Chen Cha: I Really Deserve to Die!

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

"Old Chen, there's no need to be so polite, please come in."

Ning Zhuo led Chen Cha into the house, invited him to sit, and brewed him some tea.

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

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

Old Chen briefly explained: Chi Dun pursued the Black Shadow Demonic Cultivator, who fled into the Fire Persimmon Forest. The numerous formations within the Fire Persimmon Forest were all activated, temporarily sealing him inside. To minimize losses, the City Lord's side planned to mass-produce Mechanical Fire Apes to replace manual harvesting of Fire Persimmons.

"This is a heaven-sent fortune, little friend Ning Zhuo, your luck is truly good!" Chen Cha said, feeling emotional.

"It's just..." Chen Cha felt as if his tongue was pressed down by a giant rock, making it difficult to utter a single word.

Ning Zhuo observed his expression and took the initiative: "Old Chen, is there something else you find difficult to say? Please speak freely. My Mechanical Monkeys were able to reach such heights entirely thanks to your recommendation. Anything I can help you with, I won't hesitate!"

Hearing Ning Zhuo's understanding, Chen Cha felt even more ashamed, guilty, and sinful.

"I am ashamed, extremely ashamed," he sighed deeply, looking up, then lowered his head and explained the whole situation, hoping Ning Zhuo would privately transfer the research and development identity of the Mechanical Fire Ape to him.

A faint glimmer flickered in Ning Zhuo's eyes.

Fei Si... this Golden Core cultivator has always been one to claim credit and show off. He's capable of doing something like this.

Ning Zhuo knew quite a bit about Fei Si. He had been planning for the Magma Immortal Palace since he was two years old. The four major forces were his key targets for precaution, and Fei Si was naturally among them.

In Chen Cha's mind: A young man like Ning Zhuo yearns for wealth and even more for fame and recognition. He must have put in immense effort and endured great hardship to design the Mechanical Fire Ape. Now, this fruit was about to be snatched away by an outsider. He would surely be unwilling and extremely angry.

Chen Cha had overestimated the difficulty of this matter.

He would never have expected that the hidden matters were so complex and dangerous, even involving the previous bombing of the Immortal Palace.

The reason Ning Zhuo met with Chen Cha was not just to design the Mechanical Monkeys, but also with the intention of actively exposing the Mechanical Fire Ape.

He took one step, but calculated at least three.

Bombing the Immortal Palace was just the first step. How should he guard against the investigation after the bombing? This was something Ning Zhuo had been considering for a long time.

Before, I had already prompted Chen Cha, using the Flying Disc Workshop, to produce quite a few Mechanical Monkeys and sell them externally.

Now, Fei Si is interfering, asking me to transfer the Mechanical Monkeys. Isn't this protecting me?

Good, another layer of cover.

Thinking this, Ning Zhuo decided to agree.

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

Disbelief, anger, hatred, unwillingness, awe... a complex mix of emotions showed on his face.

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

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

But in the end, Ning Zhuo didn't do so.

His face alternated between red and green, and he stared at Chen Cha, his lips moving, only emitting a few indistinct syllables, as if cursing.

Chen Cha was filled with immense guilt, the sense of sin in his heart almost suffocating him.

He proactively picked up the teapot and refilled Ning Zhuo's hot tea. "Little friend Ning Zhuo, it's my fault, it's all my fault. You can hit or scold me all you want!"

Ning Zhuo gritted his teeth and finally stood up in anger. As a young man facing such a situation, how could he possibly endure it? He first glared fiercely at Chen Cha, but in the end, he didn't scold him. Instead, he walked around the small house in front of Chen Cha.

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

Seeing this scene, Chen Cha was at a loss, wanting to persuade and comfort him, but lacking the right words. He felt so guilty he wanted to burrow into the ground on the spot.

Ning Zhuo walked back and forth several times, then stood by the wall and suddenly punched it hard.

He lowered his head, leaving a stubborn, lonely back view for Chen Cha. His thin shoulders and the fist that had sunk into the wall and was gradually bleeding made Chen Cha speechless, his heart heavy as a mountain.

Ning Zhuo stood like a statue, maintaining that posture without moving.

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

After an unknown amount of time, Ning Zhuo finally withdrew his fist and slowly turned around. He looked as if his bones had been removed, his previous spirit and energy 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, Old Chen, this matter cannot be undone, right?"

Old Chen's Adam's apple bobbed, wanting to comfort Ning Zhuo, but he couldn't speak.

Suddenly, he withdrew his hand and slapped himself several times fiercely.

Slap, slap, slap.

He used all his strength, each time hitting his face with a huge, distorted swing.

After finishing, he stood up, cupped his hands towards Ning Zhuo, bowed deeply, and did not rise again.

Ning Zhuo took a few deep breaths, gritted his teeth, and let out a few indistinct whimpering sounds. It was like crying, and also like shouting.

This sound made Chen Cha's heart ache immensely!

Then, Ning Zhuo loosened the fists he had been clenching tightly, took a heavy step, slowly raised his hand, supported Chen Cha's forearm, and lifted him up.

Only then did Chen Cha straighten up. In a short time, his cheeks were already visibly red and swollen.

And when Chen Cha saw Ning Zhuo, his pupils immediately contracted.

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

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

Ning Zhuo spoke: "Old Chen doesn't need to blame himself. Although I've only spent a very short time with Old Chen, I believe Old Chen is definitely not such a petty person!"

"Since things have come to this..."

"Since things have come to this, I can only accept it, can't I?"

Ning Zhuo looked up and sighed deeply, took a step back, his body swayed, and he almost fell.

Chen Cha quickly stepped forward to support him.

Chen Cha helped Ning Zhuo all the way to his seat.

For a long time after that, the two remained silent, sitting opposite each other in stillness.

Ning Zhuo kept track of the time, and when he felt it was about right, he broke the dead silence in the room with a hoarse voice.

"I agree."

Old Chen's heart clenched violently.

"I agree," Ning Zhuo said again.

Old Chen bit down hard on his teeth in pain.

His eyes were also red-rimmed. He looked up at Ning Zhuo, then took out a jade slip from his embrace.

He placed the jade slip on the table, and then quickly pulled out a small cloth bag.

He placed the cloth bag next to the jade slip.

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

After doing all this, he cupped his hands towards Ning Zhuo and bowed deeply once more. Then, feeling too ashamed to stay any longer, he turned and left without a word, departing from Ning Zhuo's residence.

Ning Zhuo was left alone and took a long time to recover.

He had been too immersed just now, and the intense emotions still lingered.