Light Fortress
Chapter 292 - 268 Farewell Joy (End)

Chapter 292: Chapter 268 Farewell Joy (End)

"My time... is running out."

Zhao Xilai forcefully turned his wheelchair to face Lu Nanzhi and spoke the words he had contemplated for a long time. This ascent, the discussion, the meeting, were all to say this face-to-face, "I will hand the banner over to you. Everything Lu Cheng left behind, including my share... all of it, I will give to you."

This was news that would shake the entire Da Du.

And it was also an unexpected move for Lu Nanzhi.

Just as Zhao Xilai said... he actually had no choice. Light City, the Lin Family, and outside pressures left the Zhao Family with no room for hesitation. They had to go all out and win the struggle over this bill.

"Even if I oppose the bill?"

Lu Nanzhi frowned slightly and said, "I don’t understand..."

"It’s not just you, I don’t understand either."

Zhao Xilai chuckled softly, "If I had more time, even if it was just one more year, I probably wouldn’t make this choice... People are greedy and never satisfied, only when their time is truly running out do they realize everything is nearing the end."

"The one giving up the fight over the bill isn’t you, nor the banner, but the Zhao Family."

The old man spoke calmly, "I have already sent emails to Light City and the Lin Family, expressing my stance... After the invasion of the Angel Envoy from Source Tower, the issues surrounding the bill might have many changes. The East Continent Council’s attitude might change. Given the time constraints, I can’t sit on this ship and continue to steer it toward the new world... The will is there, but the strength is lacking. This is probably my greatest regret in life."

"So..."

"It stands to reason, your path ahead will be difficult." The old man spoke faintly, "Light City and the Lin Family’s attitude will change because of my withdrawal, and the banner’s assistance from the Outer Continent may disappear... But they can’t blame anyone, because I’ve already done my utmost. In the final stage of my life, I can’t hand the banner over to..."

At this point,

He paused slightly and looked down the mountain, "Hand it over to that fool..."

"So... congratulations, Nanzhi, you won."

It was a war without smoke.

And a war without casualties.

Beneath the gentle, warm congratulations was actually the heartfelt blessing from an old lion... Lu Nanzhi of course knew that even if Zhao Xilai had only one more day, one more hour, he could still use the existing banner system to launch a deadly counterattack against her and the entire South Bay, causing her great trouble.

No smoke and no casualties, because the flames of war never erupted.

Everything was extinguished in that congratulation.

"..."

The lady held her arm, not knowing what to say.

Looking at the old man in front of her, she felt a myriad of emotions... Perhaps at some moment she once regarded this old man as a teacher. It was because of the cultivation of the banner over the past ten years that she was able to grow, but at more moments, she treated him as an enemy, constantly reminding herself that everything she did was to build strength for this inevitable war.

But now.

She found herself a bit lost in thought.

Perhaps in these long years spanning a decade... She also regarded this old man as a guide, a pioneer, and a trustworthy person.

Everything was as she anticipated.

When she held on to her ideals, upheld her beliefs, and chose to stand against the Awakening Bill... war erupted.

But everything that followed was completely different from her expectations.

No sacrifices, no conflicts.

It was as if the old man had been waiting for her to step forward... and then took off the crown and handed it to her.

Was this a coincidence?

Or had he calculated it long ago?

"Old Lu said, meeting is as hard as parting."

Zhao Xilai chuckled softly, "Looking back, the time when I first met him was a scene I could never forget because I once truly believed that Lu Cheng and I could jointly create a brighter world... It was only after the dream shattered that I realized ideals and reality are not the same."

"For the sake of the Federation, I stood against him."

"Due to differences, he fell in Lion Alley."

"Because of various ineffable and uncountable reasons... I came here again. No one can escape the fate of death, I’m no exception, but fortunately, outside this mountain, the banner flies high."

Zhao Xilai chuckled softly and asked, "Since meeting was joyful, why part in sorrow?"

Lu Nanzhi silently mouthed along in her heart.

These words, rather than being said to herself,

were more likely said to Lu Cheng.

The wind blew, lightly swaying the simple wooden marker.

"One last thing... I have a request."

The old man looked up.

He said sincerely, "I handed everything to you. You will become the master of the banner, a council member of Da Du... I only hope you will spare that fool."

Lu Nanzhi stood silently in the wind.

At this meeting, she carried with her the camera with embedded pearls and the evidence from the hall.

This was solid proof.

And it was the key item she was confident would help her win the game against the banner.

Yet... she had never revealed it, nor informed the old man about it.

"The spiritual exile at Freedom Hall was orchestrated by him... He has confessed to me."

Taking a deep breath,

Zhao Xilai lifted his head, looked at Lu Nanzhi, and smiled with difficulty, "Sometimes, I truly envy Old Lu for having such an excellent daughter. But... considering everything, it is the father’s fault that such things happened."

"I wronged him..."

At this moment, the old man in the wheelchair was no longer a councilman of Da Du, but a father.

His face no longer glowed with a rosy hue, but became pale and wrinkled, his eyes filled with dim guilt, "I... was not a good father..."

"How do you want me to deal with him?"

The lady, huddled in the inner lapel of her coat, silently unclasped the hand clutching the evidence and, after a brief moment of thought, asked softly.

"Just don’t kill him... that’s enough..."

The old man’s voice was as light as a mosquito, "I will arrange for him to go to North Continent... If he can die in the fortress, that would be the best outcome. Provided, you are willing to give him a chance to leave Da Du."

Lu Nanzhi hesitated to speak.

None of tonight’s events were within her expectations.

She had even prepared for a desperate, bloody fight... She thought she would be injured and ready to never retreat a step.

Yet fate was like this.

The wind starts unknown, disperses without a trace.

Hatred, resentment, and entanglement... were all swept away by the evening wind of the small desolate mountain.

"...Okay."

After a long time, she nodded, agreeing to the matter.

"One more thing..."

The old man suddenly thought of something, struggled to speak, pointed to this desolate mountain, eked out a smile, and carefully asked, "When I die... can I be buried here?"

The lady’s nose tingled with sourness.

She sighed gently and said hoarsely, "...Of course."

"Ha..."

Hearing this response, the old man in the wheelchair revealed a childlike smile.

"I want to... be with Old Lu, for a while..."

He huddled his shoulders, curling up, and murmured softly, "It’s getting dark... so cold..."

Lu Nanzhi silently placed the lantern beside the old man. The warm light from the lantern enveloped the simple tombstone and the solitary wheelchair. She took off her coat, draped it over the old man’s side, and turned to leave.

Very faint laughter came from behind.

Accompanied by the rustling of fallen leaves.

Zhao Xilai hadn’t laughed like this for many years.

The last time was many years ago when the two high-spirited men met in the Dadu District.

And now, all his strength had dissipated, and the sounds he managed to squeeze from his throat were blurred.

These sounds drifted away with the wind.

"Thank you..."

"I am very happy..."