The following day, around noon, the Chang'an Automobile Factory cafeteria was filled with its usual bustle, as workers streamed in with their lunchboxes and the air carried a mix of food aromas and casual chatter.
Bin Sheng collected his meal, wandered around the cafeteria as if looking for a place to sit, and finally dropped down beside one of his subordinates from the support team, his movements appearing casual and unremarkable.
The subordinate was startled by the sudden proximity and immediately lowered his voice. "Boss, do you have instructions?"
Bin Sheng kept his head lowered as he ate and replied softly, "Gather in the garden next to the training ground."
After that, he stood up, took a few steps, and paused behind another subordinate, leaning in just long enough to whisper the same words before moving on as if nothing had happened.
One by one, he made his rounds, repeating the same quiet instruction until all ten of his subordinates had received the message, none of them drawing any unnecessary attention.
About ten minutes later, Bin Sheng and his ten men gathered in the small garden beside the training ground, each holding a lunchbox in hand. They ate while pretending to watch the female workers training nearby, their gazes drifting lazily even as their voices remained low and cautious.
After confirming that no one was close enough to overhear, Bin Sheng finally spoke. "Brothers, I have something important to tell you."
The ten men instinctively leaned closer, murmuring, "Boss, say it."
Bin Sheng took a slow breath and said quietly but firmly, "I am not going back to the Jin Kingdom."
The effect was immediate.
All ten of them stiffened at once, their movements freezing as if struck by the same invisible force, their expressions turning strange as fear, confusion, and suspicion intertwined. Some wondered whether this was a test, while others feared that a single wrong response might cost them their lives.
Seeing their reactions, Bin Sheng understood their thoughts clearly and continued in a low voice, "Last night, an envoy from the Jin Kingdom came to see me. He offered no praise, no encouragement, only complaints and accusations. I lost my temper and killed him."
A sharp intake of breath spread through the group as several men instinctively covered their mouths, their eyes widening in shock.
Bin Sheng did not linger on the matter. "I will not say anything else. I only want to ask you one thing," he said, his gaze sweeping across their faces. "Are you happy living here, or not?"
The ten men hesitated, exchanging glances, their inner struggles plainly visible. After a long moment, one by one, they lowered their voices and answered honestly, "Extremely happy."
"That's right," Bin Sheng said, his voice growing more intense as emotion surged. "We live like immortals here. We work hard, yes, and it is tiring, but our labor has meaning. Every effort is rewarded, every contribution is seen and acknowledged. But what about in the Jin Kingdom? There, we are nothing but insignificant spies, despised and disposable. Even if we accomplish great feats, do we receive anything? No. All the glory goes to our superiors. Do we even get a sip of the soup? Do we?"
Silence fell over the group.
Bin Sheng clenched his teeth. "I am not going back. If any of you want to return, I will not stop you. Just do not betray your brothers. If someone slips away alone, I will remember our past camaraderie and will not lift a hand against him."
His words were carefully chosen, leaving space without issuing threats.
The ten men looked at one another again, and this time their hesitation faded. Almost in unison, they spoke. "We are not going back either."
"I'm already a Labor Model," one of them muttered. "Why would I go back?"
"I've been promoted to team leader," another said quietly. "My wages are about to rise again."
"The director promised to help me fight for a promotion to assistant director," a third added.
These men had all risen rapidly within the Chang'an Automobile Factory. In their efforts to gather intelligence, they had worked harder than anyone else, striving to please their superiors, and as a result, their promotions had come one after another. None of them were low level laborers anymore.
Compared to the shameful life of a spy, their current achievements were something they could hold their heads high about.
Seeing their unanimous resolve, Bin Sheng felt a surge of joy. "Good," he said firmly. "From today onward, we are no longer people of the Jin Kingdom. We have returned to the Great Ming."
"But, Boss," one of the men whispered anxiously, "our presence here has already been reported. The Jin Kingdom will keep sending people. Sooner or later, someone will uncover our identities, and when that happens, we will all be doomed."
Bin Sheng's eyes hardened. "I have a plan."
All eyes immediately turned toward him.
"We turn ourselves in," Bin Sheng said.
The words stunned them.
"Turn ourselves in?"
"Isn't that just walking straight into death?"
Bin Sheng shook his head. "No, it isn't," he said seriously. "Haven't you noticed how open minded this place is? People here treat others with goodwill. Deputy Director Qi Cheng was once a bandit and even a labor reform prisoner, yet now he is a deputy director. A prodigal son who returns is worth more than gold. If we openly confess our identities, we will receive the same understanding. At the very least, the deputy director will understand us."
The others began whispering among themselves.
"It's too dangerous."
"We could die."
"It's like licking blood off a blade."
Bin Sheng lowered his voice. "Brothers, if we do not turn ourselves in, that is when we are truly licking blood off a blade. Sooner or later, a new spy will expose us, and then there will be no way out. If we confess now, our chances are far greater. This is the biggest gamble of our lives. If we win, we can live openly for the rest of our days. If we lose, consider it dying on a mission. We were all prepared for that fate long ago."
When he put it that way, the logic was undeniable.
The ten men nodded slowly, one after another. "Boss, we're with you."
"Good," Bin Sheng said. "Let's go to the deputy director's office right now."
The eleven of them stood together, quickly finishing their meals before striding toward the office with confident steps.
These eleven men were rising stars of the Chang'an Automobile Factory, known among the female workers as the "Eleven Outstanding Youths." As they walked together, their confident posture immediately drew countless curious looks from passersby.
Under many astonished gazes, they arrived at the deputy director's office and knocked lightly on the door.
Before they could even enter, Qi Cheng's gentle voice came from inside. "There's no need to come in. Dao Xuan Tianzun has already issued a divine decree to me, saying that all eleven of you have turned over a new leaf and decided to become upright people."
Bin Sheng and the others froze in place.
The shock was overwhelming.
In that instant, their souls nearly left their bodies.
They had heard Dao Xuan Tianzun's name countless times since arriving here, but they had never witnessed a true miracle and had secretly believed it to be little more than a convenient myth.
At this moment, they finally understood the boundless power of Dao Xuan Tianzun.
Qi Cheng continued calmly, "Dao Xuan Tianzun says this matter should not be made public. You know it yourselves, and there is no need to tell anyone else. Go back to your workshops, work hard, and act as if nothing happened."
Bin Sheng was overcome with joy and immediately prostrated himself toward the sky, his voice trembling as he cried, "Dao Xuan Tianzun is benevolent!"
"Oh, and one more thing," Qi Cheng added. "If any more spies from the Jin Kingdom come to contact you, do not risk killing them yourselves. Report it to the factory militia and let them handle it. Also, that body should not be buried in the woods. What if wild dogs dig it up someday? Move it tonight and give it a proper burial."
The eleven men were filled with gratitude. Bin Sheng bowed deeply and said, "For people like us to receive such magnanimity, we are eternally grateful to Dao Xuan Tianzun. If we ever harbor ill intent in this life, may we be struck by five bolts of thunder."