Chapter 36: The Impossible Task – Section 7

“Pfft!”
A gush of blood sprayed like a fountain in the dim arena, splattering all over Hei Fa’s face. Yet he seemed unfeeling, allowing the scalding blood to slide down his forehead.
It was the general’s blood…
Thinking this, the stern lines on his face softened for the first time. Quietly, he could even feel the residual warmth in the blood.
Across from him, the general stood upright!
Upright as a spear!!
His hands were buried deep in his chest. Hei Fa wondered how an old man like General Lin Hao could possess such immense strength. Then, the general’s next move shocked him even more!
He actually… ripped open his own chest with his own hands!!!
With a rush, freed from the restraint of muscles, the general’s internal organs were exposed before Hei Fa. A torrent of blood gushed out like a flood. Amid the blinding red and white, Hei Fa suddenly saw a glimmer of gold.
A subtle glow, yet undeniably visible.
Hei Fa’s eyes widened as he realized it was a golden heart!!!
“Strange, right? How can a human have a golden heart?” Seeing Hei Fa’s astonished gaze, the old general smiled, though the intense pain from tearing open his chest made his facial muscles twitch. Yet he still smiled—sadly.
“A general should have his own secrets,” Hei Fa replied.
“Hehe, you’re right. It’s a secret.” Severe blood loss had made the old general’s face increasingly pale, but he showed unprecedented excitement. Even his voice grew louder.
“It’s Hua Country’s secret. And it’s my secret too! Didn’t you ask where the real gene map was? I can tell you now!! It’s this!!”
“What!?” Though prepared, Hei Fa still felt dizzy when the answer came from the old general’s mouth.
He wasn’t an ordinary person. As the supreme leader of Hei Fa Hong Yan, he had gathered Earth’s top talents under his command. But the more so, the more he understood just how enormous a sacrifice the old general was making now.

Using one’s own body as a carrier for the genetic map. Is there any safer method in this world? That golden heart was beating faintly, but Hei Fa knew—when it stopped beating, Huaguo’s most precious treasure, the genetic map, would also cease to exist! No one, absolutely no one, could obtain this treasure without the old general’s consent!

There’s no escape from divine arrows;
Storms and winds crush the homeland.
I entrust my hopes to the cold stars, unaware of them;
I offer my blood to Xuanyuan.

Yes! I offer my blood to Xuanyuan.

In an instant, Hei Fa suddenly felt excruciating pain in his heart—so much pain… He sensed his body defying his will. It… it was trembling! It was actually trembling!!

Unforgivable! Why should it tremble? What right does it have to tremble? Hei Fa bit his tongue hard. Blood flowed from his mouth, salty. But no matter how hard he tried, his body continued to tremble, increasingly violently. Unseen, the tips of his clenched fists had sunk deep into his flesh.

Pain? Then let it be even stronger. Make me suffer, more painfully…

In an instant, the room fell dead silent, not even a breath to be heard. The only sound was the faint heartbeat. To Hei Fa’s ears, the heartbeat grew louder and louder, until it sounded like a hammer blow.

Amidst these heavy beats, the old general finally spoke again. But this time, his voice was filled with exhaustion, as if all his strength had vanished.

“He’s right. Knowing too many secrets isn’t good for him, nor for Huaguo. This country always needs someone to take action. He chose me as that pillar. I’m happy, truly happy. Do you know? I’ve spent my life in battle, with countless medals, yet I’ve never felt this happy before. Hehe, hahaha!”

He raised his head, his hair and beard moving as if in a breeze. To Hei Fa’s eyes, the old general now stood like a mountain! Though blood gushed from his body and his tall frame trembled, he still gave Hei Fa the impression of being indestructible.

Yes, compared to such a person, what does one’s own strength matter? What’s the use of the ability to destroy a planet, to take countless lives? Can it destroy the will of such a general? Can it? Even if one commands the most powerful thugs on Earth, can one be as unashamed as the old general?

No!!

Absolutely! No!!

In an instant, Hei Fa could even feel a tremor within himself. Unconsciously, a hint of fear arose in him. It seemed as though the person standing before him was no longer a mere human, but a god… a god of war!!

So, he bent his waist once again, bowing respectfully.

“Please, General, grant me your guidance.”

The loud laughter ceased abruptly. The old general waved his hand.

“What guidance? I’m just a guest who has come to request a mission. Hei Fa, I know you and understand you. It’s said that although the Black-Haired Beauty gang has a poor reputation, they never fail to keep their promises. Now I ask you again—do you truly mean it?”

“I do!! Even if the Black-Haired Beauty gang perishes, if only one person remains, the first thing they will think of is completing this mission. Once words leave my mouth, they become ironclad rules!” Hei Fa replied firmly and decisively.

“Good!” The old general’s expression turned serious. With a gentle flick of his right hand, the coin traced a beautiful arc and landed in Hei Fa’s hand. “Then let me tell you now—this mission is this: you may only hand over this genetic map to them on the day when Huaguo rid itself of its incompetence and corruption and truly strives to become strong. Otherwise, no one is allowed to get it, not even you. You must not open it either! Can you do it?”

“I can! By the name of Hei Fa, I swear that unless Huaguo truly rises and becomes a dragon among the heavens, no one shall obtain this map. As long as I live, the map remains. If I die, the map disappears!!”

“That’s it.” The old general nodded in satisfaction. After thinking for a moment, he added with a sigh, “I know this is rather difficult for you. You’ve taken on his mission but can’t complete it fully. And in the future, you’ll face many who are eyeing it. The difficulties go without saying. But I have no other choice. I can die, but I refuse to let this map vanish. If…”

He paused. The old general’s face turned even paler. “If it’s truly impossible to keep it, then destroy it. The genetic map is equivalent to the lifeblood of the Chinese people. It must be destroyed rather than fall into the hands of outsiders, especially those with ulterior motives. Lin Hao is incompetent—I hope you can bear more responsibility.”

“A mission accepted must be completed. Though the Black-Haired Beauty gang is an illegal organization, its orders are absolute!” Hei Fa suddenly raised his head, meeting the old general’s gaze without hesitation.

“Unless our organization disappears completely from this earth, this map will be passed down from generation to generation until that day arrives. Until then, no one can take away the protection of the Black-Haired Beauty gang.”

“This task takes a very long time. I don’t know when Huaguo will truly strive to improve itself. This time might even be infinite…” The old general’s eyes lit up as he seemed to ponder deeply.
“But the cost of this task is high enough—it’s worth it for Hei Fa Hong Yan to do this, isn’t it?” Hei Fa refused to back down.
“Is it worth it?” The old general still sought confirmation.
“It is!”
“Hehe, hahaha!!” The old general suddenly laughed again, roaring wildly. “Then, I have no regrets in this life!!”
Amidst his wild laughter, the old general suddenly reached into his chest and gripped his heart tightly. The sudden contact caused his face to twist in pain. Yet he showed no fear and let out another roar…
“Hei Fa. I owe you a favor!!”
“Pfft!!”
With a swift grab and twist, amidst a gush of blood, the old general pulled his heart out. In an instant, a burst of golden light appeared, and the old general collapsed silently, lying straight as a spear—even as his heavy body hit the floor.
His right hand stretched toward the sky. At its center lay a golden heart. Countless thin golden threads were deeply embedded in it, with golden light flickering faintly.
Stepping forward slowly, Hei Fa took the heart from the old general’s hand and carefully placed it in his arms. His hands trembled, but his eyes were filled with determination. The old general lay quietly at his feet, his face kind, as if… asleep.
Looking at the old general’s peaceful expression, Hei Fa suddenly felt like crying.
A man… feeling like crying.
He knew that General Lin Hao had spent his life in battles, valuing military achievements above all. Thus, his subordinates were as fierce as wolves and tigers, often resorting to killing in warfare. Among the soldiers and civilians of other countries, this general, who had dedicated his life to warfare, had a terrible reputation—even compared to demons. After decades of fighting across the land, General Lin Hao’s name was enough to scare children into silence.
Yet who could have imagined that such a general, known as the God of Killing, was actually just a pitiful old man? He had given his entire life to Huaguo, only to end up with a notorious reputation. Years from now, who would know that there was once an old man who risked his life to gain a chance for his country to rise?
“I’m leaving… General Lin Hao.” Hei Fa’s voice was hoarse, unclear whether he was speaking to anyone.

“I will definitely keep my promises to you. Rest assured, once I return, I will find the best biologist in the organization to safeguard this genetic map as carefully as you do. No one, absolutely no one, can take it away. The one with black hair and a beautiful face will be its loyal guardian until the day when Huaguo recognizes it again.”
“This is a promise.”
“It’s my promise with black hair!!”