Chapter 134: The Passing of Uncle Fu

After leaving the room, Hu Mo sensed Uncle Fu’s presence. At first, he thought it was the usual protective aura, so he paid it little mind. However, he soon noticed a strange fluctuation in Uncle Fu’s aura, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated repeatedly. This piqued Hu Mo’s curiosity, prompting him to speak first.

Uncle Fu, hidden in the shadows, was slightly startled but smiled as he stepped forward. “Young master, your vigilance grows sharper by the day. It seems your old servant will have an easier time from now on, haha...” Yet, he still did not utter what he truly wished to say, causing Hu Mo’s brows to furrow, as if a veil of confusion clouded his heart.

“Uncle Fu, if there’s something on your mind, just speak it plainly. There’s no need for secrets between us,” Hu Mo said with a smile. This caused a flicker of surprise to cross Uncle Fu’s face, an expression of astonishment that lingered for quite some time.

Hu Mo maintained his smile, but Uncle Fu’s expression shifted repeatedly. After a long pause, he sighed deeply and said, “Young master, it seems nothing escapes your notice! Indeed, I have come to you with a genuine request.”

His voice was low and heavy, soaked with earnest pleading. Hu Mo’s smile faded instantly. He could feel the bitterness welling up within Uncle Fu, along with a potent mix of hatred and unwillingness—far more intense than even Fox Bai Mei’s demeanor.

“Uncle Fu, whatever it is, I will help you,” Hu Mo said resolutely. He recalled fragments of stories Uncle Fu had once shouted in moments of madness, tales he never shared openly. The tragedy of an entire family slaughtered, an arm lost—such pain defied words.

Uncle Fu froze for a moment before suddenly dropping to his knees, bowing his head very low. Hu Mo was startled and immediately rushed to his side, grasping his arm to pull him up.

“Uncle Fu, what are you doing? Just tell me directly what’s wrong. How can I bear to see you like this?” Hu Mo’s voice was urgent as he tugged desperately, but Uncle Fu’s stubborn nature held firm; he would not rise.

At a loss, Hu Mo focused his mind, releasing a gentle wooden battle energy. Instantly, plants beneath Uncle Fu’s knees sprouted and supported his body, lifting him up.

“Wooden battle energy...” Uncle Fu’s eyes widened as he murmured to himself. He had been about to speak his long-held thoughts, but witnessing Hu Mo’s power replaced his words with astonishment.

Hu Mo did not answer immediately. Supporting Uncle Fu, he summoned a roughly three-meter wooden stake beside them, then helped Uncle Fu sit upon it.

“Seems I still need to practice controlling this power. Can’t even make a simple wooden chair—what a shame,” Hu Mo muttered with a bitter smile.

Uncle Fu was speechless, his hands continuously stroking the wooden stake as though confirming its reality.

Hu Mo smiled faintly. “Uncle Fu, this is real, not an illusion. As for why I possess wooden battle energy—that’s a secret of our sect. It’s based on our highest mystical formula; when perfected, it enables mastery of all five elements. So having wooden battle energy is nothing unusual.”

He had no desire to hide this from anyone, especially now that Uncle Fu was struggling over whether to confide in him. To encourage him, Hu Mo naturally had to show some strength.

“Never expected such a battle technique to exist. No wonder the Marshal said your master’s power was godlike—it truly merits the reputation,” Uncle Fu marveled, his doubt about Cang Ling shifting into complete awe.

Hu Mo smiled calmly. “Uncle Fu, since you’ve acknowledged my strength, don’t hold back any longer. Speak freely. If I can help, I will.”

Uncle Fu’s heart warmed, but he lowered his head again, as if bearing immense inner torment. After a moment, he whispered, “Young master, the chaos at Flame City last time—that was your doing, wasn’t it? Did you see the three brothers from the Golden Soul Hall, Jin Haonan and his siblings?”

Hu Mo was slightly taken aback but nodded after some thought. “Yes, that was my doing. As for the Jin Haonan brothers... I believe I’ve seen them—two at the fourth level Battle Emperor, and one at the peak of the ninth level Battle King. Uncle Fu, could it be that they were behind that incident?”

From Uncle Fu’s resentful tone and expression when naming them, coupled with the sense of helplessness and bitterness upon hearing their strength, Hu Mo quickly grasped the implication.

“So it really was them! All three, none missing, haha... But what can I do? I can’t even defeat the weakest among them. What kind of revenge is that? It’s a joke, a laughable joke,” Uncle Fu said bitterly, laced with self-mockery.

“Uncle Fu, can you tell me the whole story? You mentioned the Golden Soul Hall—are you not from our Tianhuo Empire?” Hu Mo asked softly. He sensed a disturbance in Uncle Fu’s Battle Energy, fearing he might slip into madness again.

Uncle Fu took a moment to steady himself, then nodded. “Indeed, I am not from the Tianhuo Empire. I was once a general of the Golden Blade Battalion of the Ruijin Empire. After losing a battle to the Marshal, I was taken prisoner and brought here. The Marshal valued talent and spared me, bringing me to the Hu residence.”

“At that time, I had not yet lost my arm. In the Hu residence, the Marshal entrusted me greatly. Although I harbored resentment, he did not care and only increased his reliance on me. I made no bold moves, preferring to gather intelligence to redeem myself. But everything changed with one message.”

Uncle Fu’s fists clenched tightly, veins bulging at his temples. His spirit was tormented, yet he struggled to maintain his composure and restrain his Battle Energy.

Hu Mo sighed softly and placed a hand on Uncle Fu’s shoulder. The awakening power of the Sacred Water Sovereign immediately cleared his mind, though sorrow still marked his face.

“Relax, Uncle Fu. Take your time. I’m listening,” Hu Mo whispered gently. Though Uncle Fu had not yet spoken everything, Hu Mo had already pieced much together. In this world where battle was the essence of life, defeat and capture were great betrayals. Such brutal hearts could only have committed terrible deeds.

Uncle Fu took a deep breath, offering a bitter smile. “After all these years, my heart still will not settle. Fortunately, young master, your cultivation is high; otherwise, I wouldn’t dare speak to you.”

Hu Mo understood. If he were still at his old third-tier Battle Energy level, there was no way he would have tolerated Uncle Fu’s tale—who knew if he might have lost control and struck him down.

“I received news that my entire family—one hundred and three souls—was slaughtered on the orders of that wicked emperor, a command pushed forward by Jin Haonan and his brothers! More than a dozen of my sons died at those beasts’ hands. Their bodies were hung at the city gates for all to see, and my parents’ heads were displayed atop the Golden Blade Battalion’s banner. Young master, how could I ever remain calm?”

Uncle Fu’s voice was filled with tragic grandeur, his soul bleeding with wounds that ran deep within his spirit.

Hu Mo sighed again, channeling the Sacred Water Sovereign’s full power. After all, Uncle Fu’s cultivation was several tiers higher, and an out-of-control Battle King was no trivial matter.

Under the sovereign’s suppression, the raging emotions slowly settled. Tears streamed down Uncle Fu’s face. Though years had passed, recalling the tragedy still brought uncontrollable sorrow. A man’s tears are rare, only because the pain is unbearable. This was the deepest agony, unmatched by any other suffering.

“I could hardly believe it at first, so I begged the Marshal to take me to the battlefield—to see for myself,” Uncle Fu’s voice softened, age seeming to weigh heavily on him.

“At the battlefield, the first sight was those severed heads. My mind went blank. At that time, my power neared the peak of the ninth-level Battle King. Rage robbed me of reason, and I charged with a roar. The ones who faced me were the four Jin brothers. Don’t be surprised; they had an elder brother, Jin Haodong, who I killed at the cost of my arm. Were it not for the Marshal’s rescue, I’d have died there.”

Uncle Fu seemed to relive the battle. The deadly aura emanating from him moved Hu Mo deeply. After a long moment, Uncle Fu’s expression turned grave, the madness giving way entirely.

“Young master, I beg you—help me kill those three brothers!” Uncle Fu shouted, his body flashing as he knelt once more.