Chapter 578: Regretful Xiao Yan, A Video Call?
When Xiao Zhan lifted his head and saw Wu Tian standing before him, his eyes welled up with tears of emotion. He never expected that after so many years, he would see this young man again the very one who had once helped him. Wu Tian had played no small role in aiding them, even ensuring that he safely transferred the Tou She Ancient Emperor's Jade. But after all these years, both he and his son, Xiao Yan, had ended up captured.
The tides of fate had shifted, and the Xiao Clan's destiny had long been sealed. With so many powerful factions and formidable figures eyeing them, the Xiao Clan was like a tiny boat tossed about in a raging sea. The fact that they had survived this long was already a miracle.
Wu Gan still looked the same as before, but he… had become so wretched. He never imagined that this young man who had once helped him had such a powerful background strong enough to oppose the terrifying Hall of Souls!
Xiao Zhan forced a bitter smile and said, "Young Master Wu Gan, thank you for everything you've done for the Xiao Clan over the years."
"Ah~ Saying that makes us sound like strangers. I felt an instant connection with you when we first met, and besides, Xun'er also grew up in your family. Helping you was only natural." Wu Tian waved his hand with a faint smile, then sighed heavily, "I failed to protect Xiao Yan. I was careless, and he was taken by the Hall of Souls… It's my fault. Sigh~"
His deep sigh made Xiao Zhan's heart ache. He hadn't seen his son in years of course, he missed him. Back then, he had driven Xiao Yan away not because he didn't love him, but to ensure he survived, to keep the ancient jade safe and preserve the Xiao Clan's bloodline.
Even then, he had already sensed the impending crisis for the Xiao Clan. His harsh treatment of Xiao Yan beating, scolding, and forcing him away was all for the family's sake. Of course, part of it was also a desperate attempt to wake Xiao Yan up and toughen him.
In this dark and cold prison, Xiao Zhan often reminisced about his days in the Xiao Clan. He realized that ever since Xiao Yan was born, the Xiao Clan had known no peace. It was almost uncanny. Over the years, he had repeatedly wondered was there something special about Xiao Yan?
But after years of separation, seeing Xiao Yan again now, he felt… strange.
To be precise, Xiao Yan didn't feel like his own son not in the way that Xiao Ding and Xiao Li did. Instead, there was a sense of detachment, as if Xiao Yan were an outsider.
This unsettling feeling made Xiao Zhan deeply uncomfortable. A sudden thought crossed his mind could it be that Xiao Yan… wasn't actually his child?
But regardless, they had no way of escaping. There was no point in dwelling on it. When he saw the Hall of Souls tormenting Xiao Yan, all he could do was watch. Eventually, he simply shut his eyes and stopped looking. Watching too much made him numb it became meaningless.
Seeing Xiao Yan suffer so much, Xiao Zhan even felt a twisted sense of relief. At least he hadn't been subjected to such cruelty himself. Maybe it was because he was too weak, and the Hall of Souls didn't want to accidentally kill him?
But what pleased Xiao Zhan the most was that, despite thoroughly tormenting Xiao Yan, the Hall of Souls still hadn't found the ancient jade on him. This meant that the jade wasn't with Xiao Yan it was with Wu Gan!
That was why the Deputy Hall Master of the Hall of Souls was so enraged, resorting to direct threats via projection. He was convinced that Wu Tian would compromise for the sake of Xiao Yan. Otherwise, why else would he have nurtured and protected the Xiao Clan for so many years?
Of course, Wu Tian could only chuckle helplessly at this. The Deputy Hall Master was truly mistaken!
"Shut up! This Hall didn't send this projection for you two to reminisce! Wu Tian, if you don't hand over the Tou She Ancient Emperor's Jade, both of them will die!"
Seeing Wu Tian casually chatting with Xiao Zhan, the Deputy Hall Master's face turned dark. A dignified three-star Dou Sheng sending a projection was this meant to be a friendly chatroom?
Hearing this, Wu Tian nodded in agreement, eyes lighting up in excitement. "You know, I hadn't noticed before, but this really does feel like a video call! Don't you think so, Xiao Yan?"
"Hm???"
Xiao Yan, who had been hanging his head weakly, bleeding, suddenly shuddered as if waking from a nightmare. His eyes snapped open. That voice it was calling him Xiao Yan in such a familiar way!
When he saw Wu Tian's face on the screen, all the emotions he had suppressed for so long burst out. His eyes, which had always remained strong, overflowed with tears.
Too tragic!
His life on the Dou Qi Continent had been nothing short of miserable. For years, he had been "trained" by Wu Tian both fortunate and unfortunate at the same time.
At first, he thought Wu Tian was simply messing with him. But when he realized Wu Tian had genuinely been cultivating him as a younger brother, he was overwhelmed with gratitude.
But damn it… his happy days had barely begun, and now he was captured!
As one of the top ten in the Pill Gathering, he had naturally gained immense fame.
After the competition ended, he had taken a short break before heading out onto the streets to bask in the admiration of the masses.
And then out of nowhere a giant hand had grabbed him.
It wasn't even a dramatic, public kidnapping. No he had been taken while using an outhouse…
Before he could even finish, an overwhelming black hand had yanked him into a spatial crack. The next thing he knew, he was here, being tormented by the terrifying enforcers of the Hall of Souls.
They had cruelly pierced his scapulae, rummaged through his body, and even… searched places that should never be searched…
At that moment, Xiao Yan truly lost the will to live. How could things be this awful?
Regret filled his heart, but there was no going back.
At least there was one silver lining he had found his equally miserable father.
This was karma!
Why did he have to leave the Pill Tower in the first place?
Why did he insist on showing off?
Now look no one from the Pill Tower even realized he had been captured.
If the Deputy Hall Master hadn't personally revealed it, no one would have noticed his disappearance…
"I'm talking to you look at that black screen in front of you! Doesn't it look just like a video call?"
Wu Tian had a special place in his heart for Xiao Yan. After all, only Xiao Yan truly understood his references.
Hearing Wu Tian's words, Xiao Yan nearly broke down.
Damn it I'm literally dying here, and you're talking about televisions?!
But right now, Wu Tian was his only hope of escape. He had no choice.
Suppressing his pain, he forced out a smile one that looked even worse than crying and said, "Wu Tian… Big Brother… I know TVs, and I know video calls on computers… but what's an LCD TV? Is that what future televisions are like?"
"Sigh~ I forgot you only had boxy TVs, desktop computers, and button phones before you transmigrated. You should know that in the future, everyone has a smartphone! Look… something like this, a little device that lets you make video calls instantly!"
Wu Tian sighed dramatically and casually conjured a small phone using Dou Qi, as if explaining technology to a suffering Xiao Yan.
The Deputy Hall Master's expression, hidden within the black mist, was indescribably dark.
What the hell… were they talking about???
Aside from Queen Medusa, who was somewhat familiar with Wu Tian's odd references, everyone else was utterly confused.
Was this really the time for casual chit-chat?
(End of Chapter)
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