Chapter 263

"Eyes don't lie?! Well said!"

Feng Mu savored those words carefully, the corners of his mouth curving up slightly, his smile growing ever warmer.

With a smile at the corners of his mouth, Feng Mu turned his head to look at the prison guards who had come to pay their condolences together with him; each of them either hurriedly squeezed out a complex smile or lowered their heads in reverence, concealing the complex emotions in their eyes.

Those prison guards were indeed filled with reverence for Feng Mu, and for some reason, this reverence appeared especially obvious in front of Tian Tao's son.

What else could Feng Mu say? He could only harbor deep helplessness, let out a long sigh, and then speak in his consistently gentle tone:

"Get up. Since you've put it like that, I can only agree to think of a way for you, to help you carry on your father's profession."

Only then did Tian Xiaohai slowly rise, his eyes brimming with gratitude, and he said sincerely:

"Your kindness to my family, I, Tian Xiaohai, can never repay. I will surely engrave it in my heart forever. I swear I will serve you just as I would serve my own birth father; if I break this oath, may I die a terrible death!"

Feng Mu's expression was moved — after all, physiologically speaking, he and Tian Xiaohai were merely the same age.

"Filial, outstanding, resilient of character, and thick-skinned enough — a rare talent indeed." Feng Mu mused inwardly.

Of course, in terms of mental age, Feng Mu was already a centenarian, old enough to be Tian Xiaohai's ancestor.

Feng Mu gave Tian Xiaohai a deep look, etching this sincere oath into his heart, then, in a faint tone tinged with a hint of melancholy, he sighed softly:

"People must take responsibility for their own choices; you're still too rash, sigh….."

"Forget it, I won't say more. I really can't persuade you to stay, so I only hope you won't regret today's decision in the future!"

【Shrimp pig heart!!!】

【Killing the father wasn't enough, you still have to take in his son — does your conscience really not hurt? The morgue cold storage cabinet doors can barely contain Tian Tao's resentment!】

【Your Evil Index has risen slightly, Game Inheritance Degree↑】

The prompt box flickered before his eyes, yet it could not shake Feng Mu's heart full of kindness in the slightest.

He had long grown accustomed to the system's prejudice, believing it judged a gentleman's heart with a petty person's mind, so he simply couldn't be bothered to argue.

Feng Mu truly had not a shred of malice; he merely sympathized purely with this orphan and widow, especially this naive child — those eyes with vision problems truly made one's heart ache.

On this road of growth, without a bright lamp to guide the way, it's hard to imagine this child wouldn't be deceived by bad people outside and lured onto a dead-end path.

So, it was because Feng Mu feared Tian Xiaohai would go astray that he had no choice but to…

"Tian Tao treated me that way, yet I'm willing to look after his son after his death — when it comes down to it, I'm just too kind-hearted, not at all like a big villain." Feng Mu thought to himself.

He patted Tian Xiaohai's shoulder, revealing a benevolent smile like an old father, and admonished:

"I'll fight for your transfer to Second Prison; don't be anxious. First, do well on the College Entrance Exam. Even if you don't go to the Military Academy, you must strive for your best results — that's being responsible to yourself, putting a perfect period on your student life.

This can slightly comfort your mother and also appease your father's spirit. Understand?"

Tian Xiaohai's eyes brimmed with tears; he nodded heavily. From Feng Mu he truly felt a familiar "fatherly love" — before, Tian Tao had also instilled life principles into Tian Xiaohai like this, guiding him to strive upward.

Behind Feng Mu, those prison guards witnessed this warm and touching scene; few were without inner murmurings:

"Could it be I really misunderstood Feng Mu? He looks completely without malice; on the contrary, every word he speaks is spoken from Tian Tao's son's perspective — it's just that his son really won't listen to advice."

He really, I'm crying to death~

【Killing isn't scary!】

【Killing is a necessary ability for a villain!】

【Deceiving isn't scary either.】

【Deception is a necessary disguise for a villain!】

【But to reach your level, you've still taught many villains a lesson.】

【…Congratulations, your Evil Index has risen slightly, Game Inheritance Degree↑】

【Your Inheritance Degree has risen to 11%, the path of sin stretches ever farther!】

Feng Mu's efforts were not in vain; his kindness was not betrayed, correctly interpreting the values of "good people have good rewards, and swiftly."

After the Inheritance Degree accumulated and rose several times, breaking through to 11%, he could claim rewards again.

Of course, behind this was not just his own effort; he also had to thank Tian Tao and his son, thank the Chang Wei siblings, thank Wang Cong and his family, thank the prisoners of Cell 211 who were wiped out, thank the respected Prison Warden, and his own most, most, most, most blood-related Imoto.

Among these people, some have already returned to eternal silence, some are still striving upward, and some have even crossed the boundary of life and death, living out a second life.

But whether dead or alive, Feng Mu feels heartfelt gratitude and praise for each and every one of them.

He deeply knows that every bit of his progress condenses their help and sacrifice.

Feng Mu has no way to repay them; he can only wish them:

May those who have already left turn to ash soon, free from disturbance by the living; may those still breathing, those striving bastards, each embrace the bright future that belongs to them, and in the not-too-distant future all bloom with the fireworks of life.

The prison guard colleagues paid their respects one after another, greeted Feng Mu, then left in twos and threes.

Feng Mu stayed a while longer, gave Tian Xiaohai a few more instructions, comforted Tian Tao's widow a few more times, giving them more solace and warmth, before slowly leaving.

Tian Xiaohai knelt before his father's spirit tablet, gazing at that black-and-white photo recording Tian Tao's benevolent face; tears blurred his vision, his voice choked yet firm:

"Dad, rest assured, I will definitely find out who harmed you.

Also, don't worry about me and Mom. Your colleagues all take very good care of us, especially Prison Guard Feng — he truly is a rare good person."

Hearing the voice behind his ear, Feng Mu's face was full of relief, and he likewise mused in his heart: "He's a good kid, truly good!"

Harboring this touched relief, the rewards flashing across his retina seemed doubly pleasing.

【Inheritance Degree 11%!】

【You obtained Special Skill Point*1, Normal Skill Point*1, you obtained General Skill Proficiency*10000.】

【You obtained a D-class Lottery Ticket.】

It's not that it seems doubled — the rewards really did double.

Although it's not opening a treasure chest, compared to the rewards given by ordinary Inheritance Degree increases in the 1%–10% range before, there is clearly an extra line of rewards!

Feng Mu's heartbeat accelerated, joyful anticipation rising in his heart:

"Then, does this imply that the next time I open a treasure chest, the rewards inside will also double compared to before, or that I might open a higher-grade treasure chest?"

(End of Chapter)