The patriarch then sighed, his voice tinged with pain, "Alas, I am unable to save him. In truth, our Hua Jiang tribe is merely a name without substance. If that secret scripture were still here, there might be a way to cure him, but..."
The patriarch squinted at Wu Qing, his expression unreadable, and said no more.
Qing Yao, seated below, couldn't help but ask, "Is that secret scripture gone?"
As soon as she spoke, the patriarch sighed and slowly, earnestly said, "Indeed, that secret scripture was the heirloom treasure of our Hua Jiang tribe, passed down and kept by each successive patriarch. However, when it was passed to the previous patriarch, an accident occurred."
"That patriarch was a handsome man, the rarest of men in our tribe for centuries. Moreover, his sorcery cultivation was extremely high, and he was the old patriarch's son, so it was natural for him to assume the position of patriarch."
"But who would have thought he had no desire to be the patriarch of the insignificant Hua Jiang tribe? His sole aim was to obtain that secret scripture, and then, on a stormy night, he disappeared alone."
The old patriarch paused, his eyes misted over with memories, his thoughts unclear.
The people in the large room waited for him to continue. He took a sip of milk tea and proceeded.
"The old patriarch, feeling guilty towards the people of the Hua Jiang tribe, committed suicide that very night. From then on, the Hua Jiang people lost their former abilities. When the village's elder sorcerers passed away, it became as it is now."
The patriarch finished speaking and sighed heavily again.
Hearing this, everyone felt a heaviness in their hearts. Qing Yao had already guessed the origin of the matter: the person who stole the heirloom scripture must have been Wu Qing's father.
This man was truly detestable. Not only did he steal the scripture and cause his own father's death, but he also allowed the people of the Hua Jiang tribe to be bullied by those five villains.
If the secret scripture were still present, how would those five spirits dare to treat them like this? This man was utter scum, harming his own father above and his own son below. If she knew where he was, she would never let him off!
Qing Yao shifted her gaze to Wu Qing. If that man had remained content within the Hua Jiang tribe, Wu Qing would undoubtedly have become the patriarch, living a happy and carefree life, rather than enduring the suffering he was now experiencing.
Wu Qing's feelings were not much better than Qing Yao's. He had never known that his roots lay in such a small tribe. The deceased former patriarch must surely have been his own grandfather.
Although he had never met him, Wu Qing felt a connection of kinship, a bond of blood. At this moment, he wished to pay his respects to the old patriarch.
"Patriarch, may I pay my respects to the deceased former patriarch?"
"You?" The patriarch hesitated, wanting to ask for a long time. This man seated in a wheelchair, appearing like an immortal, bore such a striking resemblance to that person, as if cast from the same mold.
Could he be him? But why had he been afflicted with the curse?
The patriarch was puzzled and dared not speak rashly. Qing Yao, seeing his confusion, slowly said, "Patriarch, do you think he looks like that person?"
The patriarch nodded, and Qing Yao spoke indignantly.
"The curse on him was inflicted by that heartless scoundrel. If I ever see him, I will carve him into a thousand pieces!"
Qing Yao spoke with fierce determination, a chill emanating from her. Several people seated below looked at her.
Wu Qing felt both happiness and sadness, unable to articulate the mixed emotions. He turned to look at the patriarch above, who sighed with pity. "Poor child, even a tiger does not eat its cubs. He has truly lost all humanity. The curse you bear is a very dangerous one, a blood curse that requires the blood of the one who cast it to be effective. You must speak with him carefully; do not risk your life."
"This blood curse is extremely perilous and different from others. The caster sets a deadline. If the blood curse is not lifted by then, I fear your fate will be dire."
As the old patriarch finished speaking, Qing Yao felt a chill run through her entire body, and she panicked.
Wu Qing, sitting beside her, looked at her with a gentle smile, comforting her. "It's alright, don't worry. He is my relative, after all. He wouldn't be so cruel as to kill me; it would do him no good."
His words seemed reasonable, and everyone temporarily relaxed.
The patriarch stood up and slowly said, "Since you wish to pay your respects to the deceased old patriarch, come with me. He would surely be happy. He was always a very benevolent old man, but he died so tragically in the end."
In the ancestral hall of the Hua Jiang tribe, many memorial tablets were enshrined, each representing a former patriarch. Everyone here bore the surname Hua, with no outsiders.
The patriarch led Wu Qing directly to a memorial tablet and, with a gentle, sorrowful tone, said, "This is the former old patriarch. His name was Hua Ze He."
"Thank you. May I have a moment alone with him?" Wu Qing requested softly. Everyone withdrew, Qing Yao closing the door and leading the group to stand guard outside. Thinking of Wu Qing's blood curse and the patriarch's words, everyone felt a profound sadness.
Inside the ancestral hall, Wu Qing leaned out slightly and took down the memorial tablet of the former old patriarch. If this grandfather were still alive, how much longer could he have lived? Then he would have had one more relative.
From the patriarch's description, Wu Qing knew his grandfather must have been a kindly old man. How happy he would have been to know he had such a grandson.
Wu Qing gently ran his hand over the tablet, as if touching the old man's face, which, though wrinkled, bore a smiling countenance.
"Grandfather, I have come to see you."
Wu Qing spoke softly, and the thought of that person causing the old man to die without peace only intensified his hatred. Why was there such a vicious person in the world? To kill his own father and son, did such a person deserve to live?
Yet, he lived so prosperously.
"Grandfather, I will retrieve that secret scripture and deliver it into the hands of the Hua Jiang people. Please rest assured, and may you rest in peace. This is the only thing your grandson can do for you."
After speaking, Wu Qing slowly put down the tablet, turned his wheelchair, and left the ancestral hall.
The door creaked open, and people rushed in. Qing Feng pushed him out.
"Young Master?"
"Let's go," Wu Qing said lightly, feeling a sense of happiness knowing he had once had such a kind grandfather.
"Mhm," Qing Yao wanted to say something, her mouth opening and closing, but in the end, she said nothing. She wanted to ask him where that person was now, but Wu Qing's mood likely wouldn't allow it. Yet, thinking of the curse on him, she felt unbearable heartache. xxs1
Wu Qing, as if sensing her thoughts, turned back, looked up, smiled, and took her hand.
"Qing Yao, don't worry. It's all destiny. Don't dwell on it so much. I'll be fine. Did he kill his own father and now wants to kill his own son?"
The last sentence was almost a roar.
The group departed from the Hua Jiang tribe. The people of the tribe escorted them to the exit and remained there for a long time before returning.
These simple, pure people were truly moving. If Wu Qing had lived here from the beginning, he would surely have been very happy.