Chapter 68: Home II

~~~

His father waits for him by the city gates.

Liu Jin does not know what sort of face he is making when he arrives at Eastern Port City. All he knows is that his father takes off running with all his might the moment he sees him. Liu Jianguo falls to his knees upon reaching Liu Jin and engulfs him in a hug.

“I am sorry, my son,” he says. “I am so sorry.”

Why?

The question echoes in Liu Jin’s mind as his father pulls him closer, his hand against the back of his neck.

Why is his father apologizing? Why does he look so sad?

Why… why are there tears running down his cheeks?

Something breaks in Liu Jin. The feelings that had been kept suppressed suddenly rush out all at once. Tears fall freely from his eyes as he sobs into his father’s chest, hiding his face from the world. His hands hold on to his father’s robes with all of his strength, almost as if scared to let go.

“F-father,” Liu Jin says between sobs. “I… I…”

I am sorry.

I didn’t want to do it.

I didn’t want to—

“Do not blame yourself, son,” his father says, grabbing his shoulders to force Liu Jin to look into his eyes. “None of what happened is your fault, so do not blame yourself. Master would have never wished for that.”

Liu Jin doesn’t answer.

He can’t.

All he can do is cry and cry, finally safe to do so now that he is in his father’s arms.

~~~

His father carries him on his back all the way back to the clinic.

On the way there, Liu Jin finds himself drifting in and out of sleep. His father’s back is warm and comfortable. In fact, Liu Jin feels so at peace that he regrets not asking his father to carry him more often back when he was a child.

How long has it been since his father has done something like this?

Liu Jin can’t remember. He has tried so hard not to be a burden for his father that times like this when he is completely vulnerable are rare.

It feels safe.

Logically, Liu Jin realizes it doesn’t make sense. Liu Jin is in the Ninth Level of the Inner Realm. Soon, he will reach the Nascent Realm. Meanwhile, his father cannot use Qi due to his condition. If anyone is in a position to protect the other, it is Liu Jin.

Yet Liu Jin feels safe on his father’s back.

“We are here,” his father says, gently shaking him into awakeness once they arrive at the clinic. Liu Jin has to stop himself from voicing his disappointment at having to climb down.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Upon entering the house, Liu Jin spots a bottle and two cups on the table. His father must have left them there before heading out.

“Tea?” Liu Jin asks, though he doubts it. His father would have brought out the tea kettle if that were the case.