49: Chapter 49 Fourth Life, All-in Failure? Watch Me Turn the Tide (Twenty-Six)

Heir Xiao Heng shuddered as if struck by lightning. His entire body froze on the spot, and even his breathing ground to a sudden halt.

Wang Shi slowly raised his head. There was no fear on his face, only a bitter yet somewhat calm smile. "Your Highness, there is no need to grieve.

To have met Your Highness in my lowliness, rising from a trampled ant to my position today leading the Yanling Guard and sharing Your Highness's burdens, is already the greatest blessing of my life."

He paused, a self-deprecating smile flitting across his face, and his voice softened a bit more:

"It is just a pity. I originally thought that once Your Highness ascended the throne and the grand situation was settled,

I would also be able to return to the Chen Family in glory, investigate the old case from back then, and comfort the souls of my parents.

Now... I am afraid I will not live to see that day."

"The Chen Family?" Heir Xiao Heng suddenly snapped out of his daze, knitting his brows as he asked in confusion:

"Which Chen Family?"

"The Chen Family of Chen Xuan, the genius of Yanbei Prefecture."

As soon as those words were spoken, Heir Xiao Heng's pupils dilated, and he blurted out, "Are you talking about the true disciple of the Four Seasons Holy Land, Chen Xuan, who suppressed his entire generation thirty years ago?"

Wang Shi nodded slowly. The turbulent emotions in his eyes gradually cleared, turning into a resolve that entrusted everything.

He bowed deeply to Heir Xiao Heng and said solemnly, "Forgive me, Your Highness. Before I die, there is something I wish to confess to you.

At the same time, I have a presumptuous request, and I beg Your Highness to grant it."

"Speak!"

Hearing this, Heir Xiao Heng's eyes instantly welled with tears. He took a step forward, grabbed Wang Shi's arm, and said with a suppressed tremble:

"As long as it is within my power, no matter what it is, and no matter the cost, I will definitely help you fulfill your wish!"

"What I must confess to Your Highness is my background and origin. Furthermore, I have indeed harbored selfish motives all these years."

Wang Shi looked up to meet Heir Xiao Heng's gaze, staring straight into his eyes without the slightest concealment.

"Over the years, I have risked my life to accompany Your Highness, hacking through thorns along the way. While this was certainly out of gratitude for Your Highness's appreciation and trust, and my willingness to lay down my life for you,

there was also a selfish motive hidden deep in my heart.

I wanted to grasp power, hold strength, and stand high enough, all to avenge a blood feud."

"Revenge?" Heir Xiao Heng was taken aback, his brow furrowing even tighter.

"Yes, revenge."

Wang Shi nodded heavily, the emotions pent up in his heart for so many years finally finding an outlet.

His voice trembled slightly, yet every word was crystal clear. "My original surname was not Wang. I should be called Chen Shi, a disciple of a branch line of the Chen Family.

Back then, when the Chen Family suffered a great catastrophe, my branch was entrusted by the family head to flee early with the young master of the direct line, barely managing to survive.

When I was young, we were pursued. My parents died protecting me, which was why I changed my name and took my mother's surname, Wang."

He paused, his throat tightening, and continued, "But those of us who escaped could not completely evade them in the end.

In the period before Eldest Young Master Chen Xuan returned to the Chen Family, the scattered seeds of the Chen Family were secretly hunted down and exterminated.

During one of our escapes, my parents became separated from the group. While hiding in a cave on the edge of a battlefield to nurse their wounds, they unexpectedly saw the leader of the pursuing forces.

It turned out to be someone from the Fang Family."

"The Fang Family?" Heir Xiao Heng frowned, asking in confusion:

"The Fang Family of Fang Xiaoru, the sworn brother of the Chen Family's head and the former number one family of Yanbei Prefecture?"

"Exactly!" Wang Shi's tone suddenly grew agitated, a wave of monstrous hatred surging in his eyes.

"From then on, my parents kept a secret eye out. Through escape after escape, they finally became absolutely certain that the hunt for the Chen Family's seeds was led by the Fang Family.

They even suspected that Fang Xiaoru was the traitor and inside agent in the massacre of the Chen Family back then.

Even if he wasn't, he was kicking them while they were down, wanting to completely crush the Chen Family!"

Heir Xiao Heng was deeply shaken by what he heard, a chill creeping up his spine.

He had not expected that Fang Xiaoru, who had always enjoyed the reputation of the 'Gentleman Sword', would be so insidious and cunning—a thorough hypocrite.

Wang Shi took a deep breath, suppressing his turbulent emotions, and his voice sank again. "Later, Eldest Young Master Chen Xuan received the news and returned after making a breakthrough.

He was instantly filled with towering rage. Paying a great price, he tracked down clues and wiped out most of the enemies.

Yet, Fang Xiaoru remained alive and well!

Relying on his title as the sworn brother of the family head, he hypocritically busied himself helping rebuild the Chen Family, winning the trust of the Eldest Young Master.

Later, he even used this to shelter under the Eldest Young Master, who was a true disciple of the Four Seasons Holy Land, allowing the Fang Family to flourish."

At this point, Wang Shi sighed heavily again, laughing at himself in resignation:

"How could we, the marginal clan members who were fortunate enough to survive, dare to return?

We might have been silenced by him before we could even lay eyes on the Eldest Young Master.

We could only bury this hatred deep in our hearts and bide our time.

Later, my parents gave birth to me during their flight, but they were unfortunately severely injured while hunting demonic beasts in the mountains.

Before they died, they entrusted the three-year-old me to a nearby village, while telling me the entire truth, word for word."

Wang Shi's voice softened. "I was young then and did not understand any of this. I only knew that my parents had left me.

I kept their final words firmly in my heart. As I grew a bit older, I understood much more.

Unfortunately, the world is harsh. I knew that with my meager abilities, let alone seeking revenge, even surviving would be difficult.

So, at the age of nine, I sold myself into the Tianhuang Princes Mansion and entered the Third Prince's courtyard.

After years of cultivation, I was fortunate enough to meet an enlightened master like Your Highness."

With those words, Wang Shi fell to his knees and kowtowed heavily to Heir Xiao Heng. Pressing his forehead firmly against the ground, his voice choked with emotion, yet remained incredibly firm:

"Your Highness, if I cannot escape this calamity, I beg Your Highness to investigate this matter if the opportunity arises in the future!

If Fang Xiaoru is indeed a traitor and the Fang Family was truly an accomplice back then, I beg Your Highness... to settle this blood feud for me!

This is the only obsession I cannot let go of in this lifetime!"

Heir Xiao Heng's heart surged with turbulent emotions. He was shocked by this appalling secret, and his heart wrenched for the hatred that Wang Shi had buried deep in his bones and blood for over twenty years.

He bent down abruptly, pulling Wang Shi up with both hands. His eyes were red, and his words were powerful and resonant: "Grand Attendant Wang, why must you speak of begging between us!

Your feud is my feud!

I agree to this matter. Not only do I agree, but I also want you to live and seek this revenge yourself!"

He grabbed Wang Shi's wrist in turn, his tone urgent: "I will assign more guards to you right now!

You may choose any life-saving treasure from the mansion's treasury as you wish.

I refuse to believe that in this Tianhuang City, right under my nose, anyone can lay a finger on you!"

Seeing the genuine anger and protection in Heir Xiao Heng's eyes, a scalding warm current surged in Wang Shi's heart.

He shook his head gently, withdrew his hand, and bowed to Heir Xiao Heng once more. "Your Highness, there is no need.

Some tribulations cannot be overcome by human effort.

These past few days, every time I close my eyes, I can feel that life-taking blade drawing closer and closer to me."

"Since Your Highness does not blame me and has agreed to my request, I can die with no regrets."

He looked up again, his eyes filled with absolute sincerity. "I only hope that after Your Highness ascends the throne, you will govern with diligence and make our Tianhuang Princes Mansion famous far and wide.

So that there will be no more ants in this world like me, whose grievances are so difficult to redress."