CHAPTER 413: CHAPTER 362: THE LAST RESORT_3

Shen Wuzheng also said: "He can’t do it."

Shang Ruyi became more puzzled—they could only guess at matters of the heart, yet this time, both seemed very certain.

She asked, "Why?"

Shen Wuzheng said: "He killed Wang Quyi, and that’s a deadlock."

Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and said, "But, Wang Quyi was suspicious of him, and might have attacked him after he returned to Wanggang Village. He indeed fought back only when he had no choice."

Yu Wenye shook his head and said: "That’s different."

"..."

"Back then, he was at a dead end, wandering the rivers and lakes. Wang Quyi took him in and even promoted him to the second-in-command of Wanggang Village. No matter how large the conflicts between them were afterward, Wang Quyi had done him a great favor, an irrefutable fact."

"..."

"But now, he killed Wang Quyi in front of so many people, it is ungratefulness."

"..."

"If he could kill even Wang Quyi, who else is there that he couldn’t kill?"

"..."

"This time we went up the mountain, Xiao Yuansui only managed to get Shantong’er to make a move against me, and Shen Tu Tai didn’t even show up, which tells a lot. Not to mention the people loyal to Wang Quyi, even those who had been following him might harbor grievances against him for his actions this time."

"..."

Shang Ruyi’s brows slightly furrowed.

After a long silence, she softly said: "Now he seems to be different from how he was before."

Yu Wenye’s gaze turned cold.

He seemed unwilling to continue the topic, so he picked up a teacup to take a sip, but upon seeing Shang Ruyi’s still heavy expression, his brows slowly furrowed. After a while, he said in a detached tone: "You’ve met him a few times; do you really know him that well?"

Shang Ruyi looked up at him and said: "I’ve only met him twice, but he left a deep impression."

"Oh?"

"The first time we met, although he looked down and out, he was very open-minded, showing he was someone capable of achieving great things; but the second time at Xingluo Granary—he actually had people capture me and bring me into Warehouse City, and his actions began to show some extremism, especially in his attitude toward Wang Quyi’s people."

"..."

"This time, he killed Wang Quyi right at the gate of Wanggang Village, showing that compared to last time, he is more extreme and ruthless."

"..."

Yu Wenye turned his face to the side, seemingly disinclined to respond.

But it was the always silent Shen Wuzheng who spoke at this moment: "When a person is at a disadvantage, they will soften their stance to increase their chances of survival; however, when they gain power and stand atop, able to control others’ lives and fates, the true nature of their humanity is revealed."

Shang Ruyi looked up at him.

Shen Wuzheng gazed into her eyes, speaking each word clearly: "Perhaps this is his true self."

"..."

Shang Ruyi’s heart slightly skipped a beat.

At this moment, she suddenly recalled when she was captured and taken into Xingluo Warehouse City, during her time with Xiao Yuansui, they had discussed his confidante—Lu Xiao.

For some reason, a foreboding feeling crept into her heart.

Seeing her frown slightly, Yu Wenye, despite his irritation, couldn’t help but ask: "What is it?"

"No, it’s nothing,"

Shang Ruyi shook her head, feeling it was indeed inexplicable to recall those things at this moment. After all, Lu Xiao was still by Wang Shaoji’s side, completely unrelated to what was happening here.

She thought for a while longer, then looked up at the two men before her.

"If it were you, in his position, what would you choose?"

"..."

"Would you kill Wang Quyi?"

"..."

Yu Wenye and Shen Wuzheng both paused, exchanging glances.

After a long silence, Yu Wenye chuckled lightly.

Shang Ruyi asked: "What’s so funny?"

Shen Wuzheng, beside him, also chuckled softly, but his eyes remained gentle as he looked at Shang Ruyi, saying: "This might sound like a criticism from the sidelines, but I,—and he, we likely wouldn’t let ourselves get into that predicament."

"..."

"As bystanders, there are many ways to solve the issue between him and Wang Quyi, but it requires patience or paying some price. However, Xiao Yuansui evidently lacked that patience and was unwilling to pay a price. By resolving the problem in such a brutal way, he naturally left numerous hidden troubles."

"..."

"One might say, he chose the worst strategy."

Yu Wenye, beside him, leisurely added: "Do you see any of us opting for the worst strategy?"