It was at that moment when Han Yi shot me in the back... In our line of work, the back is the most fatal weakness, never easily exposed to the enemy.
Because it was Han Yi, because I trusted him, I dared to give him my back.
And I had worked with him countless times. Every time I entrusted my back to him, he would always guard it for me. But little did I know, everything in the past was an act he put on..."
Rong Shaoze clenched his fists, still unable to get over Han Yi’s betrayal.
Lin Xinlan held his hand, silently comforting him.
She finally understood how much courage it took for him to say he would trust her in the future.
No wonder he didn’t trust anyone; his past trust had nearly cost him his life.
The price was heavy enough.
If it were her, she probably wouldn’t trust anyone either.
"And then?" Lin Xinlan asked softly.
"That shot nearly killed me, but luckily I dodged in time and avoided my heart. But Han Yi didn’t fire a second shot. Maybe he didn’t want to kill me... He took the key from me, and I asked him who he really was and what his purpose was."
"He said it didn’t matter who he was. His goal was just to get the treasure map and martial arts manuals. Only then did I realize he was always after those two things. He’s truly a master actor. He stayed by my side for so many years, and I never saw through his ambition."
"Then Han Yi left. He had to steal the items and couldn’t allow anyone to find out. He abandoned me in the forest, thinking that with my severe injuries, I would surely die. Indeed, I had no strength left to get out of the forest. Fortunately, Xu Yao heard the gunshot nearby and came to rescue me."
Rong Shaoze’s mouth curled into a mocking smile.
"People are often like that. The more you find someone trustworthy, the more they turn out to be untrustworthy. And those you deem untrustworthy are the ones worth trusting the most.
It was then I realized Xu Yao was a very trustworthy person. Although he doesn’t speak much and is cruel and ruthless, once he decides on something, he won’t change.
He recognized me as his master, and truly intended to be loyal to me unto death... Xu Yao saved me, took me out of the forest, and as it turned out, Han Yi had stolen the items by then."
"He had long been prepared and left the base as soon as he got the items. But he didn’t expect Xu Yao to save me, and his plan was exposed. Grandma captured him and kept him imprisoned but didn’t harm him."
"Once I recovered from my injuries, Grandma let me handle the matter myself. She said it was my fault; I got shot as a lesson to never trust people lightly. She demanded that I personally kill Han Yi, so I would remember this painful lesson even more."
"Did you kill him?" Lin Xinlan asked.
Rong Shaoze shook his head: "No, I didn’t. I asked him if he regretted betraying me. I thought he had some dignity and wouldn’t beg for mercy from me.
But unexpectedly, he pathetically begged for my forgiveness, saying he would never dare to do it again. It was then I realized he wasn’t the Han Yi I knew. He was a person who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
Even to the point of being servile and showing his ugliest side. The ridiculous thing is, I was so blind, I always thought he was a remarkable person..."