"At the moment of the organizationâs greatest crisis, a traitor appeared and leaked a list of core members to escape punishment!"
"After that, the organization completely fell apart. Members were either captured and imprisoned, spending the rest of their lives in dark cells, or hunted to the ends of the earth, dying far from home..."
"âIdeal Landâ was hit hard and has not fully recovered even to this day."
After recalling this, he slowly unclenched his fist and looked at Fang Cheng with a complex expression.
"Your father Fang Shijie hadnât been in the organization long and wasnât considered a core member, so he wasnât on the Special Search Teamâs main capture list."
"However, he was mainly responsible for external communications and knew the real identities of many members, including myself."
"Originally, Fang Shijie could have continued to lie low and live peacefully with his family as usual until the storm passed..."
"But later, he was betrayed by the traitor who caused his downfall!"
Chen Hongye sighed deeply, his tone becoming heavy, as if truly mourning an old friend.
"To avoid falling into the Special Search Teamâs hands and having the whereabouts of other members tortured out of him through special means..."
"He chose the most heroic way... heroically perishing in a great fire, cutting off the Special Search Teamâs leads with his own life."
"He was a true hero!"
Chen Hongyeâs voice suddenly rose a notch, with a deliberately crafted sense of tragedy.
The words fell, and the courtyard sank into a brief silence.
The night wind suddenly picked up, making the bonfire crackle and sending sparks flying everywhere.
Fang Cheng stood quietly.
The expression on his face was cast in flickering light and shadow, revealing no joy or anger.
He seemed to be digesting this long-sealed past, or perhaps weighing something.
After a while, he finally spoke, asking coldly:
"Who was the traitor, the one who caused my fatherâs death?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Hongye sighed again, showing a look of helplessness towards one who canât be taught.
"Young friend, you still donât understand. This isnât just about one traitor. There was a serious split within our âIdeal Land.â"
He shook his head and patiently explained:
"The troublemakers were those who advocated surrender. Later, to earn merit with the new government, it was also them who betrayed their companions."
"If youâre just looking for a specific person to take revenge on, itâs not going to be easy."
"After all, Iâm not part of the Special Search Team investigating cases, so how could I know exactly who betrayed your father back then?"
Perhaps feeling a bit tired from talking too much, Chen Hongye stopped continuing.
"Since thatâs the case..."
Fang Cheng frowned slightly, thought for a moment, then asked:
"Then, who was the leader of the surrender faction in your organization?"
This straightforward question seemed to hit Chen Hongyeâs soft spot.
His face instantly froze, as if recalling something terrifying, and a trace of fear appeared on his face marked with spells.
"That personâs name... even I dare not mention lightly."
Chen Hongyeâs eyes flickered, speaking hesitantly:
"Once I say his real name, he might sense it, and a huge trouble could come immediately..."
Seeing Fang Cheng still staring at him, Chen Hongye quickly changed the subject.
"Besides, didnât I just say?"
"The Guangwu Gate shooting was not a simple vendetta but a nationwide political storm, involving countless power-hungry elite and high-ranking officials."
"Knowing too much does you no good. This matter is a sensitive area in Xia Country, a top secret, and public records have long been erased clean."
"If you truly want to uncover the truth, youâll have to break into the Special Search Teamâs archive room!"
"In short, there are deep waters here. Those who know understand, and those who donât, even if I explained, you wouldnât get it."
Saying this, Chen Hongye waved his hand, his tone carrying a bit of annoyance.
"Iâve said enough about your father, letâs leave it there."
"Young friend, Iâve kept my promise, havenât I? Shouldnât you also fulfill your conditions, stop interfering with the Chen Family, and leave this place?"
But Fang Cheng did not respond to this, directly refusing coldly:
"What youâve said is completely useless to me."
His gaze was firmly fixed on Chen Hongye, his tone leaving no room for retreat:
"I donât care how many interests and relations are involved behind the case; I just want a clear answer, who exactly was the culprit that led to everything."
"Tonight, you must give me a name."
"Either the leader of the surrender faction or the traitor who betrayed my father, one of the two, you choose."
"You... arenât you asking for the impossible?"
Looking at Fang Chengâs uncompromising attitude, Chen Hongyeâs mouth twitched, showing his difficulty.
"If I divulge that personâs name, he will surely know and could even pinpoint my location."
"At that time... I, this old bag of bones, might not even find a place to rest!"
Fang Cheng remained unmoved, simply watching him quietly, without speaking.
As if he hadnât heard those complaints at all.
The two stared at each other for a few seconds, and Chen Hongye couldnât hold on, finally admitting defeat.
"Alright, alright!"
He reluctantly conceded, raising his hands:
"I can tell you."
"However..."
Chen Hongye glanced at Lin Chuqiao and the others not far away, lowering his voice meaningfully:
"There are too many people here, and some things really shouldnât be overheard by outsiders."