Chapter Thirty-One: The Truth

Regarding the creature beneath his feet, Zhang Jingye, Ye Chen was already half convinced. Given his physical resilience, even being thrown out of prison would not have killed him so easily. As long as he could clarify what happened after Zhang Jingye returned home, the truth would come to light.

When Ye Chen heard the question about why he had attacked Cao Yang and the others, he distinctly felt Zhang Jingye tremble beneath his foot. Immediately, the muscles in Zhang's back tensed, and with great fury, he roared, "They deserved to die, all of them!"

Ye Chen remained silent.

Chen Bingfeng signaled for Xu Fan to step forward, threatening Zhang Jingye with his firearm. The message was clear: if he could not provide a reasonable explanation, he would be executed on the spot.

"I crawled back home and hid inside," Zhang Jingye began, his voice trembling. "I was terrified, afraid of being seen by others! During the day, I dared not go out. But I was hungry—so very hungry. I waited until everyone was asleep and snuck out to steal chickens to eat. Later, when many people started searching for the chicken thief, I didn't dare go anymore."

Ye Chen made a mental note, recalling that day on his way home when he encountered Little Braised Egg and his companions. So it was you lurking in the shadows, watching me!

Zhang Jingye continued, "That night, I heard someone taking out the trash. I smelled something edible in the garbage bin—I was starving. I peeked and saw it was Cao Yang's wife throwing out kitchen scraps. The aroma was overwhelming."

At this point, Ye Chen noticed crystalline drool trickling from the corner of Zhang Jingye's enormous mouth. He couldn't tell if Zhang was describing the scent of food from the trash or the allure of human organs.

"When she went back inside, I crept over. I only wanted to find something to eat. Wuwuwu!" Zhang Jingye broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

"But then I heard it... I heard everything. I heard Cao Yang's voice inside, boasting about trading a few miners' lives for his position as deputy mine chief. I heard him say he and Zhang Earthmover had increased the explosives—enough to cause a collapse."

"Roar!" Zhang Jingye bellowed again.

"So you went in and killed Cao Yang and his wife, didn't you?" Chen Bingfeng asked, his tone precise.

Immersed in his memories, Zhang Jingye nodded weakly, "Yes, I killed them. Those were three lives—three men lost in the collapse. They were my old comrades! Wuwuwu! The hardest-working brothers... gone, all because of Cao Yang and Zhang Earthmover's treachery."

"I couldn't accept it. It was my fault, but even more so, theirs! Wuwuwu!" Zhang Jingye sobbed, the rage gone, replaced only by grief.

He seemed to have found a channel to pour out all his grievances and pain. Whether it was Xu Fan with his raised gun or Ye Chen holding him down, they were the best audience for his confession.

A sigh drifted from behind.

"And then, you attacked Zhang Earthmover in the alley, didn't you?"

"Roar! Yes!"

"Why did you attack me?" Ye Chen demanded harshly.

"I... I didn't want anyone to see me—not in this state."

"Besides Cao Yang and his wife, and Zhang Earthmover, did you hurt anyone else?"

"No, I didn't! I swear!"

"So if I hadn't defeated you that night, would I have become your fourth victim?"

Zhang Jingye fell silent.

Suddenly, he realized the pressure on his wound had vanished. He turned, bewildered, to see Ye Chen, who was now crouched before him, holding the dreaded broken blade in reverse grip, his gaze deep and searching.

"Can you remember what happened after you were imprisoned?" Ye Chen asked.

For reasons he couldn't explain, Zhang Jingye felt a surge of gratitude. He didn't try to get up but lay flat on the ground, a flicker of human thought in his eyes.

"I remember, the day after I was locked up, I was taken to another room—all white. There were many instruments I didn't recognize. They strapped me to a chair, hands, feet, neck, all secured. Someone injected me with something. Before I lost consciousness, I heard the roar of some wild beast. After that, I remember nothing. When I woke, I was lying on the riverbed..."

In the end, the most crucial details remained beyond reach—Zhang Jingye himself didn’t know how the changes in him had occurred.

He watched as the man before him stood up, tall and straight, sheathing his broken blade, and spoke with authority:

"Zhang Jingye, listen well. Even if you were framed, the string of attacks and injuries are crimes you committed. Do you wish to die here as a monster, or live as a man and face a fair trial?"

"I choose the second. Because I am a man. I am Zhang Jingye. Roar! Thank you!"

The murderous glint in his eyes faded, replaced by tears only a human could shed.

...

The story of Zhang Jingye's past was later learned when they visited his old team leader. After hearing it, each was left sighing deeply.

Zhang Jingye had long been a resident of the outer city. As a frail youth, he joined the mining team, venturing into the wilderness to extract stone just to survive.

The old captain would tell him, "Though we're building homes for the inner city's bigwigs now, if you work hard, one day you'll have a home there too."

The boy's eyes shone, filled with hope, though he never thought to ask, "Did you ever get your own home in the inner city, Captain?"

Though small and thin, Zhang Jingye was incredibly hardworking, doing as much as the slyest adults. Sharp stones often tore his hands, but he'd bind them with rags and keep hauling heavy blocks.

The adults mocked his diligence, but the old captain thought otherwise. Watching the boy grow, he would sometimes slip him extra food.

Zhang Jingye was eager to learn. The old captain would rest his withered hand on the boy's head and say, "I'll teach you all I know about mining. Build good homes for the inner city's great folk. But you must also build for those in the outer city who have nothing. And then, build a house for yourself."

Young Zhang Jingye saw this as a mission, nodding earnestly.

Seasons changed, years passed. The old captain eventually retired, never having lived in the inner city—spending his last years in a home smaller than Zhang Jingye’s.

One New Year, Zhang Jingye brought meat and wine to visit his mentor. The old captain, with gnarled hands, patted Zhang's head and said, "Son, times are hard. Every winter, so many in the outer city freeze for lack of shelter. You mustn’t slack. Keep hauling stone, so all may have a warm home."

Zhang Jingye took these words to heart. With time, his skill and experience made him the top hand in the mining crew. Eventually, when green crystal ore was found outside the city, he became mine chief.

What happened next, the old captain did not know—but the three young men did. And they kept it quietly in their hearts.