TSWPF -Chapter 415 Admission

Wang Yang heard Liu Zhimou’s words and looked up at him, sneering, “Since He Tao has already told everything, why ask me again?” What he knew was exactly the same as what He Tao knew—why bother asking him again?

Didn’t he feel like it was a waste of time?

Liu Zhimou replied calmly, “This is standard procedure in an investigation; it has to be asked.” He paused, then added, “But whether you speak or not makes a big difference.” He was patiently interrogating the four separately because he wanted to find some clues among them.

Wang Yang silently looked at Liu Zhimou and asked what favor he had promised He Tao to get him to tell everything.

Since He Tao hadn’t faced any punishment, there must have been some benefit.

Liu Zhimou smiled faintly and said, “The benefit is simple: I will plead with the Emperor on He Tao’s behalf, reduce his punishment, and make sure his family isn’t implicated.”

Wang Yang gave Liu Zhimou a sarcastic glance. “You’d be so kind?” Why did he doubt it so much?

He really didn’t believe Liu Zhimou could be so magnanimous. Earlier, they had even tried to kill him; how could he possibly plead for them before the Emperor now?

If he didn’t plead to increase their punishment, that would already be a blessing.

So why would he expect him to intercede for them?

Being questioned like this by Wang Yang, Liu Zhimou didn’t get angry. He just smiled and said, “You may choose not to believe me.” Whether it was true or not, he wouldn’t explain it to someone who doubted him.

Explaining to such people is just a waste of breath; it’s better to move on to the next person.

“Take him away,” he said. There was no point wasting time on someone unwilling to speak the truth.

“W-wait…” Seeing Liu Zhimou’s resolute attitude, Wang Yang felt a little flustered. “Y-you… will really plead with the Emperor for us? You won’t lie to us, right?”

He was afraid that if he revealed the truth, Liu Zhimou would turn on them.

“I, Liu Zhimou, keep my word,” Liu Zhimou nodded, saying, “I swear on the reputation of my father, Fourth Lord Liu, that I will never deceive you.”

Seeing Liu Zhimou swear, Wang Yang finally let his guard down a little. He looked at Liu Zhimou and asked what he wanted to know.

Liu Zhimou said bluntly: everything.

He wanted to know the whole truth.

Wang Yang clenched his fists tightly, sighed heavily, then lowered his head and, with a complex expression, began to speak.

He never thought he would one day be undone by a boy who hadn’t even fully grown yet—it truly left him sighing.

If someone had said before that he would fall to a young, inexperienced boy, he would have ridiculed them. Now, he had to admit that the world was full of talent; even a young boy could not be underestimated.

After this experience, he deeply realized that no one should be underestimated.

It was their underestimation of Liu Zhimou that led to their disastrous defeat.

After Wang Yang finished, Liu Zhimou asked if there were any other matters, urging him not to withhold anything, or else he couldn’t help him.

Wang Yang’s eyes widened, and he said he had told everything he knew, hiding nothing, asking Liu Zhimou not to wrong him.

He was also someone who valued his life. Knowing that He Tao had told everything, how could he continue to hide it?

If he continued to hide it and his family got implicated, where could he go to cry?

Liu Zhimou studied Wang Yang carefully. Seeing his sincere expression, he nodded and instructed the Liu family soldiers to take Wang Yang away.

Before leaving, Wang Yang asked once more if Liu Zhimou would really plead with the Emperor for them.

Liu Zhimou nodded firmly, his expression serious: “Absolutely.”

Wang Yang looked at Liu Zhimou deeply, then turned and followed the Liu family soldiers.

He would trust Liu Zhimou this once. If he lied, even as a ghost, Wang Yang wouldn’t forgive him.

“Where are you taking me?” Wang Yang asked cautiously, noticing it wasn’t the way he came. He wondered if they would be killed to cover up the matter.

What if He Tao had already been harmed?

If that were the case, what would he do?

The Liu family soldiers looked at him with disdain and reassured him that he wouldn’t be killed.

Wang Yang snorted coldly. “You can’t know someone’s thoughts by their face. How could you possibly know what I’m thinking?”

“Killing you would just dirty our hands,” one soldier retorted. “Go in.” He opened the door and pushed Wang Yang inside.

Wang Yang stumbled and almost fell. He straightened up, opened his mouth to curse, but stopped himself when he saw He Tao.

“He Tao, what are you doing here?”

“You’re here too?”

The two fell silent for a moment, then Wang Yang walked over to He Tao, sat beside him, and anxiously asked, “Liu Zhimou won’t try to kill us, right?”

He Tao shook his head lightly. “Liu Zhimou isn’t that kind of person.”

He knew Liu Zhimou kept his word and believed he would follow through.

Hearing this, Wang Yang snorted and asked, “Why do you trust him so much?”

He Tao glanced at Wang Yang: “Besides trusting him, what other choice do we have?”

Since there was no other option, they might as well try to trust Liu Zhimou.

What if they guessed right?

Wang Yang fell silent, then asked why He Tao had revealed the truth to Liu Zhimou. If He Tao hadn’t spoken, he wouldn’t have either.

He had thought He Tao would be the most patient of the four, the one least likely to tell the truth—but he was greatly disappointed.

He Tao was the first to speak, forcing the others to follow.

Some say that those who don’t speak suffer most; he wouldn’t be that person.

“You knew already, didn’t you? Didn’t you make the same choice I did?” For what other reason? It was for their families.

If he died alone, that would be the end of it.

But he couldn’t bear to see his family die for his crimes.

They were innocent and shouldn’t bear such guilt.

Leaning against the wall, Wang Yang raised his head, sighed deeply, and bitterly laughed: “Yes, if not for our families, how could we…” He gritted his teeth, “Liu Zhimou’s cunning is incredible. We underestimated him, which is why we fell so hard.” It was bitter to think they had been outmaneuvered by a boy.

But now, it was no use being upset; what’s done is done.

They could only see if Liu Zhimou would keep his promise and reduce their punishment.

“Experience teaches us not to underestimate anyone, or we won’t even know how we’ll die,” He Tao said calmly. After repeated mental preparation, he could accept it with a clear mind.

They had no choice but to admit their defeat.

Wang Yang sighed again. “He Tao, do you really think Liu Zhimou will keep his promise? I get nervous just thinking about it.” If Liu Zhimou didn’t, they would be helpless.

“I hope so…”

He Tao frowned slightly. Even if he didn’t fully trust Liu Zhimou, there was no other choice.

They were at the end of the road; a desperate move was all they could do.

Wang Yang glanced at He Tao, lowering his voice: “Haven’t you thought our master might come to save us?”

He Tao met his gaze. “At this point, how can you still be so naive? If the master was coming, he would have already. There’s no way he’d wait this long.”

Even if they didn’t want to believe it, they had to admit they were the master’s abandoned pawns.

Pawns who wouldn’t receive even a shred of thought.

If they kept waiting for rescue, they’d already be dead.

“You… I’m not naive,” Wang Yang said awkwardly, defending himself. He wasn’t naive; he had already guessed the master’s intention. He just felt a little hurt, so he asked He Tao.

From the moment he entered the prison, he had imagined the master sending someone to rescue him. After a day and night, he became disappointed and realized his situation.

He had become a pawn deemed useless; it hurt to admit it.

No one wanted to be a pawn the organization discarded.

“If you’re not naive, then stop asking these foolish questions. Remember: the so-called master won’t send anyone to save us. We must save ourselves.”

Wang Yang’s fiery temper flared again, and he argued with He Tao.

Zhao He entered the room and saw the scene, frowning. “What are you arguing about?”

At this point, what was there to argue about? Shouldn’t they be united?

Wang Yang and He Tao turned to Zhao He and said in unison: “You’re here.”

Zhao He smiled bitterly. “Yes, I’m here.”

He dragged his heavy steps and sat between Wang Yang and He Tao.

His expression calm, he looked at the door and quietly said, “I also told Liu Zhimou everything I know.”

After hearing what He Tao and Wang Yang had said, he no longer insisted and told Liu Zhimou everything he knew.

As for the outcome, it was now up to fate.

“When I saw you come in, I already knew,” He Tao said, patting Zhao He on the shoulder, smiling in reassurance. “Don’t feel guilty for people who don’t care about us. Think more about your family.” Their families were the most innocent.

They didn’t know what they had done but were dragged into it anyway.

“Yes, I know,” Zhao He tugged at his hair, sighed deeply, and said, “We were once so proud—how did we end up like this?”

For years, they had ruled Ninghua County without fear, never imagining they would one day become prisoners.

Perhaps heaven couldn’t bear it and punished them.

“It’s all because we underestimated Liu Zhimou and didn’t realize his true abilities,” He Tao sighed. He never thought he would be outdone by a boy. “If we survive, we must never underestimate anyone again.”

Zhao He and Wang Yang nodded in agreement.

They felt He Tao was right.