Chapter 713: Crack (2/2)
Han Shuo did not immediately reply to Andre’s question. He took out a bag of black crystal coins and handed it to Andrina who had been looking at him with miserable and pity-evoking eyes, and instructed. “Go upstairs. No matter what, don’t fall asleep like the last time!”
Andrina nodded excitedly. Carrying the big sack of black crystal coins containing forty thousand black crystal coins, she hastily headed upstairs as though unwilling to wait for a second longer.
After Andrina left, Han Shuo softly sighed and replied to Andre, “I don’t know where she has gone but I do know that she has been looking for me all this time. I believe she likely has left the city for matters related to finding me, right?” Han Shuo wasn’t completely clueless about the situation in the City of Shadows. From the conversations between those divine guards looking for him, Han Shuo knew that Carmelita had spared no effort to search for him. Her actions had deeply touched Han Shuo and he understood that Carmelita had sincerely taken him as a friend.
Andre, who had been observing Han Shuo’s reaction all along, nodded. He was very pleased with Han Shuo’s response - unpretentious and genuine. “That’s right, she has indeed traveled away from the city to look for you. Carmelita has truly taken you as a friend. She doesn’t want anything bad to happen to you and therefore I, myself, also hope that nothing will happen to you again. Understood?” Andre said enigmatically.
Han Shuo stared blankly before he looked at Andre in a puzzled manner. He didn’t quite understand what Andre was trying to tell him, so he asked, “What you mean is…?”
“I want you to be alive and well!” Andre’s face suddenly turned solemn. In graveness that Han Shuo had rarely witnessed, Andre said in a deep voice, “I have thoroughly investigated the matter. You can be at ease -Avery will not touch you again.”
Han Shuo jolted and gawked for a moment. He couldn’t understand why Avery had suddenly become so supportive of him. This sudden goodwill shown by Andre left Han Shuo somewhat at a loss.
“But, of course, the most that I can offer is the assurance that Avery won’t attack you again. About the injustice you suffered the last time, for the stability of the City of Shadows, as a member of the House of Sainte, there isn’t much that I can do to Avery. I hope you can understand,” Andre explained in a soft voice. Then, after thinking for a bit, he quickly added, “One more thing, please do not mention this to Carmelita. I know her temperament well. If she were to learn that Avery injured you, she would undoubtedly try to take revenge for you. She could stir up big trouble if she attempts that. It’s even possible that the House of Lavers will think of rebelling against us - something we definitely do not wish to see.”
After keeping silent for a moment, Han Shuo nodded his head and said, “I understand. Someday in the future, I will exact this vengeance myself!”
“I naturally will not stop you from doing that when you have the strength. Who knows, perhaps when the day comes, I might even help you! However, before that, you need to be more prudent. Alright, I better not be too wordy, but do keep my words in your heart,” Andre said before leaving the Celestial Pearl Pharmacy smilingly.
Han Shuo understood Andre’s position. In fact, Andre’s willingness to help ensure his safety had exceeded Han Shuo’s expectations. He was not about to demand Andre to make reprisals to Avery for his sake.
One could only obtain respect and status in proportion to their strength and value. Han Shuo knew that his current value now was far from enough for the House of Sainte to risk falling out with the Lavers Family. Although Han Shuo did not like it, he knew how to be patient. He believed that there would come a day when he would have enough value that the House of Sainte would eliminate Avery for him.
With sufficient strength, nothing is impossible!
“Did that guy leave?” Andrina’s voice sounded as soon as Han Shuo stepped on the third floor of his Celestial Pearl Pharmacy. “He’s strong. He nearly discovered the power that I’m concealing!” she said while chewing black crystal coins in her mouth.
“There are forty thousand black crystal coins in that bag so that adds four more years to your service!” after a short pause, he continued, “Remember, don’t fall into a deep sleep for months like the last time!”
“I know, that’s why I’m eating one piece at a time. By digesting it slowly, nothing like that will happen again. Alright, alright, stop bothering me. Go and get on with whatever you ought to be doing!” Andrina answered impatiently before turning her glowing eyes back to the crystal coins in her hand.
Han Shuo climbed down to the second floor. After having been refurbished, his pharmacy lab was even more glorious than before it was wrecked. There were bright, sparkling pharmaceutical utensils and containers strewn everywhere. But no one knew that those tools were merely for decoration. The only tool that Han Shuo actually used for refining medicine was the Nine Tessellation Cauldron.
Anito who had been conscientiously guarding outside the Celestial Pearl Pharmacy entered the shop after everyone had left. He said to Han Shuo in a fawning smile, “That umm… umm… did you save some for us Third Corps?”
“One hundred bottles for just twenty thousand black crystal coins - special discount for your Lord Erebus!” Han Shuo had long prepared pelleted medicines for Erebus and he put the medicines on the table.
Anito too had come prepared and immediately took out a sack of black crystal coins with a wide grin. To proceed, Anito carefully counted and pulled out twenty thousand black crystal coins from the sack of coins which obviously contained more than that number. He respectfully handed Han Shuo twenty thousand black crystal coins and said, “Bryan, I’m merely carrying out orders on behalf of His Lordship and therefore cannot be as generous as those members of large family clans. These coins technically belong to the public and any extras need to be returned to the higher authorities, that’s why…”
“No worries, I get it. Take the medicines and go ahead with your errands. Also, thank you for the efforts you spent on my shop,” Han Shuo naturally understood that those black crystal coins did not belong to Anito and didn’t mind not receiving tips.
“You’re welcome… You’re most welcome…” Anito replied smilingly. After keeping away the medicines, he instructed his fellow divine guards, “I’m returning to the Third Corps to run an errand. You guys remain in the vicinity of the shop. If any fool causes trouble here, you all know your duties!” Anito then left hastily.
Suddenly, when Han Shuo was about to step back into his shop, a familiar voice sounded, “It’s been a while, Bryan.”
When Han Shuo turned around, he saw the charming Donna standing right outside his pharmacy. She was still as beautiful and lovely as always. However, Han Shuo could see the traces of sorrow in her eyes. Although she was still wearing a smile, it felt somewhat unnatural…
Han Shuo had never regretted getting rid of Cage and Eve, nor did he feel that he had betrayed his conscience. After all, it was Avery who made the first strike against him.
However, when facing Donna, Han Shuo nonetheless still felt somewhat uncomfortable, as though he had done something unfaithful behind her back. He softly chuckled and said, “Hello Donna, it really has been a while. I’ve been to the residence to look for you but unfortunately you weren't around at that time. I heard you went to the Space Dominion?”
Donna smiled and replied, “Yes, I have. However, I did not expect that after returning from the distant place, I would find my good-for-nothing cousins murdered.”
Did she discover something? Is she suspecting me? That’s impossible. Even Avery did not suspect me. How would Donna? Han Shuo’s heart skipped a beat but he did not reveal a thing on his face. He invited Donna into his shop cordially before he sighed, “Donna, I have heard a thing or two about your cousins’ unfortunate fates. Please have my condolences.”
Perhaps he didn’t do it? Donna thought to herself. She had been silently observing each any every change to Han Shuo’s expression but did not see one bit of abnormality.
No one in the House of Lavers had suspected a thing about Han Shuo because in their eyes, Han Shuo did not have that strength nor did he have the nerves!
But Donna, who had previously traveled to Profound Continent and fought shoulder to shoulder with Han Shuo, did not feel the same way. Donna understood how ruthless and decisive Han Shuo could be and suspected that Han Shuo had been concealing his strength. Therefore, after making some inquiries into Cage and Eve’s deaths, the first person she suspected was Han Shuo!
There were many who had animosity with Cage and Avery but Donna did not know any who would strike so decisively. Avery suspected Carmelita. But Donna, who had befriended Carmelita for some time, knew that Carmelita wasn’t one to seek revenge for the smallest grievances. She was certain that the murderer could not be Carmelita.
Donna did not exactly have a concrete reason to suspect Han Shuo but when she thought of him, she felt that Han Shuo was the most likely to do so, especially after Han Shuo managed to return to the City of Shadows safely. She had arrived at Celestial Pearl Pharmacy long ago but did not hurry in entering. She only showed herself after everyone left.
“The last time Eve came to this pharmacy, you saved her from being disfigured. But she was too insensible and even bore grudges towards you. I haven’t thanked you for that yet so, thank you!” Donna said with a trace of sadness on her face. She had learned about what actually happened in that incident.
Han Shuo figured out Donna’s intentions after hearing her repeatedly mention Cage and Eve. Her suspicious gazes also gave it up.
A deep fissure had unknowingly separated the two who used to be best of friends. Neither Donna nor Han Shuo had expected this outcome.
After figuring out Donna’s real intention in visiting him, the smile on Han Shuo’s face grew bigger but softened in sincerity. After exchanging a round of empty dialogue, Donna, seeing that she could not elicit any information from Han Shuo, left a bag of crystal coins and silently left with a hundred bottles of medicine.
After walking outside the shop, as she rolled a medicine bottle in her hand, Donna mumbled to herself, “I’ve known for a while now that you would climb to high places, but I did not anticipate that you would do so by stepping on the bodies of my family members…” She softly sighed and left quietly.
From within the pharmacy, Han Shuo gazed at her back as her figure slowly disappeared into the distance. When she was completely out of sight, he softly remarked, “I’m sorry, but it had to be done!”