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Chapter 634: Chapter 639 Life for a Life_1
"I’m sorry, but I won’t carry out that order. You take Third Boss away; I’ll stay."
"Xuan Ling, kneel down!"
Xuan Da roared impatiently.
Xuan Ling clenched his teeth, but out of respect for his older brother’s authority, he had no choice but to kneel obediently.
"You swore before our parents’ spirits that you would live well with Third Boss, that you would marry, have children like an ordinary person, and continue the Xuan Family’s lineage."
Xuan Ling refused to speak. The three brothers shared the same mother; he couldn’t bring himself to abandon his own flesh and blood.
At most, he could send Third Boss away and guard their home with his eldest brother.
"You kneel here and think it over. Once you’ve understood, come find me!"
Xuan Da flung his sleeves and left.
As the sky gradually darkened, Xuan Er suddenly got up. The stockade was in a moment of crisis—how could he afford to waste time here?
Xuan Er ran all the way to Xuan Da’s room, only to find Little Crow, who always followed his elder brother, tidying up the room.
"Where’s my big brother?"
Little Crow respectfully said, "Second Master, the Head of the Family went to Third Master’s room and hasn’t returned."
Xuan Er’s face turned pale, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.
He remembered many years ago his elder brother saved a man from Southern Xinjiang, who gave him a worm that could transfer the poison from one person to a blood relative.
His elder brother must have intentionally made him kneel at the ancestral hall and then took the opportunity to use this method to save Third Boss!
"Second Master, what’s wrong?" Little Crow immediately supported Xuan Er.
"Go find me fifty men, the best ones. Have them pack up immediately, and pack plenty—I have an important mission for them."
Little Crow nodded and went to gather the people.
Xuan Er walked to the courtyard where Xuan San lived, his soul seemingly having left him.
"The Head of the Family has ordered that no one is allowed to enter," someone blocked Xuan Er’s path.
This confirmation made Xuan Er even more certain of his guess.
But once the poison transfer process began, it couldn’t be interrupted; otherwise, both would die. He could only stand guard at the door.
To him, every minute and second was agonizing.
If only they had known this would be the outcome today, they should have listened to their big brother from the start, whitewashed their identities, and become honest farmers.
But they couldn’t resist the temptation of gold and silver and agreed to traffic illegal salt and iron with the Yin Family.
He had caused his big brother’s death!
Not until it was completely dark did Xuan Da come out. In just a few hours, he looked like he had become a different person.
He had been strong and robust earlier, but now he looked like a sickly old man, as if he could die at any moment.
"Big brother, we brothers are not worthy of such treatment from you," Xuan Er said with a sob in his voice.
"Whether you’re worthy or not, I know. It’s getting late; you all must hurry and go. Promise me to take good care of yourselves," Xuan Da managed a weak smile.
This was his only dying wish.
Xuan Er knelt on the ground with a thud and kowtowed three times to Xuan Da.
Xuan Da shakily helped Xuan Er up and then patted him on the shoulder, "I drugged Third Boss; he won’t wake up for two days. You need to take care of yourselves, eat when you’re hungry, put on more clothes when it’s cold, and bring enough Silver—don’t shortchange yourselves..."
In Xuan Er’s memory, his big brother was a harsh man of few words.
It was the first time he had ever heard him say a lot like today, each word and sentence filled with instructions and reluctance to part with his brothers.
"I’ve said too much by accident—hurry and go. I’m tired and won’t see you off," Xuan Da said with a low laugh, letting Little Crow support him as he slowly made his way back to his room.
Farewells are too painful and not suited for him.
