Hearing his mother’s words, young Lin Yun was deeply shaken.
Lin Yun knew that his mother was usually very tolerant. He had personally seen the main wife insult her, and his mother had always swallowed her pride.
Yet now, his mother was saying she would risk her life?
“Mother, I’m really fine. Please don’t keep asking,” young Lin Yun said, leaning into his mother’s embrace.
Though young, Lin Yun understood that if his mother sought justice, it would bring her great trouble.
Hearing this, Yan Shi stopped pressing him, but her tears continued to flow uncontrollably.
“It’s all my fault for being useless. I can’t earn you your father’s love, and I can’t even protect you,” Yan Shi said, filled with self-blame.
“Mother, at noon, Master Gui came by. He said Father wants to see me tomorrow and asked me to go to the main hall in the morning,” Lin Yun said.
“Your father wants to see you? He hasn’t seen you in two years, has he? Why would he suddenly want to see you?” Yan Shi asked.
“Master Gui said he told Father about my diligent training and rapid progress over the past two years, so Father wants to see me to test my cultivation results,” Lin Yun said with a grin.
“Is that so? Yun’er, your hard work these two years hasn’t been in vain. Heaven won’t disappoint those with perseverance!” Yan Shi said, feeling happy for Lin Yun.
Yan Shi was well aware of how hard Lin Yun had worked over the past two years.
He was only five years old. Most children his age were playful and couldn’t persist in training for long, even if they cultivated.
“Mother, tomorrow I’ll do my best to impress Father and make him value me, and value you too!” Lin Yun vowed firmly.
“For now, let’s not think about that. I’ll get some medicine for your wounds. Rest here.”
With that, Yan Shi hurriedly left the room.
Half an hour later, Yan Shi returned with a basin of medicinal water, still steaming.
She helped Lin Yun sit up, then carefully applied the medicine to his wounds with a hot towel.
Throughout the process, Yan Shi’s tears fell uncontrollably.
“It must hurt a lot,” Yan Shi said, choking back sobs as she applied the medicine.
“The medicine Mother is applying makes me feel no pain at all,” Lin Yun said with a childlike smile.
…
The next morning.
Lin Yun arrived at the main hall.
His father, Lin Guangde, was seated at the front.
Master Gui, who taught Lin Yun, stood nearby.
Seeing his father, Lin Yun felt both excited and nervous.
For Lin Yun, his two years of hard training had all been to gain his father’s recognition.
Through his efforts, he had finally earned this audience with his father, a rare opportunity.
For someone like Lin Wei, a legitimate son, seeing Lin Guangde daily was easy, but not for Lin Yun.
Lin Yun had never actively sought to meet Lin Guangde, instead focusing on training, believing his efforts would not go unrewarded.
“Your son, Lin Yun, greets Father,” Lin Yun said, bowing to Lin Guangde.
“Yun’er, it’s been two years since we last met, hasn’t it? Master Gui says your training progress has been rapid and that you’ve been very diligent.”
As Lin Guangde spoke, he looked up at Lin Yun.
“Hm? Yun’er, what’s with the wounds on your face?”
Upon seeing Lin Yun, he immediately noticed the injuries, which shocked him.
“It’s nothing, Father. I fell by accident,” Lin Yun said, his voice sounding young and tender.
“That’s no fall. Who did you fight with? You haven’t left the household recently, have you? That means it was someone in the household. No servant would dare fight you,” Lin Guangde said.
“Father, it’s…” Lin Yun, being so young, felt at a loss.
“I detest liars. Tell me the truth,” Lin Guangde said sternly.
Hearing this, Lin Yun didn’t dare hide it any longer.
“Father, it was… Lin Wei,” Lin Yun said.
“Outrageous! To beat you like this is simply unacceptable!” Lin Guangde said coldly.
Looking at Lin Yun, he asked, “Yun’er, are your injuries serious?”
“Father, I’m fine,” Lin Yun replied.
“Very well, let’s test your strength then. Master Gui says your progress is remarkable. Perform a sword dance here,” Lin Guangde said.
“Yes.”
Lin Yun drew his short sword, channelled his inner energy, and began to perform the sword dance.
