Maybe Lu Xin was too firm when he said these words.
So much so that the whole small restaurant became depressed.
Lu Xin did not deliberately threaten or suppress through mental power, but the hands and feet of No. 8 opposite him began to tremble.
It can be seen that No. 8 seems to be trying his best to stabilize himself, but his eyes have begun to wander.
The determination and pride that he had before, that went straight to his heart, now turned into an empty feeling of powerlessness...
"Ask you?"
Under this pressure, No. 8 endured indescribable torture.
When this kind of pressure almost overwhelmed him, it seemed that a deep emotion of despair finally broke out at this moment. He suddenly slammed the table hard, stood up straight, his eyes were full of bloodshot eyes, and stared at Lu Xin:
"No. 9, you have all the initiative, so are you here to show your kindness?"
"Do you think that I dare not come to you because you just showed a power that makes the whole world afraid?"
"I..."
As he spoke loudly, he couldn't control his trembling, and his voice became undulating, but he still tried hard to say, "I am really confused now, and I don't know how to accurately distinguish right from wrong. However, there are some things that don't need to be explained clearly. I also know what is right and what is wrong. No. 9, your power scares me. I really, I'm really a little scared..."
"But should I really give up because I'm afraid of you?"
"..."
He spoke very loudly and fiercely, and his attitude was extremely fierce, but his eyes were full of despair and powerlessness.
The atmosphere in the small restaurant suddenly became extremely depressing.
The old security guard next to him also became slightly nervous and worried. He looked at the two of them but didn't know what to say.
"Oh yo yo..."
At this moment, in the kitchen behind, the cooking boss stuck out his head. "Eat well and don't fight..."
"Brother, what can't you say properly?"
"If you break something, you have to pay for it..."
"..."
"..."
After the boss's interruption, the atmosphere seemed to relax a little, and No. 8's arm supporting the table was trembling slightly.
It was as if the confidence in his body had been drained from his body, and he suddenly changed from anger to depression.
"No. 9..."
There was a slight tremor in No. 8's voice. "I have been away from the orphanage for many years, and I still remember the expressionless look on your face at that time. I have nightmares again and again, about you at that time, and about our children who died in the orphanage at that time. In fact, I also know that the source is not you, but you at that time were really terrible..."
"So I've always wanted to ask, always wanted to come back and ask you, you..."
"... Have you ever regretted it?"
"..."
"..."
When No. 8 got angry, Lu Xin just sat there quietly without speaking.
He could see the fear and confusion of No. 8, so No. 8's anger did not anger him, but made him feel faintly sad. It was not until No. 8 asked the last question, and looked at him in despair, that he sighed softly.
"No."
He lowered his head and answered slowly, "Because I didn't have that kind of emotion at that time."
"But..."
After a while, he slowly raised his head, looked at No. 8, and said softly, "But when I get emotional..."
"... No. 8, I regret it all the time!"
"..."
"..."
Regret all the time.
When Lu Xin said this sentence, he didn't have a strong feeling, it was even extremely dull.
It seems to be just describing a fact very calmly.
No. 8 had 10,000 reasons to believe that Lu Xin was just perfunctory, but he was suddenly hit by these words.
Because in the entire Qinggang, he may be the only one who understands some of Midnight Court's secrets best.
Only he understood better how terrifying Lu Xin was when he single-handedly protected the entire Qinggang and killed Sword Bearer, one of the ultimates, in the wilderness. He was still intact and emotionally stable and returned to the city.
There is no need for people at this level to lie.
He has more ways to solve problems that require him to lie.
Even for him, lying to someone represents his respect for that person.
"No. 8, I want to ask you to do something for me."
And Lu Xin, after saying these words, suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of relief.
Looking at No. 8 who fell silent and fell into deep confusion and pain, he sighed softly and spoke slowly.
"Begging me?"
No. 8 slowly raised his head, with a look of disbelief in his eyes.
"Yes."
Lu Xin said slowly, "I want to ask you to help me find those children in the orphanage. I know that some people have survived, and I also know that some people will... die forever. Along the way, I have met Teacher Lu, Little Nineteen, No. 7, No. 2, you, and Little Seventeen who have always been by my side, but I still think about the others, all the time..."
"You used to be with Old Director, so you should know them better..."
"I hope you can find them..."
"..."
"This..."
No. 8 never expected that Lu Xin would make this request.
His expression showed extremely complicated changes. He wanted to question, but he didn't know where to start.
The whole person fell into chaos. After a long time, he said, "Why?"
"Because..."
Lu Xin spoke, but slowed down again, as if he was also thinking about what to say.
Repentance, redress, atonement, maybe everything...
But in the end, he just whispered, "Because I promised to rescue them..."
No. 8's expression suddenly became tense.
He looked at Lu Xin in disbelief, his eyes filled with confusion and complicated emotions.
After a long time, he whispered, "No. 9, you have really changed a lot..."
"You..."
"..."
As if knowing what he wanted to ask, Lu Xin looked at him and smiled, "I found what I want to do..."
"Of course, you can also understand it as the spiritual core."
"..."
No. 8's eyes changed, and he subconsciously said, "What?"
Even the old security guard on the side suddenly raised his head and seemed to be very concerned about this issue.
Lu Xin was a little embarrassed at first, but facing his old classmates, who he felt guilty for, he still mustered up the courage and said slowly, "The first half is that I want to help this world establish the rules and order it deserves..."
No. 8 couldn't help but be startled when he heard this. "What about the second half?"
Lu Xin was even more embarrassed. After a while, he said, "In such a world, be a decent and rich person."
"..."
No. 8 was really confused.
Even the old security guard on the side suddenly coughed heavily, as if he had choked on wine.
"You..."
No. 8's sadness and frustration were diluted by these words. After a while, he said in disbelief:
"You have reached the level of fantasy, actually..."
"..."
At this point, Lu Xin had the right to speak, and said seriously, "I can fantasize about everything else, but money?"
No. 8 was immediately choked.
"My wish is to help establish rules and order in this world, and then become a rich person in this world."
Anyway, having said it, Lu Xin felt calm and said with emotion:
"No. 8, when I saw you when I just came back from Kindling City, I envied you very much."
"Because I feel you are very firm and pure."
"Although, judging from what happened this time, it seems that your innocence can easily be taken advantage of, but I still envy you."
"Because you know what you want to do and you really dare to do it..."
"I don't think I can be as pure as you."
He shook his head slightly and sighed, "I originally thought about whether I could become a pure person, but when I interrogated myself, I found that I am really just an ordinary person. I want to live a stable life, and I also like the feeling of making money..."
"Money is a really good thing..."
"You don't need to rob, lie, or even threaten. You can just take what you want from others in an honest way."
"Money can make others respect you, and it can also bring you... a sense of security!"
"Although it is often said that money cannot solve all the world's problems."
"But isn't money that can solve the most problems already the best thing in the world?"
"So, I figured it out. It doesn't have to be so pure. Let's just make life better..."
"..."
Lu Xin, who was touched in his heart, expressed a sigh of relief, then looked back at No. 8, and said softly, "When you recognize yourself, you will become determined and know the direction. Therefore, I also have my own judgment about the orphanage. Just like what you are pursuing may be absolute fairness and justice to your previous companions, but all I want is to fulfill my original promise..."
"So, No. 8, I ask you to help me."
"..."
Listening to these words, No. 8's expression became confused.
"Maybe..."
He wanted to speak, but stopped and slowly smiled bitterly, "No. 9, it's really hard to imagine that you would say these words..."
"Where did you learn it all from?"
"..."
Lu Xin listened to his words and couldn't help but laugh slowly, "Read more books, you can do it too."
"I've been studying since I left the orphanage."
"No. 8, when we first met, you said that my previous grades were not good, but in fact, I already have a college diploma..."
"..."
Although No. 8 has not directly agreed, it can be seen that his attitude has relaxed.
It was only then that Lu Xin finally felt more relaxed.
Compared with Sword Bearer, No. 8's attitude is what he cares more about.
Finally, my attitude and that of No. 8 were unified.
At this moment, I could finally face No. 8 like I really faced my former classmates.
While Lu Xin and No. 8 were talking, the old security guard was silently drinking beside him.
He used a toothpick to carefully pick up the egg whites of the salted duck eggs to drink, taking small bites and eating them very carefully.
Only people who have lived a hard life for a long time will get used to this way of drinking.
As for the conversation between Lu Xin and No. 8, he didn't pay much attention to it. Apart from occasionally glancing at them, most of the time, he just drank in silence, until the surroundings quieted down at some point, and he noticed Lu Xin looking at him.
Then he slowly put down the wine glass, took the rag, wiped his hands, and met Lu Xin's gaze.
"It's my turn, isn't it?"
"..."
Lu Xin looked at the old security guard quietly, and a familiar image gradually emerged in his mind.
"Yes, Teacher Sun."
He nodded slightly and said, "One of Old Director's two most trusted assistants at the beginning, Sun Zhong, Teacher Sun."