Chapter Seventy-Six: Old Jin’s Unspoken Sorrows

But as Chu Feng walked to the left side of Old Jin, he saw a scar beside Old Jin's left ear. Chu Feng's heart immediately sank.

He truly did not want to believe that Old Jin was the mole Mr. X had sent to Old Chen’s side, nor did he wish to accept that Old Jin would betray Old Chen and become a traitor.

“You all return to your posts,” Chu Feng said. “Old Wang and Old Jin, you two come with me.” He escorted Old Chen into the hospital room, and Old Jin, Old Wang, and Ma Han followed.

“Old Chen, there’s something I haven’t told you yet. Today, I will say it before everyone present: there is a traitor by your side, and I have already caught him.”

Old Chen was not the least bit surprised at Chu Feng’s words, for High Commander Jiang had previously warned him that someone close might betray him.

“Go ahead, tell me who it is. No matter who, I can bear it,” Old Chen replied, his voice trembling. At his age, he was especially susceptible to sorrow, and any disturbance in his mood would greatly affect his recovery.

“Will you come forward yourself or shall I expose you? Old Chen is right here,” said Chu Feng, still seated by Old Chen’s side. His tone carried a hint of disappointment, as if he wished Old Jin had not failed him so.

Old Jin, upon hearing Chu Feng’s words, fell to his knees with a thud. He knew he had been discovered and had no hope left.

His sudden kneeling startled both Old Chen and Old Wang, especially Old Chen, who had never expected that the one to betray him was his personal assistant.

“You truly betrayed me? Why? The country has given you such generous treatment—was it only to make you a traitor? Today, you must give me an explanation.”

Old Chen’s voice trembled as he spoke. He had thought the traitor was someone from outside; he never imagined it was someone in this very room, one of his most trusted people.

“Old Chen, I never wanted to betray you, but I had no choice. I have difficulties you cannot imagine. If I didn’t do this, not only would I die, but my family would die as well.”

Old Jin remained kneeling, his head bowed low. He could not bear to meet Old Chen’s disappointed gaze, for Old Chen had treated him like his own child. When he first entered the base, it was Old Chen who picked him out and made him his assistant.

At that time, he had just graduated from university and was penniless. Old Chen lent him half his salary and never asked for repayment. When Old Jin married and couldn’t secure a loan due to his job, Old Chen used his connections to help, saving him a great deal of money. Old Chen had helped him countless times, and perhaps because of this, Old Jin could never bring himself to harm Old Chen, even after becoming a traitor.

“Tell us everything,” said Chu Feng, helping Old Jin up and seating him on the nearby sofa. “If there are difficulties, I’ll do everything I can to help.”

“It happened like this,” Old Jin began. “Last week, my wife and son went abroad for a trip. Because Old Chen’s health was poor and the experiment was at a critical stage, I stayed behind.”

“A few days later, the tour guide called my workplace, saying my wife and child had gone missing. They searched everywhere and couldn’t find them. The guide reported to the police, but after several days, the authorities found nothing.”

“Then I received a phone call. It was people from Scorching Sun—they had kidnapped my wife and child. They threatened me, using my wife as a hostage, and demanded I harm Old Chen and steal his research.”

“I put a slow-acting poison in Old Chen’s water. Who could have predicted Old Chen would fall ill before drinking it and be sent to the hospital, where you arrived to treat him?”

“The Scorching Sun people have been pressuring me these past days. They sent me a new kind of poison—once consumed, it kills within a minute, and medical instruments would show it as brain death.”

Old Jin spoke through tears, revealing the truth. He truly could not bring himself to do it, which was why he had hesitated for so long. If he had been ruthless, Old Chen would have died before Chu Feng arrived.

“Why didn’t you report this to the organization? They would have sent people to rescue them. Even if you had told me, I would have asked High Commander Jiang to intervene.”

Old Chen was deeply unsettled by Old Jin’s words. He knew it was because of him that Old Jin’s family had been targeted. Old Chen still felt guilty over the deaths of his previous two assistants; he had not expected Old Jin’s family to be kidnapped by a criminal organization because of their connection to him.

“I didn’t dare. I feared something would happen to my wife and child. You know I was an orphan from childhood—my wife and child are my only family in this world.”

Old Jin’s background was tragic. His parents died in a car accident when he was very young, and he survived thanks to the charity of his village, eating meals from many homes. It was through his own efforts that he got into the University of Science and Technology and became Old Chen’s assistant—his moment of rising in the world.

“Old Chen, now that you’ve discovered me, I can only apologize. The wrong I’ve committed can only be repaid with my life. If you can save my wife and child, please ask High Commander Jiang to help.”

As soon as Old Jin finished speaking, Chu Feng rushed forward, grabbed Old Jin’s chin, preventing him from biting down on the poison capsule hidden in his mouth.

“If you truly regret it, then live. Use your knowledge to serve your country. If you die now, you’ll only harm Old Chen further.”

Chu Feng reached in and removed the poison capsule from Old Jin’s mouth, handing it to Ma Han, who placed it on the floor and crushed it underfoot. A few drops of liquid seeped out, sizzling on the ground. Old Wang, witnessing this, was shocked.

Today’s ordeal was a heavy blow for Old Wang as well. He and Old Jin had been friends for over a decade, and he never expected Old Jin to suffer such misfortune.

“Old Chen, what do you want to do—should Old Jin be detained, or allowed to stay by your side?” This was a decision only Old Chen could make; Chu Feng and the others would not presume to choose for him.