Chapter 276: The Pain of Losing a Child
Gu Daofeng didn’t see Gu Hanshan’s figure. What did this imply?
Having realized Gu Hanshan hadn’t managed to return alive from the Endless Dungeon, Gu Daofeng couldn’t accept such a brutal fact. Enraged to the point of madness, he vomited blood and swooned.
Seeing this, Fang Lin, who had just descended from the Flying Boat, revealed a slight smile. But there was a shadow lurking in his eyes.
Gu Hanshan’s death, even though it was a brutish blow to Gu Daofeng, might trigger deranged fury in him and could lead him to blame it all on Fang Lin.
Under such predicament, Fang Lin might have to face a revengeful Gu Daofeng willing to pay any cost. This was not a good omen for Fang Lin.
Gu Daofeng was carried away, receiving little sympathy from the crowd. Only his master, the elder known as Elder Jin, glared at Fang Lin with poison in his eyes, and indignantly left the scene.
“Sect Master, I’ve successfully returned with these children,” Yan Ze stepped forward, addressing Han Luoyun with an air of pride and delight.
Despite many had forever stayed behind in the Endless Dungeon, this exploration had generally been the most successful one.
At the very least, both Qing Jianzi and Fang Lin and a few other geniuses had all returned unharmed, making the casualty rate the lowest in history.
With a smile on his face, Han Luoyun nodded and then looked at the crowd behind Yan Ze.
“It’s good to have you back.” He said, with his words few but enough to convey the joy and care he felt.
“We of the Purple Mist Sect will always care for the families of the fallen disciples. We won’t let them feel cold in the underworld.” Han Luoyun promised again.
These words stirred up overwhelming emotions amongst the disciples who had risked their lives in the Endless Dungeon. Their hearts filled with both excitement and sadness.
They might have returned alive, but their sectmates who had died in the Endless Dungeon could never return. Even their bodies were lost, forever buried in that sunless deep.
Fang Lin also felt unsettled. The Endless Dungeon was so brutal. Staying alive was extremely hard. If he hadn’t been with the team from the Purple Mist Sect, most of them might have perished there.
Even Fang Lin couldn’t manage to get everyone out. He had done his best. himself barely surviving after facing death several times.
However, every cloud has a silver lining. Although the journey to the Endless Dungeon was treacherous and life-threatening, it had significantly increased Fang Lin’s strength.
Furthermore, everyone who had survived the journey had returned with some gains. No one came back empty-handed.
“Fang Lin, good job! You are indeed my disciple!” At this moment, Elder Qian with his loud voice approached and gave Fang Lin a couple of heavy pats on the shoulder. Despite his increased power, Fang Lin winced at the impact.
Fang Lin gritted his teeth and grinned: “Master, I barely escaped with my life from that dragon’s den and tiger’s lair, and you’re close to killing me with these pats.”
Hearing this, Elder Qian laughed heartily and gave him another two heavy pats, his smile growing wider.
“Good boy, you have not disgraced your two masters!” Elder Qian praised him vehemently.
Even Han Luoyun wore an approving look on his face and said, “Fang Lin, this journey to the Endless Dungeon went smoothly, didn’t it?”
Hearing these words, Fang Lin sensed an ulterior motive behind them.
Without skipping a beat, Fang Lin adopted a distressed look and moaned, “It wasn’t smooth at all! I nearly lost my life. Without the teachings of my esteemed masters, I would hardly have seen you again.”
As he said these words, Fang Lin went forward intending to embrace Han Luoyun and weep loudly.
Just as he was about to do so, Han Xiaoxing ungracefully stepped forward from behind Han Luoyun, placing herself between them.
Fang Lin froze mid-embrace, his expression grew awkward. If he had gone forward, he would have ended up embracing Han Xiaoxing and been accused of harassment.
The bystanders, restraining their laughter, secretly wished Fang Lin would go straight ahead. Then, some real drama would unfold.
Fang Lin paused then reluctantly let himself embrace Elder Qian.
“Good disciple,” Elder Qian laughed. Then noticing that Fang Lin was wiping his tear-stained face on his clothes, he nearly threw Fang Lin out in his anger.
Everyone returned to the Purple Mist Sect, and then proceeded to the Purple Mist Great Hall, where Yan Ze shared a detailed account of their adventures in the Endless Dungeon.
Initially, all the gains were to be handed over to the sect, but Han Luoyun decreed that whatever had been obtained belonged to the individual, and there was no need to offer it up to the sect.
Some strongly protested, arguing that Fang Lin and the others should hand over all they had found within the Endless Dungeon to the sect and even suggested searching everyone’s Nine Palace Bags.
But, Han Luoyun was firm on his decision, and with majority of the higher-ups of the sect in his favor, he overruled the opposition.
When his words spread, everyone, including Fang Lin, rejoiced.
Fang Lin had also been worrying. What if the sect decided to inspect his Nine Palace Bag? There were quite a few questionable items inside it.
Fortunately, this did not happen, saving Fang Lin from a lot of trouble.
As everyone took turns describing their experiences within the Endless Dungeon in the great hall, Gu Daofeng, who had been unconscious atop Pill Sect, finally came to.
However, the moment he awoke, he let out a heart-wrenching scream. A wild aura blasted everything around him to smithereens.
“My son!!!” Gu Hanshan sobbed miserably, his heart filled with unbearable sorrow. He couldn’t accept this reality. In his mind, anyone could die, except his son Gu Hanshan.
But, reality was cruel. So many had returned, yet why couldn’t Gu Hanshan?
Gu Hanshan was the only son of Gu Daofeng. He had devoted a lot to his son, showering him with love, even going to the extent of suppressing all talented individuals that could pose a threat to Gu Hanshan’s future, all to ensure a smooth pathway for his son.
But now, everything was ruined. Gu Hanshan was dead. Other than endless grief, Gu Daofeng was left with nothing but deep hatred and resentment.
As Fang Lin had anticipated, Gu Daofeng had indeed gone insane. He blamed everything on Fang Lin and even started hating the entire Purple Mist Sect.
“My son, I will avenge you! Even if it costs my life, I will not hesitate!” Gu Daofeng kneeled on the ground, his eyes blazing with hatred, his face contorted with anger.
He took out a Message Transmitting Jade Slip, whispered a few words into it, and then put it away. His face resumed its eerily calm expression, as if nothing had happened at all.