Luan Xie's eyes bore into Zhong Qing, his expression cold and unwavering. "I don't trust you anymore, Zhong Qing," he said, his voice low but laced with a dangerous edge. "Mark my words. If I have to kill you to defeat Ye Rou, I won't hesitate."
He Shun stood silently beside Luan Xie, his presence calm yet firm. He didn't need to say anything; his loyalty was clear. Whatever happened, he was on Luan Xie's side, no questions asked.
Zhong Qing's face twitched, a brief flicker of pain passing through his eyes. He knew the weight of Luan Xie's words wasn't just a threat—it was a promise. The betrayal, the history between them, had burned too many bridges, and trust was something Zhong Qing couldn't expect anymore. He took a long breath, his shoulders sagging slightly under the tension. "When that time comes," he said quietly, his voice filled with resignation, "I'll do it myself."
The room fell into a tense silence, each of them knowing the gravity of what lay ahead.
The silence in the room felt heavy, like the calm before a storm. Luan Xie's eyes remained fixed on Zhong Qing, studying every movement, every breath. The weight of his words still hung between them, palpable and unyielding. He Shun shifted slightly beside him, his posture tense but ready, as if expecting an attack at any moment. Even though the words had been said, the atmosphere felt volatile, as if a single wrong move could spark chaos.
Zhong Qing remained on his knees, head slightly bowed as if the tension in the air was pressing down on him, suffocating in its intensity. He knew he was not forgiven. No apology, no act of redemption could erase the damage he had caused by betraying Luan Xie. Yet, the fact that he was still alive in this room—after everything—was more than he deserved.
Luan Xie exhaled, his gaze softening just a fraction. The betrayal still stung, but there was something in Zhong Qing's demeanor that felt different this time. The arrogance, the deceit that had once defined him, seemed stripped away. All that remained was the shell of a man who had once stood by Luan Xie's side—now broken, his loyalty shattered.
"I don't know why you're here, and I don't know why you think I would ever believe you again," Luan Xie finally spoke, his tone sharp. "But let me make one thing clear—you're not forgiven and if you try anything, anything at all, to betray me again, I'll kill you," his voice was cold, detached. Luan Xie's eyes narrowed, daring Zhong Qing to argue, to protest, to give him any reason to believe he hadn't changed.
But Zhong Qing didn't flinch. He merely nodded, accepting the judgment. There was no plea for mercy, no attempt to defend himself "I understand," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I wouldn't expect you to trust me, not after everything I've done."
He Shun, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up, his voice low but steady. "Why should we even let you stay?" His eyes were on Zhong Qing, but his posture remained protective, like a shield between Luan Xie and any potential threat. "You say you left Ye Rou, but how do we know this isn't just another trick? You've lied before."
Zhong Qing raised his head slightly, meeting He Shun's gaze with a pained expression. "You don't," he admitted. "I know you have no reason to believe me. But I left him because I couldn't watch him destroy Luan Xie's life any longer. l've...I've done enough damage." His voice cracked slightly, the weight of his guilt clear in his tone. "I want to fix things, or at least try. If that means I have to die to prove my loyalty, then so be it."
Luan Xie's heart twisted at those words, but he didn't let it show. This was still the man who had betrayed him, the man who had once stood by his side and then turned against him. No matter how much Zhong Qing claimed to have changed, the scars of his betrayal ran deep.
"We don't need a martyr," Luan Xie said, his voice hard. "We need someone we can trust. And right now, you're far from that."
Zhong Qing bowed his head again, his hands resting on his knees. "I'Il earn it back, if I can. But I know that might never happen." His voice was heavy with resignation, like a man who had already accepted his fate. "All I ask is for a chance to prove that I'm not the same person I was when I betrayed you."
Luan Xie turned away from him, the tension still coiling tightly in his chest. "We'll see about that."
The three of them stood in silence for a long moment, the weight of the situation pressing down on all of them. It wasn't forgiveness. It wasn't even trust. But it was something--an uneasy truce, at best. A fragile peace that could break at any moment.
He Shun finally broke the silence. "We need to figure out our next move," he said, his tone practical. "If Ye Rou knows where we are, it's only a matter of time before he comes after us. We can't stay here."
Luan Xie nodded. "You're right. We'll have to leave soon. But first, we need to know exactly how much time we have."
He turned to Zhong Qing, his expression hardening once again "You said you stole the information from Ye Rou. How long do we have before he realizes you're gone?"
Zhong Qing hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with the question. "Not long" he admitted. "A day, maybe two at most. He'll notice my absence soon, and when he does, he'll come looking."
Luan Xie cursed under his breath. "That doesn't give us much time."
"No, it doesn't,' Zhong Qing agreed quietly. "But I can help. I know Ye Rou better than anyone. I know his strategies, his weaknesses. I can help you take him down."
Luan Xie's eyes flickered with doubt, but before he could respond, He Shun spoke up again. "If he can give us any advantage, we should take it," he said carefully. "But we need to stay cautious. Ye Rou is dangerous and we can't afford any mistakes."
Luan Xie nodded, though he still felt uneasy. This entire situation was amess, and there was no clear path forward. But if there was one thing he had learned over the years, it was that sometimes you had to make hard choices-choices that came with risk.
"Fine," Luan Xie said at last. "You can help. But don't think for a second that we'll lower our guard around you."
Zhong Qing nodded, his expression solemn. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
With that, the fragile truce was set. But the storm on the horizon was closer now, its dark clouds looming ever larger. Luan Xie knew they didn't have much time, and when the final confrontation with Ye Rou came, there would be no room for hesitation. Trust was still a distant hope, but for now, survival was all that mattered.