Lin Hao Wasn't a Bad Kid

Seeing Jiang Tianhai's hand slowly reach toward his pocket, Lin Hao immediately broke out in a cold sweat. "Um, General Jiang, listen to my explanation! Principal Jiang and I only met yesterday. Principal, say something! I don't want to die this young!"

Hmph, little brat, now you know I'm the principal. Jiang Weiwei was in an excellent mood. At last, she had gotten her revenge. "Dad, stop scaring him. We really did only meet yesterday."

Only after hearing his daughter say that did Jiang Tianhai's gaze soften. Then he burst into laughter and pulled a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket. Seeing Jiang Tianhai take out cigarettes and a lighter, Lin Hao let out a long breath.

Damn it, this Old Deng was just taking out cigarettes? I thought he was pulling out a gun. Scared the life out of me. Weiwei, just you wait. This grudge is settled.

"Mm, not bad, kid. Even I had to look at you in a new light after that display of spirit just now." Jiang Tianhai lit a cigarette and took a puff. In an instant, the room was filled with swirling smoke.

"Dad, you can't smoke in here." Jiang Weiwei complained resentfully. Seeing that his daughter objected, Jiang Tianhai had no choice but to reluctantly stub out the cigarette. "Mm, starting tomorrow, I'll give you special training for three months. Are you afraid?"

"Not afraid!" Lin Hao immediately straightened his back. His shout was so loud it was as though he feared Jiang Tianhai might not hear him.

"Mm, very good. You can go back now. Come here again tomorrow morning." Jiang Tianhai nodded in satisfaction.

"Then I'll be going. Goodbye, General Jiang. Goodbye, Principal Jiang." Lin Hao then dashed out of the Principal's office like a wisp of smoke. Once outside, he let out a long breath.

Damn it, why did it feel like I'd just taken a trip through the gates of life and death? Weiwei, why didn't you tell me earlier that you had such an awesome dad?

Back in the dormitory, Lin Hao unusually did not cultivate. He plunged straight into bed, intending to calm himself down properly.

Meanwhile, in the Principal's Office.

"Weiwei, Lin Hao is a good kid. If you like him, tell Dad. Dad will help you check him out." Jiang Tianhai was in a good mood as well.

"Dad, what are you talking about? He's just a little brat who just enrolled. Your daughter is already twenty-two." Jiang Weiwei complained.

"What's wrong with twenty-two? There's no law in the country saying you can't marry a boy younger than you." Jiang Tianhai said with a perfectly serious expression.

"Marry, marry—what marriage? Your daughter doesn't want to get married yet. I still need to spend more time with you and Mom."

Hearing this, Jiang Tianhai sighed. "How can that do? I'm still waiting to hold my grandson. Fine, if you really like him, just tell Dad when the time comes. First, tell me about his talent."

Jiang Weiwei then told Jiang Tianhai everything about Lin Hao's talent.

"What did you say? He can beat Xiao Rui? Didn't Xiao Rui just advance to Gold rank a while ago? A newly promoted Bronze can crush Gold?" Jiang Tianhai stared at Jiang Weiwei with wide eyes.

It wasn't exactly crushing her, and Xiao Rui hadn't used her full strength. But Jiang Weiwei estimated that Lin Hao would have no trouble fighting a Silver-grade opponent.

"This kid's talent is really that good? Also, his lightning element seems extraordinary. Even I felt my heart tremble at his Power of lightning. What talent does he have?" Jiang Tianhai asked curiously.

"Um... well..." Jiang Weiwei stammered without speaking. First, she had promised Lin Hao that she would not reveal his talent. Second, if her dad learned that he had an SSS-rank talent, wouldn't he go berserk? He would definitely try to snatch him away from her. Then her plans for the Academy Tournament would go down the drain.

Seeing Jiang Weiwei stammer without saying anything, Jiang Tianhai grew even more curious. "What's wrong? You can't say it? From the aura that kid released earlier, I'd guess he has at least an A-class talent. Otherwise, you wouldn't be acting like this. What, are you afraid I'll steal him from you? Your dad hasn't sunk so low as to steal his daughter's things."

Jiang Weiwei's eyes immediately lit up. "Then Dad, you said it—you're not allowed to steal him from me." Jiang Weiwei began laying a trap for her father.

"Oh, I won't steal him, I won't. And you still say there's nothing between you two? Why do I feel like you're protecting him so fiercely? You're not even married yet, and your elbow is already turning outward."

Seeing her father drift off topic again, Jiang Weiwei hurriedly said, "You promised, no stealing. A gentleman's word is chased by four horses; you're the God of War, so you can't go back on it."

"I said I won't steal him, so I won't." Jiang Tianhai picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip.

"Lin Hao has an SSS-rank talent."

"Pfft... What did you say? Say that again?" Jiang Tianhai sprayed out a mouthful of tea, his eyes bulging so wide that they nearly popped from their sockets.

"Dad, don't get so worked up." Seeing her father like this, Jiang Weiwei hurried over and rubbed his back. This Old Guy wouldn't go back on his word, would he? He wouldn't steal him from me, would he?

"What did you say? What talent?" After a long while, Jiang Tianhai finally recovered enough to glare at Jiang Weiwei and ask.

"SSS-rank talent. But Dad, don't tell anyone. I promised Lin Hao I wouldn't say anything. Besides me and Xiao Rui, you're the only one who knows now." Jiang Weiwei looked at her father with a face full of unease.

"SSS-rank talent, SSS-rank talent..." Jiang Tianhai kept repeating it like a man possessed. Then he suddenly burst into wild laughter. "Hahaha! Heaven truly blesses our Xia Kingdom! The Fierce Beasts have been invading for nearly two hundred years, and at last, an awakener with an SSS-rank talent has appeared. Even that great figure from a century ago only had an SS-rank talent. Xia Kingdom can finally see the dawn!"

Seeing Jiang Tianhai completely ignore her, Jiang Weiwei pouted. "Dad, you just said you wouldn't steal Lin Hao from me."

Seeing his daughter's pouting lips, Jiang Tianhai began playing the emotional card. "Weiwei, if Lin Hao really has an SSS-rank talent, then he holds immense significance for the entire country. Well, um..."

Jiang Tianhai was embarrassed too. He had just promised his daughter that he would not steal Lin Hao from her, yet not even half a minute had passed before he wanted to go back on his word. It really was rather shameless.

"Dad, stop with the 'well, um.' Do you think I don't know what you're thinking? I already told Lin Hao about this before, but he still chose to stay at Shancheng Martial University. Stop thinking about stealing him away from me."

"What does he know? Can one Martial Arts University compare with the entire country? How short-sighted." Jiang Tianhai was about to berate Lin Hao for lacking vision when inspiration suddenly struck him. "Weiwei, why did he stay?"

"How would I know?" Jiang Weiwei was in no mood to be polite.

"Um, Weiwei, you're not getting any younger. It's about time you found someone. I think Lin Hao is a pretty good kid. He's handsome, polite, and patriotic."

Before Jiang Tianhai could finish, Jiang Weiwei grabbed an apple from the table and stuffed it into his mouth. "What are you talking about? I only met him yesterday. Besides, what's so good about Lin Hao?"

Thinking about how Lin Hao had angered her until smoke nearly poured from her seven orifices yesterday, Jiang Weiwei's teeth itched with hatred.

Hearing his daughter's words, Jiang Tianhai sighed. "How about this? Tomorrow, I'll test Lin Hao. If he really is the peerless genius you say he is, Dad can provide him with cultivation resources. That will lighten your burden too." Jiang Weiwei's eyes immediately lit up.

With Dad's help, Lin Hao could grow even faster. Thinking of Lin Hao's terrifying speed at absorbing Beast Cores, Jiang Weiwei wore the expression of a little fox. "Dad, then you'll have to give me plenty of Support. We can discuss this after you test Lin Hao."

Jiang Tianhai did not notice his daughter's expression and casually agreed. "Leave it to your dad."

Meanwhile, Lin Hao lay in bed for a full half hour before getting up to cultivate. He took out the partially absorbed Silver-grade beast core from the System space and sighed. "Alas, I'm about to be at the end of my rope." He then began cultivating.