Nie Ming was in a state of panic.
To say he was freaking out would be putting it mildly.
The very thought that his son, Nie Li, could be dead in a week was enough to send shivers down his spine.
What father wouldn't be terrified by such a prospect?
He couldn't help but blame himself.
He had always encouraged Nie Li, never once trying to curb his dreams or tell him they were just fantasies.
Nie Ming wished he had been more stern, told his son that achieving greatness was a far-fetched dream.
Perhaps then, Nie Li wouldn't have found himself in such a dangerous situation, challenging the Patriarch on a whim.
But regretting the past wasn't going to change the present.
Nie Li was now set to compete in a tournament with a mere soul force of 5 against the elite youths of the Heavenly Marks Family.
These were opponents who had been rigorously trained from childhood, had access to the best medical pills, weapons, and armor.
Meanwhile, Nie Li... his family could barely afford to buy him a dagger.
The odds were overwhelmingly against him. The thought of Nie Li losing and facing execution was unbearable.
Nie Ming wanted to break down, to let out the tears that were threatening to fall.
But he knew that wasn't an option. He had to stay strong, to think of a way—any way—to save his son from this impending doom. There had to be something he could do to stop this madness and ensure Nie Li's safety.
The clock was ticking, and Nie Ming knew he didn't have much time.
The weight of his son's life hung heavily on his shoulders, a burden he was desperate to lift.
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The wagon creaked as it moved over the cobblestones, the only sound in the growing darkness.
Nie Li sat in the back, his fingers moving over a wooden talisman, each groove reminding him of the bold bet he had with the Patriach.
Nie Ming, driving the wagon, looked worried, his face tense.
They hadn't spoken, the silence heavy with fears neither had voiced.
As dusk turned to night and the first stars appeared, Nie Ming finally broke the silence. "Nie Li, I've thought of a way to fix this," he said, his voice filled with a fear so deep it seemed to tighten around Nie Li's heart.
"You should say sorry to the Patriarch. I'd even give my arm to make things right. You... you..." Nie Ming's words stumbled, choked by his fear.
Nie Li saw the pain in his father's eyes, a pain sharper than any knife.
"Father, I can handle this," he said quietly but with a strong belief in himself.
Suddenly, Nie Ming stopped the horses, turning to face Nie Li with a look of pure anguish.
"No, you can't! Do you realize what you've done? In one week, I could lose you, my only son!"
Nie Li understood his father's fear all too well.
In Nie Ming's eyes, the situation was straightforward and harsh: his son, with his weak soul force, was walking into danger, like a lamb among wolves.
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How could Nie Li explain that he wasn't the same boy his father thought he was?
That he had knowledge and skills from a future that no longer existed, even if they didn't compare to the elites of Glory City, they were still something, more than enough to handle the spoiled brats of the Heavenly Marks Family.
"Father," Nie Li began, his voice calm but firm, "I'm not going into this blindly."
Tears welled up in Nie Ming's eyes, the pain of possibly losing his son cutting deep. "We're going back," he declared, voice breaking with emotion.
"The Patriarch can take my head instead."
In that moment, Nie Li felt the depth of his father's love, a love so strong it was willing to face death.
"I can do this!" he insisted, his conviction echoing in the still air.
"No, you can't! I won't lose my son to his own ego!" Nie Ming shouted back, his tears now freely flowing.
The air between them was charged with tension, a father's desperate fear clashing with his son's belief.
"Father, please believe in me," Nie Li pleaded.
"I have insights, knowledge that can help. I'm not as defenseless as you think."
"How can I trust in what sounds like delusion, Nie Li?" Nie Ming's voice was heavy with skepticism.
"Your 'insights' offer no guarantees. The Patriarch and the elders have years of experience. What could you possibly know that they don't?"
"It's not about what they know, Father," Nie Li replied, struggling to convey his confidence without revealing his secret of being from the future.
"I've learned things... in my own way. I can't explain everything, but you have to trust that I'm not just being reckless."
"You're asking me to trust in the unknown, to risk everything on a mere possibility," Nie Ming argued, the worry etched deep in his face.
"Wisdom comes with age. What could you see that we've missed?"
"Sometimes, Father, it's the young sapling that bends and sways with the wind, while the old tree stands rigid and breaks," Nie Li said, hoping to convey his point.
"Let me face the storm. I am that sapling."
"And if you break? What then? It's not just about you. The whole family will suffer the consequences. Did you think about that? Your mother, uncle, aunt, cousin, and me... What will happen to us?" Nie Ming's voice rose with each word, laying bare the stakes.
Nie Li was taken aback, stuttering, "I-I-I..." He had never seen this side of his father before.
"I can win," he finally said, a whisper of hope in his voice.
Nie Ming searched his son's eyes for any hint of doubt, longing for a glimpse of the boy he once knew, hoping against hope for a reason to believe.
"I can't lose you," Nie Ming whispered.
"And I can't let fear decide our fate," Nie Li responded softly, trying to infuse courage into his words. "Trust me, Father. I'm not just your son in this moment; I'm someone who sees a chance for our family to change."
"Get out!" Nie Ming suddenly screamed, his patience shattered.
"Father," Nie Li attempted, hoping for understanding.
"Out!" Nie Ming repeated, his voice brooking no argument.
Nie Li quietly obeyed, stepping out into the evening, his footsteps stirring the road's dust into the air.
He felt confused as he watched his father follow him outside.
The sound of Nie Ming's boots hitting the ground echoed Nie Li's own racing heartbeat.
With a swift movement, Nie Ming threw an axe that landed with a thud near Nie Li, its handle quivering as if pointing toward a grim future.
Nie Li looked from the axe back to his father, finding in Nie Ming's eyes a resolve as sharp as the blade he had drawn.
"If you can defeat me, here and now," Nie Ming stated, his voice firm, "then do as you wish. You're too stubborn to see the danger ahead. Win, and I'll believe in your... delusions."
"But if you lose," he continued, each word cutting through the tension, "we go back. We apologize to the Patriarch, say you weren't in your right mind. If it comes to it, I'll offer my life for yours. If fighting you is what it takes to convince you, so be it. After I win, we can appeal to the Patriarch, and if he's unsatisfied with just my life, you and the family should flee."
Nie Li looked surprised as he suddenly saw a notification.
[ Player Nie Li has equipped item Old Farmer's Axe ]
[ Item: Old Farmer's Axe ]
[ Type: Tool/Weapon ]
[ Description: This sturdy axe has seen many seasons, its blade worn but still sharp. Crafted from high-quality steel and a handle made from the finest oak, it embodies the resilience and hard work of the farmers who wield it. While primarily used for chopping wood and other farm work, it can serve as a makeshift weapon in desperate times. ]
[ Rarity: Common ]
[ Effects: ]
- [ Woodcutting Efficiency: Increases the speed of gathering wood by 20%. ]
- [ Battle Power Boost: +100 BP when wielded. ]
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[ Combat Scenario Activated ]
[ Simulating Combat Style ]
[ Analyzing Player Nie Li's Memories for Potential Skills ]
- [ Analyzing... ]
- [ Progress: 1% ]
- [ Progress: 2% ]
- [ Progress: 10% ]
- [ Progress: 50% ]
- [ Progress: 60% ]
- [ Progress: 80% ]
- [ Progress: 100% ]
[ Analysis Complete ]
[ Outcome: Player Nie Li possesses one combat skill. ]