William Brooks said with a beaming smile, “Oh, it’s David Brooks big brother, long time no see. David Brooks big brother has always cared deeply for me. Ever since we parted five years ago, I’ve been pining for you, brother. I miss you so much that I can’t sleep at night.” This David Brooks was the one who, after William Brooks’s martial arts were crippled back then, had humiliated William Brooks in the most vicious way.

David Brooks replied with a fake smile, “Is that so, haha? I, too, never forget about you for a single day, little brother. I always wonder, which garbage heap is my dear brother searching for moldy bread in today? Hope you don’t go hungry.” He put on a look of deep thought and remembrance, furrowing his brows as if pondering.

“Hahahaha, don’t worry, big brother. Even if William Brooks can’t find moldy bread, he won’t starve. There are so many discarded vegetable leaves at the market—he’s probably eating them with great joy.” A shrill, androgynous voice rang out; it was a skinny young man behind David Brooks, shaking his head and swaying as he spoke.

“A pair of idiots!” Henry Brooks cursed inwardly. Since William Brooks dared to show up so brazenly in front of everyone today, he must have made thorough preparations to come for revenge. With William Brooks’s cunning, everyone was already in an extremely dangerous situation, yet these two idiots were still fanning the flames!

Emily Brooks stepped forward, a trace of sorrow and confusion on her stunning face, and said, “Brother Tian, what happened back then was my fault, but so many years have passed, and today is my wedding day. Can’t you just sit down and have a cup of celebratory wine?”

William Brooks burst out laughing, then said gently, “Emily sister, you’re being too serious. I’ve long forgotten what happened back then. I came today because there’s another great regret in my heart that I must get off my chest.”

Emily Brooks’s delicate brows knitted slightly, her gaze inexplicably intense. She asked, “I wonder what it is that you still can’t let go of? If I can help, I’ll do so without hesitation.”

William Brooks’s eyes turned cold, though his face remained gentle, with a hint of savagery beneath. He said slowly, “There’s a road to the underworld that I should have walked long ago, but I’ve never been willing to…” David Brooks interrupted with a cold sneer, “That’s because you haven’t eaten enough garbage yet, of course you’re not willing.”

William Brooks ignored him and continued, “…Today I want to walk that road, but I’m not reconciled.”

Henry Brooks instinctively sensed something was wrong. “What are you not reconciled about?”

William Brooks laughed heartily, his laughter full of delight. “I’m not reconciled that, on that road, it turns out you bunch of trash will be accompanying me! Hahahaha…”

The Huang family head, Huang Zhensheng, was shocked and instantly guessed William Brooks’s plan. “Explosives?”

William Brooks gave him an approving look and praised, “Worthy of being the Huang family head—truly quick-witted.”

Henry Brooks shouted, “Catch him quickly, don’t let him detonate the explosives!” As he shouted, he was already darting out like a flash. He knew in his heart that even if they caught William Brooks now, it would be too late. It was better to escape first and have a better chance of survival.

William Brooks threw his head back and laughed wildly, looking deranged. “Too late, hahaha, too late! If you had started running the moment I came in, maybe you could have saved your lives. But now? Hahahaha…” Amid his maniacal laughter, a sudden loud explosion erupted. Immediately after, explosions rang out throughout the villa, from the outside in. The ground beneath everyone’s feet shook violently, making it hard to stand. The buildings in the villa collapsed like mud and straw, explosions echoing for miles, and screams filled the air. The helicopters that had just landed exploded one after another, creating an apocalyptic scene.

William Brooks could no longer stand, so he sat on the ground, watching people panic and scatter in terror, laughing with wild delight. “No need to hide. Even if these explosives aren’t as powerful as the two atomic bombs America dropped on Japan, they’re not far off! Hahaha…”

David Brooks’s handsome face twisted with ferocity. He had already drawn a dagger, and screamed shrilly, “William Brooks, if anyone’s going to die first, it’ll be you!” He lunged at him with the blade.

William Brooks didn’t dodge or flinch, letting the dagger plunge deep into his chest. Blood spurted from his mouth, but he only laughed more wildly and maniacally…

The most violent explosion finally erupted. With a thunderous boom, several mushroom clouds rose simultaneously. Below, the sprawling Donghai estate of the Huang family vanished without a trace, replaced by a massive crater! In the distance, the seawall holding back the ocean had been completely blown apart, and the surging seawater rushed in. From then on, there was a new ring-shaped bay on the East Sea…

Dozens of miles away, atop a high mountain, a young woman in black stood for a long time. Her beautiful face was streaked with tears. After a while, she lit three sticks of incense, placed them in the ground, bowed deeply, and murmured to herself, “Brother Tian, may you have a safe journey!”

Book One: Star Youth

Chapter Three: On the Road to the Underworld

William Brooks was filled with the joy of revenge. At the very moment of the explosion, he saw the faces of Emily Brooks, David Brooks, John Brooks, and the others twisted in utter terror, and his heart was elated! He only regretted that there was no more time left for him to savor the pleasure of revenge.