Yuhao, That Is Your Father

Beyond the grand, heavy gates of the White Tiger Duke Mansion, a dark mass of figures gradually came into view.

Nearly a hundred soldiers in uniform armor marched into everyone's sight in perfect step.

A fierce, lingering killing aura surrounded them. Every one of them was a battle-hardened elite who had survived mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

The man at their head was the tallest and most imposing. The finely crafted armor he wore was clearly more elaborate, and the ferocious white tiger head on his shoulder armor gleamed with a cold, hard luster beneath the sunlight.

The moment his figure entered everyone's sight, a rustle filled the entire Duke Mansion, brimming with reverence and excitement. "The Duke... it's the Duke!"

This man was the master of the estate, the current White Tiger Duke—Dai Hao!

The elegantly dressed Duchess Zhu Yunqing had long been waiting, and she led her two sons, Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin, forward to greet him.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the family of four reunited. Dai Hao dismounted, nodded to his wife in greeting, then reached out and stroked both sons' heads.

Sunlight poured down, outlining a perfect image of family warmth.

Even the personal guards behind him, who were usually stern and unsmiling, showed rare softness on their Resolute Faces, revealing a touch of warm blessing.

At the edge of the bustling crowd within the Duke Mansion, Huo Yun'er lifted little Dai Yuhao higher in her arms so he could see past the shifting heads before him and make out the figure in the distance.

She tilted her head slightly, brought her lips close to the child's soft ear, and said, "Yuhao, look... that man is your father. He is also the true master of this Duke Mansion."

Dai Yuhao stretched his neck from within his mother's arms and looked toward that tall figure surrounded by the crowd.

Sunlight fell upon the imposing armor, reflecting a dazzling glow. Dai Hao's proud, upright stance and the crowd's heartfelt reverence all imprinted themselves deeply in the child's pure eyes.

He could not help letting out a soft "Wow..." It was filled with a child's most instinctive and perfect imagination and worship of the word "father."

Huo Yun'er looked at the undisguised longing in her son's eyes, then at the harmonious "family of four" in the distance. A surge of bitterness and unwillingness suddenly rose within her chest.

She bit her lip, as though using all the strength in her body, then lowered her head and softly said to Dai Yuhao in her arms, "Yuhao, Mom will take you... to find Dad."

In the past, with her timid and enduring nature, she would never have dared to appear before Dai Hao of her own accord on such an occasion.

But the dream Dai Yuhao had spoken of, about Aunt Leng and countless strange, wonderful things, had filled her heart with deep guilt.

Her child should not have to taste a proper meal only in his dreams, nor should he suffer bullying and obscurity in that Small Courtyard.

This decision was not for her own long-worn-away hopes. It was only for her Yuhao.

She wanted to fight for a proper status for her child, for the protection he deserved, even if it was only a little, so he could live somewhat like a normal child instead of dust hidden in the shadows.

Having made up her mind, Huo Yun'er held Dai Yuhao tightly and carefully began parting the crowd before her, inching toward the gates.

However, she had barely squeezed forward two or three steps when an irresistible force suddenly seized her arm, and her embrace was instantly empty!

Dai Yuhao had been forcibly snatched away by another pair of arms.

Huo Yun'er had just opened her mouth to cry out when a hand swiftly came from behind and covered her mouth tightly.

The force was so great that she could barely breathe.

At the same time, a deliberately lowered, icy voice sounded beside her ear, carrying an undisguised threat.

"The Duchess truly did not misjudge you. If you still want your son to remain safe and sound, you'd better keep your mouth shut and make no noise."

Under her captor's restraint, Huo Yun'er struggled to turn her head, and her pupils suddenly contracted!

A few steps away, Dai Yuhao was likewise firmly restrained by someone else. His small mouth was tightly covered, and the child struggled helplessly, unable to make the slightest sound.

She recognized the woman holding Dai Yuhao. She was a maidservant at Duchess Zhu Yunqing's side.

Though she was already over thirty and only a Soul Grandmaster, hardly a talented Soul Master, she was still far beyond what Huo Yun'er, an ordinary person without any Soul Power, could resist.

Huo Yun'er hurriedly blinked hard and nodded rapidly, indicating that she would not cry out.

Only then did the hand over her mouth slowly loosen, leaving behind a burning sensation.

Gasping for breath, Huo Yun'er turned around and found herself facing another familiar face, also a maidservant from Zhu Yunqing's courtyard.

The other woman stepped closer, lowering her voice. "As long as you and your son behave yourselves and do not entertain thoughts you shouldn't have, you can naturally keep your wretched lives."

In that instant, Huo Yun'er understood everything.

That lofty Duchess had no tolerance for others at all. She had guarded against Huo Yun'er to this extent!

The last traces of color drained from her already pale face. Her hands clenched tightly within her sleeves, her nails nearly digging into her palms. The sharp pain was not even a fraction of the humiliation and despair in her heart.

She lowered her head. Her voice was dry and faint, carrying her last plea. "I... I won't take the initiative to appear before him. Please... don't hurt my son."

The maidservant gave a disdainful snort. "At least you know your place."

A nakedly mocking smile immediately appeared on her face. Raising her chin slightly, she said in a tone full of amusement, "Then now, Madam Huo, please take our little Young Master and go... back... home!"

When she uttered the titles "Madam" and "Young Master," there was not the slightest trace of respect in her voice. They were steeped in mockery instead.

Huo Yun'er's whole body stiffened. Under the watch of two icy gazes, she moved forward step by step and took the still faintly trembling Dai Yuhao from the other woman's hands.

The child's body was warm, yet it made her feel cold to the bone.

She forced out a smile more painful than crying. Her lips trembling, she softly said to Dai Yuhao in her arms, "Be good, Yuhao. Let's go home first, all right?"

Dai Yuhao raised his little face. Lingering fear and confusion still remained in his big eyes.

This unusually mature child neither cried nor fussed, nor did he ask any questions. He merely buried his face deeply in his mother's thin embrace, nodded hard, and let out a muffled, "Mm."

Huo Yun'er hugged him tightly, as though clinging to the last piece of driftwood in her life, and no longer dared to look at the liveliness and warmth in the distance that belonged to others.

She turned around and trudged back along the path she had come, step by heavy step, toward that secluded and desolate courtyard.

White Tiger Duke Dai Hao remained home for only one day before donning his armor once more and returning to the front lines.

For Dai Yuhao, although he had not managed to speak a single word to that mountain-like father, at least he now knew who his father was.

Yet after that day, Dai Yuhao often caught sight of his mother secretly wiping away tears.

He did not yet understand the humiliation, despair, and unfathomable love contained in those tears. He only instinctively felt a cold sorrow.

Sometimes, he only dared to hide by the doorframe and peek at her in secret.

Sometimes, when his mother noticed him, he would silently burrow into her embrace and press his tiny body tightly against hers.

Because whenever that happened, Huo Yun'er would quickly wipe away her tears, hold him tightly, and force a gentle curve onto her lips.

Just like now!

Night had deepened, and only a bean-sized oil lamp remained in the cramped room, casting a dim yellow halo.

Huo Yun'er sat at the bedside with Dai Yuhao in her arms, gently rocking her body.

"Yuhao, don't blame your father..."

"He is a great hero, guarding the empire's borders and protecting countless people... He has his own responsibilities and things he cannot help..."

Her voice was very gentle, as though she were speaking to the child, yet also as though she were trying to persuade herself.

Dai Yuhao listened with only half an understanding. His gaze fell on his mother's clothes, which rose and fell slightly with her breathing. The fabric bore the rough texture of excessive washing, as well as the faint, comforting scent of soap that belonged to his mother.

As he listened, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and his consciousness slowly sank as though immersed in warm water.

At last, amid those nearly whispered words of comfort, he drifted into sleep.