"Dad has connections for that, so I can give it a try first." Xu Feng quickly settled on a plan. "Besides, even if I don't kill the monsters myself, it seems I can still earn a few Breakthrough Points just by being there...
"And dungeons are undoubtedly the best place for me to grow stronger quickly."
At that thought, he couldn't help looking up.
A short distance away, his father, Xu Shan, was waving at him as hard as he could. Beside him stood his mother, Yang Lingxia, her eyes full of anticipation.
Seeing how overwhelmed his parents were with excitement, Xu Feng felt warmth spread through his chest. His lips curved into a smile, and he hurried over.
"The assessment result is D-class Intermediate, and my role is a physical-type Hunter.
"The association staff recommended that I develop toward either 'Shield Warrior' or 'Berserker.'"
Xu Feng handed over the assessment report, which still held a trace of warmth.
Xu Shan practically snatched it from him. He and his wife pressed their heads together and eagerly began reading.
His rough fingers gripped the edges of the paper so tightly they trembled. He was so excited that he could barely contain himself.
It was as if he were the one who'd awakened successfully.
"My boy's made it! Hahaha! My son's really made it!"
Xu Shan's eyes reddened, and his voice caught in his throat. He read the report word by word, afraid he'd miss even the smallest detail.
"Stop shaking! I can't see a thing!"
Yang Lingxia gave her husband a gentle pinch in the side and chided him. Yet her gaze toward Xu Feng was filled with the same boundless relief and pride.
It was no wonder they were so excited.
In this world, there was an almost insurmountable divide between Hunters and ordinary people.
The wealth an ordinary person might never accumulate in an entire lifetime could be earned by a successful Hunter in a single mission.
Even though Xu Feng was only a D-class Intermediate Hunter for now, his future potential and the world he could enter were already far beyond an ordinary person's imagination.
"Xiaofeng, come on, let's go home. I'll make you chicken soup.
"Your dad got an old hen from one of his acquaintances a couple of days ago. It's two and a half years old, and we were planning to make you something nourishing. We'll stew it tonight and celebrate properly... cough, cough..." Yang Lingxia smiled as she spoke, but halfway through, she had to cover her mouth and cough violently.
With practiced ease, she took a sealed little pouch from her bag. Inside was a prepared brown medicine. She tilted her head back and drank it in one gulp.
Only after the medicine went down did her breathing gradually settle. Some color returned to her face.
"Mom, are you feeling unwell again?" Xu Feng asked at once, his brows drawing together with concern.
Seeing how his mother's old injury had left her weak for years, Xu Feng felt a pang of worry.
The root of her illness wasn't an ordinary disease. It was an old internal injury from years ago, one that had damaged her constitution.
She could only rely on long-term medication to nourish and regulate her body. There was no way to cure it completely.
His gaze unconsciously swept over the Attribute Panel, visible only to him, and a vague thought quietly surfaced.
Perhaps, someday...
That's not something I can think about yet. He immediately shook his head, setting the thought aside for now. My top priority is to get stronger as quickly as I can.
"It's just an old problem. It's nothing, so don't worry. We still have enough savings for the household expenses." Xu Shan's smile faded as he gently patted his wife's back to help her catch her breath.
Then he turned to Xu Feng, anticipation returning to his face. "I messaged Brother Piao and told him about you. He was happy to hear it. His team happens to be short on reliable front-line members.
"After we eat this afternoon, I'll take you over to see him."
Even so, as Xu Shan looked at his son's slightly worn clothes, his expression dimmed again, turning bitter.
"After setting aside the money we have to spend on your mom's medicine each month, what's left at home... probably won't be enough for more than one or two basic weapons."
His lips moved a few times, and a struggle flickered in his eyes. At last, as if he'd made up his mind, he spoke in a low but firm voice.
"Xiaofeng, you absolutely can't skimp on equipment for your first trip into a dungeon.
"I... I'll ask your second uncle and a few old friends for help. I'll borrow some money, one way or another, and get you a proper set of gear!"
"Dad, don't." Xu Feng shook his head decisively, stopping his father's impulsive idea. "We need to think about the family first. Mom can't go without her medicine.
"Besides, I'll be going into the dungeon with Captain Piao's team for my first time. They definitely won't give me anything too dangerous to handle, so it's fine if my equipment isn't the best."
As for the "Brother Piao" his father had mentioned—
He was Piao Zhi Yong, a C-Class Hunter.
Xu Feng had heard plenty about him over the years from his father and second uncle's conversations.
Apparently, the captain was mild-mannered and fair, with a good reputation in their circles.
More importantly, he had awakened a relatively rare Wood elemental magic ability. It was well-rounded in both offense and defense, and also offered some healing and support.
As a result, the raid team he led had always suffered far fewer casualties than average.
"But..."
Xu Shan looked at his son's calm, resolute gaze. It felt as if something had lodged in his throat, and a wave of sorrow mixed with guilt and helplessness welled up inside him.
His son had become a Hunter and stepped into the extraordinary, yet as his father, Xu Shan couldn't even provide him with a decent starter set of equipment.
"All right, then. It's settled." Xu Feng spoke lightly, taking his father by one hand and his mother by the other.
"The most important thing now is to fill our stomachs!
"Let's go somewhere nice for lunch and celebrate. Then this afternoon, we'll report to the raid team."
Xu Shan still wanted to say something, but Yang Lingxia gently tugged at his arm.
She whispered in his ear, "Our son's grown up and has his own ideas. Let him have his way.
"You're his father. Just keep an eye on him while he's with the team."
Xu Shan opened his mouth, but in the end, all that came out was a heavy sigh. He swallowed the rest of his words.
"Son, I heard a new Sichuan restaurant just opened up ahead. They say it's really authentic. Shall we try it?" Yang Lingxia did her best to smile warmly, despite her pale face, trying to dispel the gloom in her husband's heart.
"Hehe, sure! Lunch is on me today—" Xu Feng put on a bright smile and deliberately drew out his words, "—Dad's paying!"
"Hey, you little brat!" Xu Shan couldn't help laughing at the way his wife and son played off each other. Much of the heaviness in his chest eased. "Fine! I'm going all out today. Let's see if this newly awakened 'big eater' of yours can eat me broke!"
The family of three chatted and laughed as they joined the throng, heading toward the food street where delicious aromas drifted through the air.
Sunlight fell over them, stretching the shadows of their three close-knit figures long across the ground.
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