Father and Son

Anping Calendar, Year 350.

Great Xia Prefecture, Nanyuan City.

Su Family.

The moment Su Yu stepped through the door, he caught the scent of food. He tossed down his backpack, walked to the table, casually picked up a piece of braised pork, and tossed it into his mouth.

Chewing, Su Yu looked toward the kitchen and said indistinctly, "Dad, make a different soup tomorrow. Aren't you sick of eating meat every day?"

"It's good enough that you have food to eat, yet you're still picking and choosing!"

Su Long's complaining voice came from the kitchen. "Look at you—you're already eighteen this year. When will you learn to take care of yourself? Your old man has been both father and mother to you all these years. I'm finally about to be free."

Chewing the braised pork, Su Yu chuckled. "Dad, your cooking is so good you're practically a chef. I'd like to cook for myself too, but the problem is, anything I make is inedible!"

"Heh!"

Su Long gave a dry laugh. All talk and no action—then get yourself into the kitchen.

Before long, Su Long came out carrying the dishes, wearing an apron.

He stood nearly one meter ninety tall, broad-shouldered and powerfully built. The tiny apron looked utterly out of place on him, making him especially comical.

Su Yu brought it up every time, and this time was no exception. Shaking his head, he said, "Dad, can't you get a bigger apron? It's not like our family can't afford one!"

"What do you know!"

Su Long could not be bothered with him. He set the dishes on the table and, without taking off his apron, sat down and said, "Eat! Save where you can. Besides, this apron is new..."

"You've been saying that for three years!"

Su Yu rolled his eyes. Fine, he had said it was new three years ago, but three years later he was still saying the same thing. His old man really had the nerve.

Su Long did not care. The moment he sat down, he began eating, wolfing down his food at astonishing speed.

Su Yu had long since grown used to it and paid it no mind. He sat down and ate on his own, then sighed. "Dad, the front line is at war again, isn't it? When I came back just now, I saw the recruitment vehicle downstairs. They're recruiting soldiers in our compound? I wonder which family..."

Su Long's movements stalled slightly. Soon, he set down his bowl and chopsticks, his expression turning solemn. "Defending the home and protecting the nation is everyone's duty! From the sound of you, do you think being a soldier is a bad thing?"

"No!"

Su Yu hurriedly distanced himself from that idea. His father was a retired soldier—he could not speak carelessly, or his father's bear paw would be no joke.

Su Long gave a soft snort before picking up his bowl and chopsticks again to continue eating.

As he ate, Su Long's tone gradually changed, becoming somewhat low. "Ayu, the front line is in turmoil. The major war corps have issued recruitment orders again and again! Recruiting new soldiers, calling old soldiers back..."

Su Yu's chopsticks paused as he picked up food. He looked up at his father, no longer as carefree as before. Frowning, he asked, "Dad, this has nothing to do with us, right? You've been retired for eighteen years, and I've only just come of age. Besides, I'm going to apply to a higher academy. Recruitment won't reach our family..."

"Eighteen years..."

Su Long let out a breath. Yes, eighteen years.

"Over eighteen years of retirement, the Demon Suppression Army has issued five orders calling veterans back, including this one! After fifty, you're no longer eligible to be recalled."

"The first four times, you were still young. Dad worried about you, worried that you wouldn't be able to look after yourself, so I didn't answer the call."

Su Yu's expression shifted. "Dad, our family doesn't have to go. The policy allows it!"

"Yes, the policy allows it!"

Su Long grinned and looked up at his son. "That's why I didn't go. Eighteen years, four calls to arms, and I didn't go once! But today, my son is an adult! You're eighteen!"

"Dad!"

Su Yu's expression completely changed. "What are you trying to say?"

"You know what I'm going to say."

Su Long looked at his son, both gratified and delighted. Smiling, he said, "Eighteen years ago, your dad might not have been much, but I was still a squad leader in the Demon Suppression Army, commanding thirty men."

"Back then, your mother was about to give birth to you, so I took leave and came back. Who knew... your mother would pass away just like that, and you had only just been born. There weren't any elders at home to take care of you. I truly couldn't leave..."

"I had no choice but to retire!"

Su Long bared his teeth in a bitter smile. "When I left the Demon Suppression Army, not one brother from my squad came to see me off! It wasn't that they wanted me gone—they were afraid I wouldn't be able to resist running back!"

"For eighteen years, no one has contacted me, afraid I'd want to go back. Even in my dreams, I hear them roaring at me, telling me to go home and nurse the baby..."

"Thirty men. In the first year after I left, nine of them died in battle..."

"Not a single one retired and came back. Of the remaining twenty-one... do you know how many are left?"

"They're still on the battlefield!"

Su Long's eyes reddened. "I'm selfish, so I don't dare ask, and I don't dare inquire! I ignored the first four calls to arms, but this time... Ayu, even if I die, I want to die on the battlefield, wrapped in horsehide. Your old man... doesn't want to die in the rear!"

Su Yu fell silent.

He had long known that his father missed the front lines, missed those old brothers of his. If not for his mother dying in childbirth, his father would never have retired from the Demon Suppression Army.

But he had thought that after eighteen years, his father should have forgotten. He should have let it go.

Today, his father told him otherwise.

He could not let it go!

"Dad..."

Su Yu's face looked terrible, somewhat pale. "The front line is unstable. More and more soldiers are dying in battle. In eighteen years, there have been five veteran recalls alone—one every three or four years. You've been a soldier. You know what that means..."

"I... I haven't married yet. I haven't gotten into a higher academy yet. I haven't even given you a grandson to hold..."

Su Long grinned. "It's fine. Dad will wait! Do you think I'm going back just to throw my life away? Your old man is going to win battles!"

"Dad!"

"Kid, quit the nonsense and eat!"

Su Long cut him off. As he ate, he said indistinctly, "After this meal, you'll have to cook for yourself! If there's no food, go eat outside. There's money on the card—you know the password."

"They're waiting for me downstairs. I can't delay too long."

"Once you get into a higher academy, remember to write to me. If I have time, I'll receive it."

"Go to Daxia Civilization Academy. You've really brought honor to your dad, kid. It's a sure thing—your teachers have already spoken with me. As long as nothing goes wrong, you'll definitely get in. The Su Family will finally produce someone worthwhile!"

"How did you grow that brain of yours? You're too smart. Your old man even suspects you're not really my son... But fortunately, you look exactly like I did when I was young..."

Su Yu's face was somewhat pale, yet he still could not help retorting, "Dad, are you sure you looked like me when you were young?"

"Nonsense. Could that be false?"

Su Long raised his head, revealing his rugged face. Grinning, he said, "Ask the neighbors next door. Don't we look alike?"

Su Yu felt helpless. He knew his father was changing the subject, so he returned to it. "Dad, are you really going? It's not that I look down on you, but you've been off the battlefield for eighteen years. You don't cultivate anymore either, and you're only at the Thousand Jun Ninth Stage now. Will you be of any use there?"

"Who are you looking down on?"

Su Long snapped angrily, "What's wrong with the Thousand Jun Ninth Stage? The battlefield isn't about strength alone. If it were only about strength, there'd be no need for war! Anything can happen on the battlefield. Your old man was only at the Qianjun Seventh Level back then, and I even killed a Wanshi Realm expert!"

Su Yu was troubled. He did not know whether that was true or false, but his father had said it for many years, so there was a good chance it was true.

The key was that he did not want his father to go to the front line.

The front line was in turmoil. Large numbers of soldiers died in battle every year, and the situation was becoming increasingly dire. His old man was nearly fifty, yet he was returning to the battlefield now... Su Yu did not dare imagine it.

"Dad..."

"Shut up!"

Su Long interrupted him. He stood up and cleared the bowls and chopsticks, then said solemnly, "Your old man has already registered. If I don't go, I'll be a deserter! It would be fine if I hadn't registered, but once you register and don't go, you know the consequences! A deserter dies too!"

"Dad, couldn't you have waited until I came back to discuss this?"

Su Yu was furious!

By now, he knew he could not change anything. As his father had said, it would have been fine before registering. For these veterans, the recall order was not mandatory recruitment. Those veterans who had survived and retired had all rendered meritorious service on the battlefield back then.

But once they registered, it meant re-enlisting. They became soldiers again. If they failed to go now, they would be deserters.

"What's there to discuss?"

Su Long said carelessly, "Don't worry, I won't die. Even if I really die in battle, the compensation won't be small. Remember to collect it yourself! It'll be enough for you to marry and have children. Your old man has thought it all through for you!"

With that, Su Long picked up the luggage he had packed long ago, removed his apron, and slung his backpack over his shoulder. As though he were merely taking a trip far away, he casually instructed, "Take your exams properly. Supporting the human race from the rear is just as good. Once you get to the Civilization Academy, bring honor to the Su Family!"

"The Civilization Academy... once I go back, I can brag properly. My son got into the Civilization Academy—he's far better than that bunch of fools!"

"It's just a bit of a pity. Your dad won't get to see the admission letter. Take a picture of it later and mail it to me with your letter. Otherwise, those guys will think I'm boasting..."

"Dad!"

Su Yu hurriedly stood up and chased after his father, somewhat panicked.

His old man was really leaving!

For eighteen years, he had been used to relying on his father and living with him. Now that his father was suddenly leaving, he had no mental preparation at all.

"You're an adult, not a child. Don't piss yourself!"

Su Long grinned. "If you hadn't come of age, Dad wouldn't leave! But now, I have to go back. In my squad from eighteen years ago, there were still a few boys around your age. Ayu, do you know? I had a dream. I dreamed of them... In the dream, they cried and screamed that it hurt, telling me to slaughter those beasts. Your dad regrets it a little. Back then... I should have sent you to the Military Family Compound. Someone would have raised you anyway."

Su Long's eyes were moist. "There have been five recalls. The first four times, I packed my luggage, but whenever I looked at you, I became selfish. I couldn't bear to leave! This is the fifth time. Will there be another? If there is another, I'll be fifty, and the Demon Suppression Army won't take me anymore!"

"I'm leaving. The Battlefields of the Heavens... your old man is going back!"

"This time, I'll kill a few Wanshi Realm experts and show you. I'll definitely leave proof behind, so you'll have nothing to say!"

Su Long waved his hand and strode forward.

For the first time in eighteen years, Su Yu saw his father looking so free and easy, so imposing.

But this... was not what he wanted to see.

"Dad..."

"I told you to stop talking nonsense..."

Standing at the door, Su Yu clenched his teeth and suddenly roared, "If you don't come back, I'll become a live-in son-in-law! I'll marry into another family! I'll change my surname and cut off the Su Family line! If you don't care, then I'll do it!"

"I..."

Su Long stumbled, nearly turning around to curse.

Suddenly, he did not want to leave anymore. He wanted to go home and beat this brat to death!

This brat really could do it!

The Su Family had finally produced someone worthwhile. If he became a live-in son-in-law, Su Long would not rest in peace even in death!