Chapter 0179 – I’ve Never Felt Lonely – Absolute Returns

My father and I, once again, set out on a hunting trip.

The last time I went up to the mountains with my father, it seems like yesterday, and during this time, so many things have happened. The biggest change was none other than the relationship between my father and I, which had become even closer.

Same two people, same trail, but very different states of mind.

“Why are you hunting with me?”

“I’d like to spend more time with you.”

My father stopped and turned his head to look at me. I met his eyes openly, because, my words, came from my heart.

Father, the moment I returned to the Heavenly Demon God Sect and saw you sitting in the eunuch’s chair, my heart was, indeed, touched.

The father continued to walk forward and asked, “What is all this stuff you’ve brought with you?”

“It’s all essential items that may seem a bit cumbersome now, but in the future, they’ll keep us well-fed and enjoying life.”

Without another word, my father continued to lead the way, and I followed him silently.

I had thought that I would be like a chatterbox, babbling on and on, but when I was actually with my father, I didn’t know what to say.

The good thing was, the silence between us, instead of being awkward, made me feel at ease, as if we were having a silent exchange.

It occurred to me that even though I had never planned to marry or have children in my life, if I did have a son, would I bring him hunting? Would he call me “father” as affectionately as I do?

Will he be like me, walking and thinking at the same time? What is father thinking about, right now?

After a long walk, I finally broke the silence.

“The Martial Alliance wants to see you.”

I have already written to my father about the meeting with the Martial Arts Alliance, and he knows about it.

“Is he okay?”

“He looks healthy and has a brash personality, with overbearing martial arts skills, not quite the same as the martial arts ally I imagined.”

“Rumors, always, differ from reality.”

“He said that he wanted to see you, and when I told him that you wanted to see him too, he said that you wanted to kill him.”

“He knows me well.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Did you think that I would miss him?”

“Perhaps you have a touch of admiration for him, too?”

“No. My admiration for him was earned on the battlefield.”

“Would you like to fight him?”

My father was silent for a moment and said, “I would love to learn his martial arts.”

This battle would inevitably end with the death of one side. It was impossible for the Heavenly Devil and the Martial Alliance to point blank like friends.

The outcome of this battle would change the pattern of the entire martial arts world, so it was unlikely that they would engage easily.

I knew that my father wanted to unify the jiangsu. Since we were talking about the Martial Alliance, I asked tentatively, “If we go to war with the righteous, which side will the evil path take?”

“If you think that the Evil Way will be on our side, you are sadly mistaken.”

“Yes?”

“If the Evil Dao had to choose between the Righteous Dao and us, they would definitely choose the Righteous Dao.”

“Why?”

“Because, they hate us even more. They want to destroy us and then share the world with the Righteous Way, equally.”

I suddenly remembered that I had once talked to an evil master, once. He also hated the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect very much, for the simple reason that because of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect, it stole their thunder and turned them into an unorthodox evil sect.

Why can’t the evil way, be the overlord of the martial arts?

Although this is just the whining of an expert of the Evil Dao, I believe that many people in the Evil Dao have such thoughts. Perhaps, this is the reason why the Evil Dao hates the Heavenly Demon God Sect.

I didn’t dissuade my father, I knew that this war, sooner or later, would come. Only, our enemy, is not the Martial Arts Alliance, nor the Evil Dao, but the Fire Dance Chronicle.

Father, you must try to become stronger too!

That night, we set up camp, by a small stream.

I laid a thick animal skin where my father rested, the most important thing I had brought with me.

After settling my father, I started the fire and cooked.

Instead of just grilling a few pieces of meat, I used the seasonings I brought and carefully cooked a delicious meal. This time, I not only brought Chef Lin’s secret seasonings, but also many vegetables and fruits.

“How does it taste?”

“Not bad.”

Of course it’s good. I’ve asked Chef Lin, specifically, about my father’s taste.

After dinner, I made another pot of tea for my father, also his favorite tea. Looking at my father’s face, the smile of satisfaction, I felt very gratified.

“Your Wind God Steps, it’s already a great accomplishment?”

Father saw through my cultivation at a glance.

“Yes, I had some epiphanies during my fight with the Heavenly Fate Society, but unfortunately, I still haven’t been able to break through to the Grand Completion Realm.”

I felt that I had touched the threshold of great fulfillment, but was never able to cross it.

“Don’t rush, the more you rush, the more likely you are to make a mistake.”

“I will keep your teachings in mind. Would you like more tea?”

My father nodded and I refilled his cup of tea.

“Do you enjoy being with me?”

It was rare that my father would ask such a question. In this case, I had only one rule: never lie to him.

“Honestly, it’s a lot of pressure to be with you.”

“Then why did you come with me?”

“Because, with you, I am at ease.”

My father looked at me in surprise, and I continued, “With you, I don’t have to worry about anything, and no matter what enemies I encounter, you can help me out. Even if the sky collapses, You can help me with it. With You, I don’t have to go through all the trouble of pulling people together, nor do I have to worry about people betraying me, nor do I have to worry about people sacrificing themselves for me. I can do nothing, think about nothing, and this feeling, it’s really relaxing. Because, I know that You will protect me.”

These words, from the bottom of my heart, my father gave me a deep look and seemed a little surprised.

“Don’t you …… you ever feel lonely?”

The father sneered, a question that should have never occurred to him or been asked of anyone else.

He lay down on the ground, looked up at the night sky, and suddenly said, “I’ve never felt alone.”

Instead, I heard a hint of despondency in his tone.

He’s been lonely.

And so it was that my hunting trip, with my father, began.

The next day, we continued to roam the mountains. We rarely spoke, but to each other, there was no separation.

We hiked together, walked together, and rested together by the stream. We didn’t intentionally look for prey, we just enjoyed the rare peace and quiet.

In the evening, I was getting ready to grill the meat when my father suddenly approached me.

“I’ll do it.”

“What are you going to do? You don’t want to cook, do you?”

“Why not?”

“You …… you can cook?”

I looked at him in surprise and he asked lightly, “Are you surprised?”