Chapter 1052: [Sinner] (Part 2)

Hu Xiaotian said: "I really don't understand, and I don't want to understand; I only know who treats me well and who treats me badly." He looked at his mother's grave and said in a low voice: "I will seek justice for my mother!"

Xu Lingkong's two white brows knotted together, his mood more tangled than his expression, he let out a long sigh and said: "Your mother died of illness; whom are you seeking justice from?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "The first person I want to find is my father; why did he say such heartless words to my mother, causing her to lose hope? The second person I want to find is Old Lady Xu. When the Hu family fell into misfortune, she feared being implicated and stood by indifferently. Considering she was thinking of the Xu family's interests, that's understandable—people who don't look out for themselves invite heavenly wrath and earthly annihilation. But my mother has been dead for so long; as her birth mother, she actually refuses to show her face. Not only that, not a single person from the Xu family came to mourn her. Is my mother surnamed Xu? Even after marrying out, what right do the Xu people have to treat her so coldly? I will certainly settle this account!"

Xu Lingkong secretly bitterly complained upon hearing this, but the reason could not be told to outsiders; he could only give a wry smile, he sighed and said: "If you say that, then you should also settle accounts with me!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "If you don't come tonight, I will certainly settle accounts with you!"

Xu Lingkong sighed and said: "I have abandoned my wife and children for many years; all the tragedies are solely my doing. If you hold any anger, direct it all at me, it has nothing to do with others. Even if you kill me now, I will have no resentment."

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought: "You certainly won't hold any grudge; Old Lady Xu devised such a vicious scheme to retaliate against you, having your son marry your daughter, fearing that if you live another day you'll suffer another day of torment." Hu Xiaotian said: "Why would I want to kill you? I clearly know who treats me well and who treats me badly. If it weren't for you teaching me martial arts, I probably would have died on the way to Da Yong on my mission." Having said that, he suddenly thought of something. Would Xu Lingkong now regret it? If he died, wouldn't that settle everything?

Xu Lingkong said: "I am sorry to your mother; I failed to fulfill my duty."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Precisely because of that, I will not retaliate against you any further; your self-blame is enough."

Xu Lingkong nodded and said: "Not bad. My self-blame is enough; I have spent most of my life living in self-reproach."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I still need to find someone to seek justice from; if it weren't for him, the Hu family would not have suffered misfortune; if it weren't for him, our family of three would not have been separated; if it weren't for him. My mother would not have ended her life in depression due to lack of familial comfort."

Although Hu Xiaotian did not say the person's name, Xu Lingkong already knew that the person Hu Xiaotian wanted to retaliate against was the Dakang Emperor, Long Xuan'en. Xu Lingkong said: "Those involved are confused; those on the outside see clearly. When you someday truly mature, you will realize how laughable your current thoughts are. Xiao Tian! Hatred is a curse. It not only curses others, but also curses oneself. If a person buries too much hatred in their heart, they will never attain true happiness in this life. When will the cycle of revenge end? Why not let go of hatred? Live your own life; you are still young—why not pursue a life of your own?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "While living in this world, there are things one should do and things one should not do. I still believe that justice exists in this world."

Xu Lingkong said: "I cannot stop you, nor can I help you in any way."

"You can!" Hu Xiaotian shouted loudly.

Xu Lingkong pressed his lips shut; some things, even if he knows them, he cannot say.

Hu Xiaotian naturally would not ask those questions that are difficult for him to answer; his questions didn't even mention his own father: "As far as I know, you once had two sworn brothers."

Xu Lingkong nodded and said: "Exactly! One was called Chu Fufeng, the other was Long Xuan'en. I met Long Xuan'en first; at that time he was not yet the emperor of Dakang. By a fortunate coincidence, we rescued Chu Fufeng and a child."

"That child was Hong Beimo?"

Xu Lingkong said: "It seems you know quite a lot."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I know a bit, but I can't figure it out."

Xu Lingkong sighed: "Not only do you not understand, but even to this day I cannot figure it out. Among the three of us, my relationship with Long Xuan'en is closer. We became sworn brothers first; after meeting Chu Fufeng, we both were impressed by his learning, our temperaments clicked, and we became brothers of different surnames, with Chu Fufeng as the eldest. Among the three, I am carefree and lack interest in politics, while Long Xuan'en, due to his background, aspired to the throne; at that time he was not favored among the many princes. But everything changed after encountering Chu Fufeng: Chu Fufeng's wisdom surpassed the ordinary; he not only understood astronomy and geography, astrology and numerology, but also possessed lofty vision and strategic planning, having the talent to govern the nation."

Hu Xiaotian had not heard such praise for Chu Fufeng for the first time; previously it was Ji Feihua, and now it is Xu Lingkong.

Xu Lingkong said: "With Chu Fufeng's help, Long Xuan'en, from an ill-favored fallen prince, gradually strengthened his power, gained the emperor's favor, and ultimately controlled Dakang's realm; it can be said that Long Xuan'en's ascension to the throne was chiefly due to Chu Fufeng's contributions."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I heard you also contributed a great deal."

Xu Lingkong said: "I don't have that kind of vision; people like me can only handle petty skirmishes and one-on-one fights, but when it comes to court intrigue, I am utterly useless."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Why did Long Xuan'en want to kill Chu Fufeng?"

Xu Lingkong said: "It wasn't that Long Xuan'en wanted to kill Chu Fufeng; rather, he had no choice. Chu Fufeng established the Heavenly Secrets Bureau, whose power kept growing. For the Bureau to develop, it needed a steady stream of silver from the imperial court. Chu Fufeng's demands were endless; even Long Xuan'en, the emperor of Dakang, could not bear the burden. Perhaps their conflict lay precisely here."

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought: "From Xu Lingkong's words, it seems Chu Fufeng was not without fault." He whispered: "So did Long Xuan'en collude with Hong Beimo to plot Chu Fufeng's harm? And even exterminate his entire clan?"

Xu Lingkong said: "Chu Fufeng didn't have many relatives in this world; although we were sworn brothers, we didn't know his hometown, and he had not a single relative until later when he married and had children."

Hu Xiaotian said: "His son was the former Minister of Revenue, Chu Yuanhai, right?"

Xu Lingkong nodded, feeling surprised, and said: "How did you come to know this?" Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "There are no walls that don't let the wind through."

Xu Lingkong said: "Actually, after Long Xuan'en killed Chu Fufeng, he did not issue an order to exterminate the root. Chu Fufeng's wife, overwhelmed by grief, chose to commit suicide to follow him in death. Before dying, she entrusted their son to me for care; I took their son and handed him over to me……that wife at the time."

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought: "His wife at that time was Old Lady Xu."

Xu Lingkong said: "My original intention was to conceal this child's background, letting him live a peaceful life for his lifetime; that was also his mother's hope. But later events unfolded beyond my control." He took off the wine gourd from his waist, raised his head and gulped several large mouthfuls of wine; the bitterness in his heart spread with the wine's aroma. These matters had been hidden in his heart for years; he had never mentioned them to outsiders, but today, finally, at his daughter's grave and before Hu Xiaotian, he poured out his heart.

Hu Xiaotian gradually understood: Chu Yuanhai could have lived a different life, but unfortunately he learned of the deep bloody feud he bore. Xu Lingkong would not say how Chu Yuanhai came to know this; perhaps only one person—Old Lady Xu telling him—led Chu Yuanhai to learn his origins, which then led to the later corruption case.

Xu Lingkong said: "How exactly did you learn about Chu Yuanhai's affairs?"

Hu Xiaotian pondered for a moment and finally said: "Ji Feihua!"

Xu Lingkong said: "If I'm not mistaken, he should be a descendant of the Chu family."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Did you ever advise Chu Yuanhai not to seek revenge back then?"

Xu Lingkong said: "Once a person's eyes are blinded by hatred, no one's words can get through." He gazed deeply at Hu Xiaotian, wishing Hu Xiaotian could abandon the idea of revenge; Hu Xiaotian's tragic fate had been sealed since birth, and only by leaving, wandering far away, might there be a chance to escape his destiny.

Hu Xiaotian said: "It seems Old Lady Xu is really not simple."

Xu Lingkong said: "Everyone has their own reasons." He paused and said: "A child who was foolish for sixteen years suddenly becoming intelligent is in itself an extraordinary thing."

Hu Xiaotian's heart jolted; could Xu Lingkong be doubting his identity? He smiled indifferently and said: "I can't make sense of it; for the past sixteen years, to me it felt like I had lived in vain—I don't remember what happened or what I did at all."

Xu Lingkong said: "Even if a person could suddenly understand, it's impossible to learn to read and write overnight, let alone possess vast knowledge and extraordinary medical skill."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Are you suspecting me of being an impostor?"

Xu Lingkong shook his head and said: "Too many things in this world defy explanation; in the martial world there is a highly esoteric secret art called the Myriad Poison Spiritual Body, which can transfer one's power and consciousness into a suitable vessel to prolong one's life."

Hu Xiaotian had long understood this; Xumi Tian used this method to become Le Yao.

Xu Lingkong said: "Who are you?"

"Hu Xiaotian!"

Xu Lingkong extended his hand and gently patted Hu Xiaotian's shoulder, saying: "Do as you see fit; personally, I would prefer my grandson to be a fool, so he might live a carefree life."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sorry to have disappointed you, elder."

Xu Lingkong shook his head and said: "Many lice don't cause itch; many debts don't cause worry; too many disappointments can also make one numb. Regardless, you are a filial child—go! Cast aside this so-called grudge, go far away, while you're young, enjoy a life of your own—how wonderful that would be."

Hu Xiaotian pursed his lips and countered: "You left forty years ago; have you been happy these past forty years?"

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