Chapter Fifty-Six: Have You Ever Seen True Darkness?

This is a story—a simple story, yet one that pierces the heart with pain.

No one spoke. Not a single soul interrupted as the tale unfolded.

Lin He’s expression remained fixed in a smile, as though the protagonist of the story had never been himself.

Because of this, silence lingered. Each face was shadowed with complexity; Lin Tao, too, stood quietly by without a word.

“So, what should you call me now? Am I still that so-called cousin? Do I even deserve the name? The Lin Family prodigy?”

“Could you still say such words?” Lin He’s tone was self-mocking, yet casual, as if dismissing the weight of it all.

“That morning, my father toiled the entire day, cleaning blood, hiding the truth. I watched him with a smile—the foolishness, the pitifulness of his every move.”

“What did he say? Oh, yes—he said, ‘He needs everyone to believe he loves her, only then can he win their hearts, only then can he rise further!’”

“‘But why—why did you have to die? Do you know what your death has done to me, you wretch, you worthless thing!’ Those were his words.”

“That day, he flew into a rage, but kept it secret, telling outsiders she simply left him, and the matter faded away.”

“He never uncovered the truth, nor knew why she died. That man promised he would help me.”

“Then I sought out my uncle. With the help of that Mr. Mo, my uncle concealed his identity and entered the Lin Family, gaining trust and remaining by your side as you grew up.”

“After that, I changed myself completely. I learned to smile, to be false, to act meek and servile, to embody the ways of a scoundrel. I began to resemble that man exactly.”

“But this was my choice—all to deceive certain people, including you.”

“Lin Tao, I know everything about you. All your schemes are laughable before me, every plan exposed.”

“But you must die.”

“You stand in my way, an obstacle to my vengeance. So today, you will go nowhere. You are clever—so clever you make me uneasy.”

Lin He lightly fanned himself with his folding fan, his tone relaxed and unconcerned.

“Ha, ha, hahahaha! All these years of planning, all these years of preparation, only to become someone else’s stepping stone.”

At last, laughter erupted—laughter that bled into tears, tears that mirrored laughter.

So many years—a jest, a game.

“…I swear, this is the most explosive story I’ve ever heard,” muttered Yu Daoyi, observing the scene, his expression tangled with emotion. “Next time, I swear, I’ll invent popcorn for this!”

This fellow’s mind was truly not quite right.

“It’s just a trivial story. If you want to know more after Lin Tao is dead, I can tell you. What does it matter?”

That night, he kept his word. Yes, it was merely a trivial story—to him.

“Lin Tao, everything in this mountain’s backwoods was prepared for this moment. I discovered the Crimson Blood Fruit tree from the beginning. I used the fruit to lure your people here, then told Yu Daoyi about the Venomous Bees indirectly. Even the Phoenix-crowned Blood Python was under my control. I knew Song Yong would use the Duan Clan’s Spirit Control Tune. My pieces fill every part of this board!”

“You cannot escape.”

“…So I was caught in your web, too? That’s just mean,” Yu Daoyi said, feeling wronged.

“Lin Tao, delays only breed complications. I will not give you another chance,” Lin He said, shaking his head.

“Lin He! You’re a villain! A worthless scum! Why? I am the Lin Family’s genius! I am Heaven’s favored child!” Lin Tao’s face twisted in a snarl as he roared.

“Lin Tao, you are too arrogant.”

Then, a surge of spiritual power emanated from him—cold and powerful, identical to that of Lin Bo.

Foundation Establishment.

“Foundation… Establishment…” Lin Tao muttered in disbelief. Even the others frowned, watching intently.

Yu Yunfan glanced at his brother, never expecting his words to become reality, and that Lin He’s power would surpass even what he’d estimated the night before.

“Foundation Establishment? No. Only half a step in. At heart, still at the ninth stage of Qi Refinement. But it’s enough—enough to kill you several times over,” Lin He said indifferently.

“No, no, no! I can’t die! Lin Bo, save me! I can give you everything! Save me! He killed your sister! Why? You should be on my side!”

Lin Tao was hysterical, his desperation overwhelming.

“Yes, he killed my sister. But in him, my sister and I saw the same thing—”

“It’s a hatred far greater than ours, a power that will make him unstoppable.”

“Now, at fifteen, he’s more than half a step into Foundation Establishment, and he did it without any Foundation Pills. His achievements will far surpass yours.”

“He is nothing like me. I paid with my life to force myself into Foundation Establishment to help him. I can go no further, but he is different.”

“With only half a foot in, his spiritual strength already exceeds mine greatly.”

“He has never been a worthless man.”

Lin Bo spoke softly, each word slow and quiet. Perhaps that was not even his true name, but it no longer mattered. Once a man in his prime, he was now aged and frail. All of this was for his sister’s revenge.

Lin Tao kept retreating, shaking his head in terror, his face twisted, his hands waving wildly. “No! No! He’s just a worthless scum—just a worthless scum!”

“Everyone, could you please step aside now? What follows is between the two of us,” Lin He said, turning to Yu Daoyi and the others, his expression blank.

“I will do it myself. This is the first step in my revenge. Yu Daoyi, I can promise you with my own words—I will kill him.”

“Heh, since you’re so insistent, what else can I do? Qiu Ling, help me up, I’m injured,” Yu Daoyi sighed deeply, seeing Lin He’s demeanor.

“No way, you’re too much trouble,” Song Qiuling said, decisively refusing his request.

“What? Do you want me to crawl out then?” Yu Daoyi cried in mock agony.

“Song Cheng, drag your brother out,” Qiuling said impassively.

“Women… so heartless,” Yu Daoyi muttered, utterly dejected.

“Come on, Brother Daoyi, let’s go. Don’t hold them up,” Song Cheng said perfunctorily.

“I swear! Next time, no matter what, I’ll rest my head in her lap!” Yu Daoyi’s face was full of resolve, though he channeled it into such a trivial pursuit.

“Yeah, yeah, just put on another explosion for my sister next time.”

Yu Daoyi drew a sharp breath—his right hand really hurt, a bloody, mangled mess.

“Wuwuwu, Song Cheng, your sister has no heart! She won’t even let me rest my head on her lap!”

……

Maybe next time, he should blow up his brain instead of his right hand…

Jests aside, Lin He watched the group recede into the distance, a faint smile on his lips. “Uncle, gentlemen of the Xiaoyue Pavilion, you should go as well.”

“Yes, sir.”

“He’er, my time is nearly up. Your plan must be moved ahead,” Lin Bo said, looking deeply at the boy—his only family.

“I understand, Uncle,” Lin He replied, his tone as calm as ever.

At last, only two remained.

“Do you think I’ll just sit here and wait for death?” Lin Tao snarled, his fists clenched.

“Then resist all you like.”

That indifferent look on Lin He’s face suggested he did not care in the least.

“Lin He, you haven’t even entered Foundation Establishment! You’re just at the ninth stage of Qi Refinement! And I’ve hidden my strength as well! I’m also at the ninth stage! I don’t believe the gap is that great!”

“Do you know why you could only reach the ninth stage? Because that’s your limit now. As for me, I’ve forced myself to remain at this stage for five years.”

“What did you say?” Lin Tao was incredulous.

“Five years ago, I reached the peak of the ninth stage. It’s not that I can’t break through—I just didn’t want to. He needed me to remain at Qi Refinement, so until he no longer needed that, I would not advance.”

“Madman! You’re a madman!”

“I went mad that very night!”

“Lin Tao, now that they’re gone, do you want to know how I reached this level?”

“I paid a far greater price than you can imagine!”

“Have you ever seen true darkness? Have you witnessed the vilest things in this world? Have you seen what truly twisted humanity looks like?”

“Do you know the taste of human flesh?”

“I do. Because I have eaten it.”

At those words, Lin Tao’s face froze in shock.