Hu Jia had planned this well. To protect Yang Shao Quan, he could reveal bits of their past conversations, but only what he chose to.
That evening, Hu Jia and Yang Shao Quan stayed up late, the lamp burning bright.
"Who are those two people?"
"Hounds."
Yang Shao Quan nodded. Though he didn't know the full story, he understood that Tong Meng and his associates were not on Hu Jia's side.
Hu Jia briefly explained his current predicament.
"You've had a tough time all these years. However, they might be misunderstanding something. When you came to me back then, you just wanted me to agree to let Yu Xin and Ouyang Wen continue their relationship," Yang Shao Quan said after hearing Hu Jia out.
Hu Jia had already anticipated that Yang Shao Quan wouldn't easily divulge the past again.
He knew what Yang Shao Quan was worried about. The last time he had revealed sensitive information, it had led to the death of Mou Ji Xuan and Hu Jia's own memory loss. Now, with everything reset, Yang Shao Quan was determined to prevent a similar tragedy.
"Uncle Yang, back then, Wen Ge and I had a falling out. Besides, Yu Xin and Ouyang Wen hadn't been in contact for a long time. How could I have come to you to discuss their marriage?" Hu Jia was prepared for a refusal. "In the past, I fought alone. Now, I have a large group of brothers and sisters behind me. This time, I won't lose."
Hu Jia knew he had to convince Yang Shao Quan. Only by making him believe that he was capable of handling this matter and catching the real culprit would Yang Shao Quan reveal the secrets of the past.
"What are you talking about? My boy, does Uncle Yang have anything to hide from you? You really came back then about their wedding."
Yang Shao Quan remained unmoved.
Hu Jia smiled. "So, did you agree to their marriage in the end? I distinctly remember leaving here with a smile on my face."
"Of course, you were smiling. I didn't object, after all," Yang Shao Quan said, playing along.
"Then if you didn't object to their marriage, why didn't I mention it to Ouyang Wen when I returned, and Yu Xin doesn't know either?" Hu Jia looked at Yang Shao Quan with a smile.
Yang Shao Quan was taken aback. He realized he had walked into a linguistic trap set by the Hu family.
He gave a wry smile. "Your father was right back then. This matter is a death warrant."
"The more complex the case and the more lives involved, the harder it is to solve, which proves the greater the power behind the person," Hu Jia said seriously.
"That's why I worry about you even more. Your father is gone, you're not married yet, and you don't even have children." Yang Uncle's words made Hu Jia blush.
"Uh, Uncle Yang, we're talking about the case."
"What about you and Xiao Lü? That Lü Qing Qing, I think she's quite good, pretty and has a good personality. You should hurry up and have a child. You're not young anymore. At your age, our Yu Xin is already a widow."
Ugh...
Hu Jia's mind went blank. The topic had shifted too abruptly, and he couldn't keep up.
"Uncle Yang!" Hu Jia said, frustrated. The way he changed the subject was too blunt.
"What? Shouldn't I say it? If you want to know what that phrase means, you have to have a child for me first," Yang Shao Quan said sternly.
Hu Jia was speechless. He knew Yang Shao Quan was doing this on purpose. "Even if I hadn't investigated this matter back then, they would have targeted me. As long as I'm alive, they won't let me go."
"Ah? Why do you say that?" Yang Shao Quan's tone became serious upon hearing this.
Hu Jia explained his suspicions about Sixth Master. "I suspect they let me live just to find out the secret behind it."
Yang Shao Quan frowned, contemplating the truth of Hu Jia's words. He didn't know if this was a lie concocted by Hu Jia to make him reveal the secret, or if it was the truth.
Seeing that Uncle Yang remained silent, Hu Jia continued, "The moment I left you that time, I was being watched. That means you were being watched too."
He glanced towards the door. "Aren't those two people the best proof?"
Yang Shao Quan's heart tightened. He understood perfectly what Hu Jia meant. If he was indeed being targeted by the organization, then he and his family were in great danger. He could disregard himself, but he couldn't ignore Yue Gu and Yu Xin.
After a long silence, Yang Shao Quan still hadn't spoken. Hu Jia knew he was undergoing intense internal conflict.
No. Pushing.
Wait.
"You can go."
Hu Jia was surprised. After waiting so long, he only got that one sentence.
"Uncle Yang, I'm not just here to solve the case, but also to eliminate all dangers. As long as I'm alive, and they still exist, everyone is in danger."
"I know, so I want you to take Yue Gu and Yu Xin and leave. Run to another place; they won't be able to find you there."
"What about you? Aren't you still here? I know you'll say you're not afraid, but aren't you afraid of Yue Gu losing her father and Yu Xin losing her uncle?"
"Besides, where can I run? I can hide for a while, but not forever. Do you want them to hold Yue Gu and Yu Xin hostage to threaten me one day?"
Hu Jia looked at Yang Shao Quan earnestly. "For everyone to stop living in fear, we must eradicate them. Uncle Yang, believe me, I can protect myself, and I can protect everyone else."
Yang Shao Quan looked into Hu Jia's sincere eyes and felt, in that moment, that the boy had grown up. He remembered years ago when Hu Jia had come to him for clues. He had only known how to demand, and when that failed, he would beg.
At that time, Yang Shao Quan had felt sympathy and couldn't bear to see the child trapped by hatred. He thought that if he gave him clues, and Hu Jia solved the case, he could finally unburden himself and return to a normal life. But the moment he sent Hu Jia away, he regretted it, sensing that the boy was too impetuous and might handle things recklessly. Yet today, he saw Hu Jia's calmness and determination.
In essence, Hu Jia’s two visits to seek clues were driven by different mindsets. The first time, his goal was revenge. This time, his intention was to protect those around him.
"Aren't you afraid?"
"I'm afraid I won't be able to protect everyone, and I'm afraid I won't be able to answer to my father and Uncle Li. But it is precisely because I am afraid that I will go all out and be cautious. I don't know what happened last time, or how Mou Ji Xuan died. But the same thing absolutely will not happen this time."
Hu Jia's voice was resonant, his gaze firm and resilient.
"Singing until the bamboo branches are in the mist."
Yang Shao Quan softly recited seven words. Hu Jia's eyes flickered. Was this the third phrase? kuAiδugg
"Singing until the bamboo branches are in the mist?" Hu Jia murmured, then looked at Yang Shao Quan. "What does this mean?"
Yang Shao Quan shook his head. "How would I know? This was a letter your father entrusted someone to give me."
Yang Shao Quan thought for a moment. "Of course, when you came asking for clues, you showed joy upon hearing this phrase."
Hu Jia was stunned. Yang Shao Quan meant that the Hu Jia of the past, upon hearing this phrase, had no confusion. In other words, the Hu Jia of the past understood it immediately. Therefore, the current him hearing it and being confused meant he hadn't gathered enough related clues yet. In other words, to decipher this phrase, further exploration was needed. But where could he explore now?