C20 A Father and Son Talk

Inside the room, Ling Chen had locked himself in, fully immersed in a wooden barrel. The golden medicinal liquid enveloped his body, meticulously cleansing every inch of his flesh. This liquid was even more vibrant than the previous Body Tempering Liquid and its fragrance was richer. Simply inhaling deeply without soaking could make one feel their bones stretch and relax in a wonderful way.

Ling Chen remained submerged until the next morning when he slowly opened his eyes. After a night's soak, the barrel's contents still glowed with a golden hue, only slightly dimmed. "This Vitreous Body Tempering Liquid is truly remarkable. Even after an entire night, most of its potency remains. It looks like this batch alone could last me three or four days," he murmured, rising from the barrel and swiftly dressing.

His cultivation hadn't broken through to Seventh Heaven, but he had reached the peak of Sixth Heaven. He hadn't made the breakthrough he hoped for, but Ling Chen was content, knowing that rushing could lead to setbacks.

Before leaving, he stealthily added a drop of Vitreous Body Tempering Liquid into Ling Shan's teacup, then contentedly headed to the academy.

...

Upon Ling Chen's entrance to the classroom, the atmosphere noticeably tensed; the room fell silent as all eyes fixed on him. Jealousy, respect, and a mix of other emotions filled the air. Since Ling Chen's resounding victory over Yang Xiao on the field, the students had gained a newfound respect for him, no longer underestimating his abilities. Rumor had it that the students who had once bullied Ling Chen had transferred to other academies in the past couple of days. Ling Chen couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and bemusement at the news.

"Ling Chen, you're here? I need to talk to you," Su Wanqing called out, breaking the silence. "Are you free tomorrow?"

"Yes, what's up?" Ling Chen replied, intrigued.

It was unusual for Su Wanqing to initiate conversation. "It's nothing major. Tomorrow's my birthday, and if you're not busy, I'd like you to join me for a meal," she said, a twinkle in her eye. "I've reserved a table at Breezy Tavern. Some of my close friends will be there, and since it's the weekend, we can all hang out together."

"Sure," Ling Chen nodded, not declining the offer.

In his class, Ling Chen didn't really click with anyone except for Su Wanqing, who was always willing to chat with him. Because of this, he was genuinely pleased to consider Su Wanqing a friend.

Ling Chen understood the reason behind Su Wanqing's invitation.

As the class president and a very responsible young woman, Su Wanqing was the only one to include him in activities, especially when he was being excluded by others. She never forgot to invite him to any gathering.

She did it to prevent Ling Chen from feeling inferior.

"Alright, it's a deal!" Su Wanqing said with a smile. "Meet me at the Breezy Tavern tomorrow at noon. Don't forget!"

"Okay!" Ling Chen replied with a nod, happily accepting the invitation.

It had been a while since he had enjoyed the company of others.

Occasionally socializing with these young people was indeed a nice way to unwind.

...

Before he knew it, the day had flown by.

After school, Ling Chen didn't head straight back to the Ling family home but made a detour to the market. With the class president's birthday approaching, he felt it was only right to prepare a gift rather than show up empty-handed.

After browsing for a bit, he selected a gift and then made his way home.

Upon arriving at the doorstep...

Ling Chen was suddenly filled with excitement.

He saw his father, Ling Shan, sitting on the bed, deeply immersed in meditation.

A soft glow of spiritual power enveloped Ling Shan's body, his breathing deep and enigmatic.

"Has he started to harness spiritual power?" Ling Chen watched joyfully, knowing that the Vitreous Body Tempering Liquid he provided was taking effect.

Sensing his son's presence, Ling Shan slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint passing through them as he greeted with a smile, "Chen, you're back?"

"Dad, what are you up to?" Ling Chen asked, feigning ignorance.

Ling Shan let out a breath, visibly thrilled, and explained, "I'm not quite sure myself. Around noon today, I felt a warm flow inside me, and then the spiritual power just surged forth uncontrollably."

With a puzzled look in his eyes, Ling Shan continued, "It's odd, I've never experienced anything like this before..."

"If that's the case, Dad, can you start cultivating again?" Ling Chen asked, his face alight with excitement.

"Sort of," Ling Shan nodded, a smile playing on his lips.

For a moment, he felt as though he was dreaming. More than a decade had passed since he became ill, and every attempt to harness his spiritual power had been as agonizing as being bitten by insects. But today, after circulating his spiritual power for a full cycle, he felt no pain—only a profound sense of liberation.

It was truly bizarre!

Ling Chen grinned and said, "Dad, since you're able to cultivate again, that's great news, isn't it? Why overthink it?"

"Absolutely! It's fantastic!" Ling Shan laughed heartily, unable to conceal his elation.

It had been over ten years of frustration within the Ling family. Now, with a newfound hope, his excitement was undeniable.

"Pop!"

Ling Shan retrieved a bottle of wine from beside the bed, his eyes twinkling. "Chen, I'm in high spirits today. How about we have a few drinks tonight?"

"Isn't that a bit much?" Ling Chen scratched his head, looking sheepish. "Dad, I'm still a kid. You're encouraging me to drink? What kind of father does that?"

"You little rascal, quit playing the innocent with me!" Ling Shan chided him with a chuckle. "Do you think I don't know you? At eight years old, you were already sneaking drinks and getting into fights behind my back. Did you think I was unaware?"

"Enough backtalk, go out and get us a couple of plates of peanuts!" Ling Shan said, feigning annoyance.

With a sly smile, Ling Chen promptly headed out the door.

...

Bathed in moonlight, they sat in the courtyard, each with a bowl of wine before them.

Ling Shan raised his cup, toasting with Ling Chen. "Forget everything else tonight, boy. We're not stopping until we're thoroughly drunk!"

"Deal!" Ling Chen responded eagerly, lifting his cup and downing the wine in one go.

The complex flavors—sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy—seemed to encapsulate their shared experience, flowing into the depths of father and son alike.

Ling Shan set his wine glass down, his eyes suddenly brimming with tears. With a gentle sigh, he said, "Chen, you've endured so much following in your father's footsteps all these years."

"Dad, can we not get so sentimental during dinner?" Ling Chen shrugged, his voice tinged with resignation.

Fathers, it seems, have a penchant for imparting life's grand lessons and philosophies over a meal. Despite having lived for millennia, Ling Chen still found such talks to be a pain, making him wince uncomfortably.

"You little rascal, I'm your father, can't I speak my mind? You're getting too big for your britches!" Ling Shan retorted, clearly irritated.

"Yes, yes, yes," Ling Chen quickly agreed. "You're my father, and you always will be! Dad, let's not talk about this anymore. Conserve your energy for eating."

"However…"

Ling Shan let out a sigh, his expression filled with remorse. "Honestly, son, I haven't been a good father. I haven't provided you with wealth or status, nor have I shielded you from hardships. I've even had to bear daily humiliations…"

"To have a father like me is probably quite a disappointment, isn't it?"

Tears welled up in Ling Shan's eyes as he chuckled at himself.

"Dad, that's not true at all!" Ling Chen's face took on a serious look. "You may not have given me riches or prestige, but you gave me life. Without you, there would be no Ling Chen!"

"No matter what the future holds, you will always be my father."

In his past life, Ling Chen had been an orphan, wandering the continent alone for thousands of years. Now that he finally had a father, how could he not treasure him?

Ling Shan's smile was one of contentment. "You're quite the charmer with those words. If your mother were here, she'd probably be laughing with joy, wouldn't she?"

Mother...

The mention of the word cast a shadow over Ling Chen's face. He remembered that his mother had died giving birth to him, leaving Ling Shan to raise him single-handedly.

Yet, Ling Chen had once been a wayward son, only interested in life's pleasures.

To ensure that Ling Chen could attend the Empire Academy, Ling Shan had pleaded with countless individuals and prostrated himself before many. Whenever Ling Chen recalled these efforts, a sharp pain would twinge in his heart, and he would berate himself for his past failures.

With these thoughts in mind, Ling Chen abruptly stood, cradling his wine bowl, and gave his father a deep bow. Ling Shan, startled, looked at him with suspicion and asked, "What are you up to now, you rascal?"

Ling Chen looked up earnestly and replied, "Father, thank you for all the years you've looked after me. I've been a disappointment and a burden for too long, always causing you worry. Rest assured, from now on, as long as I'm around, no one will ever bully us again!"

"And to my mother, whom I've never met, she must have been a very gentle woman. I'm grateful to her for bringing me into this world and for giving me such a wonderful father. Having you both as my parents, I, Ling Chen, am truly fulfilled."

"This cup is to honor you both." With that, Ling Chen drained his cup in one swallow.

Witnessing this, Ling Chen's face was suddenly streaked with hot tears as he exclaimed, "You little scoundrel, didn't we agree no sentimental speeches? And now you pull this on me?"

"You really are a scoundrel!" Ling Chen chided, even as he too downed his wine in one swift motion. The clear liquid cascaded down his throat, indistinguishable from the tears that might have mingled with it.

More than a decade had passed.

For over ten years, since Su Yun had left, Ling Shan hadn't felt such happiness. Their Chen had finally grown up. How wonderful it would be if she were here to see this.

Overcome with emotion, Ling Shan's nose tingled, and tears spilled uncontrollably as he began to sob loudly. Eventually, he collapsed onto the table, succumbing to a drunken slumber.

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