Chapter 652 - A Coming Turbulent

The sudden declaration of the old man's will made the three factions of the Guan Empire waver. 

The winds changed dramatically. 

The old man died, however, the Guan Empire was still standing. With the lack of presence of the leading chairman, the chaos in the Guan Empire just before the day of the succession was bound to happen.

Guan Gu Ri gave his first order as the family head on that day. It was to delay the succession for seven days for filial piety. 

These seven days were to be dedicated as a mourning period for the deceased head. 

The family branch heads and the board of directors had no complaints. This would give them enough time to change what they needed to change.

As soon as the last will was read and the procedures were done, the three factions immediately scattered from the Guan's large meeting hall, contacted their own faction's members, and discussed about the recent changes.

On the other hand, the three Guan young masters and the three heads of the other legendary families had no heart to care about the succession. 

They were still deep in mourning for their loved one and friend.

Xiong Zhi left the room. In a quiet corner where no one was around, she found Linfeng waiting for her. 

Her weak yet hurried steps gravitated towards him.

When Linfeng saw how pale Xiong Zhi was, he became worried.

"Are you alright?" He reached out to steady her.

Xiong Zhi hugged Linfeng tightly.

Ever since she saw the old man's thin and lifeless body, she was reminded of the past. 

Her grandfather's death was the start of her destruction, as well as the destruction of the main Xiong family line. 

And now, this cursed fate was handed to another person, to another family.

Xiong Zhi could not help but blame herself a little. Because she intervened in the Xiong family's fate and the supposed death of her grandfather, the cursed fate chose another victim instead. She had the knowledge of some events that would happen in the future, yet she had not overseen this scheme. 

Her carelessness led to the loss of someone's life.

It could be said that she had taken a part in Old Guan's death.

This complicated feeling was eating away at Xiong Zhi's conscience. It made her c.h.e.s.t feel heavy and constricted.

Linfeng who knew Xiong Zhi like the back of his hand felt her sadness and self-blame through the slight tremble of the slender arms that were hugging him. 

He hugged her back and kissed the top of her head.

"Zhi'er, don't blame yourself. "

Xiong Zhi buried herself in his arms more.

...That was right. She could not help but blame herself. 

She knew exactly what Gunan was capable of. So why did she took her sweet time and did nothing to stop it?

Linfeng patted her back. "You might have seen the fate of the future in your dreams, but it doesn't mean that you are a god. You can try to change your fate and the people close to you with your efforts and hard work, but you cannot change everyone else's. It is bound to happen."

Xiong Zhi felt Linfeng's warmth and care in his words. 

Linfeng really knew what to say, even when she had not said anything yet.

"But... I still feel regretful. I have the power to stop it. Or meddle in it. Yet.... I..." Xiong Zhi's voice trembled. 

When she saw how broken Guan Gu Ri and Guan Xixin looked earlier, she felt breathless.

How regretful she felt!

She could have at least warned the old man after suspecting Gunan's identity. 

Although Xiong Zhi knew that this thought was useless in itself and people might not necessarily believe her, she just could not help thinking about it.

Xiong Zhi's tremble made Linfeng's heart throb with heartache. 

He tilted her head up and kissed her forehead, before looking deep into her eyes. 

The pitch black eyes felt like they were s.u.c.k.i.n.g in Xiong Zhi's soul.

"I am at blame too. I know the enemy's identity and their capabilities, yet I oversaw this matter which resulted to this situation. I can't help thinking, what if it's another person close to you or to me instead? Then... I won't be able to forgive myself."

Xiong Zhi trembled and buried her face into his warm c.h.e.s.t. 

Linfeng's words were just like her own. 

The man continued in a soft yet firm tone. 

"But this thought is useless. We should remember the fact that we are not the cause of this, nor did we want any of this to happen. It is the enemy who committed the crime, not us. So don't blame yourself, or I will blame myself too."

Xiong Zhi looked up at him dazedly. 

She could not stand thinking that Linfeng would blame himself like she did. He had already done so much. 

Soon, she took a deep breath and straightened up. 

"You are right. I should not waste my time in self-blame. It's the most useless thing. Gunan and Ming Zhi Yi are the people who killed Master Guan. We should seek justice for him and let them pay." 

Xiong Zhi's eyes glinted with determination. "Gunan must have used the deadly poison. Old Master Guan wrote on his will that he would vote for Gunan. The tide will definitely be changed to Gunan's favor. The Guan Empire might really fall to Gunan's hands at this rate."

Linfeng also heard about the will. His eyes were solemn. 

"Then we should hurry. I'll prepare everything. Within seven days, we must unmask him completely without a way out." 

Xiong Zhi nodded. "Let's talk with Guan Xixin first."

They should be careful and meticulous this time. No room for mistake or failure.

****

The seven days of mourning period passed by quickly. 

Guan Xixin returned to his room. His eyes were blank as he dully took off his black suit. 

Today, he and his two brothers personally put the urn of their grandfather in the ancestral hall in the Guan's burial site. 

They usually visited the clan's funeral grounds every year to visit their mother.

Now, an additional urn was added in the ancestral hall.

Guan Xixin felt his temple and heart ache. 

He had not yet slept peacefully in these seven days. 

There was something in his mind and heart that was telling him that everything was wrong. That he was missing something. However, his mind and heart were too tired to care or entertain those thoughts right now.

Guan Xixin stood still inside his room for a very long time.

"Master." His butler was on his door.

"What is it?" Guan Xixin's voice was weak and hoarse.

"Headmaster wanted to pass the message to rest early and remind you of tomorrow's schedule."

"...Schedule?" Guan Xixin massaged his forehead. It seemed like nothing came to sink in his mind right now.

"Yes. Tomorrow is the day of the succession." The butler kindly reminded his master.

"...." Guan Xixin paused.

Right, the succession.

It was a big matter for him just seven days ago but now...he was too tired to care about it. He felt his head ache more. 

His mind was out of it ever since his grandfather's sudden death. He did not take care of the other matters and just let his faction arrange things for him.

"....Alright, I'll keep it in mind."

After Guan Xixin said that, he took a long bath to at least clear his mind. 

While changing his clothes, his phone rang.

He frowned and threw a glance at the phone.

He did not really want to talk to any people right now. 

But when he saw that it was Zhou Linfeng who was calling him, he immediately changed his mind. 

This man only contacted him when it was necessary or urgent.

Also.... He was the other person who knew about his greatest troubles.

He willed himself to answer.

"Young Master Xixin?"

"Speaking."

The person on the the other line seemed to note his gloominess and directly went straight to the point.

"Young Master, I apologize in advance for calling you at this time. However, I just want you to know that we have found sufficient evidence that will prove that Guan Gao Huan is a fake."

"!!!" 

Guan Gao Huan almost dropped the phone as he jolted.

All sleepiness and headache magically went away. 

His tired eyes became somber and burned with an unnamed fire.

"I'm listening."