A Loving Father and a Filial Son: Uncle, I'll Chop You

A Loving Father and a Filial Son: Uncle, I'll Chop You

The night was dazzling and beautiful.

Under the bright moonlight, Long Xingyu stood not far from the three Thatched Cottages, his expression exceedingly complicated.

His deep gaze silently rested on the Thatched Cottages, where the candles had already been extinguished.

"Uncle, who are you looking for?"

Suddenly, a clear voice sounded beside Long Xingyu's ear.

Long Haoyu stood two paces behind Long Xingyu. He had removed the Wufeng Greatsword from his back and held it steadily before him.

The black night, the black sword, and his black clothing blended together perfectly.

Long Xingyu jolted awake and immediately turned toward Haoyu. His eyes were complicated, yet tinged with surprise.

Who was this boy? A dignified Divine Seal Knight had actually allowed a child to approach within two paces without making a sound?

If not for the distinctive traits of the Knight Greatsword, along with nearly a year of observation, he truly would have believed Long Haoyu to be a top-tier Assassin deliberately concealing himself.

Having yet to decide whether to acknowledge Long Haoyu and Long Haochen, Long Xingyu casually made up an excuse. "A wanderer far from home, moved by familiar sights."

After making up that excuse, Long Xingyu faced Long Haoyu and asked thoughtfully, "Little fellow, how did you get behind me?"

"You were sneaking around like you were up to no good, so I came over to take a look."

Life was like a play; it all depended on acting.

Long Haoyu knew full well that Long Xingyu was making things up. Going along with him, he began making things up too.

The ancients had once said that a qualified Retribution Knight needed not only the power to sweep aside all obstacles, but also sufficient talent for acting.

Long Haoyu was an honest and steadfast boy, thoroughly carrying out this philosophy of his predecessors.

"I see. Then I disturbed your rest."

"Don't take it to heart, little fellow. I'm also a Knight, and I mean you no harm. I was merely here reminiscing about bygone days."

Seeing that Long Haoyu had avoided his question, Long Xingyu changed the subject and continued explaining.

Long Haoyu gave an oh and said seriously, "Since Uncle is merely being moved by the scenery here, then please go somewhere else and keep being moved."

"This is my home. If Uncle stays here, I'll chop you."

Long Haoyu gripped the Wufeng Heavy Sword. Its dark blade and dog-chewed-looking chips appeared utterly strange in Long Xingyu's eyes.

He would not have wanted such a heavy sword even if it had been given to him.

Back when he had been an Attendant Knight, even the Knight Greatsword he used had been far better than the one in Long Haoyu's hands.

Long Haoyu paid no attention to the surprise that flashed through Long Xingyu's eyes. He knew that Long Xingyu was his bargain-bin father, but that did not affect his decision to say he would chop the man.

After all, the current Long Xingyu intended to raise him and Long Haochen into pawns to oppose the Demon God Emperor, so that he, Long Haochen, and their bargain-bin grandfather could stage a drama of "father and son killing each other."

Of course, Long Haoyu did not care about that. Putting himself in Long Xingyu's shoes, he understood very well why the man had acted this way.

Being cuckolded was absolutely unforgivable for any man. Even if it was a misunderstanding, before the misunderstanding was cleared up, it was still "fact."

He could understand and forgive that on one hand, but on the other, there was something he absolutely could not forgive.

At dinner, his mother had cried because she was able to eat the slices of meat that he and Long Haochen had given up. That was the true reason he was drawing his sword against Long Xingyu now.

Long Xingyu had already confirmed their identities. Even if he had not decided to acknowledge them, even if he believed that he and Long Haochen were merely "bastards"—

Since he had already decided to reconcile with his mother, yet turned a blind eye to her miserable life, such behavior was utterly irresponsible.

"Little fellow, when you draw your sword against me like this, have you considered that you're not my match?" Long Xingyu asked.

Long Haoyu's expression was resolute as he replied, half-truthfully, "I, Long Haoyu, aspire to become the greatest Retribution Knight."

"If I am to become a successful Retribution Knight, then I must charge at the forefront. I cannot, and will not, shrink back simply because the enemy ahead is too strong for me."

"Behind me are my family, my companions, and everything I need to protect!"

Wufeng let out a hum.

Long Haoyu's palm fit perfectly around the hilt.

He was not so hot-blooded that he would disregard everything. He had also kept the Ten Knightly Virtues firmly in mind, and would not knowingly rush to his death against an enemy he could not defeat.

But when it came to Long Xingyu, he was certain that the man would not truly strike to kill, nor would he hurt him.

That was also where his confidence to draw his sword now came from.

As for drawing his sword against his biological father?

Just as Long Xingyu had yet to acknowledge his identity, he too was not ready to acknowledge Long Xingyu as his father.

This was the real Holy Demon Continent, not the Holy Demon Continent from the anime.

In the true Original Work, there had never been a scene like the one in the anime where Long Xingyu knelt before Long Haochen and begged for forgiveness.

The current Long Xingyu would never kneel before "bastards" like him and Long Haochen.

"Then let me see how you intend to become a great Retribution Knight!"

"Attack without worry. I won't hurt you. Let me see how strong you are now!"

Long Xingyu casually took out a Bamboo Sword and spoke meaningfully.

When he heard Long Haoyu say that he wanted to become the greatest Retribution Knight, a trace of excitement mixed into the complexity in his eyes.

"Wufeng, max out the enhancement!"

"Chop him!"

Long Haoyu shouted inwardly.

"All right, Master!"

The Sword Spirit replied.

Very quickly, Wufeng's dull hum grew even stronger than before.

As though power had been poured into him from above, Long Haoyu felt the strength in his body rise.

Though he was still very weak, Wufeng's enhancement gave him enough additional strength to make his chopping feel a little more satisfying.

Long Xingyu did not notice Long Haoyu's change. Holding the Bamboo Sword, he remained calm and composed.

As a Divine Seal Knight, he naturally did not believe Long Haoyu could pose any threat to him. He merely watched silently as Long Haoyu held his heavy sword.

For a moment, he seemed to see himself back when he had been an Attendant Knight. At that time, he too had been just as fearless and heroic.

For a brief instant, a faint ripple appeared in his heart of stone, only to be sealed away again almost immediately.

His heart as firm as stone, Long Xingyu held the Bamboo Sword calmly as an invisible aura of authority coiled around him.

"Since Uncle refuses to leave, then forgive my offense!"

Long Haoyu let out a low shout. The muscles in his legs suddenly exerted force, and drawing upon his experience of successfully cutting down the most perfect current version of his own shadow in Shadow Space—

In an instant, he closed in on Long Xingyu's side with strange footwork.

The improvement from the enhancement elevated his performance beyond what it had been in Shadow Space.

Wufeng in his hand rose high.

The Sword Edge was aimed directly at where Long Xingyu stood.

The veins in his arm bulged at that very moment.

This strike was for Bai Yue!

PS: Please vote, thank you!