A few hours later, Fang Xingjian had gradually regained consciousness, and realised that he was still in the ancestral hall. Recollections of his conversation with Li Shuanghua came back to him, his eyes filling with bitterness.
He wanted to leave the hall, but his path was automatically cut by the Black-Crystal Armored Soldiers. After looking around, Fang Xingjian realised that the soldiers had fully surrounded the ancestral hall.
Knowing that there was no way he could force his way out, he decided to sit down and contemplate, trying to come up with a solution.
‘Based on grandmother’s stubborn character, she’s bound to go through with whatever she says. If I don’t think up a way to escape, I will become Fang Xingchen’s Mage Slave for the rest of my life. This is definitely not the life I want.
‘But… how do I escape?
‘These Black-Crystal Armored Knights have been nurtured by the Fang Clan since young. Although they don’t know many techniques or have any specialities, their experience is all gained from killing monsters. In addition to the growth rate of their job, their strength, agility and endurance attributes are all above 30 points.’
With more than 30 points in strength, agility and endurance, one could easily flip a huge elephant, tear apart tanks or be able to treat iron rods as if they were soft towels, all without even breaking a sweat. How could the Fang Xingjian now charge through in this situation?
‘What should I do?’
After contemplating for about an hour, Fang Xingjian was still clueless. However, in that very moment, sounds of conversation drifted to him from outside.
"You guys can leave, mother wants me to persuade him."
"But Her Excellency said…"
"Huh? You don’t believe me? Or are you saying that I don’t have the power to suppress him?"
"Your subordinate wouldn’t dare."
The rattling of armours resounded as the Black-Crystal Armor Knights gradually retreated.
After a while, the gate opened, and second uncle slowly strolled in.
Fang Xingjian stared at his second uncle in astonishment as he asked, "Second uncle, are you here to persuade me?"
"Haa…" second uncle sighed. "Come with me."
Fang Xingjian bewilderedly followed his second uncle, noticing that there was no one else around. In the blink of an eye, they arrived at the back gate of the Fang Clan residence.
"Mother wants you to become Xingchen’s apostle, but I don’t agree with it. However, she has already decided on it, and I’m incapable of changing her mind." Second uncle shook his head, as he lightly stated, "Go on, leave. Go to the Miracle World (this was what ordinary earthlings called the Other World). Run as far as you can, and don’t ever come back here again."
Fang Xingjian’s eyes reddened as he looked at second uncle in front of him. It was as though second uncle had turned back to the man he was before being married.
"Uncle…"
"This unregistered card has two million on it. Hold on to this. It’s a secret stash of money which I’ve accumulated over the years. If your aunt finds out about it, I’m finished." Second uncle sighed once more. "These past few years, I haven’t really taken good care of you. You don’t belong here with the Fang Clan. Go and search for your own path. Don’t stay in Demonic City any longer. If you do, mother will send men to capture you."
Fang Xingjian accepted the card and replied in a low voice, "Uncle, thank you."
Second uncle didn’t reply, as he stared straight at Fang Xingjian’s face, before mumbling to himself, "The resemblance, so alike…"
"What?"
"You really resemble your mother."
Fang Xingjian got emotional all of a sudden. He stared at his second uncle and asked him, "Second uncle, why… why does grandmother hate me so much? What have I done wrong? How did my mother really die? And who is my father?? Why does grandmother fly into a rage whenever I ask about it?"
In one breath, he blurted out all the questions that had been troubling him and which he had kept within his heart ever since he was little.
"The matter of eldest sister… I can’t explain it clearly either. If you really want to know, wait until you break through into the Divine Realm before asking mother again." All of a sudden, the courtyard was filled with a cacophony of noises. Second uncle nervously added, "Go quickly, they are coming in this direction. I’ll draw their attention away."
Fang Xingjian turned back to look at Fang Residence for one last time before he swiftly ran outside in the darkness.
‘I will definitely come back here one day!’
‘Grandmother, I will prove you wrong. I’m more talented than any others. I’m the true hope of our Fang Clan!’
…
In the train station, Fang Xingjian looked at the staff member behind the counter and inquired, "It still isn’t working?"
The member of staff inclined his head as he studied Fang Xingjian’s features intently, comparing them to the photograph, and replied, "My apologies, we ran into some trouble with the machine, please wait a little longer."
Fang Xingjian glanced suspiciously at the staff member. At the same time he took in his surroundings, only to discover that numerous sturdy, muscular men were subtly approaching him from all directions.
"Damn." He immediately sprinted away explosively. With 9 points in both his strength and agility attributes, Fang Xingjian’s movements were as ferocious as a mad ox’s.
"He’s escaping!"
"Catch him!"
"Don’t shoot!"
Initially, the muscular men had been advancing slowly, but seeing Fang Xingjian’s actions they immediately reacted and rushed to surround him.
After evading them for a long time, Fang Xingjian finally lost his pursuers, all thanks to his higher stats when compared to normal humans.
Leaning against the wall, he breathed heavily, ‘Even the airport has been sealed? Have they made use of government relations?’ He knew that the Fang Clan was very influential. It was extremely simple for them to put his name on the wanted list, thus barring him from all methods of transportation.
‘If that’s the case, then there’s no way for me to cross over to the Miracle World through government-controlled transport systems…’
The Miracle World was connected to Earth, and the point of connection between the two was located within Demonic City. However, the connection was not a tunnel, or a door, or a bridge, but a region which was actually common territory between the two. This region encompassed a huge stretch of land and sea. One could travel there via car, boat, or even by foot.
Because of this, the territory had been jointly sealed by the various countries. If an ordinary human wanted to go there, they would first have to go through many stages of approval from the countries’ governments before gaining access.
Fang Xingjian had actually prepared the relevant documents long ago, leaving a lifeline for himself. But who would have expected that the Fang Clan would issue orders to suppress him? Not only that, but as long as any of his actions indicated that he wanted to enter the Miracle World, those from the upper echelons of the government would immediately send their men to pursue and capture him.
"Since this is the case, I can only try to sneak in…"
A few of the major countries wanted full control over the access to the common region. This naturally led to other countries or powerful groups being unsatisfied with the situation, which in turn led to illegal entry.
After all, the region was at the intersection between the two worlds, so its internal structure was extremely complex and dangerous. There were many places that even the army had no power to seal.
‘If that’s the case, I’m afraid my mobile has already been tracked and it might even be leading them to my position.’
Fang Xingjian intentionally left his mobile phone on the bus before getting off, after which he walked to a nearby public phone booth and began dialing.
Du…du…du…
"Hi?" a crisp female voice answered.
Fang Xingjian replied, "It’s me."
The other party’s voice grew heavy as she continued, "What happened? I feel as though the whole city is chasing after you."
This was a girl which Fang Xingjian had met during the times when was learning sword arts from the dojo, and who had gradually become Fang Xingjian’s best friend.
Fang Xingjian asked, "Has the news already been spread to the city bureau?"
The girl inclined her head as she contemplated the looks of her flustered police colleagues. Walking out, she stated, "We’ve received orders from up top to capture you. What have you done, exactly?"
"Li Shuanghua wanted me to become a Mage’s Slave. So I’ve decided to leave the clan."
The female police officer, Jessica, drew in a sharp breath before asking, "What do you want me to do?"
"I want to go to the Miracle World. I know you have a way."
"Tonight, midnight, meet me at the old rendez-vous point."