193: Years of grudges have been resolved in one day!
Chen Changsheng heard Shi Tian's words and, without waiting for Chen Chuanwen to speak, walked up to him and said:
"You should know that because of your betrayal, the Five Poisons Tribe and the Stone Clan have been fighting for a hundred years. Do you know how many Stone Clan youths have fallen in those hundred years?"
"Since you did it back then so the Stone Clan could have a better life, why didn't you dare to go back and explain the whole story clearly?"
"Your Old Clan Leader is no longer here. Whether you were right or wrong, as long as you speak out and explain everything in front of the Stone Clan people, everyone will naturally judge your resentment and indignation!"
"Do you dare to face the Stone Clan people again?"
Chen Changsheng first used the suffering of the Stone Clan to wear down his hatred, and then used provocation, hoping that Shi Tian would return to the Stone Clan with him.
Shi Tian clearly fell for it. His eyes were no longer dead and hollow; instead, they flickered frequently, showing the struggle and weighing of options within his heart.
"What if I go back? To be humiliated as a traitor by them?"
Shi Tian was clearly moved. Chen Changsheng knew that as long as he added one final straw, he could break the convictions in his heart. So, Chen Changsheng spoke unhurriedly:
"As the saying goes, 'falling leaves return to their roots.' A person should return to their hometown in death. Since you do not fear death, why should you fear a bit of gossip? Return to the Stone Clan, explain the original circumstances clearly, and let everyone judge together... whether you and all those people back then were truly traitors. Win back your innocence, for yourself and for all of them!"
Chen Changsheng's words were like a massive boulder crashing into the long-dead lake of Shi Tian's heart, and the light of fire ignited in his eyes once more!
"Well said! In that case, I will go with you to the Stone Clan and have a good talk about whether we were actually traitors!"
Shi Tian spoke with a forceful tone as he struggled to stand up. Perhaps because he had been imprisoned in the Lin Family Dungeon for too long, he was completely unstable on his feet.
Chen Changsheng gave Chen Chuanwu a look, and Chen Chuanwu stepped forward to support Shi Tian.
"Do you want to rest for a few days and recover your health before going to the Stone Clan?"
Seeing that Shi Tian needed someone to help him even to walk, Chen Changsheng couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
"Haha, the curse has already entered my heart. I won't live for more than half a month. If you want me to reach the Stone Clan alive, you'd better hurry!"
Shi Tian laughed loudly and revealed the state of his body.
Chen Changsheng had not expected the other man's injuries to be so severe. If he delivered a corpse back to the Stone Clan, it would certainly not be as meritorious as delivering a living person.
Thus, without the slightest hesitation, he turned back and said:
"Chuanwen, go prepare a carriage. Chuanwu and I will enter Ailao Mountain to find the Stone Clan!"
Chuanwen nodded and hurried down the mountain to make arrangements, while Chen Changsheng had Chen Chuanwu carry Shi Tian on his back down Jade Dragon Peak.
By the time they reached the Black Ice Platform outpost in the Jade Dragon Mountain Range, Chen Chuanwen had already prepared the carriage, and Old Kuai was also ready on the side.
"Master Chen, are you heading into the mountains?"
Seeing Chen Changsheng, Old Kuai jogged over and spoke with a smile.
"Old Kuai, I'll have to trouble you to make another trip. We're bringing an important person this time, so be as careful as possible on the road and don't let anything go wrong!"
Chen Changsheng gave these instructions to Old Kuai. At this moment, Shi Tian was the Magic Treasure he would use to win over the Stone Clan's favor, so nothing could go wrong; he had to be delivered safely to the Stone Clan.
"Understood, Master Chen, please rest assured!"
Old Kuai nodded and gave his guarantee. He had been responsible for traveling in and out of Ailao Mountain for all these years and was already extremely familiar with it.
So, the group helped Shi Tian into the carriage and, led by Old Kuai, headed toward Ailao Mountain.
As soon as they entered Ailao Mountain, Chen Changsheng had Chuanwu increase his vigilance. Fortunately, no mishaps occurred during this entry into Ailao Mountain. Although it was still shrouded in white mist and the sun and moon seemed reversed, they still arrived safely at the valley where the Stone Clan was located under Old Kuai's guidance.
"Let's go, we're going in!"
Chen Changsheng took the lead and walked into the valley. He greeted the Stone Clan people he encountered on the way enthusiastically, and soon someone went to report to the Grand Elder.
"Haha, Head of the Chen Family, long time no see!"
Shi Wuyou came out with Sister Yu. It was clear that after resolving the grudge with the Five Poisons Tribe, the Stone Clan's Grand Elder was much more relaxed, and there were many more smiles on his face!
"Long time no see, Grand Elder. I've come this time specifically to introduce a friend to you!"
Chen Changsheng didn't waste any time and spoke directly to Shi Wuyou.
Shi Wuyou laughed and put an arm around Chen Changsheng's shoulder, saying with a smile:
"Oh? Then I must get to know them well. A friend introduced by the Head of the Chen Family is certainly not simple!"
Chen Changsheng gave Chuanwu a look, and Chuanwu immediately opened the carriage curtain and helped Shi Tian walk out.
"Shi Wuyou, long time no see!"
Shi Tian, walking unsteadily out of the carriage, looked at Shi Wuyou with a rather complex gaze. His voice was very cold, yet mixed with a few hints of complex relief.
"It's you! Shi Tian! You traitor, you still have the face to come back?"
Upon seeing Shi Tian, Shi Wuyou's tiger-like eyes immediately widened, filled with rage. He spat out those words through gritted teeth and was about to move against Shi Tian!
Fortunately, Chen Changsheng was by his side and held Shi Wuyou back. Hearing Shi Wuyou's words, Shi Tian couldn't help but sneer and then said:
"Traitor? If the Old Clan Leader had listened to me and Big Brother Shi Xiao back then, would the Stone Clan still need to be huddled in this barren land of Ailao Mountain? We did it for the Stone Clan. The Old Clan Leader was the most stubborn; he was the one who led the Stone Clan into the abyss!"
Shi Wuyou was so angry upon hearing this that his beard stood on end. He shouted in a furious rebuke:
"Nonsense! You spineless fellow, the Great Xuan Dynasty killed so many of our clansmen back then; could we have surrendered to them again and become an obedient dog?"
Shi Tian's expression clearly faltered upon hearing this, but then he said in an incredibly cold tone:
"Is that really how it was? Do you even know the Old Clan Leader? I'll tell you the truth: his reluctance to leave Ailao Mountain was for himself. All he cared about was the Stone Clan Tyrant Blood!"
"The Heavens have eyes; that old fellow never found the Stone Clan Tyrant Blood even unto death. Instead, it ended up benefiting the Chen family boy. *Cough, cough, cough*!"
Shi Tian spoke the truth of what happened back then. The Old Clan Leader's Lifespan was running out, and only the Stone Clan Tyrant Blood could extend his life. He forced the Stone Clan to stay in Ailao Mountain simply to use the hands of many clansmen to inherit the Tyrant Blood; once a clansman succeeded, he intended to seize it.
Shi Xiao and Shi Tian, for the sake of the Stone Clan's future, had proposed peace talks with the Great Xuan Dynasty. This was contrary to the Old Clan Leader's thoughts, which was why he struck out at them so ruthlessly and placed the curse on them to serve as a deterrent to others.
"You don't believe it? That Old Clan Leader was incredibly selfish. I'm certain he never told you the ritual for inheriting the Stone Clan Tyrant Blood before he died, did he?"