Chapter 281: Miscalculated
Zhou Qianmo paused there.
Immersed in a deathly silence.
He seemed unable to believe that his son would say such things, or rather, he couldn't believe he would hear such words at a time like this...
After a long silence, he asked, "Why?"
Roger, playing with his fingers, said blandly, "No reason, if I must say, it's probably because I felt threatened. I am your son, yet since he came into our family, you have clearly invested more effort into him. Previously, you already arranged my future path: join the Military Department, slowly accumulate experience, then at the right time, arrange for me to return to the Nanyun Martial Mansion to inherit your position as Pavilion Master."
He spread his hands and said, "I've been following the predetermined path you set for me since I was a child, but halfway through, you suddenly seem to want to switch someone else in... what exactly do all my past decades' efforts count for? So I killed him. Of course, to be frank, it's because I can't tolerate someone stronger than me among my peers. Just thinking about someone stronger makes me grind my teeth in hatred, wanting to tear him apart to vent my frustration!"
Looking at Zhou Qianmo's incredulous face, Roger sneered, "Doesn't it seem ridiculous? Actually, I think so now too... It's just that my mindset was different back then. You, old fool, were the goal I pursued, and I revered you like a god. I can't allow your attention to be drawn to others. Yes, that's just how narrow-minded and despicable your son is, and, in fact, your grandson is the same way."
Zhou Qianmo: "............."
He closed his eyes.
Feeling as if something had collapsed in his heart.
He wanted to say that, in reality, he cultivated him precisely so that, in future, he could have a capable right hand.
But now, looking at Roger's twisted face, Zhou Qianmo suddenly felt that perhaps anything he said at this point would be superfluous.
He exhaled long and deep. Despite the shock, Zhou Qianmo actually found Roger's logic quite understandable.
He asked, "So, you're saying Xiaomu was jealous of Xu Lingjun, attacked him, and they became enemies as a result?"
"I don't know. Who knows what really happened back then?"
Roger replied, "But I'm sure of one thing, that Xu Lingjun and Han Yun City have an unusual relationship... I've served as a soldier, and I could clearly see that there's a unique trust between them. They are life-and-death friends who have experienced life-and-death battles together and can rely on each other completely!"
He grinned, revealing a set of teeth tinged with yellow, which looked particularly gruesome and frightening.
Sneering, he said, "What exactly have they gone through? Old fool, can you guess? Han Yun City couldn't kill Xiaomu alone, but what if Xu Lingjun helped? Haven't you considered this possibility?"
Zhou Qianmo: "............."
He said, "This is just your speculation; you have no evidence whatsoever."
"But you have no evidence either to say that Han Yun City killed Xiaomu, do you?"
Roger said coldly, "What's your relationship with Xu Lingjun? You seem very hesitant to make a move against him."
"I just owe him a favor, that's all. Thanks to him, I've now grasped the threshold to break through to the Creation Realm and will soon achieve the level of a Creation Grandmaster."
Zhou Qianmo shook his head, "You speak of a life-and-death battle, and I suspect this may relate to Marquis Xia Wu's death."
"Speaking of Marquis Xia Wu, if it weren't for the Cuowu Sect interfering back then, that Han Yun City and Xu Lingjun would probably have been dead by my hands."
Roger replied, "You owe a favor to Xu Lingjun, but I don't. Although it's just a possibility, I feel like my speculation is the truth. Even if it's not, Xiaomu wouldn't like someone stronger than him to remain alive in this world, so you don't need to interfere. Since you've let me out, you can't stop me."
Zhou Qianmo let out a long sigh, unable to restrain a weary feeling rising in his heart.
He shook his head, "Oh well... I can't control you anymore. Do whatever you want, but remember, in this Imperial Capital, grandmasters are as common as clouds, and if you are too reckless, don't expect me to save you."
"Which is why I'm going to need your help, old fool."
Zhou Qianmo said, "I am the Pavilion Master of Nanyun Martial Mansion; there are many things I cannot do."
"I only ask you to do what you can and help me find someone's whereabouts."
"Who?"
"That day, amidst the chaos, someone also attacked Xu Lingjun... I suspect Marquis Xia Wu and Xiaomu both died at the hands of Xu Lingjun and Han Yun City. Therefore, people from the Cuowu Sect are here for revenge, just because of Han Yun City's special status, they can't act too openly and must operate in secret."
Roger said, "Back then, a misunderstanding led us almost to mutual destruction. My injuries still haven't healed, and his are worse... He probably hasn't recovered either. You're right; in this Imperial Capital, grandmasters are like clouds, and I've been fleeing in desperation just to survive. The chance of assassinating Han Yun City is slim."
Zhou Qianmo exclaimed, "You want to..."
"Our fight was just a misunderstanding,"
Roger said, "In fact, we share common interests, and there's nothing stopping us from working together. Even if an Upper Realm Returning Origin Grandmaster intervenes, we stand a good chance of retreating unharmed if we join forces."
"You want to cooperate with the Cuowu Sect?"
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend, isn't that so?"
Roger said, "I hold a special status and no contacts, making it hard for me to find him... But for you, it surely isn't a difficult task, so I'll leave it to you. You can't expect only the father to avenge the son; the grandfather should bear some responsibility too."
"I understand."
Zhou Qianmo sighed, turned, and walked back.
Meanwhile, Roger watched Zhou Qianmo leave, his figure disappearing once more into the darkness.
Previously, he fought fiercely against the Cuowu Sect's experts and was later pursued by the Divine Soldier Guard... If not for his cunning, he would probably have perished by now.
Currently, the most important thing is to recover from his injuries while waiting for the chance to strike with all his might again.
Perhaps no one would expect that two people who were previously at each other's throats could collaborate, and even fewer would anticipate that he could enlist Zhou Qianmo's help... So, he has another opportunity.
At this time.
An elegant and luxurious villa.
In the bedroom, a middle-aged man who had been resting with his eyes closed suddenly opened them wide, exclaiming, "Oh no!!!"
"What's wrong?"
Su Qingrou was simmering soup for Wu Hongzhou.
During this time, he had been injured, and Su Qingrou truly embodied the role of a diligent wife, concocting various soups daily to aid his recovery.
Wolfberry turtle soup, wolfberry black chicken soup, wolfberry soup, wolfberry sweet wine soup, and even wolfberry tiger whip soup, wolfberry bear tail soup, and so on...
Such that Wu Hongzhou suffered from insomnia and restlessness daily, with the yang fire excessively active.
Hearing Wu Hongzhou's exclamation, she came over to ask.
Wu Hongzhou was dumbfounded, exclaiming, "Why did I fight with Xu Lingjun?"
Sun Qingrou curiously asked, "Weren't you trying to retrieve what Old Xia should have given you, which was taken by him?"
"That's right... I just wanted to reclaim what was rightfully mine. But in reality, there are many ways to reclaim something; force should be the last resort. I could have negotiated with him, knowing he killed Marquis Xia Wu. With that leverage, getting something from him would be easy, wouldn't it?"
Wu Hongzhou's face showed remorse, annoyedly saying, "Marquis Xia Wu wasn't my son; he's dead, so be it. Why should I avenge him? I merely wanted my things back, and why couldn't I say that outright..."
Indeed, this matter can't be made public, but could Xu Lingjun publicly acknowledge killing Marquis Xia Wu?
They could have easily negotiated privately, couldn't they?
Why...
Did I foolishly rush forward?
Sun Qingrou said, "But now that you've attacked him, he's guarded against you, and you two have become enemies, haven't you?"
"Sigh, a miscalculation. Because it couldn't be done openly, I only thought of using clandestine means, forgetting that not only I must avoid the light, but so must he."
Wu Hongzhou slapped himself on the forehead in regret, immediately letting out a pained cry. In the last confrontation with that bastard, they ended up head-butting each other, and even now, his head was still aching.