Hogg's Worries

Lin Feng stayed in Wushan Town for over ten days, and even when the new semester at Ernst Institute began, he was in no hurry to return. Hogg did not urge Lin Feng to go to the institute either.

On the mountain known as Wushan to the east of Wushan Town, beside a murmuring stream, Lin Feng sat cross-legged, quietly meditating to refine magic power.

Earth-style and wind-style elements permeated his body from all directions, naturally absorbing into his bones, muscles, and meridians to improve his physique. After a small portion of these elements were absorbed, the vast majority were refined and eventually flowed into the dantian located in his chest.

Like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, the elements coursing through his meridians all gathered there.

Lin Feng sat like this for half a day. When he opened his eyes, the sun had already set behind the mountains.

"It's time to return to the institute. Since I'm not prepared to stop Father's decision, I should let him fulfill his wish." Lin Feng stood up, let out a long breath, and walked toward the Baruch Clan manor.

Stepping into the Baruch Clan manor, Lin Feng immediately saw his father reading a book: "Father, it's getting dark. You should wait until tomorrow to read."

"Oh, Lin Feng, you're back." Hogg smiled and closed the book. "You have a point; I'll read it tomorrow."

"Lin Feng, you must be thirsty after cultivating outside for so long." Hogg picked up the kettle from the side table and poured a cup of plain water. "Come, moisten your throat. The temperature is just right, neither hot nor cold."

"Thank you, Father." Lin Feng felt a warmth in his heart, but then he thought about how he and his father would be separated by life and death starting tomorrow, and his heart ached.

For the past ten days, Hogg had treated Lin Feng this way—incredibly well. In the past, however, Hogg had always been stern and rarely showed such a tender side.

Drinking the water, Lin Feng said, "Father, I've been home for a while now. I plan to go to the institute tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Hogg was slightly startled, then nodded. "Alright then. Make sure to come back early at the end of this year."

"Yes," Lin Feng replied.

Hogg whispered his instructions: "Lin Feng, your father doesn't have much ability. The future of the clan depends on you. The hundred thousand gold coins you gave me are enough for your brother's expenses in the O'Brien Empire. Having reached this point, I am very satisfied, but in my heart, I still cannot forget our clan's shame. I hope you don't forget that our clan's heirloom is still out there."

Lin Feng felt his father's expectations for him, took a deep breath, and nodded slightly.

"I have no other desires now, only to see the Warblade Warblade Slaughter before I die." Hogg's voice was very low.

Lin Feng felt the atmosphere was off and immediately said, "Father, don't be so pessimistic. You're only forty; you have a long life ahead of you. I have confidence that within ten years, I will definitely bring back the Warblade Warblade Slaughter and place it back in the clan's ancestral hall."

"Ten years. Good, good." Hogg nodded gently.

The next day at noon, Lin Feng left Wushan Town. That evening, in the living room of the Baruch Clan, two people sat: Hogg and Hillman. The living room doors were tightly shut, and on the dining table sat that bag of magic cores.

Hillman was stunned by the bag of magic cores, and Hogg spoke: "Hillman, I will sell these magic cores in the near future, and I hope you can keep these gold coins for me."

Hillman suddenly snapped out of it and hurriedly said, "Lord Hogg, no, how can you entrust such a great fortune to me? Can't you manage it yourself?"

"Hillman, don't call me Lord Hogg. Just call me Brother Hogg." Hogg's smile was very kind.

Suddenly, Hogg stood up and faced east: "You say I should manage it myself? Haha, Hillman, you probably know the most about our Baruch Clan and my affairs, don't you?"

Hillman was startled; he didn't know why Hogg brought this up.

"That matter has been buried deep in my heart for almost eleven years. For these eleven years, I have felt my heart being gnawed at by ants. I have been enduring it, day after day, year after year. In the blink of an eye, it has been eleven years."

Hogg's whole body began to tremble slightly.

Hillman's expression changed, and he stood up abruptly, exclaiming in horror: "Lord Hogg, what are you going to do?"

"That's right. I must investigate what happened back then. I must avenge Lina." Hillman's face was ferocious, filled with murderous intent.

"Lord Hogg," Hillman said hurriedly, "didn't we investigate it back then? The enemy's power was immense. Just finding out that much was already terrifying. If you go to investigate, you will likely lose your life."

Hogg let out a sound: "Death? Am I still afraid of death? Hillman, you have no idea of the pain I've endured for these eleven years, that kind of mental torture. I've had enough. Now, the hundred thousand gold coins Lin Feng gave me are more than enough for Wharton's expenses. With this money, I have no more burdens."

"For so many years, I have been hiding and enduring. For what? Wasn't it for my two sons? Now Lin Feng is grown, and Wharton is in the O'Brien Empire. I have nothing left to worry about."

Hogg grabbed Hillman's shoulders with both hands and stared into his eyes: "Hillman, although you address me as Lord Hogg, for all these years, we have had a brotherly bond. At this point, I hope you can fulfill my wish."

"Hogg, you..." Hillman was very anxious.

Hillman knew very well that if Hogg really went to investigate what happened back then, he would likely lose his life.

"My mind is made up. Hillman, you must know that living like this is worse than death." Hogg's eyes were slightly red. Seeing Hogg like this, Hillman was filled with helplessness. He could understand Hogg's thoughts.

For so many years, why had Hogg always been so stern and cold?

Others might not know, but Hillman knew very well that before the death of Lin Feng and Wharton's mother, Lina, Hogg had been a very cheerful person. Ever since Lina died, Hogg's temperament had changed.

Although Hogg told the outside world that Lina died in childbirth, Hillman, the butler Hilly, and others knew the truth.

"Hillman, you don't need to persuade me anymore. I only ask you, will you help me or not?" Hogg stared at Hillman.

Hillman gazed at Hogg for a moment, then finally let out a long, powerless sigh: "Alright, I will help you." A smile couldn't help but appear on Hogg's face—a smile of relief.

On the road back to the institute, Lin Feng began to plan the path he would take next.

"I am already at the peak of the eighth rank as a mage, and breaking through to the ninth rank is only a matter of time. However, my warrior cultivation is only at the seventh rank, and I haven't even condensed battle qi yet. It seems I need to go to the Magical Beast Mountain Range again to see if I can find the Misty Valley, obtain the Blue Heart Grass, and then drink the living dragon blood to awaken my Dragonblood Warrior bloodline. But there is no rush for that. Before then, I should first retrieve the clan's heirloom, the Warblade Warblade Slaughter."

"As for avenging my mother, I must at least wait until I become a Saint-level expert. The Radiant Church must be destroyed."

After returning to the institute, the four brothers of 1987 naturally went out to celebrate once more. Afterward, Lin Feng's life returned to peace.