Chapter 164: How Could I, Jiang Changkong, Possibly…

Jiang Changkong did not return but instead found a place to hunt Star Demons.

He hunted all night, only returning to the research team’s base at daybreak.

Early in the morning, Tang Ruoxi and the others were having breakfast when they saw him return. Yun Qing fetched a portion for him.

Tang Ruoxi took a sip of porridge and said, “Last night, Anding Bang called in the middle of the night, saying he wanted to find you.”

“What for?” Jiang Changkong asked knowingly.

“He said he wanted to meet your friend again,” Tang Ruoxi replied.

Yun Qing asked curiously, “What happened last night? Was one meeting not enough?”

“Ahem, last night, Li Changtian brought a young master from the Heng family and got taught a lesson.”

Jiang Changkong cleared his throat and said, “My friend showed mercy for my sake.”

Well, for the sake of those one hundred Star Stones.

“From the Heng family? And he dared to hit them?”

Yun Qing and the others were astonished, then added, “After getting beaten, are they trying to save face?”

“Maybe,” Jiang Changkong said uncertainly.

But it wouldn’t be a problem if they wanted to save face. If they were too strong, he simply wouldn’t show up.

If he could handle it, he’d earn another batch of Star Stones and accompany them once more.

Tang Ruoxi frowned and said, “We’ll find out soon enough. Changkong, try to persuade your friend. If he can avoid killing, he should.”

“I’ll try,” Jiang Changkong said.

Yun Qing and the other four looked shocked. “Your friend dares to kill?”

That was a genius from a Major Province, a major faction. Beating them up was one thing, but daring to kill?

Jiang Changkong shook his head without speaking.

Tang Ruoxi said, “Let me explain it to you in detail. Of course, I don’t know everything either. In fact, Changkong isn’t very familiar with that person either…”

Tang Ruoxi explained the matter carefully. Jiang Changkong’s connection with that person was merely a one-time collaboration.

They had established contact, but no one knew how deep this friendship truly was.

Yun Qing and the others were surprised but said nothing more.

That person was elusive, powerful, and of unknown identity. If he really killed someone, there would be no way to find him.

As for going after Jiang Changkong?

It was just a one-time collaboration. Why would they target him?

If someone were killed, that person would surely cut ties with Jiang Changkong and flee far away.

After breakfast, the group didn’t take on any missions today. Instead, they stayed at the base to study the collected samples.

Jiang Changkong asked them what they were researching.

Tang Ruoxi truthfully told him that they were trying to improve soil quality or, based on the environment and temperature, plant suitable medicinal herbs.

For special areas, they also needed to precisely measure every fluctuation of Star Power to determine what kind of Martial Artist training was suitable.

Jiang Changkong didn’t understand most of it and eventually stopped asking.

If he asked further, Tang Ruoxi, the research fanatic, would bombard him with a heap of professional knowledge.

“Brother Changkong.”

Anding Bang’s voice rang out, his burly figure charging over like a wild bear.

“You still have the nerve to come?” Jiang Changkong said coldly.

Anding Bang paused, stunned. “Brother Changkong, what do you mean?”

“I went through great effort to persuade him to meet you, and you attacked him as soon as you saw him?”

Jiang Changkong’s expression was icy. “If word gets out, people will say I, Jiang Changkong, sold out a friend for a mere hundred Star Stones.”

“Uh, it’s a misunderstanding, truly a misunderstanding.”

Anding Bang looked somewhat embarrassed and quickly forced a smile. “Young Master Heng just wanted to test him. There was no ill intent.”

“Hah, save that excuse for children,” Jiang Changkong sneered.

“Really just wanted to verify something,” Anding Bang said with a bitter expression. “Changkong, you must believe me.”

Jiang Changkong replied coldly, “Don’t call me so familiarly, as if we’re close. Please address me as President Jiang.”

“Fine. Here are the one hundred Fifth Rank High-Grade Star Stones I promised you.”

Anding Bang took out the Star Stones and handed them over, sighing softly. “I came this time to request another meeting.”

“No meeting,” Jiang Changkong said coldly.

“Changkong…”

“Tell Li Changtian to come here and give me an explanation.”

Jiang Changkong snorted. “Has my blade grown dull, or has he gotten too arrogant?”

Anding Bang tensed up. “Changkong, be careful with your words. That’s Young Master Li.”

“It’s not like I haven’t beaten him up before.”

Anding Bang: “…”

You’ve actually beaten up Li Changtian?

Tang Ruoxi was also momentarily stunned but quickly regained her composure.

Jiang Changkong’s friend dared to confront the Heng family. Him beating up Li Changtian didn’t seem all that surprising.

These two really are good friends.

Anding Bang opened his mouth, wanting to say more, but seeing Jiang Changkong’s icy expression, he immediately fell silent.

“Call Li Changtian over,” Jiang Changkong said calmly.

Anding Bang’s face twisted in distress. He sighed and cautiously asked, “Can we make a deal? Could you not mention that I was the one who told you he was here?”

Jiang Changkong paused briefly. “He told you not to say anything? He’s already here?”

“Yes,” Anding Bang mumbled in response.

Now he understood why Li Changtian had forbidden him from speaking—he clearly didn’t want to see Jiang Changkong.

“Fine, I won’t say anything,” Jiang Changkong nodded.

Only then did Anding Bang step aside, take out his phone, and contact Li Changtian.

Jiang Changkong didn’t bother listening to what he said, only knowing that Li Changtian agreed to come.

“Young Master Li and Young Master Heng will be here shortly,” Anding Bang returned to his side, looking troubled.

He hadn’t handled this matter well again. The backer he’d just found might not be so reliable anymore.

Jiang Changkong sat to the side, watching Tang Ruoxi and the others conduct their research as he waited for Li Changtian to arrive.

Half an hour later, two figures finally appeared.

One had silver-white hair and exuded a chilling cold aura—it was Heng Yongxing, whom he had seen the previous night.

The other was naturally his old acquaintance, Li Changtian.

“Brother Changkong! I truly didn’t expect to find you here. It’s been so long—I’ve missed you terribly.”

Li Changtian laughed heartily, a look of enthusiasm on his face as he jogged over, ready to give Jiang Changkong a fierce hug.

“Stop.”

Jiang Changkong extended a finger, halting Li Changtian. “We’re not that close, and it hasn’t been that long since we last met.”

“As the saying goes, ‘A day apart feels like three years.’ How many days has it been now? Besides, we went through hardships together in the Twisted Lands…”

Li Changtian complained, but seeing Jiang Changkong’s expression grow colder and colder, his voice gradually faded. “Alright, fine. You dominated everyone back then.”

Jiang Changkong watched him indifferently without a word.

Li Changtian’s heart sank, and he hurriedly explained, “That night, Ji Chengming and I didn’t run away. We really had urgent matters and had no choice but to leave.”

Heng Yongxing stepped forward and added, “That night, Li Changtian was recalled by his family.”

“You know that’s not what I care about. Anding Bang should have already told you.”

Jiang Changkong’s expression remained calm, but faint golden light flickered around him, and the surrounding temperature began to rise. “The person from last night was very angry. I should give him an explanation.”

“Changkong, don’t be rash, whatever you do, don’t act on impulse,” Li Changtian hurriedly said.

“It was a misunderstanding caused by last night’s urgency, I am willing to apologize,” Heng Yongxing quickly added.

If it were anyone else, simply revealing his identity would have been enough, but the person before him had a past record.

Back in Jiangshui City, he had beaten up a whole group of people whose status was no less than his own, and even early-stage Star Spirits had obediently ended up in federal prison.

“There’s no misunderstanding…”

“One hundred Fifth Rank High-Grade Star Stones!” Li Changtian urgently shouted.

“I, Jiang Changkong, would never stoop to mere…”

“Five hundred!”

“I’ll give you a chance to explain.”

Everyone: “…”