NABC Chapter 549 My Son Alive?!
Chapter 549 My Son Alive?!
As Kent crouched over the stone, the name echoed in his mind like a storm: "Jamba Zi... Jamba Zi... Jamba... Zi?!!" His eyes widened in shock. Could it really be that Zi?!
The Zi family he knew through Master Tang, the man who had taught him the art of inner spirit transformation? But before he could collect his thoughts, a voice boomed from the other side.
"What the hell are you doing out there? Remove that stone. Come and save me. I'll give you whatever wealth you desire!" The captive, Jamba Zi, called out in a frustrated tone, his desperation reaching peaks.
Kent steadied himself and called back, his voice calm but serious. "Elder, what's your identity?"
A heavy silence filled the chamber. Kent could feel the hesitation of the other person, sensing that whoever was inside wasn't just any ordinary prisoner.
"Elder," Kent pressed, "please don't hesitate. I am no friend of the royal family, nor am I anyone's enemy in the Seventh Realm. You have my word. But I need to know—who are you?"
For a moment, silence reigned again. Then, in a voice that was a mixture of bitterness and vulnerability, the old man spoke. "Why do you need my identity?"
Kent knew he had struck a chord. This was a person who held on to secrets like a man gripping his last breath. But he also knew that silence could be a powerful tool. So he remained quiet, letting the silence do its work.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the voice softened and began to speak, a hint of sorrow slipping through the anger. "I am Jamba Zi, the old patriarch of the Zi family. Before the royal family took control over this realm, my family flourished. But now, my family, my palace, my legacy, the entire history of the Zi family—" His voice trembled, "it's all gone. I've been rotting in this prison for the last 25 years. I... I lost everything."
Kent's heart pounded with anticipation. This was no ordinary captive. This was the patriarch of the very family his master hailed from—the man who had indirectly shaped Kent's own path. He felt a thrill of excitement and purpose.
Without waiting, he infused his mana through the healing needles he'd placed around the enchanted stone. The edges of the stone began to quiver and glow as his mana pressured its boundaries, slowly separating it from the wall. The five beastmen standing nearby quickly moved in, each grabbing an edge and dragging the stone away, clearing a path.
"My... my son? My son is alive?" he whispered, his voice trembling. "Did you come here to save me? Is he here?"
"No, Elder," Kent replied with a humble smile, "I planned to release many prisoners who have suffered at the hands of the royal family. In doing so, I happened to discover this chamber. But your son lives—he is well. He now resides in the Forbidden Mountain Forest of the Sixth Realm. And I swear to you, he will be overjoyed to know that you are alive."
The old boar-headed man seemed to sink, an emotional wave crashing through him as his tusks quivered.
"It is destiny that brought me here today." Kent replied with a smile.
Jamba's face softened, but then a flicker of urgency crept back in. "Listen to me," he said, his voice low. "Do not free me yet. If this flame pillar extinguishes, the royal family will know something is wrong. They'll swarm this place, and all will be lost."
Kent nodded thoughtfully, taking in the information. "Understood, Elder. I'll work carefully, without alerting them. Tonight, I will liberate the other prisoners first. When the time is right, you will be the last I free."
The old man gave a slight nod of approval, his tusks gleaming faintly under the firelight. "You're a wise young man... and a powerful one. I see that my son has chosen his disciple well."
Kent felt a surge of pride at the patriarch's words, but he stayed focused. "Elder, can you tell me who else is imprisoned here? Anyone who could help us?"
Jamba's eyes took on a glint of excitement. "Yes. Many of these prisoners were once powerful figures, leaders who resisted the royal family. I know of a master healer, an elemental sorcerer, and a beast-tamer—all chained within these walls. They could be valuable allies."
Kent's heart raced at the prospect. "Good," he said, his eyes alight with determination. "I'll release them under the cover of night. With their help and yours, we'll have a fighting chance in future war."
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