Uncle Fu maneuvered the wheelchair, slowly moving forward.

The wheels crushed the withered yellow fallen leaves, making a rustling sound.

Zhou Huai looked at Zhou Ting's face, which was filled with shock, and the corners of his mouth curled into a faint smile.

"What, are you very surprised to see me?"

His voice was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Could it be that you really thought I died in that attack long ago?"

Zhou Ting's dry lips moved, and he slowly shook his head.

He spoke hoarsely: "Of course I knew that attack didn't kill you."

"It's just very unexpected that we would meet in this way."

The old man's cloudy eyes looked Zhou Huai up and down, and a hint of strange relief actually surfaced in his hollow gaze.

"You've really grown up a lot."

"Between your brows, you look more and more like your father."

His gaze became somewhat dazed, as if he had fallen into distant memories.

"Do you still remember when you were little, you always liked to follow behind me and run to the martial arts field in the back mountain."

"Finding you annoying, I casually carved a wooden sword for you out of peach wood."

"Yet you treated it like a treasure, hugging it in your arms all day, refusing to let go even when sleeping."

"You even solemnly said to me that when you grew up, you would also become a great general to protect the Zhou Family and protect me."

Hearing these words, Zhou Huai curled his lips in disdain.

"You don't need to play the emotional card, Elder."

"If you were really a person who values Clan affection, the Zhou Family wouldn't have reached this state today."

The look of reminiscence on Zhou Ting's face instantly froze, and he could no longer go on.

He did not refute.

After a moment, the old man let out a long, bitter laugh, the laughter filled with endless desolation and remorse.

"You're right, I was too self-righteous."

His body trembled violently, and his hollow eyes were gradually filled with bloodshot veins.

"I originally thought that everything I did could push the Zhou Family to grow stronger and allow the Zhou Family to stand at an unprecedented height."

"In the end... in the end, it pushed the Zhou Family into the abyss!"

"Hahaha... Everything is my fault..."

As the old man laughed and laughed, tears flowed down uncontrollably.

He thought of the miserable state of his second son, Zhou Ming, whose heart was pierced by a single saber slash from Saito Mikado.

He thought of the despair of his grandson Zhou Xun seeking revenge for his father, only to be easily slain by a streak of Saber Qi.

He thought of those clansmen who used to be respectful to him on usual days, but ultimately died tragically under the ninja's swords.

Familiar faces flashed back before his eyes continuously, finally freezing on the terrified and unwilling expressions before their deaths.

"Ah—!!"

Zhou Ting let out a heart-rending roar!

He suddenly raised his hand, used all his strength, and fiercely slapped his own wrinkle-covered old face!

Slap!

The crisp sound appeared exceptionally jarring in the quiet courtyard.

"It's all my fault!"

Slap!

Another slap!

"I have failed the ancestors of the Zhou Family!"

Slap! Slap! Slap!

He was like a madman, swinging back and forth, slapping himself crazily one blow after another.

"I'm sorry your father! It was I who killed him!"

Soon, that already aged face swelled up and turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Master! Please don't be like this!"

Uncle Fu looked at this scene with extreme anxiety, and just as he wanted to step forward to dissuade him, he was stopped by a hand.

Zhou Huai calmly spoke.

"Leave him alone."

"All of this is brought upon himself."

"Letting him slap himself a few times to vent might make him feel a bit better."

Uncle Fu opened his mouth, wanting to speak but stopping.

"But... but..."

He hesitated for a moment, and ultimately chose to obey Zhou Huai's instructions, silently retreating behind Zhou Huai.

Only his eyes looking at Zhou Ting were filled with unbearable pity and sympathy.

For a long time, the old man finally stopped the movements in his hands.

His cheeks were swollen high, blood seeped from the corners of his mouth, and snot and tears mixed together, looking wretched to the extreme.

Then.

The old man hugged his head with both hands, shrinking on the bench, letting out bursts of sobbing.

Where was there any of the majesty and demeanor of the head of the Zhou Family from back then? He was just a helpless old man drowning in remorse.

Zhou Huai watched quietly like this, without disturbing.

After a long time, Zhou Ting's emotions finally gradually calmed down.

He wiped his face haphazardly with his stained sleeve, and only then raised his head again to look at Zhou Huai.

Slowly opening his mouth, his voice hoarse beyond recognition: "Did you come today specially to watch me make a fool of myself?"

"If so, your purpose has already been achieved."

"Please go back."

Zhou Huai shook his head.

"Coming today, of course, is not for this."

"Regarding the Zhou Family, I actually have many things I can't figure out, so I want to ask you to clear up my confusion."

Hearing this, Zhou Ting was stunned at first, then smiled self-deprecatingly.

"Now that the Zhou Family no longer exists, some secrets continue to be hidden and have no meaning anymore."

"Ask away."

"As long as I know, I can tell you."

Zhou Huai thought for a moment, his gaze turning sharp, and asked directly: "The ruins beneath Donghai City are clearly a thousand meters deep underground, and even the military department didn't notice them."

"How did your Zhou Family know about it?"

Zhou Ting's expression was obviously somewhat surprised.

"You actually... also know about the ruins?"

As if suddenly thinking of something, a trace of realization flashed through his cloudy eyes.

"Previously, Liu Ziang of the Liu Clan had reminded me, saying that in addition to the Radiant Alliance and the military department, there seemed to be a third force participating in the ruins."

Zhou Huai nodded sincerely, without the slightest concealment.

"That's right, this third force is me."

"By the way, I am the master of the Evernight Guild."

His entire body trembled violently, and the whole person froze in place!

That pair of eyes, squinted into slits due to swelling, suddenly widened at this moment, staring fixedly at Zhou Huai, filled with extreme shock and disbelief!

The Evernight Guild!

That mysterious organization stirring up winds and clouds in Donghai City!

Recently it was also heard that precisely because of the existence of this organization, Donghai City was able to be preserved.

Not being swallowed by the beast tide.

And its master...

Could it actually be his grandson who was driven out of the Clan and regarded as trash by everyone?

This... how is this possible?!

Zhou Ting looked deeply at Zhou Huai, as if getting to know this grandson for the first time.

After a moment, he actually chuckled softly.

"Good... good..."

"Good... good..."

"Hahahaha! Truly good!"

He laughed until tears flowed out, his entire body trembling violently.

"I truly never expected that this Evernight Guild was founded by you!"

"The one who has been secretly opposing us, the Zhou Family, is also you!"

"It is laughable that I fancied myself omniscient and schemed my whole life, yet never calculated that I would have such a grandson!"

"A grandson who could personally crush all my schemes thoroughly!"

Zhou Huai's expression did not change at all, he only calmly reminded him.

"You should still talk about it, why was the Zhou Family able to know the location of the ruins?"

Zhou Ting's laughter came to an abrupt halt.

As if falling into memories.

After a moment, he slowly spoke:

"Originally... we didn't know either."

"Before this, our Zhou Family was also just an inconspicuous small Clan in Donghai City."

"Until one day, your father met your mother."