At this moment, Zhao Xun had his last breath, and his mind was like a movie playing before his eyes.
As a child, his family was really too poor. His father had died early, and his mother remarried. His stepfather used to either beat or scold him and his sister.
Back then, he was cowardly, and whenever he took a beating from his stepfather, it was always his sister who stood up for him.
But his sister couldn’t beat the stepfather either; she often got beaten by him, sometimes even deprived of meals. He remembered one time, after he and his sister were beaten, they were locked in a dark room without food or drink for two days.
At that time, his sister had only one pancake, which she gave to him.
She only ate a little bit of the pancake crumbs...
Later, by a ’twist of fate,’ his sister married Zheng Chuan, which led to the good days they have now.
He wanted to become a Manager, because he really wanted to help his sister. As a concubine of Zheng Chuan, concubine, no matter how favored, was still a concubine!
She had no power from her natal family; she was always compromising within the Zheng Family.
He wanted to become a Manager; once he became a Manager, the fishery in Xiantao Town would become his power, which meant it would be his sister’s power too, and she wouldn’t have to live so hard.
Her brother-in-law might treat her a little better.
Even the First Madam wouldn’t dare to bully her recklessly.
But he had failed, and he never felt that he did anything wrong.
He had just failed, that’s all. Was it wrong to kill Wu Zhong?
No, he didn’t think it was wrong, he had just failed. If he had succeeded, he would now be the solid rock for his sister, the guardian outside the school.
Having failed, this was the result he faced.
He knew he had no regrets!
In this world of deceit and power struggle, one could abandon everything, including morals, for victory.
That’s how the world worked; if you didn’t work out how to devour others, the world would work out how to devour you.
Actually, he didn’t even hate Chen Jiusi that much anymore.
He had simply ruined his plan.
He had failed, but he had facilitated another’s growth, which was acceptable. The law of the jungle was just like that.
Sigh... so very tired!
Yet it was all worth it.
He had originally gone to the city with a month’s earnings from the fishery to see his sister and leave her some money, intending to leave far away and never return.
But his sister said, she would find a way for him, she would appeal to her husband.
He knew the outcome, as he was intended to kill Wu Zhong, the son-in-law of Doctor Bai.
With Doctor Bai’s connections, this matter would not end so simply.
He had thought it through; he would leave yesterday.
But yesterday, Zheng Chuan sent someone to tell him they could not protect him anymore; he could run, but the Fishing Guild would catch him soon, and that would merely be a meaningless death.
Rather, it would be better to surrender and let Zheng Chuan present him as a sacrifice.
In this way, Zheng Chuan could detach himself from any suspicion and give him a hand.
And he would not let him die in vain; he had promised to take good care of his sister and assured that her nephew, the child she had, would inherit the family business in the future.
His sister’s greatest dream was to ensure her son had a good life.
His sister’s dream was his dream; he had agreed!
Zhao Xun, covered in blood, consciousness fading, knew he wouldn’t survive much longer.
At this time, the executioner continued, "A stab to the lungs, severing the past life."
Hearing this, Zheng Chuan also saw that Zhao Xun couldn’t hold on any longer.
Holding the knife, he sighed, "Brother-in-law, I’ll see you off on your final journey."
With one thrust, the knife pierced Zhao Xun’s heart. With a spurt, it ruptured his heart, and suddenly, as if a light returned to him, Zhao Xun’s eyes widened.
Then, like a deflated ball, his whole body collapsed, the knife protruding from his scapula!
Upon witnessing this scene, everyone fell silent!
Zhao Xun lay in a pool of blood, his heart had stopped beating, his breathing ceased, and his life had thus come to an end.
"Three stabs to the heart, sins cleansed, life and death by fate."
There was silence among those gathered as they all looked at Zhao Xun lying in the pool of blood.
The family punishment of the Fishing Guild was just this severe; no one could escape it.
Zheng Chuan looked at Zhao Xun lying on the ground, patted his shoulder, and silently stood up.
The people around were quiet, feeling a sense of sorrow as though mourning their own kind.
Why stage an incense hall, executing the three knives and six holes punishment.
Besides punishing the wicked, the most important aspect was to serve as a warning to future generations.
Letting them see the consequences of transgressions in the Fishing Guild.
It also reminded all the young men of the Guild that the strict rules were not to be taken lightly, you couldn’t just join the Fishing Guild and think you were safe.
While enjoying the rights, one had to constantly bear the responsibilities and risks.
The executioner stepped forward, checked the whiteness of Zhao Xun’s eyes, his pulse, and then, looking at Peng Shizhong, stood and said, "Hall Master, he is dead!"
Peng Shizhong said, "Hmm, the sin has been cleansed, the family can bury him as they wish."
Zheng Chuan waved his hand, and someone took care of Zhao Xun’s body.
At this moment, Feng Xuan looked at Zheng Chuan and said, "You’re quite ruthless, brother-in-law. You could even strike down your nephew?"
Zheng Chuan replied coldly, "The rules of the Guild are merciless; everyone who breaks them must receive their due punishment."
Feng Xuan said, "That’s why you can accomplish great things, brother. You have a steely heart, I can’t compare."
Seeing this, Zheng Chuan fell silent for a moment, paying him no heed.
Feng Xuan also fell silent.
At this time, Peng Shizhong looked at all the Fishing Guild brothers present and said, "Gentlemen, as irrefutable as iron are the rules of our Guild, do not commit violations. Zhao Xun today is the best example, please adhere to the rules carefully, do not mislead yourselves!"
Hearing this, everyone fell silent.
It was at this moment that everyone truly understood what the Fishing Guild was.