Gu Santong mocked, “My promise refers to keeping imperial family alive for a thousand years. It says nothing about dogs. I’ll help if I feel like it. If not, no one can make me, humph!”
The three stared in shock.
[Check out the new big brain on the bugger. He figured out some loopholes.] As to how, it didn’t take them long to see that Zhuo Fan had something to do with it.
These kinds of snappy and taunting remarks were more up Zhuo Fan’s alley. The kid had no chance in figuring it all out by himself.
The three turned heavy.
Gu Santong was the strongest right now, but they couldn’t just leave Zhuo Fan alone either. It would be unwise, to say the least.
Shadow King said, “Then keep your promise by destroying all of imperial family’s enemies. With Zhuo Fan being a national traitor, abusing his power, he is a threat to all of us. Be it as a Divine Dragon or just to keep your word, you must root him out, not protect him!”
“Humph, to hell with your protection. A son looks after his old man, it’s the most natural thing in the world.” Sticking out his chin, Gu Santong giggled, “Moreover, dad has guaranteed that he’d leave the imperial family alive. He wants power, not status.”
The trio gasped. Fang Qiubai was astonished, “Young Sanzi, what did you just call him?”
“Right, you still don’t know that he’s my godfather. Just try touching one hair of him and I promise to break your bones one by one, he-he.” Gu Santong had a savage smile.
Fang Qiubai was dumbstruck, a bad feeling creeping up on him.
If Gu Santong only went to Zhuo Fan’s side because of some fancy speech, they could still get him back on the straight and narrow path. Gu Santong had always been their strongest asset.
But with this new relationship, like a family, they had no chance.
[What the hell did Zhuo Fan use to get the kid so eager to call him dad?]
Imperial family had been feeding the kid for centuries, yet nothing had worked to get him closer to them. Yet Zhuo Fan just came along and did it like nothing. The trio was speechless.
[When did it all start?]
But recalling the big war just a few days back, with Luo clan turning experts faster than flipping pancakes, the trio had to bow towards the master. Zhuo Fan was an expert when it came to manipulation.
While also making them have a hard time facing Gu Santong right about now.
Gu Santong was the best in the world for a reason.
“Uh, senior, should we make a tactical retreat? Young Sanzi and Zhuo Fan make for the worst enemies. It’s best that we report to His Majesty first.” Sima Hui proposed.
Fang Qiubai nodded, finding it the best choice.
Shadow King was somewhat angry and reticent, “Gu Santong, I used to respect you as being a man of your word, a hero. I don’t resent you even in the current situation. But I never thought you’d be so despicable and wretched. Going by Zhuo Fan’s speech, big things are happening. Even if the imperial family isn’t overthrown, they’ll end up as puppets. How is that any different from robbing their lands?
“Gu Santong, if there’s still some decency left in you, you’d keep your promise and protect the imperial family’s lands. Do your duty and not resort to petty tricks like reading between the lines. It is not how a man of honor conducts himself!” Shadow King shouted.
Gu Santong found it odd, “And who are you supposed to be? I don’t know you. Your creepy look, it has nothing to do with me.”
“Ha-ha-ha, Gu Santong, you don’t need to know. I only hope that you’ll fulfill your promise.” Shadow King’s tone was tragic but firm.
Gu Santong felt odd. The guy was speaking like an old friend, but he had never seen him in his life.
With a wiggle of his nose, he got his answer. Shadow King’s smell gave him a deja vu.
“Who are you? Have we met?” Gu Santong said.
Shadow King flicked his chain at Zhuo Fan, “Top profound ranked martial art, Heart-piercing Nebula Chain!”
The chain split into a thousand chains in a blink, all going after Zhuo Fan.
The powerful aura being emanated turned everything to dust. Even the air was vibrating.
Gu Santong blanked out, waking up when the chains reached Zhuo Fan. He jumped in between and punched.
Boom!
The thousand chains disintegrated, leaving a shimmering air around Gu Santong’s trembling fist.
Fang Qiubai and Sima Hui looked at Shadow King stunned.
With Gu Santong around, even together, the trio had no chance of harming Zhuo Fan. So why was Shadow King so persistent?
[Is he looking to be humiliated?]
Shadow King just stood in place, uncaring how easily his move was thwarted.
He spoke again, “Gu Santong, do you know me now?”
Gu Santong turned sad, “You’re still alive. I thought…”
“Humph, alive?”
Shadow King mocked, “Does this look alive to you?”
Gu Santong only had a look of sorrow.
Shadow King spoke heavily, “If not for your punch back then, I, being on the brink of entering Ethereal Stage, wouldn’t have turned into a spirit puppet, into neither human nor shade. I am filled with rage every time I think about it. But I don’t hate you, because you always kept your word to me. But now…”
“I am still a man of my word!” Gu Santong justified.
“No, you’ve just found a way around it, unprincipled!” Shadow King snapped.
Gu Santong staggered back.
The other two were shocked to the core.
Shadow King had been loyal to the imperial family since even before the two came to office as Divine Dragons.
But never once knew of his history.
His reprimands were the biggest clue. He was the one to trap Gu Santong in a promise three hundred years ago.
Gu Santong gasped, restless, to which Shadow King shouted, “Didn’t your godfather teach you about loyalty and justice? Are you going to turn your back on them?”
Gu Santong shook all over.
His first godfather was his savior, teacher and mentor. He would never forget. Anyone could call him a demon or a monster, he didn’t care.
But to question his respect for his godfather, he could not accept.
Shadow King found his words hitting something and showed a twisted smile among the black mist.
“The great Shadow King, the once best in Tianyu, the Immemorial Sage, comes back three centuries later to use some shoddy righteousness? Is this how a true man acts, deceiving children?”
Zhuo Fan sighed, opening his sharp eyes, looking down upon all creation with his overbearing power. He snapped his eyes on that shadow, “Before speaking of promises, shouldn’t you straighten yourself first?”
“Zhuo Fan!” Shadow King gnashed his teeth, “You rotten bastard, I don’t know what fancy words you’ve used to deceive Gu Santong, but his first godfather was a scholar, a man of principle who taught his children virtue and honor. Unlike you, who leads him astray!
“Gu Santong, ask yourself, did your first godfather earn your respect and love, or is this despicable and vile thing is who you value more?” Shadow King asked, putting Gu Santong on the spot.
Shadow King was more than clear about his game, to strike at Gu Santong’s heart by putting his two godfathers on a scale.
Zhuo Fan walked in front of Gu Santong, rubbing his head, with a bright smile and speaking platitudes, “Be it your former righteous and honorable godfather, or the current despicable and repulsive one, we each have our own paths. But one thing we have in common is our love for our young Sanzi, which will never change.”
Gu Santong showed a bright smile.
“You sneaky little devil!”
Shadow King’s cheek twitched in outrage…
