Chapter 600: Father And Son (1)
Chaos was unfolding within Great Xia.
News of the chaos spread everywhere. Su Yu also heard about it, but he no longer cared. He had just arrived at a large city. There, he stopped his travel. It was the 30th of December. The sky was slowly turning dark.
Meanwhile, the city was brightly lit. Sounds of laughter could be heard everywhere and firecrackers were being lit up all over the city.
The people there were celebrating the coming of a new year. This was the last day of year 350. Some children could be seen running around on the streets. Su Yu walked with the suanni and mountaindrill bull following behind him, looking around curiously.
He was feeling quite empty and lonely. In previous years, he would always celebrate the New Year's with his father in Nanyuan. Today, he was walking a bustling street in a foreign land all by himself. He did not know a single person here.
How was his father doing?
How were his teachers doing?
How were his senior sister and martial uncle?
He walked absentmindedly as he thought about them. The pedestrians around him moved in a rush. Some looked at him curiously, but nobody paid him much attention.
Su Yu walked for a very long time before finding a small tavern that was still open for business. He walked inside. Even though he had just left Nanyuan, he was starting to feel homesick. He was missing his father.
***
Allheaven Battlefield.
Encampment of the second legion of the Devil Subduing Army.
A new year was coming.
There was no huge celebration in the army, but there was still a feast to celebrate the arrival of the new year. The flesh of numerous beasts was roasted while the soldiers enjoyed their time talking and laughing. They were still not allowed to drink any alcohol, but they were still allowed to relax and enjoy the New Year's.
The soldiers looked exhausted, but joy was also apparent on their faces. Yet another year had ended. It was a peaceful end. In the year 350 of the Anping Calender, the Human Realm was still in peace.
Su Long felt incomparably comfortable as he feasted on the roasted meat. The only imperfection to this good mood was that he somewhat missed his son.
Beside him was the familiar 100-Man Commander Liu. While eating, Su Long laughed and said, "Old Liu, it's too late for you. Even if you want to hand your daughter over for free, my son might not want her. He's a super genius. Do you know that?"
Commander Liu indifferently said, "Are you sure the Su Yu that invented the Acupoint Fusion Art is the same Su Yu that is your son? Su Long, stop bragging. These days, it's very normal for people to share the same name and surname. How do you know that this is your son?"
"Hehe, he definitely is." Su Long grinned, "My son has been smart since he was a kid. Weren't you around previously? Did you not hear what that lord said? That's a Mountainsea expert. I asked around. That's my son's grandteacher. Hehe...Is my son not a super genius?"
The Acupoint Fusion Art was already being disseminated within the army. The advanced edition was still being restricted, but the basic edition with eighteen acupoints was already being supplied in the military for free. A large number of people were starting to cultivate it.
With a regretful tone, Su Long said, "What a pity that I can't go back for the New Year's. I wonder how my kid is celebrating it. Maybe he's celebrating at his father-in-law's place."
The people around him laughed. His kid had only joined the academy for half a year. How would he find a wife so fast? Su Long must be dreaming.
Old Liu continued teasing, "Maybe your son is busy being punished to stand outside the classroom right this moment. Remember that your son might not be the same Su Yu. Stop making up stories. Be careful lest the real Su Yu takes offense to your words for claiming that he's your son."
In short, Old Liu did not believe Su Long's words. Or to be precise, very few people here believed his words.
Sure, Su Long had a son named Su Yu who was also a student at the Great Xia Cultural Research Academy. But that was merely a coincidence. After all, Su Long's son had only entered the academy for half a year. They found it hard to believe his claim. Instead, they were more willing to believe that Su Long was talking big.
Seeing that nobody believed him, Su Long lost his patience. He hollered at the 1000-man commander, "Lord Hu, is the creator of the Acupoint Fusion Art someone called Su Yu? Is he Su Yu from Great Xia Cultural Research Academy? Is he my son?"
"..."
The 1000-man commander laughed and said, "I can say yes to the first two questions. As for the final question...I have no answer. Su Long, stop shouting all the time. If he's really your son, then you have my respect. If he's not, you'll only end up offending the cultural researchers if you keep claiming that he's your son."
"That's definitely my son! Why don't you ask around? Is this Su Yu a new student as well?"
Commander Hu laughed and asked, "And who should I ask? We should consider ourselves lucky just knowing the name of a genius at that level. How am I supposed to learn about his age and his family?"
"Hahaha!"
The soldiers around them roared with laughter.
Su Long could only chew on his roasted meat gloomily. Whatever. It didn't matter what these people believed. In any case, he was sure this Su Yu was his son. There was no doubting that.
Old Liu laughed and said, "Old Su, didn't you say that your son was only a third-stage Source Opening student when you left? You haven't even been here for nine months, right?"
He simply found Su Long's words unbelievable. Nine months ago, Su Long's son was only a third-stage Source Opening student. How could that be the same genius who had created the Acupoint Fusion Art?
Su Long ignored Old Liu. The 1000-man commander said, "This genius Su Yu is quite young as well. Old Liu, stop teasing him. If that's really Old Su's son, you'll need to start fawning on him in the future. To be safe, you might as well get started now. It doesn't matter if that Su Yu is really his son or not."
"Hahaha!"
The surrounding soldiers roared with laughter as well. Su Long was gloomy. Bullshit. That Su Yu was definitely his son.
He had no doubt about that. Suddenly, he muttered to himself, "This art is named the Double Wu Acupoint Fusion Art. Don't tell me that my son has found me two daughters-in-law?"
"..."
"Maybe the Double Wu refers to two guys."
Once again, the soldiers roared with laughter.
At this moment, the 1000-man commander's voice transmission talisman vibrated. When the commander checked the talisman, he said in astonishment, "Be quiet, everyone. I think the big shots are visiting later. Wow, have the higher-ups finally remembered us?"
Old Liu asked, "Who's coming? Is it the general?"
"What are you thinking?"
The 1000-man commander rolled his eyes. The general was a Sunmoon, a super expert. How could a person like that waste his time with their tiny 1000-man unit? But since the message had come personally from the 10000-man commander, the visitor would be someone of a higher rank. Could it be a Mountainsea expert?
"Everyone, clean up. Try to leave the big shots a good impression. Su Long, stop eating. Look at your oily mouth. These big shots might know if this Su Yu is really your son. I'll try to ask them about it..."
Su Long hurriedly wiped his mouth and grinned, "Sure. Lord Hu, please make sure to ask around for me. If that's really my son, Old Liu will need to lick my shoes in apology."
"Hahaha!"
The soldiers roared with laughter.
While all the soldiers were laughing, a stern middle-aged man walked over. Following behind him were several experts. He was frowning with a frosty face as he walked.
He constantly complained to himself, "Just what is the capital doing? Why are they throwing this mess our way? How am I supposed to answer to a brother serving under me? I guess we can forget about the New Year's celebration."
The middle-aged man was furious as he said, "We can both promote and reward Su Long. That is not an issue. But what am I supposed to tell him? Should I tell him that his son was forced to leave Great Xia and join Great Ming because of assassinations from those who were supposed to be one of us?"
"General..."
The person behind him softly said, "We need to calm the army before the news spreads. And we definitely need to placate Su Long. He is a veteran. His comrades from back then are all occupying high positions in the army. In the second legion, three of them are 10000-man commanders and five of them are 1000-man commanders. Even the deputy general, Chen Long, used to fight alongside him back in the days..."
The middle-aged man exclaimed in shock, "Even Chen Long?"
"Yeah."
At this moment, an individual clad in a military outfit flew over. About a dozen people followed behind him. The person in the lead was none other than Chen Long.
This newly advanced Mountainsea expert had a frosty expression. After landing on the ground, he saluted the general before gloomily saying, "Greetings, General."
It had been eighteen years since he joined the army. And he had advanced to the Mountainsea Realm from the Great Strength Realm. Over eighteen years, he had risen from the position of a common soldier to a deputy general with his blood and sweat as the price. Chen Long was one of the most outstanding leaders in the military in recent years.
He was normally friendly, with a constant smile on his face. But now, he had an ashen expression.
"General, are you here to see Su Long?" Chen Long questioned, "Are you here to capture Big Brother Su? Is he going to be punished just because his son has defected from Great Xia? Is Great Xia going to capture him and use him as a hostage?"
Chen Long gnashed his teeth furiously. Looking at the general whom he had shown a lot of respect in the past, he said, "General, Big Brother Su fought on the front lines eighteen years ago. After eighteen years, he returned to the army to serve the Xia Family yet again. Is this how we're going to repay him? Is this how Devil Subduing Army and Great Xia reward loyalty?"
Chen Long was furious. The Skysoars and Cloudbreaches behind him were furious as well.
Anger.
News of what happened had only started to spread among the higher-ups. Chen Long was one of the people who had heard of it. Su Yu was attacked by a Sunmoon and forced to flee from Great Xia.
Had the general arrived to personally capture Su Long? Were they going to force Su Yu to return? Or were they planning something else? Were they aiming for Su Yu's ruin? Chen Long was unable to restrain his anger.
The general sighed and said, "I am very regretful about what happened to Su Yu. Little Chen, you know me. Don't misunderstand me. Great Xia has reached a decision on what to do. Several Mountainseas have been executed. Su Long will be promoted to a 1000-man commander. He will also be supplied with the resources he needs to reach the Skysoar Realm. We will also be supplying him with divine and devil blood essence to reforge his body..."
Hearing that, Chen Long's anger subsided somewhat. But he couldn't resist asking, "How about that nephew of mine?"
"This..." The general sighed and said, "Do you think Su Yu will be willing to return? Even if the Xia Family wishes for him to return, will he agree? Do you really think that Prefect Zhu was really passing by during the incident? Do you really think that it was a pure coincidence for so many Mountainseas and Sunmoons to appear there? That nephew of yours has probably made his decision and contacted Great Ming long ago. And Great Ming clearly places a lot of importance on him for Prefect Zhu to personally help him."
Unlike the masses, they knew that this was no coincidence. Instead, everything had been planned long ago. Su Yu had gotten twelve Mountainseas and two Sunmoons killed with that ploy of his. That was truly shocking.
Chen Long said nothing. The general was right. It was unlikely that Su Yu would return.
"Great Xia is at fault for this." Chen Long was still furious. He said, "Single character faction...hmph!"
As he glared at the person behind the general, that person said, "General Chen, please don't take it out on us. We knew nothing. Here at the Allheaven Battlefield, most of us are no longer involved in the factional struggles. How are we supposed to know that something like this would happen?"
It wasn't like there were no single character factions in the Allheaven Battlefield. A lot of them were feeling rather gloomy after learning about what had happened. What a disgrace. That was a mass-scale defection to the Myriad Race Cult.
The general inhaled deeply and said, "Let's go. We need to placate the army before the news spreads. I know you're all furious. But we're at the front lines. If we allow the morale to drop and the myriad races take this chance to attack, hundreds of thousands of lives would be lost."
The general continued, "I'll find a chance to return to the capital and demand an explanation. For now, we need to prioritize maintaining army morale. Before things get out of control, we need to placate Su Long and give them an explanation. Little Chen, you used to fight alongside him. I'll need your help with this."