NOVEL NEXT Vol. 1 - Ch. 382 - Just Like Before
"Shi Zhong, you finally contacted me."
"I didn't expect you to remember me. I thought you'd spent the past two years lost in your happy little life."
On the other end of the line came a low, sinister laugh—chilling enough to raise goosebumps.
Gu WeiYi slowly lifted his head, scanning the deserted hospital corridor around him. It felt as though he had unwittingly stepped into a carefully laid trap.
"You thought you could escape the palm of my hand? That saving your wife meant it was all over? Let me tell you—my revenge on the Gu family is only just beginning."
Shi Zhong's voice sounded eerily confident, as if he knew every move they had made.
Gu WeiYi trembled slightly, but he maintained his composure. No matter what, he couldn't lose his footing.
With that in mind, his gaze regained its clarity, and he answered calmly:
"Shi Zhong, you've been planning this for a long time. I'm sure you've come up with plenty of ways to deal with the Gu family. But all this time you've been hiding in the shadows, just like HuMing said—like a rat in the sewers. HuMing once told me he stepped on you and crushed you face-to-face. No wonder you've been so obsessed with getting back at him. Being humiliated by a kid—guess that's a scar you'll never really get over."
A sudden silence fell on the line, as if Gu WeiYi's words had cut deep.
Then, the sound of rapid, labored breathing came through the phone.
"You think HuMing will be on top forever? You think I don't know who he is? HuMin and that brat both tried to stop me! But in the end, HuMin died by my hands! And you really think he can still turn this situation around? Gu WeiYi, let me make it clear—this time, I'm going to make sure you all understand what it's like to be crushed beneath my feet!"
Shi Zhong's voice was sharp, almost frantic with rage.
But what he said left Gu WeiYi confused.
[What does he mean, HuMin also died by his hand? That HuMin and HuMing both tried to stop him?]
The words echoed like riddles, embedding themselves in Gu WeiYi's thoughts.
But the call ended abruptly. Gu WeiYi stared at the phone, now playing a busy tone, then quickly dialed another number.
This needed to be discussed with HuMing immediately—or they might lose crucial time.
…
Through Gu WeiYi's call, HuMing quickly pieced things together.
Francis had finally emerged from the shadows. More importantly, he now knew who he really was—and that meant the advantage he once had had vanished in an instant.
But if things had reached this point, then HuMing had to act faster than ever. Based on Francis' personality, he would likely target those close to him first.
That was a threat HuMing could not afford to ignore.
Still, it didn't mean HuMing had no countermeasures.
If Francis had truly revealed himself, then HuMing's own plans could finally begin.
At that moment, HuMing was on his way back to JingDu—but this time, he wasn't going alone. Ye QiuXue, Kang Xin, and even Han YunXi were with him.
The summer holiday was long. No one knew what might happen in the days to come.
Even more concerning, Kang Xin had told him that someone secretly protecting Han YunXi had been spotted near Francis.
If he left Han YunXi behind, and something happened, he might not even be able to intervene in time.
On the plane, the three girls were sleeping beside him. HuMing rested his chin on one hand, eyes fixed on the clouds outside the window.
He was deeply worried about HuMin.
Even though that woman had miraculously survived many times before, he still remembered—Francis had ultimately killed her.
Now she was back in Francis' clutches. That could only mean one thing—trouble.
To HuMing, HuMin was more than a mentor—she was a cornerstone of his life.
He couldn't accept the idea of losing her again. Who could say whether she'd get another chance at resurrection?
He couldn't keep relying on luck. This time, he had to break the cycle with his own hands.
All that had passed—he would leave it behind.
The current situation felt like he was approaching the final level of a game. And only by defeating the obstacles before him could he face the final boss.
He closed his eyes slowly, doing his best to restore his mental state to its peak.
On the way back, he had already heard: JingDu had become increasingly unstable lately. In just a single month, a new cult had suddenly appeared—and for some reason, everyone seemed to accept its presence.
Even his father had tried to investigate, only to be stonewalled by higher-ups.
This mysterious cult might be tied to Francis. There were simply too many coincidences.
To think they were unrelated would be downright childish.
The cult had drawn in a strange mix of followers—many of them small-time business owners who had gone bankrupt. After receiving funding, they had rebuilt their companies and were trying to rise again in JingDu.
The situation was suspicious. No one does charity without a hidden motive.
With that in mind, HuMing decided his first priority upon returning would be to investigate this cult.
[Let's hope everything goes smoothly.]
…
Late at night, Gu ZhouTing lay in bed, unable to sleep.
His sleep had grown lighter with age, and there were fewer and fewer people around to talk to.
Though his children and grandchildren could keep him company, it did little to ease the heaviness in his heart.
One by one, old friends had passed away. In just two short years, several of his closest companions were gone.
He had attended funeral after funeral, listening to the cries beside gravestones.
He understood—his own time was coming, too.
His health was worsening by the day, and his old ailments were piling up. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before he was gone.
Still, before he left, there were things he wanted to see.
He wanted his grandchildren to find someone they loved. He wanted the Gu family's future to thrive.
Gu ZhouTing slowly opened his eyes. Above him was the familiar mosquito net.
He propped up his frail body and reached for a framed photo on the nightstand.
Three people stood smiling in the picture—now only one remained.
His brother's ashes had been brought back from the countryside by HuMing two years ago. His wife had passed away even earlier.
Age made him sentimental. In the quiet of night, thoughts of life and death crept in.
Knock knock knock.
Suddenly, he heard a tapping at the window.
His brows furrowed. He got up and walked toward it.
Through the glass, he saw someone standing outside—and for a moment, he thought he was hallucinating.
"ZhaoChuan?!"
The man at the window smiled back at him. Aside from his clothes, he looked exactly the same as he had before.
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