Nightmare Apostle

An hour later, in the Han Family’s old mansion, in the antique-decorated bedroom on the second floor of the main house, Grandmaster Han sat on a Taishi Chair with a backrest, while the old butler standing beside him with his head lowered had long cried his eyes red, his voice choked with sobs.

After so many years together, the relationship between the two had long surpassed that of a common master and servant, more like a pair of old friends.

"Changgeng, don’t be sad. This is the fate of our Han Family. It’s you I’ve wronged." Instead, Grandmaster Han softly comforted this old friend who had accompanied him for decades.

"Old Master!" The old butler could no longer hold himself up. With a thud, he knelt heavily to the ground, both hands on the floor, tears bursting from his eyes as he cried to the point he could no longer form words.

Grandmaster Han forced himself up with his cane, trying his best to straighten his body. In those already somewhat clouded eyes, there was still a trace of firmness.

On that weather-beaten face one could still vaguely see the former bearing of Golden Spear Master Han, who once dominated the world of martial arts.

He had lost, but his dignity remained.

Not long ago, the old butler had reported to him that after Yang Xiao left, he did not pocket that box of evidence that could nail Zhao Jingde to death, but instead returned it to Zhao Jingde.

The two parted peacefully without making a move, which meant that his backup plan had misfired.

"Changgeng, I lost. I thought that box of evidence could provoke an internal fight between Yang Xiao and Zhao Jingde."

"As long as Zhao Jingde dared to make a move against Yang Xiao, this dead game of ours could be revived, and our Han Family would still stand in an invincible position."

"But man proposes, heaven disposes. I still underestimated that Yang Xiao. His mind is steady, he understands strategy, he sees the bigger picture. He’s a man made for great things. No wonder he can hold such a high position at such a young age. If Li’er had half his ability, how good would that be." Grandmaster Han shook his head with a bitter smile. These words were nothing more than self-comfort.

He was defeated, and the Han Family was defeated as well. Perhaps this was his fate.

"Enough, it’s time and fate. If you dare to gamble, you shouldn’t fear losing. If you lose, you admit it. It seems I can only choose the second path." Grandmaster Han seemed to have made some kind of decision.

Seeing this, the old butler seemed to realize something. Still kneeling, he moved forward, wrapped his arms around Grandmaster Han’s leg, lifted his tear-streaked face and pleaded through sobs, "Old Master, no, you mustn’t, you mustn’t!!"

"Old Master, in the past you rendered great service to the Patrol Defense Office! You’re a meritorious elder, they won’t do anything too harsh to our Han Family. You... you just have to swallow your pride and ask those people at the Provincial Bureau to say a few words for you, then this crisis can be resolved, Old Master!" The old butler was utterly loyal; he had watched Han Chen and Han Li grow up, and with the Old Master he was as close as a brother.

Grandmaster Han reached out his hand, originally intending to push him away, but for some reason, when his rough palm touched the old butler’s head, he hesitated. In the end, he let out a long sigh and gently patted the old butler’s head. "Old mate, times are different now. All these years, Chen’er and Li’er have caused trouble over and over, and the Patrol Defense Office has helped us clean up the mess many times. They’ve already done all they could; whatever feelings were left have long been exhausted."

"If they had any intention of helping, they would have sent me a message already. Would we still need to go begging them?"

"Do you take that Hong Anguo and Wu Qingcang for blind men? You think they don’t know about our grudge with Yang Xiao? They clearly don’t want to get involved."

"It’s my fault too. All these years I got too close to Zhao Jingde. Now that Zhao Jingde can’t be relied on, we can’t even find anyone willing to lend a hand. I was muddle-headed!" Grandmaster Han reproached himself.

The old butler still seemed unwilling to give up and continued to advise, "Old Master, we can still..."

"Enough! You know me—I’ve made up my mind. Don’t try to persuade me anymore. Go and bring Li’er here, I still have something to tell him." The Old Master waved his hand wearily and no longer looked at him.

Holding back his tears, the old butler got to his feet, wiped the tear tracks from his face, and strode out, his departing figure firm and resolute.

A short while later, still in this antique-decorated bedroom, Han Li was kneeling on the floor, kneeling before Grandmaster Han, while the old butler quietly stood by the Old Master’s side, attending to him.

"Grandpa, I know I was wrong. I won’t dare to do it again. From now on I’ll listen to you. I’ll get along with that Yang Xiao... no, Mr. Yang. I’ll maintain a good relationship with Mr. Yang." Han Li knelt on the ground; he knew very well that this time he had stirred up huge trouble, kicked an iron plate, and brought disaster upon the family.

Even his father Han Chen had been taken out by Yang Xiao’s people, yet now Han Li had no thought of avenging his father at all; he had been completely terrified by Yang Xiao’s methods and ferocity.

Previously, when his grandfather said Yang Xiao could kill him three times in ten minutes, he had scoffed, thinking his grandfather had gone senile. Only after personally crossing hands with him did he realize that his grandfather had actually been conservative.

Although he and Yang Xiao were both Angel Envoys close to the Mid-stage Ghost Level, the other’s true combat strength was definitely several times his own. Even if his father came back to life, he wouldn’t be his match.

That was a monster—no, a beast! Han Li remembered clearly that in the underground secret chamber, Yang Xiao’s lips held a smile while he tortured people.

He enjoyed it. Whether the other party confessed or not didn’t matter; he purely liked torture. It was a kind of morbid pleasure born from extreme repression, and in his eyes it was an art.

"Li’er, this isn’t entirely your fault. It’s because Grandpa has always spoiled you too much that you ended up causing such a calamity." Grandmaster Han sighed. "Get up and come closer so we can talk."

Thinking his grandfather had forgiven him, the heavy stone weighing on Han Li’s heart finally fell. In the past, every time he caused trouble, at most he’d be punished by being made to kneel, then come before his grandfather to confess, and his grandfather would always forgive him. It seemed this time would be the same.

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