Chapter 301
My Substitute CEO Bride
Chapter 301
Philix heaved a sigh. âSomeone will take care of them. The village is long gone, burned to ashes. Those tombstones? Theyâre just empty graves with names etched on them. If no oneâs watching over them, so be it.â His voice was gruff. He could not allow a single misstep at a time like this.
A sports car roared past, kicking up a dust tornado in its wake.
âDamn, whatâs the rush?â the driver muttered, his words dripped in irritation.
Stellar rubbed his eyes as he watched the vanishing taillights of the car. âI think⦠I think I saw Nash.â
Philix craned his neck to see, but the car was already out of sight.
âOh, it looked like someone had burned offerings before our arrival!â Stellar recalled, his eyes glinting with excitement.
âIt must be one of the business families that had a good relationship with them,â Philix said, dropping his gaze. The Young family had been influential in their time, and it was not surprising that people would still go to Young Gardens to pay their respects.
Stellar offered a rueful smile before sinking back into the sofa without another word.
Just then, Philixâs phone buzzed ominously in his pocket. Pulling out, he glanced at the screen. The next second, his eyes widened.
Sensing the change, Stellar hastily asked, âWhat happened?â
âLast night, the Smiling Grim Reaper summoned 3,000 great-grandmasters using the Heavenly Martial Arts Order and wiped out the Green Bamboo Association!â Philixâs heart rate increased, the shock echoing in his voice.
âHas he gone mad? Using the Heavenly Martial Arts Order to deal with a small fry like the Green Bamboo Association?â Stellarâs face darkened to an unsettling shade.
The Heavenly Martial Arts Order was no trivial matter; it was powerful enough to save a nation in its hour of need.
âSuch a waste!â Stellar grumbled, his words loaded with the weight of disbelief.
âActually, it has done me a big favor,â Philix said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. It eased the tension in the room.
âWhat do you mean, Warden?â Stellar looked puzzled.
âThe Ten Juggernauts of the Green Bamboo Association were involved in that incident ago,â Philix said. His eyes narrowed as they filled with an icy resolve.
years
Just as he was about to pocket his phone, another message buzzed in: [The Smiling Grim Reaper and the Seven Juggernauts were headed to Goldenfalls at 2:00 am.]
Philix looked confused after reading the message, as if he had stumbled upon a puzzle piece that did not fit anywhere. Stellar glimpsed the information on Philixâs screen, his eyes widening like saucers./
The revelation they shared was too powerful to be hidden. It shone through their eyes as they locked their gazes on each other.
âDriver, turn around. Head to Young Gardens,â Philix almost shouted, his voice tinged with
urgency.
âYou guys canât be serious. Weâre dozens of kilometers out and now you want to go back?â the driver complained.
âShut your mouth and turn back when youâre told to!â Stellar barked, his voice booming with a force that sent a shiver down the driverâs spine.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at Young Gardens.
As expected, the corpses outside had been cleared away. Philix and Stellar approached Christopherâs tomb. Stellar used a tree branch to scrape away the burned remains of the offerings. In no time, they unearthed a large number of bone fragments.
After a meticulous inspection, Stellar burst into excitement. âThese are indeed skull fragments, and thereâs more than one skull!
âWarden, Nash is⦠Heâs your kin!
âNo wonder you felt a sense of familiarity with him. Itâs because he shares your blood. Heâs around the same age as your son would be. I think he⦠he is your son!â
Stellar was even more elated than Philix. He had a family of his own, but the warden had always been a lone figure. Learning that Philix had a successor brought a surge of happiness to his heart.
Philix dropped to his knees before Christopherâs grave, tears streaming down his face like rivers breaking through a dam. âDad, thank you for protecting my son.â