Chapter 108: The Vow

In the silent, dark chamber, no visitors came anymore.

Lin Heng closed his eyes and sat cross-legged on the floor.

This was a prison cell reinforced on all four walls and the door with alloy dozens of centimeters thick. Aside from Lin Heng, no one else was present—and naturally, no one else should be.

Since there was no light, there was no need to open his eyes. Yet, there were faint sources of light in the cell—so dim they could not even illuminate a fingertip three centimeters before an ordinary person’s eyes. But to Lin Heng, those subtle lights were sufficient to make the cell before him shine as brightly as daylight.

Still, he did not open his eyes.

Though he was utterly alone, Lin Heng could sense the presence of others.

Because of those faint lights.

Behind those lights, surely, pairs of eyes burned red and unblinking, staring at him day and night.

Lin Heng was not surprised.

He had long understood that during previous “interrogations,” if he fully revealed his thoughts, he would inevitably endure such treatment.

A life that could continually regenerate with only tens of thousands of cells meant that as long as he retained even one-thousandth of a drop of blood, he remained alive. Yet harboring such dangerous thoughts guaranteed endless scrutiny from above.

But—this was precisely what he desired.

He refused to conceal his inclinations. Though doing so would earn him esteem from many and possibly lead him to the pinnacle of power—what difference would there be then between him and Yang Luo?

A man who blended indistinguishably with the light—how could he possibly resist the overwhelming cage forged from divine might and human desire?

In the darkness behind his closed eyelids, a pair of eyes seemed to appear, intently fixed on him, gleaming with mockery and amusement.

...

Several days ago, the accumulated interrogation records lay on the desk, turned over page by page. An elderly man wearing reading glasses carefully scrutinized the notes. After a long time, he gently set the book down, patting it with hands still strong but veined with age. He then looked around at the two men before him and smiled:

“…This young fellow of ours has truly posed a great challenge for us.”

The two men standing before him were Jiang Chao’an and Lu Yunhui—the latter an elderly official heading a secret department, respectfully called “Director Lu” by both Jiang Chao’an and Xu Jingyuan.

“Old Yang—”

Lu Yunhui lowered his head.

“…These are all the ramblings of a madman. What Lin Heng says is far too radical… I think we should keep him under containment a while longer before proceeding with any work.”

The man called “Old Yang” merely raised his chin ambiguously and shifted his gaze to Jiang Chao’an:

“Xiao Jiang, what do you think this young man named Lin Heng is like?”

Jiang Chao’an, who had remained silent until then, pondered for a moment before responding:

“…I think he is a very earnest person.”

An ambiguous answer, yet Old Yang gave him no chance to evade. Smiling gently yet with an undeniable pressure, he pressed further:

“Then, Xiao Jiang, do you think what he says makes sense?”

Jiang Chao’an’s nostrils twitched, a bitter smile flickering across his face:

“…Old Yang, that’s not a question I can answer.”

Old Yang immediately laughed heartily:

“Hahaha… You, and you—Xiao Lu, Xiao Jiang, you two have grown craftier the longer you work!”

Though laughing, the smile on his face gradually faded until it became a heavy slap upon the interrogation notes.

“What Lin Heng says is reasonable—matters of governance and human nature must be addressed in advance. If some things go undone beforehand, and you only try to patch them up afterward, in the end there will be no way to settle them.

“After a long period of peace, it seems the demons and monsters have mostly been eradicated. But often, the brighter the sunlight, the darker the shadows it casts. Perhaps it is time for a thorough cleansing… The extraordinary—what we call ‘Transcendence’—is both an opportunity and a peril. If wielded well, it becomes a national treasure, a stabilizing force; but if misused, it turns into a legacy some covet for generations—a life of opulence and power… Not merely dukes and marquises, but something that towers above all, enduring beyond all dynasties.”

Old Yang slowly rose from the desk. Though his frame was exceedingly slender, standing there he seemed the focal point of everyone’s attention.

Jiang Chao’an and Lu Yunhui stared at him, not only shocked by his stern, cold expression but also by the weight of his words.

A figure of his caliber did not speak casually. His words unfolded before them like a storm of blood and chaos—portending the fall of many high-ranking officials and the imprisonment of once-renowned figures!

“Old Yang…”

Lu Yunhui’s lips trembled as he looked at the elder.

Old Yang smiled solemnly, commanding respect without anger:

“Hmph, the existence of Transcendents—not only will it shake the natural sciences, but the impact on social sciences will be even greater. In the deep waters, there must be icebreakers. The old vested interests have long been entangled like icebergs… Prepare my car. I want to see if this young man Lin Heng can become a guiding ship of the new era, breaking through the ice!”

...

Lin Heng felt a tremor.

Something seemed to be happening outside the cell. The tremor was so slight he almost thought it was a mere illusion.

—Until the cell’s lights all flickered on, the metal door swung open, and fully armed personnel stood before him, ready to escort him elsewhere. Only then did he confirm that the sensation was real.

He rose silently and followed the staff down a long corridor until entering a semi-open room.

The moment he stepped inside, he saw the elderly man—whose face was unmistakably familiar to him—narrow his eyes slightly.

Aside from the old man, the others in the room froze the instant Lin Heng entered, their gazes fixed rigidly on him as if ready to draw weapons and aim at his head—though that meant nothing to Lin Heng.

Only the old man seemed utterly unthreatened, gazing at him with warmth and appreciation.

Unarmed, the old man gestured to the seat before him, inviting Lin Heng to sit.

Lin Heng complied silently, sitting less than a meter from the elder.

The others’ nerves were taut as bowstrings; the atmosphere in the room felt unbearably tense.

Only the old man looked at Lin Heng and then spoke words entirely unexpected by Lin Heng:

“Officer Lin, you graduated from the police academy—do you remember the oath sworn upon joining the force?”

This question surprised not only Lin Heng but also the others. Out of the corner of his eye, Lin Heng caught the shock reflected in their eyes.

Yet, since this was the old man’s request…

Lin Heng did not ask why. He summoned the oath from memory and recited:

“…I voluntarily become a police officer of the Long Kingdom…

“…To serve the people, enforce the law impartially, uphold discipline strictly, and…

“…To bravely strive to maintain social stability and protect the peace of the people.”

The old man nodded, staring into Lin Heng’s eyes calmly:

“Then, do you still wish to abide by this oath?”

Without hesitation, Lin Heng nodded firmly, as if transported back to the day he first became a police officer.

The old man watched him and slowly smiled.

“Very well, Officer Lin, you may leave this place today. There are many things ahead for you to accomplish…

“…I hope you will always remember the oath you made today.”

Lin Heng said nothing further. He raised his hand to his head in a salute.

At this point, the Long Kingdom chapter can shift focus. Continuing deeper here would be excessive and might even be taboo.

Next, the main perspective will move overseas, especially to the United States—where I plan to craft a Transcendent far more deranged and cold-hearted than any thus far. I have pondered this character for a long time; it should prove quite interesting.

(End of chapter)