Chapter 383: Good Work (4)

Whose hand is this?

Is it really my father’s?

Then, why is it on my head?

I couldn’t think straight, it was as if my brain had malfunctioned.

Not only was this situation completely unexpected, but I was also fully aware of what I just did with my own hands.

Because of that thought, it became harder for me to breathe, and my head began to spin.

As reality started to set in, with my heart sinking coldly in the pit of my stomach…

-I thought about my response.

Father spoke.

-I continuously thought about it, but I couldn’t come up with a different answer.

-What do you mean by that all of a sudden…

-You are my son.

I opened my eyes wide after hearing Father’s response.

-You asked what you are to me, and this is the only answer I could think of.

I had previously asked him what exactly I was to him, yet he answered it now…?

-Stay still. First let me-

-I’ll forgive you.

I paused after Father’s statement. What was he forgiving me for…?

-I’ll forgive you for trying to make your father kill his own son.

-…

I bit my lips hearing him.

When did he figure out my plan?

When did he notice?

As I struggled to keep my eyes from shaking, Father continued to speak.

-I forgive you. However, you shouldn’t forgive me.

-Why… are you saying all of this now?

His big, rough hand stroked my hair. It felt awkward and rough.

I wanted to push it away immediately, but funnily enough, I couldn’t.

-Good work. You did well.

His voice, as rough like his hand, stabbed into my ears.

-Third child.

-…Yes…?

-I’ll ask you this last question. Did the first child leave with a smile?

-…

My mouth shut when he asked about Gu Huibi.

-…I…I don’t know.

I wasn’t dodging his question. I really couldn’t remember.

I couldn’t remember the last expression Gu Huibi made. What did Gu Huibi look like during that moment…?

-I see.

Father nodded after hearing my response.

-Then, remember this.

Father’s red pupils slowly reverted back into black.

His red hair turned not to black, but white instead.

This was proof of his fading vitality.

I wanted to do something after seeing that sight, but I already knew that it was too late.

-Continue to live.

-…!

My heart sank after hearing his words.

-Fathe-

I hurriedly tried calling to him…

-…

But Father was already dead.

Father died standing on his two feet, without even slightly bending his knees.

I was the one that fell to my knees instead.

-Ah…

This was wrong.

This isn’t what I wanted.

I wanted to explode my heart on the spot and die, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

-Continue to live.

Father’s last words were stuck in my heart as if they were a Shackle.

What did he say those words for? Was he telling me to live so I could atone for my sins?

If that’s not the reason… Then why did he say those words?

I crouched down and covered my face with my hands.

I didn’t scream, nor did I cry out loud.

Instead, I quietly breathed in and out.

How long did I sit there for?

Tap-

I felt a presence from behind me.

-…This is…

After checking the situation, they spoke in shock.

It was the Demonic Sword.

It seemed like she ran here, because she asked me a question while breathing heavily.

-Are you… okay?

I wasn’t okay.

I wasn’t okay at all.

-But… the Leader definitely told you… not to go…

She was right.

The Heavenly Demon told me not to go to the Gu Clan, but I still came here alone and caused  this mess.

Because I didn’t say a word, the Demonic Sword looked around and spoke with an urgent voice.

-We…  need to get out of here…  Soon…  others will come.

The Demonic Sword grabbed my shoulder.

I wanted to stay here, but my body didn’t listen to my will, due to my exhaustion from the previous battle.

-Let go…  Just leave me be…

Despite hearing my exhausted response, the Demonic Sword used her Qi to suppress me.

-…!

-Sorry… but I can’t let that happen.

I couldn’t escape the Demonic Sword with my weakened body, and she dragged me out of that place.

I still continued to stare at the spot Father died in.

I stared until I couldn’t see it anymore.

I killed my father.

I still vividly remembered that moment to this day.

…Dammit.

That was the reason why I couldn’t bring myself to resent my father in this life, and why I felt both fear and guilt every time I looked into his eyes.

How could I forget?

I can still remember the sensation of his hand on my head that day.

I started to breathe heavily after being reminded of what happened back then.

I even used my Qi to calm myself, but it wasn’t easy.

Father noticed what I was doing and stared at me strangely.

His current appearance overlapped with how he looked at that time.

I was reminded of Father’s hair that turned white, and his eyes turning back from red to black.

“Is something wrong?”

“It’s… nothing.”

It was hard to look into Father’s eyes because of that memory.

I shook my head in an attempt to clear my head.

“…I understand your response, but I still need to know”

It was rather difficult for me to keep my head straight because of his sudden story and apology, but I still needed to achieve what I initially came here for.

“Please… is it not possible for you to tell me?”

“…”

Father stood still and thought to himself.

Then, he gave me a response shortly after.

“Fine. I’ll tell you.”

“…!”

As my expression brightened up…

“But I have a condition.”

“A condition?”

I paused after hearing Father’s response.

But it was okay. In the end, he would tell me what I wanted to know.

“No matter what it is, I’ll- “

“Beat me in a fight.”

“Pardon?”

Did I just mishear him…?

I carefully observed Father’s expression wondering if he was joking or not, but he seemed as serious  as he normally was.

“You… want me to fight you and win?”

“Yes.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

I asked once more, but Father’s expression remained the same.

I was speechless.

“You should’ve just said you aren’t going to tell me.”

“I said that from the beginning.”

“…”

That was true.

Shit, I was almost swept away by his words.

“Still, you should’ve made a condition that, at the very least, is possible. How could you- “

“So you are expecting to be defeated without even trying. I am disappoi-“

“Yes, you are well aware that I can’t win against you, which is why you said it. How unfair of you.”

“…”

“…”

Due to my annoyance, I accidentally spoke to Father in my usual tone.

Am I fucked?

I’ve never spoken to Father like this.

Thanks to that, Father’s eyebrows twitched.

He seemed very irritated.

At this rate, I don’t think Father is going to listen to anything I say.

“I’m sorry. I let myself-“

“I will change the condition since you hate it that much.”

Right as I was about to apologize, Father surprisingly agreed to modify the condition.

Why though…? I mean, I’m glad that I wasn’t scolded and he let it slide but…

“Just one.”

“…!”

“If you can land just one attack on me, then I’ll tell you.”

“One… you say.”

“That’s right. Just one. If you can’t even do that, then I won’t tell you anything. Even if you somehow figure it out yourself, I will do anything to stop you from going to her, no matter the cost.”

“Not telling me is one thing, but isn’t it a bit too unfair of you to stop me from going to her if I find her location myself?”

When I spoke with a frown, he cut me off with a firm tone.

“If you can’t even do this much, then you will die over there.”

“…”

“I won’t change the condition any further. If you don’t like it, then leave.”

I didn’t know what kind of dangerous place my mother was in for Father to go this far to stop me, but he definitely created this condition because he was worried about me.

Was it because of the conversation I had with him earlier?

Some of my emotions slowly stirred up.

I felt a strange creepy feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I didn’t hate it.

I calmed myself and asked my father a question.

“So then, you are challenging me to a fight right here?”

Father nodded in response. Seeing this, I asked him another question with a confused tone.

“But, I just fought against the White Heavenly Sword earlier. I don’t have that much strength left in me.”

“I know.”

“You are saying that despite knowing?”

“Do you not like it?”

“…Well, obviously- “

Right as I was about to respond, I was reminded of what my father previously said.

-I won’t change the condition any further. If you don’t like it, then leave.

“…”

Basically, he was telling me to leave if I had any complaints, as he had no reason to do any of this in the first place.

Hah.

It really left me speechless.

Father… he’s more of a dick than I thought huh?

I wasn’t satisfied by his condition one bit.

He made a condition knowing that I wouldn’t back down no matter what, so he made it practically impossible.

I couldn’t even tell how powerful my father was.

This was an important factor.

It meant that he was so strong that I couldn’t read him even at my current level.

Just where did he stand? I reached the Fusion Realm, yet I couldn’t read his level at all.

And he’s telling me to land one attack on him?

What a joke.

It was too absurd.

When I stared at Father with a speechless expression, he spoke to me.

“Are you not going to accept? Then, we shall return.”

He even taunted me.

At this point, I even began to think that he simply wanted to have a spar with me.

“…No.”

If he was going to act this way, then I won’t run away.

“I shall accept. Right here, right now”