Madmen don't keep diaries

Chapter 513, Section 512: Chen Dejin's Courage
Master Ma didn't like hearing that.

He frowned, feigning displeasure: "Can't you speak properly? What do you mean by 'infamous reputation'? I'm known as the 'Great Benevolent Ma' among bandits. When I stand in front of you, everyone who comes will give me a thumbs up and praise my benevolence. Think about it carefully yourself, does the word 'infamous reputation' have anything to do with me?"

Fang Youliu couldn't help but expose him: "Why are you putting Liu Weisen's name on your own head again? You clearly can't stand seeing others have it..."

Feng Xiuhu's face darkened.

Cheng Zhuiyi almost burst out laughing: "Not even related? The things you do—"

Noticing Feng Xiuhu's unfriendly gaze, Zhou Xiuqing quickly pulled Cheng Zhuiyi aside and continued, "Second Master is right, please don't misunderstand, Sister Zhuiyi didn't mean that."

Feng Xiuhu glanced at her sideways: "What does that mean?"

Zhou Xiuqing smiled and said, "What I mean is that Second Master is very powerful in Qianyu City, fighting against the government and killing foreigners. His shout on the bridge made the church retreat in panic. We, the Self-Governing Association, are also a group of people who can't stand the arrogance of foreigners. Moreover, the government is very tolerant of the corrupt officials in the country. So we should join forces and make a loud and earth-shaking cry to awaken the millions of people."

The conversation finally turned to a topic that interested Feng Xiuhu.

He squinted tentatively: "Don't rush to say the nice things, there's something I don't understand."

Zhou Xiuqing nodded: "Second Master, please ask."

Feng Xiuhu slowly exhaled a column of smoke, which spread outwards.

He stared at Zhou Xiuqing and asked, "Where did you find out about my time in Qianyu City?"

Before Zhou Xiuqing could speak, Feng Xiuhu cut her off: "Don't tell me I'm famous or anything. Liu Weisen is one of the most important people in Zhenqiu City. Even he doesn't know me, let alone you students—and you two came all the way from Duoyun City, which means you must have received advance notice."

Feng Xiuhu raised his eyes: "Who tipped you off? And why are you investigating me?"

Zhou Xiuqing pursed her lips, her mind racing, but she couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation for the time being.

The atmosphere became tense again.

Chen Dejin couldn't help but stand up and say, "Xiuqing, why are you explaining all this to this scoundrel? He's not going to join our cause anyway, so we might as well tell him the truth so he won't hold a gun to his head and interrogate us again."

Shunzi pushed Chen Dejin back onto the sofa and said, "You have no right to speak here."

"you!"

Chen Dejin glared angrily at Shunzi.

Feng Xiuhu smiled and asked Zhou Xiuqing, "Does he know you've cast a spell on him?"

Zhou Xiuqing was only stunned for a moment before her thoughts quickly came to a head: "It was Fu Rongshui who told you."

She was referring to the identity of Cheng Zhuiyi, the marriage matchmaker.

Feng Xiuhu smiled but remained silent.

Zhou Xiuqing gave a very forced smile: "Since Second Master already knew what was going on, why bother to trick me?"

Feng Xiuhu remained silent: "I need to hear some things from you in person before I can feel at ease."

Zhou Xiuqing and Cheng Zhuiyi exchanged a silent glance.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhou Xiuqing finally spoke: "That's right, I did learn about Second Master's whereabouts through the Marriage Temple, including the fact that the Student Self-Reliance Association's resistance movement against foreigners also received the secret support of the Marriage Temple."

"But I don't think this is something shameful for Second Master. Although the Marriage Temple is dealing with the church, their goal is the same as ours. So, having the Marriage Temple's help is actually an advantage for our Self-Sufficiency Society. Since Second Master knows this inside story, is he still unwilling to join us?"

Feng Xiuhu was shocked: "You were thinking of recruiting me?"

Cheng Zhuiyi said irritably, "I'm too lazy to waste any more words. I might as well be blunt with you—you have experience in going against the government, and you also have the background and ability that the government is wary of. This is exactly what we lack right now."

Fang Youliu finally understood: "You guys have a really clever plan." "The government is obstructing the Self-Governing Association's actions both openly and covertly. Since the Marriage Temple can't easily intervene, you students are at a loss. So you've set your sights on Second Master, hoping he'll cause a scene in Falling Cloud City like he did in Thousand Island City. Afterwards, whether Second Master and the government both suffer heavy losses, or the government suffers in silence, your Self-Governing Association's actions can proceed as scheduled."

That's the truth, but Fang Youliu's words were too blunt, making them rather unpleasant to hear.

Cheng Zhuiyi and Zhou Xiuqing both looked rather unnatural.

But Feng Xiuhu, who saw this scene clearly, breathed a sigh of relief.

This is good news—Xu Liansheng did not sell him.

The Women's Association wasn't there for revenge; they just wanted to drag him down with them and use him as a shield in this incident.

Having figured this out, Feng Xiuhu felt a huge weight lifted from his shoulders, and he felt much more relaxed.

He gestured for Shunzi to put the gun away, then asked Zhou Xiuqing, "You seem like a smart man, you can't possibly put all your eggs in one basket—I mean, if my persuasion fails, what are you planning to do?"

Zhou Xiuqing pursed her lips: "On the day of the parade, the church will be burned down."

Feng Xiuhu's eyes lit up: "You're not planning to leave any way out for your classmates, are you?"

Cheng said coldly, "A temporary sacrifice is for the sake of lasting achievements."

Zhou Xiuqing remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Feng Xiuhu was somewhat puzzled: "If you really do that, you probably won't be able to extricate yourself—even if you are the daughter of the Director of the Education Department, you are also the president of the Self-Consistency Association and a key person under close surveillance."

Chen Dejin suddenly retorted: "If you can think of it, how could we not know? No need to worry, at tomorrow's meeting, Xiuqing will announce in public that I, Chen Dejin, will take over as the president of the Self-Government Association."

"I will take full responsibility for any accountability that follows."

Feng Xiuhu was truly exasperated with him. Pointing at Chen Dejin, he questioned Zhou Xiuqing: "You guys are really bullying honest people! His elders died young, and his family has been poor for generations. This generation finally wanted to study more and went to the academy to audit classes, but they ran into a bunch of wicked bastards who are trying to squeeze every last drop out of him."

Chen Dejin interjected again: "I know, and I'm willing too."

Everyone turned to look at him, and saw that Chen Dejin had a resolute expression.

Even Shunzi couldn't stand it anymore and cursed, "What do you know?"

"I just know it."

Chen Dejin glared back, then looked at Zhou Xiuqing: "I know you used tricks on me to make me hopelessly infatuated with Xiuqing."

Zhou Xiuqing avoided his gaze.

Chen Dejin smiled faintly and continued, "But long before you used any tricks, I had already developed feelings for Xiuqing, so I know my own feelings better than anyone else."

"I have never met anyone as outstanding as Xiuqing. She is independent, knowledgeable, and never lacks the courage to resist. These are things that I do not have but admire immensely."

“I’m even glad you used your methods on me, because that’s how I got the chance to live under the same roof as Xiuqing. And it’s also because of this inescapable attraction that I have the courage to move forward without hesitation—even if it’s just a bonus from the methods you used.”

Feng Xiuhu interrupted in a deep voice: "You yourself said that your courage now is fake, it does not come from your true will - if the effect of the curse is dispelled, your thoughts will not be like this."

Chen Dejin shook his head and said, "No, perhaps I will back down because of my fear of death, but that doesn't mean I'm unwilling to do the right thing."

"Xiuqing is right. Sacrificing for something meaningful is meaningful in itself."

"Since it's meaningful, I don't want to lose this hard-won courage."

(End of this chapter)