250 An Accounted Death Resolves All Resentmen (1/2)
No one would feel good to be deceived and used by their own father like that, whoever it was. What was more, everything had been destroyed for people like Yang Botao!
The one to destroy everything he had was the father who had given him life. It was a quandary indeed.
”He wanted to leave with me but I wouldn’t budge. He left after a few days. I didn’t send him away when he did, I didn’t know how to face him!”
Yang Botao continued, ”But I still wanted to keep living here. I wanted to redeem my wrongdoing with my actions, I wanted to keep on serving Yutang and compensate for my mistake until the day I died on the battlefield. I was still very naïve then, thinking that perhaps I could die on the battlefield in some major war and end everything that way. Perhaps I could still be lucky and keep my innocence…”
”I had to guard this secret. Since nobody knew, I can only carry it myself because I have so many brothers of the northern troops behind me… I can’t let them shoulder the shame and unable to raise their chins up because of me.”
”I could only try my best to keep it hidden, try to do everything cautiously…”
Yang Botao said, ”However, I didn’t manage to wait until the day I died in a war. Innocence was a luxury I couldn’t afford; everything we do, God is watching. God’s will is always changing, since when has He had mercy?”
”Lord Supreme Wind, I, Yang Botao, do not regret being able to die in your hands today,” Yang Botao said softly, looking at Yun Yang.
”In fact, I am glad. Despite not being at peace, I am still grateful.”
Yang Botao said weakly, ”There’s just one thing I need to remind Supreme Wind. After the incident, I’ve thought long and hard, connecting all the dots together. I realized that a lot of people realized I was digging out information about the Nine Supremes and a lot of them had supplied me with the news, intentionally or otherwise. But none of them have stood out to confront me about it afterward. Isn’t this strange?”
Yun Yang’s gaze glinted as he asked, ”Who else provided you the information?”
”So, so many of them… Other than the Minister of Imperial Household Jiang Zhong and Fu Baoguo whom I’ve mentioned… there was also Inner Court Attendant Mi Kongqun… Right, the fourth prince had talked about it with me too…”
Yun Yang froze and stood stock still. ”Fourth Prince? Are you sure?”
”Would I lie to you? After all this?” Yang Botao’s gaze was sorrowful.
Yun Yang sucked in a deep breath and said, ”Last question; who in the Four Seasons Tower is your father? I believe that you must know the answer to this! I am certain that you would want me to avenge you, do you not?”
Yang Botao smiled mournfully. ”Indeed I know the answer, but Lord Supreme Wind… I’m truly sorry. I can't reveal it to you…”
Yun Yang was dumbfounded.
”No matter how wrong and corrupt he is, he’s still my biological father…”
Yang Botao spoke choppily, ”I know that if he hadn’t appeared, I might have had the chance to become Yutang’s legend, be recorded in the history and leave the legacy of a notable general… Now, what’s left of me is only the deplorable sin of a terrible reputation…”
”However, he is my father after all… This can never be denied…”
”This is the reason that I haven’t spoken of it and kept it a secret all along… Although my biological father had done me wrong, I don’t want to betray him…”
Yun Yang closed his eyes and said softly, ”Then go, Yang Botao. I’ll think of a way to reunite you and your wife in the afterlife after you die.”
Surprise flickered in Yang Botao’s eyes as he replied, ”Thank… you. I’ll… explain this to my wife under…”
As the last word left his lips, a gush of thick blood suddenly spouted out and blocked his throat.
His eyes stared into nothingness, his gaze flickered suddenly as he exerted what force he was left with to swallow the mouthful of blood back down. His throat was cleared as he looked at Yun Yang and said sincerely, ”I’m sorry… Oh…”
Yun Yang heaved a long sigh and closed his eyes, turning his face away.
He could hear the gurgling noise in Yang Botao’s throat as the latter suddenly said in a gentle voice, ”So, you’re still waiting for me… It’s great… that you’re… by my… side…”
As Yang Botao’s body went lax, his pulse stopped.
This notable marshal of Yutang, a general of his times, who carried a denounced reputation that could not be cleansed in this century, had finally bid the world farewell.
Yun Yang straightened up, feeling a pent-up rage simmering with the oppression he felt.
Four Seasons Tower!
It was still the Four Seasons Tower!
These vile men who had no hearts!
When could he kill them all?
Looking at Yang Botao’s body that was slowly losing its warmth, Yun Yang could only feel a wave of grief.
He was such a notable marshal of this generation, he had a lifetime of a clean reputation. Yet he had taken step after agonizing step to reach this day after being deceived.
Other than calling it the trick of destiny, there was no other explanation!
Even if it were a saint, how could they suspect their closest family?
What was more, he had seen the Nine-Beam Rainbow Herb with his own eyes – how could he not believe it? As a son, could he have cut his father’s stomach open to prove him wrong?
He had supplied the whereabouts of the Nine Supremes and had indeed caused the ultimate demise of the Nine Supremes but still…
Yun Yang heaved a large puff of air, enunciating each word piercingly, ”Four – Seasons – Tower!”