C12 Ling Zhan Was Excited

Bai Yuxi graciously accepted the golden hairpin, then proceeded to toast Ling Zhan and Ling Xiao.

With a few drinks warming her cheeks to a shy crimson, she moved to kneel before Ling Xiao, who quickly stopped her. "We're siblings; there's no need for such formality. I'll gladly accept the drink, and I'll find a proper gift for you later," he said, draining his cup in one smooth motion.

As soon as he let go of Bai Yuxi, she tried to kneel again. "Young Master, you've been my savior. Though Madam has taken me in as her goddaughter, you are the true master of my heart. My mother taught me to repay kindness, so please don't reject my offer to serve you. I promise to be diligent."

"How can we accept this? Stand up, quickly. We're siblings now; it's not right for you to serve me," Ling Xiao insisted, motioning for her to rise.

But tears began to well in Bai Yuxi's eyes again.

"Let it be, Xiao. If Yuxi is so determined, then let her serve you. We could use a maid anyway," Meng Xiyun interjected gently.

Reluctantly, Ling Xiao agreed. "Alright, Yuxi, stand up. No more kneeling from now on, or I'll have to send you away, and nobody will stop me."

"Thank you, Young Master," Bai Yuxi bowed deeply, then stood up again.

After dinner, Ling Zhan called Ling Xiao to the study.

"You had a run-in with Lee Guangyin from the Lee family a few days ago?" Ling Zhan dove straight in.

Ling Xiao had no reason to hide it and simply nodded, "Yes."

Ling Zhan's body gave a slight shudder at the confirmation. His eyes burning with excitement, he asked, "Can you cultivate profound strength again?"

Caught in Ling Zhan's fervent stare, Ling Xiao didn't know how to respond. He couldn't admit that he wasn't his biological son anymore, or that he had used a former life's internal cultivation technique to unblock his meridians. If he didn't come clean, how would he explain what had happened?

"Xiao, are you keeping something from me?" Ling Zhan picked up on Ling Xiao's reluctance and couldn't help but ask with a touch of anxiety.

"Father, to be completely honest, I've regained the ability to cultivate profound strength, but..." Ling Xiao confessed, his expression revealing his unease.

"Really? Why is that?" Ling Zhan's initial elation quickly shifted to concern. "You haven't resorted to some forbidden demonic technique, have you?" He remembered a story from Meteor City about a man whose meridians were completely ruined, who later practiced a demonic art and transformed into a Vampire Devil. It took the united effort of the major families' experts to defeat him, but not before eight of their best were killed—a grievous loss.

"How could that be?" Ling Xiao replied at once, then added, "Father, I had planned to wait a bit longer before sharing this news with you, but now that you've mentioned it, I might as well tell you. Just promise to keep it a secret."

Ling Zhan let out a sigh of relief and nodded in agreement. "I understand. You're my son. I would lay down my life before letting anything happen to you."

With that, Ling Xiao began to weave a benevolent fiction. "Father, do you recall how Ling Rui nearly beat me to death half a month ago? I was unconscious for three days and nights afterward. Do you know the reason?"

Ling Zhan listened closely, shaking his head to show he was in the dark.

"It's because I was experiencing an immortal dream," Ling Xiao said with sincerity.

"An immortal dream?" Ling Zhan repeated, surprised.

"That's right," Ling Xiao affirmed with a nod. "In that dream, an immortal named Sanjue recognized my unique potential and chose to take me as his disciple. He imparted several profound skills to me, including one that could clear blocked meridians. Initially, I doubted it, but to my amazement, the technique actually worked. I intended to tell you once I had cleared all twelve meridians."

Ling Zhan's voice held a note of wonder. "A miraculous event indeed." He regarded Ling Xiao with a serious, yet believing expression. Considering the vastness of the continent, it wasn't beyond the realm of possibility for a powerful, enigmatic master to have taken notice of his son and accepted him as a pupil. This thought filled Ling Zhan with a fervent sense of pride and expectation.

"Indeed, the immortal instructed me to keep this a secret from everyone," Ling Xiao admitted, his voice tinged with apprehension, as though he feared the immortal might somehow be alerted to this slip.

"Oh, it's all my fault. You should go now. I won't interfere with your affairs any longer. Just remember to practice hard and fulfill the immortal's expectations," Ling Zhan said, smacking his forehead in vexation.

Ling Xiao recognized that his father wasn't the type to chase after quick wins; he truly cared about him. He felt blessed to have such parents.

"Dad, since I've already told you, let me share the profound skill that can clear your meridians, so you can escape this predicament. And the next time someone dares to call us 'worthless,' we'll make sure they meet the King of Hell," Ling Xiao stated with firm conviction.

"Is that appropriate, though? What if the immortal finds out? Won't you be held accountable?" Ling Zhan's frame quivered, his fists clenched tightly, betraying his inner conflict.

He had been disabled for twelve years, enduring derision and ridicule. He had numbed his pain with alcohol, even considered suicide, but his devoted wife had been his constant solace, urging him to persevere. His son's extraordinary talent had also been a beacon of hope. Yet, after his son was mysteriously attacked two years ago, with no assailant found, they had been forced to retreat to their desolate courtyard, their plight unnoticed. He longed to return to his clan, to assist his father once again.

Now, his son's offer held the promise of a new beginning. How could he not be stirred? But if he accepted this profound skill and the immortal took offense, what would become of his son? His heart was torn between gratitude and fear.