Ark, they don't revolve around you

Zhuang Ning suffocated. After a while, he walked slowly to the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. He was wearing casual clothes without a black coat. No one here would call him a doctor. His roommates usually called him dad, especially when they were short of money or when he was generous and treated them.

Zhuang Ning felt an inexplicable warmth in the corners of his eyes.

What a loser, what a waste. It's just a dream. Will you cry if the dream mercifully throws you back to your old home?

Well, I am just a waste. I don’t want to be a doctor who is above everyone else and command some crappy war.

I just cried, don't you agree?!

He took out his cell phone, opened it with trembling hands, entered the password, and then opened the group chat. He stared at it stupidly for a while and saw that his group members were indeed chatting nonsense. He smiled.

so good.

No one will rush you.

No one is going to let you die.

You are in a small corner of the city, and there is always someone who cares about you.

He took a deep breath, turned on the phone, and entered the numbers one by one.

Then, press the screen.

Hearing the long-lost voice, the person on the other end of the phone was a little surprised: "What's wrong?"

"nothing."

A familiar voice, it was his mother's voice. The end of the nightmare was truly a beautiful dream.

But dreams are just dreams after all...

Zhuang Ning put down his phone and said, "Wait for me for a while, give me some time, I will go back."

"I'll be back soon, Mom."

Chapter 41: Barrier

Zhuang Ning slowly opened his eyes.

When he woke up, he felt a burning sensation on his back. The setting sun outside the window fell on the woman's face, like a dream.

"Kyle...Xi." Zhuang Ning found that his voice was so hoarse, "How long have I slept?"

"One year."

"..."

"It was just a joke." Her tone was not like a joke at all. "It's only been half a month. Nothing happened during that time. Everything is fine."

"Half a month." Zhuang Ning struggled to get up, "Where's Chen Huijie? Is she okay?"

"It's okay." Kal'tsit frowned slightly, perhaps because she felt that this man didn't ask herself when he woke up, but asked other women instead.

Zhuang Ning finally felt relieved. He would not allow Chen Huijie to make any mistakes.

"Second question." He stroked his back, "Did you perform the surgery on me?"

"You were seriously injured at the time. No one else could take over except me. If you feel uncomfortable, I'm afraid you can only blame me for my lack of skills."

"At least I don't need to lie in the sarcophagus." Zhuang Ning said softly, feeling his physical condition. The knife almost broke his bones but did not hurt his spinal cord. This was certainly not a coincidence.

"Who did it?"

"Lord Wei is still investigating." Kal'tsit remained calm.

"Don't lie to me." Zhuang Ning emphasized, "I want the murderer's name."

"According to the investigation, it was the Business Federation and the slum bosses who opposed Chen Huijie's coming to power. They had this motive."

"They are just a bunch of mediocre people, a bunch of useless people with evil intentions. They have neither the determination to kill nor the ability to use the emperor's sharp blade." Zhuang Ning's eyes flickered: "I want the main messenger."

"The people I just mentioned are the main messengers. They are imprisoned. Wei Yanwu and Chen Huijie will not let them go easily."

"No." Zhuang Ning's face was grim. "The only person who has a close connection with them is Koschei. The immortal black snake is back again—"

He got the answer the moment he was chopped. As for the immortal black snake, Zhuang Ning could not think of anyone else except this old creature who had been planning for decades.

It's really annoying. If you let it go, you will be left with trouble. This snake is always lurking in the darkness, and its first move is so suffocating.

"You're right. Wei Yanwu and the Rat King are also certain that this is the work of Black Snake." Kal'tsit whispered, "But, what can we do about it?"

"Could he have occupied Longmen? If that evil god had really killed Chen Huijie, there might still be a chance, but his plot failed."

Kal'tsit's eyes were so deep that they reminded people of towering ancient trees. She complained quietly, "Because you blocked the knife for Chen Huijie like a madman."

Zhuang Ning was speechless. His actions seemed crazy, but he didn't think he would die. Now Zhuang Ning was only worried that this unexpected enemy would make a comeback and use the moment of power transfer to secretly launch a final attack.

What was thought to be an easy task ended up going wrong.

"When will Lord Wei and the Rat King leave Longmen?"

"Late December."

"I have been lying in bed for half a month, so it is the beginning of December now." Zhuang Ning was stunned. "In another month, they will leave Longmen?"

"The imperial edict has arrived, and neither Wei Yanwu nor Lin Gerui can disobey it." Kal'tsit said calmly, "At the same time, the Shadow Guards are also coming to the capital. They are the reason why Wei Yanwu was able to seize Dragon Gate from Black Snake. Now they are also the object of suspicion of the True Dragon."

Black Snake's move was indeed brilliant. Longmen's defense would be the most lax in history. If you don't take what God has given you, you will suffer the consequences. Zhuang Ning even feels it is a pity if he doesn't take action now.

But his eyes were still cold. Anyone who tried to pick his peaches or take his prey would die.

"Has Chen Huijie succeeded?"

"Just a week ago, she took over Wei Yanwu's seal. Now she is the Governor of Longmen. You and I should call her Lady Chen."

Zhuang Ning smiled slightly: "That's good, Kal'tsit, let me meet her."

"You just woke up." Kal'tsit said from a doctor's perspective.

"We don't have much time. The black snake is still watching us. It may act at any time, most likely after Wei Yanwu leaves. How long will it take for my injury to heal? Should I just sit there and do nothing?" Zhuang Ning sat up, and immediately felt a tearing pain in his back, but he seemed to feel nothing. He slept for too long and dreamed of something he longed for. He was more excited than ever before: "I have something to tell her."

Kal'tsit sighed helplessly and stood up, knowing that she couldn't convince him.

"Wait." Before that, Zhuang Ning called her, "I did say some bad things to you before. I was too emotional at that time."

"Kal'tsit, one day, Rhodes Island will be returned to you. Now please leave everything to me, and I will take care of everything." He said quietly, "I hope there will be no rift between us."

"There is no barrier between us." Kal'tsit's green skirt swayed. She had cried once before, so she hid all her little thoughts in her heart: "Everything is as you wish."

As if accepting her fate, she turned away calmly.

Zhuang Ning closed his eyes. Kal'tsit was mature after all and could distinguish right from wrong.

In a few minutes, Chen Huijie hurried over, dressed in formal attire, with an anxious look on his face, and almost rushed into the ward.

In just half a month, she seemed to have grown up a lot, with her hair tied up in a bun, and she looked more dignified and majestic. The Lord of Longmen walked into the ward quietly without making any sound, for fear of disturbing Zhuang Ning.

"Miss Chen... Lord Chen, you are here. I cannot perform the ceremony. Please bear with me." Zhuang Ning smiled.

Chen Huijie shook her head and was silent for a while: "Just call me like before."

"Then I'll just call you Miss Chen." Zhuang Ning didn't resist. "No one is stopping you, right? If so, you can tell me. We are absolutely professional in this field."

She didn't answer, but shrank her head. She didn't like such intimacy, so she interrupted Zhuang Ning's topic with an apology: "I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize. It's only natural for me to save you."

"There is no such thing as natural justice."

"Yes, Miss Chen." Zhuang Ning's eyes reflected on her cheek, "We must trust each other as before, so don't feel guilty about me."

He was smiling. Chen Huijie heard the implication of his words. Even if you have seen through my disguise, please pretend that you didn't notice. As long as you pretend that you didn't notice, we can still be the same as before.

——As long as you pretend not to see through it, life will go on.

She nodded bitterly, revealing a faint smile, like a blooming flower: "Of course, our friendship will never deteriorate."

Chapter 42 You Can’t Trust Anyone

After that, Zhuang Ning and Chen Huijie had a pleasant conversation. They talked about everything and everything about Longmen.

From the appointed officials to the selection of candidates for the Chamber of Commerce, he did not miss a single detail. He deliberately did not sound oppressive or serious when speaking, and occasionally mentioned past events, and his reaction was also a faint chuckle.

"It's okay. You and I have experienced much more dangerous things than assassinations." Zhuang Ning glanced at the flowers blooming on the balcony. The ward was very large and he was alone. It would seem particularly empty if no one was with him.

He turned on the TV, his eyes reflecting the light of the screen. The sound of crosstalk came from the TV. Zhuang Ning said with nostalgia: "When we were on a mission, we also encountered thieves and refugees in Ursus. I was stabbed at that time. Do you remember, Officer Chen?"

"I still remember it." She closed her eyes. She must have remembered that it was a very cold day. The man took off his shirt in front of the refugees. He used this action to show that he was harmless, but there were still refugees who slashed him in panic.

"How foolish... At that time, you were not afraid of death at all."

"I was afraid, but I didn't want to kill them. When I saw their eyes, I thought of myself. I had lost my home, was terrified and uneasy, and robbed everywhere with a knife, just to survive." Zhuang Ning said softly, "In Yan Country, people like this are generally called beggars."

Chen Huijie was silent. Begging for life was the greatest desire in troubled times. A mad man was more vicious than a jackal, tiger or leopard. Genes destined humans to do everything for survival from birth. But what did this have to do with her and Longmen?

"Yes, Longmen's prosperity is just a mirage. It is adjacent to Ursus in the north and Chernobyl in the south. To the southeast is the heartland of Da Yan. It occupies an important geographical location. The Rat King and Wei Yanwu rule with power, so it is thriving." Zhuang Ning's voice gradually lowered. "But there are still many such beggars. They live in slums and are easily incited, just like the integration movement back then."

"Hui Jie, you are the city lord now. You cannot trust anyone. Everyone who comes into contact with you will deceive you to a certain extent. Whether it is Shi Huaiya or Lin Yuxia, they are your two pairs of hands, but these two pairs of hands have their own will."

Zhuang Ning seemed to be admonishing a younger generation: "Shi Huaiya represents not only the Guard Bureau, but also the interests of the Business Federation. Lin Yuxia and others represent not only the slums, but also those bigwigs who have extended their hands to various fields... This is my advice, you should think for yourself."

No one can believe it.

This is the situation of a superior, a problem that Chen Huijie must face. Everyone has ulterior motives, and even Zhuang Ning is not considering her. He just doesn't want an ironclad alliance, so he uses his power to create conflicts.

In the past few years, Zhuang Ning has used this trick time and time again and it has always worked. Even if Chen Huijie doesn't believe it, it will plant a seed in her heart.

"Doctor, you said that no one can be trusted. Does that include you?"

She asked seriously, her eyes wide open, as if she was afraid, but she had to hear the answer.

Zhuang Ning reached out his hand to her hair. The setting sun was blazing. He said, "You already know the result."

Yes.

Since other people's words cannot be trusted, how can I be trusted?

"But I still believe in you." The girl said firmly, "You saved me more than once. No matter what you do, I will believe in you!"

She didn't look away.

The footsteps gradually faded away, and Zhuang Ning was alone again, and the smile on his face quickly disappeared.

Do you believe me? But who can say that?

He has a list of names, all of which are important figures in Longmen. He holds shocking evidence of crimes. As long as he is exposed, Longmen will inevitably face an earthquake.

"I'm sorry, Scout, I should have done this myself." Zhuang Ning whispered.

Beside him, Scout's figure appeared.

Zhuang Ning shouldn't have entrusted all of this to Scout, but there weren't many people he was willing to trust.

In the past half month, Scout has sneaked into the homes of the nobles time and time again, threatening them with evidence of crimes in his hands in exchange for their surrender.

Previously, Zhuang Ning sent scouts to carry out assassinations. Rhodes Island's killing was simple and brutal, making many enemies and was welcomed by Wei Yanwu. However, the legacy left by the people they killed was not just simple jewelry, but also the more filthy inside story of Longmen.

This is the doctor's plan. He wants to do what a treacherous minister would do, which is to cultivate his own followers in Longmen.

"What do the big guys say?"

"They are all willing to listen to you and swear allegiance to you."

"Then tell them not to disobey Chen Huijie, be more honest and obedient on weekdays, and don't always think about those negative materials."

This was the answer the girl gave when she asked Zhuang Ning if he could be trusted.

——How can he be trusted?

Letting Wei Yanwu relax his vigilance and taking advantage of the chaos to sideline the girl is what this man has been doing.

Wei Yanwu is a man of tough means, but his shortcoming is that he is too conceited and would never think that an outsider can control Longmen.

That man was wrong. The poor and infected people in the lower city all received relief and medicine from Rhodes Island. The dirty laundry of the nobles in the upper city was also in his hands...

After a period of time, once he has control over the grassroots of the government, Zhuang Ning will be like an ant invading the interior of a giant beast, devouring this huge dragon gate.

As for Chen Huijie, Shi Huaiya, Lin Yuxia...

Ah.

What can they do? They won't even notice that the dragon gate has been hollowed out.

Xingxiong once worried that Zhuang Ning had bad intentions and that these people could not beat him, but this worry was too late.