Chapter 166
After receiving the news, Bai Hong didn’t mention how much grief and hatred she endured for agreeing to exchange hostages in Pu’an County. In Ningcheng, Father Gong was sitting alone in his office, staring at a pile of interrogation reports in front of him.
Looking at the interrogation report again from beginning to end, Gong Yuanhang slumped back on his chair and sighed heavily. The result of the investigation from last time had come out. Because it was related to the safety of Ningcheng, everyone actively cooperated. What they’ve seen and heard for the first half a month, as long as there was even a little suspicion about it, was told to the investigation team without foregoing any detail. They’ve vowed to find traitor as soon as possible and return Ningcheng to its once peaceful self.
Having been in the same boat for so many years, everyone had become close to each other regardless of who they were. But because there’s such deep feelings, they were more intolerant of betrayal. In the past two days, because of the existence of a traitor, there has been a clear separation and suspicion among the people of Ningcheng. This unstable atmosphere had spread throughout the base, causing panic and rumors. Everyone disliked a traitor and gatherings and brawls started happening from time to time. The base’s order had never been so chaotic.
Seeing that the situation was getting worse, the people in the higher level of command unanimously decided to investigate this matter to the end and give the traitor the harshest of punishment to warn future generations.
Now that it was a society no longer ruled by laws, the people of Ningcheng needed to have their own rules. For this betrayal, the person would have his abilities abolished, they would be sent to the laboratory to be a test subject and would also be lashed and exposed for three days. Although the method was cruel, it was very suitable for the current situation. In this so-called chaotic world, Father Gong didn’t feel anything wrong with this. However, looking at the report in front of him, for the first time, he felt exhausted and powerless.
Why was this person his own daughter? Gong Xiangyi? Why did she always let him down when he thought she changed a little? His heart hurt. Father Gong covered his chest and groaned. After a moment, he told the guard outside the door, Go and call Gong Xiangyi over.”
It was a matter of trust that brought the results of this investigation. He can’t betray their trust. This matter, he must get an explanation for it.
“Dad, what’s the matter?” But within a few days, Gong Xiangyi lost a lot of weight and looked paper thin. Witnessing the deep hatred of betrayal from the people of Ningcheng with her own eyes, she was worried and felt sleepless every day making it so that she had not slept for three consecutive days.
“This is the investigation report that the captain of the Self-Defense Force has just submitted. Would you like to see it?” Father Gong pushed the material in front of her.
Gong Xiangyi’s pale face became even whiter. She glanced over it in panic, staring at the material before her. She looked over the information, quickly read the inquiry record above and her fingers trembled as she held and turned the pages.
Father Gong’s voice became more and more severe, like a sharp knife directly plunging into Gong Xiangyi’s heart. She slowly pushed the information back onto her father’s desk and said with a numb voice, “Dad, I’m sorry. That person, I brought him in.”
“Why?” Father Gong asked, raising his brows. He really couldn’t understand his daughter’s thoughts. He hurriedly brought in a stranger and the other party was from a base that was hostile against theirs. What was she thinking? Was she brainwashed?
“Because in the future, he will die to save me.” Gong Xiangyi lowered her head and said with a numb voice.
“Another prophecy! How long do you want to indulge in those illusions? He’s a person from Liaocheng who’s incompatible with us. What position does he have to be able to save you? Just because of an illusion, you can abandon your brother. Because of an illusion, you can betray the clan. Do you have not have the ability to judge things yourself? Ah?!” Fahter Gong slammed the table repeatedly.
“Sorry...” Gong Xiangyi was speechless and could only repeat that one sentence. After Liao Fan left, she gradually came to her senses. In this life, she didn’t deal with Liao Fan day and night and naturally, there was no deep emotional foundation. Liao Fan in this life and Liao Fan who died for her in the previous life were simply two different people. She was too deeply influenced by her previous life and saved the other party on impulse. Liao Fan, to put it simply, described her with three words: obsessed, ignorant and self-sufficient. Fortunately, the Heavens gave her a heavy blow and let her completely break free from the shackles of her previous life.
Thinking of all that, Gong Xiangyi looked up at Father Gong and firmly said, “Dad, let’s have a meeting. Let everyone decide what to do with me. You can rest assured that no matter what the final result is, I’ll take it and not garner the resentment of the people. You don’t have to worry about me as a woman anymore!” As her words fell, her uneasy heart miraculously calmed down.
“You can be sensible. Go ahead and hold a clan meeting.” Father Gong wiped his face, showing an exhausted expression.
The clan meeting was held in the largest gymnasium in Ningcheng. They had heard that the traitor was Young Master Gong’s sister. Everyone was in an uproar. The rising anger in their heart was slightly reduced by the words ‘Young Master Gong’. Young Master Gong was their patron saint. Without Young Master Gong, there would be no stable and peaceful life now, so they couldn’t easily deal with his loved ones.
Several district leaders and team leaders were in a dilemma. No one dared to speak while sitting in their seat for a long while. After the results of the investigation came out, they didn’t make it public, but secretly handed it to Father Gong in private. The purpose was to let him make his own decision. Doing such things that might offend Young Master Gong, they would never dare to do it.
Father Gong also knew their difficulties and, after a moment of pondering, said, “Give her the blue liquid and punish with her with a whipping. Is fifty lashes enough?”
“Enough.” Several senior executives nodded quickly. After drinking the blue liquid, whether it was an ordinary person or an ability user, the person’s constitution would become very weak. Add to that, fifty lashes, a delicate woman would likely die. Chief Gong was really upset and the rest had nothing to say.
***
Looking at Gong Xiangyi, who was tied to the torture frame and had become a bloody mess after ten lashes, the resentment in the hearts of the people of Ningcheng gradually subsided. Based on the identity of this woman, shouldn’t she be able to excuse herself from this sentence? Wasn’t this sentence too cruel? Would Young Master Gong be angry when he came back? Some people in the crowd felt soft-hearted, but when they saw that no one said a word, they remained silent.
Father Gong and Grandfather Lin had long stopped looked at the process. They couldn’t bear to look at it. Every sound of the whip on Gong Xiangyi’s flesh stung their nerves. This was, after all someone they had seen grow up from childhood.
Lin Wenbo clenched his fists, his dark golden eyes were dull and unclear. He wondered what to think at this moment.
After the 23rd lash, a member of the Self-Defense Force broke into the gymnasium and shouted, “Chief, I came to report. Young Master Gong returned to Pu’an County from Wucheng and should return to Ningcheng within three days. And...” He paused, his tone became very excited, “And Young Master Gong killed both Song Haoxuan and Zheng Chaohe and was promoted to the sixth level.” How strong was the sixth level? He couldn’t even imagine, because the most powerful zombies were only fifth-level mid-grade.
Hearing his words, the crowd watching the punishment became excited and the man who was in charge of executing the sentence stopped. Gong Xiangyi tried to smile. She was really happy for her brother. In her last life, He Jin, Haoran and Wenbo and twenty or thirty top master ability users joined forces to kill Song Haoxuan and Zheng Chaohe. His younger brother did it all by himself. He was indeed the strongest in Country C!
“Quick, get Miss Gong down. Young Master’s promotion is a happy event. We can’t touch his bottom line. Anyway, the punishment is almost half over. The purpose of the punishment has been achieved as it is!” None of the others present actually objected. When it comes to Young Master Gong’s family, they could always be particularly forgiving.
The administrator of the punishment quickly released Gong Xiangyi and rushed her to the infirmary for treatment. Father Gong waved his hands several times to them, but was secretly held back by Old Lin. In fact, in the face of Young Master Gong, everyone forgave Gong Xiangyi a long time ago. If Father Gong insisted, they would feel embarrassed instead. Having such a good son was indeed blessing for the whole family! In this way, it was a lucky thing for Old Lin’s grandson to find such a granddaughter-in-law. Anyways, the great-grandson was already in the making and the Lin family would continue on, so he should let them be. Old Lin spoke the words from his lips and smiled relaxingly.
Lin Wenbo suppressed the excitement and joy in his heart and silently withdrew from the crowd. He walked towards the infirmary, silently walked to Gong Xiangyi’s bed. Seeing Gong Xiangyi lying on her stomach with her upper body naked and red, he was stunned and quickly averted his eyes.
“Sorry.” Lin Wenbo whispered, “Are you all right?”
“I’m still a fifth-level peak low-grade space ability user. I’m not that vulnerable. If I show you my true strength, you’d be frightened.” Seeing Lin Wenbo’s move to avoid looking at her, Gong Xiangyi smiled weakly and suddenly to be around people and open her heart.
“You were really hiding your strength.” Lin Wenbo nodded clearly. He added with a warm voice, “Have you applied medicine on your wound? Does it hurt?”
“Xiaoyu’s medicine works well and now, I’m no longer in pain.” Gong Xiangyi waved her hand weakly. Seeing Lin Wenbo’s expression that revealed a trace of guilt, she added with a strong vigor, “You don’t need to feel guilt about not marrying me. To marry, you have the right to choose who. In fact, the person who’s in the wrong has always been me. After the apocalypse started, I had never really accepted you wholeheartedly. You should have also felt it, no? The past is the past and we will all move towards the future, so no need to mention it again. I made a mistake this time; not to retaliate against you and Lixin. I was confused for a while, but I won’t be confused anymore. After this event, I can understand now. I’ve always been lucky. My father has taken care of me since I was a child and now, I have a brother with extraordinary strength. Thanks to his face, even if I committed a crime worthy of a death sentence, I can be so easily forgiven. How many people in the base envy me? With such good conditions, what else is there to worry about? After today, I’ll live life with peace in mind.” Then, she smiled happily.
“You can think of it that way.” Lin Wenbo’s frown spread out and softened. He added, “Don’t talk anymore and rest well. I’ll call the doctor to check up on you again.”
“Thank you.” Gong Xiangyi’s eyes flushed. Lin Wenbo’s tenderness, for how long had she not noticed it? She almost forgot about it.
“By the way, after Lixin comes back, you should sweetalk him so that he doesn’t blame me. I really know my wrong this time.” Gong Xiangyi added seriously seeing Lin Wenbo was about to walk out of the infirmary.
Lin Wenbo didn’t look back, but waved his hand as he left. Seeing his free and easy back disappearing behind the door, Gong Xiangyi sighed and finally smiled. She must remember this moment. From this moment on, it could be counted as her true rebirth.
CrazedCookies: Poor Papa Gong....