Hearing Zhou Ting’s words, Zhou Huai wasn’t particularly shocked.
Instead, he had a feeling of “just as expected.”
It seems that Mr. Duan is quite extraordinary.
Not only did he know what kind of Divine Artifact existed in the ruins, but he also didn’t take it for himself, instead generously telling the Zhou Family.
That was a Divine Artifact.
Zhou Huai had witnessed the power of Divine Artifacts, which absolutely couldn't be compared to ordinary equipnt.
Relying on the Zhen Tian Seal, he had the chance to kill so many Hell-level BOSSes.
Such powerful equipnt...
That Mr. Duan didn't want to keep it for himself at all.
There must be sothing wrong here.
If this Mr. Duan really is his mother’s brother, then could he also be from the Secret Realm world?
If the Dawn Guild was really established by him, then what was his purpose in recruiting so many top professionals?
Zhou Huai pondered in his heart.
It seems he needs to send a Clone to infiltrate the Dawn Guild and see what those lunatics are thinking about all day long.
Zhou Ting looked at Zhou Huai.
He had originally thought that his eldest grandson would show a shocked expression upon hearing these astonishing secrets.
But Zhou Huai’s face remained calm, only lowering his head slightly, with a thoughtful look in his eyes.
This kid’s composure was unexpectedly deep.
Zhou Ting sighed inwardly.
Zhou Huai looked up at him again and asked, “What happened next?”
Zhou Ting fell back into his mories, his voice hoarse: “Later, that man told us the exact location of the Divine Artifact and how to obtain it.
He also gave us a small box, which was said to be used to deal with the Divine Artifact’s guardian.”
Zhou Huai suddenly understood.
So, the box Zhou Feng used to Seal the blue general’s soul was given by Mr. Duan.
No wonder he could feel a similar power of confinent on it as on himself.
Zhou Ting continued: “To obtain that Divine Artifact, we had no choice but to frantically recruit people, luring professionals from Donghai City and even surrounding cities into our Radiant Alliance, letting them enter the Secret Realm to explore and collect various Materials.”
“However, the strength of these professionals was ultimately too low.
Even with thousands of people, they still couldn't contend with the exotic beasts in the ruins.
That’s when I realized that if the Zhou Family wanted to obtain that Divine Artifact, they had to cooperate with the great noble families and needed high-end combat power.”
“The first target chosen was the Liu Family.
You probably know what happened next; after learning that there was a Secret Realm beneath Donghai City, the Liu Family agreed very readily.
To dispel our concerns, they even agreed to marry Liu Yuru to us.
From then on, the Zhou and Liu families were tied to the sa boat.”
“I know their goal was to obtain that Divine Artifact.
They used us, and why wouldn't we use them?
After all, the thod of obtaining the Divine Artifact has always been firmly in our hands.
Ultimately, only our Zhou Family could obtain that Divine Artifact.”
Zhou Huai nodded, then said, “Actually, I still have one question.”
“Since you had already obtained the Divine Artifact, what happened next?
Why did so many people from the Zhou Family die?
Even Zhou Feng, who had just obtained the Divine Artifact, died.”
“And what’s the deal with those people from Sakura Country?”
Hearing Zhou Huai’s rapid-fire questions, Zhou Ting’s expression instantly darkened.
His cloudy eyes, which had just regained so Life Qi, were once again swallowed by stillness and despair.
He let out a long sigh, as if that breath had drained the last trace of Life Qi from his body.
“Inviting a wolf into the house... it was ... I hard the Zhou Family...”
The old man’s voice was hoarse, every word like a blood clot squeezed from deep in his throat.
“These years of cooperating with the Liu Family, I gradually noticed sothing was wrong.”
“Many rare Materials produced in the Secret Realm disappeared through the Liu Family’s channels.”
“It wasn’t until a year ago that I found out all those Materials had been sent to Sakura Country.”
A tragic smile appeared on Zhou Ting’s face.
“I confronted the Liu Family with the evidence, and they were quite frank, laying their cards on the table directly.”
“It was then that I learned that the Liu Family... had long since pledged allegiance to Sakura Country.”
At this point, Zhou Ting’s voice began to tremble uncontrollably.
“They told that Sakura Country is now powerful, and has long coveted Great Xia; invasion is only a matter of ti.”
“It’s the general trend; a wise man submits to circumstances.”
“The Zhou Family has operated for a hundred years, through many ups and downs, only gradually growing strong in my generation, on the verge of becoming a towering tree.”
“How... how could I let it wither away like this?”
He looked up, his bloodshot eyes staring intently at Zhou Huai, as if seeking a shred of understanding, or perhaps justifying himself.
“So... I learned from the Liu Family and also wanted to pledge allegiance to Sakura Country.”
Zhou Huai looked at him expressionlessly, his heart unmoved.
Seeing Zhou Huai remain silent, Zhou Ting’s expression grew even more pained, finally turning into a desolate, bitter laugh.
“Ridiculous... truly ridiculous...”
“I only thought of the Zhou Family’s developnt, but I had long forgotten my integrity as a Great Xia person, and even more, the insatiable greed and bone-deep ruthlessness of the Sakura Country people!”
“It wasn’t until they raised their butcher knives and massacred the Zhou Family mbers one by one that I suddenly awakened!”
“What I brought in was not a backer, but a pack of vicious wolves that devour people whole!”
As he spoke, Zhou Ting once again burst into tears.
He suddenly raised his hand.
Slap!
A crisp sound.
He slapped himself hard across the face.
“I deserve to die!”
Slap!
Another slap!
“I am the sinner of the Zhou Family!”
He was like a madman, sotis wailing, sotis laughing hysterically, slapping his already swollen old face again and again.
His appearance made one feel inexplicably sad.
Everything that needed to be understood had been understood.
Zhou Huai was no longer in the mood to chat with him.
He turned his wheelchair, his back to the old man collapsing in regret.
“Butler Fu, let’s go.”
Butler Fu looked at Zhou Ting’s miserable state, a hint of unbearable sadness flashing in his eyes.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say sothing, but in the end, it only turned into ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) a helpless sigh.
He silently walked behind Zhou Huai and pushed the wheelchair.
The wheels crunched over fallen leaves, making a rustling sound, gradually fading into the distance.
Behind them, only the old man remained alone, his heart-wrenching wails echoing in the silent courtyard, lingering for a long ti.
That night.
The Ye Family’s servant brought food and dishes, coming to the separate courtyard as usual.
The courtyard was quiet, without the chilling wails of the dayti.
The servant breathed a sigh of relief and pushed open the slightly ajar courtyard door.
“Elder Zhou, it’s ti to eat.”
No one answered.
The servant walked into the courtyard sowhat puzzled, his gaze subconsciously falling on the bare old locust tree.
The next second.
“Clatter!”
The dinner plate in his hand fell to the ground with a clang, and the food spilled everywhere.
The servant’s pupils suddenly contracted to the size of pinpricks, and the color drained from his face.
His legs gave out, and he fell backward onto the ground, making gurgling noises in his throat, his finger trembling as he pointed forward.
In the moonlight, the old man’s withered figure hung from the thickest branch of the old locust tree.
His body swayed gently with the night wind.
His cloudy old eyes were wide open, staring fixedly in the direction of the Imperial Capital.
He died with his eyes open, unable to rest in peace.
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