Chapter 78

Translated by Snowfall77

In any case, Lin Xiao hadn’t expected Ling Luo to tell Lin Yue the truth.

But how could Ling Luo not know, that by claiming he killed Lin Xiao, Lin Yue would seek revenge? There had been no witnesses, so why tell Lin Yue anything?

And Lin Xiao hadn’t died yet.

“Tell me what happened to you.” Lin Yue wanted directness. Lin Yue’s main concern now was who had ruined his son’s dantian…

“My dantian was destroyed by Ling Luo.” Lin Xiao said eventually.

“It was him!” Lin Yue was furious, slamming his hand on a table, until Lin Xiao tugged at his sleeve.

“Father, he did it because I killed his parents.”

Lin Xiao, still in a rage, choked. Looking at his son, he scowled. “You killed his parents?”

“Hmm.” Lin Xiao looked chagrined.

“You…How and why would you kill his parents?”

Lin Xiao gave a hard, little laugh. He explained to Lin Yue about the yellow grass, how he lost his mind and attacked Ling Luo’s parents. He only left out Huangfu Shan.

He’d never told Lin Yue about Huangfu Shan from the beginning, and there was no need to share it now.

After taking in Lin Xiao’s story, Lin Yue meditated quietly for a few moments. Finally, he asked: “Are you really sure you killed Ling Luo’s parents?”

Lin Xiao nodded. He still saw that image of their frightened faces, right before he had fallen unconscious. Along with the blood and the fragments of clothing, was that not proof of what he’d done?

Lin Xiao thought so. Lin Yue did not.

Lin Yue was still scowling. “Where were the bodies?”

“When I woke up, the bodies were gone. I thought monsters must have eaten them.”

“Impossible!” Lin Yue stated decisively.

“Why?” Lin Xiao asked.

Lin Yue said: “Why would beasts only eat the dead bodies, and not you too? You were just lying there.”

Lin Yue’s words made Lin Xiao’s eyes open wide. Why hadn’t he thought of that? But…inside, his heart was too convinced of his sin. “Maybe, even though I was unconscious, my cultivation scared them off.”

“…Were the bodies of Ling Luo’s parents not far from where you were?”

Lin Xiao searched his memory, replying: “Not far.”

Lin Yue: “If your cultivation was pressuring the monsters, they would have stayed away from your proximity. If the parents were close you, they wouldn’t have been eaten.” After a pause, Lin Yue continued, “Think carefully. Is it possible that someone else could have saved them?”

Lin Xiao thought of Huangfu Shan, who had disappeared at the same time.

However, if Huangfu Shan had rescued Ling Luo’s parents, why hadn’t she resurfaced after such a long time? Lin Xiao’s countenance had brightened for a moment, but dimmed again.

All these years had passed. If Ling Luo’s parents were alive, they wouldn’t have stayed missing so long.

Lin Xiao shook his head. “Father, if Ling Luo’s parents still live, they have no reason to not appear.”

Lin Yue considered, then said: “Perhaps they were trapped somewhere they couldn’t get out of? Son, without seeing the bodies, you can’t be so sure that you really killed them.”

Lin Xiao just smiled and didn’t answer. Whether Ling Luo’s parents lived or not, until they showed up, he considered himself a murderer.

“Father, Ling Luo could have killed me and he didn’t. It’s a kindness that he only took my dantian. If he had murdered you, I would have sought his death.” And in his previous life, Lin Xiao had tried to take out Ling Luo. Just in this life, he knew Ling Luo truly was the protagonist, so Lin Xiao had no such thoughts.

And putting himself in Ling Luo’s shoes, Lin Xiao knew that if Ling Luo were to kill Lin Yue, Lin Xiao would give his utmost to kill Ling Luo.

Lin Xiao still felt that Ling Luo had been merciful. He had read the novel and experienced some of it himself. Lin Xiao’s feelings towards his parents were very clear. If Lin Xiao had been someone else, he was sure he’d already be long dead. He had felt Ling Luo’s killing intent that day.

He just didn’t know why Ling Luo had shifted his aim…from the heart to the dantian.

“There was no one else there?” Lin Yue asked again. Knowing that Lin Xiao would try to avenge him warmed Lin Yue’s heart, but Lin Yue also wanted to know that Lin Xiao wouldn’t lie to avoid blame. He wanted to continue cherishing his son as a honorable man.

“I can’t say that there was.” Lin Xiao shrugged.

If he could murder someone’s parents, and not truthfully confess to it, then he wasn’t Lin Xiao.

Before, Lin Xiao might have had the idea of killing Ling Luo, or the plan of stealing Ling Luo’s adventures, but after Ling Luo saved his life, Lin Xiao knew to be thankful. He just hadn’t known Ling Luo and he would step-by-step become good brothers.

Lin Xiao couldn’t help lamenting his inconceivable fate.

In his previous life, he and Ling Luo had been opposed to the death. This life, they became brothers. Now, they had returned to being enemies.

Lin Yue understood his son’s character and sighed bitterly. There was too much that was unclear about the matter, but dead men tell no tales. “You…have been staying with Ling Luo?” Lin Yue asked suddenly.

Lin Xiao nodded.

Lin Yue’s frown immediately deepened.

“I’ll send you away in secret,” Lin Yue said. To Lin Yue, even if Ling Luo hadn’t killed Lin Xiao, taking Lin Xiao’s dantian was still disgracing and humiliating his son.

“Where could I escape too?” Lin Xiao asked.

“Who knows? The farther the better!”

“Father, have you forgotten the level of Ling Luo’s cultivation?”

“I will stop him!” Knowing Lin Xiao still lived, Lin Yue was not afraid to give his old life for his son.

His father’s words warmed Lin Xiao’s heart, but he smiled softly and said: “Father, I am a man. I have to decide what I do.”

Lin Yue, frustrated, didn’t know how to persuade his son. That his son was stubborn, he was well aware. Lin Yue leaned back heavily into his chair. “Lin Xiao, I am your father, you are my son. Understand me…how could I see my son jump into a pit of fire without trying to save him?”

Lin Xiao’s heart could hardly bear listening, he opened his mouth to comfort his father, but someone else’s voice sounded in his ear: “……Rest assured, I won’t let your son die.”

Ling Luo.

Lin Yue, hearing that voice, jumped up and stood in front of Lin Xiao.

A moment later, Ling Luo appeared in front of them.

He observed Lin Yue and Lin Xiao, his eyes deep and dark.

Lin Xiao inexplicably felt a twinge of guilt.

Ling Luo was silently staring at him, until Lin Xiao’s scalp practically went numb.

“What do you want to do?!” Lin Yue couldn’t hold back any longer. He was afraid. Afraid that Ling Luo would hurt his son. Afraid that even if he used his old life to let Lin Xiao make an escape, it would only delay the inevitable. The state Lin Xaio was in, how far away could he run?

“I’m here to take Lin Xiao, to treat his dantian.”

Lin Yue couldn’t believe the words he was hearing.

Ling Luo didn’t elaborate further. He just stayed fixed and said: “Lin Xiao’s time is running out. If his dantian doesn’t get treated now, it might never recover.”

Lin Yue hesitated, Ling Luo’s assertion having hit his fatherly weak spot, then said: “Are you speaking the truth?”

“If I had wanted to kill Lin Xiao, I would have already done it.” Ling Luo’s voice low.

“Then why did you take his dantian?!” Lin Yue already knew the answer, but he couldn’t help himself. Any father would be distressed at his son suffering, even if his son had done wrong first…

Ling Luo’s face remained neutral. He didn’t answer Lin Yue’s question, but just kept gazing at Lin Xiao with black eyes.

Ling Luo’s parents had vanished for so many years, because of Lin Xiao. Ling Luo didn’t regret keeping Lin Xiao alive. And that he was impulsive, Ling Luo could admit to it. So now he was trying to find a way to repair Lin Xiao’s dantian.

He was still also looking for news of his parents…His parents might still be alive, but who knows where they are?

Wouldn’t anyone be sad and upset about such things?

Ling Luo had used all his emotions for his cultivation.

Knowing that only when he was strong, could he do what he wanted.

Lin Xiao thought he saw a trace on loneliness in Ling Luo’s eyes. Lin Xiao clenched his fists, but didn’t know what to say.

Lin Yue, realizing that Ling Luo wasn’t going answer him, asked no more. Ling Luo was correct, if he had really wanted Lin Xiao’s death, he’d had the past ten years to do so. After considering for a moment, Lin Yue turned to Lin Xiao.

He needed to know what his son’s decision was.

Looking in his father’s eyes, Lin Xiao slowly nodded his head.

……

In the end, Lin Xiao went with Ling Luo.

Before they left, Lin Xiao wanted to find Huangfu Jiquan and let him know what was going on, but Ling Luo forcibly took him away.

For once, Lin Xiao had tried to resist. After all, Huangfu Jiquan had taken him to see his father. And now, leaving without thanking Huangfu Jiquan, Lin Xiao felt it was ungracious.

But Ling Luo was unyielding.

Lin Xiao spitefully thought that Ling Luo’s mood swings were quite intense, but tried one last time, saying: “Let me find Huangfu Jiquan.”

Ling Luo replied with: “Why did you have Huangfu Jiquan take you back to the Lin house?” His voice quiet, trying to stifle his anger.

The author has something to say:

Ling Luo (teary-eyed): I am not a scum attacking Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao-(with a wounded face, clutching his wasted dantian).

Ling Luo (slapping himself): I was wrong, qaq, I will find a way to restore his dantian.

Author (contemplating): When will I release Ling Luo’s parents?