Chapter 2 – Lin Family
Lin Ye walked quickly to his father’s room and knocked on it twice.
“Come in.” A rough voice said.
Lin Ye pushed open the door and entered. He quietly closed it afterward and faced toward the person in the room.
It was a man around his late thirties or perhaps his early forties, but he had a stocky build, the same black hair as Lin Ye except his hair was short, a rough, yet it had a bit of resemblance to Lin Ye.
He was sitting and writing some things on a paper, but when he saw Lin Ye, he stopped working.
The man got up and his rough face softened up a little.
“Lin er. You’ve made me wait a while.”
“I apologize….Father.”
Saying father made Lin Ye feel weird, but also gave him a sense of familiarity. Since he was used to saying it before, it felt right, but since his mind was now back, it made him feel awkward. When he grew up as a child in his old world, he lost his mom when she died to protect a client and his father, when he left everything he had to Wu Jin and took revenge.
“I just have to accept this. This is my life now…” Lin Ye thought and tried to convince himself in his mind.
His father seeing him so stiff and awkward heaved a sigh and gave a slight smile.
“Lin er. Don’t stand there. Come and sit down. Father is not mad, I’m just worried. Your mother isn’t here and if she knew I let you be in harm’s way, she would definitely skin me alive.”
Lin Ye regained back his senses and nodded his head. He proceeded to a chair and sat down.
“Let me finish up first. Give me 3, no 2 minutes and I’ll be done.”
With that his father sat down again and with renewed vigor, quickly went back to work.
Lin Ye glanced around the room and finding nothing of interest, he looked to his father working. He recalled what he could of his parents.
His father, Lin Long did not belong to the clan Lin. Lin Long and Lin Ye’s mom Lin Ai were in love, but Lin Long was not of noble status or worthy in the eyes of the Lin family, so their marriage was rejected and obstructed. However, due to some circumstances the Lin family eventually accepted his father, but there was a condition. He had to marry into the Lin family, thus all his children and anyone willing to join him will have the Lin name and not his father’s family name. His father without question accepted and thus another subsidiary of the Lin family was born. Although his father rejected becoming the head, he still held a lot of say and power in the subsidiary Lin family. Lin Long’s father and Lin Ye’s grandfather was the head of the family, at least, until Lin Long wanted to become the head or let someone else.
Lin Ye was the only son of Lin Long and Lin Ai, thus they doted on him extremely much, that he became very spoiled and neglected his training, hoping to ride on his parent’s coattail and live a carefree and promiscuous life. They both loved and treated him dearly, but that was only in private. When it was out in public, excluding in the Lin family, they acted as a parent should, albeit with some restraints.
Lin Ye was still recollecting his thoughts, when he heard a chair move and his father putting the pen in his hand down.
“That’s done. I’ll have to send it later.” His father picked up the piece of paper, put it into an envelope and then looked to Lin Ye.
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“Now…Lin er. Do you know why I called for you?”
“Did I do something stupid again?” Lin Ye blurted out his thoughts in his mind without thinking.
Oh shit. That wasn’t what I was going to say!
“I meant, I do not know.”
His father looked at him with an amused smile, and then shook his head.
“Don’t worry. You’re not in trouble this time, it’s just I was wondering how your progress in your training was going. I heard the servants caught you practicing in the morning today.”
“Oh. My training. Well, it’s going alright. I suddenly had the urge to train.”
“I see. Did you have any improvements?”
“Improvements? Hm…Yes. I definitely did.”
“That’s good. That’s good. I want to measure your level, give father your hand.”
Lin Ye sweated a bit.
He…he wants to feel my qi! He won’t find anything strange right? The Black Dragon Arts instills me with dark destructive qi that can be mistaken for evil qi!
“What’s the matter?” Seeing his son still hesitating, his father got worried.
Could my son have been lying? Or worst case…he was crippled?!
His father had thought the worst of things and without waiting; he pulled his son’s arm and pushed a bit of his qi into Lin Ye.
Lin Ye was caught off guard and even if he was prepared, he was still no match for his father.
Lin Ye prayed he would not find it and with anxious breaths, he waited.
After an eternity passed for Lin Ye, his father released his arm and sighed.
He didn’t find it right? That sigh seems more like…he’s disappointed.
However, his father brightened up a bit again.
Good. Nothing happened to my son. Thank the heavens.
Lin Ye’s father knocked him on the head softly and said, “Lying to your father like that, you’re still at the same level.”
Lin Ye relaxed since his father didn’t find anything wrong.
Lin Ye’s current cultivation was the 2nd Rank, 5th stage, which was also known as the Opening stage. Reaching this stage was considered a bit below average as his kids his age were at mostly around the 6-8th stage.
In the Quan world, martial artists or cultivators ruled. The strong makes the rules, while those weaker look up to or struggle to become strong. Cultivation levels are separated into 9 Ranks with 10 Stages each rank. Every rank has a special name and in order to go up in ranks and/or stages, one must need hard work and practice to temper and refine their qi.
Lin Ye rubbed his head, since his father’s soft knock was still a bit painful even if he did restrain his strength.
“F…father. Don’t worry. I still have a long time to improve.”
Lin Ye still found it a bit hard to say father.
Lin Ye’s father gave a sigh.
“That’s…we don’t really have that much time.”
“No time? What do you mean?”
Lin Long put his hands on Lin Ye’s head and gave another sigh, this time it was dispirited.
“Your mother went back to her clan for a visit, but now they want us to come and participate in the Lin family trial. They say it’s just a little thing to measure you. Hell, they must think I don’t know! It’s not just an ordinary trial. It’s a Youth competition meant to measure all the Lin family’s youths, including the branch families. Your mother tried to reject it saying you weren’t ready or interested, but they pushed for it! They must really want to embarrass us.” Lin Long’s voice rose higher and higher, but then he stopped.
“I’ve been trying to reason with them, but it seems they’re adamant on you coming. Your mother also tried. I’m sorry, Lin er.”
Lin Ye felt a bit of warmth.
They really do dote on me too much.
Lin Ye gave a laugh, and then replied.
“Father, don’t worry. It’s not a big deal. We can’t let them call us cowards, you don’t see my improvements now, but I’ll definitely improve by the time I participate. When is it?”
Lin Long’s father looked perplexed at Lin Ye.
Is this my son? When did he get so mature? Was he always this brave? Tons of questions popped into Lin Long’s head, but right now, he was content.
“ Lin er, the competition is in 2 months. If you really want to go, father will protect you no matter what, if you don’t, it’s also ok. Your mother and I do not mind if you ever change your mind.
“Father. It’s alright. I want to go. I do not want to disappoint you, plus this could give me some experience.”
Lin Ye smiled widely.
“This is the perfect opportunity. With many opponents to test myself, no way I won’t improve!”
Lin Long looked at his son as if he didn’t recognize him anymore. Then he gave a great laugh.
“Haha! Great. Then I shall write we’ll participate!”
With that, he sat back down and tore up the envelope he had settled aside before.
He went back to writing and Lin Ye smiled.
“Then father, I shall be going now. I have to practice a bit.”
“Good! Father will await your improvements!”
With that, Lin Ye walked out.
While walking toward his room, he started to think.
Lin family, huh? I shall show you, that there are hidden dragons in places unexpected. Still…I wonder why father couldn’t find the black dragon qi? Is it because it’s qi is different or is it due to other circumstances?
Lin Ye couldn’t come up with an answer either way, so he started to think of a move in the Black Dragon Arts he wanted to practice.
Upon reaching his room and walking in, he decided on the move to practice.
The Black Heaven Field.