Chapter 77 Catching People Through the Internet

However, the ease with which Xie Shenhong agreed caused Wendy to chuckle involuntarily.

Yet, the profound anxiety that had plagued her, leaving her uncertain of the future, began to subside considerably.

Encouraged, she continued to speak.

“I wish for my parents to live in peace and safety.”

“That is only right.”

“I desire for those of the Shogunate faction to face justice.”

“We shall not permit illegal organizations to operate with impunity.”

“I simply wish to live out my days in peace…”

As Wendy spoke, her requests grew increasingly bold, and she began to meticulously describe the tranquil life she envisioned for herself.

She imagined spending evenings at home watching television dramas, sharing stories with classmates at school the following day, then perhaps shopping together after classes, purchasing lovely clothes, indulging in delectable snacks, and occasionally upholding justice as a member of the Knights.

Yet, all dreams, eventually, must yield to reality.

Having recounted every aspiration that came to mind, Wendy offered a bitter smile.

“I suppose… I’ve said quite enough, haven’t I?”

“Just about. Now, I would appreciate it if you could answer a few of my questions.”

“Ask away.”

By this point, Wendy had found a measure of peace.

Given that other desires were now unattainable, concluding her story with a final vestige of innocence seemed a viable choice—at the very least, it might bring a degree of serenity to her heart.

“Firstly, I need to know the whereabouts of your parents and their daily routines, as well as whether they are also members of the Shogunate faction and how much they know about your activities. Furthermore, any information regarding the movements of other Shogunate faction members would be immensely helpful.”

“?”

Wendy remained dumbfounded for a prolonged moment before the true implication of Xie Shenhong’s words dawned upon her.

“Are you… truly going to help me?” she asked, her face etched with disbelief.

“Indeed, I am. However, I cannot directly grant your every wish, nor can I guarantee absolute success, but I pledge to exert my utmost effort.”

Xie Shenhong gazed at her with a gentle, solicitous expression.

Understanding that Xie Shenhong had no intention of abandoning her, but rather intended to see her through to the very end, Wendy was utterly bewildered.

“Why are you helping me?” she asked again, her confusion palpable. “Why go to such lengths for me?”

“If I were not to go to such lengths, could it truly be considered helping you at all?”

“Do I truly possess such value?” she questioned, still struggling to accept the situation. “Is it for the intelligence I hold? Surely, you could resort to coercive methods to extract it, couldn’t you?”

“Wendy, you haven’t committed any truly heinous acts; why would I subject you to such treatment?” Xie Shenhong reached out, gently stroking her head. “As for your ‘value,’ or anything of that sort… from the very beginning, all you ever truly desired was to live as a citizen within this kingdom, abiding by its laws, wasn’t it?”

She nodded numbly in response.

“Then that is precisely the point, isn’t it? One of the fundamental duties of the Knights is to safeguard the citizens of our kingdom.”

“But I am, and always have been, a spy cultivated by the remnants of the Sakura Nation!”

“Wendy, the truth is, the Sakura Nation no longer exists. You are, in essence, a citizen of this kingdom, merely threatened by those who harbor rebellious intentions. Crucially, you possess the will to resist and intend to expose these insurgents. Thus, it is only right and proper for the Knights to protect both you and your family.”

No words could escape her lips.

“I will not deny that this judgment is highly subjective, and indeed, there is a personal desire to aid an acquaintance. However, even if we were to prioritize self-interest, assisting you remains an exceptionally shrewd decision. After all, there are many individuals like you, wavering in their loyalties, not only within the Shogunate faction but among all the remnants of the Sakura Nation.”

“Rather than pursuing a path of absolute annihilation, forcing them into self-destruction or desperate gambits, it is demonstrably superior to demonstrate, as we are now, that even surrender can lead to a decent life. Why would we not embrace such an advantageous strategy?”

“Even stepping back to the furthest extent, the simple truth that ‘I wish to help you’ is, in itself, an eminently valid reason. Humans are beings who require spiritual solace; at the very least, your gratitude, your thanks, and your eventual happiness will serve as the impetus for my own contentment and peace of mind.”

“Therefore—”

Xie Shenhong found herself unable to continue speaking, for Wendy, no longer able to restrain her emotions, threw herself into her embrace, weeping uncontrollably.

“Sister Shenhong, thank you.”

After countless repetitions of remorse and apologies, she finally heard the words of gratitude she had so deeply yearned for.

“From this moment forth, let us strive together.”

A profound happiness welled within her.

The sensation of being thanked, and of being trusted and relied upon by another, both brought her immense joy.

All these feelings filled Xie Shenhong with a deep sense of contentment.

Every word she had spoken earlier was a genuine reflection of her innermost feelings.

Yet, her joy did not lead her to become complacent or carried away.

While sending Wendy to assassinate her was merely the act of sacrificing a pawn, a desperate maneuver.

Even if the Shogunate faction held Wendy in low regard, Xie Shenhong understood that failing to act with utmost seriousness and caution could still lead to dire consequences, inadvertently turning a well-intentioned effort into a disastrous outcome.

After all, her own power was insufficient. This was not born of inferiority, but rather a deliberate decision to transform into Xie Hai Zhu to compensate for this very inadequacy.

‘Is this merely a waste of time?’

‘Is it, at its core, still an inferiority complex, a distrust of her true self’s inherent power?’

‘Perhaps.’

Nevertheless, since her return from Qilin City, Xie Shenhong had meticulously deliberated upon the matter.

She had no knowledge of what the former Xie Shenhong or Xie Hai Zhu had truly been like.

No amount of investigation or understanding of their actions could ever reveal their true thoughts or motivations.

She could not become the Xie Shenhong or Xie Hai Zhu of the past.

However, she possessed aspirations—things she wished to accomplish and a person she wished to become.

More precisely, in her guise as Xie Hai Zhu, she aspired to become a truly worthy Saintess.

As Xie Shenhong, she yearned to become someone truly useful.

Previously, however, she had lacked a definitive standard, merely drifting with the currents, pursuing the echoes of a bygone era.

Now, however… she had finally understood.

Or perhaps, she had understood it all along, merely failing to consciously acknowledge it.

Much like the rest of the world, she had always held a deep admiration for Hai Zhu.

Yet, her reverence was not for Hai Zhu’s formidable power, but rather for the courage she displayed in stepping forward during the kingdom’s most perilous hour.

In the course of human existence, everyone encounters difficulties, to varying degrees.

Those of resolute spirit might find their own way out of adversity.

Yet, the vast majority of humanity remains inherently vulnerable.

Ultimately, they often resort to such passive coping mechanisms.

In truth, however, many matters are utterly trivial, perhaps fading away with a night’s sleep, or resolving themselves simply by being voiced aloud.

Regrettably, they never even attempted to do so.

Instead, they plummeted headfirst into the abyss of darkness, utterly bereft of the courage not only to seek a path but even to lift their gaze.

Much like her former self.

Reflecting upon it now, she found her past self utterly laughable.

Now, in retrospect, she regarded her past self as nothing short of pathetic.

Consequently, she harbored no desire for others to suffer the same fate.

Instead, she wished for others to likewise emerge from the encroaching shadows.

For her, the blond youth she had encountered in that moment had been her dawn.

He was her sun.

He was her hope.

Hence, she, too, aspired to become a beacon of hope for others.

She… yearned to become a Saintess capable of bringing hope to all.

****

Meanwhile, observing Xie Shenhong and Wendy engage in their heartfelt exchange, Lyte turned his head toward a certain individual who was intently peering through a pair of binoculars.

“Surely now you believe us, don’t you?”

Marco simply nodded in silent acknowledgment.

Had Wendy harbored any intention of harming Xie Shenhong moments ago, he would have, without hesitation, followed his orders to eliminate her.

Now, however… he paused, considered, then turned and departed.

“Where are you going?” Lyte, sensing something amiss, hastily called out to him.

“To attend to what must be done.”

Marco left without so much as a backward glance.

Soon after, he reached the rooftop of a towering building, where he produced a sniper rifle aptly named “Eagle Soaring the Skies.” He then took aim at a young man below, whose fringe of hair was conspicuously streaked with red.

Yet, before he could even squeeze the trigger, the target within his scope vanished without a trace.

“Surely, you weren’t so naive as to believe that when I entrusted you with this sniper rifle, I wouldn’t have prepared certain contingencies?”