Chapter 99: Name and Profit, Love and Hate

In the secret room of the inner prison, Jin Zhu pinched and broke the wine cup in his hand, letting the blue and white porcelain fragments stab into his palm, dripping blood.

He slowly released his hand, letting the broken pieces mixed with fresh blood fall onto the table. "Little Doctor Chen, my Secret Spy Department is never a benevolent place. When outsiders say we are arrogant, domineering, sinister, and vicious, I never explain because we are exactly like that. Whether it's me, or Yun Yang and Ming Tu, we must first step on the corpses of our colleagues to climb up, and then step on the corpses of others to take revenge."

Jin Zhu used the white cloth on the Ba Xian table to wipe the fresh blood from his hand and said slowly and methodically, "So, whether you resent me or hate me, you must wait until you climb to my position before you say anything. Rest assured, I will not plot against your promotion. As long as you can help me exterminate the entire Liu family, our promise will be forever effective."

Chen Ji said seriously, "Master Jin Zhu, I can understand you."

Jin Zhu said calmly, "You cannot understand."

However, Chen Ji truly understood.

When Chen Ji was hiding in Liu family village, he knew he wouldn't be hiding for long. What was coming would eventually come.

Jin Zhu!

He saw Jin Zhu in the crowd, smiling with narrowed eyes, waving at him, signaling him to follow. Then, without saying anything, he turned and merged into the crowd.

He knew what it felt like to take revenge for one's parents. You must first turn yourself into a madman, then endlessly sink into a paranoid world without finding liberation.

Chen Ji pondered for a moment and said, "Master Jin Zhu, I can help you take revenge."

The next second, Jin Zhu's expression changed. He smiled kindly, "Then that's good, that's good."

He stood on the chair and untied the iron chains for Chen Ji. He then helped Chen Ji sit down and handed him chopsticks and a wine cup. "As long as you are willing to help me, you are my close brother."

Everyone in the Secret Spy Department was like a madman, their expressions changing extremely quickly. As long as there were common interests, any past grudges could be temporarily set aside.

Chen Ji sat silently in front of the table.

Seeing that he wasn't touching his chopsticks, Jin Zhu actively picked up a piece of hong shao rou and put it in his bowl. "I know you are also a vengeful person, but it doesn't matter. As long as the entire Liu family is killed, you can seek revenge on me however you want. You want to clear the prince and the county princess's names, right? Everyone is just getting what they need. I only want the Liu family to die. I can turn a blind eye to everyone else."

Chen Ji still did not answer.

Jin Zhu laughed, "You already regard the prince and the county princess as friends, right?"

Chen Ji shook his head. "No, just mutual utilization."

Jin Zhu chuckled, "No need to deny it, it's as clear as a mirror in my heart."

Chen Ji hesitated for a moment, turned his head to Bai Li, and said, "County princess, you all go back first. I just remembered I still have some matters to handle."

Saying that, he jumped down from the cart and chased after Jin Zhu's figure.

Liu Qu Xing sat on the carriage and shouted towards Chen Ji's back, "Hey, this isn't just an excuse to avoid treating us, is it? We still have to go to Ying Xian Lou later. Come back early!"

Chen Ji picked up the wine cup and drained the yellow wine in one gulp. "Then I don't need to say much. I came to help the prince and the county princess clear their names, and I also hope that Master's great enmity is reported."

Jin Zhu laughed heartily, "Good, good, good, this is the way. Why do we need to hide when we meet each other honestly?"

But Chen Ji did not answer.

His face was calm, looking at Jin Zhu's back in front of him, vaguely visible in the crowd.

Jin Zhu's steps never stopped. He led Chen Ji around who knows how many street corners until the pedestrians gradually thinned out. Only in a dead alley did he stop and turn around.

Chen Ji put down the wine cup and looked at Jin Zhu, suddenly asking, "Master Jin Zhu, how long after your sister passed away did the Neichen appear?"

Jin Zhu picked up a mouthful of food and ate it. "What you actually want to ask is whether the Neichen knew from the beginning about the Liu family's intention to seize by trick and force, yet ignored it, watched my entire family die miserably, and then, at the time when I hated the most, took me under his command?"

Chen Ji did not answer.

Jin Zhu sneered, "The Neichen is exactly this kind of sinister and vicious person. Otherwise, why does everyone call him 'Poisonous Minister'? The Neichen acts without choosing means to achieve his purpose. He once told me that in the world, only two things are the sharpest: fame and profit. He also once told me that in the world, only two emotions are best to utilize: the first is hate."

"The second one?"

"Love!"

Chen Ji was startled.

Jin Zhu poured a cup of wine for Chen Ji, and then filled his own new wine cup. He raised it across the table. "The Neichen's methods are poisonous. He transferred me to Lu City until I inevitably had to fight the Liu family to the death. Is this a conspiracy? No, this is an open scheme. Love and hate as bait, even if you know he is utilizing you, you have no way to give up."

He laughed, "The Secret Spy Department raises secret spies like raising gu. Everyone carries grudges like everyone carries poison. Colleagues undermine each other. The new secret spies are still okay, but the secret spies above Hai Ying completely distrust each other. This kind of tiring life, you think I don't want to escape? But before my great enmity is reported, how can I be willing to leave?"