Chapter 191

"Do you have any unfulfilled wishes?" Chen Guanlou asked again.

Wang Shuner stared blankly, silent for a long while, then his eyes slowly regained a flicker of life. "Thank you. I have no unfulfilled wishes."

"Don't you want to know what happened to your family and friends?"

"My entire clan was exterminated because of me," Wang Shuner said, pain flashing in his eyes, a faint trace of humanity returning. He had never imagined he'd be captured by soldiers. Once caught, once his martial vein was sealed, he knew full well he wouldn't escape—death was certain. But he had dragged his innocent family down with him.

Chen Guanlou fell silent for a moment, then said, "If you have any needs, speak freely—I'll do my best to fulfill them."

Wang Shuner shook his head. He had no demands at all—only to die quickly. He didn't want to live!

Seeing Wang Shuner's death wish, Chen Guanlou feared he wouldn't survive until execution: "With your strength, you could've escaped easily. You were captured because you kept your word, valued loyalty—you're a true man, worthy of anyone's respect. Wang the Hero, you must see this clearly: it was Great Ming Wang and his cronies who betrayed you. You should speak the truth."

"I failed as a man. I blame no one," Wang Shuner said slowly. Now that his heart was dead, the truth no longer mattered. He only wished for swift death.

Chen Guanlou disagreed. Even a Buddha fights for a stick of incense; a man fights for his dignity.

He said solemnly: "No. You joined midway, your strength dwarfed Great Ming Wang's local cronies—exclusion was inevitable. Your capture was no accident; it was a conspiracy, deliberately framed by them. It has nothing to do with your character. Even a saint would've been pushed out. This isn't about virtue—it's pure power struggle."

"Great Ming Wang had just begun to rise, yet his inner circle was already fighting for control, unwilling to tolerate outsiders like you. But Great Ming Wang refused to crush this poisonous tide—so you, Wang the Hero, fell victim to treachery and ended up here. The greatest blame lies with Great Ming Wang himself, then his xenophobic cronies. Wang the Hero, you never did anything wrong. If you erred, it was only in trusting Great Ming Wang, in wrongly joining his ranks."

"But wasn't Great Ming Wang right?" Wang Shuner suddenly grew agitated. "You've never been to Jinzhou—you don't know how the people there struggle to survive in fire and water. Great Ming Wang sought a path to survival for the people. Even if his morals were flawed, even if his abilities were limited, even if he betrayed me—he never betrayed the people of Jinzhou, never betrayed the poor. I only regret that after years of effort, everything collapsed in a single day. The people of Jinzhou will suffer again."

Though Great Ming Wang had betrayed their brotherhood at the last moment, Wang Shuner had never hated him.

If Great Ming Wang served the people, even if he had to die for it, Wang Shuner would willingly give his life.

It was a kind of sacrificial faith.

Chen Guanlou didn't understand—but he admired it.

Because he couldn't do it. Anyone who betrayed him, anyone who schemed against him—he'd repay them tenfold.

He couldn't match Wang Shuner's unwavering resolve.

To stir Wang Shuner's will to live, he spoke a piercing truth: "What if Great Ming Wang changed? What if he became the very kind of man you despise—someone who cares only for personal gain, indifferent to others' fates? What if one day Great Ming Wang surrenders to the court?"

"Shut up!" Wang Shuner surged to his feet, his chains clanking. The two guards at the cell door tensed as if facing a deadly threat.

Chen Guanlou waved his hand, signaling the guards to relax.

"I'm merely exploring a possibility. Human nature changes," he said softly. Like the old emperor—ten years ago, everyone praised him as wise and mighty. Ten years later, ministers cursed him in their hearts as a fool.

"Impossible! Great Ming Wang is not that kind of man! The world is rotten to the core—tyrants rule, land is seized, officials protect each other, offices are sold, the people are exploited, children are sold, citizens enslaved, life is unbearable. The world is beyond saving—it cannot survive without Great Ming Wang. The world needs countless Great Ming Wangs. Even if Great Ming Wang vanishes one day, the seeds he planted will illuminate the world. I won't allow you to slander him."

Wang Shuner's face twisted in fury, teeth clenched, terrifying to behold. He could be slandered, his clan exterminated, his body flayed and ashes scattered—but no one would ever defile Great Ming Wang. That was his spiritual refuge. The body could be destroyed; the spirit would endure.

If even the spirit was denied, if it was stained—what had all his years of effort, the cost of his clan's extermination, amounted to?

Would it not become a joke?

Chen Guanlou felt both admiration and sorrow. Wang Shuner was a pure man, worthy of respect.

He said: "If you want to know what became of Great Ming Wang, you must live—live as long as you can. Before you die, at least learn more of his fate."

Wang Shuner's expression shifted slightly. "Don't worry. Even if I beg for death, I'll live until execution day. I'll make the whole world know: Great Ming Wang's brothers are no cowards—even if flayed alive, our convictions will never change!"

"Fine spirit!"

Chen Guanlou ordered the guards: "Take good care of Wang the Hero. Don't mistreat him. Fulfill any request he makes."

The guards, too, admired Wang Shuner's fearless spirit, and promised wholeheartedly.

After Chen Guanlou's words, Wang Shuner regained a touch of vitality—his eyes were no longer vacant. He sank into deep thought, still speaking only once a day, but anyone could see his spirit was full.

Chen Guanlou sent him writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone, saying: "Write down your thoughts. If you have someone to entrust your words to, say the name—I'll handle it easily."

Wang Shuner hesitated.

Chen Guanlou knew what he feared: "Your case is already closed by the authorities—only awaiting formal execution. Whatever you write, as long as it doesn't violate taboos, no one will inquire."

Wang Shuner was skeptical: "Truly, no one will ask?"

"Will you write about Great Ming Wang's secrets?"

"Of course not."

"Then as long as you don't write about Great Ming Wang, no one cares."

Chen Guanlou gave him reassurance.

The authorities' only directive: follow the palace's orders and execute Wang Shuner formally. As long as no trouble arose, they didn't care. Wang Shuner wanted to write—perhaps record his beliefs and thoughts—no one would interfere.

So Wang Shuner began writing his final testament. But it wasn't truly a testament—it was his life story, a summary of his brief existence.

Each day's writings were delivered to Chen Guanlou by the guards.

Chen Guanlou read them, then locked them in his drawer.

Wu the Squad Leader teased him: "Chen Tou, no wonder you're a scholar—you treat a man about to be flayed alive with such humanity."

"Wu Tou, don't mock me. If it were you, you'd do the same. A man is dying—why not give him a little comfort before the end?"

"True, but he's still a great rebel."

Chen Guanlou chuckled. "What rebel? Here, I only see prisoners—all treated equally."

Wu the Squad Leader blinked, then burst into laughter. "You scholars always have a way with words. Right, right—all are prisoners, treated equally."