In order for his son to escape, Hong Shouchang resolutely stopped taking his own share of the medicine and gave it all to Hong Xu, hoping that this would help him detoxify and flee the demon’s lair.
This is why Hong Shouchang’s body was covered with large areas of festering sores, all caused by the poison.
Seeing Hong Xu’s distress, Hong Shouchang gave a hearty smile.
"Enough, your father has enjoyed everything in life, and ending up like this is my deserved retribution. I have no complaints. I just hope you can escape, to give our Hong Family a future!"
After all these days of suffering, Hong Shouchang had come to terms with his fate.
"Yes, I understand, Father!" Hong Xu nodded.
At this moment, Hong Shouchang noticed the slap marks on his son’s face and the bloodstains on his nose. He sighed inwardly but didn’t ask.
In this perpetually dark mining pit, getting beaten was commonplace, especially for people like them who had once been in high positions. Now fallen into the dust, many people would deliberately come to humiliate them to satisfy their twisted desires.
"Have you seen any of the Yang Family recently?" Hong Shouchang asked.
"I saw Yang Sansi once. Now he’s the only one left in the Yang Family. I’ve heard that all his sons are dead. Even Yang Zisong couldn’t bear the humiliation and has already committed suicide."
Upon mentioning this, Hong Xu couldn’t help but feel a sense of lament.
He still remembered the time when he and Yang Zisong drank happily together.
Back then, he was the eldest son of the Hong Family, and Yang was the son of the Yang Family, both of esteemed status, living carefree lives.
But now, the once spirited son of the Yang Family had died like a dog in this sunless mineshaft.
In some vague way, Hong Xu even felt a bit envious of Yang Zisong.
Dying is good!
At least after death, one doesn’t have to suffer anymore!
After hearing this, Hong Shouchang also fell silent, and after a long time, he sighed softly.
"Once Wuxiang City was led by the Hong, Yang, and Song families, but now it seems that the Song Family, which was the first to leave, ended up the best!"
Hong Xu had no response.
To be honest, he had privately harbored resentment.
He blamed Hong Shouchang for being blinded by greed, aligning himself with Cyan Bamboo Ridge.
He further blamed him for joining forces to destroy the Song Family.
Resulting in this final outcome.
But looking at Hong Shouchang, who had little time left, he couldn’t utter these words.
Just as the father and son fell into silence, faint commotion came from outside.
Hong Xu was taken aback.
"What’s going on?"
Saying this, he wanted to go out to see, but Hong Shouchang grabbed him and then said to the young man, "Hong Xi, go outside and see what’s happening!"
"Yes!"
The boy named Hong Xi ran out and returned a moment later, looking terrified and stammering.
"Uncle, Brother Xu, there are many people gathered in the main hall outside, and I heard that it seems there’s a fight over in the front mountain!"
Upon hearing this, both Hong Shouchang and Hong Xu showed looks of surprise and delight.
Because for them, the situation couldn’t get any worse.
In their current state, what else was there to care about?
Especially with the fight in the front mountain; it was very likely an internal conflict between Cyan Bamboo Ridge and the Refining World Sect.
That would be wonderful!
Just as they were exhilarated by this, it got even more chaotic outside, and sounds of fighting reached their ears.
This time Hong Shouchang didn’t stop Hong Xu; instead, he pushed him up from the bedside.
"Quick, it’s chaos outside now; this is a rare opportunity, hurry and run!"
"Father, I’ll carry you out!"
"Fool! At a time like this, are you still being so soft-hearted? You’ll get us both killed! My life doesn’t matter, get out of here to save yourself!" Hong Shouchang shouted anxiously.
Hong Xu knew his father’s words were true, so he could only hold back his tears, taking Hong Xi and running outside.
After they left, Hong Shouchang clung to his last breath, slowly crawling up from the straw pile, and then he crept to the entrance.
As he peered through the crack of the door outside, he saw countless mining slaves rushing out with pickaxes in hand.
At the same time, someone shouted loudly, "Follow Young Hero Zhao!"
"Young Hero Zhao has come to rescue us!"
Young Hero Zhao?
Hearing this name, Hong Shouchang was a bit puzzled.
Where did a Young Hero Zhao appear from?
At this moment, he felt a blackout in front of his eyes and intense pain in his chest and abdomen, knowing that his time was near. But he still strained to keep his eyes open and looked into the distance.
Then he saw in the distant hall, a remarkably brave young man standing with a knife, with several corpses lying at his feet.
Whether it was a final flashback or whatever the reason, Hong Shouchang immediately recognized the youth.
Zhao Ya!
The former commander of the Song Family’s guards, the very man who almost foiled his plans with Cyan Bamboo Ridge.
So the Young Hero Zhao they were calling out was him!
Seeing this, Hong Shouchang suddenly laughed.
Fate!
Sometimes it really is clever.
Back then, he and Zhao Ya were enemies, eager to kill each other at once.
But now his son had to rely on his help to escape.
Laughing, Hong Shouchang began to cry again.
Everything was beyond redemption.
He knew this young man, who had already made his mark at such a young age, would never spare him, nor the Hong and Yang families.
He only hoped his son Hong Xu would be safe.
The excruciating pain of his body gradually faded away, and he lay on the ground, the light in his eyes slowly dimming.