Afterlife Department

Chapter 259 - Jonathan Baurne

"Right… you're right… I'm the one to blame. This is all my fault…" Jonathan Baurne muttered in a daze. "I'm the one to blame… this is my fault… my fault… the blame is on me…" he spoke in a low voice and his eyes are blank. He is obviously not aware of his words, and just blurt out whatever comes to his mind. That is, blaming himself.

"Jonathan!" Lao Xie called in alarm as he stared at Jonathan Baurne in shock. As the eldest among the three leaders of the three factions, he has seen Jonathan Baurne and Lu Si grew up. Although not very early from they were born, but he also isn't very late.

He had watched the change in the clan head of the Baurne Clan for three times. From the Baurne Patriarch passing the clan head position to Joseph Baurne, his eldest son. Then, after Joseph Baurne died, James Baurne rose to the position. However, James Baurne also died, and so the clan head position fell on to Jonathan Baurne, the least to inherit the clan head position and the family, into his hands.

Children killing their parents, siblings killing their siblings, the dark secrets of the families, internal strife, Lao Xie have seen them all. And Jonathan Baurne, the unlucky one, has them all. The outsiders might say Jonathan has killed his elder brothers to have the clan head position. However, only Jonathan's real friends knew what truly has happened.

Jonathan's father has died of old age. One could say this is the most peaceful death to occur in the underworld. When Joseph Baurne rose to the position, Jonathan and James, his brothers, are loyal since they only have each other to rely on. However, Joseph Baurne was killed along with his wife. James rose to the position. His weakness is that he is a coward. He never wanted the position, yet because he was the second son, he was forced to the position.

His fears came true. He was killed, bringing his wife along with him, leaving their young son Jason to Jonathan, who not yet has come of age. Jonathan was still in his teens, the period which is the most critical in a person's life. He was forced to shoulder the responsibility his father and his elder brothers have died to. He was afraid, of course. Deeply afraid. He was a good child. He never wanted to get involved with the underworld, and was secretly yearning for the light.

Yet, the light was taken away from him, and he was pushed into the deep darkness. He developed extreme anxiety, yet because he was the clan head, holding a great power, he was forced to suppress it. Hide it. Control it.

Lao Xie watched Jonathan who, as if can't hear anything around him. His eyes are filled with pity and he looked at Lu Si whose eyes are bloodshot as he stared at Jonathan's face. One of the things Jonathan has to give up is Lu Si, his lover from District 8.

Jonathan's ears are ringing, and his face is pale. His lips are bloodless and quivering while his eyes are red and his tears are streaming down his pale cheeks. "This is my fault… I've killed xiao Ling – " he muttered as his eyes widened in horror, as if he had thought something terrible. "Xiao Ling… where are you? Where is xiao Ling?" he asked as he raised his head and turned around to look, but his eyes are vacant. "Xiao Ling… uncle's here. Don't be afraid. No one can hurt you – " he said, his eyes fixed in front of him as if he could see Huo Ling.

Lu Si is still mad, but his expression changed when he heard what Jonathan said. It was then that after he had vented his anger did he see Jonathan's poor complexion. "Jonathan…" he called.

"Xiao Ling shouldn't have died…" Jonathan continued, his hands, his whole body is trembling. "I'm the one… I'm the one who should have died - !" he said. Suddenly, he grabbed the butter knife on the table and raised it, then lowered it to stab himself!

Lao Xie's eyes widened in shock. "Jonathan!" he cried.

Fortunately, Lu Si has come to his senses and stopped Jonathan harming himself. However –

"Lu Si!" Lao Xie cried in horror when he saw Lu Si's hand was punctured by the knife. He knows how sharp are the utensils in his own home. He stared in shock at Lu Si's bleeding hand.

The bright red blood dripped down to the floor, while some flowed down the blade of the knife, and into Jonathan Baurne's hand.

When Jonathan felt the warm liquid in his skin, his mind cleared. However, his eyes widened in horror when he saw the knife piercing Lu Si's hand. "Lu Si - !" he cried in alarm.

"Is your mind clear now?" Lu Si asked Jonathan as he slowly pulled the knife off his hand without a change in expression on his face. "Because mine did." He told him as he threw the knife drenched in blood to the table.

The blood from the knife soaked the snow-white color of the table cloth.

"Lu Si!" Jonathan cried and immediately took out his handkerchief before pressing it on Jonathan's palm. However, there's another hole on the back of Lu Si's hand where blood flowed out. Jonathan was panicking and he picked up the table napkin from the table and wrapped it around Lu Si's hand.

Lao Xie saw that the two men finally calmed down and he sighed, suddenly feeling tired. "Bring the first aid kit and some bandages!" he told the servant that arrived after he heard the commotion.

"Y-yes!" he answered with a pale face when he saw Lu Si was hurt. He immediately ran to find the first aid kit.

Yi Bing frowned when he saw what happened and he hid to not look suspicious. "Lu Si." He muttered. This was the second time he met the man. The first time is during Huo Ling's funeral in the Baurne residence. But, he only saw the man afar.

What type of person is Lu Si? Back in the Baurne residence, he saw Lu Si radiating killing intent that is directed towards Jason Baurne. However, today he saw a different side of Lu Si when he saw Lu Si unhesitatingly let himself be pierced by the knife just to stop Jonathan.

Yi Bing can't help but be suspicious. He has seen all kinds of things in different worlds. Jonathan Baurne's and Lu Si's relationship is strange. He decided to drop this matter for now, and would ponder over it when he returned to the hotel and discuss this with Di San and the others.

He turned when he heard footsteps and widened his eyes, acting shocked, when he saw Jonathan Baurne was accompanied by Lu Si and Lao Xie. "What happened?" he asked as he regained his calm, his expression back to being cold.

Lu Si turned his head to look at him. Yi Bing maintained his expression. It was Lu Si who withdrew his gaze and turned to Jonathan Baurne whose face is still pale. "I'll be leaving first." He said and walked past Yi Bing.

Yi Bing's shoulder was bumped by Lu Si and he took a step to the side.

"Lu Si! Your hand!" Jonathan Baurne called.

Lu Si didn't look back, nor did he answer. Lao Xie sighed as he watched Lu Si's back until Lu Si disappeared from their sight. He then glanced at Yi Bing.

Yi Bing remained silent, but his brows raised.

Lao Xie's lips suddenly curled up before he turned to Jonathan. "Lu Si took the knife for you earlier. But, he suddenly became cold again. It seems… he misunderstood something." He told Jonathan, his smile and words full of meaning.

Jonathan's mind was still muddled from fright earlier. However, when he heard Lu Si's name was mentioned, his mind became extremely sharp and he looked at Lao Xie as if he heard something scandalous. "Don't slander me!" he said. "All these years, in my heart, only he – " he said before he freeze when he realized he said something he shouldn't. His face reddened and he glared at Lao Xie. "You old, cunning fox!" he said. "Yi Ling, let's go!" he told Yi Bing before he hurriedly walked away.

Lao Xie chuckled before he patted Yi Bing's shoulder. "Tell your boss I will clarify his name to Lu Si." He told him and then left.

Yi Bing's lips twitched as he thoughtfully watched Lao Xie leave before he turned to follow Jonathan Baurne. Lao Xie is really an old, cunning fox as Jonathan Baurne said. Not only Lao Xie's words he said to Yi Bing would make Jonathan Baurne feel gratified to Lao Xie for Lao Xie would be clearing Jonathan Baurne's name to Lu Si, but Lao Xie's words also served as a warning to Yi Bing for him to not have any intentions to Jonathan Baurne.

Lao Xie's words implied that something is going on between Jonathan Baurne and Lu Si.

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