Chapter 661: The Tactics of a Seasoned Veteran

Spending a lifetime chasing what was never attained in childhood?

Listening to Huang Hao’s words, Chen Xiao did not respond.

After dealing with so many cases, Chen Xiao had encountered numerous criminals.

Apart from those born with bad tendencies, many people’s actions were linked to their families or their subsequent upbringing.

Of course, from Chen Xiao’s perspective, he did not believe these people deserved pity.

As the saying goes, every injustice has its perpetrator and every debt its debtor.

If one is oppressed by someone, then seek revenge upon that person.

With this mindset, Chen Xiao might feel a bit of sympathy, some empathy, or even a bit of respect, calling him a man.

But most of these villains, despite their miserable childhood experiences and the pain they suffered, did not retaliate against their oppressors.

Instead, they inflicted their pain, tenfold, on others.

Chen Xiao, deep down, despised these people!

"So this is your story?"

Huang Hao sighed deeply, "It’s what happened in my childhood, but Chen Xiao... do you know that I’ve never truly found relief? From deep within, I loathe my cowardice!"

"You actually know to loathe yourself?"

Huang Hao smiled faintly, "How can I not loathe? All the pain stems from her. But while she was alive, I dared not take any action, as if just by standing before me, all I felt was fear and nothing but fear. I couldn’t even control my urge to please her."

"As if by doing so, she’d smile at me once!"

"Exactly, just a smile! As long as she smiled at me once, I felt anything was worth it!"

"I hate myself so much, but I truly cannot control myself. Can you explain why? What’s the answer?"

Chen Xiao sneered and replied, "Why bother thinking so much? You’re just shameless, that’s all."

Huang Hao’s gaze sharpened, but Chen Xiao seemed intrigued:

"I’m more curious about who your father really is than your psyche."

"A useless drunkard who charmed her with sweet words. She was naïve enough to believe he was her true love, haha... Later, she saw his true colors and realized how foolish her actions were. But she was extremely selfish; knowing how wrong she was, she blamed everything on me."

"She said if she hadn’t been pregnant with me, my father wouldn’t have found out about her scandals. She always believed my father kept me to humiliate her."

At this point, Huang Hao couldn’t help but sneer.

"With this in mind, I look down on you even more." Chen Xiao said while shaking his head.

Huang Hao chuckled in agreement with Chen Xiao’s assessment.

Glancing at the time, Chen Xiao stood up and brushed the dust off his clothes:

"Huang Hao, tell me about the Sacred Heart Church, before the police arrive, otherwise I’m worried I won’t have the chance to know in the future. After all, you’re too extreme."

"Haha, true. If I don’t tell you now, you might indeed never find out."

Saying this, Huang Hao reached into his collar and pulled out the pendant.

"Look at it, familiar?"

Chen Xiao leaned in for a closer look, and his expression changed instantly:

"Ten Demon Sons?"

"Yes."

"So was it you who gave the wooden statue to Lou Xiaodong, who then passed it to me?"

Huang Hao shook his head, "No, I never handed the statue to him, and I didn’t know there was another similar wooden statue in the world before this incident."

"Then who originally crafted this item?"

"Your wooden statue should be the work of Shen Dongming from over sixty years ago, whereas my Jade Pendant was acquired when I established the Sacred Heart Church abroad."

"Looks like you truly are the leader of the Sacred Heart Church." Chen Xiao remarked.

Huang Hao chuckled, "In your eyes, how large is the Sacred Heart Church?"

"As far as I know, you have tens of thousands of followers, though devout ones are likely few."

"Actually, I’m not sure how many there truly are. To be precise, the Sacred Heart Church never truly existed. You’ve seen the so-called hall emblem, right? I merely drew a dot out of boredom and then scribbled random lines. Yet, unexpectedly, people interpreted countless meanings from it."

"People in this world are really too amusing." Huang Hao said, laughing wildly and arrogantly.

However, as his laughter continued, Huang Hao’s expression suddenly became serious: "There are rumors outside about three people above the 12 core members of the Sacred Heart Church. In reality, this is just gossip. I’ve always only managed those twelve individuals, who then train their shadows, with possibly more shadows beyond them."

"They regard me as a god-like existence, yet what I actually need to do is quite simple: in their toughest times, I’ll share some insights. Sometimes, when I talk nonsense, they treat it as doctrine... Haha."

As Huang Hao laughed heartily again, his laughter turned into tears.

"Ignorance, they are truly too ignorant, too adorable."

Chen Xiao listened quietly to Huang Hao’s laughter and mocking words. After checking the time again, he asked:

"What has Ten Demon Sons brought to you?"

"I don’t know, all I know is that for years now, everything I’ve done has been incredibly easy. For instance, the Sacred Heart Church just mysteriously gained countless believers, and each time I’ve targeted a company to devour, I’ve always emerged victorious."

"Especially when facing seemingly impossible tasks, someone invariably steps in to help at the crucial moments!"

With that, Huang Hao hesitated for a few seconds before continuing:

"So regardless of how much wealth I now possess, I always feel that I’m merely someone else’s shadow! Just like you, you’re quite formidable now. In Dongzhou, various businesses are rising, and in Shencheng City, you have Dragon Cauldron. But have you truly considered what you are?"

"In my view, you’re like a sword in Guo Zhengchang’s hand! He’s using you, this sword, to expand his Guo Family territory."

Chen Xiao’s brows furrowed instantly: "Are you saying Grandpa Guo wasn’t ill, and Huang Zhao was behind the dirty work?"

"Certainly, if Guo Zhengchang hadn’t wanted to enter the real estate industry in Shencheng City, we wouldn’t have intersected at all. But since he did, he’s now an obstacle before me. Conveniently, fate gave me a chance; you know my father."

"Even more unexpectedly, you even offered for my father to go to Dongzhou to treat Guo Zhengchang!"

Huang Hao said, shortly before his expression darkened again.

"However, only now do I appreciate how wise experience is. Guo Zhengchang truly is a ruthless figure after decades in business, turning the situation not only into a joke for Qi Family regarding your Dragon Cauldron plans."

"And now, he’s probably out of sight, isn’t he? Can you guess what he’s doing?" Huang Hao asked coldly while looking at him.

Chen Xiao’s eyes remained fiercely focused, not answering, while Huang Hao continued:

"He should be implementing a cleansing plan targeting the new ’land emperor’ competition, which means... he’s about to confront you and show what true strategy is!"