That night, in a side room of the Lin Residence.

Since the residence didn't have many side rooms, all the experts from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion stayed together, and Wu Wang's group was divided into two rooms.

The steward of the Lin Residence originally intended for Wu Wang to share a room with the Grand Elder, and for the two Fairies to share another. However, the Grand Elder, Lin Suqing, and Immortal Mu all gathered in Wu Wang's room, with no one showing any intention of leaving.

The Grand Elder was Transcendent now too, his back straighter, confident in his ability to personally protect the Little Golden Dragon. Naturally, he was set on guarding the Sect Master closely, twenty-four hours a day.

Just as Lin Suqing had made up the bed for the Young Master, Immortal Mu jumped onto it, wriggling under the blankets and playfully tugging at Lin Suqing, causing a round of laughter.

The scene was one where the fragrance of lotuses filled the warm chamber, untouched by the breath of spring, with raven hair in disarray and rouge hairpins askew.

Since none of them needed to sleep or rest, they simply waited for any movements from the frontline in the Northern Region, ready to coordinate actions from within.

Wu Wang sipped tea brought by the Maidens of the Lin Residence and laughed, "Setting other matters aside, this General Lin Nuhao is truly a master of military strategy and conduct, having laid out his plans so meticulously."

The Grand Elder stroked his beard and smiled, "He is not as good as the Sect Master."

"Strategizing for troop movement and formation, as well as battle tactics for groups of Immortals, are all profound studies," Wu Wang laughed. "I've merely taken advantage of some experiential benefits and occasionally come up with one or two useful ideas. If you asked me to lead an army, it would be a total mess. This General Lin has built such a family business; he truly is extraordinary."

The Grand Elder pondered for a moment and then conveyed telepathically, "Sect Master, I've always felt that this man seems to deliberately oppose you. It's possible he has other schemes in mind."

"What can the Lin Family possibly scheme against me?"

Wu Wang casually pulled over a wooden stool and stretched his legs on it.

Without a reclining chair, it never quite felt comfortable enough.

He said, "I treat Lin Qi with sincerity. If Lin Qi cannot continue to be friends with us due to family constraints, I will still help him with what I should."

The Grand Elder warned, "Sect Master, sometimes being too kind and righteous can lead to disadvantages for oneself."

Wu Wang placed his hands behind his head and slouched down, laughing, "In this lifetime, if one can live up to oneself, one's friends, one's partner, and one's country, that's actually enough."

"Indeed, it's true," the Grand Elder said with a slight smile, a hint of sentimentality in his eyes as he spoke softly. "Looking back, I suddenly feel the one I've wronged the most is Cui Jiao's mother, alas..."

Wu Wang pulled out two small jars of wine, which the Grand Elder accepted with a smile. "It's rare for the Sect Master to be in such a mood."

That's right. Share some heartfelt words, pour some wine. They were good friends, like brothers. If Suqing played the erhu later and provided some music, wouldn't the Grand Elder's worries and those 'brilliant' things on his mind just spill out? Brilliant.

"Grand Elder, what do you think..."

"Quiz time!" Immortal Mu shouted from the side, poking her head out from the blankets, smiling at Wu Wang with her two little tiger teeth showing. "Do you want to hear what Lin Nuhao is saying to the little guy Lin Qi?"

Wu Wang raised an eyebrow and said with a serious tone, "Eavesdropping is somewhat indecent."

Immortal Mu propped her chin and dangled her raised calves, puzzled. "Aren't you worried about your friend getting hurt? They're starting to argue now."

"How did you hear that?"

Wu Wang and the Grand Elder each took a gulp of wine, their interest piqued as well.

"Look at this!"

Seeking credit, Immortal Mu stretched out her little hand, and several butterflies the size of fingernails appeared in her palm.

These butterflies were almost transparent, emitted no spiritual energy fluctuations, and were difficult to notice unless one was staring intently at Immortal Mu's hand as Wu Wang was.

Immortal Mu laughed, "This is a treasure from the Four Seas Pavilion, specifically for reconnaissance. If we use it, even a Transcendent being won't notice. A little butterfly has already been dispatched by us! Just hold one tight, and you'll be able to hear everything!"

Wu Wang and Lin Suqing stretched out their hands, and a butterfly gently landed on each, which they held as instructed.

At the side, the Grand Elder raised a hand to create a Barrier but didn't reach out to catch the small butterfly flying towards him.

Faint waves of Spiritual Sense came from the small butterfly, and somewhat blurry images began to surface in the minds of the three. It was like looking through three layers of frosted glass; they could only see vague figures, but the voices were clear to hear.

At this moment, in a study wrapped in a Formation in the backyard of the Lin Residence, Lin Nuhao, his son Lin Qi, and a beautiful middle-aged woman were discussing something.

Lin Qi knelt in front of the desk, Lin Nuhao stood with his hands behind his back facing the window, and the woman bowed her head, silently weeping.

Wu Wang focused his mind and heard Lin Qi's voice become much clearer as he recounted his experiences at the Xuan Nu Sect with Wu Wang.

But Lin Qi was doing it intentionally, leaving out Wu Wang's friendly relations with Fairy Ling, likely to avoid causing his teacher trouble.

"Father, I think the teacher's words make sense, and I believe what the teacher does is for the Human Domain, for the human race! How is it wrong for me to take him as my teacher?"

"Taking a peer as your teacher?" Lin Nuhao clenched his fists, his voice cold as he said, "Is this the way I taught you? I told you to strive to be the best, not to lower yourself!"

The General suddenly turned around, his eyes complex for a moment, but soon they were filled with nothing but severity. He stared at Lin Qi, his voice rising from a low growl to a high pitch.

"The last time you came back, I held back from scolding you!

"You had already obtained the Yan Emperor's Command at the Human Emperor's banquet, so why did you have to seek out Ji Mo again!

"He had already lost to you at the Human Emperor's banquet. Did you really need to humiliate him further? What would people say about you?

"Narrow-minded, lacking in generosity—they'll think you're not fit for great things!"

"Father!" Lin Qi took a deep breath. "Son was overjoyed then. I just wanted to show off to Ji Mo; I hadn't thought any further than that!"

Lin Nuhao, grinding his teeth, nearly kicked out as he cursed.

"Do I really need to tell you word by word how to show magnanimity or how to demonstrate your lofty aspirations? Do I have to tell you exactly what to do next for you to get anything done?

"You don't understand anything!

"How did I even father such a useless son!"

"Father," Lin Qi closed his eyes, his voice still calm. "Ever since I was a child, I've always done as you said, without any complaints.

"Previously, I didn't know how to make friends, so I didn't understand how to get close to Ji Mo; instead, I constantly opposed him.

"Actually, it was just out of envy for the ease with which he interacted with people, and I wanted to be close to him too.

"I didn't know how to express the joy in my heart; I only knew how to compare myself with others, to provoke them into competing with me! Isn't this what you taught me?

"Father, have you really ever taught me anything besides cultivating for success and striving to win in a match?"

Lin Nuhao cursed, "Were all those books I had you read a waste?"

Lin Qi stood up, eyes wide with bloodshot streaks, and said firmly, "Since childhood, have I ever been allowed to make even a single friend?"

Lin Nuhao, trembling with rage, paced back and forth and pointed at Lin Qi's nose, cursing.

"If the Human Emperor wants to designate his successor, does he care about how many friends you have?

"He looks at your talent! Your potential! With me, your father, behind you, that is force enough! If they don't accept that, I'll help you conquer the Human Domain!

"What the Human Domain needs is the mightiest who can contend with the Heavenly Emperor. What use is it to have a bunch of friends!

"All that I have today was fought for with sword and knife on the frontiers!

"Fighting against the Divine Spirits dozens of times, and narrowly escaping death just as many times, that is how the Lin Family has gotten to where it is today!"

Lin Qi's voice trembled slightly as he spoke in a low tone, "So, in order for your son to ascend to the position of Human Emperor, Father sent assassins to the Women's Country to tarnish Ji Mo's reputation!"

"Ji Mo, he's nothing! Would I, your old man, demean myself to scheme against him? He couldn't even match up to half of me when his father was alive!"

Lin Nuhao's face was red and his neck thick, like a maddened lion roaring and screaming, but the hand he raised in anger couldn't bring itself to strike Lin Qi.

"Kneel... Kneel down!"

Lin Qi turned his head to look aside but stubbornly refused to kneel.

Lin Nuhao raised his hand as if to strike, but Lin Qi closed his eyes and steadied his spirit, a trace of sadness in his eyes.

Thankfully, the woman at his side rushed up to intervene, crying and hugging Lin Nuhao's arm as she kept calling out, "My husband."

Lin Nuhao, shaking with fury, cursed.

"Get out! Get out of my sight!"

Lin Qi bowed, turned, and walked toward the Formation at the doorway. Just before leaving, he turned to look back at Lin Nuhao.

Lin Nuhao flung his sleeve and turned his head to stare out the window.

Lin Qi took a gentle breath and said softly:

"Father, we have never really talked.

"Today, you deliberately targeted my teacher, and I am not happy with that. I am dissatisfied with you and hope that Father will apologize to my teacher.

"Father, I am no longer a child, nor am I a puppet in your hands. If you feel that having me was a mistake, and I am unfilial, I'll accept death myself, so as not to be a burden in the future."

Mother Lin hurriedly said, "What nonsense are you talking about, you silly child?"

Lin Qi shook his head, then suddenly let out a laugh, self-deprecating humor in his smile.

"Father will never listen to what I have to say. His home is in the military, not here with me and Mother.

"But Father, there are some things I must say.

"In the future, even if I contend for the position of the Human Emperor, it will be for myself, for the Human Domain, not for the regret in Father's heart.

"Your Majesty rejected Father three hundred years ago. I know this is a hidden pain in Father's heart, but Father.

"The Human Emperor will not choose someone who can't even step out of his own father's shadow to be the mainstay of the Human Domain for the future, no matter how talented that person is, or if it's a hundred-year Heavenly Immortal or a fifty-year Heavenly Immortal!

"This is the principle that Teacher helped me realize back then!

"Child, I too am willing to lay down my life to protect the Human Domain!"

After speaking, Lin Qi bowed deeply, holding back tears, and pushed open the door, running out of the Formation surrounding the study.

Lin Nuhao frowned tightly. After Lin Qi left, he took a half step back and sat in the armchair with some weakness, his gaze becoming somewhat blank.

After a long while, Lin Nuhao muttered, "What did he just say to me?"

The lady quickly said, "Husband, it was just an offhand remark. He was bewitched by others, don't blame him... we only have this one child..."

"Ha, hahaha!" Lin Nuhao's laughter was a bit hoarse as he waved his hand. "Please leave, I need some quiet."

"Husband..."

"Leave."

The lady trembled slightly but could only lower her head to bow, turning to walk towards the study door.

But just as she reached the door, Lin Nuhao's voice floated from behind her, saying:

"Disband those Cultivators you've been secretly nurturing. Someone who achieves great things has no need for a woman's tactics like yours. Later, you will go to the Ji Family personally to apologize about the matter of the Women's Country of the Western Wilderness."

"Husband, that matter wasn't my doing..."

"Apart from you and me, who else would plot so carefully for him?" Lin Nuhao leaned forward slightly, his expression indescribably grim and frightening. Even after many years by his side, the lady turned pale and dared not meet Lin Nuhao's eyes.

"All these years, I've seen your little actions, and I know your maternal family has some power, struggling so much for Lin Qi's sake.

"But Madam, don't you think that your maternal side has been a bit too active lately?

"Do they need me to remind them?"

"Husband, I will make sure they restrain themselves more!"

"No one can stop my son from ascending to the Human Emperor's position." Lin Nuhao said indifferently.

"Even if someone else inherits the Human Emperor's position, I can still put the Human Domain in his hands.

"Lin Qi's current state is very good. Being able to speak such words today shows that he has grown a lot recently. That Wu Wangzi really has some skills, so I can worry less about him from now on.

"But remember, my son can have other mothers, ones whose backgrounds are not too complicated, who aren't thinking of investing a little in my son to get back more.

"Do you understand?"

Madam Lin turned white, curtsied, then took a deep breath after leaving the room, and walked to the distant bedroom with a composed expression.

In the study, Lin Nuhao sat quietly, his face gradually blending into the darkness, but the smile at the corners of his mouth became increasingly pronounced.

Inside the side room, Wu Wang, Lin Suqing, and Immortal Mu looked at each other, as Immortal Mu held down the butterfly in her hand.

Lin Suqing whispered, "Aren't these words a bit rebellious... 'Even if the Human Emperor's position is passed to someone else, he can still put the Human Domain in his hands'..."

Immortal Mu nonchalantly curled her lips. "Many big powers have such thoughts, what's the big deal."

"He's a ruthless person," Wu Wang spread his hands, the butterfly flew back to Immortal Mu's palm, and he sat there, quietly admiring.

He suddenly understood why Lin Nuhao would deliberately target him.

Wu Wang had been puzzled before.

Since Wu Wang, Ji Mo, Ling Xiaolan, and Lin Qi were punished and sent to the military, Lin Nuhao definitely had people monitoring their every move, knowing what happened to them in the military.

Lin Qi addressed him as Teacher before his last return home, yet Lin Nuhao still sent Lin Qi to the Annihilation Sect for training, further assigning two peak Heavenly Immortal Realm experts.

If Lin Nuhao really wanted to confront him, Teacher, he would have troubled the Annihilation Sect earlier. Then why did Lin Nuhao intentionally target him today, asserting his dominance? To make himself complacent, thinking that Lin Nuhao was nothing more than this? Or was there another scheme?

Wu Wang's eyes flickered with a trace of light, as he repeatedly pondered over all the possibilities in his heart.

What Lin Nuhao was thinking, Wu Wang still didn't know. But if Lin Nuhao really came to knock on their door and offered Wu Wang an apology, then the depth of this Great General Lin's scheming...

Was bottomless!

Wu Wang looked at Immortal Mu and said with a smile, "Give me a few pairs of these butterflies."

Immortal Mu hid her small hands behind her back, hurriedly saying, "No! I only have these three pairs! They were so hard to fight for!"

"You see," Wu Wang spread his hands, "I'll give you three big volumes of exercise books for one pair of butterflies. It's a good deal for you."

"I don't want to do homework! That's a huge loss!"

"That's exactly it, I'm not making you do homework!" Wu Wang's face spelled seriousness. "I'll use the exemption rights of three big volumes of exercise books to trade for one pair of butterflies. That is, when you need to do these three big volumes of exercise books, you can use this exemption right to choose not to do them. How about that?"

Immortal Mu thought about it carefully, her little face beaming. She took out a brocade box, put two butterflies in it, and floated in front of Wu Wang.

"Here, for you!"

Wu Wang: ...

Why was there a sudden deep sense of guilt?

Just then, the Grand Elder said, "Someone is coming."

Wu Wang immediately took the brocade box and placed it in the innermost layer of his storage magic treasure.

Immortal Mu put the remaining three butterflies back into the brocade box, let the fourth butterfly that was sent out dissolve into Spiritual Energy, and hid inside the quilt, her eyes full of guilt.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK—

The sound of knocking came from outside, followed by that deep masculine voice.

"This is General Lin Nuhao... wondering if Sect Master Wu Wang has retired for the night."

He really came!

Wu Wang coughed and said out loud, "Not yet, I'm still seeking advice about cultivation from the Grand Elder. Grand Elder, please dispel the Barrier."

"Very well," the Grand Elder agreed smoothly without changing expression, and Lin Suqing immediately stepped forward to open the wooden door.

Then Lin Nuhao stepped into the room slowly, his face carrying a hint of gloom. He chuckled wryly a few times, set up another layer of Barrier, and looked at Wu Wang with complex eyes.

He said, "Sect Master Wu Wang... maybe I really don't understand my own son..."

Wu Wang internally cursed several times, 'This is fatal.' This Lin Nuhao was playing on such a sophisticated level; he had calculated everything from the very first moment they met. To offend first, then offer an apology, and by the way, to narrow the emotional distance—this tactic Wu Wang had used himself when dealing with Young Master diplomacy in the Northern Wilderness. Was Lin Nuhao treating himself as a stepping stone for Lin Qi?

Suddenly, Wu Wang wanted to rush back to the Annihilation Sect under the cover of night. He truly didn't want to engage in calculations with someone who was so... so scheming.

But he still had to reply.

Wu Wang said with a smile, "Why would the General say such a thing?"

"My son and I had a big argument," Lin Nuhao said with self-mockery in his laugh, his gaze also a bit vacant. "He pointed at my nose and called me despicable and shameless, saying I was just imposing my own wishes onto him. I... ah."

A long sigh expressed the bitter helplessness of a father.

Wu Wang and Lin Suqing both felt chills down their scalp, while Immortal Mu simply hid under the quilt, not showing her face.

If I had really intended to vie for the position of Human Emperor, this 'son-obsessed madman' Lin Nuhao would definitely be a formidable opponent! Luckily, his Xiong Ba foundation was in the Northern Wilderness, and his heart was set on the daughter of the Human Emperor.

"General," Wu Wang put on a serious face, stood up, and pulled Lin Nuhao over to the window sill to whisper, "I really need to have a good talk with you. Lin Qi has a serious problem with his Dao heart! Raising a child is a deep and profound knowledge!"

Lin Nuhao bowed, sighing, "I ask Sect Master Wu Wang to enlighten me further. I have commanded this corner of the Human Domain for so many years, yet I am clueless about this matter. I did everything for his benefit, but in turn, we became enemies, father and son."

"Ah, it's not all the General's fault..." Wu Wang sighed lightly, already formulating a barrage of words in his mind, ready to engage in an in-depth conversation about parenting with Lin Nuhao that night.

To introduce an entirely new concept of education, to give Lin Qi a head start from the second starting line!

Not long after, Immortal Mu poked her head out of the quilt and caught Lin Suqing's gaze.

The chills on their scalp doubled, and now it was only the two of them left.

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