Online: I Can See Health Bars Chapter 1407 - 630: Misunderstanding (Part 2)

~6 minute read · 1,539 words
Previously on Online: I Can See Health Bars...
The leaders of the Foolish Underworld gathered to discuss how to find a missing person and identified Song Zhenrong, Lu Qiaochun, and Yu Ji as key figures. The Master of Hundred Martial Hall took charge of investigating Song Zhenrong and vowed cooperation, while also dispatching a spy to investigate Lu Qiaochun and Yu Ji, who were with the Rebel Army. Meanwhile, the leaders decided to publicly target the Rebel Army to distract from their investigations. Later that night, explosions and fires erupted across Thunder City as the Foolish Underworld began a violent crackdown, targeting members of the Rebel Army. Song Zhenrong, unaware of the wider plan, was dispatched to investigate the fires near his territory, also concerned for Divine Doctor Ding's safety.

In the middle of the night, someone emerged to cause trouble, which he found impossible to ignore, both emotionally and rationally.

"It must be the work of demons! I heard that during the day an expert killed more than a dozen demons within the city, terrifying those lurking demons to the point they dared not move. Now, as night falls, these demons don’t dare confront the expert, so they turn their swords on the weaker ones!"

"Demons truly bully the weak and fear the strong; they’re born with a wretched nature! Captain Song, with so many demons causing trouble at once, it must have been arranged in secret, this is surely a major case!"

The words from his subordinate made Song Zhenrong frown slightly.

In fact, he had also heard rumors about the Demon Slayer Hero today, as it’s not easy to detect and kill a single lurking demon usually.

Yet that Demon Slayer Hero had consecutively killed more than a dozen perfectly disguised demons, even those hiding deeply, which people were familiar with, were exposed with a slash revealing their true demon selves, gaining immense fame temporarily.

Song Zhenrong admired and appreciated the Demon Slayer Hero’s demon-slaying feats, but by not eradicating them completely, the demons retaliated comprehensively in Thunder City, which wasn’t very considerate.

However, this action also helped the Foolish Underworld easily pinpoint the movements of those city demons.

Tonight, the trouble-making demons, not a single one would escape!

Song Zhenrong, filled with justice and passion, arrived at the nearest scene of flames.

Yet his gaze was met with devastation everywhere.

Crowds of human corpses lay in pools of blood, flickering in the firelight.

The burning houses, with the expanding fire, spread along both sides of the street.

Amidst the sky-high flames, he didn’t see any demon corpses.

All he could see were human corpses, and... a flag bearing the Foolish Underworld emblem, fluttering in the firelight.

"Stop!"

"Who goes there!"

"Captain Song, why are you here too?"

Song Zhenrong was intercepted at the fiery edge.

And among those who stopped him, there was unexpectedly a scout sent from Song Mansion to investigate the situation here.

Originally gone quiet, leading everyone to think something had happened to the scout, now seemed to have been assimilated, merging into another’s Foolish Underworld unit.

"What on earth is happening?"

Song Zhenrong asked blankly.

He came to deal with the arsonists, but as it turns out, the arsonist might not be a demon, but rather... one of his own.

"Captain Song, this place is the hidden site of rebel army traitors, all those dead on the ground..."

Before the scout’s subordinates could finish explaining, a voice was heard from behind, instantly making them tense and dare not utter another word.

"Zhenrong, you are a bit late."

Upon hearing the voice, Song Zhenrong looked up ahead, showing surprise.

"Lord Hall Master?"

Song Zhenrong was bewildered.

He belonged to the Hundred Martial Hall, where under its name, there were five captains, so he seldom saw the Lord Hall Master.

He couldn’t believe that such a seemingly trivial matter of attacking a rebel army base would prompt the presence of this lord.

"Greetings, Lord Hall Master!"

Song Zhenrong quickly dismounted and saluted.

Those behind him followed suit.

"Greetings, Lord Hall Master!"

"Greetings, Lord Hall Master!"

The Master of Hundred Martial Hall, appeared somewhat impatient with these formalities, leading his horse towards Song Zhenrong.

"Zhenrong, you arrived just in time. Come, let’s rest at your mansion."

At my mansion... rest?

Song Zhenrong grew increasingly confused and bewildered.

Looking at the bodies beneath the firelight, he felt a nagging sense that something was amiss.

"Lord!"

Suddenly, Song Zhenrong dropped to his knees.

"I have followed you loyally for years, never harboring divided loyalties, but forgive my ignorance, please make clear, what exactly is happening?"

Song Zhenrong didn’t know that all the shops engulfed in flames, and all the shop staff, were all rebel army traitors.

Where did this information come from, is it... reliable? And why was a sudden raid launched? The shop was so close to his mansion, the task could have been left for him to handle, without needing the Lord Hall Master to come personally.

Moreover, from the start of the operation until the sky-high flames, he had not received any information, almost as if... this action deliberately excluded him...

This strong sense of distrust made the normally slow Song Zhenrong feel immense pressure.

"Zhenrong..."

The Master of Hundred Martial Hall helped Song Zhenrong up, leading him out, and the surrounding people immediately made way for them.

"You’ve been with me for so many years. You should know in your heart how I’ve treated you."

"I will never forget the kindness of Lord Hall Master for nurturing me!" Song Zhenrong once again expressed his loyalty, but at the same time, it was also genuine.

It was this sincerity that made the Master of Hundred Martial Hall unwilling to let others interfere in this investigation task.

"Very well."

The Master of Hundred Martial Hall stopped walking.

At this moment, the two of them were already some distance away from the main group, so whatever they said, the others would not hear any of it.

"Then tell me one thing... have you colluded with the Rebel Army?"

"What?!"

Song Zhenrong felt it was absurd, even unable to understand what the Lord Hall Master meant by this.

That expression, that sincerity, was no different from usual.

But the Master of Hundred Martial Hall still enunciated clearly.

"You just need to answer, yes or no."

"No!"

Song Zhenrong frowned deeply and said with absolute conviction.

"Good, then I’ll ask you one more thing, have you recently had close dealings with any strangers?"

Strangers? Close dealings?

Song Zhenrong’s heart skipped a beat, he immediately realized something, slightly opened his mouth, and looked up at the Hall Master.

Song Zhenrong was loyal, not foolish, and he quickly understood the details.

"It seems I’ve found the right direction."

The Master of Hundred Martial Hall patted Song Zhenrong’s shoulder again.

"Don’t be afraid, this has nothing to do with you, you just need to identify that person, and I’ll handle the rest."

"Lord Hall Master, Brother Diao is not a member of the Rebel Army! Might there be some misunderstanding?"

"Is his surname Diao? Whether it’s a misunderstanding, that’s not your concern, just tell me everything about him."

"But..."

"Song! Zhen! Rong!" The Master of Hundred Martial Hall suddenly grabbed Song Zhenrong’s collar forcefully, and the sudden loud voice startled Song Zhenrong.

"I’m saving your life! Do you understand? I believe you, that you have no connections with the Rebel Army, but in turn, you must clean the dirt off yourself! Xing Xueman is already dead! The Master of Hundred Flowers Hall is dead! Do you understand? They died at the hands of the Rebel Army!

We can only suppress this news for a day; by tomorrow, the streets might be filled with news detrimental to the Foolish Underworld! Before that happens, we, the Foolish Underworld, must act first, and identify the assassin from the Rebel Army who killed Xing Xueman! According to my investigation, that assassin is likely connected to you!"

A series of revelations made Song Zhenrong’s head buzz.

For a moment, it was difficult to process everything.

He stared blankly at the Master of Hundred Martial Hall.

"But... But Brother Diao, his strength is not enough, he couldn’t possibly be a match for Master Xing."

"That’s not for you to worry about, whether he had the strength or not, he has already done it. My patience is limited, you’d better tell me everything about that guy quickly, otherwise... I’ll have no choice but to throw you into prison for interrogation."

Thrown into prison...

Song Zhenrong instantly realized that if he was thrown into prison, it would be over; he would lose his position as the captain of the Foolish Underworld, and with no one to care for his sister, everything would head toward the worst possible scenario.

"..."

After a brief silence, Song Zhenrong began to recount everything he knew about Fang Yu in full detail.

"Forest Snake Gang..."

The Master of Hundred Martial Hall’s eyes sharpened, and he suddenly flipped onto his horse!

"Zhenrong, I trust you one last time! You must immediately go to the nearest site of firelight and inform the other Hall Masters: the enemy is within the Forest Snake Gang!"

Having said that, the Master of Hundred Martial Hall shouted ’hyah’ and rode away!

Amazingly, he was preparing to charge into the Forest Snake Gang alone!

Speed is of the essence in military affairs, a single second’s delay could let them escape!

"Master! Take me with you, there must be some misunderstanding in all this!"

Song Zhenrong was still shouting, but the Master of Hundred Martial Hall was already out of sight.

Career, sister, benevolence, morality...

Numerous thoughts flashed through Song Zhenrong’s mind, and finally... he slowly clenched his fist and rushed to the nearest site of firelight!

...