Chapter 563: My grandfather, I am not a weak and incapable person!

"Grandfather, actually you've been deceiving me from the very beginning; you're not sick—no, you might be ill, but not seriously enough to be bedridden..."

Le Zhuang spoke with a trembling voice, saying something even he himself didn't believe.

He had cared for his grandfather for so many years; he knew his grandfather's condition better than anyone—if it were feigned illness, how could it be kept up for years? Yet seeing his grandfather suddenly sit up, the formerly deathly pale face instantly turned rosy.

He couldn't understand what was happening; he could only think optimistically.

Before he could finish speaking, Le Zhuang, out of the corner of his eye, saw the sorrow on Xuanqing Daozhang's face, shuddered, and asked in a trembling voice:

"Uncle, I—I, what's happening to my grandfather? Do you—do you know?"

Looking at Xuanqing Daozhang's appearance, he knew Xuanqing Daozhang likely knew what was wrong with his grandfather, and from Xuanqing Daozhang's complexion, it was probably nothing good.

He didn't want to ask.

Because he didn't want to hear from Xuanqing Daozhang's mouth words he couldn't bear.

But.

Seeing his grandfather's strange condition, he felt ten thousand worries in his heart, yet still harbored some hope, hoping for a miracle, wishing to hear from Xuanqing Daozhang's mouth words that would satisfy him.

"Is this the final flare before death?"

Wang Ping'an watched the formerly frail Le Wenmao suddenly rise from the bed, his formerly sallow complexion gradually returning to a healthy rosy hue, his weak body gradually becoming sturdy, and an involuntary expression of sorrow appeared on his face.

Although.

Although Le Wenmao had no blood relation to him, all things have spirit; seeing a fellow human walk into the end of life, he felt somewhat uneasy.

Xuanqing Daozhang didn't answer Le Zhuang's question; instead, he watched Le Wenmao put on his clothes, crouched, took an antique wooden box from under the bed, opened it, and found several brand-new outfits, all women's clothing.

The most striking was a wedding robe; upon careful touch, his face showed memories and sorrow that could not be concealed.

Afterwards.

Le Wenmao set down the clothes, drew a sheathed long sword from below, then raised his head and said to Xuanqing Daozhang: "Gouzi Ge, these are all Wenjun's clothes; I leave them to you as a keepsake!"

"Wenjun has been gone for so many years—why would I need these clothes to remember her? By now I can barely recall what she looked like!"

Xuanqing Daozhang gave a self‑mocking laugh—how could he possibly forget his Wenjun's appearance? He could never forget it. When he first left Liangshui Town, his master took him to Ziyang Palace; his Wenjun had seen him all the way to the town's outskirts, and if he hadn't spoken up, she might have gone with his master to send him to Ziyang Palace. He sighed:

"Given your condition, you clearly still have a year and a half of life left—why do this?"

"A year and a half is still just lying in bed waiting to die; I've wasted my whole life—I don't want to die still being a good-for-nothing!"

Having said that, Le Wenmao paused, his gaze toward Le Zhuang full of worry; even though his time was near, he still worried about his grandson. Fortunately Xuanqing Daozhang appeared in time; otherwise he truly wouldn't have known what to do. He said:

"Little Zhuang, I originally planned to, in a few days, have someone send you out of Liangshui Town to someplace unknown, then go myself to avenge your parents.

"Even if I lack the ability, I would rather die breaking through the Zhu Clan's layers of protection than live; I want to die at their gate so they know I, Le Wenmao, am no shrinking turtle."

"But since you want to avenge them yourself, I'll leave Zhu Xing to you. I believe you and your uncle will surely learn earnestly, mastering all your uncle's skills, so that when the time comes you can avenge your parents."

Le Zhuang hastily interrupted: "Grandfather, since you already know, wanting me to avenge my parents, why do you still do this? Can't you stay with me a bit longer?" He wasn't stupid; hearing the conversation between Xuanqing Daozhang and his grandfather, he roughly understood that his grandfather's sudden strange transformation was due to what situation.

He had once heard martial arts disciples chatting, knowing that some powerful martial cultivators, when their oil and lamp are exhausted, will burn their own essence and blood, even their lifespan, in a desperate final strike.

He had also heard people mock his grandfather, saying he was famed as Liangshui Town's number one expert, unbeatable throughout the town, yet after his son and daughter‑in‑law died, he didn't even dare to pass gas.

His grandfather's current state clearly shows he is burning his own essence and blood, as well as his lifespan.

Just.

He didn't understand the purpose of his grandfather's actions; his grandfather had personally said he would leave the enemy who killed his parents to him to resolve, so why did his grandfather still do this?

Of course.

He didn't merely hope his grandfather could stay with him for a year and a half; rather, he wanted to seize the opportunity while there was still a year and a half left to see if he could find a way to extend his grandfather's lifespan.

"Little Zhuang, you've grown up; even a young bird reaches the time to leave the nest and fly toward the sky. Grandfather cannot stay by your side forever—someday he will leave your side and your world. What difference is there between today and a year and a half from now?"

Le Wenmao looked at Le Zhuang, whose eyes were brimming with tears as he tried to appear strong, rubbed his head, and comforted him:

This novel you have reached

"Grandfather is giving you the enemy who killed your parents, but your enemy—grandfather wants to avenge for you; otherwise, having lived this lifetime, he would be too cowardly!"

Le Zhuang stared, stunned, and said: "My fault?"

"Have you forgotten Cui Ji?"

Le Wenmao reminded him.

Le Zhuang reacted instantly, his face drastically changing, and said: "Grandfather, you know all this?"

Cui Ji

It was precisely back then, unable to withstand his pleas and monetary inducements, that they secretly took the skills he had learned in the martial arts hall and secretly passed them to him; likewise, it was Cui Ji who told him that Zhu Xing would one day go alone to a certain place, causing him to fall into Zhu Xing's trap and be mauled badly by the vicious dogs he kept.

Over these years, Cui Ji has also periodically sought him out, using threats and lures to make him a plaything for Zhu Xing's amusement, forcing him to fight the vicious dogs Zhu Xing kept.

He

And how could he possibly forget such a beast?

"You are my grandson; how could I possibly not know about your affairs?"

Le Wenmao smiled, but if one looked closely, one could still see a cold killing intent flickering in the depths of his eyes, and he said: "Besides, Liangshui Town isn't that big—I'd find it hard not to know!"

"Grandfather, Cui Ji is my enemy; I can handle his affairs myself—I don't need you to..."

Le Zhuang watched as his grandfather finished speaking, picked up his sword and walked out of the room, hastily speaking before his grandfather could finish, seeing his grandfather suddenly stop his steps, his heart leapt with joy, and he continued speaking:

"Grandfather, just rest well; I will settle the matter of Cui Ji myself!"

(End of chapter)