Chapter 29 My Son’s Inner Turmoil is Extremely Complicated

Mutants possess an extremely strong contamination ability. The slightest carelessness can lead to being inadvertently "influenced." This influence is typically imperceptible. However, each time a Professional advances, they directly confront the Endless Realm. At that moment, these influences can erupt, causing the Professional to degenerate and become a new Mutant. Professional Mutants... The appearance of even one causes terrible losses. In the Endless Realm, countless demonic forms, Evil Gods, and other such entities continuously scheme to affect the real world. These Mutants are the result of being influenced and corrupted by them; they are the Evil Gods’ spokespeople in the real world. In the real world, Mutants are the greatest enemies of Professionals—their threat level even surpasses that of Professionals from enemy nations. Even if surrounded by Professionals from an enemy nation, there’s still a chance for rescue. But if contaminated by a Mutant, there is only one solution... elimination! Therefore, after battling a Mutant, every Professional cautiously undergoes thorough cleansing. Within the Professionals’ organization, members are regularly evaluated. Those who fail face a half-month isolation treatment—a process both painful and embarrassing, one that no one wishes to endure. Chen Gu was aware of this, so he did not resist. While Chen Jieye was cleaning, Chen Gu rummaged around the basement; he was extremely hungry. However, his adult son was a very disciplined man; aside from various pieces of equipment, there was nothing in the basement. Famished to the point of collapse, Chen Gu sank into a chair, quietly waiting for Chen Jixian to emerge. After a few minutes, the isolation chamber automatically opened, and Chen Jixian stepped out. He had returned to his usual state, eyelids half-drooped, and walked over to Chen Gu, seemingly calm. However, Chen Gu had just used the Nuclear Explosion Nun’s memory attachment. Some of the Mind Belief ability lingered, granting him a pure faith and perception far beyond the ordinary. Chen Gu could sense the enormous tumult in his adult son’s heart. The father and son stared at each other for some time, neither knowing how to break the silence. Finally, Chen Jixian said, "Wait here for me." Then he left. Chen Gu breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, the guy was succinct, not using complicated phrases like ’Stay right here and don’t move.’ Otherwise, with such a son, should I hit him or not? About half an hour later, Chen Jixian returned, holding a food box. Chen Gu snatched it and began to eat ravenously—no need for politeness with his own son. Chen Jixian wanted to ask something but was unsure how to begin. Chen Gu had devoured nearly half the contents of the box and felt much more grounded. Only then did he say, "Your wife’s cooking isn’t bad." Chen Jixian, that stoic and unromantic man, capable of cooking? I don’t believe it, Chen Gu thought. There was no doubt who had prepared the food in the box. That mention of "your wife" made Chen Jixian’s left eyelid twitch. He sat down opposite Chen Gu and asked, "Are you a Radiation Missionary?" The Radiation Missionary is the male counterpart to the Nuclear Explosion Nun Profession in the Atomic Holy Church. Of course, it suited Chen Gu better; at least he wouldn’t end up acting flirtatiously after the memory attachment. But there was no mention of "Radiation Missionary" in *The Past of Four Hundred*. Chen Gu still possessed a sense of shame, especially in front of his own son. He did not deny it, merely grunting in affirmation. After all, it’s not a cardinal sin for parents to deceive their own children, is it? Chen Gu continued to eat while Chen Jixian was again at a loss for words. Chen Gu also noticed that his adult son wasn’t necessarily cold by nature; he was likely just inept at conversation. After a while, Chen Jieye finally asked again, "How did you become a Professional?" Chen Gu had finished the food. The food box was large, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy Chen Gu, not even filling him halfway. "What about you," Chen Gu retorted, "how did you become a Professional? Your grandfather doesn’t know you’re a Professional, right?" Chen Jixian fell silent again. Chen Gu did not press him, just watching silently. What a joke! Since when does a son interrogate his father? It’s always the father asking questions and the son answering honestly! Chen Jixian didn’t dwell on it; he was choosing his words carefully. Chen Gu was right: his son truly wasn’t skilled with words. Consequently, he rarely spoke, which to outsiders created an image of him as cool, steady, and reliable. At least, back in the day, he had successfully wooed his capable wife, Xiao Jiangxia, with that persona. After pondering for quite a while, Chen Jixian finally answered, "He doesn’t know." "In my fourth month of military service, I was selected during an army screening." It seemed he had become a Professional while in the army. "What Profession are you?" This time, without much hesitation, Chen Jixian replied directly, "Abyssal Blacksmith." "An old Profession," Chen Gu remarked, his lips curling slightly. "Not a very promising outlook." Chen Jixian’s reaction was quite strange. He showed no dissatisfaction with Chen Gu’s disdain. In fact, through the Mind Belief skill, Chen Gu could even sense a certain... relief from his adult son?! What in the world? A masochistic trait? In that instant, Chen Gu even felt a sliver of guilt that shouldn’t have been his. It’s all Dad’s fault; I didn’t raise you right. Chen Jixian’s mindset was delicate. He had been stunned during the battle because Chen Gu had scolded him—for the first time in his life, he had been scolded by his real father. Now, being mocked, he felt a sense of, "Dads really do look down on their sons’ Professions." He had finally experienced what other fathers and sons went through. Therefore, he wasn’t unhappy but rather somewhat relieved and felt a sense of closeness. The feeling was... distorted familial affection. It had arrived late, but it hadn’t been absent. "What Energy Level are you at now?" "Second," Chen Jixian replied, then added as if by some compulsion, "Peak. I expect to reach the Third Energy Level before I turn fifty." If any outsiders had been present, they would surely have recognized this as a son striving hard for his father’s approval. But in this basement were two individuals: one who had never been a father, and one who had never truly been a son. Neither of them realized this. Chen Gu curled his lip again. After all, Milna Katerina was at the Fourth Energy Level, and Griffin Wester was at the Fifth. He had no idea how impressive it was to reach the Third Energy Level before the age of fifty. But now, Chen Gu felt a bit too embarrassed to continue making cutting remarks about his adult son. "It’s... pretty good, I guess." When it comes to raising children, one should offer more encouragement, Chen Gu mused. But a feeling was about to explode inside Chen Jixian’s chest. Perfunctory, insincere praise! So real! This was ordinary family life, the life he had yearned for in his youth! Chen Jixian took two deep breaths to calm his racing heart, then said, "The Mutant’s contamination is terrifying. Even though all traces of its physical form have been completely cleansed, it’s best you find an opportunity for a mental examination." As for whether Chen Gu had the means to get this examination, Chen Jixian didn’t inquire further. That was just his nature. "I... hid your existence from the Bureau of Mystic Security." "But if you want to join the Bureau of Mystic Security, I can help you apply." Chen Gu thought for a moment and then explained, "After I was released from Soul Imprisonment, I found that I had inexplicably become a Professional." "After I left, the second prison was attacked by True Knowledge Sin. Their ostensible goal was to rescue Wei Jiangqi, but they secretly killed two other criminals also undergoing Soul Imprisonment." "There are likely some secrets involved... secrets that certain parties would prefer to keep hidden." After this explanation, Chen Jixian’s typically drooping eyelids indeed flickered thoughtfully a few times. Chen Gu sighed inwardly with relief. It seems I managed to fool him. Nitpicking so many mystery scripts in my previous life wasn’t in vain after all. "That guard is one of my men and won’t leak any secrets. However, you’d better secure an official status as soon as possible." Unaffiliated Professionals are viewed with hostility by various organizations.