A Resolution

"Little Dong, get ready today. Tomorrow, I'll go to your home with you and settle things between you and your father."

After finishing the day's training, Chen Mo spoke calmly to Lin Yaodong.

In the end, Lin Yaodong and his father had fallen out so badly because of him, so Chen Mo was certainly going to settle the matter for his little brother.

That way, Lin Yaodong would be even more loyal to him and have even greater faith in him.

Chen Mo also hoped the people who followed him would have a good ending.

Besides, Chen Mo was planning to start traveling across the whole Douluo Continent soon, and he intended to bring his little brother Lin Yaodong along. Settling this would also put Lin Yaodong's worries behind him, so he could set out with Chen Mo without anything weighing on his mind.

Hearing his big brother's words, Lin Yaodong was taken aback.

When it came to his father, it was impossible for him not to feel guilty, but his big brother had warned him: if he dared tell anyone about the Seven Forms of the Martial God-people would die.

So Lin Yaodong didn't dare tell his father about the benefits he had received from his big brother. He knew his big brother's character well; he would never joke about something like that.

If he really dared let it slip, his big brother might well kill everyone who knew, himself included, of course.

He held no resentment toward his big brother.

Thanks to Chen Mo's guidance, Lin Yaodong had a pretty sound set of values.

Giving you something was a kindness; not giving it was his right.

His big brother didn't owe him anything. If anything, he owed his big brother far, far too much.

And his big brother had told him long ago: if one day he no longer wanted to follow him, he could leave. As long as he didn't reveal what he had been taught to anyone else, no one would come to harm.

Lin Yaodong was a little uneasy. "Big Brother, you aren't thinking of...?"

Chen Mo smiled and said, "Don't let your imagination run wild. You and your father fell out so badly because of me, and I feel terrible about it. In a few days, we'll be setting out to travel the continent. I want to mend the rift between you and your father first, so neither of you has to keep worrying about the other."

Lin Yaodong was deeply moved by everything his big brother was doing for him.

Lin Yaodong said, "Big Brother, thank you."

Chen Mo said, "We're brothers. You're treating me like an outsider when you say that. Get some good rest. We're seeing your father first thing tomorrow morning, so you'd better think carefully about how to apologize to him."

The next day, at the Lin family home.

"Dad! Dad! Big Brother's back! Dad, Big Brother's back..."

Chen Mo and Lin Yaodong had barely reached the entrance to the Lin home when the third brother, Lin Yaoxi, shouted at the top of his lungs.

It had been a year. Although they lived in the same city, because of what had happened a year ago, the two of them had gone a full year without seeing each other.

Both Father Lin and Lin Yaodong had longed to see each other.

But Father Lin couldn't bring himself to swallow his pride, while Lin Yaodong didn't dare see him and was also being rebellious.

That was how things had come to this.

Each was thinking of the other, yet neither wanted to back down.

Chen Mo knew very well, however, that although the two hadn't met, they had both secretly gone to see the other, leaving only after making sure the other was well.

"Hmph, so he's back. What's there to be happy about?"

Although he was delighted to hear that his eldest son had returned, he still put on an unwelcoming face.

He was an old tsundere.

The moment Lin Yaodong laid eyes on his father, he dropped to his knees.

Sobbing a little, he said, "Father, your son is home."

The moment Father Lin saw his son, his eyes grew wet. He hurriedly turned his head and secretly wiped away his tears.

Father Lin still pretended to be displeased, but his voice trembled a little all the same. "Hmph, so you're back. What, do you expect me to welcome you? You disgraceful thing. Hmph."

┐(￣ヘ￣)┌

"Eh~ Father's lying! Father was clearly worried about Big Brother. I don't know how many times he's talked about him."

The one speaking was Lin Yaodong's third brother, Lin Yaoxi.

He was just as mischievous as Lin Yaodong had been as a child, and like his big brother, he had taken who knew how many severe beatings for it.

Hearing the little brat lay him bare, Father Lin felt rather embarrassed and flew into a rage on the spot. He scolded Lin Yaoxi, "You little bastard, get out of here! Just wait till I deal with you later."

"Bleh~"

As Lin Yaoxi left, he didn't forget to pull a face. Clearly, he hadn't been beaten lately, and his skin was itching for it again.

O_o

After scolding his third son, Father Lin looked back at Lin Yaodong, feeling rather embarrassed.

Seventy percent tsundere and thirty percent angry with embarrassment, Father Lin said, "Hmph, laugh if you want to."

Lin Yaodong had no thought of making fun of his father. All he felt was shame and guilt.

After standing there in a daze for a long while, he finally managed to say, "I'm sorry, Father. Your son has been unfilial and made you worry."

Father Lin didn't turn around to look at Lin Yaodong. With his back to him, he said, "Hmph, what are you still kneeling there for? You're giving an 'outsider' a free show."

As he spoke, he didn't forget to cast a sidelong glance at Chen Mo beside Lin Yaodong.

His meaning was clear: this was his family's business. What was an outsider doing here?

Lin Yaodong didn't notice Father Lin's glance. He only thought his father had finally forgiven him, and he rose to his feet, happy as a child.

Father Lin looked at his eldest son, who was a head taller than he was, and felt a little emotional. He had grown so tall; the boy was all grown up!

But the fellow next to him was something of an eyesore.

Father Lin had no pleasant expression for Chen Mo. If not for this fellow, he and his son wouldn't have spent a year giving each other the cold shoulder.

Father Lin didn't even want to hide his dislike of Chen Mo. He said to him outright, "We're out of rice today, so we won't be offering you a meal. Go back where you came from."

Lin Yaodong felt rather awkward when he heard that.

Lin Yaodong said, "Father, don't be like that. Big Brother treats me very well."

Chen Mo could understand Father Lin, though.

If someone drove a wedge between you and your son, and then came to visit your home, forget inviting him to a meal-it would be good enough if you didn't beat him and throw him out on the spot.

Chen Mo didn't mind Father Lin's attitude toward him.

Chen Mo said, "It seems you're still angry with me, Uncle Lin!"

Father Lin gave Chen Mo no face either. He looked at him out of the corner of his eye and said, "You know you're not welcome, yet you still came here looking for a scolding. Are you a glutton for punishment?"

Chen Mo wasn't angry. Since he had come, he was certainly going to settle the matter. He would treat Father Lin's words like a fart; there was no need to take issue with him.

Chen Mo said, "Uncle Lin, aren't you curious why I didn't want Little Dong to add a Soul Ring?"

The moment Father Lin heard that, he could no longer hold back. He flew into a rage.

To the people of the Douluo Continent, becoming a Soul Master was a matter as great as the heavens themselves. Nothing was more important.

The earlier one became a Soul Master, the greater one's future achievements would be. That was the consensus on the Douluo Continent.

So no matter what reason Chen Mo had, Father Lin saw it as ruining him.

Father Lin roared angrily at Chen Mo, "Why? I don't want to know why! All I know is that you're ruining him."

Father Lin continued to bellow, "Do you even know how important the First Soul Ring is to a Soul Master? Only with a Soul Ring can Little Dong be considered a true Soul Master. I think you're just jealous of him. What kind of brother are you? You're nothing but a fair-weather friend..."

Chen Mo was tired. Truly tired!

Couldn't some things be settled more peacefully?

Did people have to smash their heads, feel pain and bleed before they could calm down?

Even a clay figure had three parts of temper. Being pointed at and scolded had stirred anger in Chen Mo's heart too.

But the man was his little brother's father, after all, so he couldn't go too far.

"Purify~"

Chen Mo formed a hand seal and uttered the word "purify." At once, the world fell quiet.

Father Lin suddenly felt his heart clear and his mind open. His cursing mouth closed without him noticing, and the look he gave Chen Mo gradually softened.

Chen Mo said, "Uncle Lin, have you calmed down? Can we talk properly now?"

Hearing Chen Mo's words, Father Lin quickly came out of that peaceful, tranquil state of mind.

Although still angry, he didn't curse anymore.

Father Lin said, "Say whatever you want. I don't have time for you."

Father Lin was clearly impatient with Chen Mo.

Chen Mo said, "Uncle Lin, what do you think the difference between ordinary people and Soul Masters is?"

Father Lin grew even more impatient. "That's what you wanted to ask me?"

Chen Mo nodded and looked him straight in the eye. "Answer me. What's your answer?"

Father Lin said impatiently, "Soul Masters have Soul Power, and ordinary people don't. That's my answer. Satisfied?"

Chen Mo asked again, "And what does Soul Power represent?"

Father Lin said, "Say whatever you want to say. I don't want to hear you talk in circles."

Chen Mo said, "Strength! The most fundamental difference between ordinary people and Soul Masters is strength. Ordinary people don't have strength, but Soul Masters do. That's why Soul Masters can stand high above everyone else, while ordinary people can only live in humility."

Chen Mo said, "And I can give Little Dong something better when it comes to strength. That is my answer to you."

Father Lin said, "Heterodox nonsense. You say you can give it to him, so you can? What proof do you have?"

Chen Mo said, "Didn't Little Dong prove it a year ago? You, a level twenty-one Soul Grandmaster, couldn't do anything to Little Dong, who wasn't even a Soul Master. Isn't that enough?"

Although what Chen Mo said was true, Father Lin was still unwilling to admit it.

Stubbornly, he continued, "Hmph, I was going easy on him."

Chen Mo said, "Fine, then have another match. But Little Dong is your son, after all. It wouldn't sound good if word got out that a son had beaten his father, and Little Dong doesn't know how to hold back. It would be even worse if he injured you.

"So, if I may be so bold, Uncle Lin, please give me some pointers."

Chen Mo never held grudges. When he had a score to settle, he generally settled it on the spot.

Father Lin, meanwhile, was overjoyed. If he hadn't been mindful of his son, he would have beaten this brat surnamed Chen long ago. Since the boy was courting death, he would oblige him.

Lin Yaodong was dumbfounded. What was going on?

Big Brother was going to fight his dad?

Would his dad survive?