Chapter 91 The Killer of His Son (2/2)

Tong slipped his right hand into his left sleeve and pulled out a knife. It was the very same knife that Sima Xin used it in an attempt to stab Tong in the throat that day.

”This is the knife that he used. Its shape was unique, so I've been keeping it up till now. I'll return it to the rightful owner.”

Tong passed the knife to Sima Fang, who shed a tear when he saw the knife. It was one of the heirlooms of Sima Family which symbolled strength and valor. Sima Fang gave it to Sima Xin that day, so he could experience the outside world and return as a great warrior. Then one day, he could be a great general who would serve the Han Dynasty for decades.

But that dream was no more.

Sima Fang fell silent. He stared at the knife in a daze.

Lu Zhi and Tong could read the mood. They did not utter a word and waited for him in patience.

...

After 10 minutes of silent grieving, Sima Fang regained his calm.

He turned around and looked at Tong. His expression was tranquil and solemn, unlike the sad father just a moment ago. Sima Fang had got over the death of his son in a few minutes as he recalled that he still had other sons to take care of. He could not be buried in the past and forgot about the other people who needed him.

Sima Fang coughed to clear his throat. Then he asked Tong his second question.

”... Is your father the real governor, or is it you?”

The question was quite rude for asking a random stranger. It could be interpreted as ”Are your father your puppet?” from the viewpoint of scholars, which was an indirect way to curse someone for being unfilial.

Lu Zhi glared at his friend and wanted to reprimand him for his tone.

Tong suppressed his irritation in his mind and spoke out slowly.

”I am the brain ... and my father is the heart ... We work as one.”

The answer made Sima Fang paused and contemplated his past.

The event on that day when Sima Xin had departed replayed back in his mind again. If that day he believed in his son's story and left the capital with his entire family, right now they could have lived in any city with everyone being alive and enjoy their days happily together.

It was the separation that caused his loss, which was the opposite of the Zhang family.

'If I remember correctly, Zhang Tong risked everything to protect his family from Guo Dian. He even bribed Emperor Ling for his father's position and got him back from the hands of the Yuan. From the rumor, Zhang Jiao treasured his son more than anything before he rose in power as well. The reason he got caught by the Yuan Clan was that he went out for business for his son.'

'But, I cast away my child.'

'My son also left me behind.'

'I see … This is our difference.'

Sima Fang sighed. His demeanor changed as if he had aged for another decade with that breath, yet he felt like the cloud in his heart had dispersed and revealed the sunny sky once again.

”Since senior Lu has said that you are the one who invited me here, do you want me to work for you?”

The Sima Clan Head asked the last question. His bearing was different from the past few minutes. Tong felt like he was looking at a shadow of a giant instead of a middle-aged man in his late 30s.

The pressure from an elite politician was immense. A sweat drop rolled down from Tong's cheek as he was shaken from the mental image.

Remembering what Lu Zhi had taught him that if he had to deal with someone with this caliber, Tong had to think of himself as an emperor or he would be crushed by the intimidation aura by the opposite party.

The depth within Tong's eyes changed. It had a tinge of sinister reddish color, but it gave out a majestic feeling. His complexion became serene like a tranquil river with no worldly emotion appeared on it.

All of the changed happened in only 5 seconds after Sima Fang asked the last question.

Lu Zhi grinned after he noticed that Tong recovered from his friend's pressure in a few seconds.

'Not bad. That's more like it. This is why I can't stop teaching when I see someone like this.'

Lu Zhi was proud. His times and his investment on Tong for all these months were worth it.

On the other side, both Tong and Sima Fang were having a serious conversation.

”Yes. I want help from your family.”

”Hmm. Fine! But I have conditions. I wonder if young master Zhang can accept.”

”If it's something I can do, then I will be happy to help. However, if it's something impossible, I will naturally refuse.”

”Good. These are my conditions …”