An Unfit Father and Son

As soon as the Coronation Ceremony ended, Si Lin could no longer contain himself and went straight to Wuma Xiu. He hesitated for a while, his ears turning so red they were almost burning, before finally mustering the courage to speak.

"God, may I serve you?"

Sitting on the Flowing Clouds, Wuma Xiu shook his head and refused:

"I already have someone in the Jade Qilin Clan, and that person is your father Si Ting."

The answer Si Lin received shattered his hard-won heart into a million pieces once again.

When he finally managed to regain some composure from that despair, he discovered that God had vanished.

Si Lin found Si Ting's usual office and kicked open the door of the culprit.

He rushed up to Si Ting.

His greatest motivation for returning this time was to be able to rightfully serve God as the Clan Leader.

From the moment he learned that the Jade Qilin Clan was blessed by the Goddess of Beauty, this idea took root in his heart and grew wildly until the crown on the coronation platform landed on his head.

He thought he was ready.

But, tell him now that it's not possible.

Si Lin slammed his hand on the table in front of Si Ting.

He questioned, "Why you? I've become the Clan Leader; I'm the one most qualified to serve God."

Si Ting pointed to the seat opposite him and said gently, "Don't rush, listen to me first."

"What else is there to say?"

Si Lin didn't sit down, but stood there, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips.

"The Clan Leader serves the Gods. This is a custom passed down from the time of the Age of the Gods. Therefore, you are right."

But things are different now.

"Today, the Jade Qilin Clan owns businesses across several star systems, and its population is dozens of times larger than during the Age of Age of the Gods. The number of official documents that require the Clan Leader's personal approval every day is enough to fill half a table."

"The Clan Leader has too many responsibilities; it's not as simple as you think. He can't just say, 'I'm going to serve the gods,' and then abandon the entire tribe and walk away."

Si Ting glanced at Si Lin, a faint smile appearing in his eyes.

Si Lin was silent for a moment.

He recalled how, when he was in the Federation Military Department, he was already incredibly busy just managing a fleet.

The Jade Qilin Clan is at least as large as the Federation Fleet.

Si Ting continued:

"Actually, I did consider giving up at first. Firstly, look at me, I may look young, but I'm actually quite old. I want to dedicate the best of everything to God. Secondly..."

His gaze fell on Si Lin.

There was something suppressed for too long churning in those eyes that were just like her son's.

"As your father, I haven't been able to be by your side all these years. I've let you struggle alone in the Federation. Although I've looked after you secretly, I've never been there for you personally. I always feel like I owe you so much, so I wanted to make it up to you."

Upon hearing these words, Si Lin felt a pang of discomfort in his heart.

He was used to being tough on himself, and ever since he escaped through the window in the Dark Night, he had never relied on anyone else.

But now that the other person was sitting opposite him, looking at him with such eyes, Si Lin realized that although he had never stopped secretly paying attention to the Jade Qilin Clan and his father over the past ten years.

But in the end, they lost contact with each other.

But the other person was always thinking of him.

"So now... why have you changed your mind again?" Si Lin's tone softened involuntarily.

Si Ting leaned back, resting his fingers on the armrest of his seat, not in a hurry to answer.

Instead, she slowly looked at her own son.

His gaze swept from top to bottom and then back up, making Si Lin feel extremely uncomfortable. At the end, he even narrowed his eyes slightly.

He raised his hand, gesturing for Si Lin to take a few steps back.

Si Lin was puzzled, but he still pursed his lips and took three or four steps back.

Si Ting then drew a circle in the air with his finger.

Si Lin's lips twitched, he resisted the urge to roll his eyes, and finally stiffly spun around in place.

"You're still too green." Si Ting lowered his hand. "God says you're still too young."

Si Lin's heart skipped a beat.

It's that same line again.

God said the same thing last time on the spaceship.

He couldn't sleep all night, tossing and turning in his thoughts.

I'm not actually that young.

He was several years over the Federation legal age of adulthood.

But he's not human, his lifespan is longer, so you can't blame him for not growing up yet.

"I can still grow up."

Si Lin's voice was somewhat hoarse, carrying a clear sense of grievance.

It was like a child who had been kicked off the table, staring longingly at the delicious food but unable to touch it.

He'd be much bigger if he were raised a little longer.

He could grow taller and his shoulders could broaden a bit more.

Later, I couldn't help but ask God, 'How am I?'

As soon as Si Ting finished speaking, he met Si Lin's burning gaze, which seemed to devour him.

He looked back calmly.

"God said I was doing well, and sent me to serve at the Goddess of Beauty's Palace."

Si Lin clenched his fist.

He was practically screaming in his mind, "Fine, Dad, let's duel! Today it's either you die or I die!"

But he simply couldn't say it, nor could he do it.

He had already sworn an oath before his entire clan and the gods that he would live the rest of his life faithfully to his clan and to the grace of the gods.

"Now that I've started, I'm not going to shirk my responsibility."

Si Lin lifted his foot to walk out.

So what if you're a Clan Leader? It's nothing special.

At worst, he can start grooming his successor now; he thinks the previous Si Yan was quite good.

The other party doesn't need him to train them anymore.

"Etc."

Si Ting's voice came from behind.

Si Lin paused, but did not turn around.

"You need to catch up on the lessons you missed because of running away—training, clan history study, rituals and regulations... you can't miss a single one. In the meantime, I will continue to handle clan affairs."

"And that outsider you brought back. Although according to clan rules, outsiders shouldn't stay in the clan, you can keep him if you want. However, if anything happens to him, you'll be responsible for all the consequences."

Si Ting stood up, took a few steps toward the door, and stopped behind Si Lin.

"And one last thing."

Si Ting reached out and put his arm around Si Lin's shoulder, pulling him into his embrace. He awkwardly patted Si Lin's back and said:

"My son, welcome home. You've done a great job all these years, and I'm so proud of you."

Si Lin stood frozen in place, feeling a soreness and tightness in his throat, unable to utter a single word.

He was not a good son.

"Dad, I'm home."

Upon hearing this, Si Ting's lips curled into a smile. He released his grip, turned, and left.

He was a near-perfect Clan Leader.

During his tenure, he managed the Jade Qilin Clan to a great extent, and there were never any major problems.

But he still didn't quite understand how to be a good father.

However, his son, although somewhat rebellious...

But as a father, I naturally think it's good no matter how I look at it.