I harbored no doubt about André’s claims, for the god he spoke of was merely a common man, entirely lacking in any extraordinary abilities.

It seemed our ancestors’ civilization was simply more advanced than the general populace’s.

This was hardly unprecedented; recall how during the Three Kingdoms period, the Shu Han regime campaigned against the western barbarians, and Zhuge Liang, with his divine strategy, brought numerous advanced concepts to aid in the development of those uncivilized regions.

For those lands, this was nothing short of a miracle.

To this day, if you visit areas like Aba in Sichuan, Yunnan, or Tibet, you will find that many relics left by Zhuge Liang are referred to as divine manifestations, and Zhuge Liang himself is considered a god in the eyes of many ancient minority groups.

In truth, despite Zhuge Liang’s immense talent and unmatched ingenuity, he was merely a mortal of flesh and blood.

So, even hearing that I was supposedly descended from a god did not particularly thrill me.

Instead, I, who had always taken pride in being a child of Huaxia, felt a pang of loss upon learning I was not a descendant of the Han people.

But André’s words sparked a realization.

Earlier, in the underground cave at Lop Nur, I had seen in the murals that Qin Shi Huang, upon his first encounter with the Wan Qu people, also mistook them for gods.

This was because the civilization of the Wan Qu people was far superior to that of the Tang Dynasty at the time.

Isn't this situation precisely analogous to the relationship between our ancestors and the common civilization? Could it be that I am a descendant of the Wei people?! With this thought, I hastily turned to André, asking, "Do you know about the Wei civilization of China?" André nodded, replying, "Of course.

The Wei people have grown alongside the Huaxia civilization, appearing in the ruins of many historical dynasties." "Then are we descendants of the Wei people?!" I asked with growing excitement.

However, André frowned and said, "That could be said, but it isn't entirely accurate.

Although we share a common ancestor with the Wei, the ideology advocated by the Wei people is fundamentally opposed to ours, the Ayakus.

Therefore, the leader of the Ayakus instructs every one of us that the Wei people and the Ayakus are two distinct races, because we have had profound historical divergences, even engaging in mutual slaughter." Despite André's qualifications, I understood clearly: I was indeed a descendant of the Wei people.

If that were the case, my grandfather’s motivation for bringing disaster upon Han civilization could finally be explained.

It was because the Wei people had been repeatedly ambushed and betrayed by the Han ethnicity, leading to their near-extinction today.

Although the Wei people had, for a time, forgotten their hatred and lived like ordinary people for a long period, ultimately, the resentment could not be forgotten.

My grandfather, as a paleontologist, participated in numerous archaeological excavations.

Through these digs, he gradually pieced together the historical truth and learned of the immense suffering his ancestors endured over the centuries.

The flames of vengeance consumed his reason, and he sought every means possible to utilize the vast energy left behind by the Wei people to take revenge on the Han nation.

Having grown up immersed in Han culture, I had long considered myself one of them.

If my grandfather intended for me to participate in his societal retribution, my inherently kind nature would certainly forbid it.

My grandfather knew that until the very end, I would stand opposed to him.

Therefore, from the very beginning, he never intended to persuade me to join his revenge plot, but instead set up various traps for me to fall into.

In the Black Bamboo Valley and beneath Lop Nur, I was merely a pawn in my grandfather’s game.

Unknowingly, I helped him complete his plan of vengeance, and now, the catastrophe was already brewing… Thinking of this, I tightly clenched my fists.

It turned out that such a straightforward matter was something I had failed to notice from beginning to end.

Recalling what Da Xiong had said before, I suddenly understood.

He mentioned that some things are better left unknown; just continuing along in blissful ignorance, completing the destined task without knowing, allowing one to still live on peacefully afterward.

It seemed that in the end, Da Xiong still stood on my grandfather’s side.

Having grasped the whole truth, I paced back and forth in the carriage, growing increasingly conflicted, a nameless fury surging up within my chest.

The reasons I was about to explode were twofold.

The first was my stubborn grandfather, acting so recklessly.

No matter how much our ancestors were persecuted, the people of today are innocent.

Seeking revenge using the lives of these innocents was clearly profoundly unfair.

And my grandfather, at his age, couldn't grasp such a basic concept; his actions were simply laughable.

The second reason was that Da Xiong, whom I had trusted implicitly, clearly also knew the truth, which is why he conspired with others to say those things to me—these two people had been deceiving me all along! The more I thought, the angrier I became.

Unable to contain myself, I slammed a fist into the steel wall of the container, and to my shock, my mutated hand punched a large crater into the metal.

I stared at my right hand in astonishment, while Xiao Feiyang and André looked at me with expressions of disbelief. "Your hand?" Xiao Feiyang’s jaw nearly hit the floor.

The surprise flashed through my mind, only to be replaced by a fresh surge of rage.

I declared to André and Xiao Feiyang, "No! I can’t go anywhere now.

I must return to Xinjiang to find Grandfather! This started because of me, so I must personally stop it now!" "Wait!" André stood up and walked toward me, saying, "Things have developed to this stage; with your current abilities, you cannot reverse Fire generating Wood.

Going there will be useless." "I don't care! Even if it means death, I have to try!" With that, I moved toward the container exit.

Xiao Feiyang, unaware of what had transpired, just watched us dazedly.

Just then, the truck ground to a halt.

I heard several Russian voices cursing as they disembarked and headed toward our container.

Clearly, the large dent I’d put in the steel wall had alerted these Russians; they must have assumed we were planning an escape.

But them showing up now was perfect; I no longer feared death, so I might as well fight them to the end. "Come back quickly! You can’t beat them!" André shouted anxiously from behind.

However, my resolve was absolute, and I would not listen.

Within seconds, the chain on the iron door was unfastened.

As a gap appeared in the center of the door, I saw over a dozen Russians blocking the entrance, holding rifles and glaring at me menacingly.

I spat out a curse, "Damn foreign bastards, I’ve had enough! Shoot me if you dare!" I gripped my right fist tightly, ready to smash the closest foreigner.

In that moment, I heard the synchronized sound of bolts being racked by my ear; a dozen muzzles aimed directly at me.

But it was too late to regret it; my punch was already in motion.

Yet, just as my mind was clouded by impulse, I suddenly felt a heavy blow to the back of my head, and then everything went black as I lost consciousness.

I don't know how long it was before I faintly heard the blare of a ship’s horn, signaling my slow return from unconsciousness.

Sitting up from the cold floor, my head felt immensely heavy, as if it were filled with lead.

Even when I opened my eyes, my vision kept swimming in darkness. "Xiaochuan, you’re awake! I’m really sorry, I hit you too hard." Xiao Feiyang’s rather handsome face appeared before me.

I touched the back of my head and found it was wrapped in a bandage.

After resting a moment, I gathered the strength to ask, "What happened? Didn't I remember those Russians were about to shoot me?" Xiao Feiyang nodded and explained, "It was very dangerous at the time, but Mr.

André told me to knock you out with the porcelain jar, or you would have died.

But I’ve never hit anyone before, so I used a bit too much force.

I’m truly sorry." He awkwardly touched the back of his head, his face etched with apology.

I reflected for a moment, realizing how impulsive I had been.

No matter how powerful my right hand was, it couldn't stand against a dozen rifles.

If I wanted to stop Grandfather, I needed a more considered plan.

With that realization, I waved my hand and said, "It’s nothing, just a bit dizzy.

Where are we now?" Xiao Feiyang made an 'oh' sound and replied, "You’ve been unconscious for three days and nights.

We’re long past land.

We boarded the ship last night.

Those Russians are quite skilled; they actually slipped past customs.

We must be on a hundred-ton freighter now, heading toward the Sea of Japan." I sighed, knowing it was inevitable.

Returning now was impossible.

At that moment, I heard footsteps approaching from behind.