"What... do you want to do?" Gu Shen finally managed to speak.

But when he heard his own voice, it seemed to float out of his chest and no longer belonged to him.

"You don't have the right to ask questions."

A cold reprimand answered him.

The overhead lights suddenly converged into an extremely hot straight beam of light, enveloping Gu Shen completely.

In an instant, his soul felt like it was being scalded by boiling water!

"On the day of the fire, what method did you use to kill those two Transcendents?" Han Dang stared at Gu Shen.

Under the burning light, Gu Shen howled in pain, veins bulging on his forehead. He didn't want to speak.

But then an angry voice resounded deep within his soul—

"Speak!"

[True Words, activate!]

With a bang, Gu Shen's head felt like it exploded. It was as if an invisible hand pressed his head firmly against the judgment table.

He tried to resist the True Words.

But the voice uncontrollably squeezed out from his chest, hoarse like dried sand grains. "It... was a seal... I used a Transcendent seal..."

Han Dang coldly stared at Gu Shen.

In the domain of True Words, Gu Shen couldn't lie.

As expected, just as he had thought, Gu Shen himself didn't possess the strength to deal with those two Transcendents. He relied on external forces.

"What kind of seal is it, and where did you get it from?" Han Dang calmly spoke, gradually calming down from his rage. He restored his gentle and elegant demeanor.

The darkness around them slowly dissipated.

But the only thing that remained unchanged was Gu Shen still being pressed against the table, his voice being squeezed out bit by bit from his throat.

"It... is... a ruler... I obtained it from A-009..."

"A-009?"

Han Dang frowned, then suddenly realized.

The final doubt was resolved.

Indeed, this was the blind spot in his investigation. Han Dang had previously guessed that the "Transcendent item" was something Gu Shen had possessed for a long time, which allowed him to survive the consecutive Transcendent incidents.

So it turned out... Gu Shen coincidentally obtained the seal from A-009.

"On the day of the fire, it attracted a lot of attention, so you hid the seal under a corner wooden board on the rooftop stairs. And after the incident, you went to the scene of the fire and took it away." Han Dang smiled, crossing his hands. "Gu Shen, I have to say... you are a courageous person. Is the ruler still with you now?"

"..."

A long silence.

Gu Shen's voice no longer trembled.

"No... I put it in the bedroom of my apartment in Da Teng City."

"Oh?" Han Dang chuckled. "It seems you're not that clever either, not carrying such an important item with you... Where in the bedroom did you put the ruler?"

He didn't notice the change in Gu Shen's tone, the subtle shift in his demeanor.

He also didn't see it.

Above the bench behind Gu Shen, a white dress floated in the dark space, gently swaying and descending.

The girl and Gu Shen sat on the chair, overlapping each other.

In the domain of True Words, Gu Shen couldn't lie.

But... someone else could.

Chu Ling, who had established a Mental Link with Gu Shen, was an observer in this dream that couldn't be constrained by True Words or Awakening. None of the dream's rules applied to her.

This was the method Gu Shen thought of at the last moment to deal with Han Dang's interrogation.

This was the thirteenth day of Han Dang's investigation, already in its final stage. He had a strong suspicion of himself.

So in the face of this soul interrogation... even though Gu Shen had the means of Mental Link, he couldn't attempt to deceive with lies. Han Dang was an extremely sharp character, and once he realized that Gu Shen could lie within the domain of True Words, the situation would become unsolvable.

Therefore, he could only honestly confess the existence of the Ruler of Truth.

He had to bear the consequences.

In order to achieve the final Mental Link at the last moment, after Han Dang relaxed his guard.

"I put the ruler in... the third drawer of the bedroom storage cabinet."

...

...

Something was strange.

Gu Shen's aura had changed, it no longer seemed like himself.

Han Dang furrowed his brows slightly, sensing something unusual. But he quickly dismissed it as his own illusion. This kid couldn't possibly deceive him within the domain of True Words.

Now that he had obtained the most important information, the location of the ruler—

Mission accomplished.

Finally... there was one choice in front of him.

Han Dang only wanted to disrupt this interrogation.

There was nothing simpler and more direct than severely injuring Gu Shen.

In the dream of True Words, he only needed to wave his hand to make this kid lie in bed for three to five months.

But soon.

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "p𝑎wread.com".

Han Dang abandoned this thought.

It wasn't that he didn't dare to do it, but that he didn't want to do it.If the fact that he had crippled Gu Shen were to be exposed, it would truly be a troublesome matter. The students under Mr. Shu were very united, and they might do something crazy... Just thinking about that madwoman with the surname Luo gave Han Dang a splitting headache.

"That's it... Once I get the ruler and submit it to the review team, everything will be over."

Han Dang pondered silently for a minute.

It was also a minute of deathly silence in the Veridical Dream.

During this minute, Chu Ling maintained the state of [Spiritual Link], without disconnecting, while Gu Shen was tormented in the long wait, his fate not in his own hands.

It could even be said that life or death was in the blink of Han Dang's mind.

"Snap."

Finally, Han Dang snapped his fingers.

He looked at Gu Shen, a smile blooming on his cold face again: "Alright, let's forget everything that happened here and return to reality. In reality, we will become friends at first sight."

......

......

It seemed like a long time had passed in the Veridical Dream.

However, in reality, the clock seemed to have only ticked once.

In the stairwell, the two men, frozen like stone sculptures, returned to their original state.

Gu Shen scratched his head, "Mr. Han, did you just call me?"

"No."

Han Dang smiled gently, adjusting his glasses, "Did you mishear?"

From below the stairwell came the eager voice of the old lady: "Little Gu, the tea is ready. Hurry up and bring Mr. Han down..."

Han Dang picked up his briefcase, went downstairs to the old lady, bowed slightly, and showed that harmless scholarly smile: "Ma'am, I have other things to do. I won't disturb you any longer."

The old lady stood in place, somewhat embarrassed.

"This... We were having a good chat, why are you leaving so soon?"

She tried to signal Gu Shen, wanting to figure out what had happened while she was brewing tea.

This was a big fish... oh no, a rare guest.

Gu Shen subtly shook his head, indicating that he knew nothing.

The old lady quickly stepped forward, smiling: "Eh eh eh, Mr. Han..."

"Ma'am, you want to ask about the sponsorship, right?"

Han Dang smiled: "You can rest assured, sponsorship is not a problem. I hit it off with Mr. Gu Shen, we had a great chat, so I will cover the renovation costs for the orphanage. Besides, I really do like the flowers on the rooftop. There aren't many people like you in this era, I hope the orphanage can continue."

If it weren't for having seen Han Dang's file in advance, if it weren't for experiencing the Veridical Dream firsthand, and resisting the hypnosis with [Spiritual Link].

Gu Shen might really have hit it off with this "Mr. Han".

And anyone who saw him would think that he was an upbeat, socially conscious young man, articulate and gentle.

"This is the first batch of sponsorship."

Han Dang took out a check from his suit pocket, wrote an amount of one hundred thousand, then signed his name. He looked at the old lady's excited smile and said with a smile: "I will also wire money to the 'Morning Light Orphanage' later."

"Thank you, thank you." The old lady tugged at Gu Shen's sleeve, saying: "Little Gu, don't just stand there."

Gu Shen quickly smiled: "Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Han."

The more kindly and approachable Han Dang appeared in reality, the more Gu Shen, who saw through everything, felt a lingering fear and dread.

This man clearly possessed the Transcendent power to change thoughts in dreams, yet he still wore a mask, tirelessly enjoying people's admiration.

Which was the real Han Dang, the one in the dream or the one in reality?

"Don't mention it."

Han Dang smiled and patted Gu Shen on the shoulder: "I should be the one thanking you."

Seeing the "bewildered" confusion on Gu Shen's face, Han Dang smiled again, said nothing more, just picked up his briefcase and left the orphanage with a spring in his step.