Mother Lina

After Bolan decisively defeated the genius Sword Saint Olivier by the Yulan River, the marquis's estate was lively for quite some time. After meeting his eldest brother Leituo, Bolan remained in the estate, cultivating in seclusion.

With only three months left until Year 1 of the Yulan calendar, his younger brother Linley had yet to arrive in the O'Brien Empire. It had already been two months since Linley's last letter. At the time, Linley had still been training in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. He had happened to encounter several mercenaries from the O'Brien Empire and, after questioning them, learned that his elder brother had become an extraordinary Saint-level expert. While rejoicing for his brother, Linley's passion for cultivation had been stirred even further.

On the night before Bolan planned to bid Hogg farewell and head to Fenlai to visit his younger brother, Hogg became utterly drunk and said to Bolan, "Bolan, do you remember your mother?"

Bolan's thoughts were gradually swallowed by memories. His mother, Lina, had been a gentle woman with golden hair. No matter how mischievous he and Linley had been, she had always patiently taught the two brothers. Back then, Hogg had not worn his current stern expression either. At the time, Hogg and Lina had been loving, devoted parents. But all that happiness ended on the day Wharton was born, when Lina died from complications during childbirth.

Returning to the present, although Bolan was a transmigrator, he had read the original Coiling Dragon when he was young and remembered only major events. He vaguely recalled that his mother's death was connected to the Radiant Church, the faith with the most followers on the continent today. Beyond that, he could not remember anything.

Now that his father Hogg had brought up Lina, could there have been another hidden truth? Bolan looked at Hogg in confusion and asked, "Didn't Mother die from complications while giving birth to Wharton?"

Hogg's eyes were bloodshot. "Bolan, you've grown up now. You've even become a Saint-level expert. I have a secret to tell you." Hogg was clearly losing control of his emotions. He viciously punched the stone pillar beside him, leaving his hand dripping with blood. Before Bolan could step forward in concern, Hogg waved him off. "Your mother did not die from complications while giving birth to Wharton."

Even though Bolan had suspected as much, his whole body still trembled. So there really was another reason behind Mother's death!

"When your mother became pregnant again, both she and I were overjoyed. But conditions in Wushan Town were too poor at the time, so I took her to Fenlai City. There, your mother safely gave birth to little Wharton, and we were both very happy. Not long after Wharton was born, your mother and I took him to the Radiant Temple to pray for blessings for him. We were all very happy that day. Afterward, we left the Radiant Temple and stayed the night at an inn in Fenlai City."

At this point, Hogg lost control again. Silver-white dragon scales rose and fell across his body. Only after a long while did he gradually calm down, and Bolan did not interrupt him as he composed himself.

After his emotions settled, Hogg continued, "That very night, a group of mysterious people came to the inn and directly seized your mother. I was outnumbered and could only protect Wharton. But I saw that one of the murderers had a red spider-shaped birthmark on his arm."

As Hogg spoke, he ground his teeth, wishing he could devour their flesh and sleep upon their hides.

Hearing this, Bolan seemed to return to that desperate night more than a decade ago.

Surrounded and attacked by a group of mysterious people, his outnumbered father could only protect Wharton and could only watch helplessly as he failed to save his beloved wife.

"Those people were no ordinary men. Even the weakest among them were fourth-rank warriors, and the strongest was more powerful than I was at the time. Fortunately, their target was your mother. Otherwise, I would have been killed long ago. Anyone capable of dispatching such a group in Fenlai City could not have been an ordinary person. I did not dare make this public. I could only return with little Wharton and tell everyone that your mother had died in childbirth. To this day, only old steward Hiri and your Uncle Hillman know this secret." Hogg spoke again.

Bolan said nothing and simply listened quietly to his father's account.

"I couldn't tell you about this. For more than ten years, I could only bury it in my heart. I didn't dare tell anyone, and I couldn't even investigate your mother's whereabouts alone. Whether she was alive or dead, who those people were—I didn't dare investigate any of it." Hogg's voice choked with emotion.

"I am the heir of the Dragonblood Warrior family. At the very least, I had to raise you brothers to adulthood. I could not allow the Dragonblood Warrior family line to end. I could only endure year after year. Every night, I struggled to sleep. Whether your mother was alive or dead tortured me constantly. I had no choice but to endure it. I endured for twelve years!"

"Bolan, you brothers have all made me very proud, especially you. Among all the Dragonblood Warriors in the family, not one became a Saint at your age. Your two younger brothers are also destined to become the strongest support behind you. Our generation of the Baruch Clan is destined to rise." Hogg said excitedly.

"Actually, when you returned from your first training journey, I thought that I could finally go investigate your mother's whereabouts. But then I suddenly couldn't bear to leave. I couldn't bear to leave you, Linley, and Wharton. I wanted to personally see what you brothers would achieve in the future." Hogg spoke with both reluctance and emotion.

"When you go to the Fenlai Kingdom this time, you must investigate your mother's whereabouts. But too much time has passed. The only clue left now is someone with a spider-shaped birthmark on their arm." Hogg said sorrowfully.

"Do what you can. If you encounter danger, get away immediately. I believe that with your current strength, no matter what danger you encounter, no one will be able to block your path. Your mother and I would not want you to risk yourselves for us!"

Watching Hogg's somewhat desolate back, Bolan knew that this journey to Fenlai would surely be filled with blood and slaughter.

Thinking of this, Bolan wrapped his arms around the two Bloodslayers and murmured, "You're looking forward to it too, aren't you?" As soon as he finished speaking, the two blood-red longswords in his arms strangely began to emit an eerie crimson glow, as though responding to Bolan.