An Unqualified Father

[Mission: Contract the God-Eater Rat "Beibei"]

[Mission Reward: 100 White Energy Points]

Linley, who was weaving between the boulders, stared at the information appearing before his eyes, his entire person momentarily stunned.

"Big Brother Lin Ke," Linley communicated with Lin Ke in his mind, "what is a God-Eater Rat?"

"You'll know when the time comes," Lin Ke said with a smile from within the System Space. "Coincidentally, when you form the bond with the God-Eater Rat, you'll also be able to complete the mission of hunting wild beasts."

Lin Ke's words were abrupt and lacked context, leaving Linley somewhat confused.

But right now, Linley could not afford to worry about other things.

When Linley returned to Wushan Town, what he saw was a town that had already been reduced to ruins and broken walls.

"Linley?" Hillman, who was leading the guard squad to organize rescue efforts, couldn't help but raise his voice upon seeing Linley. "Where have you been? Your father has been looking for you everywhere."

"I'm sorry, Uncle Hillman," Linley apologized, quickening his pace as he headed toward Baruch Mansion. "I'm going to see my father right now."

Linley's physical fitness had already reached the standard of an adult.

Moreover, much of the debris in the town had already been cleared, so Linley returned home quickly.

"Linley?" Hogg was just about to head out to check on the casualties when he saw Linley rushing in. "You—where have you been?"

Hogg was not a father accustomed to showing his vulnerable side in front of his children.

But seeing Linley return home safe and sound, Hogg's eyes still turned slightly red.

"Father, I'm sorry," Linley said, lowering his head. "I shouldn't have run off; I made you worry."

"It's fine as long as you're safe." Hogg took a deep breath and stepped forward to pat Linley on the shoulder. "It's fine as long as you're safe. I still have work to do; go check on Wharton!"

As he spoke, Hogg quickened his pace and left, and Linley watched his father's retreating back, feeling somewhat dazed.

The last time Hogg had shown such a gentle expression was two years ago, when Linley's bloodline test results had been subpar.

"Big Brother!"

Wharton trotted out from the room on his short legs, his milky, childish voice snapping Linley out of his trance.

"Wharton." A smile appeared on Linley's face as he opened his arms, waiting for Wharton to come over. "Are you hurt? Were you scared?"

"I wasn't scared!" Wharton threw himself into Linley's arms. "I want to become as strong as you in the future."

Wharton tilted his head back, revealing his small baby teeth as he spoke, which made Linley chuckle.

"Alright." Linley reached out and ruffled Wharton's hair. "I'll be waiting for little Wharton to grow strong."

"Young Master Linley." The butler Hiri walked over to Linley with a cheerful smile. "Would you like to take a bath first?"

"No need, Grandpa Hiri." Linley handed Wharton over to Hiri. "I have other matters to attend to. Grandpa Hiri, please keep Wharton company for a while."

With that, Linley headed straight toward the back courtyard of the mansion.

"Big Brother Lin Ke." Upon arriving at the dilapidated back courtyard, Linley scanned his surroundings. "Is this really where that God-Eater Rat you mentioned is?"

"Don't worry!" Lin Ke's lazy voice echoed in his mind. "Keep a close eye on the back courtyard over the next few days; you'll encounter it."

After saying this, Lin Ke cut off communication with Linley entirely.

No matter how much Linley called out in his heart, Lin Ke offered no response.

"Linley." Doehring emerged from the Coiling Dragon Ring. "What are you doing here?"

"It's nothing, Grandpa Doehring." Linley shook his head. "I found the Coiling Dragon Ring here back then, so I wanted to see if I could find anything else."

Lying was not a good thing.

But Big Brother Lin Ke had said that he must not reveal his existence.

So, I'm sorry, Grandpa Doehring.

This was Linley's first time lying, and he appeared somewhat awkward.

To a Saint-level powerhouse, this was nothing more than trying to cover one's ears while stealing a bell.

Even though Doehring was now only a soul, his past experience had not vanished.

He could naturally tell that Linley was not telling the truth.

But Doehring did not mind.

"As long as you don't neglect your cultivation, it's fine." Doehring stroked his beard. "Within three days, you must successfully cast your first spell."

After Doehring finished speaking, he retreated into the Coiling Dragon Ring, leaving Linley with a bitter expression.

Today was his first day learning magic incantations, and Linley had shouted for over half an hour in Wushan Town without managing to cast a single spell.

Linley even began to doubt his own talent.

Let alone three days, Linley felt that even in thirty days, he might not be able to successfully cast a spell.

The battle between the two Saint-level powerhouses was a disaster of unprovoked misfortune for Wushan Town.

When the two were fighting, most people had been inside their homes.

The falling boulders caused a large number of houses to collapse, and the casualties accounted for more than half of the population of Wushan Town.

As for the collapsed houses, dead livestock, and ruined farmland, the numbers were even higher.

The Baruch Clan was famously generous toward the people under its protection.

For this loss, Hogg ultimately decided that the Baruch Clan would cover the majority of the costs.

However, the good news was that since so much livestock had been crushed to death, the residents of Wushan Town would likely be eating meat quite often for the next little while.

At dinnertime, under Hogg's astonished gaze, Linley polished off a roasted leg of lamb, a roasted chicken, and a jar of fruit juice all by himself.

"Linley." Hogg frowned slightly, his gaze fixed on Linley. "Do you feel unwell?"

Linley's appetite today was much larger than before, and Hogg was afraid that Linley might have eaten something that would cause problems.

After all, when it came down to it, Linley was still a child under nine years old.

"I'm fine, Father." Linley picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth. "Perhaps it's because of the progress in my warrior training lately; I feel like I've become a bit stronger."

As he spoke, Linley even showed Hogg the muscles on his arm.

But to Linley's disappointment, Hogg didn't show any sign of surprise, merely nodding slightly. "Mm, keep working hard. Don't get arrogant."

Regarding Linley's potential as a warrior, Hogg had already resigned himself to the reality.

Unable to cultivate the Dragonblood Secret Manual, a seventh-rank warrior was the absolute limit.

A seventh-rank warrior, and one without Battle Qi at that.

In the army, that was nothing more than a mid-to-high-level officer.

It might have some deterrent power in the countryside, but if one looked at the entire kingdom, it was utterly unremarkable.

"Father, I'm full." Seeing that Hogg had no interest in this topic, Linley felt a bit dejected. "I'll be going now."

With that, Linley stood up, bowed to Hogg, and then retreated from the dining room.

However, Linley did not return to his bedroom; instead, he went to the kitchen, grabbed a pile of bones, left the house, and headed toward the mountain.

"Linley." Doehring's voice echoed in Linley's mind. "It's so late, what are you planning to do?"

"Grandpa Doehring." Linley looked at the pitch-black road ahead, his eyes filled with determination. "I want to become strong. I want to become a powerhouse and be my father's pride."

Linley clenched his fists tightly, his eyes brimming with tears, yet he refused to let them fall.

Inside the Coiling Dragon Ring, Doehring couldn't help but shake his head.

He had naturally seen the scene in the dining room just moments ago.

At the very least, in Doehring's view, Hogg was not a qualified father.