No One Knows a Son Better Than His Father

"": 200,

"": "",

"": "Luo Bin's heart tightened a little.

Ever since waking after the soul-summoning, Luo Bin had felt a familiar warmth toward Gu Ya, as though she were his own mother. With Luo Feng, however, he still couldn't shake that faint sense of wariness. He had to be careful not to give himself away.

Luo Feng was the original owner's father. No one knew a son better than his father, and fooling him would be difficult.

Luo Feng stopped and stood facing Luo Bin.

Then he reached out and patted Luo Bin's head.

"You did very well."

Luo Bin froze. He hadn't expected Luo Feng's tone to soften at all.

Had exposing Zhang Jun actually earned him more of Luo Feng's trust?

"But you mustn't do it this way next time," Luo Feng continued.

"What was wrong with Xiao Shan exposing Zhang Jun?" Gu Ya asked, puzzled. "Honey, didn't you say earlier..."

Luo Feng interrupted her. His expression grew much graver as he looked deeply into Luo Bin's eyes. "The village isn't what you think it is. You must have felt that by now. What happened after you offended Zhang Jun? He came to take revenge on our whole family. If the Village Chief hadn't happened to be at our house, even I would have struggled to react to something like that."

"Don't make enemies lightly. Once you fall out with someone, you must nip the threat in the bud. Otherwise, there will be no end to the trouble. I'll be fine. What matters most is your mother. Do you understand?"

Gu Ya frowned. "Why are you teaching Xiao Shan these things? Aren't you..."

Luo Bin's eyelids twitched wildly. His heart even missed a beat.

Luo Feng's words carried another meaning!

Suddenly, another scene flashed before Luo Bin's eyes.

It was in his room.

It was the night his soul had been summoned here, after Xu Kaiguo had coaxed him into opening the window and the incident had finally been resolved.

As Luo Feng left, he turned back to look at him and said, "The evil spirit took your little fingernail. By rights, you should have become an evil spirit, but you survived."

"They'll probably keep an especially close watch on you. You must be extremely careful! Once night falls, there are no normal people outside the doors or windows, only murderous evil spirits! Don't let them fool you!"

"Enough. Last night is over. Stop bringing it up. What if someone hears you? As long as we light the oil lamps properly, we'll be fine." Beside him, Gu Ya pinched Luo Feng's waist.

The memory slowly faded.

Luo Feng's penetrating gaze was still right before him.

That searching look was the same as it had been that night.

No... not quite the same...

That night, there had still been a trace of doubt and uncertainty. Now, that uncertainty was gone?

Only then did Luo Bin understand.

Luo Feng knew he wasn't Luo Shan!

At first, Luo Feng might not have been certain. He had still been thinking it over.

That was why, while studying him, Luo Feng had repeated the village's rules. He simply hadn't wanted him to die.

By now, however, Luo Feng had seen through him completely.

As for why he had been exposed, it came back to that same saying: no one knew a son better than his father.

No matter how careful Luo Bin was, he could never fool such a perceptive father.

Even so, Luo Feng hadn't exposed him. Instead, he had reminded him again of the "rules" he needed to follow to live and conduct himself in this village.

Luo Feng had even emphasized one particular point.

"What matters most is your mother."

The reason Luo Feng had "accepted" him was Gu Ya.

"Mom, Dad's right. I've always lived under your protection. I've done plenty of things that upset people, even things that made them criticize you both. That was my fault. What happened with Zhang Jun was my fault too. If I'd had even a third of Dad's decisiveness, I shouldn't have driven Zhang Jun away then. I could have let him take them away and told the Village Chief afterward. That way, Zhang Jun wouldn't have come to our house for revenge. Or I could have..."

Luo Bin left the sentence unfinished.

Luo Feng nodded, a trace of satisfaction in his deep gaze.

Was that a hint of approval in his eyes?

For a moment, Gu Ya had nothing to say.

She had always felt that parents were eagles and towering trees, while children were eaglets and seedlings sheltered beneath their branches.

A parent's responsibility was to protect their child.

But now, Luo Shan seemed to have grown up.

Earlier, Luo Shan's outburst in front of everyone had shown how much Luo Bin cared about the two of them as his parents.

Now, Luo Shan's response made him seem like an adult, one who understood responsibility and was willing to shoulder it.

Speechless, Gu Ya felt a pang in her heart, along with an emotion she couldn't quite describe.

"Brothers hunt tigers together, and fathers and sons go to battle side by side. Mom, don't worry. There's nothing wrong with what Dad's teaching me. I'm a man now too. I can protect our family, and I can protect you." Seeing Gu Ya's expression, Luo Bin hurriedly added this in a quiet voice.

Gu Ya smiled, deepening the crow's-feet at the corners of her eyes. Still, she tipped her head up slightly and didn't let any tears fall.

"Let's go home and make dinner. Eat and drink your fill. We still have to watch the procession tonight." With that, Luo Feng headed forward.

A procession tonight?

Wasn't it supposed to be during the day?

Once it was dark, evil spirits would be everywhere. How were the villagers going to drag Zhang Jun out on a procession?

Right. The Village Chief had said earlier that the procession would be tonight.

Of course, puzzled as he was, Luo Bin didn't ask.

Although he and Luo Feng had tacitly acknowledged the truth between them, and he had revealed some of his resolve, it was still best not to be too blatant. Gu Ya, in particular, must not learn any of this. Unlike Luo Feng, she wasn't rational enough to handle it. Otherwise, something was bound to go wrong.

As they left the side path and returned to the main road, it was much quieter. Wisps of cooking smoke were already rising from some of the courtyards.

Clearly, those villagers were also hurrying to make dinner and eat so they could watch the procession that night.

Luo Bin followed Gu Ya and Luo Feng, his thoughts and analysis continuing without pause.

At least his identity was now secure within the family.

But there was another crucial point: Yu Zhangli, Zhu Qianqian, and Gu Yiren.

He could leave the first two alone, but he absolutely couldn't ignore Gu Yiren.

His instincts told him that she was the key!

And now that he no longer had to worry about his identity at home, what else did he need to consider?

First and foremost, he had to obtain lamp oil and become human!

Otherwise, if Luo Feng learned that he was actually an evil spirit who craved blood after nightfall, would he still dare let him stay in the house?

This was another pressing danger.

Since the Village Chief wouldn't deal with Gu Yiren, could he possibly get Luo Feng to help?

While he was thinking, Luo Feng and Gu Ya stopped.

"Xiao Ling, what brings you here?" Gu Ya called out in surprise.

Only then did Luo Bin raise his head. At a glance, he saw a poised young girl standing outside their front door.

Zhang Yunling.

The sunlight had flushed her cheeks pink, and she was as fresh-faced and pretty as the girl next door.

"Auntie Gu, I rested at home for a while, and I feel much better now. My house is too far inside the village. With the procession going around tonight, I don't dare stay there, so I'd rather stay with you." Zhang Yunling walked up to Gu Ya with quick little steps, took one of her hands, then gave Luo Feng a sweet smile.

Finally, her bright eyes flickered as she nodded to Luo Shan and called him Xiao Shan, which counted

as a greeting.