Hoping His Father Would Become a Dragon

In the end, He Miaojun and Lianshan Jingcheng couldn't bring themselves to beat filial piety into their son.

He Miaojun was so moved that she hugged her son, then shot Lianshan Jingcheng a wary look.

Lianshan Jingcheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Dear, what kind of man do you take me for? However timid I may be, I know Xin took that risk for your sake. How could I blame him?"

At that, Lianshan Jingcheng sighed softly. "I'm just worried about Xin."

Hearing that, He Miaojun's heart grew heavy too.

The road to the clouds naturally drew the envy of the world, but everyone could plainly see the bleached bones piled along its edges.

"Xin, a general's triumph is built on ten thousand withered bones," He Miaojun said with a sigh.

Lianshan Xin remained perfectly calm. "Mother, if we don't become generals, does that mean we won't end up among those bones? Even if I hadn't joined the Nine Heavens, wouldn't our family still suffer an undeserved calamity when President Qu's identity came to light? Ordinary people have even less ability to guard against danger. They just die violent deaths without ever knowing why. Better to fight with everything we've got. This world isn't that safe."

Originally, Lianshan Xin hadn't felt this sense of danger.

But after discovering that even President Qu was a fiend of the Demon Cult, he realized he'd lived far too comfortably these past eighteen years.

Jiangzhou City having been peaceful in the past didn't mean it would remain peaceful in the future.

And the armies that wielded military force in this world weren't armies of the people. He couldn't entrust his safety to their protection.

He Miaojun didn't argue with him.

Clearly, the revelation that President Qu was a Demon Cult fiend had shaken He Miaojun and Lianshan Jingcheng profoundly.

"Father, Mother, I'll leave you to your work. I'm going to check on the Qu Family. The Nine Heavens still have men stationed there. I'll wrap things up, then return to White Deer Grotto Academy to report to the Heavenly Sword."

Besides that, he had one more thing to do.

A little while later.

The moment Lianshan Xin stepped out of Spring Revival Hall, he spotted two door guardians, one on either side.

"Brother Qi, Brother Jiu, what are you doing here?"

Why are you guarding my family's front door?

Du Jiu spoke with a cheerful smile. "Sir, Third-Place Qi sent word. From now on, Brother Qi and I will be serving under you. All our arrangements are yours to command."

"Don't worry about Spring Revival Hall. Jiu and I will keep an eye on it," Qi Wenbin promised, patting his chest.

Lianshan Xin wasn't surprised.

Qi Shiyun had already told him about this.

He didn't stand on ceremony, either.

"As it happens, I have something I need your help with. Which of you is good at tailing people and keeping watch?"

"I am."

Qi Wenbin spoke up.

Du Jiu nodded.

"Good. Sorry for the trouble, Brother Qi. Did you see the girl who just left my house?"

"Of course. She's young, but she already has the makings of a beauty who could topple a city. Give her time, and she'll certainly grow into a stunning woman."

Clearly, Dai Yueying had left a deep impression on Qi Wenbin as well.

"Brother Qi, here's that girl's home address. Please keep an eye on her for me."

"Of course, of course."

Qi Wenbin flashed a knowing smile.

But Lianshan Xin said gravely, "I suspect something's wrong with her."

"What?"

Qi Wenbin's expression grew serious too.

"What's wrong? Is she another Demon Cult witch?"

"I'm not sure yet, so I'm sorry to trouble you with watching her."

"All right. I'll go now."

Qi Wenbin took the slip of paper from Lianshan Xin, glanced at the address written on it, and turned to leave.

With Demon Cult fiends hiding in Jiangzhou City and Lianshan Xin acting so solemn, his imagination naturally ran ahead of him.

Du Jiu's did too. He asked quietly, "Sir, is that girl also a member of the Demon Cult?"

"I don't know. That's why we need to investigate."

Lianshan Xin didn't actually think every random person he met belonged to the Demon Cult.

There couldn't be that many demon spawn running around.

And my luck isn't that good.

But Dai Yueying's behavior had been a little too deliberate and far too precocious. On top of that, Lianshan Jingcheng had said she possessed an innate constitution of inner allure, which made Lianshan Xin instinctively cautious.

Most importantly, Lianshan Jingcheng had said that if Dai Yueying practiced seduction arts, her martial cultivation would advance a thousand miles in a day.

And he had just offended her.

In Lianshan Xin's eyes, he had merely turned down an entirely ordinary romantic overture.

But what if Dai Yueying was petty and vindictive?

Once she mastered her martial arts someday, he would be the one in trouble.

He still needed to take precautions.

"Brother Jiu, how are things at the Qu Family?"

"Nothing happened all night. No need to worry, sir. Just as Third-Place Qi said, the Demon Cult fiends don't dare confront the Nine Heavens head-on. Once we've uncovered their tracks, all they can do is flee."

Lianshan Xin shook his head. "Actually, isn't there another possibility?"

"What possibility?"

"The Thousand Faces Demon excels at disguise and concealment. The most dangerous place is the safest place. If the Thousand Faces Demon killed one of our Nine Heavens brothers and slipped into our ranks, who among us could detect him?"

Lianshan Xin looked at Du Jiu, his voice grave. "Just like now. Who knows whether you're the Thousand Faces Demon, Brother Jiu?"

Du Jiu jumped. "Sir, please don't joke about something like that."

"Brother Jiu, can you be sure I'm not the Thousand Faces Demon?"

Du Jiu's knees nearly gave way.

This had never occurred to him.

He'd never imagined things could take a turn like this.

"S-sir, you're joking, surely?"

Smiling, Lianshan Xin patted Du Jiu's shoulder and said calmly, "Right now, of course I'm joking. But who can say the Thousand Faces Demon won't really do this? We should still take precautions. Brother Jiu, I suggest you report to Third-Place Qi or Lord Heavenly Sword and tell them your concerns. No, only report to Third-Place Qi. Going over your superior's head is a serious taboo."

Warmth flooded Du Jiu's heart. "Sir, you should report it yourself."

"I'll pass. Reporting the Qu Family already earned me credit. I don't need another achievement." Lianshan Xin shook his head. "I'm a newcomer. Standing out too much isn't good. Brother Jiu, you and Brother Qi need to build up some more merits."

White Deer Grotto Academy was an excellent starting village for developing his abilities, and Lianshan Xin intended to spend some time growing stronger there.

Besides, his strength was currently far too weak, while his merits were far too great. For the next stretch, his most important goal was to improve his strength.

Lianshan Xin wasn't in such urgent need of merit.

Better to use it to cultivate trusted followers.

Sure enough, Du Jiu was thoroughly moved.

"I'll always remember your kindness, sir."

"No need to stand on ceremony. We'll let our actions speak from now on," Lianshan Xin said with a light chuckle.

He knew how to cultivate a driver and a secretary, but he really didn't know how people in ancient times trained death-sworn retainers.

Still, he imagined it was just a matter of providing money and resources, then adding emotional bonds. That should more or less do it.

Of course, the simplest method would probably be controlling them with poison.

With Lianshan Jingcheng backing him, Lianshan Xin really could do that. But he wasn't that much of a beast. He would still prioritize human methods.

"I'll check on the Qu Family. If there's nothing else, I'll return to White Deer Grotto Academy to report to Lord Heavenly Sword."

"One moment, sir."

Du Jiu stopped Lianshan Xin.

Then he brought Lianshan Xin to a secluded corner of the Qu Family residence and told him something.

"After Third-Place Qi returned to report to Lord Heavenly Sword yesterday, Lord Heavenly Sword said rewards would be distributed according to merit, and yours ranked first. Lord Heavenly Sword's intention is that, if your honored father is willing, President Qu's medicinal herb business can be handed over to him. All he'd need to do is turn over half the annual profits to the Nine Heavens."

Lianshan Xin blinked, his heart stirring. "Half?"

"Yes, half."

"Lord Heavenly Sword is generous indeed," Lianshan Xin praised sincerely.

They might have to give half the profits to the Nine Heavens.

But from then on, Spring Revival Hall would effectively have a state-owned enterprise investing in it and taking a stake.

Besides, not a single penny of profit from President Qu's medicinal herb business had belonged to their family before.

Now they only had to give the Nine Heavens half the profits from President Qu's medicinal herb business. Their family would make a fortune.

"I'll go back and discuss it with my father."

He called it a discussion, but it would really be a notification.

Lianshan Xin would never allow Lianshan Jingcheng to turn down a mountain of gold.

These days, who didn't hope their father would become a dragon?

"Father, would you like to get rich overnight?"

Lianshan Jingcheng glanced at Lianshan Xin and firmly shook his head. "No."

"No, you would."

Lianshan Jingcheng said, "Meat pies don't fall from the sky. Son, don't let someone swindle you."

"No one's swindling me, Father. Lord Heavenly Sword has given me a great gift."

Lianshan Xin explained the Heavenly Sword's proposal to Lianshan Jingcheng.

Rather than feeling overwhelmed by the favor, Lianshan Jingcheng grew worried. "Wouldn't that mean I'd be boarding the Nine Heavens' pirate ship too?"

"Father, I'm already aboard. You and Mother couldn't untangle yourselves from this anyway. Can we stop deceiving ourselves? Brothers fight tigers together, and fathers and sons go to war side by side. You need to put in some effort too."

Lianshan Xin wasn't the sort to keep everything from his family. If he succeeded, he would bring glory to his ancestors. If he failed, all nine degrees of his kin might be wiped out. The danger was real, and he certainly had to let his parents know in advance.

That way, even if they had to flee, they could prepare beforehand.

Lianshan Jingcheng felt helpless. "Xin, I'm not like you. I'm clumsy with words. I'm not suited to dealing with people."

"Father, this isn't about dealing with people. It's about silver. Your son will be working in the imperial court. If you don't earn more silver, I might become a corrupt official. And if I become corrupt, won't you and Mother be in danger?"

Lianshan Jingcheng said, "...You unfilial brat. Now you're threatening me?"

"Father, this isn't a threat. It's something that could very well happen. I'm your son. You must know how flexible my principles are. Surely you don't want your son to become a corrupt official because circumstances force his hand? I've had enough of being poor."

Lianshan Jingcheng couldn't restrain himself. He grabbed a stick and beat Lianshan Xin out of Spring Revival Hall.

Then he looked up at the sky and let out a long, helpless sigh.

"Dear, could we have another child? I think Xin is beyond keeping."

He Miaojun spat lightly. "It's not as if you don't know what my body's like. Giving birth to Xin cost me half my life. Do you want me to lose the other half too?"

"No, absolutely not." Lianshan Jingcheng sighed again. "How did Xin turn out so crooked? Ever since he was little, I taught him to be gentle, kind, respectful, and frugal. Yet all he thinks about is fame, rank, wealth, and gain."

He Miaojun declared with perfect confidence, "It certainly wasn't because I spoiled him. I think he takes after you."

Lianshan Jingcheng, who preferred to lie flat and take life easy, had no answer. All he could do was look up at the sky and sigh once more.