Chapter 241 - I’ll Be Your Father! (1/2)

Translator: StarReader

Editor: Silavin

Boom~

The crackling of lightning never stopped jarring his ears, rousing the weakened and pale Zhuo Fan.

Above, all he saw was a dome of blackness, with only a hazy red light shining down on the earth around him.

Earlier, they jumped inside that hole in the sky after following the curtain of red light, the same one that kept changing positions! Looking further, one could see above the red curtain, the purple lightning raining havoc like dragons all around and towards it.

But once the lightning touched the red light, it bounced back.

The red light was a haven, freeing this patch of earth from the lightning’s deadly assault!

“Is this… Heavenly Emperor’s remnant?” With a faint smile, Zhuo Fan was heavily wounded but that didn’t stop the joy he felt. He was finally here.

Looking around, all he saw was yellow rocky outcrops everywhere.

It didn’t look like much, but he wasn’t disappointed in the least. It was the person that made a mountain known, not the hunk of rock itself! Even if the Heavenly Emperor’s remnant was a wasteland, it still hid treasures!

Zhuo Fan crawled to his feet, eager to begin searching. He tried getting up but then found something heavy on him.

Gu Santong was holding on for his dear life, his small face in tranquil sleep.

Gu Santong was stirred awake and wiped the drool for his face. He opened his hazy eyes and gave an innocent smile, “Ha-ha-ha, you’re awake!”

Zhuo Fan smiled a nod.

But then, another lightning roared nearby and Gu Santong was frightened into burying his head in Zhuo Fan’s chest, his hands holding onto Zhuo Fan for his dear life!

Zhuo Fan shook his head, never imagining Invincible Scamp would be such a shy kid.[It is understandable if we were outside, but why are you acting all scared here when you know the lightning can’t touch you?]

“Uh, Gu Santong, we’re safe here. You should let go and let me look around!”

“Don’t wanna!” Gu Santong shook his head, holding him tighter, “I’m scared of purple lightning. Holding you feels safe!”

Zhuo Fan smiled dejectedly and shook his head, “Oh please, you’re much stronger than me, so how can you feel safe next to me? It’d make more sense if I was the one holding onto you!”

Gu Santong grumbled and lifted his head, “You kinda remind me of dad, and felt safe holding on to you…”

“Dad?” Zhuo Fan started, “You have a dad?”

Gu Santong rolled his eyes and Zhuo Fan’s face twitched, [What the hell am I saying? Who doesn’t? It’s not like this kid came out of a rock or something, right?]

He hurriedly brushed it off with a chuckle, “Uh, that’s not it. I was just surprised. With how strong you are, your dad must be amazing!”

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen my father for as long as I can remember!” Gu Santong said downcast.

Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow in thought.

Knowing what he was thinking, Gu Santong added, “The dad I’m talking about is godfather. He is surnamed Gu and had two sons. When I was chased around because of the Demon Purging Decree, it was he who saved and nursed me!”

“Did he give you your name?” Zhuo Fan asked.

Gu Santong nodded and showed a bittersweet smile, “The Gu clan was a clan of scholars, with every generation working as officials. They weren’t very high ranked, neither held important positions, but they had a happy life. After he saved me, he took me as his third son and taught me to read and write. He wished for me to be a sensible man, so he named me Santong.”

(StarReader: san=three tong=communication)

“Uh, I see. He picked up a precious treasure! With you watching over them, their success was guaranteed. They must’ve been instantly promoted and their clan became a first rate one, right?” Zhuo Fan chuckled.

But Gu Santong sighed in sadness, “No, I harmed them instead. If it weren’t for me, their whole clan wouldn’t have died!”

Zhuo Fan was startled and soon could guess what happened.

This child was hunted down with the Demon Purging Decree, and even a mere greeting would earn that person death. Reading all those books must’ve gotten to that clan’s head to have welcomed their calamity into their house.

“Uh, don’t feel bad. That is also fate!” Zhuo Fan patted his head, “Is this why you turned into the empire’s enemy?”

Gu Santong nodded, his eyes taking a hint of savagery from the bitterness in his heart, but then sighed at the end, “In the end I was too careless, agreeing to that old fart’s promise. Now I am powerless to fight the seven houses.”

“You could’ve just broke your promise. A child’s words do not hold weight. No one would blame you!” Zhuo Fan ruffled his hair, like a devil on his shoulder, pushing him towards malice and destruction.

But Gu Santong shook his head vehemently, “Dad taught me the value of reading, taught me honor. I won’t disgrace his teaching just because he died!”

“Good child!”

Zhuo Fan nodded, but inwardly sighed, [Such an ambitious sapling got ruined in an instant. Ah, but all bookworms are suckers…]