Chapter 4: Father and Son

Xiao Tianjian turned his head away, feeling bitter in his heart. "This is all in the past; I do not wish to dwell on it. If it were not for your mother's loyalty to the Cardo family and Mirabel exceeding her feelings for me, she would not have rejected me. Otherwise, even if she was unwilling to leave with me, there would be no need for her to speak well of the Cardo family. Knowing that I value freedom above all, she still wanted me to go against my own will and serve others; this behavior is no different from betrayal."

Xiao Tianjian tightly clenched his fists, why? He certainly knew the reason: "You don't understand, your mother... she is the woman I have loved most in my life, the only one who could make me willingly abandon all wealth and glory to live a quiet life with her. In my most painful and vulnerable moments, she was there to accompany and comfort me. At that time, I truly believed that as long as I had her, I would not fear any difficulties. But... when I proposed to her, she betrayed me. She wanted me to serve the Cardo family and even helped them force me to stay. That decayed family only seeks to exploit me for their own gain. When I am valuable, they come to me; once I encounter trouble, they abandon me, demanding that I hide my identity, give up everything, and become their secret bodyguard. If I really stayed, what would be the difference from being a slave?! Your mother clearly knew this, yet she still spoke for the Cardo family. How could I possibly endure that? That decayed family only seeks to exploit me for their own gain. When I am valuable, they come to me; once I encounter trouble, they abandon me, demanding that I hide my identity, give up everything, and become their secret bodyguard. If I really stayed, what would be the difference from being a slave?! Your mother clearly knew this, yet she still spoke for the Cardo family. How could I possibly endure that?!"

Xiao Tianjian gladly accepted his daughter-in-law's invitation. Dora held her husband's hand and placed her hand on their daughter's shoulder, prompting her to perform a kneeling salute together. The two then exited the living room

Mina looked at the man beside her in confusion. Her father called this man "father"; could he be her grandfather? How could that be? He looked even younger than her father! She turned to look at the portrait and thought that although this man was not as handsome as the one in the painting, he did bear some resemblance. But that portrait was painted thirty years ago!

Xiao Tianjian smiled and said: "I just left Yidong and was planning to visit a friend in Turei Mountain, passing through here along the way"

Xiao Tianjian fell silent, realizing that the more he spoke, the more mistakes he made, so he simply chose to keep his mouth shut

Anlong was at a loss whether to laugh or cry: "Alright, you should say a little less; if it reaches her ears, there will be trouble again. There is one more thing I want to inform you about." He told her about his father's visit.

Anlong gazed at him in silence for a long while before softly saying: "I do not wish to discuss this any further; continuing will only make me feel nauseous. In any case, my mother has already passed away, and I now have a wife and children. You may do as you please; it has nothing to do with me."

Dora's eyes turned: "I wonder if you will pass by Meiton? Coincidentally, a young lady known to Anlong is going there, perhaps you could mhetushucom.com..." Before she could finish, Anlong interrupted her: "Veronica is going to attend to personal matters and it is not convenient for her to seek company."

Xiao Tianjian's face turned red; he naturally knew that he had made a mistake back then. However, no one had told him the truth, which led to his misunderstanding lasting until six years ago, when Mei Li passed away. It was then that he learned that this former lover had given birth to a son for him and had been waiting for him all along: "I know... I misunderstood her, but... neither your aunt nor your brother said anything. I... I truly did not know"

In the hall, the father and son are still in a standoff.

Veronica merely pursed her lips: "Ah, so it is the epic hero who has come to visit. I wouldn't dare ask him to accompany me on a stroll. As soon as he appears, even if he doesn't cause trouble, trouble will inevitably come knocking at our door. I am already conspicuous enough; with him added to the mix, wouldn't it be obvious to others that we have issues?"

Anlong scoffed, "So, advising you to be loyal to your family is considered betrayal? Can I interpret your words to mean that you never intended to be faithful to your marriage from the very beginning? Is that why you can say such things? My mother’s family has served the Cardo family for generations; she has been attending to Lady Mirabel since childhood. She felt guilty for betraying her mistress by being with you, and that guilt has always lingered. It is not uncommon for nobles to have lovers, but how could my mother accept you abandoning your wife and children to leave with your lover? My mother has parents and siblings to consider as well. You only think about having her obey you; can’t you think a little more about her feelings?"

Xiao Tianjian was astonished. He remembered that he only learned about having a son six years ago when Meili passed away. At that time, feeling ashamed to meet the child and being heartbroken, the father and son did not meet. When had they seen each other before that?

Xiao Tianjian smiled and said: "It's still early, how old is he? If it weren't for his parents and grandmother insisting that he return to receive some noble education, I wouldn't have sent him back so soon. He has only studied swordsmanship for six years, so it's not accurate to say he has achieved much, but it is true that he is stronger than boys his age"

Xiao Tianjian originally wanted to help enthusiastically, but upon seeing his son's displeased expression, he refrained from speaking further

Anlong's words elicited a low gasp from Dora, and she quickly turned to look at the man. Since marrying into this family, it was the first time she had seen the legendary hero father-in-law.

Dora widened her eyes and quietly reprimanded, "How can you talk while eating? Quickly swallow the food in your mouth and then answer Grandpa's question clearly."

Her father, Sherwin, was a friend of Xiao Tianjian from his youth, with whom he had shared many adventures and learned a few sword techniques. After Xiao Tianjian left Yidong City and the *Tu* *Shu*, several close friends were implicated and suffered considerable losses. Sherwin endured several years of hardship with his family until he was hired by the Security Bureau as a swordsmanship instructor, which allowed him to lead a stable life. As a result, Veronica has always held a negative opinion of Xiao Tianjian

Marshall stood there quietly, responding slightly slower than usual: "At your command, madam." He bowed and stepped back, but his voice lacked the usual vigor; however, Dora did not notice this, while Mina, who did perceive it, merely cast him a puzzled glance.

As soon as Mina stepped out, she couldn't help but ask her mother: "Is that the person in the portrait? Is it Grandpa? Isn't he over fifty? Why does he look younger than Dad?" Dora was also filled with confusion, but she didn't have time to answer her daughter's questions. Instead, she said to the butler standing in the hallway: "Uncle Marshall, please prepare several elaborate dishes, and let Winnie help out as well. Grandpa is a well-known gourmet, and I fear our usual meals may not meet his standards."

Xiao Tianjian felt a wave of embarrassment, not expecting that his earlier actions had already been observed by his son. He had never hated his own vigilance so much; he was simply accustomed to nipping all dangers in the bud: "I’m sorry, I... I didn’t know it was you..."

Seeing this, Anlong let out a soft hum and beckoned his daughter: "Mina, come here." Mina glanced at Xiao Tianjian and ran to her father's side. Anlong took the hands of his wife and daughter, a "gentle" smile appearing on his face: "It is a pleasure to meet you. Allow me to introduce myself. I am your son, Anlong Cardo, and this is my wife, Dora, and my daughter, Mina, who is six years old this year." After a pause, his smile turned sinister: "They are merely weak women and children, so please do not direct your blades at them due to my momentary negligence!"

Early the next morning, Anlong went to find Veronica to share his decision. Veronica raised an eyebrow and said, "Well, since you're not around, I might as well step on Gamah a few more times. However, it might take a few more days with the dwarves. Aren't you worried that your wife will be concerned that you are getting involved with the light beauty over there?"

Dora was on the verge of fainting, but she did not dare to blame her father-in-law and could only gesture for her husband to intervene. Anlong, however, merely watched the interaction between his father and daughter, saying nothing.

The scene fell into a moment of silence. The man, known as Xiao Tianjian, opened his mouth but did not know what to say. He was well aware of the many debts he owed to this son, yet the muddled accounts from years ago could not be clarified in just a few words.

Before Dora could refute, Xiao Tianjian spoke first: "Veronica? Is she Sherwin's daughter? I remember her, quite the little firecracker. I hadn't planned to go to Meidun and the library, but taking a detour to visit wouldn't hurt." Could it be that Veronica is the 'wicked woman' mentioned by my granddaughter, who caused a quarrel between my son and daughter-in-law? I recall her being quite beautiful; it seems my son has inherited his father's charm.

Anlong was furious: "What do you think? Do you think others would behave as you do? My mother has been loyal to you her entire life. Uncle Marshall has been our steward since the day I was born. Even with better opportunities, he never left and always considered himself a servant. There is nothing inappropriate between him and my mother! By saying such things, you not only insult Uncle Marshall but also demean my mother's feelings for you!"

"Bevin? Are you referring to Yilong's eldest son?" Dora felt a pang of bitterness in her heart, "I heard that this child was taken away by you when he was very young, and you personally taught him swordsmanship. I didn't expect him to have returned after completing his training. He must have achieved quite a lot by now, right?"

Xiao Tianjian spoke of this matter with great joy: "Indeed, both of them are extremely happy. Just as I returned Beiwen, it can be said that it is a double happiness arriving at the door"

Anlong was well aware of the situation and could only respond with a bitter smile. However, Veronica, upon seeing his smile, couldn't help but curl her lips: "But for you, this is actually a good thing. You've never lived with him before, so no matter how much you claim to dislike him, deep down you must be quite pleased, right?"

Xiao Tianjian then recalled the situation from years ago. His memory was exceptionally good, and he indeed remembered that behind his son were several boys of similar age, one of whom had brown hair and blue eyes, resembling the current An Long. At that time, he had thought he was a classmate or friend of Yun Long. It was no wonder he thought so; after all, An Long's hair color and eyes were just like Mei Li's. Compared to the black-haired Yun Long, he hardly looked like his son. It was no wonder he thought so; after all, An Long's hair color and eyes were just like Mei Li's. Compared to the black-haired Yun Long, he hardly looked like his son.

After a long while, Anlong suddenly said, "Actually, I have seen you once before, back when my mother was still alive"

Xiao Tianjian lightly coughed and looked at his granddaughter: "Mina, is the food good?" Mina was taking a big bite of a chicken leg and quickly nodded in response, mumbling with her mouth full: "It's delicious, I like chicken legs the most." Opportunities to eat so much meat are rare.

I certainly have her best interests at heart! The Cardo family is relatively kind to their servants; they have served the family for generations. Even if she were to leave with me, the Cardo family would not be able to do anything to them. If they were truly to be dismissed, they could still find work at my business and castle

Anlong's lips curled into a wry smile: "When Yilong graduated from the Royal Noble Academy, his son had just been born. At that time, you hurried back to see your grandson, and I followed closely behind Yilong. But you probably regarded me as just a subordinate, didn't you? You were so focused on leading Yilong away that you left the rest of us and the books behind, not even casting a glance in my direction. I was ridiculed for this for a long time."

Dora noticed that the atmosphere was somewhat tense, so she quickly reached out to support her husband, urging him to calm down. With a hint of hesitation, she asked, "May I ask... have you had dinner? If... you don't mind... you could join us..." She cautiously glanced at her husband's expression, and he did not object.

Unexpectedly encountering his son's family, Xiao Tianjian planned to stay for a few days. After dinner, Dora, following Anlong's wishes, prepared a bed for him to spend the night in the study. She kept apologizing for the inadequate hospitality, and after much effort, Xiao Tianjian finally sent her away, secretly feeling a headache over why his son married such a wife. She was indeed virtuous, but unfortunately, a bit too talkative.

He felt guilty in his heart, sighed, and said: "Anlong, I know I have wronged you and your mother. At that time, I had no idea about your existence. When I left back then, your mother did not inform me that she was pregnant. Later, every time I returned to visit your aunt and brother, others would say she was doing well, so I..."

Dora noticed the atmosphere had become tense again, so she quickly changed the subject: "Father... when you were in Yidong City, did you see Yilong and the others? I wonder how they are doing? Lilith's brother just came by and mentioned that she is pregnant again. That is truly wonderful news."

Mina pouted, and Xiao Tianjian quickly said, "It’s alright, it’s alright. What’s the need for so much fuss among family? The child is still young." Upon hearing this, Mina broke into a big smile and even specially handed the other chicken leg on her plate to her grandfather, inviting him to eat. Xiao Tianjian affectionately patted her head, took a bite from her hand, and still encouraged her to eat.

Xiao Tianjian furrowed his brow, about to say something more, when Marshall quietly appeared at the living room door, respectfully announcing that dinner was ready and inviting them to the dining room. Anlong quickly turned and left, while Xiao Tianjian silently stared at Marshall, taking a long while before expressionlessly following him to the dining room

Ah, of course. However, Anlong became even angrier, saying, "I would never misunderstand that you have known I have lived here for five years, nor would I ever misunderstand that you knew who I was beforehand"

At the dining table, Anlong remained silent, even with his wife, exchanging only a few words. Noticing the atmosphere had become somewhat awkward, Dora took the initiative to speak to Xiao Tianjian: "Since you are unaware of our presence in Qidun, what brings you here? This is not exactly an interesting place; the only notable feature is a settlement of dwarves, but that is located in the mountains."

Anlong interjected coolly, "Not bad at all, the direct disciple of an epic hero." He did not have this fortune back in the day; even his elder brother Yilong's swordsmanship was taught by Uncle Shewen.

Xiao Tianjian had nothing to say about this: "In this regard, I am also very grateful to them, and over the years, I have given back in return. I helped their caravan drive away bandits, trained their guards, and assisted them in establishing several profitable ventures. With these contributions, I have already compensated for the losses I caused their family back then." However, he did not mention that now, after the old marquis's death, the head of the Cardo family is his son Yilong, who is also Xiao Yunlong.

Anlong sneered: "In fact, you are merely making excuses for your own irresponsibility. Which noble house would engage in actions without any benefit? Although the Cardo family once amassed great wealth through you, they also helped you establish significant achievements in the political and military spheres; your relationship has always been mutually beneficial. When allies bring disaster upon themselves, severing ties is necessary to preserve the family; their actions are entirely justifiable, especially since they have not sought to annihilate you. How can you betray them simply because they did not become your unwavering support without complaint? Not to mention, they kindly took me in; I have lacked for nothing since childhood and have received a good education, all thanks to their benevolence."

Unfortunately, at that time you were already in a precarious situation, not to mention, who would abandon a marquis family that has served for generations to work for a newly ennobled earl's household

Anlong was taken aback and fell silent

Anlong replied in a nonchalant manner, "No need, she can handle it on her own."

"Living well? Being called 'madam' while doing the work of a maid, and having to endure the ridicule and mockery of others every day, do you think that is called living well?"

It is not ... ... '' Xiao Tianjian closed his eyes, a wave of headache washing over him, `` This is all what others have said, and I believed it. In fact, I had caught a distant glimpse of her, but at that time ... ... she was with Marshall, chatting and laughing, and I thought ... ... ''

No excuses, no evasion! If you truly wish to know, you can certainly inquire. Even if Madame Mirabel and Elon do not speak, would your friends refuse to provide you with answers? Uncle Sherwin has always taught me swordsmanship; he told me you never asked! It is precisely because of your attitude that we have endured scorn and ridicule, being called my mother a shameless seducer of the master, and me an unwanted wild child!" Anlong could not help but choke up, "Unfortunately, no matter what others say, my mother has never been willing to abandon her love for you. She has been waiting for you; every time she hears you have returned, she always hopes you will come to find her. Yet, even knowing she is only a few rooms away, you have not even glanced at her. My mother passed away without being able to see you again, she died with tears in her eyes... Why? Even the nobles who once offended you, you forgave them. Why is it that only my mother you treat with such coldness and cruelty? My mother passed away without being able to see you again, she died with tears in her eyes... Why? Even the nobles who once offended you, you forgave them. Why is it that only my mother you treat with such coldness and cruelty?"