Chapter 104: A Thirst for Recognition

Although Song Baoguo and Song Zhong were father and son, in Song Zhong’s eyes, their relationship was as incompatible as fire and water. In truth, Song Zhong was perhaps the person who understood Xu Yiling best. Ever since he was a child, Song Zhong had lived under the shadow of Song Baoguo; freedom was something he had always yearned for.

No matter where he went or what he did, the first thing people saw was not Song Zhong, but rather, "Song Baoguo’s son." No matter what achievements Song Zhong reached, outsiders felt it was only to be expected, because he had such a powerful father. Precisely because this father was so formidable, nothing Song Zhong did as a child ever earned him praise. Song Baoguo would always recount how he had performed when he was at that same age.

Gradually, Song Zhong’s mindset began to shift. He reasoned that if everything he could do, Song Baoguo could do better, then why should he spend his life living in his shadow? He chose to pursue things that Song Baoguo could not do—or had never done—hoping to prove to his father in this way that he was no less capable. However, Song Zhong chose a path that was misunderstood and incredibly difficult. Because of his choices, Song Baoguo nearly beat him to death. The idea of his own son wanting to become a charlatan—if that got out, wouldn't it be a slap in the face to Song Baoguo?

Because of this, the two had a complete falling out. The day he left the Song family, Song Baoguo, in a fit of rage, declared that he had no such son. Upon hearing this, a fire was lit in Song Zhong; he turned around and left without even looking back. From that point on, Song Zhong began an entirely different life.

After leaving home, Song Zhong cut all ties with his family. It was only through me that he heard any news about his father. Rumors circulated that the reason Song Baoguo had fathered a younger son at such an advanced age was because his eldest son was considered a "failed project." Regarding the birth of his younger brother, Song Chao, Song Zhong felt deeply conflicted. He had imagined countless scenarios for their reunion, but never the one happening today. He could never have expected to see Song Baoguo in such a setting.

"Why are you here? Get out! You are not welcome here!" Song Zhong strode up to Song Baoguo and gestured to push him away.

"Go, go, go! Whatever you’re here for, you aren't welcome, and we won't be doing business with you!" Song Zhong was covered in sweat. His heart was in conflict; he didn't actually hate seeing his father, but he felt that now was not the time. He had no idea when or in what form the malevolent spirits might appear.

"Zhong'er... do you still hate me?"

That mention of "Zhong'er" seemed to unlock Song Zhong’s heart. Since he was little, he had wondered how wonderful it would have been if his father hadn't been so exceptional, if he had just been an ordinary man who could talk with him, attend school meetings, or carry him on his shoulders to see the world from a greater height. Song Zhong opened his mouth slightly, but the words he had prepared wouldn't come out. He looked at Song Baoguo for a long time before saying, "What is there to hate... hurry up and leave, it’s... it’s dangerous here."

There is no grudge between a father and son that cannot be mended, especially after such a long time; it was just that two grown men were both concerned with saving face.

"Zhong'er, I miss you very much. Your mother misses you too," Song Baoguo stood at the doorway, neither entering nor leaving, speaking to himself. "Zhong'er, I really want to say I’m sorry. It was me who didn't cherish the time we had together."

Hearing this, Song Zhong frowned, looking at Song Baoguo in confusion. He then noticed two trails of tears on Song Baoguo’s face. "I have failed you. I didn't fulfill my responsibilities as a father. I made you feel too much pressure and let you live in my shadow for so long..."

Song Zhong furrowed his brows, asking suspiciously, "Why are you running over here to tell me this? Shouldn't you be at home coddling your younger son?"

Just as Song Zhong was about to speak again, Song Baoguo did something Song Zhong could never have dreamed of. He reached out and gently stroked Song Zhong’s cheek. Song Zhong was startled, his lips twitching involuntarily. He relished the moment, yet his heart resisted it.

"What are you doing..." Song Zhong took a step back, but even in that step, there was a flicker of disappointment. When he looked at Song Baoguo again to speak, he discovered that two trails of blood-red tears were flowing from his father’s eyes!

The face that had been wearing a smile suddenly began to crack, the skin splitting like paint peeling off a wall. Countless small white insects scurried out from the fissures in his skin.

"Zhong'er... I just wanted to see you one last time..."

With a loud thud, Song Baoguo collapsed to the ground. His mouth opened and closed as if trying to speak, but no sound came out—only a swarm of insects flew from his throat. Immediately after, these insects gathered before Song Zhong, forming a human shape. Looking closely, Song Zhong realized with a shock that this figure was none other than the wandering soul that had possessed him back at the mass grave!

Could it be that he had come for revenge? That he hadn't been exorcised by Jiang Huai at all? Countless thoughts raced through Song Zhong’s mind, and he became increasingly convinced that this wandering soul had murdered his father for revenge and had now come for him!

"Dad... Dad!" Song Zhong broke down, kneeling before Song Baoguo’s corpse, weeping bitterly.

...

Just as Song Zhong was meeting Song Baoguo, Prince Hao and I had just climbed to the roof of the twenty-ninth floor. I lifted my shirt to expose my belly, wiping the sweat from my forehead as I stood at the edge of the roof, looking down. They say the higher you stand, the further you can see, and that’s true enough—but if you were to fall from here, there wouldn't even be a bone fragment left.

Prince Hao was in a similar state, nearly melting from the heat. He unbuttoned his shirt and, while fanning himself, scanned the surroundings. Suddenly, he froze and pulled me to hide to the side. He pointed toward the southwest corner of the rooftop and whispered, "Look..."