When leaving, Lin Xiao already had his destination in his heart.
The Lin family. And he arrived there quickly.
After all, while he had been waiting for Ling Luo, Lin Xiao had been cultivating. Therefore, his speed had improved.
When he got home, he found Lin Yue was reading in his study.
Lin Yue sensed someone’s arrival and frowned, thinking someone hadn’t wanted to announce their presence. He looked up, about to say something, when he saw the person was Lin Xiao.
Lin Yue froze on the spot.
“Father?” Lin Xiao gently called.
That awakened Lin Yue from his daze.
Perhaps because he was accustomed to Lin Xiao always leaving, Lin Yue’s expression was pleased, but sedate.
“It’s good to have you back. Do you want to go to your room to rest? How long are you going to stay this time?” Lin Yue asked.
His father’s words made Lin Xiao feel a little pained. He had missed the comfort of home.
“I’ll be staying for longer this time,” Lin Xiao told Lin Yue, smiling.
“Good. Very good!” Lin Yue happily laughed. He couldn’t help but be pleased. The longer he lived, the more he treasured time with his son.
Lin Xiao suffered bittersweet pangs. He watched his father’s eyes crinkle up in high spirts, and saw wrinkles there on Lin Yue’s face.
Cultivators didn’t easily grow old. But now Lin Yue had white hair and creases in his skin. The years of fearing for Lin Xiao must have taken their toll.
Lin Xiao thinned his lips. He resolved to stay with Lin Yue for a long while.
After accompanying his father for a period, then Lin Xiao would look for Lin Wan. There was plenty of time.
……
Lin Xiao ate dinner with Lin Yue every day, the way it had used to be. Lin Yue would pass his son morsels, though he didn’t pile up Lin Xiao’s bowl quite as full as before.
So together they passed the time, in a simple and warm way.
And Lin Xiao thought that was how things would continue, until it was time to find Lin Wan.
But a guest came to the Lin house.
Ling Luo.
""
Seeing Ling Luo, Lin Yue’s thoughts were in turmoil.
On one hand, Ling Luo had destroyed Lin Xiao’s dantian. Lin Yue’s distress for his son had been almost unbearable. How could a father tolerate such a thing?
On the other hand, Ling Luo had possessed semi-justifiable reasons for his actions. Perhaps Lin Yue himself had acted on impulse also? Then later Ling Luo helped Lin Xiao restore his dantian.
In the end, Ling Luo was Lin Xiao’s friend. Whatever Lin Yue thought in his heart, there was limit to how much he could interfere with Lin Xiao’s relationships.
Thinking this, Lin Yue went to his study to peruse his books, leaving Ling Luo and Lin Xiao alone in the hall.
Watching his father’s leisurely retreat, Lin Xiao couldn’t help but rub his forehead.
Father, you just threw your son to the one who took your son’s dantian, among other things. Are you truly alright with that?
Lin Xiao really hadn’t wanted Lin Yue to leave.
Not knowing how to act, Lin Xiao casually sat down in a chair.
Looking down, his voice faint, Lin Xiao inquired: “Why are you here?”
In spite of Lin Xiao’s cold attitude, Ling Luo kept his face neutral. Hiding his pain, Ling Luo said: “I’ve…I’ve come because the cultivation you practiced from the stone pillar in the secret realm, there might be problems. I don’t know for sure, but I wanted to come and check on you.”
A problem?
Lin Xiao’s first thought was that it was just an excuse on Ling Luo’s part, to come and harass Lin Xiao. Instinctively, Lin Xiao refused. “I feel fine, there is no need to worry or come here.”
Ling Luo hadn’t expected that Lin Xiao would reject Ling Luo’s words so quickly. This time, Ling Luo couldn’t disguise the loneliness in his expression.
“You don’t have to turn me down so quickly. What I’m saying is true. The master told me not long ago that that practice was not perfect. I studied the method and found a problem. The problem being, possibly, that your cultivation efforts might be in vain…Your dantian…could disintegrate and you’d lose all your cultivation again.”
Lin Xiao stared at Ling Luo in shock.
“How could this happen?” Lin Xiao asked.
Ling Luo said, “When I found the problem, I came straight to you. Even knowing the last person you want to see is me.”
Ling Luo was right about that. He was indeed the last person Lin Xiao wanted to see.
Lin Xiao still couldn’t sort his feelings for Ling Luo. All Lin Xiao really wanted to do was to close his eyes and ignore Ling Luo.
However, Ling Luo came because of Lin Xiao’s dantian.
If Lin Xiao lost his dantian again, he thought he might crumble apart.
The taste of repeatedly losing was terrible…
Moreover, the stone pillar practice, the author of the method, and the secret realm all rested in Ling Luo’s palm.
Even if Lin Xiao didn’t want to believe Ling Luo, Lin Xiao couldn’t make light of his own dantian.
“Alright…” Lin Xiao felt helpless.
Why? When he had finally found confidence in the future again?
Truly, it had been a mistake from the start, approaching Ling Luo.
Lin Xiao sighed.
He couldn’t stay away from Ling Luo now. Not until this was resolved.
Seeing Lin Xiao’s acceptance, Ling Luo stayed very serious. Assuring Lin Xiao of his return, Ling Luo hurried away to make preparations.
Lin Xiao’s dantian…Ling Luo could not be careless about it.
When leaving, Lin Xiao already had his destination in his heart.
The Lin family. And he arrived there quickly.
After all, while he had been waiting for Ling Luo, Lin Xiao had been cultivating. Therefore, his speed had improved.
When he got home, he found Lin Yue was reading in his study.
Lin Yue sensed someone’s arrival and frowned, thinking someone hadn’t wanted to announce their presence. He looked up, about to say something, when he saw the person was Lin Xiao.
Lin Yue froze on the spot.
“Father?” Lin Xiao gently called.
That awakened Lin Yue from his daze.
Perhaps because he was accustomed to Lin Xiao always leaving, Lin Yue’s expression was pleased, but sedate.
“It’s good to have you back. Do you want to go to your room to rest? How long are you going to stay this time?” Lin Yue asked.
His father’s words made Lin Xiao feel a little pained. He had missed the comfort of home.
“I’ll be staying for longer this time,” Lin Xiao told Lin Yue, smiling.
“Good. Very good!” Lin Yue happily laughed. He couldn’t help but be pleased. The longer he lived, the more he treasured time with his son.
Lin Xiao suffered bittersweet pangs. He watched his father’s eyes crinkle up in high spirts, and saw wrinkles there on Lin Yue’s face.
Cultivators didn’t easily grow old. But now Lin Yue had white hair and creases in his skin. The years of fearing for Lin Xiao must have taken their toll.
Lin Xiao thinned his lips. He resolved to stay with Lin Yue for a long while.
After accompanying his father for a period, then Lin Xiao would look for Lin Wan. There was plenty of time.
……
Lin Xiao ate dinner with Lin Yue every day, the way it had used to be. Lin Yue would pass his son morsels, though he didn’t pile up Lin Xiao’s bowl quite as full as before.
So together they passed the time, in a simple and warm way.
And Lin Xiao thought that was how things would continue, until it was time to find Lin Wan.
But a guest came to the Lin house.
Ling Luo.
""
Seeing Ling Luo, Lin Yue’s thoughts were in turmoil.
On one hand, Ling Luo had destroyed Lin Xiao’s dantian. Lin Yue’s distress for his son had been almost unbearable. How could a father tolerate such a thing?
On the other hand, Ling Luo had possessed semi-justifiable reasons for his actions. Perhaps Lin Yue himself had acted on impulse also? Then later Ling Luo helped Lin Xiao restore his dantian.
In the end, Ling Luo was Lin Xiao’s friend. Whatever Lin Yue thought in his heart, there was limit to how much he could interfere with Lin Xiao’s relationships.
Thinking this, Lin Yue went to his study to peruse his books, leaving Ling Luo and Lin Xiao alone in the hall.
Watching his father’s leisurely retreat, Lin Xiao couldn’t help but rub his forehead.
Father, you just threw your son to the one who took your son’s dantian, among other things. Are you truly alright with that?
Lin Xiao really hadn’t wanted Lin Yue to leave.
Not knowing how to act, Lin Xiao casually sat down in a chair.
Looking down, his voice faint, Lin Xiao inquired: “Why are you here?”
In spite of Lin Xiao’s cold attitude, Ling Luo kept his face neutral. Hiding his pain, Ling Luo said: “I’ve…I’ve come because the cultivation you practiced from the stone pillar in the secret realm, there might be problems. I don’t know for sure, but I wanted to come and check on you.”
A problem?
Lin Xiao’s first thought was that it was just an excuse on Ling Luo’s part, to come and harass Lin Xiao. Instinctively, Lin Xiao refused. “I feel fine, there is no need to worry or come here.”
Ling Luo hadn’t expected that Lin Xiao would reject Ling Luo’s words so quickly. This time, Ling Luo couldn’t disguise the loneliness in his expression.
“You don’t have to turn me down so quickly. What I’m saying is true. The master told me not long ago that that practice was not perfect. I studied the method and found a problem. The problem being, possibly, that your cultivation efforts might be in vain…Your dantian…could disintegrate and you’d lose all your cultivation again.”
Lin Xiao stared at Ling Luo in shock.
“How could this happen?” Lin Xiao asked.
Ling Luo said, “When I found the problem, I came straight to you. Even knowing the last person you want to see is me.”
Ling Luo was right about that. He was indeed the last person Lin Xiao wanted to see.
Lin Xiao still couldn’t sort his feelings for Ling Luo. All Lin Xiao really wanted to do was to close his eyes and ignore Ling Luo.
However, Ling Luo came because of Lin Xiao’s dantian.
If Lin Xiao lost his dantian again, he thought he might crumble apart.
The taste of repeatedly losing was terrible…
Moreover, the stone pillar practice, the author of the method, and the secret realm all rested in Ling Luo’s palm.
Even if Lin Xiao didn’t want to believe Ling Luo, Lin Xiao couldn’t make light of his own dantian.
“Alright…” Lin Xiao felt helpless.
Why? When he had finally found confidence in the future again?
Truly, it had been a mistake from the start, approaching Ling Luo.
Lin Xiao sighed.
He couldn’t stay away from Ling Luo now. Not until this was resolved.
Seeing Lin Xiao’s acceptance, Ling Luo stayed very serious. Assuring Lin Xiao of his return, Ling Luo hurried away to make preparations.
Lin Xiao’s dantian…Ling Luo could not be careless about it.
