NOVEL WEB Vol. 1 - Ch. 388 - Deal
Zero was being pushed back again and again by HuMing's blows.
They were just punches, but to Zero, it felt like getting hit with chunks of stone—each strike carried a shocking weight.
Something about this was off. Though all the intel claimed HuMing had been hiding his true strength, Zero couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it—just like with that man.
That man had appeared out of nowhere, with no trace or background to speak of. Even if he claimed to be the head of the Shi family, the things he brought with him were astonishing.
Those so-called "experimental results" looked like they came from a world that didn't belong to this one—manifesting without any precedent.
Just as Zero managed to steady his footing, HuMing was already in front of him. Those emotionless eyes stared down, and in the next second, Zero was sent flying.
The force behind that punch was far beyond anything the reports had prepared him for.
HuMing flexed his hand, gazing at the man lying on the floor a short distance away.
The guy hadn't even tried to fight back. He kept dodging, sometimes even taking punches head-on—as if testing HuMing's strength.
"I don't understand what you're trying to pull. But if you keep this up, I guarantee you won't live through it."
The man rolled to his feet with surprising agility.
He wore a smile, as though nothing had happened at all.
"There are some things I've never been able to make sense of. You… and that man."
HuMing narrowed his eyes at Zero.
This guy claimed to be Han YunXi's older brother. His physical abilities weren't too different from others HuMing had seen—probably enhanced with the usual body-enhancement drugs Francis liked to use.
Classic Francis tactics.
"You two shine too brightly. Forget that man's incomprehensible knowledge—just look at you, HuMing. No matter how good someone is at hiding their skills, there's no way they could conceal every trace, especially under constant surveillance. Unless… you're not human."
HuMing didn't respond. He simply lowered his fists and stared quietly at the man before him.
"And another thing that's been bugging me from the beginning. You and that man—there's a massive age gap between you, but from the way you talk, it sounds like you've known each other for a long, long time."
Zero raised a brow. It was absurd, but it was also the only explanation that made any sense.
All that talk of sudden enlightenment—lies. That man's knowledge proved he had understood these things for a long time.
And if he had understood them from the beginning, JingDu would've belonged to him already.
"You're not the real HuMing, are you?"
But when that possibility—so wild and seemingly impossible—was voiced aloud, HuMing didn't panic. In fact, he looked almost relieved.
At least these people weren't as stupid as he'd feared.
The biggest red flag had always been HuMing and Shi Zhong.
Shi Zhong had already been a famous name in JingDu before HuMing was even born. How could they possibly have some unresolved personal feud?
If there was any connection, it should've been between Gu WeiJun and Shi Zhong, not HuMing.
Yet HuMing had always emphasized that the grudge was his and Shi Zhong's alone. That, in itself, was suspicious.
Zero studied HuMing's unchanging expression. A flicker of doubt crossed his mind.
Had he guessed wrong?
Because the truth sounded too insane. If he told anyone else, they'd think he was delusional.
"What's the point of learning all this? You're still working for Francis. Even if you are Han YunXi's blood brother, that won't stop me from killing you."
"I know exactly where we stand. What I want— is the truth."
He had always wanted to know who it was that controlled his life from behind the scenes. And now, it turned out, that person was a monster.
"And once you have the truth? What then? Keep opposing me? Or turn on Francis? Either way, I don't see how it benefits you. You don't even know which of us would win."
"Exactly. That's why I want you to give me a reason. A reason to serve you willingly."
"…Han YunXi. Is that reason good enough?" HuMing's eyes locked onto Zero. "I heard from Kang Xin—you gave up Francis's mission for Han YunXi. That alone proves you're not just another mindless tool."
"Francis kept you close, raised you to be a weapon, to use against everyone else. But in the end, you didn't grow up the way he wanted. I think… you already knew the truth about yourself long ago."
Being taken at a young age, raised as a tool—loyalty wasn't exactly part of the deal.
HuMing figured most people wouldn't be able to stay loyal under those circumstances.
Watching the Han family live in happiness while he stood outside, powerless—yet still not completely twisted inside. That was rare.
In that way, the man in front of him was similar to Han ShuYi—but also entirely different.
Han ShuYi had taken a path of no return.
But this man—he understood where the rot truly began.
"You're not wrong," Zero said with a small smirk. "And being used by that man isn't all bad, I suppose. After all, he did show me a world I would've never seen otherwise."
"If that were really the case, you wouldn't be here talking to me."
The words struck home.
Zero had never intended to serve Francis forever.
The fact that he was standing here, proposing a deal, meant one thing: resentment.
Without Francis, he might've grown up as the rightful heir of the Han family.
He wouldn't have had to suffer through all this.
Zero fell silent. HuMing's words clearly got to him. Just as HuMing had said—if Zero didn't already have his own thoughts, he wouldn't be here, wouldn't have come to JingDu under the excuse of helping Francis search for "test subjects."
He was never a good guy. Just like Francis, he had his own goals.
"You're right," Zero said at last, a faint grin on his lips. "And I have to admit—I'm getting more and more curious about your past."
He reached into his pocket and handed HuMing a phone.
"The man's plans are extensive. I've been with him a long time and still only know the barest surface. But I can tell you one thing: that woman, HuMin, he's already captured her."
"As for where she's being held… I don't know. He's not the type to keep all his eggs in one basket."
"But there's one thing I can tell you." He pointed at the phone in HuMing's hand.
"On it is Gu ZhaoChuan's current location. The person you're looking for is there. And also—protect Han YunXi. You know what I mean."
With that, Zero turned and walked away without another word.
HuMing's eyes remained fixed on the phone in his hand, watching as a red dot on the screen pulsed steadily with light.
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