Chapter 827 – Are You My Master or My Father? (Part 4)
Could it really be true, as Liu Zhi said, that he and Master aren’t just teacher and student, but biological father and son?
Wan Xuan also mentioned that he resembled Master in his youth, which filled Li Yun with curiosity, like a few little kittens gently scratching at his heart.
Xie Qian sighed softly and said, “Now’s not the time to talk. Can we move to the city to discuss this?”
Li Yun hurriedly replied, “Of course! Please follow me, Master and this gentleman.”
After all, Li Yun was a relative of theirs, and since he welcomed them, the guards at the city gates had no choice but to let them in.
The inside of the city was eerily quiet, with the occasional sound of the night watchman’s bells ringing.
Li Yun brought them back to his residence. Although it was just a small two-compound house, there were still plenty of vacant rooms.
Xie Qian looked around, feeling a bit more at ease. “Seems like you’ve had a decent few years.”
Wanzhou was the worst-hit area for the Green Garment Army and Red Lotus Sect, but looking around now, the buildings were neatly lined up, the streets wide and organized, and the air was fresh and clean—nothing like the other cities filled with refuse, where common people relieved themselves anywhere, and the air reeked!
Li Yun respectfully invited Xie Qian to take the upper seat, his eyes filled with admiration.
“Master…”
But then, Li Yun got nervous and couldn’t find his words, his mind buzzing like a thousand mosquitoes.
Xie Qian took a sip of tea, casually glanced at the kneeling Li Yun not far away and said flatly, “What is it?”
Li Yun stumbled over his words, struggling to voice his thoughts.
After all, asking his Master if he was his biological father felt awkward, and what if it turned out to be a misunderstanding?
“Master, you left a note in the thatched cottage saying you were looking for your enemy for revenge—did you… succeed?”
Li Yun hesitated, quickly switching topics.
If only he dared to look up, he would have noticed that Xie Qian’s poise and demeanor were far from that of an ordinary martial artist.
One’s environment influences their spirit and body.
That noble air was clearly cultivated over years in a prosperous household, not someone who had been hiding away in the mountains for over a decade!
Upon hearing Li Yun’s question, Xie Qian’s hand holding the tea paused for a moment, almost spilling the contents.
Xie Qian was also a martial artist, exceptionally steady-handed, so for him to make such a mistake showed just how impactful Li Yun’s question was.
“No, I failed.”
Xie Qian nearly ground his teeth as he spat out those five words.
Li Yun lowered his head, feeling defeated and accepting his fate.
“Earlier, I met my Lord’s father—Governor Liu Zhi of Chongzhou. He said that he knew my father as a childhood friend. He also mentioned that I’m not merely your disciple, but quite possibly your… your biological son… Master, is this true?”
Xie Qian tilted his head, digging up Liu Zhi’s face from his memory.
He hadn’t seen Liu Zhi for many years; the impression in his mind was still that of a youth.
Seeing his Master remain silent for so long, Li Yun’s heart sank lower and lower, almost touching the ground.
“What do you mean ‘quite possibly’? It’s a certainty.”
Xie Qian’s tone was slightly irritated as he added.
It was undeniably vexing that his own son was being subservient to his rival’s daughter.
Moreover, his relationship with Liu Zhi wasn’t as great as Liu Zhi had made it sound.
Upon hearing that, Li Yun was taken aback, his eyes wide with joy, and after a moment of stuttering, he finally whispered, “Father…”
Xie Qian nodded gently, “Mm.”
Now Li Yun was the one stuck.
Why was this expected emotional reunion feeling so plain?
“Father… then why didn’t you acknowledge your son?” Li Yun felt a touch of grievance. He barely saw his adoptive parents throughout the year, and the one he spent the most time with was Xie Qian. He often pondered as a child why his Master couldn’t be his dad instead?
Xie Qian looked down and said, “When did I not acknowledge you?”
Li Yun was suddenly at a loss for words.
“Once a teacher, always a father. The family’s traditional marksmanship requires the teacher-student relationship to pass down. You’re both my disciple and my son. When have I not acknowledged you?”
Li Yun: “…”
That made such good sense; he was left speechless.
“Then, then what about the family name…” Li Yun hesitated, looking down, feeling light as a feather.
“Your father was expelled from the family, so naturally, you can’t carry the Xie surname.” Xie Qian answered matter-of-factly. He continued, “Years ago, during that tragic incident, I fled with you in a daze, completely forgetting who I was. I wandered from Hejian County to Fengyi County, and later was taken in by a couple of the Li family. That couple had no children for many years, so they adopted you as their son. By the time I remembered who I was, you were already two years old.”
Li Yun’s original name was Li Gouzhu, and as Xie Qian’s memories gradually cleared, he found himself with a growing headache.
Imagine! A master of both literature and martial arts, yet his son had a name like that. It was hard to argue with that couple over it.
He just let Gouzhu be his little name and gave him a proper big name instead.
Yun means to possess both wealth and the virtues of literature and martial arts, much better than anything that sounded like “dog pillar.”
After being adopted, the Li couple was blessed with a child soon after, which made them treasure their own even more, hardly giving thought to Xie Qian’s actions.
After listening to the explanation, Li Yun wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.
However, he quickly caught onto something unusual in Xie Qian’s words. What did he mean by “expelled from the family”?
“What kind of conflict did Father have with the treacherous Xie clan?”
In Dongqing, there were four prominent families: the Feng family of Shangyang, the Wang family of Langya, the treacherous Xie clan, and the Cangzhou Meng Clan.
Although he didn’t know much about the Xie family, looking at Feng Jin beside him, Li Yun understood how esteemed Xie Qian, being a direct descendant, could be.
From what Liu Zhi said, Xie Qian was still a leading figure of that generation, charming and unparalleled, how did it come to this?
Because of Xie Qian, Li Yun had specifically asked Feng Jin about the Wang and Xie families.
He noticed a rather strange pattern; both families seemed to have simultaneously faded from the public eye, with reduced activities at court.
Xie Qian glanced over and said dismissively, “Little kids shouldn’t concern themselves with these matters.”
Li Yun felt down but obstinately switched topics, “Then, was Father’s enemy the one who killed my mother? Who is that person?”
This time, Xie Qian didn’t avoid the question; instead, he replied, “A monster.”
This monster wasn’t just a term of insult but a real, genuine monster.
Li Yun wanted to probe further, but seeing Xie Qian’s calm expression, all his courage deflated.
“Then… will Father be leaving again?”
Li Yun’s aspirations in life were simple: care for his Master and eventually marry and have children.
The latter finally seemed to have a sliver of hope after his relentless efforts.
If his Master left, who would he care for?
“Not leaving.”
Those three simple words sounded like heavenly music to Li Yun’s ears.
“Tomorrow… introduce me to your Lord.” Xie Qian said.
“Introduce?”
“There are matters to discuss with your Lord. Whether I find Liu Zhi or his daughter, it’s all the same.”
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Both Xie Qian and Liu Zhi shared a common foe, which naturally provided a reason for them to ally.
