Talented Martial Hero
Chapter 361 Like A God (Part One)

"Uncle Reed!" Darren shouted to catch the attention of the beggar. At first, he couldn't believe his eyes, for he wasn't able to recognize his uncle. Wearing a tattered, messy, and crumpled garments, Darren had to take a closer look to ascertain that it was indeed his Uncle Reed.

After all that he had endured, and the battles that taught him hard-learned lessons, the renewed and changed Darren right now was more open-minded. He had learned to forgive and not hold any grudge of what had happened in the past. Yet, seeing Reed in such a situation, he was angry now. It made Darren feel guilty and angry at himself, all at once.

At the mention of his name, Reed looked up and fixed his eyes at Darren. Though his eyes were empty, clearly, it showed that he didn't recognize Darren, nor knew that he was of a close relationship to him.

"P...Please don't hurt me! P...Please...” With a quivering voice, Reed stuttered as he was terrified with Darren's angry shout. He kept retreating and stepping away from the warrior. A frightened and confused expression was drawn on his face.

Judging from how he looked and the way he acted, Darren knew that he wasn't himself anymore. He was out of his mind because of what had happened.

Pitying his uncle's miserable state, Darren soon realized that he could make use of his Spirit Power to get Reed's Spirit Power back. That would, in turn, regain his normal state of mind and revive his sanity.

"Ahhhhh!" The moment the Spirit Power reacted with Reed's body, he was twitching and hollering in pain. The process was so excruciating that it made Reed shout garishly. Darren couldn't almost stand seeing his uncle under such torment, yet he held on to his faith that what he was doing was for his good.

After a few moments, Reed finally stopped shouting. The Spirit Power had done its task, and gradually the gleaming lights of hope were back in Reed's once empty eyes. Quiet dazed at the moment, his gaze fell on Darren, and his whole body froze at the sight of the warrior.

"D...Darren,” Reed uttered, his pale lips shaking, and tears were brimming in his eyes.

Then, at Darren's surprise, he started crying and laughing at the same time. He kept on blabbering words saying, "Hahaha! Why did you come back? It's all over. We are all dead.”

"Uncle Reed...” Sensing the grief in his uncle's eyes, Darren called in a low voice. He couldn't help but feel sorry for the man who had played a significant role in his life.

As he took heed to the young boy's calm voice, Reed calmed down at once, then added, "It's just our fate. You should leave, Darren. Nothing was left of the Chu Clan. We are doomed. It's not your fault.”

"What the hell happened, Uncle Reed?" Puzzled by what the older man had said, Darren asked—this time, putting both hands on Reed's shoulders. He was demanding all of his uncle's attention and wanted him to narrate what had happened.

Pain flickered in Reed's eyes, and panic was visible in the expression of his face. He shook his head in frustration and said, "There's no going back. It's all in vain. We tried everything to hurt you years ago and now is karma. My son died, and the clan wasn't able to withstand it all. We have nothing left. It's all karma. We have only ourselves to blame. Just get out of here quickly. Save yourself, maybe then, you will be the only one left of the Chu Clan.” Reed encouraged Darren, giving him a desperate push to go and escape.

After going through so much, Reed's mind was altered in some ways. He now realized the importance and true meaning of a clan—a family. He was sincerely regretting for what he had done in the past. Never in a million years would he have thought that he would one day hoped so severely that Darren would be alive and be the lucky one to be left of the Chu Clan.

As for the rest of the clan, they were bound to be tortured to death sooner or later. As far as Reed knew, no one got a chance to live.

Seeing Reed so devastated and desperate, Darren didn't push him to narrate more. With one quick pull, he grabbed Reed with his hand and charged towards their clan's dwellings.

When they neared the gate of the Chu Clan, Reed started to struggle with all his might. It was as if the place was forbidden that he desperately did not want to step a foot upon its grounds. As a reckless action, Reed then grabbed Darren's legs, stopping him from going in. He kept crying and begging him not to go on.

"Darren, don't go any further! Just leave! Please. We have done so many wrong things to you in the past, and I am sorry for that. But please, don't go in there. You have to keep on living, as the only one left in our clan. Please! Just leave!"

Hearing his uncle's honest words and the heart-piercing pleads, Darren's heart melted and hurt at the same time. Tears formed in his eyes, and a mix of emotions welled up in him that he wanted to cry too.

"The past is in the past, Uncle Reed. Trust me, and I will make whoever did this curse to our clan pay with their lives!" with determined eyes, Darren said firmly. As he helped Reed up, he was silently making a promise to his uncle and the rest of his kin that he would do everything that he could to avenge the fate that was not destined to be met by them.

"That's impossible, Darren. You don't understand. They are the royal members. It's an order from the Holy Lands, and the royals execute it. We are to be slaves until we die. That's final. It is impossible to turn it the other way around. Listen to me, nephew, Darren. Just go away. The elders won't blame you for leaving. Instead, they will be happy that you get a chance to live." Tears kept streaming down Reed's wrinkled face as he insisted on Darren leaving the place. What he was holding onto was not anchored to any principles of martial arts nor any beliefs in battles—fighting or yielding. Convincing Darren to leave right now and save himself was Reed's way of showing his love for a family member, which was what really mattered. Sad for Reed, though, that it was almost too late for him to realize.

"Wait here, Uncle Reed. I will be back soon." Knowing his uncle, Darren knew that any argument would not convince him at all. The only thing he could do right now was to show his real strength so his clan would see it with their own eyes and believe that he could rescue them from the wrath they were enduring all these years.