Vol. 1 - Ch. 147 - Father Understands You

Words : 1238 Updated : Oct 10th, 2025

In the distance, perched on the treetop of a towering tree, Xie Yanwu watched as the colossal shadow of the locust tree gradually faded into the darkness. His expression darkened slightly as he muttered under his breath, “Incense Projection.” Without further hesitation, he turned toward Yong’an City. He needed to return to his family and report what had transpired. Meanwhile, after fleeing several miles, Shi Potian turned back to ensure that the massive locust tree had vanished and that he was no longer in immediate danger. Only then did he allow himself to exhale in relief. He had finally escaped. Now, he began assessing his injuries. Apart from severe internal damage that would require a period of recuperation, the rest of his wounds were not too serious—manageable at least. As he recalled what had just happened, his brow furrowed. That locust tree must have held back. Otherwise, his life would have been forfeit. Even so, he had no time to dwell on his injuries. He needed to return and report this incident to his family as soon as possible. In the distance, Shen He and Gan Yu, both wounded but having also managed to escape, shared the same thought. However, compared to the others, Shen He was particularly infuriated. He hadn't even attacked, so why had he been struck by a branch? Unfair! Thinking about the whole ordeal, he realized he had not only suffered injuries but had also lost the hairpin imbued with his family's totemic power. The more he dwelled on it, the more frustrated he became. But no matter how bitter he felt, he didn’t dare stir trouble with the Chen family. He could only swallow his anger in silence. "Qingmeng, did you see that?" Still in place, Chen Qinghe finally snapped out of his daze after the Family Divine Tree had completely disappeared from view. Recalling what had just happened, a rush of excitement surged through him. Unable to contain himself, he shook the still-stunned Chen Qingmeng. From the moment the Family Divine Tree unleashed its divine power to when the enemies retreated, only a few breaths had passed. Yet in that brief moment, he had personally witnessed several innate martial artists fleeing in panic like rats scurrying through a graveyard. The sight of those martial artists being swatted away by the tree’s branches was especially vivid in his mind, refusing to fade. "If only I could be that powerful," Chen Qingmeng muttered absentmindedly, his eyes regaining focus. After a moment of stillness, they finally came to their senses. Fearing that those martial artists might return, they immediately bolted toward their family’s residence. Before long, the sight of their home appeared in the distance. However, as they neared the entrance, their steps faltered. The mansion was still brightly lit against the dark night, and at the gate stood two familiar figures—Chen Tianjing and Chen Tianyu. Chen Tianyu rarely came to the gate, which only underscored the severity of the situation. Seeing them waiting, Chen Qinghe clenched his teeth, already bracing for the inevitable. Still, when he saw Chen Qingmeng resolutely walking forward without hesitation, he took a deep breath and forced himself to follow. "Hmph!" As Chen Qingmeng approached, Chen Tianyu let out a cold snort, his face dark and stern. Chen Qinghe's heart pounded violently, his entire body tensing. He swallowed nervously, his feet instinctively stopping. Even someone as mild-tempered as Chen Tianyu was this furious—what about his father? Would he even live to see the sunrise? Chen Qingmeng had already entered the mansion with Chen Tianyu, but the other figure at the gate remained unmoving. Taking a deep breath, Chen Qinghe forced himself to continue forward. Under the dim lantern light, Chen Tianjing’s face was illuminated. Sёarᴄh the NôvelFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had braced himself for a wrathful outburst, perhaps even a beating. But when he looked up, he was caught off guard by the rare, warm smile on his father’s face. The gentle curve of his lips was like winter sunlight, comforting and reassuring. Yet despite that warmth, Chen Qinghe couldn't shake his unease. "Father, I'm back," he said cautiously, his eyes darting around. "Mm, it's good to have you back. Are you hungry? Your mother has been waiting for you to eat." Chen Tianjing visibly relaxed, his voice calm and reassuring. Hearing those words, Chen Qinghe lowered his head, a pang of guilt washing over him. "Father, I snuck out. Aren't you angry? Aren’t you going to punish me?" He hesitated, looking up. Under the warm glow of the lanterns, Chen Tianjing chuckled, his smile unfazed. "Why should I blame you? I understand how you feel. When I was young, I wanted to venture out too. But back then, I had no path forward. Now, the family is different. There’s a way." He paused, his gaze steady. "Besides, you're no longer a child. I've thought it over, and perhaps the way I raised you before wasn't entirely right." Chen Qinghe fell silent, lips pressed together. Countless emotions swirled inside him, but in the end, he could only whisper, "Father, I’m sorry. I was wrong." Chen Tianjing exhaled slowly, his expression relieved. "As long as you know your mistakes and correct them, nothing is more important." "Come home. Your mother has been waiting long enough." "Okay!" With newfound determination, Chen Qinghe stepped forward and entered the house. Chen Tianjing placed an arm around his shoulder, comparing their heights. Only then did Chen Qinghe realize he was nearly as tall as his father now. "Did you get hurt out there? Let me take a look." As the gates shut behind them, Chen Tianjing’s gentle inquiry echoed through the courtyard. "Father, I’m fine! Not a scratch on me." Chen Qinghe’s voice was lighthearted, but almost immediately, confusion crept into his tone. "Father… what’s this rope for?" A pause. "Why are you tying my hands?" Another beat. "Mother? When did you get here? What’s that thorn-covered stick for?" His voice, once uncertain, quickly turned to alarm. "Father, didn’t you say you understood me?" A chuckle. "Heh… today, I’ll make you understand me." "Mother, I haven't eaten yet!" "Don’t worry, you won’t need to eat tomorrow either." "Father, you said your methods before were wrong!" "They were. I went too easy on you. This time, I’ll break your legs and see where you try to run!" Within the compound, Chen Qinghe’s wails rang out but quickly weakened, fading into silence. In the Ancestral Hall, Ji Yang withdrew his awareness. No need to watch further. With his mouth gagged, Chen Qinghe wouldn’t be screaming anymore. Ji Yang turned his unseen gaze toward his still-lush branches. Yet unlike before, the once-dazzling locust leaf that had radiated faint golden light had vanished. Still, after this ordeal, the four great families wouldn’t be making any moves for a while. As for why he hadn’t annihilated them completely, there were two reasons. First, the Chen family wasn’t yet strong enough to make mortal enemies of the four great families. Even among them, an innate martial artist was considered a core family member. Second, the incense power absorbed by his locust leaf had been limited. Most of it had been used to manifest his projection. There simply wasn’t enough left to eliminate them entirely.

Vol. 1 - Ch. 147 - Father Understands You

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