Chapter 122: Returning Home
After parting ways with Xiao Yu and Luo Qian, Duan Ling Tian tossed over some silver to Xiong Quan and sent him to stay in an inn, then he returned to the Li Clan Estate by himself.
"Duan Ling Tian?" On his way, all of the Li Clan disciples that saw him seemed as if they had seen a ghost.
Duan Ling Tian has returned?
Oh my god! He actually returned from the demonic Genius Camp!
The entire Li Clan Estate was stirred for some time.
The matter of Duan Ling Tian entering the Iron Blood Army's Genius Camp had long since spread around the entire Li Clan, and thus many people had knowledge of this.
However, never had they imagined that Duan Ling Tian would be able to return alive.
All of them were aware of what returning alive represented... it meant that Duan Ling Tian had obtained the qualifications to enter Paladin Academy!
Paladin Academy was the most sacred existence in the entire Crimson Sky Kingdom, and to every Li Clan disciple, it was something unreachable.
But now their Li Clan actually had someone who obtained the qualification to enter Paladin Academy... This was undoubtedly a piece of news that inspired them greatly!
In the quiet courtyard, a graceful and beautiful young girl was cultivating the sword. The edge of her sword flashed as strands of an icy cold aura was emitted from the blade...
Abruptly, the young girl sheathed her sword and stood still before looking at the two little pythons that were coiled on her wrist. She sighed before saying, "Young Master has been gone for one year and one month. Why hasn't he returned yet? Little Black, Little White, do you two miss him?"
"They don't miss me as much as my Ke Er does." Just at this moment, a familiar voice entered the young girl's ears, causing her delicate figure to tremble uncontrollably as he slowly turned her body around.
"My Ke Er's grown up." Duan Ling Tian gazed at the slim and graceful young girl who had now grown slightly taller, and some of the childishness on her face had slightly shed off... Nothing was more amazing than how fast a girl's appearances changes as she grows!
"Young Master!" The young girl's eyes turned slightly red. At this moment, she forgot all about any formalities as she rushed swiftly and gracefully towards Duan Ling Tian.
Duan Ling Tian opened his arms wide and pulled the young girl into his embrace. He inhaled the fresh fragrance off the young girl's hair as he said, in a gentle tone, "Ke Er, I'm back!"
The young girl nodded, unwilling to leave Duan Ling Tian's embrace even after a long time had passed.
She hoped so dearly that this moment could be eternal...
Creak!
Just at this moment, the nearby room's door opened.
"Tian you're back?" A beautiful woman whose face radiated with joy walked out slowly. A trace of excitement flashed within her clear eyes...
"Mom, I'm back!" When Duan Ling Tian looked at the woman, his eyes emitted a gentle stream of light.
The young girl was so shy that she left Duan Ling Tian's embrace. "Ma...Madam!"
"Silly girl, what're you shy about?" Li Rou shook her head with a smile.
"Yeah, Ke Er, you're my fiancé, so what's there to be shy about?" Duan Ling Tian asked.
A year had passed, but his mother didn't experience any great changes and was still as beautiful as ever, not even slightly showing that she was the mother of a 17-year-old youth.
"Scoundrel!" Suddenly, an excited voice sounded from outside the courtyard.
Duan Ling Tian turned around and with a glance noticed the hot figure that was dashing towards him. She flew straight into his embrace and started hammering his chest. "You rascal! You returned but didn't come see me. If it wasn't for me hearing about your return from the others, I wouldn't even have known you were back."
"Little Fei." It had been a year since they last met. Li Fei was even more mature and unceasingly emitted her charms, causing Duan Ling Tian's little brother, who was asleep for over a year, to react.
Li Fei felt it as well and her face flushed. Only now did she realize that Ke Er and Li Rou were just beside them, so she hurriedly left Duan Ling Tian's embrace.
"Aunt Rou, little sister Ke Er." Li Fei greeted Ke Er and Li Rou and was shy to the extent of wishing she could dig a hole and hide inside it...
"Tian, are you hungry after travelling all day? Mom will go prepare some food for you." Li Rou entered the kitchen and started her work.
Ke Er followed suit.
Meanwhile, Li Fei looked at Duan Ling Tian. "Are you..."
"See grandfather, right?" Duan Ling Tian interrupted Li Fei, as if he could see through Li Fei's thoughts.
Li Fei lightly nodded.
"Of course I have to go see him. I haven't been home for over a year, and I miss grandfather as well. What's more, you're already mine, so I naturally will be filial to grandfather with you." Duan Ling Tian held Li Fei's hand and pinched the center of her palm.
Duan Ling Tian wasn't sure if he was seeing things or not, but when Li De saw him, he actually heaved a sigh of relief as if a huge burden was released from his heart...
Could it be that he was worried that something would happen to Duan Ling Tian during the Genius Camp training?
Duan Ling Tian didn't continue to ponder the matter.
"Grandfather." Duan Ling Tian smiled to the old man.
"It's good that you've returned. What are your plans for the future?" Li De asked.
Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian noticed that Li De's eyes had an extra sense of anticipation.
"Grandfather, I'm prepared to leave in a few days. This time I'm planning on bringing my mom, Ke Er, and Little Fei to the Imperial City with me. Grandfather why don't you follow us?" Duan Ling Tian spoke of his plans.
Just like what Commander Teng Yun Hai had said, if he wanted to use a wagon and bring his family along to the Imperial City, it would require close to a year's time of travel due to all the rest stops on the way.
As such, he didn't plan on staying for a long time after returning this time.
"I'm not going. I'll spend the rest of my life in the Li Clan." The old man shook his head.
Li Fei pouted and said, in a spoiled manner, "Grandfather, if you don't go, then neither will I."
"Fei, you're all grown up now and aren't the little girl from before. Grandfather believes that Ling Tian will be good to you. Even if you leave now, can't you come back and see your grandfather when you're free? Don't worry, grandfather isn't so old that I need someone to wait upon me." The old man's face was filled with tender affection.
"Grandfather." Li Fei's eyes were slightly red.
Duan Ling Tian's gaze never left the old man's face. He had this feeling that something was not right, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
"Grandfather, let's have dinner together," Duan Ling Tian said to the old man as he glanced at the darkening sky.
"OK, I'll have a meal at your house tonight."
The old man laughed heartily. "Just the right moment for me to ask you about the Iron Blood Army's Genius Camp's training; I'm really curious about it."
Tonight's dinner was exceptionally bustling with noise and excitement. The old man was very interested in the Genius Camp, and Ke Er, Li Fei, and Li Rou were interested as well.
Besides some of the more dangerous happenings, Duan Ling Tian told them about most of the things that happened during his year at the Genius Camp.
Duan Ling Tian sighed when he spoke of Meng Quan's and Luo Cheng's deaths.
"A man's life eventually comes to an end, and thus a man's life will never be void of partings. You have to see past it all.../ Moreover, you've already helped Luo Cheng fulfil his wishes, so he should be able to find his peace," the old man consoled. He had experienced many vicissitudes in life, and thus had the right to speak on the matter.
"Don't worry, grandfather, I've seen past it all." Duan Ling Tian nodded.
"98 people passed the initial Genius Camp test but only seven survived.... The demonic Genius Camp really does deserve its name." Li Fei sighed.
"Mom, you and Ke Er pack up in the next two days. I've decided to leave for the Imperial City three days from now," Duan Ling Tian said to Li Rou after finishing their dinner and sending Li Fei and the old man off.
Li Rou nodded. She was long ago prepared for this and wasn't surprised.
Subsequently, Duan Ling Tian started to tease the two little pythons. "Little Black, Little White, it's been a year. Have your strengths increased? You couldn't have stayed at the same strength, right?"
The two little pythons seemed to have understood what Duan Ling Tian said, as they raised up their small heads and nodded to Duan Ling Tian.
Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian noticed that the horns on Little Black's and Little White's heads had nearly fully manifested themselves.
"Looks like the two of you have improved greatly." Duan Ling Tian could guess the increase of their strengths just from the changes on their bodies...
An increase in a fierce beast's strength was usually accompanied by a change in its physical characteristics, and this was from the Rebirth Martial Emperor's experience.
At dawn the next day, Duan Ling Tian had only just finished his breakfast when an unexpected guest arrived.
Patriarch Li Ao!
"Duan Ling Tian, congratulations!" Li Ao's face had a brilliant smile as he spoke.
"Thank you, Patriarch." Duan Ling Tian lightly smiled as he replied.
"This is a small token from the Li Clan. I hope that once you arrived at Paladin Academy, you won't forget that you're also a member of the Li Clan," Li Ao said as he passed a huge pile of silver to Duan Ling Tian.
"Patriarch, I'm not someone who forgets his roots. You actually don't have to be so courteous."
Although Duan Ling Tian spoke in this way, he still extended his hand and received the silver, which he estimated to be at least around 2,000,000 silver.
He naturally understood Li Ao's thoughts, which were to try and win him over at the early stages and make him feel himself to be a part of the Li Clan.
In this way, if he were to be able to make a name for himself in the future, the Li Clan would benefit from it as well.
"This money will only be of use to you at this moment; in the future it will probably be nothing." Li Ao sighed.
No mediocre person ever graduated from Paladin Academy; every one of them was a great figure, and even if they weren't as successful, they would still have a high position.
At that time, Duan Ling Tian's status would be far from something a Patriarch like him could compare to.
"No matter what, I still have to thank Patriarch for the timely assistance with my travel needs," Duan Ling Tian said, with a smile.
"When are you planning on leaving for the Imperial City?" Li Ao asked.
"I plan to leave the day after tomorrow," Duan Ling Tian said.
"So rushed?" Li Ao was surprised.
"If it was just me galloping my horse to the Imperial City, a few months would be sufficient, but this time I will be taking my mother along, so I will travel with a wagon," Duan Ling Tian continued.
"Then leave the wagon to me," Li Ao said.
"Then you have my gratitude, Patriarch." A smile appeared on Duan Ling Tian's face. He was grateful from the bottom of his heart.
After sending Li Ao off, Duan Ling Tian left the Li Clan Estate and went to the medicine store to look for Tang Ying.
"Kid, you came back alive at long last," Tang Ying derided.
"I think you looked forward to me being unable to return alive, right?" Duan Ling Tian rolled his eyes at Tang Yin.
"When are you preparing to leave?" Tang Ying asked the same question as Li Ao.
Duan Ling Tian smiled as he said, "I precisely came to tell you about this. I plan to leave the day after tomorrow."
"Since you're leaving, you'll surely take that girl with you.... What about the Six Treasures Body Tempering Liquid?"
Tang Ying looked at Duan Ling Tian with a burning gaze. "How about you sell the medicinal formula to me?"
"Not for sale!" Duan Ling Tian replied in a straightforward manner.
Although he had long ago expected this answer, Tang Ying still couldn't help himself from laughing bitterly.