"I know you’re not interested in many of the dicine pills sold at the auction, because mine are much stronger; but there will be many rchants selling various other things. If you find sothing you’re interested in, then you can buy it." He said, handing them a gold coin deposit stone.
"There are ten Elf Coins in these gemstones, you can use them freely. If you need more, co to , and I’ll give you so more." He said casually. Despite Yan Xiaobao working hard to earn his own money, he was not stingy when it ca to his family. Considering the life his parents had in their youth, and what Lao and Qiao had been through, Yan Xiaobao hoped they could live comfortably. People might say he spoiled the children, but Yan Xiaobao didn’t care.
Although the children were spoiled, Lao was the most diligent child Yan Xiaobao had ever t. For him, the dearer tiger and Qiao, the older boss worked harder. Qiao was too young to truly cultivate, but her strength had already reached the King-level. In the mansion, even the guards were weaker than her power. Although she didn’t like cultivation, this young girl found a hobby in sparring with the guards, and as she often won against many guards, she gained new respect from them.
Yan Xiaobao didn’t neglect these children. While he made Lao focus on cultivation, Yan Xiaobao taught him so martial arts skills that matched his elental affinity, martial arts, and spiritual art. The Lao would practice these occasionally, but he would mainly focus on improving his own strength. His goal was to reach the Emperor’s level, so he could start following Yan Xiaobao.
Yan Xiaobao also gave Qiao a lot of martial arts, martial arts skills, and spiritual art. Qiao had an outstanding understanding, and her control over these arts was surprising. Although her strength was increasing slowly compared to Lao, her combat ability was undoubtedly equal to his, if not better.
Given their current strength and what Yan Xiaobao had already provided for these two children, finding anything valuable at the city’s many markets was highly unlikely, but even so, Yan Xiaobao wanted to give them the chance to buy whatever they imagined.
"Um," Qiao tentatively took a step forward. In front of Yan Xiaobao, she was often timid, only outspoken when with the guards or her brother Lao, so the gray-haired youth was surprised to see her step forward.
He imdiately gave her a gentle smile and encouraged her to continue. "I would like to know," her voice was low. Since transforming from a simple disciple-ranked expert to a King-level expert, her intelligence had improved. She was also a bit more mature, no longer like a little child, but more like a young adult. These changes were more prominent in Lao than in her.
"I rember last year there was an annual dicine pill auction." She said, her voice growing confident with each word she spoke. "At that ti, big brother managed to work hard enough to earn enough money to buy a candy apple."
Her voice was almost normal now, but she didn’t dare look at Yan Xiaobao, as she finally asked her question. "Would it be okay if I used so of the coins you’ve given us on food?"
Yan Xiaobao was initially confused, but when he thought about it, he realized that the candy apple might be the most precious mory in her life, and reliving such a mory would bring her inner joy and warmth. A soft smile appeared on Yan Xiaobao’s lips as he knelt in front of her, gently stroking her head.
"If you spend all the coins on food, so be it. As long as you’re happy, you can spend all the money, and I’ll never be mad at you." He said comfortingly. When she heard his reply, Qiao imdiately looked up. Doubt filled her eyes as she looked into Yan Xiaobao’s deep blue eyes, and when she saw he was earnest, her own eyes glistened. She licked her lips to prevent tears from falling.
Seeing how emotional she beca, Yan Xiaobao embraced her with a warm, fatherly hug, smiling at her and Lao.
"I am your father." He said with a serious expression on his face. "What I want from both of you is a good life. I want you to enjoy each day without worrying about how to survive the next day. I want you to be spoiled and experience all the things you’ve never done before." He said.
"Of course, I want both of you to beco great experts, partly for myself, because I want you both to follow as I travel the world. And, I wish to see that after you are on your own, you won’t die an untily death." Yan Xiaobao explained.
He never directly told these two children what he expected from them or what his hopes were, and his words caused Lao’s chin to tremble, tears filling his eyes. Although he could feel that he was about to burst into tears, he still tried to hold them back.
"I’ve chosen you two for two reasons." Yan Xiaobao continued. "First, I discovered your talent is incomparable. It is so outstanding that to leave both of you without cultivation would simply be a sha."
"Second, you reminded of myself. I lived a difficult life in a poor family, but at least I had my parents. You do not, so I wish to be the person who can give you the sa feeling I had at ho. Knowing soone cares for you, that soone is always waiting for you, and that soone hopes for your return ho."
Lao spent a long ti fighting with his internal emotions. Hearing what Yan Xiaobao said, he could feel his sincerity in each word, and he was simply overwheld by it. Initially, due to his talents, he was certain that Yan Xiaobao had taken them in. He would always be an investnt, but hearing what Yan Xiaobao said, the most important aspect wasn’t making Lao a strong expert, but because he genuinely cared for them both.
Seeing soone care for him as he cared for Qiao, he suddenly felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Even after Yan Xiaobao took them in, he was sure they could only stay as long as he worked hard. But now he finally felt that Yan Xiaobao was his father.
He walked unsteadily toward Yan Xiaobao. Throughout the years, pushing himself to be strong, nearly dying of hunger each day while knowing he had to care for Jo had built up and strained his soul. The pressure that no one in the world cared about their knowledge, that no one was willing to help in his everyday life, was finally released from his soul as he cried. He felt relieved, his eyes so misty, he could barely see anything, and he finally was able to let go. His tears finally fell freely.
Yan Xiaobao soon handed Qiao to Wang Julong, who received the child that also began to cry, while Yan Xiaobao pulled Lao into his embrace. He gently stroked the little boy’s hair, a bittersweet smile spreading across Yan Xiaobao’s lips. He knew this was an emotional mont for Lao, but he also hoped that the distant attitude Lao had shown up till now had vanished.
"Fa... Father," Lao said experintally. He had previously said Yan Xiaobao was his father to friends at the academy, but this was the first ti he had the courage to call him father. Both Yan Xiaobao and Lao were ecstatic. Yan Xiaobao had long hoped Lao would treat him like family, and Lao was proud to be allowed to call him father.
They stayed in the garden for an hour. The sun disappeared below the horizon, and the moon rose in the sky, bathing the four in soft moonlight.
It was only now that Lao regained control over his emotions. Although he was very mature and had gained excellent wisdom in reaching King-level, he still felt embarrassed by his behavior, but now he felt comfortable. More relaxed than ever, his happiness had spread. Jo had long since stopped crying, but like Lao, she was enjoying Wang Julong’s warm embrace as she finally fell asleep in the old lady’s arms.
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