Chapter 480: The Truth (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

Gong Xichou: "After all, he is at the peak of the fifteenth-level Lesser Upper Realm, only one step away from breaking through. He won't die so easily."

Ji Mo Can's eye-rolling became increasingly obvious.

"Then why don't you take advantage of his inability to resist now and cut off his head? Do you want to wait for him to break free?"

Gong Xichou: "..."

That makes a lot of sense.

Even after personally severing that unsightly head, Gong Xichou still felt a sense of unreality, as if in a dream… Was Tang Guo really dead? It seemed a bit too easy and abrupt. But with that person's head in his hands, it couldn't be an illusion.

"He...is he really dead?"

Ji Mo Can said, "Mm."

"Is he really dead?"

Ji Mo Can, unusually patient, replied, "Mm."

Gong Xichou held up the severed head and laughed loudly.

He's really dead!

He spun around in celebration.

"Revenge has been avenged! Hahahaha—"

I laughed for a long time, only to realize that I was the only one laughing.

Why aren't you smiling?

Ji Mo Can retorted, "Why would I be grinning like an idiot?"

Gong Xichou: "..."

Is this really the husband I chose?

Isn't it said that the high priest is the one favored by the gods?

Is this the aesthetic sense of the gods?

A mouthful of blood choked him, and his joy faded somewhat, but it didn't matter. Ji Mo Can didn't know how to celebrate; he could share this news with his uncles. He had killed the three masterminds, the Pig King, and Tang Guo, the executioner…

This is also a comfort to them.

However, before Gong Xichou could speak, their figures began to disappear upwards from beneath their feet, and Gong Xichou hurriedly rushed forward.

"uncle--"

In return, his uncle gently patted his head.

“Our Anian has grown up well.”

These words immediately brought tears to Gong Xichou's eyes, which welled up with tears. Ji Mo Can simply watched this scene coldly.

Whether it's him or these lingering spirits of the Gongxi tribe, their purpose today has never been to kill Tang Guo.

It was merely the elders' presence that allowed the wronged younger generation to vent their pent-up resentment, completely shed the burden of their clan's extermination, and stride confidently into the future. His life was no longer about the past. As for Tang Guo? His life was just a byproduct of that.

"My uncle and the others—"

Gong Xichou looked at Ji Mo Can as if pleading for help.

Ji Mo Can said, "The obsession has been dispelled; we cannot force him to stay."

As he spoke, the high priest completely removed his elaborate robes.

"Then can you soothe their souls and send them back to the embrace of the gods?" Gong Xichou asked cautiously.

If he could, he would smile and send his elders off on their journey into a new life.

Upon hearing the words "soul pacification," Ji Mo Can's expression turned strange and helpless. He neither said it was impossible nor impossible: "Come with me—I just said that if you take Tang Guo's head, I will tell you the whole truth. But remember, don't regret it."

Gong Xichou roused himself.

I glanced back at the spot where my elders had disappeared.

"You say so, how could I regret it?"

The commotion at Chengkang Temple had already alerted the guards of the capital region, and Gongxi Chou and Ji Mo Can left this place of trouble immediately.

Then, in a secluded rural cabin, he saw the person Ji Mo Can had shown him, but this person—

Gong Xichou glanced at Ji Mo Can, then at the pale-skinned Ji Mo Can lying on the bed with his eyes closed, his expression shifting between the two. A strong sense of unease welled up inside him, and he pulled Ji Mo Can back.

The wooden door slammed shut.

Ji Mo Can silently watched his foolish actions.

"Didn't you say you wouldn't regret it?"

Gong Xichou was enraged by his indifferent question.

"What's going on here!"

How can there be two Ji Mo Cans?

Ji Mo Can brushed aside the obstructing Gong Xi Chou, pushed open the door, and stepped inside, showing no sign of noticing the difference in his other self. He remained in the shadows of the room, turning back to look at Gong Xi Chou standing in the light: "I'll tell you now."

"I won't listen! I just won't listen!"

Ji Mo Can picked up a wooden stick.

He frowned and said, "Want to get a spanking?"

Gong Xichou nearly suffocated himself with a breath.

Ji Mo Can sighed: "When should I begin this story? If I make it too complicated, I'm afraid you won't understand; if I make it too simple, I'm afraid you'll misunderstand. Whether you understand or not, write it down carefully and think about it slowly."

Gong Xichou: "..."

“Although I call myself ‘Ji Mo Can,’ in reality, I have long since lost the right to possess this surname.” Ji Mo Can dropped a bombshell right from the start. “Many years ago, when your elder brother was still alive, I took over the position of High Priest…”

"But I don't like it, though I don't know why."

"Until I left the tribe's territory and witnessed the chaos and cruelty outside, all my doubts were dispelled, and I began to question the existence of gods." Ignoring Gongxi Chou's eyes, which were practically popping out of their sockets in fright, he continued, "The so-called High Priest of the Gongxi tribe does the same boring, useless, and meaningless things every day: presiding over the tribe's weddings and funerals, and mediating conflicts among the tribe..."

How could it be boring, useless, or meaningless?

The high priest was his childhood dream!

Gong Xichou retorted defiantly.

Ji Mo Can ignored him and retorted, "Have you ever considered that if there truly are gods in this world, why do they not see the suffering of the common people? A treacherous star descended from the heavens, and for over two hundred years, hundreds of nations waged war, resulting in countless deaths and injuries. What have the people done wrong? What suffering have they endured? Did she hear that?"

Gongxi Chou retorted, "Why should she listen? She is only worshipped by the Gongxi clan. Why should she care about those demons and monsters outside who indiscriminately commit murder out of human greed?"

Ji Mo Can then asked, "Since the Gongxi clan has offered incense, worshipped and revered you for so many years, why was the clan wiped out?"

Gong Xichou was speechless.

Ji Mo Can softened his expression: "...Since then, I have begun to doubt the existence of God. Even if she really exists, the Gongxi clan holds the method of salvation—the Wu Kingdom's Gu calamity back then was only one step away from unifying the continent, just a little bit short of true unification, proving that this path is possible. It's just that they took the wrong step back then. If they could avoid it, perhaps they could achieve their goal! If that's the case, why live in seclusion, singing and dancing all day long, jumping around like wild monkeys?"

Gong Xichou blinked, unable to answer.

He doesn't think there's anything wrong with singing and dancing all day.

What business is it of their ethnic group if the mainland is unified?

The root of the annihilation disaster was none other than the greed, lust, and avarice of these demons and monsters from the outside world, which led to the entire clan's demise.

Wasn't it because of these reasons that our ancestors were convicted and exiled?

The Gongxi clan was originally a reclusive clan.

Why would a reclusive clan not live in seclusion?

He thought of something: "But the High Priest..."

The high priest's divine power stems from faith.

Ji Mo Can's faith wavered, which was bad news.

But what he didn't expect was that Ji Mo Can's wavering was not just a simple matter; it was much more serious: "After I returned to my clan, I suppressed my doubts until something happened that made me make a final decision. You should know that you have an older brother, right?"

"Yes, I know."

Ji Mo Can's gaze was filled with reminiscence: "He was sent to the altar to test his aptitude when he was six years old. He went there perfectly fine, but something happened when he came back. I went to question the old priest, but his answer was something I simply couldn't accept..."

This was the first time Gong Xichou had heard about the cause of his brother's death.

What answer?

Ji Mo Can said, "The gods are very pleased."

Simply put, they liked him so much that they took his soul, turning him into a soulless walking corpse.

Is this an evil god?

Other members of the clan even came to congratulate him.

He found it absurd and disgusting.

Unable to vent his anger on his people, on a rainy night, he resolutely changed out of his tribal attire, crossed out his name from the family register, and left without looking back. He would find a path that would bring true happiness to all living beings.

Instead of indulging in this false happiness like the people of their own tribe, becoming objects of amusement in the eyes of the evil god.

Ji Mo Can sighed again: "The moment I stepped out of the clan's territory, my already dwindling divine power completely vanished, leaving only the spiritual heart and spiritual energy in my dantian. Your mother even chased after me. I've been traveling around with her, trying to find a solution."

Gong Xichou appeared midway through.

He then sent his wife back to her ancestral home to live out her days.

They kept in touch through letters and only occasionally got together.

He had intended to carry out his plans, but some unexpected events thwarted his progress. Furthermore, he unexpectedly discovered that various countries were secretly investigating the Wu Kingdom's Gu affliction, and that sooner or later the investigation would reach the Gongxi tribe. He could only spare some attention to secretly stop it.

Many years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Despite all the careful planning, one overlooks the human heart—in the face of enormous profits, people can trample on all moral boundaries.

"...When I received news of Geng's attack and rushed back, it was too late..." Only then did he begin to understand why his ancestors resolutely chose to live in seclusion and remain in a remote corner of the world, because they had witnessed the greed and ugliness of human nature and were utterly disappointed.

"...At that moment, all the passion and ideals, all the saving of the world and the salvation of all living beings, became a joke." Ji Mo Can looked at Gong Xi Chou and said, "When I saw you lying lifeless on the altar, I painfully realized that I was not qualified to save you."

The Gu worm and its host live and die together.

Even if the Gu worm is incredibly resilient, it has no power to continue its work once its host is dead, and it cannot exert its intended effect.

Unless a high priest feeds it with divine power.

He said, "...The high priest who was once skilled in presiding over all kinds of sacrifices is right in front of you, but I am powerless to save you...I can't save you! I have given up my faith! The gods have also given up on me! As a result, I am going to lose you!"

Gongxi Chou said blankly, "But I saw it..."

It was indeed Ji Mo Can, dressed in priestly robes, who saved him, and he himself was indeed spared death; there's no faking it.

"Because of your uncle and his family..."

"My uncles? But they were already..."

Ji Mo Can said, “I abandoned my faith, but they did not. They were not appeased, so their obsessions are hard to let go. The combined obsessions and faith formed a bridge between me and the gods. I confessed to her, hoping to exchange one life for another.”

Gong Xichou was startled.

"A life for a life?" His pupils trembled, his gaze involuntarily falling on the lifeless corpse. "But..."

“A life for a life is the fairest thing in the world, Anian. If given the chance, not only would I exchange lives without hesitation, but everyone who loves you would too. This opportunity was also prayed for by all our people!”

As a high priest who betrayed the gods, Ji Mo Can only hoped that Gong Xi Chou could live, and dared not have any other expectations.

But the final result was beyond expectations.

When the sacrificial ceremony ended, he found himself still alive, and a message automatically appeared in his mind—

Gong Xi Chou was already dead, his soul tainted with an aura not belonging to the mortal realm. Forcibly bringing him back would inevitably damage his very foundation. Therefore, a binding force was placed upon him. When this binding force is broken, it will be the time for Ji Mo Can to fulfill his promise.

Before that, he could watch over Gong Xi Chou until he grew up, so that he wouldn't waste his life and his loving father's heart.

This god—

His generosity was somewhat unexpected.

Ji Mo Can had assumed the other party would refuse the entire clan's pleas, or reluctantly agree but then take his life. He hadn't expected him to survive a little longer. In fact, he survived for another ten years or so. Now he had to clean up the mess left by this wretched son!

“Do you know what? You’re really good at causing trouble! You’ve made me suspect countless times that the gods are not doing this out of kindness, and are punishing me with a dull knife. Raising a son, especially one who’s not very smart and always causes trouble, is more exhausting than when I was presiding over the sacrificial rites.”

Gong Xichou: "..."

The originally sad, heavy, and touching atmosphere was completely washed away by Ji Mo Can's complaints.

He couldn't cry, nor could he be angry.

He was so angry he almost cried.

He jumped up and cursed, "At least I'm less troublesome than you!"

Is this really his biological father?

"You're still supporting me? Have I ever seen you before?" Having finally met again, this guy still had that gloomy look on his face, speaking in a sarcastic tone. Gong Xi Chou almost lost his temper then and there. Most importantly, "Why didn't you stop me from taking revenge?"

If he hadn't lost control in a fit of rage and fought Tang Guo to the death, he would never have remembered his lost memories, and naturally, Ji Mo Can wouldn't have had to fulfill his exchange with the gods. Gong Xi Chou didn't believe the other party was unaware of this, so why didn't he stop him?

Ji Mo Can said, "I stopped them."

Gong Xichou was speechless, choked by the words. The other party had indeed tried to stop him, but he was consumed by the thrill of finding his enemy, his mind solely focused on tearing off their heads to pay for his entire clan's demise. He said helplessly, "You should have told me the truth back then... I would have believed you if you had told me! If you could live, I would have sealed my dantian and never used martial energy again..."

As long as I never remember it for the rest of my life...

Ji Mo Can will live on forever.

"Back then, I thought you were my older brother. Even if we weren't close, you were... my only... my only blood relative in the world. I could never kill you for revenge!" How could things have come to this point, with him only just finding out the truth!

I just found out my biological father is still alive...

He turned around and died.

Compared to Gong Xi Chou, who was weeping as if his father had died, Ji Mo Can remained calm, as if his enemy had passed away. He simply said to his son, "Did I ever say that I was your only blood relative in this world?"

Gong Xichou was so shocked by these words that he stopped crying and couldn't help but hiccup. His expression was horrified and distorted as he accused, "You, you, you—you actually betrayed your mother and took a second wife? Do you even remember the clan rules? You, you, you, you are not a man!"

Ji Mo Can's face darkened, and he desperately wanted to grab a stick and beat Gong Xi Chou's buttocks, hoping to make him bleed from the blows. He gritted his teeth and said, "...You're still making trouble for me even on your deathbed!"

Who said they found a second wife?

This guy is so foul-mouthed, he deserves a beating.

Gong Xi Chou was heartbroken again—his father was dead, and even in death he told him that he had a half-brother and sister, or perhaps more than one, and forbade him to tell anyone. What a pity that his mother had given her heart to the wrong person! Then, Gong Xi Chou was really beaten.

At this moment, Ji Mo Can's form was merely a spiritual clone condensed from literary energy, far less stable than his physical body. Extreme emotional fluctuations would accelerate its dissipation. But he simply couldn't resist!

He immediately launched into a tirade of curses, hurling insults with gusto and utter venom, leaving Gong Xichou utterly humiliated!

Finally, calm down.

He said, "Your elder brother might still be alive."

Gong Xichou was shocked: "Brother? Still alive?"

Ji Mo Can steadied himself. He had to hold on until he finished giving his last words, lest he die and still be nagged by Gong Xi Chou: "Yes, he should still be alive. After he lost his mind, he was taken care of by his clansmen, but there were always times when they couldn't watch over him. In addition, an unpleasant thing happened in the clan at that time, which caused a lot of chaos, and he disappeared after that. I have been looking for him all these years."

"What...unpleasant thing?"

"It's nothing, just the previous high priest coming to cause trouble."

Ji Mo Can spoke these words so casually that Gong Xi Chou felt as if he had been struck by lightning. What did he mean by the previous high priest coming to cause trouble? Wasn't that senior already dead? If he wasn't dead, why didn't he come back? And why did he come back to cause trouble?

Clearly, they came with ill intentions.

Ji Mo Can's smile had a hint of malice.

"Look, the gods don't have very good judgment. Look at the high priests they've chosen; they're all treacherous!"

He's a ruthless person; he even curses himself.

Gong Xichou: "..."

Absolutely irrefutable.

He seemed to understand why the old priest's face was full of wrinkles and sorrow, having been betrayed by two high priests in a row!

"Your brother went missing around that time."

Gong Xichou asked, "How do you know he's not dead?"

Ji Mo Can's expression was strange.

Don't you ever look at your destiny lamp?

Gong Xichou: "..."

The so-called "life lamp" is an ever-burning lamp lit by the high priest on the first month after a child's birth, using the infant's breath as a guide. It cannot be extinguished by wind or water. Once a person dies, the life lamp will go out. But why is he looking at this?

Ji Mo Can was once again disappointed in his son: "There were four life lamps burning, but now there are only three left. One for your brother, one for you, and one for the previous high priest. You say I don't recognize you, but notice that the life lamps don't say that your father is dead."

Gong Xichou: "..."

Their entire clan was wiped out, so what was he looking for in terms of destiny lamps? Did he think that in a completely dark cave, only his lamp was lit?

Ji Mo Can raised an eyebrow and asked, "So, it's my fault?"

Gong Xichou looked bewildered and pitiful when asked the question.

He lowered his head: "No, it's my fault."

Ji Mo Can patted his son's head... no, his head, showing a rare moment of tenderness: "To know one's mistakes and correct them is the greatest virtue. It would be best if you could find your brother, but it's alright if you can't. It's a blessing to still have a blood relative while wandering the world."

He told Gong Xiqiu all this simply so that the other person would have something to hold onto and support him through his loneliest time.

From today onwards, this child is truly all alone.

Ji Mo Can hugged his son, suppressing his emotions and chuckling softly, "Smile, Anian, your father is going to a new life."

Watching the other's body gradually become transparent, Gong Xichou embraced him but dared not exert any force, holding back tears: "The gods have forgiven you?"

“Yes, your uncles are still waiting for your father to lead the way. When your lifespan in the mortal realm ends, they will come to pick you up with your mother. We will meet again then, but don’t do it too soon. Smile more and think about the clan precepts. If you cry in this situation, be careful of the old priest’s wooden staff. The rest of the instructions are written down and placed in the box. Read them slowly.” Ji Mo Can said, “Smile, Anian.”

Gong Xichou could no longer laugh.

But he still forced a smile.

"Um!"

Handling corpses was second nature to Gong Xichou. Looking at Ji Mo Can, his eyes closed in the firelight, he still couldn't believe he was dead. He felt as if the other might pop out from somewhere and mock him with a sarcastic tone.

After collecting the ashes, he sat holding the urn for an entire night, feeling lost and unsure of where his soul belonged.

Next—

Where is he going?

Looking down at the urn containing ashes, warmed by my embrace.

He said in a hoarse voice, "Let me take you home for a family reunion."

Given Ji Mo Can's unreliable character and his penchant for fabricating stories and being sarcastic, he was skeptical of his claim of "receiving forgiveness." If he disliked it, how could the gods like it?

It's safer to send them back to the ancestral home, offer sacrifices to the gods, smooth things over, and say a few kind words...

Gong Xichou made up his mind.

At dawn, I left, stepping through the morning dew.

As for what would happen to the Geng Kingdom overnight after losing the King of Zhi, two royal uncles, and the pillar of the state, Tang Guo, he didn't want to know. The weaker the Geng Kingdom was, the easier it would be to be annexed, and the common people under its rule would have a chance to breathe. Conversely, if the two forces were too evenly matched, they would only get caught in a tug-of-war, and the common people would suffer.

As for Zheng Qiao's recruitment... he's a scoundrel who came up through crooked means and has ulterior motives. Does he even deserve it?

——————

"Sigh, business is tough these days..."

While resting at a teahouse on Gongxi Chou Road, they overheard several merchants at the next table sighing and complaining: "Your business is a sure thing, it's just a matter of how much you make. Why are you sighing? If you're like this, how are we brothers supposed to cope?"

"There's no such thing as a sure-fire way to make money in this world. This time, my brother almost lost everything and nearly lost his life. Do you know Longwu County? It's not a peaceful place!"

The merchants still felt lingering fear when they talked about it.

It turns out that this merchant was involved in the smuggling of salt and iron.

In peaceful times, this kind of business would be punishable by beheading if the entire household register were seized. But in these chaotic times of war, when even the country is in danger, who cares about such things? Driven by profit, some merchants will grit their teeth and take the risk.

If you're lucky, you can make a fortune.

This merchant was one of them.

They still followed the path of smuggling to other ethnic groups because there was less competition and higher profits, but the downside was that the risks were also greater.

But he found a patron and became the subordinate of a veteran salt merchant, so that the merchant could get the meat and he could also get some soup.

Who knew that the salt merchant would disappear without a trace after going to the western border of Shiwu. He waited and waited in Longwu County, but the agreed time had long passed, and he knew that the other party was probably in grave danger.

He could only curse the Ten Crows aliens inwardly for their ferocity and cunning, while also feeling sorry for his goods. With the border region in turmoil, he had no choice but to flee back ahead of schedule to save his life.

Hearing the unfortunate merchant's story, everyone felt sympathy for him.

Just as he was about to offer some words of comfort, the merchant suddenly slammed his hand on the table, his dejection vanished, and he became as energetic as if he had been injected with chicken blood.

"However, I did hear some news on the way that was incredibly satisfying! Do you know the Ten Crows Capital? Their king personally led the expedition to the front lines, hahaha, but who knew their own backyard would be in turmoil! This chaotic, makeshift team dares to covet our fertile land? Bah!"

"Backyard on fire?"

This is something to be happy about.

Everyone started asking what had happened.

Gong Xichou, who was about to offer a drink to his father's ashes from the urn, was also drawn in and stretched out his ears.

The merchant stroked his long beard.

"To know the details of this matter, we must go back to a month ago!"

(●''●)

I suddenly feel a pain in my liver...

My liver hasn't been this long in a long time, and the spores have gotten a bit bigger; they squeeze me when I sit for too long...

P.S.: Aww, could you please give me my monthly votes? Today is the 30th, and I have 7151 votes so far, I'm so close to 8000!

PPPS: I can still work hard for the last two days.

(End of this chapter)