Chapter 33: Chen Cha

"Young friend Unlike Ning Zhuo." Chen Cha cupped his hands, forcing a smile.

"Elder Chen, no need for such courtesy. Please, come in."

Unlike Ning Zhuo led Chen Cha into the room, invited him to sit, and poured him tea.

Unlike Ning Zhuo got straight to the point: "Elder Chen, what brings you here today?"

Elder Chen's lips moved, but he still couldn't muster enough courage. He could only say, "There is some good news."

Elder Chen gave a brief introduction: Chi Dun had pursued the shadow-form demonic cultivator, who fled into the Fire Persimmon Forest. The forest's layers of formations were fully activated, temporarily sealing the cultivator inside. To minimize losses, the City Lord's side intended to mass-produce Fire-Exploding Monkey mechanisms to replace manual labor in harvesting the fire persimmons.

"This is a heaven-sent fortune. Young friend Unlike Ning Zhuo, your luck is truly excellent!" Chen Cha said, feeling moved as he spoke.

"It's just that..." Chen Cha felt as if his tongue were pressed down by a giant boulder; even spitting out a single word felt difficult.

Unlike Ning Zhuo observed his expression and took the initiative: "Elder Chen, do you have some other unspeakable trouble? Speak freely. My mechanical monkeys were able to reach the ears of the authorities entirely thanks to your recommendation. If there is anything I can do to help you, I will not hesitate!"

Hearing Unlike Ning Zhuo be so understanding, Chen Cha couldn't help but feel even more ashamed, guilty, and burdened by sin.

"I am ashamed, this old man is ashamed to the extreme." He looked up and sighed deeply, then lowered his head to explain the ins and outs of the situation, hoping Unlike Ning Zhuo would privately yield the research identity of the Fire-Exploding Monkey mechanisms to him.

A glimmer of cold light flashed in the depths of Unlike Ning Zhuo's eyes.

"Fei Si... this Jin Dan cultivator has always been one to claim credit and loves to show off. He is certainly capable of doing something like this."

Unlike Ning Zhuo had a good understanding of Fei Si. He had been plotting against the Magma Xian Gong since he was two years old. The four major powers were the objects he guarded against most, and Fei Si was naturally among them.

In Chen Cha's mind: A young man like Unlike Ning Zhuo would crave wealth and look forward to making a name for himself. He must have put in tremendous effort and endured immense hardship to design the Fire-Exploding Monkey mechanisms. Now that this fruit was to be snatched away by an outsider, he would surely be unwilling and incredibly furious.

Chen Cha had overestimated the difficulty of this matter.

He would never have guessed that the hidden truth was so complex and dangerous, even involving the previous explosion at the Xian Gong.

Unlike Ning Zhuo meeting with Chen Cha was not just for the sake of designing mechanical monkeys, but also to intentionally expose his intent regarding the Fire-Exploding Monkey mechanisms.

For every step he took, he calculated at least three ahead.

Blowing up the Xian Gong was only the first step. How to guard against the investigation following the explosion? This was something Unlike Ning Zhuo had been considering long ago.

"Before this, I had already prompted Chen Cha to use the Flying Disc Workshop to produce quite a few mechanical monkeys and sell them externally."

"Now, Fei Si is sticking his hand in, asking me to yield the mechanical monkeys. Isn't this just covering for me?"

"Very good, that adds another layer of concealment."

Thinking of this, Unlike Ning Zhuo decided to agree.

Of course, he wouldn't just nod directly; instead, upon hearing Chen Cha's words, his expression changed drastically.

Disbelief, anger, hatred, unwillingness, awe... all sorts of emotions appeared on his face, exceptionally complex.

Chen Cha could clearly feel that several times, Unlike Ning Zhuo was about to slam the table and stand up to angrily rebuke him!

Chen Cha was already prepared to lower his head and take the scolding; it was what he deserved.

But in the end, Unlike Ning Zhuo still did not do so.

His face turned pale and red, glaring at Chen Cha, his lips moving, but only emitting a few vague, unclear syllables, as if he were cursing.

Chen Cha was incredibly guilty; the sense of guilt in his heart almost made it hard for him to breathe.

He took the initiative to pick up the teapot and refill Unlike Ning Zhuo's tea: "Young friend Unlike Ning Zhuo, it is my fault, everything is my fault. You can beat or scold me all you want!"

Unlike Ning Zhuo gritted his teeth and finally stood up in anger. As a young man, facing such an encounter, how could he possibly endure it? He first glared fiercely at Chen Cha, but ultimately did not curse out loud, instead pacing back and forth in the small room in front of Chen Cha.

His face was flushed red, his hands clenched into fists, his steps heavy and wide, as if he wanted to vent all the stifled frustration and anger in his heart through the act of walking.

Seeing this scene, Chen Cha was at a loss, wanting to persuade and comfort him but finding no good words to say. He was so ashamed he wanted to crawl into a crack in the ground on the spot.

Unlike Ning Zhuo paced back and forth several times, stood by the wall, and suddenly slammed a fierce punch into it.

He lowered his head, leaving a stubborn, lonely back to Chen Cha. His thin shoulders and the fist that had slammed into the wall, gradually bleeding, left Chen Cha speechless, his heart feeling as heavy as a mountain.

Unlike Ning Zhuo stood like a stone statue, maintaining this posture, motionless.

Time seemed to stand still, and the atmosphere in the room was truly oppressive. Chen Cha could only hear the sound of Unlike Ning Zhuo's angry breathing.

It was unknown how much time had passed before Unlike Ning Zhuo finally withdrew his fist and slowly turned around. He looked as if his bones had been removed; his previous spirit had collapsed, and his face was full of sorrow and helplessness.

His once clear eyes were now filled with despair.

His voice became hoarse, and he spoke with difficulty: "So, Elder Chen, this matter cannot be undone, right?"

Elder Chen's Adam's apple bobbed; he wanted to comfort Unlike Ning Zhuo, but he couldn't say a word.

Suddenly, he pulled out his palm and gave himself several fierce slaps.

Slap, slap, slap.

He used all his strength, each time slapping his own face into a huge, distorted angle.

After finishing, he stood up, cupped his hands to Unlike Ning Zhuo, and bowed deeply, not rising again.

Unlike Ning Zhuo took a few deep breaths, gritted his teeth, and let out a few unclear wailing sounds. It was as if he were crying, and yet also as if he were screaming.

This sound made Chen Cha's heart ache incredibly!

Then, Unlike Ning Zhuo loosened his tightly clenched fists, took heavy steps, slowly raised his hand to support Chen Cha's forearm, and lifted him up.

Chen Cha then straightened up. In just a short time, his cheeks were already visibly red and swollen.

And when Chen Cha saw Unlike Ning Zhuo, his pupils shrank instantly.

He saw the young man's red-rimmed eyes and two clear tear tracks on his cheeks.

"I truly deserve to die!" Chen Cha cursed himself in his heart.

Unlike Ning Zhuo spoke: "Elder Chen, no need to blame yourself. Although I have spent very little time with you, I believe you are absolutely not that kind of petty person!"

"Since things have reached this point..."

"Since things have reached this point, I can only accept it, can't I?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo looked up and sighed, took a step back, his body staggering, nearly falling.

Chen Cha hurriedly stepped forward to support him.

Chen Cha supported Unlike Ning Zhuo all the way to his seat.

For a long time afterward, both remained silent, sitting opposite each other.

Unlike Ning Zhuo had been secretly counting the time, feeling the moment was right, and broke the deathly silence in the room with a hoarse voice.

"I agree."

Elder Chen's heart gave a fierce twitch.

"I agree." Unlike Ning Zhuo said again.

Elder Chen bit his lip in pain.

His eyes also turned red; he looked up at Unlike Ning Zhuo, then took out a jade slip from his robes.

He placed the jade slip on the table and quickly took out a small cloth bag.

He placed the bag next to the jade slip.

Finally, he took out a bag of spirit stones and placed them on the table as well.

After doing all this, he cupped his hands to Unlike Ning Zhuo again in a deep bow. Afterward, he no longer had the face to stay here, said not a word, turned around, and left Unlike Ning Zhuo's residence.

Unlike Ning Zhuo was left alone, and he also took a long time to recover.

He had been too invested just now; the intense emotions and the lingering aftertaste had not yet dissipated. ===== CHAPTER 34 =====