Charlie remained silent, but Zara Banks looked at him with surprise and asked, “Brother, what kind of life have you encountered? Is it dangerous? Why didn’t you mention it before?”


    Fitz responded, “In the second month of my journey, I began to take this pilgrimage seriously. I decided to part ways with the entourage that Mr. Wade had arranged for me and aimed to truly travel on my own. Eventually…”


    “I fell ill after getting caught in the rain and had to spend the night in a farmhouse. Many pilgrims choose to stay overnight along the route, so I didn’t think much of it…” He continued, “In the end, that couple took advantage of my situation.”


    “When I was nearly unconscious from a high fever, they nned to sell me to the owner of a local ck brick kiln. I overheard them say that a healthy adult could fetch around 20,000 yuan. Workers earn at least three to four thousand yuan a month, and the kiln owner could recover his investment in just over half a year, with the rest being pure profit.”


    “I seemed to be in and out of consciousness, even bargaining with them, managing to push the price down to five thousand…”<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    Zara’s eyes widened in shock. “What happened next?” she asked eagerly.


    Fitz continued, “Then, the kiln owner and his three thugs threw me into an off-road vehicle. I wanted to call for help, but with my high fever, I couldn’t even open my eyes fully, let alone resist…” He added, “Once inside the car, I thought my life was over. However, not long after they drove off, their vehicle was rear-ended by another car. The kiln owner and his thugs got out to argue, and then they were shot down by the other party.”


    The group was on the edge of their seats, with Fish asking, “Then what happened?!”


    Fitz lowered his voice, “The two shooters disposed of their bodies in a ditch by the roadside, then pulled me out of the off-road vehicle and took me back to the farmhouse…”


    Zara was even more puzzled. “Why would they take you back?”


    Fitz replied, “They thought I was in aa and unaware of anything. In the car, they discussed returning me to the farmhouse and forcing the couple to care for me until I recovered. They nned to deal with the couple afterward, but they had no idea I had overheard everything.”


    As he spoke, Fitz turned to Charlie with gratitude in his eyes. “Mr. Wade, the two of them even debated whether to report this to Mr. Isaac of Shangri-La, but they felt it wasn’t worth it and that I might often encounter such situations. They believed as long as my safety was ensured, there was no need for repeated reports. That’s when I realized you had people secretly looking out for me…” Fitz then knelt to the ground, bowing deeply. “Thank you, Mr. Wade, for saving my life time and again. I will never forget your kindness!”


    Charlie reached out to help him up and said calmly, “You don’t need to thank me for this. You are Aunt Deana’s son and Ms. Banks’s brother, and since you haven’tmitted any heinous crime, it’s only reasonable. I can’t take your life; that’s why I allowed you to go on this pilgrimage. The original intention was to provide you a chance for growth.”


    “Over the past twenty years, I’ve faced numerous hardships, which I also view as a form of penance. These experiences can shape a person’s soul; whether youe from wealth and privilege or hardship and self-doubt, you can find a profound transformation through such trials.”<fn2a95> The rightful source is find?novel</fn2a95>


    “If you can embrace this journey, it will benefit both you and your family. If not, at least you will carry some fear and hesitation from this difficult experience, which will serve as a form of restraint.”


    Charlie then shifted the topic, speaking with conviction, “But I cannot allow you to lose your life due to unforeseen circumstances or human malice during your penance! If that were to happen, it would not only stray from my intentions, but I wouldn’t be able to exin it to Aunt Deana and Ms. Banks.”