"I don’t want to hear your nonsense."
Seeing the flicker of memories in the old man’s eyes, Hatred spoke impatiently, as he was not interested in listening to mundane family chatter.
However, the old man continued as if he hadn’t heard, "It’s been twenty-seven years, time really flies. Back then, I was just a gambling addict, squandered all my family wealth. My parents died of starvation at home because of me, and my wife and children left me. If I could do it all over again, I might have been the pride of my parents, but unfortunately, time never flows backward."
"Luckily, at that time I met Master Lu, who brought me back on the right path, made me aware of the dangers of gambling, and changed my life. He saved my life. After serving the Lu family as a steward for so many years, the people of the Lu family treated me like their own. It was all worth it... all worth it..."
Hatred furrowed his brow and did not immediately attack. It seemed that this old man was the only person here, not even a shadow of others could be seen. From his words, it was evident that the old man was a family steward, and hiring a steward would have meant wealth before the Apocalypse.
That said, the old man’s clothing also made it clear, these were steward’s clothes!
Since he was a steward, then this man was not the President of the Yesteryear Association. But if he was the only one here, where had the President gone?
Hatred was here to take the life of the President of the Yesteryear Association. Now, the only lead was with this old man. Without forcing the information out, he couldn’t just kill him recklessly.
Thus, he could only listen to the old man’s reminiscence.
"It was all worth it. The Lu family gave me glory and wealth, and they have the right to take it back anytime. After enjoying so many years, it’s time to give back, these hands, and these feet, I owe them to Master Lu who rebirthed me, hence, the debt repaid..."
"Hmm? The Lu family? The President of the Yesteryear Association is called Lu Jiachang, does he share the surname ’Lu’ with the lord you mentioned?"
The old man shook his head and said, "The old master passed away long ago; now the young master is in charge."
"Is your young master called Lu Jiachang?"
"From what you say, you are very loyal to the Lu family. Since you are so loyal, why were your hands and feet chopped off?"
"The young master suspected that I betrayed the Lu family, so he cut off my hands and feet and left me here to die."
"Then you are truly pitiful."
The old man shook his head slightly and then nodded, his eyes filled with a resigned sadness. Looking back on his life, filled with ups and downs, it was both poignant and nostalgic.
Watching death approach, he couldn’t help but wonder, if there were reincarnation, what would he become in the next life? Would he remember the experiences of this life?
This life had its bitterness and sweetness, tears and laughter, all of which were his precious treasures.
"Pitiful, maybe, but I’ve already severed all ties with the Lu family. I die without regrets."
Hatred’s brows furrowed deeper, listening to the intent to stay loyal to the Lu family even at this moment; he even felt a bit envious of the President of the Yesteryear Association. To have such a loyal person but still doubt him?
The most precious thing in the Apocalypse isn’t Yajin, or those Evolution Crystals and Evolution Cores, but loyalty!
"This old bastard?" Hatred cursed internally but still didn’t give up, probing, "Where is Lu Jiachang?"
As he spoke, a murderous intent rose in Hatred’s eyes. If the old man didn’t speak, he was ready to kill him on the spot!
Yet, to his surprise, the old man said, "I know you are looking for him, but he has already left, abandoning me here alone."
"Gone? Impossible! No one can escape my notice!"
"I am not lying to you; he just left, it should be about ten minutes ago."
Just as the old man finished speaking, Hatred suddenly burst forth, his hand shot out, gripping the old man’s neck, lifting him, chair and all, off the ground.
Hatred, fueled by killing intent, used considerable force; had the old man not been a New Human, he would likely have died on the spot.
"Are you playing me? Lu Jiachang was never here, and escaping right under my nose is impossible!"
The old man coughed, his face turning red, his body slightly twisting in an instinctual struggle to escape Hatred’s grip, yet his eyes remained calm.
"I... am not lying to you, he has already left, you are too late..."
"Impossible! Old man, keep messing around, and believe it or not, I’ll kill you right now?"
"Up to you... I’ve severed ties with the Lu family, I have no reason to lie to you... "
"Hmph, don’t think that your death will settle everything. After I kill you, I’ll send your family down to join you!"
Having experienced the profound pain of losing loved ones, Hatred knew well how suffocating that pain could be, and he had grown fond of using such threats to invoke that pain in others.
However, unfortunately, the old man’s eyes still showed no disturbance, he calmly said, "I have no family left. If you’re going to kill me, do it quickly. Dying would at least let me join them below."
Hatred was somewhat surprised, as this type of threat seemed completely ineffective against those who were already alone.
"Then tell me, how did he leave?"
Hatred suddenly dropped the old man, sneering as he spoke.
Having been let down, the old man caught his breath and then raised his amputated hand to point upwards, saying, "A helicopter was already parked up there, whether you believe it or not, you must have heard the sound of the rotors spinning just now. They left through there."
"The sound of rotors?"
Hatred’s eyes narrowed, thinking back, it seemed that just after he had killed that detestable Level 5 New Human Captain, there had indeed been that sound, but in his excitement focused entirely on his enemy, he had not paid it any attention.
If that helicopter in the sky had indeed been carrying Chen Jiachang, then by now, he was probably long gone!
However, wasn’t he afraid of attracting the attention of the Peace Party by leaving the warzone in a helicopter?
The Peace Party, during the time of war, had planned for the escape of rebellious leaders, so they paid special attention to flying vehicles; they definitely wouldn’t let anyone escape easily once detected.
"How did they get up there?" Hatred asked.
The old man remained silent, only raising his amputated hand and pointing to the side.
Glancing sideways at him, Hatred walked out the door and then to the second-to-last room. There was nothing of note in the living room, but in the bedroom, Hatred noticed a steel hinged trapdoor on the ceiling.
Upon returning to the room where the old man was, Hatred looked extremely gloomy.