Chapter 479: The Truth (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Gong Xichou stared blankly at this scene.
The scenery before my eyes blurred as my eyes filled with hot tears.
"They've always been... by my side?"
His voice trembled slightly and was choked with sobs.
"How could this be... I didn't know..."
If he had known, he would have made sure to live a better life these past few years, working harder in his cultivation and living a happier life, instead of forcing himself to do things that made him unhappy. Don't be fooled by Gong Xichou's indulgence in pleasure these past years; he wasn't happy.
How disappointed the elders must be to see him consumed by hatred, unable to find peace, and unrecognizable. He was once the future warrior of the Gongxi tribe, on whom they placed high hopes, the tribe's darling whom all the elders would feed with treats whenever they saw him.
"you?"
Ji Mo Can's voice carried a hint of sarcasm.
"There are many things you don't know..."
For example, Gong Xichou didn't know what he would lose by choosing revenge, nor did he know how many people's expectations and sacrifices his life carried. When he finally found out, all the pain was left for him to digest and bear alone.
No one was watching him or keeping him company in the shadows anymore.
But he had no right to stop him from taking revenge.
This was Gongxi Chou's wish, and wasn't it also his own? He had secretly looked after him for many years and helped him avenge the Gongxi clan, which could be considered as making up for his absence of more than twenty years. As for the days to come, he could only rely on himself.
Young eagles will one day leave their parents' wings.
not to mention--
At his age, what kind of fledgling is he?
"Let me tell you, what can you shoulder?" Ji Mo Can looked at Gong Xi Chou indifferently. The latter looked just like a pitiful puppy that had suffered a lot of grievances outside, longing to snuggle into the arms of his closest person and confide in them...
This appearance...
Ji Mo Can was somewhat disdainful.
Just like his mother and uncle complained, this child was somewhat dim-witted. This eight-foot-tall man, weighing over a hundred pounds, was neither as clever and quick-witted as his mother, nor as cunning as his uncle; he practically wore his thoughts on his sleeve.
He's straightforward and honest, yet he thinks he's so cunning. If I hadn't cleaned up his mess, would he have thought he could fool Tang Guo?
"Then tell me!"
Just mentioning Gong Xichou makes me angry.
With red-rimmed eyes, she released her pent-up negative emotions. They had known each other for a year or two, not just a day or two. This guy always considered himself a member of their tribe and never told her about their relationship. She let him imagine whatever he wanted. She couldn't believe it was unintentional!
"What exactly are you hiding from me?" Gong Xichou decided not to believe a single word from this fellow until he found out the whole story!
My uncle is right. Literary scholars are all black-hearted. Nine out of ten things they say are lies, and the last one is left for you to guess. If you guess wrong, they'll blame you for not being smart enough.
What kind of father is this in the world?
Ji Mo Can's high priest robes fluttered in the gale, and the sandstorm stirred up by the battle between his clansmen's spirits and Tang Guo blocked the light, casting a shadow on his face. The two were not far apart, but Gong Xi Chou could not see the expression on the other's face.
A vague sense of unease rose within me.
"You...you should say something..."
He didn't say anything, and he started to panic.
Is he really angry? He's just resentful about being deceived for years; can't he even vent his anger? He hasn't even gone to his mother's grave to accuse this man of being heartless and unfaithful yet! How infuriating!
Ji Mo Can didn't answer, but instead revealed his usual mocking sneer. His gaze fell on Tang Guo, who was surrounded but still had the upper hand. He raised his wooden staff and pointed at him, saying, "You, if you can get his head now, I'll tell you."
Gong Xichou stared intently at Tang Guo, his eyes red.
He shouted, "Good! A gentleman's word is his bond!"
Ji Mo Can's thin lips moved slightly.
"What's done is done!"
With the assurance in hand, Gong Xichou rallied like a man possessed, his spirits rekindled. He conjured a double-crescent-shaped halberd, and his full armor donned once more. Despite his internal injuries, he retained seventy to eighty percent of his strength. He was determined to defeat Tang Guo today, no matter what.
"Uncle, I'm here to help you!"
"The traitor——"
Seeing Gongxi Chou charging towards them with his halberd, Tang Guo, whose expression hadn't been particularly grave before, felt a lump in his throat. Back when Gongxi Chou had been captured alone, Tang Guo had broken several of his ribs but couldn't get a single word out of him. Tang Guo deeply admired the barbarian's backbone and promptly sent him on his way, in a way that was utterly brutal, with his heart ripped out and bones crushed, a death that couldn't be any more severe.
Who knew I would see him again years later.
Lively and energetic, he almost mistook the other person for Gongxi Chou's twin brother. Most subtly, he had forgotten a crucial part of his memory. Tang Guo initially intended to eliminate him completely to prevent future trouble, but after consulting the Gongxi clan's secret manuals he had looted, he learned that Gongxi Chou's survival was entirely due to the clan's mysterious methods—a treasure far more precious than the Gu scourge of the Wu Kingdom!
If this secret can be uncovered, and then large-scale production can be carried out... with the Gu worms of the Wu Kingdom, plus the supreme treasure within Gong Xi Chou's body, it wouldn't take much effort or money to continuously produce batch after batch of fearless and immortal martial artists.
With such elite forces at hand—
Let alone sweeping across the entire northwest of the mainland.
What difficulty is there in unifying the vast land of the mainland?
Therefore, he adopted Gongxi Chou as his godson.
This adopted son is exceptionally talented, intelligent, and obedient. In contrast, his own children are all spoiled and good-for-nothings. If it weren't for his background, he would truly be willing to treat him as his own. Making him his heir and passing on his mantle would be an excellent choice...
However, as Gong Xi Chou became increasingly outstanding and his behavior eccentric, Tang Guo's vigilance grew daily. Occasionally, in the dead of night, he would secretly worry that this young man might turn against him. But how could this worry compare to his greed and ambition to unify the continent?
Tang Guo chose to gamble!
The truth is, he lost miserably.
He had still raised a tiger that would become his own menace. The tiger cub he had raised with his own hands finally couldn't resist baring its sharp fangs at him, its eyes filled with undisguised bloodlust. Once the cub bit his throat, it wouldn't let go, dragging him until he breathed his last.
This situation—
Tang Guo was both terrified and furious.
"Good! You've come at the perfect time!" he roared, his already muscular physique swelling even more, his veins bulging, every inch of his muscles containing destructive power. He said, "Today I will send your clan to a true reunion on the road to the Yellow Springs!"
"How dare you!"
Seeing Tang Guo shatter a heroic spirit with a single palm strike, Gongxi's eyes turned bloodshot with hatred, and he raised his palm to clash head-on with his martial energy.
Two powerful martial energies exploded in mid-air.
Sand and gravel flew everywhere, obscuring the sky and the sun.
The dense pine and cypress forests on the distant hilltops were also bent over by the wind, and some were even uprooted. Gong Xichou was shaken and staggered backward until his back touched a large but cold hand. He steadied himself and subconsciously turned his head to look.
The outline that came into view was extremely familiar.
When we were kids, we used to playfully pick at each other's moles on the temples.
"uncle……"
The spirit of a hero is merely the lingering will of a dying person, not the living being themselves. Their existence is similar to the soldiers conjured by a martial artist's martial energy—neither human nor ghost, devoid of reason, their actions driven entirely by their will in life. Yet, he heard the other respond to him.
"Ah Nian, you're still so weak."
His voice was hoarse, yet carried a familiar tone.
Gong Xichou: "..."
He could confidently guarantee that his current strength far surpassed that of his uncle back then. Firstly, he was highly talented, and secondly, his uncle hadn't even lived to his age yet! How could he have the nerve to say to him, "You're still so weak"? But then, Gong Xi Chou couldn't hold back his next words.
"Come on, stand behind your uncle, don't be afraid."
Although these heroic spirits are far less powerful than they were in life, they have the advantage of large numbers and are of the same lineage, making them extremely well-coordinated.
With Gong Xichou joining the fray, the previously tense situation gradually shifted in favor of the enemy. The barrage of martial energy disrupted the balance of heaven and earth.
The surrounding mountains were ravaged beyond recognition.
Gradually, Gong Xiqiu realized that something was wrong.
Not only did he discover it, but Tang Guo also realized it.
No matter how he attacks and destroys them, these heroic spirits will recover after a short rest, feeling no pain, no fatigue, and no energy expenditure. In addition, with Gong Xi Chou watching from the side, if he is distracted for even a moment, he will be covered in wounds.
In contrast, Gongxi Chou was protected by his clansmen.
Still intact!
His attacks on Gong Xichou were blocked by heroic spirits that appeared out of nowhere, which was a completely reckless fighting style.
No--
These things were never meant to be.
Wait—he overlooked someone! Tang Guo realized that the Prince of Pigs' confidant hadn't made a move since he appeared!
Is this kid really just sitting on the sidelines watching the tigers fight?
No, he did make a move!
Tang Guo stared at Ji Mo Can, whose face was full of mockery, his eyes bloodshot. The latter held that strange wooden staff, his body surrounded by a protective aura formed from profound characters. Each flash of those characters restored even the most severely injured heroic spirits to their original state, while the elite troops he had brought had been slaughtered. At this rate, the situation was extremely unfavorable for him. Was he really going to be defeated in this ditch?
Tang Guo's expression was inscrutable, his will to survive brewing and intensifying within him, making his counterattack all the more powerful. He repelled the assembled heroic spirits before him, then with a grab in the air, conjured a longbow. He drew the bow and unleashed a torrent of arrows, each one a meteor shower, their strikes covering half the mountaintop.
"Well done!" Gong Xichou shouted, seemingly preparing to return the favor, which was exactly what Tang Guo wanted.
Gongxi's archery skills were something Tang Guo had personally taught him. While the latter was talented, he lacked refinement and experience. Knowing his adopted son as he did, Tang Guo was certain the latter would retaliate with the same archery skills. He planned to feint an attack and then retreat when the opportunity arose.
If I continue this entanglement, I will surely die.
but--
He didn't expect that Gongxi Chou wasn't alone at this time, nor did he expect that the Gongxi clan's protectiveness was completely unreasonable!
Without any communication, the heroic spirits shifted their positions and formed shields to withstand the attack head-on. Gong Xichou seized the opportunity when he was weakened, suddenly appearing behind him and thrusting his halberd straight at his vitals.
Tang Guo was, after all, a veteran who had been through countless battles.
Faced with this crisis, a decisive action was taken: to exchange injury for life.
escape!
They prepared to flee, risking further injury.
But someone else acted faster and more accurately than him!
Do you think you can escape?
The person speaking was not Gongxi Chou.
It's Jimo Can!
"When it comes to playing with Gu poison, the priests of the Gongxi tribe are the real experts!"
Tang Guo realized something and tried to mobilize his martial energy, only to find that his once effortless martial energy had become sluggish. He clutched the wound pierced by Gong Xi Chou, his eyes bloodshot with rage. He tried to mobilize his martial energy again to suppress and mitigate the effects of the strange Gu worms on him.
The results were minimal.
"What's the point of covering that wound?"
Ji Mo Can remained expressionless, as if looking at a fool.
"Bah! I've fought in countless battles over the years, but I never expected to be defeated by such despicable means. This victory is not honorable!"
Ji Mo Can scoffed, "Warfare is based on deception."
"You think the Gu worms are on Gongxi Chou's weapons?"
Ji Mo Can hadn't studied Gu worms much, but he was more than capable of luring an unsuspecting layman.
Gongxi Chou stopped what he was doing and looked at his halberd.
When did you tamper with it?
I didn't even realize it.
Ji Mo Can glanced coldly at his naive son, whose brain was as pitifully small as Tang Guo's: "When did I say I would try to sabotage you? Don't forget, your clan elders are only willing to cooperate with me temporarily because of you. Naturally, they will cooperate with all my actions. Compared to you, I am obviously more stable and reliable. Why would I bet my trump card on you?"
Gong Xichou: "..."
Ji Mo Can sneered: "You don't have the wounds you left, but the rest of the clansmen do. I only knew you were useless, but I didn't know you were this useless. You still failed to seize the second chance. Is it so hard to take a head that's been handed to you?"
Gong Xichou: "..."
Ji Mo Can ignored his eldest son's green face and looked at Tang Guo with a mocking expression: "Aren't you very curious about the secret techniques of the Gongxi clan's Gu worms? Why not experience them for yourself? These Gu worms I'm serving you are the culmination of many years of hard work. Take them all, don't waste them."
Gong Xichou asked, "What kind of Gu worm is so deadly?"
Ji Mo Can rolled his eyes and retorted, "Can something that's not lethal be used for a sneak attack? I'm a scholar, why would I engage in a direct confrontation with a martial artist? Is this some kind of suicide attempt?"
(￣︶￣)
There will be one more chapter in the early morning, which will completely conclude the storyline for A-Nian.
The bento box was heated up and forcefully stuffed into Ji Mo Can's mouth.
P.S.: My darlings, there won't be a double monthly ticket event at the end of the month, so you can vote directly.
(End of this chapter)
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