Chapter 2699 - 2673: Leaving Home Young, Returning Old

Sochi, at the border between Krasnodarskiy Kray in Russia and Georgia.

Yarebin was born in Tbilisi, Georgia, but grew up in Sochi, so Sochi must have a significant and unique meaning in Yarebin’s life.

Gao Yang knew that the Black Demons were cultivated from a young age. Of course, this ’young age’ doesn’t start at four or five years old; they generally begin to display the extraordinary talents required by the Black Demons around twelve or thirteen years old. Once noticed, they are selected and sent to the KGB, not exceeding the age of fifteen.

Once a person is over fifteen, their personality is mostly set; in other words, it’s impossible to completely brainwash them.

The Black Demons are the epitome of learning throughout life because human life and energy are limited, while knowledge and skills are unlimited. To get as close as possible to omnipotence, they must learn and train.

Learning throughout life — this one sentence is enough to demonstrate the price the Black Demons pay to become a jewel on the crown of a superpower.

The Black Demons could have become a genius musician, a genius engineer, a genius mathematician, a great athlete, or a member of the Zhengzhi Family. But before their talents were released or extinguished, they were sent to the KGB. The failures left, and the successful ones became omnipotent Black Demons.

Whether becoming a Black Demon is fortunate or unfortunate, no one can judge.

And Yarebin became the first and only captain of the Black Demons, preserving complete memory.

A Yarebin with complete memory is fortunate but also unfortunate.

Yarebin’s fortune was visible in his deep gaze out of the window as the plane was about to land.

Yarebin’s misfortune was visible in the sudden drop of a tear at the corner of his eye when he stepped off the plane.

Gao Yang saw Yarebin’s tear. Although Yarebin wiped it away with an extremely discreet movement, Gao Yang still saw it.

The King of Devils actually shed tears; this gave Gao Yang a new understanding of Yarebin. He used to really think Yarebin had a heart of stone.

"I haven’t been here for a very, very long time..."

Yarebin finally spoke after getting off the plane, but Gao Yang noticed that Yarebin said ’haven’t been’ rather than ’haven’t returned.’

The difference between these two words is significant.

Yarebin still wore a smile on his face, looking as if he had arrived at a vacation destination rather than a long-lost hometown.

After leaving the airport, Joseph reached out to hail a taxi. Normally, Joseph would sit in the passenger seat, but this time Yarebin went straight to the passenger seat beside him.

Sochi had just hosted a Winter Olympics, and the airport was renovated accordingly. Many slogans welcoming tourists and athletes had not been removed yet. Yarebin scanned the huge billboards and slogans outside the airport, but his expression remained calm, not at all as if he had returned to his hometown.

"Welcome."

Seeing Gao Yang’s foreign face, the taxi driver cheerfully said a word in English but immediately revealed that it was the only English he knew, switching to Russian: "Hello, where would you like to go?"

Gao Yang looked at Yarebin, who hesitated a moment before murmuring: "Korchagin Street."

The taxi driver smiled: "Alright, which part of Korchagin Street?"

Yarebin swallowed and whispered: "Let’s just go to Korchagin Street first."

The taxi driver said nothing more. However, a few minutes after the car began moving, Yarebin suddenly said: "Not to Korchagin Street, to the port instead."

"Okay, no problem, still the same road for now."

Yarebin nodded slightly and did not speak further, but a few minutes later, he again murmured: "No, no, go to Korchagin Street first."

Nostalgia at the doorstep.

Gao Yang said nothing. There was no need to advise or make decisions for Yarebin at this time; it was best to leave everything up to him.

The taxi driver glanced at Yarebin in slight surprise but said nothing. After this, Yarebin also remained silent.

The taxi drove from the airport into the city, passing modern high-rises. Although Gao Yang couldn’t see Yarebin’s gaze, he could see Yarebin’s hands continuously fiddling with his cane.

Finally, they entered an old street.

The taxi driver smiled: "We’ve arrived at Korchagin Street. This is an old street. Do you know the book ’How the Steel Was Tempered’? Yes, Korchagin Street is named after the novel’s protagonist, and the house of the author Ostrovsky is on this street. It’s now a museum that many Huaxia people visit, mainly Huaxia people. Sir, are you a Huaxia person too?"

The taxi driver glanced at Gao Yang through the rearview mirror. Gao Yang murmured: "Yes."

"I thought so. And how about you, sir? Where are you from? Have you been to Sochi before?"

Yarebin murmured: "I’ve been here before."

Seeing the passengers were not in a talking mood, the taxi driver said somewhat helplessly: "So where exactly should we go?"

Yarebin quietly replied: "Just keep driving. We might need to ride for a long time."

"Okay, sir."

The buildings on Korchagin Street still retained the look an old street should have. Although there were many modern facilities and structures, most of the old buildings were preserved.

Gao Yang noticed that Yarebin’s body began to tremble slightly. He couldn’t help but softly say: "Teacher, are you alright?"

Yarebin quietly replied: "I’m fine."

Gao Yang said nothing more.

Gao Yang suddenly recalled a poem.

When young, leaving home; returning old, unchanged accent but hair has thinned.

Children don’t recognize you, laughingly ask where you’re from.

Suddenly, the poem he had recited in elementary school took on a whole new meaning for Gao Yang, feeling heart-wrenching.

Unable to watch Yarebin any longer, Gao Yang turned his head aside, allowing tears to silently flow down his cheeks.

Soon, Gao Yang quietly wiped away the tears and turned his gaze forward. He couldn’t bear to look at Yarebin but feared something might happen, so he had to keep an eye on things.

Then Gao Yang noticed Yarebin’s body becoming tense.

Yarebin suddenly stared intently at a small two-story stone house with a red roof, adorned with beautiful flowered windows.

Yarebin stared at the house and turned his head until the taxi passed, then he turned his head back.

Yarebin lowered his head without saying a word, but Gao Yang noticed him trembling violently. He couldn’t hold back and softly said: "Teacher, let’s stop."

"No!"

Yarebin shouted somewhat roughly, startling the taxi driver.

Yarebin twisted his cane restlessly, and after refusing Gao Yang’s suggestion, he suddenly said in a deep voice: "Go back! No, stop! I want to get out!"