mijobooks Chapter 1504 764: Bygone Days
Chapter 1504 764: Bygone Days
There's a problem!
In the abruptly ceased memory, Ji Jue looked up, gazing at the administrator whose face had long blurred with time, and scrutinized carefully.
Unfortunately, nothing could be discerned.
Busstaman was stunned, not expecting that the lifelong ambition he stubbornly held onto came merely from an unremarkable afternoon conversation in an art gallery.
He even began to doubt himself.
"Could it be... could it be that I'm remembering wrong?" Busstaman asked stiffly, "Is it possible for memory to have become confused, after all these years..."
"Perhaps, the details might have variations, but it was indeed from this point that your obsession began to sprout."
Yan Chang's figure appeared, "Human memory is unstable, prone to changes and embellishments. Yet, among all blurred memories, only this segment remains this clear."
His footsteps stopped opposite Theseus, on the other side of the gallery, before another ancient oil painting, looking up in contemplation: "If Theseus's memory is incorrect, how do you explain this painting?"
Busstaman turned rigidly, looking behind him.
Directly opposite Theseus, was another ancient collection.
A counterfeit imitation.
Black and crimson tones surged forth.
Finally, he realized the two clear key points in his otherwise blurred memory, even those that he himself subconsciously avoided, unwilling to recall.
Subconscious resistance and rejection, yet in the present memory, they are so clear.
On the canvas, the ferocious giant opens a blood bowl mouth, swallowing a headless corpse in hand... But why, in such a cruel and fierce giant, do the pupils contain utter terror?
Below the painting, the bronze plaque shines brightly in the memory.
[Agricultural God's Filicide]
"In ancient legends, the Agricultural God Saturnus killed his father, seized the position of Divine King, only to be cursed by his father, destined to fall into the same plight as his father, ultimately killed by his own children..."
Yan Chang sighed softly, caressing the plaque: "And so, from then on, the Agricultural God worried and feared day and night, descending into madness to avoid the prophecy, swallowing his own children to prevent it.
Isn't this also the unavoidable curse and prophecy of the Chopra family?"
"I..."
Busstaman's voice grew dry, stiffened.
Looking around himself with bewilderment.
The initial realization and the initial nightmare contrast with each other.
Realization guides the path, the nightmare reveals the endpoint.
Perhaps to Busstaman at that time, it was just an accidental stroll, an insignificant afternoon spent leisurely.
He even thought he had forgotten.
Yet he never imagined, from then on, the seeds of ambition and fear were already planted in his heart.
After departing from memory, Busstaman fell into silence.
For an ambitious person, failure can be accepted, one can fall to the abyss, be stupid, and foolish, but what cannot be accepted is that a lifetime of effort and labor was merely a puppet dance in someone else's palm.
The gallery had already been burned down in an accident decades ago.
According to records, the gallery's administrator worked for the Chopra family all his life; when the gallery was destroyed, he was also burned, and died of illness a few years later.
No descendants were left behind.
"However, the cemetery's location is still recorded." Minkler flipped through the records in the Family Head's secret room and asked, "Shall we open the grave to verify?"
"No need."
Ji Jue shook his head: "You shouldn't do anything unnecessary either."
If the other party is prepared, the moment the grave is opened, they will perceive instantly and detect Ji Jue's actions.
Moreover, if they were prepared, how would they not prepare a flawless set of bones?
Answers cannot be found in the grave.
Perhaps this is just Ji Jue overthinking!
After all, humans aren't spherical chickens grown in a vacuum; a person is the sum of all social relationships and himself, inevitably influenced by others while alive, even Ji Jue is the same.
What if the administrator's heart was good, but Busstaman himself went bad?
Could you really blame the painting for being too good?
After all, throughout the memory, he didn't do anything unnecessary, only faithfully narrated his duty.
Is it really such a coincidence?
In a boy's most bewildering time, unnoticeably pointing out the way, planting seeds.
Taking advantage of circumstances, promoting the situation, effortlessly delivering this sub-spirit appropriately into Busstaman's hands, leading him to sudden realization.
Also, how did you acquire all those subsequent required ancient books and secret texts?
Could they all be coincidences?
Among so many collections, there's a variety of quality, the inferior are extremely poor, yet the good are truly good, and it's not short of rare copies, but why are you able to find them all? On what basis!
Even those that are useless cheap goods, somehow can provide a little bit for the Family God's modification.
Is it really just that coincidental?
Ji Jue was lost in thought, staring at the crystallized memory in his hand.
If all this was deliberately orchestrated, then it makes sense; perhaps from the moment Minkler clung to his thigh, he became a thorn in the side, a nail in the flesh of the one behind the scenes.
Such deep and prolonged schemes, hidden behind the scenes, subtly pushing Busstaman along the predetermined path...
If it was truly deliberate, then possibly, not only Busstaman, but all his siblings may have been influenced.
Unfortunately, all of Busstaman's siblings were killed by him, so there's no place to seek evidence.
If it weren't for Ji Jue, no, if it weren't for unexpected events, Busstaman would likely still be recklessly charging along this path until the complete transformation of the Family God was achieved.
And the true accident that caused this plan to deviate midway...
Was unexpectedly Bogio, who had long been dead in the stomach of the Family God!
A bottle of red wine poisoned his own father, forcing Busstaman to advance his plans, dragging Minkler, who seemed like a mere mascot, into the mire to muddy the waters.
Ultimately, by a twist of fate, Ji Jue was pulled into this dispute.
If so, then that would be too tragic.
Ji Jue couldn't help but laugh.
It's possible that the entire Xiang State, the entire Chopra family along with the Family God, were the products of some colleague secretly cultivating over many years.
Now, however, Ji Jue has pocketed them all, transforming them beyond recognition.
Just like Luo Island to the Tyrant, years of meticulous planning only for an outsider craftsman to reap the fruits...
...Wait!
Ji Jue was shocked.
He involuntarily straightened up, gripping the armrest tightly: is it really such a coincidence?
First Xiang State, then Luo Island, one backed by Wulou Temple, another hiding a Tyrant, two out of the Seven Cities' buried mines, did he step on both?
Even if his luck has always been bad, it shouldn't be this outrageous, right?
Or...
Do the other five also have their own troubles in store for him?!
Imagine, without him, without Ji Jue meddling, just as this malicious wind howls in, severing all transport in this blizzard season, transforming the Seven Cities completely into the Lonely Manor, what might happen?
After Minkler dies without a trace, Bogio rises as Family Head, and Chopra falls into the grip of Wulou Temple.
While the Sujano family gradually expands, the hidden Tyrant lurking behind waits for the day to seize all of Luo Island.
Once the malicious wind roars through, what will the Seven Cities left in the Endless Sea become?
Unimaginable, and no need to imagine.
In that moment, he lifted his head and gazed at the huge screen in front of him, where the seven city-states of Endless Sea on the massive maritime map flickered with lights.
It was as if finally lifting his head from the chessboard, he glimpsed the figure hidden in the shadows opposite.
Unable to hold back, he laughed silently.
Finally, I've found you!
.
.
"As things stand, the hidden threat of Luo Island must be resolved."
In the chamber isolated from all electronic devices within Pu City's council, representatives from various sides gathered, their expressions grim and solemn.
The first to speak was the Old Woman from Ma City, her usual warmth and elegance gone as she coldly sneered: "The ambition of the Ji-surnamed is blatant, not even bothering to pretend, even if you all have cowardly hearts wishing to stay secluded, he may not provide the opportunity."
"The words of the old lady are mistaken. All of us are family, what hurdle can't be overcome?" Yamen's Governor sighed softly: "I think there must be some misunderstanding, talk it out and it will be fine, why make it so tense?"
Immediately, the other participants' eyes all shifted over, cold, mocking, or contemptuous, without concealing their thoughts.
Who doesn't know what kind of medicine you have in your gourd? Simply scared by Ji Jue, not daring to stand out, just putting on a show here; if there were really an opportunity, you might charge faster than anyone else.
As for the old hag from Ma City, she's no good either.
Her current fervent demeanor is only because Luo Island is closest to Ma City; after Ji Jue sharpens his blade, chances are high she'll be the first targeted, and now she's hastily looking for someone to take the fall.
Not mentioning at all who previously took the lion's share of Luo Island's shady businesses and market share?
"Actually, there is some truth to it."
Galisto sighed calmly: "I lean towards resolving it peacefully, we are all family, no need to make it unpleasant."
Upon these words, everyone including the old lady laughed—this one's a heavyweight old dog, purely barking now.
As the initiator of the former anti-Ji Jue alliance, now instead he's the first to raise the white flag.
Certain things, once seen clearly, naturally everything becomes understood.
Like Dan City, once they give up vying for the Alliance Hierarch position and look back, isn't the life of the local rich quite good?
He stands behind the Imperial Holy Tree, no matter how domineering Ji Jue may be, he won't tear face with the Holy Tree Family.
His master has face, so naturally, as the loyal dog, he can land safely.
Among everyone now, it's just him speaking without worrying—lie flat, even if everyone else perishes, he won't be affected, so what is there to fear?
Shameful things!