Chapter 23: Chen Cha: I Am Truly Despicable!

“Friend Ning Zhuo,” Chen Cha clasped his hands in greeting, forcing a smile.

“Elder Chen, there’s no need to be so formal. Please, come in.”

Ning Zhuo ushered Chen Cha into the house, invited him to take a seat, and brewed tea for him.

He went straight to the point: “Elder Chen, what brings you here?”

Elder Chen’s lips moved, but he couldn’t summon enough courage. He could only say, “I bring good news.”

Elder Chen gave a brief summary: Chi Dun pursued the demonic cultivator in the black shadow, who fled into the Forest of Fire Persimmons. The intricate formations of the forest were fully activated, temporarily sealing the enemy inside. To minimize losses, the city lord’s faction planned to mass-produce mechanical Fire-Explosion Monkeys to replace manual harvesting of fire persimmons.

“This is a windfall beyond imagination! Friend Ning Zhuo, your luck is truly remarkable,” Chen Cha said, speaking with heartfelt emotion.

“But…” Chen Cha felt his tongue weighed down by a boulder; even uttering a single word was difficult.

Ning Zhuo observed his expression and took the initiative: “Elder Chen, is there something else troubling you? Please, speak freely. My mechanical monkeys gained recognition only thanks to your recommendation. Anything I can help you with, I will do without hesitation!”

Hearing Ning Zhuo’s understanding, Chen Cha felt even more ashamed, guilt-ridden, and burdened by a sense of wrongdoing.

“Shameful—utterly shameful, I am truly disgraced.” He raised his head in a long sigh, then lowered it, explaining the situation in detail. He hoped Ning Zhuo would privately transfer the identity of the Fire-Explosion Monkey’s inventor to him.

A faint gleam flickered in Ning Zhuo’s eyes.

“Fei Si… This Golden Core cultivator is always eager to claim credit and put on a show. He’s certainly capable of such schemes.”

Ning Zhuo knew Fei Si well. From the age of two, he had been plotting for the Lava Immortal Palace. The four great powers were his primary targets—Fei Si among them.

In Chen Cha’s mind, a young man like Ning Zhuo would crave wealth and the chance to make a name for himself. Designing the mechanical Fire-Explosion Monkeys must have taken immense effort and hardship. Now, the fruit of his labor was to be taken by another; surely he’d feel unwilling and furious.

Chen Cha had overestimated the difficulty of the matter.

He never imagined that hidden layers would be so complicated and perilous, even entangled with the previous bombing of the Immortal Palace.

Ning Zhuo’s meeting with Chen Cha wasn’t just to design the mechanical monkeys—he also intended to deliberately expose the Fire-Explosion Monkey.

He played his moves with at least three steps ahead in mind.

Blowing up the Immortal Palace was only the first step; how to handle the subsequent investigation was something Ning Zhuo had long considered.

“Earlier, I had already prompted Chen Cha to use the Flying Disk Workshop to produce numerous mechanical monkeys and sell them outside.”

“Now, Fei Si’s involvement means he wants me to transfer the mechanical monkey’s patent. Isn’t this just shielding me?”

“Well, it adds another layer of cover.”

Thinking this, Ning Zhuo decided to agree.

Of course, he wouldn’t simply nod. Instead, upon hearing Chen Cha’s words, his expression changed dramatically.

Emotions of disbelief, anger, hatred, unwillingness, and awe all flashed across his face, incredibly complex.

Chen Cha could clearly sense that Ning Zhuo was several times on the verge of slamming the table and rebuking him in fury!

Chen Cha had steeled himself, ready to bow his head and take whatever scolding came—he deserved it.

But in the end, Ning Zhuo did not do so.

His face flushed from red to pale, glaring at Chen Cha, lips moving, uttering only a few indistinct syllables, as if cursing.

Chen Cha’s guilt was overwhelming; the weight of his remorse nearly suffocated him.

He took the initiative to refill Ning Zhuo’s cup with hot tea. “Friend Ning Zhuo, it’s my fault—my fault entirely. Scold me as you wish!”

Ning Zhuo gritted his teeth, finally rising in anger. As a young man facing such injustice, how could he be expected to endure? He glared fiercely at Chen Cha, yet ultimately said nothing, instead pacing about the small room.

His face was flushed, fists clenched, stride lengthening as if to vent all his frustration and fury through movement.

Chen Cha watched, helpless and lost for words, wanting to comfort but unable to find anything fitting. His shame made him wish he could burrow into the earth.

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

He bowed his head, leaving behind a stubborn, lonely silhouette for Chen Cha to see. His thin shoulders and the bleeding fist embedded in the wall left Chen Cha speechless, his heart heavy as a mountain.

Ning Zhuo was like a statue, holding the pose without moving.

Time seemed to freeze; the atmosphere in the room was suffocating. Chen Cha could only hear Ning Zhuo’s angry, ragged breathing.

It was unclear how much time passed before Ning Zhuo withdrew his fist and slowly turned around. He seemed drained of all vitality, his demeanor fallen, sorrow and resignation etched across his face.

His once-clear eyes were now filled with despair.

His voice was hoarse and struggled to emerge: “So, Elder Chen, this matter cannot be undone, can it?”

Elder Chen’s throat worked, trying to offer comfort, but he could not utter a word.

Suddenly, he raised his hand and gave himself several hard slaps.

The sound echoed—each slap twisted his face dramatically.

Afterward, he stood, clasped his hands in salute to Ning Zhuo, and bowed deeply, remaining bent.

Ning Zhuo took several deep breaths, gritted his teeth, and let out a few ambiguous, muffled cries. It sounded like weeping—like a howl.

The sound pained Chen Cha deeply!

Then Ning Zhuo released his tightly clenched fists, took a step heavy as lead, and slowly reached out to support Chen Cha’s forearm, lifting him upright.

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

When Chen Cha looked at Ning Zhuo, his pupils contracted.

He saw the young man’s reddened eyes and two clear streaks of tears on his cheeks.

“I truly deserve death!” Chen Cha cursed himself inwardly.

Ning Zhuo spoke: “Elder Chen, please don’t blame yourself. Though our acquaintance is short, I believe you would never act as a petty man.”

“What’s done is done…”

“What’s done is done, and I must accept it, mustn’t I?”

Ning Zhuo raised his head in a long sigh, stepped back, staggered, nearly falling.

Chen Cha hurried forward to support him.

He helped Ning Zhuo back to his seat.

Afterwards, both sat in silence for a long time, facing each other in desolate quiet.

Ning Zhuo kept track of time, and when he felt the moment was right, he broke the oppressive silence with a hoarse voice.

“I agree.”

Elder Chen’s heart clenched painfully.

“I agree,” Ning Zhuo repeated.

Elder Chen bit back his pain.

His eyes grew red as he looked at Ning Zhuo, then took out a jade slip from his robe.

He placed the jade slip on the table, then quickly produced a small cloth pouch.

He set it beside the jade slip.

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

After this, he clasped his hands at Ning Zhuo and bowed deeply once more. Having no face to remain, he turned and left without a word, departing Ning Zhuo’s residence.

Ning Zhuo, left alone, took a long time to recover.

He had been too absorbed, the powerful emotions still lingering.