The Weight of Not Being Able to Travel Together

Yun Jingheng and Yun Ming stood in Lingbing Plaza, waiting for the people who had passed the test to pack their luggage.

Similar to the original novel, the characters are Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, Gu Yue, Xu Xiaoyan, Ye Xinglan, Yuanen Yehui.

It's worth mentioning that Xu Lizhi and Yue Zhengyu are not on this list, which is understandable given Xu Lizhi.

When Ye Xinglan transferred here, Xu Lizhi was nowhere to be seen.

Yun Jingheng hadn't expected that Yue Zhengyu would be replaced by Wu Siduo.

As Yun Jingheng was pondering this, Yun Ming suddenly nudged him with his elbow.

"What?"

Yun Ming looked at Yun Jingheng with an incredulous expression. "Hey! No, I'm your dad! You think I can't even touch you?"

Yun Jingheng's lips twitched. "No, I mean, what's wrong?"

Yun Ming took out a card from his pocket and casually handed it to Yun Jingheng.

"Take it."

Yun Jingheng paused, looking at the completely black savings card with gold trim, his brows furrowing slightly. "What does this mean?"

What do you mean?

Yun Ming glared at him, annoyed. "You're my son, and you're about to go on a long trip. Isn't it normal for me to give you some money?"

Yun Jingheng didn't take it, his gaze fixed indifferently on the card. "I have money."

"It's your business if you have money; what I'm giving is my heartfelt sentiment."

Yun Ming shoved the card into his hand. "The amount on this isn't much, but it's enough for you to eat a few good meals out and buy some decent clothes. Don't go out with those young girls and boys; being so stingy makes me look bad."

Yun Jingheng looked down at the card in his hand, his lips twitching slightly. "Didn't you say the academy's expenses have been high lately..."

"Even with high expenses, your little bit won't make a difference."

Yun Ming raised his hand and patted his shoulder, the force neither too light nor too heavy. "You've never really asked me for anything since you were little, and I haven't given you much in return. This trip will last at least half a year, so it's always good to have some extra money."

He paused, his tone suddenly turning serious, as if it were a casual remark, or perhaps something he had planned long ago.

"The password is your birthday."

"Alright. Then I'll 'reluctantly' accept it."

"Don't be stingy, spend it when you should. My son, Yun Ming, is away from home and you still expect him to be frugal? If word gets out, where will I put my old face?"

"Alright, alright." Yun Jingheng's lips curled slightly, and he didn't argue with him anymore.

A breeze blew from Lingbing Plaza, carrying the faint voices of several people packing their luggage in the distance.

Yun Ming stood there for a while, then suddenly dropped his frivolous expression and turned to face Yun Jingheng.

"Let's get serious."

Yun Jingheng noticed the change in his expression and also put away his rare ease, looking up at him.

Be careful on this trip.

Yun Ming lowered his voice, carrying a solemnity only found between father and son, "You are my son, and you know that in your heart."

"Wherever you go, there will always be people watching you. Some want to test you, some want to find a way to break through you, and some... want to cause you trouble."

Yun Jingheng didn't speak, but listened quietly.

"Shrek has offended quite a few people over the years. No one dares to touch him openly, but the number of people secretly watching us father and son is too many to count on two hands."

"Before, in the academy, under my very nose, no one dared to lay a finger on you. But this time is different. You're going to Star Luo City, the territory of the Star Luo Empire."

Yun Ming's gaze darkened. "I won't be by your side, so you'll have to make your own judgments. Be patient if you can, but don't hesitate to act when necessary. But remember one thing: no matter what happens, coming back alive is the most important thing."

Do you have any soul-guided weapons? Like Fixed Soul Guidance Cannonball or something?

Yun Jingheng raised an eyebrow, recalling the nuclear bomb that had been completed in his Storage Soul Tool.

"Have."

"That's good. If you really run into a situation where there's no other way, just throw Fixed Soul Guidance Cannonball at the enemy's face, understand?"

Yun Jingheng nodded slightly. "I know."

Yun Ming looked at him for two seconds, as if to make sure he had really listened, before relaxing his expression slightly.

But then, Yun Jingheng asked a question that silenced him.

"Dad."

"Um."

"Are you and Mom... really not going this time?"

Yun Ming looked at him but did not answer immediately.

Yun Jingheng's tone was calm, as if he were asking about something trivial, but if you listened carefully, you could detect a hint of confusion hidden beneath that calmness.

"There's nothing at Shrek that requires you to stay, right? The journey won't take too long; you just need to show up when you arrive. I don't quite understand..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

Yun Ming was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled. There was a hint of helplessness in that smile, and something else he couldn't quite put his finger on.

"Jing Heng, think about it," he turned to look at his son, "the Pavilion Master and Vice Pavilion Master of the Shrek Academy leave Shrek City at the same time, making a big show of heading to Heaven Dou City in the Star Luo Empire —what do you think people will think?"

Yun Jingheng was taken aback.

"I'm going," Yun Ming said, emphasizing each word. "People will think Shrek is up to something with the Star Luo Empire. If your mother goes too, it'll be even more interesting."

He paused, a bitterness in his voice that only he understood, "Others will just think that Shrek is going to attack the Star Luo Empire."

The wind suddenly picked up in the square, making the hems of their clothes flutter loudly.

Yun Jingheng remained silent.

He understood what Yun Ming meant.

It's not just "unnecessary to go," it's "cannot go."

Their identities are so significant that their mere presence in that place can be interpreted in countless ways.

Their very existence is a statement in itself.

But he was different.

He is Yun Ming's son, but he is also just a student at the Shrek Academy.

He can leave quietly, arrive quietly, and do what he should do quietly.

He will not cause panic, will not be interpreted as a signal, and will not turn an ordinary exchange into a diplomatic incident between the two countries.

"So," Yun Ming's voice softened as he looked at the sliver of cloud on the distant horizon, "This time you'll have to go by yourself."

Yun Jingheng understood what he didn't say aloud.

If possible, Yun Ming would like to go.

He wanted to stand by his son's side more than anyone else, but he couldn't.

"I understand," Yun Jingheng said.

Two simple words, yet Yun Ming sensed the weight within them.

Yun Ming reached out and patted Yun Jingheng's shoulder. This time, the pat was very light, and the pat lingered for a little longer than usual.

"Go," he said, "They're coming."

At the other end of the square, Tang Wulin and his group of seven had already packed their luggage and were walking towards them.

The morning light fell on everyone, making their young faces glow.

Yun Jingheng glanced at Yun Ming one last time, then turned and walked towards his companions.

He took a few steps without turning around, but his voice came through clearly.

"Wait for me to come back."

Yun Ming stood there watching his retreating figure, a slow smile curving his lips.

That brat.