Chapter 406: The Mole Within

2022-05-20

A look of helplessness and sorrow crossed Xiao Liu’s face. “You’ve always acted so righteous, but sometimes, extreme justice is just another kind of evil. Once you cross that line, light turns right back into darkness. We all know this world is full of shadows, full of people you think got off too easy.”

“But,” Xiao Liu cut in firmly, “some people deserve a second chance, others don’t. If everyone changed punishments however they wanted, the whole world would fall apart.”

I glanced at Gu Chen. His face showed nothing. I never would’ve guessed things would end up like this. If Gu Chen really was the mole, suddenly everything made sense. To be honest, Gu Chen was the first person I met in the Special Investigation Team, and we got along best. I just couldn’t figure out why he’d be an undercover agent.

Gu Chen and I lost touch for a while, which meant Wu Zui couldn’t keep tabs on me. But as soon as I reconnected with Gu Chen, Wu Zui was back in control of my every move. I used to think Uncle Chen reported to Xiao Liu, who then informed Wu Zui. Looking back, I realize I never once suspected Gu Chen.

“Why did you do it? When did it start?” I locked eyes with Gu Chen, forcing out each word.

Gu Chen shook his head. “Maybe I shouldn’t have seen so much darkness. There are things in this world that leave you powerless.”

“This world is already filthy, and the only way to save us is to break it and build something new. That’s the only hope for humanity.” Gu Chen’s eyes turned red. His voice wasn’t loud, but every word weighed heavy. “All we’ve done is take one step further than you.”

I shook my head. “But you’re killing people now, planning to kill even more. And you really think Wu Zui will help you? The world Wu Zui wants is nothing but endless bloodshed. There’s no order in that.”

“No.” Gu Chen shook his head. “Every transformation bleeds. Look through history—rebirth always comes with fire and blood, killing and death. It’s how these things go. When the world falls into chaos and everyone realizes it has to change, that’s when it starts anew.”

“You’re insane.” I stared at Gu Chen, struggling to believe he was really saying all this.

Gu Chen stood up. “I’m not crazy. I’ve been aiming for this all along.”

“Don’t move.” Xiao Liu trained his gaze on Gu Chen. “The day you got involved with Wu Zui, you should’ve known it would end like this.”

Gu Chen stayed where he was, barely moving. “Even without Wu Zui, I would have reached this point.”

At last, Wu Zui spoke. “That’s right. Everyone faces this choice at least once. The moment you take that step, the world looks completely different. Gu Chen didn’t choose wrong—every new era begins with pain, and the more intense the pain, the more the world is reborn.”

“If you hadn’t let Gu Chen in, but chose someone else, the results would’ve been the same. Once you truly understand my vision, all of this will feel inevitable to you. Do you really know Gu Chen? Do you know who he truly is?”

Wu Zui shook his head. “You don’t know. Gu Chen once had an older brother—no blood relation, but Gu Chen treated him like real family. I barely had a clue, and if Teacher Gao hadn’t told me, we might never have figured it out.”

I remembered that Teacher Gao had gone out that rainy night. Now it’s clear—he was reaching out to Wu Zui. And maybe, without me knowing, Gu Chen crossed paths with Teacher Gao too. When Teacher Gao took his own life, he’d left me with words I never understood—until now.

Teacher Gao died wronged and helpless. Maybe he hoped for a new world, a world where he wouldn’t die with injustice hanging over his name.

Gu Chen nodded. “That’s right. He was my neighbor. I was just twelve or thirteen then: shy, quiet, good at school but weak and clueless. Everyone in our village had to go to school outside, so my older neighbor and I went to boarding school together, only coming home once a month.”

Gu Chen gave a bitter laugh. “Back then, I only cared about studying. I didn’t make friends, so people shunned me. Over something trivial, I wound up cornered by over a dozen classmates one day. I can’t even remember why—maybe it was because I asked a girl about homework, but some guy liked her.”

“Maybe he wanted to look tough. Maybe he wanted her attention. After class, they ganged up on me. I was terrified—powerless to fight back. They beat me, cursed me, spat in my mouth to humiliate me. I couldn’t do anything. Then my brother showed up and saved me.”

“It was tragic, really. Real heroes are rare out there.” Gu Chen’s eyes filled with tears. “He always said that since we were from the same village, and he was a year older—even if it was only a few months—he had to take care of me, just like he’d promised my mother. But then, he died.”

Gu Chen rubbed at his eyes. “He believed the older one should protect the younger. He told my mother he’d look after me, so he had to keep that promise. But he’s gone now.”

Gu Chen gave a cold snort. “Life is fragile. I identified each and every one of those kids—but guess what? Not a single one was even fourteen yet. After a week of questioning, nothing happened to them. They just got transferred to new schools.”

“Funny, isn’t it?” Gu Chen said. “They bullied others without a care because they knew nothing would happen to them. Clever kids, really.”

Gu Chen started to walk around. “I was so young back then I never thought to write down their names. They probably moved to other cities. Maybe some are husbands now, maybe fathers, maybe successful. Maybe they’ve grown up and do good deeds now. But to me, they’ll always be murderers.”

Anger trembled in Gu Chen’s voice. “I was so weak then. I should’ve killed them all, left none behind. After that, I started working out every day, got stronger, so nobody could mess with me. See? In this world, strength is everything. I wanted to catch every bad guy out there.”

“But it’s been more than ten years.” Gu Chen stepped toward Xiao Liu. “After all this time, nothing’s really changed, has it? Like how Hu Ningning killed Gu Hui—doesn’t it look just like back then? Soon her whole family will move away, and in five or ten years it’s like nothing happened. Maybe she’ll marry, become a mother. Maybe even become a teacher.”

“Is that fair?” Gu Chen demanded.

Wu Zui chuckled. “This world has never been fair. What’s laughable is everyone pretends otherwise, hiding behind their pride. But at least you don’t have to worry, Gu Chen. While we were capturing Wu Meng, Hu Ningning’s whole family ate rat poison by mistake. Now all five are together underground.”

“You killed Hu Ningning’s entire family?” I stared at Wu Zui in shock.

Wu Zui nodded. “Yeah. Why would I hide it from you? It was all for Wu Zui. If parents raise a child that way, they have to bear some blame too.”

“And you’re no different!” I shouted at Gu Chen. “Don’t let Wu Zui fool you. Wu Zui was just like Hu Ningning when he was a kid!”

Gu Chen shook his head. “Wu Meng, from the moment I walked in to save Liu Yinyan, there was no turning back. I knew people would die for this, even friends. But there’s no way back now.”

“Stop right there!” Xiao Liu shouted.

Gu Chen stepped right up to Xiao Liu, his tone slow and even. “I thought you and I both saw through the world’s lies. But you’re the real undercover agent. Luckily, I never blew my cover. Now that things have gone this far, my work is done anyway.”

“Xiao Liu,” Gu Chen took a deep breath. “You’re smarter than Wu Meng—more patient than I ever was. Team Leader Shao made the right call picking you. My only job was to catch people, never use my brain. That’s how I kept hidden so long. Or maybe, of everyone on the Special Investigation Team, only I truly found purpose—knew what I was living for.”

Gu Chen’s voice grew quiet. “Do you know why you’re alive? What do you really want—what’s in your heart?”

“It’s enough for me to die for something.” Gu Chen closed his eyes.

“Watch out!”