Chapter 5: The Knight Sacred Mountain (Part One)
The young woman behind the counter hastily whispered, “Little brother, you should leave quickly. This is no place for someone like you. Pay them no mind; these adventurers live lives drenched in blood and danger. Under such pressure, they often behave poorly. Still, they shouldn’t dare harm you—after all, this is the Guild.”
After speaking these words, the young woman suddenly noticed something new in the clear eyes of the youth before her: a quality called determination.
“He should not have insulted my mother,” Long Haochen said as he pulled an object from his chest and handed it to the young woman, then turned and walked toward the bearded man.
Ten-year-old Long Haochen, whose height did not even reach the chest of the burly man with the thick beard, walked with remarkably steady steps.
“Well, well, well! Everyone, take a look; this little chick is actually angry. Tsk, tsk, just look at that pretty little face! So tender and dewy. Even if he truly is just a little chick, sent to the pleasure quarters, he’d be a first-rate catamite.”
The bearded man held a double-bladed battle axe; at that moment, he propped the axe on the ground, leaned against it, and watched Long Haochen with a mocking expression.
Long Haochen stopped one zhang away from the bearded man. His expression was calm, his back straight as an arrow; he clenched his left fist and placed it over his right chest, performing a standard knight’s salute.
The next moment, he pulled out a white glove and tossed it toward his opponent. Simultaneously, he drew the twin swords from his back, their points directed downward, and declared in a grave tone, “You have insulted my mother. I, Long Haochen, as a Squire of the Knight Temple, challenge you. This duel shall end only with death.”
Long Haochen’s voice was clear and resonant, easily heard by everyone around him. Instantly, the previously jeering and noisy adventurers fell silent. Even the bearded man was taken aback.
However, the bearded man recovered in an instant. “Hahaha, this is hilarious! Look at him! This little bastard must have heard too many stories, trying to challenge a knight when he’s not even a full one yet. Have your baby hairs even grown in properly? Fine, I accept your challenge! Come on! Come bite me! Hahahaha!”
Long Haochen raised his right hand, pointing his sword coldly toward the outside. “After you.” Although it was his first time visiting the Adventurers’ Guild, he knew fighting was prohibited within its walls, even for a formal knight’s challenge.
Having said this, he walked out first.
The bearded axe warrior followed without hesitation, accompanied by a large crowd eager to watch the spectacle. Only the young woman behind the counter stared blankly at the badge in her hand. “A First-Rank Provisional Knight? Could he really be one?”
Stepping out of the Adventurers’ Guild, even the warm sunlight failed to dispel the gloom weighing upon Long Haochen’s heart. At this moment, Starry Sky’s teachings echoed within him: “Waste no words on your enemies; cleanse your shame with the sword in your hand and the blood of your foes.”
The bearded man also emerged, hoisting his double-bladed battle axe onto his shoulder and pointing a finger at Long Haochen. “Come on, you little bastard! Let Grandpa teach you a lesson. Once I’ve knocked you flat, I won’t even kill you. I’ll just sell you off to the red-light district and make a few gold coins for my trouble…”
Just as bursts of mocking laughter erupted once more from the bystanders, Long Haochen moved.
Charge! His rapid footsteps rang out instantly. In a single moment, Long Haochen accelerated to his utmost speed, and those standing nearby could clearly see a trace of white appear upon each of the fine iron swords he held.
The Pure White Blade was indeed the weapon commonly used by low-ranking knights of the Knight Temple.
In an instant, the raucous laughter ceased abruptly as Long Haochen closed the distance to stand right before his opponent.
Seeing Long Haochen’s charge, the bearded man was startled. He too recognized the Pure White Blade, and his expression immediately changed. He had never expected this child to truly belong to the Knight Temple, the foremost among the Six Holy Temples. How could an ordinary adventurer like himself survive after offending them? No matter; he would eliminate this brat first and flee immediately if necessary.
With such thoughts racing through his mind, malice surged within the bearded man. He swung his double-bladed axe with both hands, delivering a heavy chop to meet the charging Long Haochen. As a second-rank, third-tier Warrior with spiritual energy exceeding one hundred twenty, his lunging heavy strike appeared quite formidable and carried imposing momentum.
However, over the past year, Long Haochen had faced magical beasts nearly every week on his way home, accumulating no small amount of combat experience. The crucial point was that even in this moment, he remained perfectly calm.
He stomped his right foot heavily on the ground, employing once again the technique that had interrupted his charge when facing Li Xin, and this time, he seamlessly followed it with another skill.
Raising both swords upward, he completed the Divine Guard just an instant before the double-bladed axe could descend.
What extraordinary judgment was required to achieve such a feat! Without spiritual power far beyond the ordinary, Long Haochen could never have executed such a seamless combination.
With a loud clang, the double-bladed battle axe struck fiercely against the crossed point of the raised dual swords.
Many could not help but close their eyes for a moment; the contrast between Long Haochen’s figure and that of the bearded man was simply too striking. To most observers, it seemed he had been forced into such a desperate block under sudden pressure. At his tender age, how much spiritual energy could he possibly possess? Moreover, the bearded man’s heavy slash, much like the Pure White Blade, carried an effect that enhanced attack power, and it was delivered with a heavy weapon. The adventurers watching the duel felt as though they were already witnessing the scene of a shattered blade and a fallen warrior.
However, the refined iron sword in Long Haochen’s hands did not break. Amidst the bearded man’s horrified disbelief, the double-bladed battle axe was sent flying upward, leaving his chest completely exposed.
Long Haochen’s Divine Guard Block was something even Li Xin, a third-rank knight, had failed to penetrate; how could it possibly be breached by a mere second-rank warrior like him?
At this very moment, a faint glow seemed to envelop Long Haochen’s body. The twin swords crossed in his hands almost effortlessly executed a crossing cross-slash in one fluid motion.
With two dull thuds, two iron swords struck the bearded man’s leather armor simultaneously. Though the blades were blunt, the sound of shattering bones instantly echoed from beneath the armor.
The bearded man’s eyes bulged wide as he violently spewed a mouthful of blood.
Long Haochen’s Divine Obstruction Block was not yet profound; he could not draw upon Li Xin’s spiritual energy. However, since the bearded man’s spiritual cultivation was only slightly higher than his own, Long Haochen successfully borrowed twenty points of spiritual energy through his Divine Obstruction Block. Combined with the amplification from the Pure White Blade and his own spiritual energy exceeding one hundred points, the power of this strike even surpassed the bearded man’s own full-force attack. How could ordinary leather armor possibly withstand such force?
“Third Brother!” Two startled cries rang out as two burly men rushed forward from the crowd, clearly allies of the bearded man. Being an adventurer was a perilous profession; they typically operated in teams.
However, they emerged too late.
Pfft— Following the Cross Slash, Long Haochen’s right-hand sword immediately thrust forward without hesitation. The sharp edge of the iron blade pierced through the bearded man’s throat before retracting with lightning speed.
“Bastards!” The two burly men who had rushed out charged straight at Long Haochen.
“Stop!” A clear, cold voice rang out. Immediately afterward, a pale golden light erupted skyward behind Long Haochen, forcibly repelling the two advancing adventurers.
Li Xin stood there, her face icy cold. Holding her twin swords apart on either side of her body, a pale golden aura of spiritual energy surged around her, showcasing her strength as a third-rank Knight.
“Ah, it’s the Hell Rose…” Someone in the crowd immediately exclaimed in shock.

Knight Sacred Mountain (Part 2)
“If you’re seeking death, I wouldn’t mind sending you to join the one who just died.” Li Xin’s icy voice brimmed with sharp killing intent.
Both burly men were warriors; one wielded a heavy sword, while the other carried a rapier and shield. As they stared at Li Xin, their faces flickered with uncertain expressions. They naturally knew they were not in the right; Long Haochen had killed the bearded man in a duel, something even the city guard forces had no authority to interfere with.
The warrior wielding the heavy sword roared furiously, “My third brother merely made a few jokes, yet this kid immediately resorted to lethal force. Is this the benevolence your Knights preach?”
One of these two warriors was a Tier-3, Level-2 Battle Master, while the other was a Tier-2, Level-8 Warrior. Combined, they naturally had no fear of Li Xin. However, they could not afford to ignore the Knight Temple standing behind her.
Li Xin snorted disdainfully. “Are you blind? My brother is a Retribution Knight, not a Guardian Knight. The creed of a Retribution Knight is that eradicating evil is synonymous with promoting good. Given my brother’s temperament, if your companion hadn’t spoken those utterly disgusting words, how could he have resorted to killing? If you’re dissatisfied, then come at me together.”
As she spoke, Li Xin’s twin long swords traced a series of bizarre trajectories in the air, while pale golden light energy erupted violently from within her body.
“Neigh!” With a long, piercing cry, a tall and muscular horse with wings sprouting from its back emerged from that strangely twisted trajectory.
This steed was an extremely rare shade of pink throughout its body, measuring approximately eight chi in length and six chi in height. The pair of wings on its back were not yet broad, seemingly incapable of carrying it in flight, while a small protrusion adorned the top of its head. Its eyes were rose-red, and the moment it appeared, a dense aura of energy erupted from its form. Those rose-colored pupils radiated an air of majesty.
Li Xin touched her toes to the ground, leaped into the air, and landed gracefully upon the horse’s back. Gazing at the two knights opposite her, her eyes brimmed with contempt and disdain.
Li Xin’s epithet, “Hell Rose,” originated from this very mount. It was a juvenile Rose Unicorn; even in its immature state, it was a genuine fifth-rank, early-stage magical beast. With such a companion, let alone third-rank warriors, even those of the fourth rank would give her a wide berth. After all, warriors of the same rank were never a match for knights.
“Is she a knight returned from the Knight Sacred Mountain?” exclaimed the shield-bearing warrior. The two exchanged glances, dared not say another word, then swiftly hoisted their fallen comrade’s corpse and fled in panic.
Many adventurers nearby whispered among themselves, “Those fellows are clearly outsiders; they don’t even recognize Hell Rose, the foremost genius of the Haoyue Branch Temple. They deserved what they got. Moreover, she is also…”
“Sister.” Long Haochen had been standing beside Li Xin all along; after killing someone, his expression showed little change.
Li Xin leaped down from her Rose Unicorn and smiled, “Silly boy, what are you doing at the Adventurers’ Guild?” It turned out that earlier, upon hearing Long Haochen inquire about the Adventurers’ Guild, she had worried about him venturing alone into such a den of rogues and followed him, arriving just in time to witness the scene.
Long Haochen said, “My teacher told me to take on a level-two mission.”
Li Xin, somewhat speechless, replied, “Your teacher really trusts you. Come on, I’ll go with you.”
Stepping back into the Adventurer’s Guild, the gazes of the other adventurers toward Long Haochen had completely changed. Setting aside the fact that he now had such a powerful elder sister by his side, the strength he had displayed just moments ago—defeating that axe-wielding warrior in mere moves—was undeniably that of a quasi-knight!
Although these people did not recognize the Divine Shield Block technique, they could certainly tell Long Haochen’s age. To be a quasi-knight at such a young age meant the Knight Temple would surely protect him like a precious treasure; who then would dare to act presumptuously?
“Knight… Lord Knight, here is your badge back.” The young girl who had been behind the counter earlier approached them the moment they re-entered the Adventurer’s Guild, respectfully returning the badge to Long Haochen. Upon seeing the badge earlier, she too had rushed out to watch the battle, witnessing everything with her own eyes. Now, her gaze upon Long Haochen was filled with even greater curiosity.
What followed was simple enough: Long Haochen selected a mission to hunt ten tier-two intermediate magical beasts in the Haoyue Swamp, located a hundred li north of Haoyue City.
“Brother, let me go with you; otherwise, I won’t feel at ease. Although Haoyue Swamp doesn’t have high-level magical beasts, there are still level-three ones, and even level-four beasts have appeared there before. Besides, if I accompany you, we can finish faster.”
“Sister, that’s not appropriate. My teacher assigned me to complete this task alone.”
“What’s wrong with it? You’ll complete the mission alone! You kill the mission beast yourself; I’m only responsible for protecting you from ambushes by other beasts. It’s settled then, let’s go.”
Speaking thus, Li Xin pulled Long Haochen out of the Adventurer’s Guild, mounted her Rose Unicorn directly, and rode out of the city.
This was Long Haochen’s first time riding a mount, and he felt greatly intrigued by the novelty.
Sitting on the back of the Rose Unicorn was extremely stable, with Li Xin positioned behind him. He could detect a faint rose fragrance, unsure whether it emanated from his older sister or the Rose Unicorn itself.
Soon, the two of them left the city. To Long Haochen’s surprise, not only did Li Xin not slow her horse as they exited, but the city guards even saluted her.
After leaving Haoyue City, the Rose Unicorn finally unleashed its full speed. A scene that left Long Haochen in awe unfolded: a faint red glow emanated from the Rose Unicorn’s body, causing the surrounding temperature to rise noticeably. Its speed surged dramatically, yet protected by that pale red luminous barrier, he felt no wind whatsoever. The twin wings on the Rose Unicorn’s back spread occasionally, making its gallop even steadier; its swiftness was akin to flying through the air.
“So fast! Sister, your mount is amazing! How can one obtain such a mount?” After all, Long Haochen was still a child; how could he not be excited by such a novel experience?
Li Xin smiled and said, “As long as you answer one question of mine, I will tell you.”
Long Haochen replied, “Sister, please ask.”
Li Xin said, “Have you ever killed someone before? Otherwise, why did you show no reaction at all after slaying that axe warrior? I will never forget the agony I felt after my first kill; I vomited continuously for three days and three nights!”
Long Haochen scratched his head and replied, “I have never killed a person before, but I have slain magical beasts. My teacher once said that we must treat our enemies just like magical beasts, showing not even a shred of mercy. We must never let our guard down until we are certain the opponent is dead. Since he was a magical beast, why should I feel uneasy? I have killed countless magical beasts. Moreover, after delivering the final blow, I didn’t look at his face again.” In truth, not even he realized it, but the arduous training in the Hawk Ant cavern had long since driven fear far away from him.
With a helpless expression, Li Xin said, “I really don’t know whether to call your heart pure and flawless or cold-blooded. Nevertheless, your teacher was right; when eradicating evil, one must be thorough.”
Eager to learn how to obtain such an excellent mount as the Rose Unicorn, Long Haochen hurriedly pressed on, “Sister, how does one acquire this Rose Unicorn?”
Li Xin said, “Don’t rush. Actually, even if I don’t tell you now, you will certainly find out later. Because just like me, you also have the qualification to go to the Knight Holy Mountain and choose a mount.”
“What is the Knight Holy Mountain?” Long Haochen asked curiously.
“In our Knight Temple, the vast majority of knights can only select steeds or tame wild magical beasts to serve as their mounts. However, there are exceptions: the most talented young knights from each branch temple. Anyone who passes the knight assessment and becomes a knight of at least third rank, first level before turning twenty qualifies, upon recommendation from their branch temple, to journey to the Knight Holy Mountain. You’re already a probationary knight at merely ten years old; becoming a full knight before twenty is undoubtedly within your reach.”

The Knight Holy Mountain (Part Three)
“The Knight Sacred Mountain is a place specifically designated by our Knight Temple for raising various powerful magical beasts. Within the Knight Sacred Mountain lies a colossal formation established by our temple’s ancestors three thousand years ago. This formation greatly benefits the growth of magical beasts while tempering their wild nature, making them far easier to tame. Any young knight who gains the approval of even one of these creatures may take it away as their mount. This stands as one of the greatest privileges offered by our Knight Temple, much like how the Magic Temple distributes magical equipment to its elite members. Indeed, every single supreme leader of our Knight Temple has emerged as a powerhouse from the Knight Sacred Mountain.”
Long Haochen’s large, azure eyes instantly lit up. “But what if all the magical beasts on the Knight Sacred Mountain have already been tamed?”
Li Xin chuckled softly. “How could that be so easy? Across our entire Knight Temple, it is considered excellent if several dozen knights under the age of twenty succeed in a given year; in leaner times, there aren’t even ten. Moreover, atop the Knight Sacred Mountain stands a grand summoning array that appears to connect to a special realm, periodically summoning new magical beasts. Therefore, the supply of magical beasts on the Knight Sacred Mountain never runs dry. It is said that even ninth-grade magical beasts reside upon the Sacred Mountain. To possess a ninth-grade magical beast as a mount would be virtually equivalent to unlocking a path toward at least the seventh tier of cultivation.”
Long Haochen asked, “Sister, what grade of magical beast is your Rose Unicorn?”
Li Xin said with great pride, “My Rose is currently a tier-five early-stage magical beast, but it’s still in its growth phase. Once it reaches adulthood, it will at least achieve tier-seven early-stage status, equivalent to a tier-six professional. In the future, my sister will also become at least a tier-six Radiant Knight. You must work hard too.”
“Alright, I’ll start by striving to reach the Sacred Mountain of Knights.”
The subsequent mission proved simple enough. With Li Xin, a true knight who had once ascended the Knight’s Sacred Mountain, providing protection, hunting ten tier-two mid-stage magical beasts posed no significant challenge for Long Haochen, who was already a prospective knight possessing Divine Obstruction. They completed the task within merely half a day, submitting ten magical beast cores to receive a reward of twenty-five gold coins and have their first mission completion registered on their Adventurer Certificate.
Sometimes, the fate that binds people together is truly miraculous. Li Xin was extremely fond of this newly acknowledged younger brother; not only did she accompany him to complete their mission, but she also escorted him all the way to the outskirts of Odin Town, over two hundred li away from Haoyue City, before the two reluctantly parted ways.
As evening approached, Long Haochen gazed at the distant horizon stained red by the setting sun’s lingering glow, and an involuntary smile of pride spread across his face. “Master gave me two days to complete this mission, yet I finished it in just one. First, I’ll go home to see Mother, then tomorrow morning I’ll return to the mountain peak to surprise Master.”
Lost in these thoughts, he headed cheerfully toward home, though his mind was entirely filled with the image of that Rose Unicorn drifting like a crimson cloud. How wonderful it would be if someday he too could have such a magical beast as his mount! Long Haochen knew very well that during his Squire Knight assessment, if Li Xin were riding her unicorn, he probably wouldn’t even withstand a single strike from her.
Carrying this sense of envy, he soon caught sight of his family’s thatched cottage. Wishing to surprise his mother, he gently pushed open the courtyard gate with careful steps, but the moment he stepped into the yard, his entire body froze stiff.
His azure eyes instantly froze, and his entire body began to tremble uncontrollably.
Though Long Haochen’s extraordinary spiritual power granted him a composure far beyond that of his peers, at this moment, he found himself utterly unable to control his emotions. The scene before him was simply too incredible to comprehend.
Bai Yue was right there in the courtyard, yet she was sitting on a man’s lap—a man who held a place in Long Haochen’s life second only to his mother: Starry Sky, the mentor who had elevated him from a Squire Knight to a Probationary Knight in just one year.
“You… you both…” Long Haochen stood rooted to the spot, words failing him as his mind went completely blank.
“Chen Chen.” Bai Yue struggled to sit up from Xingyu’s embrace, but he held her firmly. A faint white light flashed, and Bai Yue seemed unable to move, even rendered speechless.
Xingyu stood up, placing Bai Yue aside, and coldly gazed at Long Haochen.
“Why? Why did you bully my mother?” Long Haochen screamed almost hysterically. Amidst a clanging sound, he had already drawn a pair of refined iron swords, his eyes turning completely bloodshot.
With a flick of his wrist, Xingyu somehow produced a bamboo sword in his right hand while keeping his left behind his back. The tip of the sword pointed diagonally toward the ground as he said calmly, “Make your move.”
Long Haochen’s earlier excitement had completely vanished, replaced by a surging tide of despair, agony, and resentment.
“Aah!” Long Haochen let out a fierce cry and charged straight at Xingyu. This time, he employed no technique whatsoever; wielding both swords simultaneously, he poured every ounce of his strength into striking down at his mentor.
He had no idea just how powerful Xingyu truly was; the only thing he knew for certain was that he could never be his teacher’s match. Yet, his teacher had hurt his mother, and the two people he loved most in the world had been involved in such a tragedy. In that moment, what shred of reason could he possibly retain?
Bang—
Starry Sky swept his bamboo sword horizontally, and Long Haochen felt as though he had crashed into a massive mountain; he was sent flying backward, landing heavily in the courtyard.
“Is this how I taught you? No matter who your enemy is, even if it’s me, you must remain calm,” Starry Sky said indifferently.
At that moment, how could Long Haochen possibly heed such admonitions? Rolling across the ground, he immediately sprang back to his feet. Right now, a sense of betrayal burned within him, his blood seeming to ignite with fury. Without hesitation, he launched another charge.
Blade of Pure White, Thrust! Combining it with his charge, he unleashed his most powerful attack.
Yet, it was still no use.
Starry Sky wielded spiritual energy on the same level as Long Haochen’s, and he held nothing but a bamboo sword in his hand. Yet, with that slender bamboo blade, he effortlessly struck the weakest points of Long Haochen’s dual iron swords.
The bamboo sword darted forward repeatedly, striking Long Haochen’s hands in quick succession. The iron swords clattered to the ground with two dull thuds, while Long Haochen stumbled backward and landed squarely on his rear.
“Ahhh—” He refused to give up. Pain was the source of his determination. Even unarmed, Long Haochen charged at Starry Sky once more like a maddened tiger.
Starry Sky’s brows furrowed slightly as he thrust his bamboo sword forward, aiming straight for Long Haochen’s chest. Yet Long Haochen made no attempt to dodge; instead, he charged directly into the blade’s path.
Starry Sky was startled. Although it was only a bamboo sword, it was equally sharp; if Long Haochen, unprotected by any armor, were to collide with it, he would either die or suffer severe injuries. Instinctively retracting the bamboo sword, Starry Sky found Long Haochen already crashing into him.
Without hesitation, Long Haochen bit down on Starry Sky’s arm.
With Xingyu’s cultivation, shaking him off would have been effortless, yet he remained motionless, allowing Long Haochen’s teeth to sink deeply into his muscles, merely furrowing his brows slightly.

The Knight Holy Mountain (Part Four)
Feeling the most familiar aura emanating from Xingyu, Long Haochen burst into tears, his tears flowing uncontrollably. He abruptly released his bite and stared at the mangled, bloodied flesh on Xingyu’s arm where he had bitten, crying out hoarsely, “Why? Why didn’t you kill me?”
“Because I am your father.”
Simple as these words were, they instantly froze the grief and indignation on Long Haochen’s face. His entire body remained locked in the posture of the previous moment, his eyes staring straight at Xingyu.
“What… what did you say?” The numbness in Long Haochen’s eyes gradually turned into disbelief.
Long Xingyu let out a soft sigh, stepped forward, and pulled him tightly into his embrace. “I said I am your father, the father you have never met. Xingyu is my name; you carry my surname. We are both surnamed Long.” As he spoke, a beam of white light shot from his hand, releasing the seals on Bai Yue.
Bai Yue quickly rushed forward, pulling Long Haochen out of Long Xingyu’s arms and into her own, glaring angrily at him. “Have you gone mad? You just scared me to death!”
Long Xingyu smiled bitterly. “I only wanted to test whether Haochen could remain calm at all times during battle, but it seems you are his greatest weakness.”
“Mom, is he… is he really?” Long Haochen had finally realized the truth by now, all his negative emotions transforming into shock as he stared at his mother with his large, emerald-green eyes.
Bai Yue nodded gently. “I’m sorry, Chenchen. Mom never told you. A year ago, your father found us. He wanted you to become a knight as powerful as he is, which is why he and I kept his return a secret together.”
Long Xingyu shook his head with a hint of helplessness. “I never expected that human calculations could not match heaven’s design; he discovered it anyway. I was afraid that once you knew I was your father, you wouldn’t work so hard, and I also feared I wouldn’t have the heart to train you rigorously.”
Long Haochen stared blankly at the parents before him. The word ‘father’ was utterly foreign in his life. For as long as he could remember, only his mother had been by his side.
Bai Yue gently stroked her son’s head, tears streaming down uncontrollably. “I’m sorry, Chenchen. I never told you this before. Ten years ago, something extremely painful happened to me. I didn’t know how to face your father, so I left our homeland alone and came here. It was only then that I discovered I was already pregnant with you. Don’t blame your father; it’s all my fault. He suffered for nine long years searching desperately before finally finding us, mother and son. If you must harbor resentment, direct it only toward me.”
Long Xingyu approached them, his gaze filled with complex emotions, and spoke softly, “Yue, everything is in the past now. All the pain has drifted far away from us. Please stop dwelling on those painful memories, won’t you?”
With tear-blurred eyes, Bai Yue nodded gently, her voice choking with emotion. “A year ago, I promised you that for your sake and for Haochen’s, I would break free from that unbearable past. From now on, you two are the only ones in my life. Over these years, Haochen has endured much hardship alongside me. To be honest, I truly never wanted him to become a knight like you; I only wished for him to live his life in peace and safety.”
Long Xingyu’s brows instantly knitted tightly, a profoundly complex expression flashing in his eyes. He unconsciously clenched his fists, his heart seemingly locked in extreme turmoil.
Long Haochen gradually regained consciousness, looking at his mother and then his father, a fiery emotion slowly kindling in his eyes.
“No, Mother, I want to become a knight. A powerful knight.”
Long Xingyu was momentarily stunned; in that instant, he had truly hesitated, questioning whether what he was doing was right. He knew clearly that for both Bai Yue and Long Haochen, living a peaceful and safe life would undoubtedly be the best choice.
Long Xingyu smiled bitterly and asked, “Are you willing to acknowledge me as your irresponsible father?”
“No, it’s not that you’re irresponsible; it’s all my fault, entirely my fault.” Tears that Bai Yue had just managed to stop began flowing once more.
“Father!” Breaking free from his mother’s embrace, Long Haochen threw himself fiercely into Long Xingyu’s arms. In that instant, he felt an overwhelming wave of happiness wash over him.
He was still just a child, a ten-year-old boy. Although he had never spoken of it to Bai Yue, how could he not feel envy whenever he watched the other children in Odin Town spending time with their fathers?
Now, at this very moment, his father had returned, and their years of separation were not due to any fault of his father’s. Moreover, his own father was stronger than any of his friends’ fathers—a mighty knight. Thus, Long Haochen felt no resistance within his heart; all his previous anger had transformed into pure joy.
Hearing that call, Long Xingyu did not show much excitement; he stood there somewhat dazed before slowly wrapping his steadfast arms around his wife and son, pulling them into an embrace. Neither Bai Yue nor Long Haochen noticed that he still seemed to be suppressing some deep emotion.
After a day of frantic travel followed by the intense swings of joy and sorrow upon returning home, Long Haochen retired early. It was the first time in a year that he did not spend the night in meditation, instead falling into a truly deep sleep.
Long Xingyu sat beside his son, holding Bai Yue close. “Yue.”
Bai Yue nodded gently, her eyes closed. “You need not say anything. Chenchen, like you, is destined not to settle for a peaceful life; you are both born to accomplish great things. Since he has already made his choice, I can only support him. I have just one request: ensure he stays alive. No matter what you teach him, prioritize his ability to protect himself, alright?”
“Hmm, I promise you.” Long Xingyu nodded gently, stroking Bai Yue’s long hair.
Early the next morning, Long Xingyu took Bai Yue and Long Haochen back to the wooden cabin atop the mountain. With their identities already exposed, there was no longer any need for concealment.
Bai Yue went to tidy up Long Haochen’s room, while Long Xingyu called his son over to him.
“Haochen, although you now know the relationship between us, you have also chosen to continue training under me. In that case, my demands upon you will only become stricter than before. You still have one final chance to choose.”
Without hesitation, Long Haochen replied, “Father, I understand. Your strictness is for my own good. I felt this especially clearly during my recent trip to Haoyue City. Father, are you a knight of a higher rank than a Radiant Knight?”
Long Xingyu paused for a moment, hesitated briefly, and then nodded to Long Haochen.
“Wow, that’s amazing!” Long Haochen exclaimed, jumping up with excitement. “Dad, I want to become a great knight just like you when I grow up.”
Long Xingyu smiled gently. “How do you know your father is a great knight?”
Long Haochen insisted stubbornly, “You just are!”
Long Xingyu replied, “Whether I am truly great or not, you will discover in time. But if you wish to become a great knight yourself, you must never allow even the slightest slackness. From today onward, you no longer need to go to the Antlion Cave. Your entire training regimen will change completely.”
“No need to go?” Even though he had been going there continuously for a year, Long Haochen still harbored considerable apprehension toward that world filled with darkness.
Long Xingyu nodded and said, “Over the past year, your cultivation has primarily focused on honing your reflexes, stimulating the growth of your spiritual energy, and improving your physique. The medicinal hot spring you soaked in daily served mainly this purpose. Now that your external spiritual energy has risen above one hundred, it is time to begin cultivating your internal spiritual energy.”
“Internal spiritual energy?” Long Haochen looked at his father in confusion. Throughout the past year, Long Xingyu had taught him almost exclusively about history, knightly skills, and various other forms of knowledge, never once mentioning anything regarding spiritual energy.