If Benefactor Doesn't Discard Me, Yan is Willing to Acknowledge You as Adoptive Father

The night was cool as water.

Su Chen had not been in Lin Family Fortress for long when he sensed someone following him.

So he quickened his pace, heading towards a secluded alley, but the other party continued to follow him, neither hurrying nor slowing down.

Soon, Su Chen stopped and looked back, the person following him was none other than Zhu Yan.

"Benefactor?"

Zhu Yan, upon seeing Su Chen, called out with some uncertainty.

Although Su Chen still had the appearance of a one-armed man, his disguise skills had improved immeasurably compared to before.

If Zhu Yan hadn't seen Su Chen in this guise before, he really wouldn't have recognized him.

Su Chen nodded and said, "You should have received the news, right?"

Hearing this, Zhu Yan's expression turned serious, and he immediately knelt before Su Chen, kowtowing in thanks, "Thank you, Benefactor, for avenging me. I can never repay this debt in my lifetime. If Benefactor doesn't mind, Yan is willing to acknowledge Benefactor as his adoptive father and serve you for the rest of my life."

Su Chen: "..."

The already quiet atmosphere became even quieter after Zhu Yan said these words.

Su Chen had never expected that when he met Zhu Yan again, he would say such a thing.

He felt a burst of embarrassment and was utterly speechless.

He was only about twenty years old, and he was about to have such a big child?

Even if it was an adopted son, it felt strange no matter how he thought about it.

After clearing his throat, Su Chen refused Zhu Yan without hesitation, "There's no need for that. We both got what we needed. There's no need for such a grand gesture."

"Benefactor, you killed my enemies for me and avenged my Zhu Family. This kindness is greater than the heavens. To me, you are like a second parent. This kind of etiquette can't even express half of my gratitude to you..."

"Shut up, get up!"

Listening to Zhu Yan's flowery words, Su Chen interrupted with a cold face.

Zhu Yan's face flashed with a hint of astonishment upon hearing this, and he finally got up helplessly.

"Yes, Benefactor."

Seeing Su Chen's expression, he didn't dare to say more and had to get up, obedient like a child.

"Where is the Medical Codex?" Su Chen asked.

"It's here." Zhu Yan quickly took out a thick book and handed it to Su Chen.

Su Chen took it, flipped through it a few times, and then put it into his arms.

Just as he was about to leave, Zhu Yan spoke up, "Benefactor, please wait."

"What is it now?"

"Benefactor, please accept this money!"

Zhu Yan took out a stack of silver notes from his arms and offered them with both hands.

"Hmm?"

Su Chen was taken aback. Didn't this guy say he had no money before?

Zhu Yan seemed to know what Su Chen was thinking and chuckled, "This money is all thanks to Benefactor."

"What do you mean?"

"After Benefactor killed Zhao Kuo, I got the news. Thinking that Benefactor was short of money, I took advantage of the chaos in Zhao Kuo's house and sneaked in, taking some silver..."

At this point, Zhu Yan scratched his head, a little embarrassed.

This money was simply not enough to express his gratitude to Su Chen.

Su Chen was stunned, took a deep look at Zhu Yan, and then nodded, "Okay, I'll accept this money."

After a pause, he asked, "Now that you've avenged your great revenge, what are your plans for the future?"

"Me? I should leave White Stone City." Zhu Yan pondered.

His original plan was to acknowledge Su Chen as his father and serve him for life, but Su Chen refused.

For a moment, he hadn't fully figured out where to go.

This idea was something he had decided on before, his path after avenging his great revenge.

"Oh, right, Benefactor, you don't have to go to the Misty Rain Pavilion anymore. Lin Family Fortress has closed the Misty Rain Pavilion."

Suddenly, Zhu Yan slapped his forehead and said to Su Chen.

"The Misty Rain Pavilion is closed?" Su Chen asked in confusion.

Zhu Yan nodded, "It's closed. I only found out today. I don't know the specific reason."

Seeing Su Chen's silence, Zhu Yan spoke again, "Benefactor, White Stone City has become more and more chaotic recently. I heard that bandits have started to cause trouble outside the city. If you continue to stay in White Stone City, you need to be very careful."

"I know, be careful too."

Su Chen nodded, still thinking about the closure of the Misty Rain Pavilion.

"Alright, I'll go first."

After a moment, Su Chen said to Zhu Yan and turned to leave.

"Benefactor, I will go to Great Abundance City after I leave White Stone City..."

Watching Su Chen's departing figure, Zhu Yan seemed to remember something and quickly shouted.

Then he knelt on the ground, kowtowed three more times, and after a long time, he got up and left.

After saying goodbye to Zhu Yan, Su Chen passed by the Misty Rain Pavilion and found that the Misty Rain Pavilion was indeed tightly locked.

As dusk approached, Su Chen found an inn in Lin Family Fortress and stayed there.

Inside the room.

Looking at the nine silver notes Zhu Yan gave him, he felt a little helpless.

Nine silver notes, ten taels each, a total of ninety taels, even with the money he had on him, it was less than one hundred taels.

"Looks like I need to find a way to make money if I want to upgrade Iron Wire Fist!"

After putting away the silver note, Su Chen lay on the bed and fell asleep.

The night passed without incident.

As the east turned white, a new day arrived.

After getting up and washing, Su Chen had breakfast before setting off back to the city.

On the way back, Su Chen passed through a forest. Looking at the thick trees along the way, an idea came to him.

He struck out with a palm, and a tree as thick as a bowl immediately shook violently. He withdrew his palm and saw a handprint five centimeters deep on the trunk.

"I wonder what my strength is now? I should be able to beat ten Zhao Kuos, right!"

Su Chen looked at his masterpiece with great satisfaction, guessing his strength in his heart, and couldn't help but ponder.

But on second thought, Zhao Kuo's Turtle Shell Skill seemed to be more advanced than his own. With his current level of Turtle Shell Skill, he might not be able to crush the opponent.

Thinking like this, the smile on his face disappeared. He flicked his sleeves and left without looking back.

Half an hour later, Su Chen returned to White Stone City, paid the city entry fee, and entered the city.

As usual, he found a secluded place to change his clothes, and then returned home.

Not long after returning, Su Chen heard a knock on the door.

Creak.

"Who are you?"

Looking at the two people standing at the door, who were obviously gang members, Su Chen didn't recognize them.

"We are from the Long River Gang. From today onwards, each household must pay twenty copper coins as a head fee."

"Didn't the Blood Clothes Gang collect it before?" Su Chen asked with a frown.

He had never heard of this Long River Gang.

"Stop talking nonsense, the Blood Clothes Gang has long been wiped out by our Long River Gang. Their territory will naturally be taken over by us. Hurry up, don't waste time!"

The man said impatiently, urging Su Chen fiercely.

"What are you doing?"

Just as Su Chen was about to teach the two a lesson, a soft shout rang out, and Li Mo walked towards them.

"Hong Family Martial Hall!"

Seeing the clothes Li Mo was wearing, the two gang members' expressions changed slightly.

"How dare you collect head fees from the disciples of our Hong Family Martial Hall? You really have a death wish!"

Li Mo came to the two and rebuked them.

After hearing this, the two not only did not get angry, but instead smiled obsequiously: "This big brother, please calm down. We were reckless."

"Get lost!"

Li Mo snorted coldly after hearing this.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The two hurriedly fled, fearing that Li Mo would change his mind.

After the two left, Li Mo looked at Su Chen, the seriousness on his face instantly disappearing, replaced by a hint of resentment.

"Uh, Senior Brother Li Mo."

Su Chen touched his cheek and greeted him somewhat awkwardly. He suddenly remembered the last time he stood Li Mo up.

"Junior Brother Su, if you encounter this kind of situation in the future, directly reveal your identity as a Martial Hall disciple, and they won't dare to collect protection fees from Hong Family Martial Hall."

Li Mo waved his hand, reminded him, and then said seriously,

"I came to you today because I wanted to tell you that Master wants to see you."