Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
Translated by XephiZ
Edited by Aelryinth
âMy...my throat hurts,â Mo Fan pointed at his throat indicating he was having trouble talking.
Zu Huanyao rolled his eyes at Mo Fan and said, âYou think I donât know you are close with Su Luâs faction? Su Lu is an impressive person, yet thereâs something strange about his character. Even we from the older generation donât really understand him, but thereâs one thing we know for sure, and that is that he wonât hesitate to fall out with anyone who opposes him! I donât care who you are hanging out with, but you should be careful with everything you do. Do you understand?â
âMm, mm,â Mo Fan nodded.
Zu Huanyaoâs eyes suddenly had a strange look. He began to observe Mo Fan closely.
The Dark Vein in Mo Fanâs body became restless. It was alerting Mo Fan about some kind of danger.
Did the Old Fox notice something?
Mo Fanâs heart skipped a beat. Zu Huanyao was the pillar of the Zu Clan, and had the nickname of the Old Fox. He was a capable man. Even though Mo Fan was smart enough to pretend he had a cold and a sore throat, Zu Huanyao still noticed something was not right.
What went wrong? Could it be that Zu Xiangtian was never so obedient in front of Zu Huanyao?
âYou have to scold me no matter where I go. Iâm already getting tired of it. Canât you keep it to yourself for once? Iâm seriously unwell,â Mo Fan said impatiently.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âSo what if Iâm scolding you? Iâm telling you, anyone who isnât stupid can easily tell what you are after! Thereâs another thing I want to ask you about. Why are you making such a huge fuss about the duel?â Zu Huanyao regained his initial expression.
Mo Fan was relieved. It seemed like Zu Xiangtian had always acted impatiently in front of Zu Huanyao.
âIâve waited long enough. Iâm going to trample him to death. Besides, we canât just forget what he did on the national team!â Mo Fan spat back.
âYouâre still the same, you can never keep your cool. Itâs in your best interest not to mess with that Mo Fan. He has done a lot for the country. Do you think itâs the same as your petty acts of virtue, which you purposely hired people to make a big fuss about?â Zu Huanyao sniffed.
âHeâs just lucky. The outcomes of those incidents would be the same even if he wasnât involved!â Mo Fan exclaimed, parroting the words of the people who were doubtful of his capabilities.
âWhy have I never seen you being lucky, then? Iâm telling you, donât you earn our Zu Clan to shame!â Zu Huanyao rebuked him.
Mo Fan could not agree more in his heart. It turned out that the old man still had some sense in him!
âI have some other business to attend to. I canât afford to waste my time talking to you here,â Mo Fan huffed.
âDonât you have a sore throat?â Zu Huanyao snapped at him.
âUgh...â Mo Fan had a feeling he should leave as soon as possible!
â(Sigh), I know you still hold a grudge against me. Itâs true that you might have had a chance to meet the great Angel Michael if you had participated in the mission on Tianshan Mountain, but do you have any idea who that Qin Yuâer is?â Zu Huanyao told him.
âIs she related to us?â Mo Fan raised his brows.
âDo you remember your second eldest brother, Zu Xingyi?â Zu Huanyao asked grimly.
âMm,â Mo Fan nodded, trying not to speak too much.
âI demoted Xingyi and sent him to Bo City just so he could stay out of sight. Once the Heresy Judgment Court cleared his name, I would have brought him back to the capital. Who knew so many things would happen...â Zu Huanyao recalled the past, and Mo Fan listened closely without interrupting the older man.
Zu Huanyao had kept these words in his heart for a long time. He felt relieved after spitting them out.
Mo Fan initially thought Zu Huanyao was talking about someone who was more impressive and reliable than Zu Xiangtian, whom the young man might be able to learn from. To Mo Fanâs surprise, the Zu Xingyi he had mentioned was Chief Military Instructor Zhan Kong!
It appeared that Zhan Kong was from the Zu Clan, yet he had never mentioned it!
This old man turned out to be Zhan Kongâs grandfather! The reason Zhan Kong became Bo Cityâs commander was because Zu Huanyao wanted to keep him out of the Heresy Judgment Courtâs sight. Whatever he had done for Qin Yuâerâs sake had obviously provoked the Heresy Judgment Court!
Mo Fan stared at the grey-bearded old man in disbelief. In other words, Zu Huanyao knew everything that had happened!
âI donât understand. The Heresy Judgment Court is clearly setting a trap for him. Why didnât you stop them?â Mo Fan had to ask.
If Zu Huanyao was Zhan Kongâs grandfather, they might have a chance to bust Qin Yuâer out of custody if they joined hands. Zhan Kong would not have to come to the Sacred City and walk right into this trap!
âYou think heâs still alive?â Zu Huanyao scoffed.
âUgh... itâs still a possibility. After all, the undead at the Ancient Capital have never attacked any city since he took over,â Mo Fan said.
âI donât care, I wonât let him suffer again!â Zu Huanyao declared.
Suffer?
Mo Fan had never thought of it that way. Either way, Mo Fan believed Zhan Kong was still alive. The ancient evil Qin Emperor did not steal his soul!
âIn the past, I was hoping he would avoid the punishment from the Sacred City, but now, Iâm hoping the Sacred City could bring him redemption,â Zu Huanyao went on.
âWhat if his soul is still around? You are going to get him killed. If he comes to the Sacred City, doesnât it mean he still retains his memories and feelings?â Mo Fan persisted.
The look in Zu Huanyaoâs eyes shifted, as if he had sensed Mo Fanâs unusual response.
Mo Fan realized Zu Xiangtian would never say something like that. He quickly explained himself, âI just donât want you to be sad.â
âIâve already asked the great Angel Michael. Not only is his existence a great threat, heâs being tortured constantly by the soul possessing him. I only have a few years left, yet the Qin Emperorâs soul might torture Xingyi for a thousand years. The last thing I can do for him while Iâm still alive is set him free!â Zu Huanyao declared with determination.
âFine, but what about Qin Yuâer? After all... I think sheâs innocent,â Mo Fan said cautiously.
âDonât worry, we only brought her to the Sacred City to lure the Qin Emperor out. We will make the necessary arrangements once itâs over. She wonât be able to live an ordinary life, but she will live,â Zu Huanyao said dismissively.
âI still think...â Mo Fan wanted to say something.
âI have told you too much today. Xiangtian, after Xingyi is set free, you are our Zu Clanâs only hope. I might be your great-uncle, but Iâve always treated you as my own grandchild. I hope you will be more mature and take on important roles.â Zu Xiangtian patted Mo Fan on the shoulder.
Mo Fan watched Zu Huanyao as he turned around and left.
Mo Fan felt bitter and helpless watching the old man leave.
Zu Huanyao was obviously the person responsible for the incident in their homeland. To his surprise, he was also Zhan Kongâs grandfather! From his perspective, there was nothing wrong with setting his grandsonâs soul free from the shell of the Emperor of the Undead!