Volume 3 Hello, Eri Chapter 269: The Man Returning from the Abyss (Part 4)
"Although I stopped this dangerous operation as soon as I felt something was wrong, I was still ravaged by the toxicity of the dragon blood. I could only endure the pain and escape from that damn place. The dragon blood was still wreaking havoc in my body. My skin was like a patient with severe burns, and it broke at the touch. The doctor who performed the surgery on me said that he had never seen such severe burns. It seemed that it was not an external wound, but a burst from the subcutaneous tissue inside."
Tachibana Masamune said, "This incident disfigured me. I spent a year on treatment, repair, and plastic surgery. My bloodline did improve a little, but the price was too heavy for me to bear. When I returned to the group, I found that there was no place for me in the family. I simply quit the family, changed my appearance, and started from scratch with the surname Tachibana. No one knew how I appeared. They only knew that I seemed to be familiar with the underworld and had a good bloodline. This time I was promoted even faster. It was at this time that I became the Tachibana Masamune you all know. In the small town of Kadori, we began to meet, because it was time to pick the fruits."
"At that time you were not old yet, like a middle-aged man, and I never asked you your age," said Yuan Zhisheng.
"My aging started many years later, but it wasn't obvious at first. It wasn't until I noticed that I was losing my hair and it was turning white. The signs of aging were appearing faster than other people's. Then I realized that the harm of dragon's blood was still working in my body. I didn't become Deadpool, but I was losing my life at 2-4 times the speed of an ordinary person. In just ten years, I lost my prime years and became old."
Tachibana Masamune sighed softly, "It was too late when I found out. During that time, I was still cooperating with Herzog. I followed you when you went to Kanoji for the first time because I saw the information. I knew that there was a person in that town who would show a bloodline as terrible as Deadpool, and that was Minamoto no Chitose. But I couldn't let you find out. After you killed the girl and set fire to her and left, I broke in and took Minamoto no Chitose away, and handed her over to Herzog as promised. If it weren't for Herzog's auxiliary treatment, I would have had a hard time surviving the previous incident."
"Our cooperation continued like this. Herzog was in charge of creating the runaway hybrids in the Ghost Clan, while I handled everything in the family's executive bureau and trained you. We went further and further in our respective territories until we finally succeeded in standing on the top. The entire Japanese underworld was divided into two by us. At this point, we should find a way to find the trace of the White King. The propaganda offensive over the years has been very effective. The Ghost Clan is eager for the White King's treasure, and the family has also been shaken, fearing it on one hand and yearning for it on the other."
"But before the Longyuan plan was implemented, you had already decided on a grand strategy to destroy the fierce ghosts. Did you break up?" asked Yuan Zhinv.
"Yes, our cooperation has been terminated because I secretly learned some of Herzog's technology. I can support myself without the serum he provided." Tachibana Masamune blew out a smoke ring. "That is the breeding pool under the building. The serum is extracted from the artificially cultivated Deadpool species. It can effectively neutralize the toxicity of the dragon bloodline. Although it cannot completely cure it, it is enough to prolong life. Eri is also using this thing. When I master this technology, I don't have to cooperate with Herzog anymore. He is a cunning villain, and I have my own ambitions."
"You want to take the White King's treasure for yourself!" Yuan Zhinu immediately understood.
Tachibana Masamune smiled faintly, "Yes, this is something I had thought of since that night. The Eight Snake Families are far more powerful than the Fierce Demon Clan. My skills are not as good as Herzog's, but I can learn and steal. I will have far more resources than him. I can legitimately cooperate with the European and American hybrids, while he can only stare blankly. Herzog is not a fool. He realized this a long time ago and slowly reduced the supply of serum. I diverted some of the serum that originally belonged to Eri to me. Eri's condition has become more and more unstable over the years, but fortunately, our self-produced serum appeared in time and saved her."
"Does anyone else in the family know about this?"
"Not everyone knows, and not everyone knows everything." Tachibana Masamune said, "The dragon slayer has been the enemy of the dragon for too long, and it is easy for him to become a part of the dragon. The elders of the previous era did not object to using Deadpool to extract serum to study dragon genes, because it could protect Eri. She is the strongest trump card of the family, and her bloodline is much purer than yours, the emperor."
"Let's get back to the point. I broke up with Herzog two years ago. I asked him to meet at the theater and threw my homemade incendiary bomb at him. That thing can generate a temperature of several thousand degrees, which can melt even steel, but Herzog still walked out of the sea of fire. His clothes and the mask on his face were burned, revealing his true face. Black bone spurs pierced his skin, most of his body was covered with scales, and his mouth was as big as a snake. He laughed and said, "I knew you would betray me too. Do you think you have the ability to compete with me?" I didn't dare to respond. I didn't even dare to look him in the eye. In the end, I ran away shamefully. Faced with my ambition and fear of death, I chose the latter."
"Herzog was severely corroded by the dragon's blood, but he still maintained complete sanity." Yuan Zhinv was a little shocked. He had already guessed that Herzog's true identity was the king of the ghosts. He was in very close contact with him all day long, but he never realized that there was such a body hidden under the mask and costume. How terrifying is that guy's bloodline?
"This is also what I am most worried about. I have cooperated with him for so many years and even successfully stole his technology, but I still don't know where he is from or who he is. I only heard the name Herzog from Mr. Chen." Tachibana Masamune said dimly, "I think he may be related to the nameless port I saw that year, but I can't find any information there. After coming to Japan, all my contacts with Moscow were cut off. The people I sent there also said that the manor where I used to live is now in ruins. I guess my family thinks I'm dead."
"In recent years, you have spared no effort to fight against the demons and have become a warmongering madman. You are using your family's ancient heritage to wipe out Herzog," said Yuan Zhinv.
"Yes, I must use all the power I can to wipe out the fierce ghosts and kill the king! Only when he is dead can I feel at ease and pursue the secret treasure of the White King without any scruples. Human genes cannot support hybrids to complete the road to becoming a god, and the ending will only be degeneration into a deadpool, but the treasure of the White King can. That is the true meaning of the road to becoming a god. The person who obtains that gift will be promoted to king! I don't have much time left. At first I just wanted to take a peek at the secrets of the dragon clan, but now I just want to survive. The extracted serum can only keep me awake but cannot delay my aging. Only by obtaining the secret treasure of the White King can I completely get rid of the curse in my bloodline."
"I didn't expect you to tell me all this." Feeling exhausted, Minamoto Chikō couldn't help but imagine how Minamoto Chikō would react if it was Minamoto Chikō who was sitting here and heard these things said in person by Tachibana Masamune, whom he had always respected. The past events mentioned in this conversation were too heavy, so much so that he couldn't even continue to imitate Minamoto Chikō's words and deeds. He couldn't imagine what his brother's mood would be.
"Now that the words have been spoken, let's finish them."
The long story had burned up the cigarette in Masamune's hand. He put out the cigarette and pressed it against the shrine, leaving a pinch of ash.
"During the days you were gone, I would spend the night here every night, looking at those murals that record a thousand years of history, and thinking back on my life so far. I have regretted, been confused, and more often than not, persisted. I am not a good person, but I am not that bad either. The Eight Snake Families were always entangled with the Fierce Ghosts before I took over. Although I declared to everyone that I must destroy the things in the Burial God House, I want it more than anyone else, and I have pursued it all my life. Now the Fierce Ghosts have indeed perished, but the most important core king is still alive!"
Tachibana Masamune looked into Minamoto Chino's eyes and said, "Chino, you are the successor I trained, the future young master of the Eight Snake Families. I really regard you as my own son, and I also need your strength! The White King is just a life-extending elixir to me, and you are still young. After I leave, everything I have will be yours! The entire Japanese underworld is subject to you. The bloodline power of the White King is unparalleled in the world, and only the Black King can suppress her. You can use this to challenge the European hybrids and wash away the shame of many years. You can also go to a beach to sell sunscreen like the life you expect, but there will always be thousands of people waiting for your return and serving you as a respected person!"
"I can tell, because you really dare to say all this." Yuan Zhinv smiled faintly.
"I have had many opportunities to find a woman in my life, but I have never married. At first I just wanted to use you, but watching you grow up little by little has made me find my mission as a man. I feel that you are my son. Haven't I given you enough care over the years? I am really old and no longer a match for Herzog. If I continue to drag it out, I will only lose. But you are different! You are Amaterasu! You have a bloodline that can even burn the sun! You are destined to shine all your life! Now all the roads are paved, and all you need is a nod."
Tachibana Masamune, or Hijiyama Takatoshi, had never been so humble in his life. Kneeling down in front of Herzog was just a temporary measure to save his life, but now he was really willing to share everything he had with Gen Chisei.
This feeling is really like an old father in the Warring States Period, who has been preparing for war all his life, has the best generals and well-equipped soldiers, but lacks a courageous leader. But he can't do it himself, so he chooses to hand it all over to his son. As long as his son nods, the troops will win a great victory, and when he returns, everyone will cheer, and his son will go down in history as a hero.
It is probably difficult for anyone in this world to resist such temptation. What men desire most is power. With it, everything will follow, status, fame, respect, money, women... You can levy heavy taxes and enjoy the ultimate luxury, or you can show off your power and maintain justice in the world . All right and wrong are determined by your nod.
There used to be countless novels depicting such stories. Readers followed all the way to the end just to see the young man in the mountains ascend to the throne that belongs to him, sweeping across the world, sweeping across the eight wildernesses, swallowing up mountains and rivers with a single gesture, and ruling the world with a single sword. Now this opportunity is in front of Minamoto no Chitose, and Tachibana Masamune does not know that the person in front of him is not his son, but a raccoon cat that was swapped for the prince.
There was a hint of autumn water in Minamoto Chitose's eyes. It was sad to see an old man kneeling tremblingly in front of her. In recent years, Tachibana Masamune had always been in high profile, so it was easy to get his resume in the Snake Eight Families.
In the eyes of most people, Tachibana Masamune has always been a patriarch who is swift and resolute. He is kind and considerate, and he will take care of every subordinate. That is because he came from the lowest level of military career and knows the importance of respecting the wise and humble. When he does things, he is decisive and always makes the final decision at the most critical moment. Regardless of the outcome, he is willing to shoulder the heavy responsibility and take responsibility. Too many people in the underworld are convinced by him.
But now he was kneeling in front of him so humbly. He was also a guy with selfish desires and pursuits. He was an ordinary person who was unfortunately involved in the world of dragons. He was like a lost child who was full of yearning for everything. For this reason, he did not hesitate to stain his hands with blood and walk on corpses just to see a corner behind the mysterious door.
This is probably the best portrayal of an ordinary person seeing the secret of the dragon race. It is beautiful and mysterious, but dangerous and out of reach. Tachibana Masamune, like most people, has not yet fully awakened. He has promoted the dangers of the road to godhood to his family members, vowing that we should destroy it in one fell swoop. But he himself wants that thing very much in private. The God Burial Place was indeed destroyed, but in essence it was an action taken to release the gods. The White King can never give humans a gift that can rewrite their bloodline. The end of getting that kind of thing will only be something more terrifying than death.
I really don’t know what the ending would be if it was my brother sitting here, but everything is fine. The one sitting here now is his daughter, Yuan Zhinu, and he never believed in God.
