-forgotten past, or perhaps weighing something.

After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice cold and hard as he asked:
"Who is that traitor, the one who killed my father?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Hongye sighed again, a look of helplessness on his face that suggested the child was beyond redemption.

“Young friend, you still don’t understand. This isn’t about a traitor; it’s about a serious division within our ‘ideal land.’”

He shook his head and patiently explained:
"The factions that initially caused trouble were those who advocated surrender, and later, in order to pledge allegiance to the new government, they were also the ones who betrayed their comrades."

"If you're just looking for a specific person to take revenge on, it won't be that easy."

"After all, I'm not a member of the special investigation team, so how could I possibly know who betrayed your father back then?"

Seemingly tired from talking too much, Chen Hongye stopped speaking. "Since that's the case..."

Fang Cheng frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then asked:

"So, who is the leader of the surrender faction in your organization?"

This straightforward question seemed to strike at Chen Hongye's weak spot.

His face froze instantly, as if he remembered something terrible, and a hint of fear appeared on his face covered with incantations.

"That person's name... I dare not mention it lightly."

Chen Hongye's eyes flickered, and he stammered:
"If we utter his real name, he might sense it, and that could immediately bring about enormous trouble..."

Seeing that Fang Cheng was still staring at him, Chen Hongye immediately changed the subject.

"Besides, didn't I just say that?"

"The Guangwu Gate shooting incident was not a simple revenge killing, but a political storm that swept the country, involving a complex network of powerful figures and high-ranking officials."

"Knowing too much won't do you any good. This matter is a sensitive taboo in Xia Country, it's top secret, and the publicly available information has long been deleted."

"If you really want to find out the truth, you'll have to break into the Special Investigations Team's archives!"

"In short, this is a very complicated situation. Those who know, know; those who don't, you won't understand even if I explain."

At this point, Chen Hongye waved his hand, his tone tinged with impatience.

"I've said enough about your father, let's stop here."

"Young friend, I have already kept my promise. Shouldn't you also fulfill your conditions, cease interfering in the Chen family's affairs, and leave this place?"

Fang Cheng didn't respond, but instead coldly refused:

What you're saying is completely useless to me.

He stared intently at Chen Hongye, his tone unwavering:
"I don't want to know how many interests are involved behind the case, I just want a clear answer: who is the culprit who caused all of this?"

"Tonight, you must give me a name."

"Whether it's the leader of the surrender faction or the traitor who betrayed my father, you choose one."

"You...you're making things difficult for me, aren't you?"

Seeing Fang Cheng's uncompromising attitude, Chen Hongye's lips twitched, and his face was full of difficulty.

"If I reveal that person's name, he will surely find out and may even be able to pinpoint my existence."

"At that time... I'm afraid even finding a place to rest in peace will be difficult for my old bones!"

Fang Cheng remained unmoved, simply watching him quietly.

It was as if they hadn't heard those complaints at all.

The two stared at each other for a few seconds before Chen Hongye finally gave in and was defeated.

"Alright alright!"

He reluctantly gave in and raised his hands:

"I can tell you."

"only……"

Chen Hongye glanced at Lin Chuqiao and the others not far away, and lowered his voice meaningfully:

"There are too many people and too much gossip here, so there are some things that are really not convenient for outsiders to hear."

Fang Cheng nodded slightly:

"Then let's agree on a time and place to talk again."

"hehe."

Chen Hongye let out a dry laugh:
"Aren't you afraid that after I get away tonight, I'll disappear without a trace, and you'll never be able to find me again?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Cheng's gaze suddenly turned fervent, and he exuded an undisguised killing intent.

That look seemed to say, "You can give it a try."

"Young friend, there's no need to look at me like that. I was just joking."

Chen Hongye quickly waved his hand, his tone softening further.

"How about this."

After a moment's thought, he made a suggestion:
"Now, come with me into my spiritual realm."

"It's absolutely private inside, with no one to disturb you. Even with that person's abilities, there's no way they could sense it. It's the perfect place to talk about secrets that shouldn't be known to outsiders."

"Once we enter the secret realm, I will tell you everything I know about that person's name, as well as information about other people involved in the Guangwu Gate shooting incident."

"Perhaps, this can help you find your real enemy."

Chen Hongye's words were full of sincerity.

"and many more."

However, before Fang Cheng could respond, Lin Chuqiao couldn't help but speak up.

She quickly walked to Fang Cheng's side, leaned forward slightly, and whispered in his ear, reminding him in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"Be careful, lest it be a trap. I have a bad feeling that this old monster might be a threat to you."

The two were very close, and as they spoke, their warm breaths brushed against Fang Cheng's earlobe, carrying a faint, elegant fragrance.

A few strands of hair even gently brushed against his cheek, causing Fang Cheng's heart to flutter slightly.

Seeing the two acting so intimately, Chen Hongye, standing not far away, had a flicker in his crimson eyes before adding:

"Gentlemen, you two, as ability users, you should both be familiar with the Spirit Realm."

"Besides, young friend Fang seems to possess some kind of powerful protective artifact, capable of even withstanding my 'Soul-Hooking Demon Shadow,' so he shouldn't be worried about me playing any tricks..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Hongye coughed violently a few times.

At this moment, blood continued to seep from the dent in his chest, and the writhing speed of the dark red runes slowed down.

He looked extremely weak, as if he might collapse at any moment.

Upon seeing this, Fang Cheng thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

"it is good."

He then turned to look at Lin Chuqiao, his eyes calm yet gentle.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. You wait here for me to come back."

After finishing, he paused, then added in a more solemn tone:

"You must guard my body and prevent anyone from getting close. If you discover anything unusual, wake me up immediately."

Lin Chuqiao was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then nodded vigorously:

"Yes... I will always stay by your side and never let anyone touch you..."

She felt that her words were somewhat ambiguous as soon as she said them.

A beautiful blush instantly rose on her fair cheeks, and she quickly turned her gaze away to avoid Fang Cheng's eyes.

"Brother, go ahead without worry."

At this moment, Pan Wendi also stepped forward casually, patting his chest and guaranteeing:

"My cousin and I will protect you. If anyone dares to lay a finger on you, we'll fight them to the death! Even those monsters won't be able to get close!"

As he spoke, he glanced around, his eyes showing a hint of wariness, as if checking for any potential dangers.

"Hey boss, be careful!"

Bai Ling also quietly encouraged him.

Seeing this, Chen Xu'an was the most anxious.

He could only clutch his aching chest, watching the two in the arena reach an agreement with a face full of resentment, but dared not say a word more.

After Fang Cheng finished explaining, he turned his gaze to Chen Hongye again, his eyes regaining their previous sharpness.

"Now, how do I enter your spiritual realm?"

(End of this chapter)