Chapter 883: Chapter 888: Parents’ Hidden Past
"How much do you know about your parents?" Lin Guodong asked.
"Absolutely nothing," replied Ling Chen sincerely. Though his father single-handedly raised him when he was young, he didn’t understand much about many things during his teenage years. After all, a child’s world is rather simple. When he grew up and developed the ability to think independently, his father sent him to the army, saying it was to train him.
Who would have thought that this training would last several years? During this time, his father seemed to vanish, leaving no trace, not a single word. It wasn’t until recently that Ling Chen managed to save his father from Ji Gang. Unfortunately, Ling Kun was severely injured and fell into a hibernation-like state. Unless his wounds healed, he wouldn’t wake up anytime soon.
To ensure Ling Kun’s safety, Ling Chen sent him to Su He’s secluded residence. With Su He, a master from the Heavenly List, keeping an eye on him, Ling Kun’s safety would be guaranteed.
"Alright! Since you don’t know anything, I’ll start from the very beginning. However, this story is long, so you’ll need patience to hear it through."
After pausing for a moment, Lin Guodong began leisurely, "This matter has to be traced back over twenty years. At that time, your father was considered a branch of the Ling Family. By generational rank, your father should belong to the direct line. However, due to your ancestor Ling Gengqiu’s circumstances, your line was ostracized, pushed out from the direct line, and became a branch of the Ling Family. For long, your branch’s status in the Ling Family was low, akin to those designated to do odd jobs for the family. However, this situation slowly changed after your father was born."
"Your father, Ling Kun, was a martial prodigy. In our generation, no one could surpass him. Within just over a decade, Ling Kun’s power had reached the Earthly List level. Even you cannot compare with your father. Due to your father’s extraordinary talent, the Ling Family members of his age were very unconvinced and schemed against your father, attempting to ruin him. Unfortunately for them, your father wasn’t the type to be bullied. Those who troubled him were all taught a lesson by him."
"Initially, the Ling Family Patriarch protected those people. However, as your father’s talent was gradually discovered, the Patriarch finally realized that an exceptional figure had emerged from the Ling Family. From that time on, Ling Kun received treatment like the direct lineage of the family. He was no longer required to perform tasks that ordinary people could manage. The Ling Family provided him with a dedicated training area and invested a huge amount of resources in him. Because of this, Ling Kun’s power soared, leaving his peers far behind. Even those slightly older than Ling Kun couldn’t match him."
At this point, Lin Guodong paused slightly before continuing, "The pity is that your branch suffered too many years of ostracism; even if he was exceptionally talented, the Patriarch’s attention to him had limits. Otherwise, someone like your father would surely have been the Patriarch’s best successor. Initially, your father worked for the Ling Family, solving numerous competitors and enemies for them. As you know, by then, the Ling Family had shifted from martial pursuits to commerce, facing many rivals. For many years, the Ling Family thrived in business, primarily because they had scavengers to resolve their troubles. Your father played the role of secretly eliminating problems. At just over twenty, he had already tainted his hands with much blood."
"However, later, during one mission, your father slipped up."
"Why is that?" Ling Chen asked, "Was it because his enemy was very strong?"
"No, it wasn’t," Lin Guodong said, "The reason your father slipped up is because he encountered your mother."
Upon hearing this, Ling Chen perked up, listening intently to Lin Guodong. After all this time, his mother finally made an appearance.
"At that moment, your father was ordered to eliminate an opponent. But when he arrived, he found that his target was a young, beautiful woman. From this point, I don’t need to say more; you can already guess—yet another clichéd love story."
Ling Chen was somewhat dissatisfied with Lin Guodong’s portrayal. After all, these were his parents, described dismissively as a cliché.
"I won’t detail the events. Simply put, your father fell for your mother and abandoned his mission for her. Later, he even sought out the Patriarch to accept punishment, pleading for leniency, hoping he would spare your mother. However, this act angered the Patriarch. He needed a loyal dog to bite for him, not someone with independent thoughts. Consequently, the Patriarch harshly punished your father and gave a death order: your mother had to be killed. If he couldn’t do it, someone else would be assigned."
"You can imagine how painful it was for your father then. But ultimately, your father was a person, not a dog, so he made his choice—betrayed the Ling Family for your mother. To evade the Patriarch, your father took your mother and fled far away, seeking a place the Ling Family could not reach, intending to live a peaceful life."
"About a year or two later, you had been born. Your parents lived an ordinary life in a remote town, mundane yet happy. However, a couple of years later, the Ling Family still found your father. But they didn’t come to settle accounts with your parents; they came seeking your father’s help. The Ling Family, in pursuit of their commercial empire, had made too many enemies. When these enemies united, they became a formidable force."
"At that time, the Ling Family faced an unprecedented crisis. To avert it and return the Ling Family to its rightful path, the Patriarch finally thought of your father. He knew only your father could help the Ling Family out of this predicament. Thus, he sent people to find your father and asked for his return to aid the Ling Family. The Patriarch even promised that your father’s past actions would be written off, the Ling Family wouldn’t pursue it, and they’d even accept your mother. After much hesitation, your father decided to return to the Ling Family. After all, he was very grateful. Without the Ling Family’s nurturing, he wouldn’t have grown so quickly."
"Things went smoothly; once your father returned to the Ling Family, their crisis was quickly resolved. At that time, the Patriarch realized your father was a crucial asset to the Ling Family that must be retained. So, the Patriarch offered numerous benefits to persuade your father to bring your mother and you back to the Ling Family."
"Nevertheless, the Ling Family remained the same; it wouldn’t change for just one person, and the Patriarch’s manner toward your father was no different."