Hearing Bai Jinghong’s words, Shen Yaoyao immediately looked at him.
That reaction said everything.
Bai Jinghong didn’t hesitate. He immediately arranged for someone to take him and Shen Yaoyao to the White Tiger Hall’s location.
……
As a hidden power in Dragon Sea, the White Tiger Hall had numerous bases.
Its headquarters, however, was located in a private venue called “Prosperous Jinghong.”
This venue naturally also belonged to Bai Jinghong, and was even named after him.
When Bai Jinghong and his party arrived, people were already waiting at the entrance to receive them.
The front hall of the venue was still open for guests’ entertainment.
Here, the only limit to entertainment was your imagination—there was nothing they didn’t have.
A uniquely styled hall at the back served as the White Tiger Hall’s base.
Bai Jinghong led Shen Yaoyao directly to the rear hall.
Guided by members of the White Tiger Hall, they descended floor by floor, down to the third basement level.
A heavy iron door stood before them, secured by a facial recognition lock.
The moment it opened, a wave of antiseptic smell hit them.
Bai Jinghong was entirely unfazed.
This place’s primary function was detention and administering some “civil” punishments.
For example, people who defaulted on debts, grifters, and similar types would receive some “civil education” here.
In this place, even if you screamed until the heavens shattered, not a single sound would escape outside.
“Young Master Bai…”
As they walked further in, greetings were heard constantly.
A burly man stood guard at many of the doorways.
When they entered the last large door, the stench of blood assaulted their senses.
And Bai Jinghong saw Wu Tao and the other two, their hands tied and suspended, their feet barely touching beer bottles placed beneath them.
The three had already been beaten; their entire bodies were covered in wounds, and their fingernails and toenails had been pulled out.
Moreover, what bound their hands wasn’t rope, but rattan vines studded with barbs.
If the bottles under their feet became unsteady, they would hang painfully suspended in the air.
One could say the only way to ease the pain slightly was to keep the bottles steady underfoot for support.
While this torture wasn’t fatal, it was truly a fate worse than death. It even had a rather peaceful-sounding name: “Swinging.”
Duan Fei had long since prepared two armchairs placed in front of Wu Tao and the other two.
Seeing Bai Jinghong and Shen Yaoyao sit down, Duan Fei directly picked up a red-hot branding iron and walked over to Wu Tao’s group.
“Young Master, ask whatever you want. If they give you even one perfunctory answer, a chunk of their flesh gets cooked!”
Duan Fei was a complete savage; even his cruel smile alone was enough to make one shudder.
Bai Jinghong pursed his lips and looked at Duan Fei. “A Fei, is the life-sustaining ginseng soup prepared?”
Duan Fei grinned savagely. “Rest assured, Young Master. It’s ready. Guarantee they’ll get to drink their fill!”
Wu Tao and the others were trembling from head to toe.
Their eyes, looking at Bai Jinghong, were filled with absolute terror.
This man was nothing like the rumored playboy heir. He was a man-eating devil through and through.
“Very good.”
Bai Jinghong nodded in satisfaction and looked at Wu Tao.
“Mr. Wu, we meet again so soon.”
“Don’t be afraid. I’ll just ask you some questions. As long as you’re honest, I guarantee you’ll be fine.”
Wu Tao dared not refuse.
That scalding hot branding iron was right in front of him.
Even if he didn’t talk, his other two brothers would.
Staying tight-lipped really wasn’t worth it.
“First question: In the Shen family massacre back then, besides you three, who else was involved? What were their identities and names?”
Wu Tao trembled violently and spoke slowly. “There were four other people!”
“Two of them are in Su Province, one is dead, and the last one is abroad.”
“Names and identities?” Bai Jinghong had a cigarette in his mouth, and a nearby underling immediately stepped forward to light it.
“Liu Mo, from Su Province. Runs a business called Mocheng Trading Company, located in Su Province.”
“Wang Qiang. Retired from the underworld and now sells tobacco and liquor. The shop is simply called Wang Qiang Tobacco & Liquor Store, also in Su Province.”
Shen Yaoyao listened very carefully. Back then, there had indeed been seven people who stormed the Shen residence.
“The other two brothers, was what he said true? If he’s lying to me, you can supplement the truth, and I’ll let you go!”
Bai Jinghong turned his gaze to the other two men.
Those two men, desperate to survive, really wanted to tell a lie. Unfortunately, everything Wu Tao said was true. These were all verifiable things.
Both men hurriedly shook their heads. “It’s true!”
“Very good. One is dead, so that leaves the one abroad, right?”
Wu Tao gritted his teeth. “The remaining one is indeed abroad.”
“When we did the job, he was only ten years old!”
Twenty years ago, ten years old.
That meant he was now thirty-five. Everything matched Bai Jinghong’s speculation. That person was the Death God!
“Elaborate on this person.” Bai Jinghong emphasized, mainly so Shen Yaoyao could hear.
Wu Tao didn’t dare hide anything.
He honestly started from the very beginning.
“His name is Gu Tianming. Initially, when we were going to the Shen family, he wasn’t part of the plan. But he said he wanted to do something big, to toughen his nerve, so he volunteered to join.”
Shen Yaoyao was trembling all over. Scenes from the past replayed one by one.
And upon hearing the name Gu Tianming, her first thought matched Bai Jinghong’s: The Death God of the Hell Organization.
The Death God’s name was indeed Gu Tianming. And the age matched. Thirty.
“Continue.” Bai Jinghong exhaled a plume of smoke.
“This Gu Tianming is incredibly ruthless, but his abilities are truly formidable.”
“At ten years old, his hands were already soaked in blood. He gained the trust of a Green Gang boss.”
“However, when he was twenty-five, it seemed he offended some big shot within the organization and was hunted.”
“From what we know, he fled to Dragon Sea for a time and was saved by a woman.”
“And for over half a year after that, we received no news. The last news we got was that he went abroad and became a mercenary.”
Bai Jinghong’s heart stirred.
Following this template, this Gu Tianming should fit another ‘War God Returns’ storyline.
The woman who saved him was probably some family’s eldest miss. She must have given birth to Gu Tianming’s daughter by now.
The plot was just that cliché.
The War God returns, finds his wife humiliated and his daughter living in a doghouse, and with a single command…
“And now? Why did you say he’s not simple? What is his identity?” Having grasped most of the situation, Bai Jinghong asked directly.
Wu Tao gritted his teeth. “He is now the leader of the Hell Organization abroad. His codename is Death God.”
“Back then, we wanted to go seek refuge with him, but we were rejected. This is all I know.”
Upon hearing “Death God of the Hell Organization,” Shen Yaoyao couldn’t remain calm.
So that’s how it was.
The man she had always respected as an elder, the Death God, was actually one of the murderers who slaughtered her entire family.
To think she had been so foolishly loyal, believing the Hell Organization had given her a new life and serving it diligently!
She had even deceived Bai Jinghong to avoid betraying the Hell Organization.
Chen Lin and Gu Tianming were birds of a feather. She had even once harbored feelings of admiration for Chen Lin.
Thinking this over, she felt she had been unbelievably stupid.
After learning everything, Bai Jinghong didn’t take any further action.
Instead, he questioned the System.
“System, is the Death God’s template accurate? Has this plotline been triggered now?”
【Ding, responding to Host. The Death God’s template matches Host’s speculation exactly!】
【Following the plotline down will trigger a new main storyline. One of the protagonists, the Death God, will arrive soon.】
“Do I need to trigger it myself?”
【Not necessarily, Host. Your subordinates, your relatives, anyone connected to you could trigger the plot.】
【Death God: Classic War God Returns template. Discovers wife humiliated, daughter living in a doghouse. In a single fury, ten thousand border mercenaries…】
“Hmph, I’ll be waiting for him. And not only that, I’m going to have some fun with his woman too, make him wear a green hat!”
Bai Jinghong sneered inwardly with cold malice.
