Chapter 427: An Apology Twenty Years Late
The old man, upon receiving the confirmation, grew visibly emotional. He tried his best to nod toward Su Tao, his expression caught between laughter and tears. His mouth opened and closed several times as if wanting to speak, but no sound came out.
Without fully understanding why, Su Tao found herself leaning closer to the elderly man’s bedside.
She seemed to understand his reluctance and his unspoken plea. “General Liao, I will protect Taoyang, protect the Federation, and help everyone get through this crisis. Please, rest assured.”
Her words were like a soothing balm, immediately calming the old general. Tears welled up in his cloudy eyes.
With great effort, he lifted his frail, bony hand as if asking Su Tao to come closer.
She did as he wished and leaned in.
“Help… help me tell… tell old Xing… I’m… sorry…”
Su Tao froze in place.
It took her a moment to realize that “Old Xing” referred to their leader in Dongyang, Xing Hongwen!
In a flash, she recalled what Shi Zijin had once told her. During the early days of the apocalypse, shortly after the first outbreak, the Supreme Leader had passed away. Chaos erupted in Changjing as factions vied for power. At that time, the new leadership had pressured Old Xing to choose a side. Among those involved was an old comrade of his—a man with whom he had once shared an unbreakable bond.
However, Old Xing refused to take sides. Determined to protect Dongyang, he abandoned the political turmoil in Changjing, which led to the end of their friendship.
Eventually, Old Xing succeeded in preserving Dongyang’s land and its people. Meanwhile, Changjing overcame the internal strife, but the man who emerged as the leader was none other than his former comrade—General Liao.
It all made sense now.
For twenty years, General Liao had harbored resentment toward Old Xing for not supporting him during his struggle for power.
And now, on his deathbed, he was finally expressing an apology that was twenty years overdue.
Su Tao’s heart ached. She gripped the old man’s hand, her voice trembling.
“Please hold on—I’m begging you. I’ll bring our leader here right away.”
Without wasting another second, she dashed out of the room. Using her fastest means of transportation, she returned to the courtyard, activated the portal back to Taoyang, and then jumped to Dongyang, bursting into Old Xing’s office.
The elderly leader, who had been quietly reading a book, was stunned. “Tao girl? You—”
Su Tao wiped her tears away and urged, “You must come with me right now to see General Liao—he doesn’t have much time left.”
She knew that, despite their estrangement, Old Xing still cared deeply for his old friend.
And just as she expected, the moment he heard her words, Old Xing froze as if struck by lightning. His hand trembled as he grabbed hers.
“Quickly—take me to him!”
He thought that General Liao had come to Dongyang to see him.
Little did he know that Su Tao was about to take him across two portals, covering thousands of miles from south to north, arriving directly at the hospital in Changjing.
Old Xing barely had time to process what was happening. When he came to his senses, he was already standing in the hospital room.
The moment he laid eyes on the frail, skeletal figure of his old comrade on the hospital bed, his body trembled.
With a voice choked by emotion, he called out, “Old Liao!”
Hearing that familiar, long-lost call, General Liao let out several rasping noises. His hand trembled in the air, as if desperately trying to sit up.
The President and Minister Xu hurriedly helped him up.
Old Xing, forgetting his cane on the floor, rushed to the bedside.
General Liao grasped his hand tightly. After twenty years, the two old friends were finally reunited.
Suddenly, as if finding a second wind, General Liao sat straighter, his eyes burning with a sharp clarity. Even his speech became clearer.
“Old Xing… you came… you finally came to see me…”
“I’m here—I’m here,” Old Xing’s tears flowed uncontrollably.
Over the years, he had carried deep resentment. The hardships he endured while building Dongyang, the constant struggle, and the lack of support—he had blamed this old friend for all of it.
In front of the younger generation, he had often cursed General Liao for being cold-hearted and selfish.
Yet, when he heard that his old friend was dying, his anger dissolved.
In the face of death, resentment seemed so insignificant.
General Liao, with a smile mixed with tears, suddenly reminisced. “Do you remember… that awful cook we had? His flatbreads were so hard they could kill a man if thrown. Every time it was his turn to cook, you’d sneak to the canteen to beg for softer flatbreads—not for yourself, but for me.”
Old Xing chuckled through his tears. “You had a weak stomach. Every time you ate those flatbreads, you’d toss and turn all night, keeping me awake.”
General Liao laughed weakly but soon sighed. “I miss those flatbreads…”
The entire room fell silent.
Where could they possibly find flatbreads like that now?
“I have some,” Su Tao said suddenly.
Thanks to Lin Fangzhi’s storage, she had some hard, dry flatbreads that Chef Qin had made as snacks.
She dashed out of the room, pretending to search through her things, then returned with a small bag.
General Liao’s eyes brightened at the sight of the flatbread. He took one and tried to nibble on it with his toothless gums.
“It’s not the same… not as terrible… Old Xing, I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… I was selfish. I resented you for leaving Changjing when I needed you most. I waited—waited for you to come back and regret your decision… but you never did…”
Clutching the flatbread, he broke into sobs.
Old Xing wept along with him, while everyone else in the room quietly wiped their tears.
“Please, don’t hate me,” General Liao whispered. “I was wrong…”
His voice grew weaker, and the hand holding the flatbread began to loosen.
Su Tao’s heart pounded with fear.
Old Xing, sensing the fading strength, gripped his friend tightly and called out in a panic, “Old Liao! Old Liao!”
“Don’t shout…” General Liao murmured. “I’m tired… After twenty years of carrying this burden, just let me… rest…”
