“Mr. Gong,” Qin Lan asked, “Seeing as I’m about to die, could you answer a few questions for me, so I can at least die understanding?”

Gong Zhe raised his head, not answering, but not refusing either.

“Do you still remember that fatty named Wang Fugui?” Qin Lan frowned slightly. “What exactly is his identity? Why did he trigger Shen Hong’s rescue, and cause such a commotion?”

“He is a formal member of Shen Hong,” Gong Zhe said calmly, “Number 10.”

Hearing this, Qin Lan revealed a look of understanding, “So that’s how it is…”

“There’s one more question. Why did the Xia family choose Xia Meng as their heir?” Qin Lan had thought about this question for a long time without understanding, and the higher-ups in the Night Watchers were also very puzzled. “Forgive my bluntness, but the young lady is skilled in schemes and tricks, with plenty of intrigue but lacking in straightforward strategy, which is not good for the development of the entire family.”

“Is that your opinion, or the opinion of those behind you?” Gong Zhe suddenly changed the subject, catching Qin Lan off guard.

“That’s what I think, and they…they think the same,” Qin Lan honestly replied.

“The answer is simple. We are happy to see results that the Night Watchers don’t want to see.” Gong Zhe continued, “Why would we choose someone to manage the Xia family that you want to see?”

“What the Night Watchers want to see is a Xia family that is content with the status quo, a Xia family that won’t turn hostile no matter how they are treated, a gentle Xia family, because that is beneficial to them.”

“But the young lady is precisely not that kind of person.” Gong Zhe said, “She is someone who repays grudges, which is different from Xia Yuan, Xia Tan, and her other elders.”

“She loves and hates fiercely, and what she says goes. If anyone dares to play dirty with her, she will return the favor tenfold, a hundredfold.” Suddenly thinking of what that girl had said, Gong Zhe smiled and said, “If anyone dares to spit on our Xia family’s door, we’ll pick a dark night with no visibility and burn their house down.”

“We don’t actively harm people, but we must make those who harm us pay the price, so that next time someone is planning to harm us, they will remember those who harmed us before, how miserably they died, where they are buried, and how tall the grass on their graves has grown.”

Qin Lan blinked, as if he understood, but not completely. “Just…just like that?”

“The reason the Xia family has become what it is now is because there are too many people with principles, and it just lacks someone like the young lady.”

“Moreover, although she is willful, she is not unreasonable, her methods are ruthless, and at the same time, she has her own insights into the overall situation. She admires heroes and has her own beliefs, and will never betray her companions.”

“‘Those who hold firewood for the masses should not be allowed to freeze to death in the wind and snow.’” Gong Zhe recalled, “This is what the young lady said. She asked me to take the family ring and stop the Night Watchers from passing the motion to clear all the encroachers within the containment zone.”

“They are the heroes of various families. No matter the outcome, they all tried their best to end the Nightmare Assault, although they were used, they are still worthy of respect.”

“Such people should not die in such a humiliating way.”

“Hoo…” Qin Lan nodded, “I understand. If it were me, I would also be willing to do my best for such a family.”

“At least I wouldn’t worry that after I die, or after I lose my value, my family would be abandoned, or even purged.”

“Perhaps…” Qin Lan thought for a moment, “This is what you call human touch.”

Gong Zhe looked at him, seemingly suddenly recalling that mission from 10 years ago. He remembered it was a very rainy night, in a dim village.

There were a dozen of them in the group, and at that time, only four people were left alive.

If classified by level, it was only a C-level mission, which was not difficult for Gong Zhe. He had found the clues early on, but he was not in a hurry to end the mission, but was waiting, waiting for everyone to die, and then go to get the final reward, the blank paper.

He would not actively kill people, but he would not save people either, until he noticed the young man who looked like a student. The way he struggled in pain unconsciously attracted Gong Zhe.

Perhaps…it was those unyielding eyes, so much like himself back then.