novelraw Chapter 1257: The Dim Life-Lamp
Chapter 1257: The Dim Life-Lamp
Late at night, just before dawn, in a private medical facility under Auston Pharmaceuticals.
“Tang Tianlin” was sitting in a specially arranged office… Appearing under Tang Tianlin’s identity brought him many conveniences.
But ultimately, it was all because House had delegated power to the real Tang Tianlin—Mr. House had long been an old man with one foot in the grave. He no longer had the energy to manage all the assets under his name.
House had no heirs, nor anyone he could truly trust. But he could rely heavily on Tang Tianlin, because Tang Tianlin could be considered a copy of Mr. House.
His feelings toward Tang Tianlin were naturally unlike how he viewed outsiders—for someone who would sooner or later serve as his backup organ supply, there was no reason not to treat him well.
Tang Tianlin even held the same level of authority as House in allocating the group’s funds… One could say that, as long as House didn’t personally give contrary orders, Tang Tianlin could fully represent Mr. House and make use of all resources within the entire group—though this didn’t include House’s private assets.
Unfortunately, the real Tang Tianlin had never known any of this—he was still immersed in the fantasy of being a high-level executive in Auston Pharmaceuticals’ business empire, wielding immense power.
House had been quietly observing and allowing Tang Tianlin to grow—not for any other reason, but simply because House had the ability to directly control Tang Tianlin.
Just like Luo Qiu could awaken Tang Tianlin’s true memories through specific codes, Mr. House also possessed this set of triggers—but at this point, Mr. House no longer had the chance to use them.
And he had no intention of giving House that chance, either.A few hours earlier, inside an Auston Pharmaceuticals factory, he had contacted the real Tang Tianlin and used the code to awaken his primary personality. After obtaining Mr. House’s intel, he rushed straight to the hospital and instructed his people to prepare certain arrangements.
“Assistant Tang, everything is ready just as you instructed.”
At that moment, a young man about the same age as Tang Tianlin hurried in—Tang Tianlin, as Mr. House’s personal assistant, had no others in that position. But Tang Tianlin himself had four personal assistants assigned under him, all considered his trusted aides.
“Then let’s begin.” “Tang Tianlin” nodded.
During the period when he was hunted down and went missing at sea, he had spent nearly all his time mimicking and studying Tang Tianlin’s every detail—this wasn’t difficult. Whether Tang Tianlin’s physical appearance or personality, he had participated in their creation… only the recovery period after plastic surgery took time.
He had always been waiting for an opportunity.
The last time Tang Tianlin appeared alone in the private club had been a perfect one.
“Is there anything else?” “Tang Tianlin” looked at his assistant, who seemed hesitant to speak.
“Mr. Tang…” This assistant had served Tang Tianlin for quite some time and naturally understood Tang Tianlin’s ambition toward Auston Pharmaceuticals. Now, recalling what the “Tang Tianlin” before him intended to do, he couldn’t help feeling uneasy. “Mr. House… he…”
“Tang Tianlin” replied, “Anything beyond this is none of your concern. Just follow my instructions… Without House, do you really think Auston Pharmaceuticals is something I can’t handle?”
Cold sweat trickled down the assistant’s back. In his heart, he thought… So the moment has finally come: he’s going to seize Auston Pharmaceuticals.
In the business world, events like this were countless—especially since Mr. House had no heirs. Would they just wait for him to die and let his wealth be confiscated and scattered to who-knows-where?
Naturally, when it’s time to make a move, one must make a move…
Mr. House had granted Mr. Tang far too much power… the assistant sighed inwardly, thinking that Auston Pharmaceuticals was soon going to change hands.
…
On the hospital bed, only the instruments continued to beep… House slowly opened his eyes.
Weak. Powerless. Even staying conscious felt like a burden pushing his heart to the limit… House was deeply resentful—that man wasn’t Jimmy. He looked identical, but he wasn’t Jimmy!
Jimmy would never have eyes like that… Those were Qin Zheng’s eyes.
When did Qin Zheng replace Jimmy and infiltrate his side… Did it begin after he went missing at sea a few months ago?
Since being admitted to the hospital, Mr. House had been in a blurry, half-conscious state and could rarely remain awake.
Each time he woke up lasted no more than ten minutes. He knew this had to be Qin Zheng’s doing… ordering the doctors to drug him.
This was revenge… After regaining rare clarity, House felt even more terrified—but he refused to sit and wait for death.
It was almost dawn… He was alone inside the monitoring room, and the nurse in the observation room outside had fallen asleep at her desk.
He had always been monitored by several doctors and nurses, watching his condition closely… Now, with no trusted person at his side, surrounded by cold machinery, a wave of bleakness washed over him.
“I will not give up…”
His desire to live gave him a final surge of strength… House forced himself upright, pulled out the tubes, and removed the oxygen tank.
He had to escape… Auston Pharmaceuticals was still his. Even if Jimmy held equal power, once he appeared, he could naturally reclaim everything!
His movements were incredibly slow—every step required him to stop and rest, gasping for air… Even with supplemental oxygen, his body couldn’t endure it.
House carefully pushed the door open just a crack… There was still a bodyguard standing outside. House didn’t dare make a noise—he didn’t know if the guard had already defected and was placed here to watch him—or even the entire hospital.
He couldn’t determine how long Qin Zheng had been impersonating Jimmy, nor how many people were already under his control—this was what “barely able to move” truly meant.
House anxiously observed, fearing discovery, and fearing the sleeping nurse would suddenly wake… This was his only chance.
Then, perhaps fortune hadn’t abandoned him yet… The guard outside suddenly took a phone call and walked away!
House didn’t hesitate—he rushed out, wearing only his hospital clothes and barefoot down the hallway… He couldn’t get far; his body was too weak.
But he found a hiding place—an empty doctor’s office!
A telephone!
Excellent!
He nearly shouted for joy.
Mr. House lunged toward the desk and grabbed the phone with trembling hands… There was no one in Auston Pharmaceuticals he could trust, and even if there were, he couldn’t be sure they hadn’t switched sides.
Mid-level staff? He didn’t even know their personal numbers… His mansion’s butler? Could he have been bribed too?
The police!
Mr. House quickly dialed.
“Hello, this is the XXX precinct. What’s the situation?”
“I… I’m Mr. House… I—I’m the chairman of Auston Group… I… I’ve been imprisoned, please… please save me… hurry…”
“You’re the chairman of Auston Group? And I’m the King of Heaven. I’m warning you, making false reports is a serious—”
“Hello… hello!? I’m really… DAMN IT!” House gritted his teeth and dialed again.
But to his frustration, the officer still refused to believe him… It made no sense! Even a pig would notice something was wrong after multiple desperate calls!
Right then, rapid footsteps sounded outside the hallway.
“He couldn’t have gone far! Search every room! Assistant Tang said one million for whoever finds him!”
House tensed up. He didn’t know when they would break in—maybe the next second… He clenched his teeth, making up his mind.
This might be his only chance…
He picked up the phone again, this time dialing an international number.
After what felt like an eternity, he broke into a sweat—fortunately, the call connected.
A deep, magnetic young man’s voice answered, and Mr. House felt like he had heard salvation.
“You have ten seconds to speak a name I know and explain why you have my private number.”
“Oh… dear Wally, my old friend, you won’t forget me… I’m House!!”
“House? Which House?”
“Auston Pharmaceuticals… my dear friend, don’t forget me!”
“I remember now… Auston, my old friend, have you finally come to your senses?”
Mr. House gritted his teeth. “Wally, my subordinates… they betrayed me. They’ve confined me… He wants to take everything from me. You must help me! H-help me!”
“Oh, my old friend, it seems your situation really is quite bad. But my previous terms haven’t changed… Old friend, I hope you can earn my friendship.”
Mr. House hurriedly said, “Wally, I’m willing to offer everything I have to your family, all my wealth, and become your servant…”
“Hey buddy, our wealth is enough to last us into the next century. Your wealth means nothing to us. You’re in China right now, right? That’s a restricted zone for us. We can’t risk entering just for your money… though you could come out.”
“If I could leave, I wouldn’t even need to—” Mr. House wanted to curse, but didn’t dare. “Wally, I know what your family wants… I can give it to you! But only if you rescue me first and… and cure me!”
“Good friend, you’ve finally come around. I’ve waited far too many years to hear you say that… sixty or seventy, was it? Trust me, you will one day see how wise this decision of yours is. House, aren’t you going to tell me where you hid the item?”
“You must first promise me what you owe me… after I recover, I’ll hand it over!”
“That’s not difficult. We can’t enter China personally, but we have plenty of servants… In two days at most, you’ll feel the air of freedom again.”
When the call ended, Mr. House collapsed to the floor in relief… Two days. Just two more days!
Bang—!
The office door was suddenly kicked open. Two men entered, switched on the lights, and upon seeing Mr. House collapsed on the floor, quickly reported through their radio, “Reporting in, we’ve found him!”
The two grabbed him roughly and lifted him up.
“You… let go of me… let go… Do you know who I am!? I’m House… I’m your real boss… I’m— let go!! Let… go…”
The two ignored him completely, dragging Mr. House back to the monitoring room, forcing him onto the bed. A doctor approached with a syringe.
“You’ll… you’ll regret this… all of you…!!”
His voice faded as Mr. House’s eyelids slowly shut…
…
“Tang Tianlin” slowly removed his earpiece.
On the monitor, he watched House struggle on the bed before falling asleep, his expression calm.
He had no intention of interrogating House. The old man would never cooperate or submit, but he would absolutely cling to hope—so all he needed to do was give him a little.
“Within two days…” “Tang Tianlin” fell into deep thought. “Who exactly are these people… It doesn’t look like the same group that took Teacher back then…”
…
…
On the chessboard.
The black queen captured a white pawn… Reaching this point, Luo Qiu happily conceded.
Ever since he was given the freedom to turn the transaction trigger on and off, Boss Luo had returned to “rest mode” after the South America trip.
He didn’t plan to attract any new customers before leaving the country anyway—just a few days left, perfect for recharging.
His life could stretch far beyond ordinary lifespans, and from the beginning he had never intended to become a machine that only fulfilled transactions.
It was very much the kind of business where you either don’t open at all, or open once and earn for three years.
Playing chess was simply a way to relax—mainly because You Ye had been busy designing a new area for the “Lord God” game lately. Boss Luo thought balancing work and rest was better than nonstop grinding, so he pulled OL-You Ye away to play chess and spend the evening together.
This was already their fifth game.
“I’m feeling pretty defeated. I’ve already lost five in a row,” Luo Qiu said with a smile.
He felt that since he was cared for so much in daily life, if he didn’t exercise his mind, it might rust… though it didn’t help.
Without cheating, Boss Luo would always be crushed by Miss Maid’s intellect.
“Master, I’ll remove my queen for this round,” Miss Maid said gently, reaching to reset the board.
But at that moment, a faint glow lit up on the floor beside them. A massive black cabinet—the club’s Ark of the Covenant—slowly rose.
The door of the Ark of the Covenant swung open.
One of the inner lamps flickered.
Luo Qiu glanced over in surprise—he recognized only a few of the lamps inside, the ones belonging to Black Souls he himself had transformed.
The rest were inherited from the previous owner and later entrusted to You Ye.
This lamp had originally been bright—meaning the Black Soul was active, not resting or dormant.
“This is… No. 9’s lamp,” Miss Maid said softly, brows knitting.
It should have been glowing brightly, but now the light was dim—dimness meant the Black Soul was weakened, possibly nearing death.
(End of Chapter)