Stop it, Taoist, Your Fight almost Ruins the DAO!

Upon hearing Yi Chen\'s words, Lin Zhenbei\'s face took on a pensive look, and then he smiled.

We are all millennia-old foxes; what\'s the use of pretending we\'re in some folklore tale?

He decided to get straight to the point.

"Taoist, let\'s get real."

"You want my Peacekeeping Division to take on the karmic responsibility for this matter, and on top of that, you\'re asking for benefits and even trying to owe a favor."

"That doesn\'t seem quite right."

Yi Chen picked up two red dates from the table and slowly chewed on them.

"Hmm, Captain Lin, that\'s not how the calculation works."

At this moment, Yi Chen sat up straight, leaning slightly forward.

"This transaction benefits both parties. I do need the Peacekeeping Division to bear the karma this time, but Captain Lin, you\'re not the only one in the Peacekeeping Division, are you?"

The quiet voice of Yi Chen came through, not heavy in words but enough to make Lin Zhenbei\'s heart skip a beat.

Lin Zhenbei couldn\'t miss the implied threat in Yi Chen\'s words.

If you won\'t do it, there are plenty who will.

After all, his deputy was a sycophant with a smiling face. If Yi Chen truly went to his deputy to make the deal, then he would be the one at loss.

"Spit it out, Taoist. Which of my treasures has caught your eye?" Lin Zhenbei leaned back in his chair, spread his hands, and clearly conceded.

Upon hearing this, Yi Chen\'s eyes lit up instantly and he eagerly poured another cup of tea for Lin Zhenbei.

"I heard from the young master that years ago, Captain Lin found an unidentified Spirit Beast Egg in some ruins and has treasured it ever since."

"What do you say... can you part with it?"

As soon as Lin Zhenbei heard this, his face darkened instantly; he turned to look at his eldest son.

"Damn it, Taoist, you were setting me up..."

However, before Lin Baihu could finish, Lin Zhenbei grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out. Five minutes later, having experienced a generous dose of paternal discipline, Lin Baihu came back with a bruised nose and swollen face, casting a resentful glance at Yi Chen.

God damn it.

Who says the countryside is simple and honest?

Hidden Dragon Temple is in a rural place so remote that even the birds don\'t crap there.

The temple road is slippery, and people\'s hearts are even more complicated.

"Taoist Yi Chengzi, I\'ll make the sacrifice. Tomorrow morning, I\'ll make another trip to bring the Spirit Beast Egg over, and we can complete the exchange," Lin Zhenbei said sullenly with a dark face.

Hearing this, the smile on Yi Chen\'s face grew even more radiant as he quickly consoled both of them.

He then went on an intense persuasive speech.

Talking about how he might make a small profit, but Captain Lin was not losing anything at all.

How one should not just tally small gains, but look at the big picture.

How integrating personal interests into the nation\'s strategic board game means the young master\'s accomplishments today ensure a smooth future path, that he is a talent, well-rooted and genuine, and how could the Peacekeeping Division\'s rewards be lacking? That remarkable methods and precious treasures can be spent without worry, they will return—a mere egg is nothing in comparison.

And then, there was something about a father and son being promoted together, becoming a wonderful story of the Peacekeeping Division, reported by the court gazette, and how the two generations\' dedication moved Da Yue...

After this barrage of eloquence, Lin Zhenbei and his son felt almost ungrateful.

Taoist Yi Chengzi is such a good person; they had already won, overwhelmingly so.

They had won by far too much against this tall and strong Taoist, who was even more powerful than a bear.

Yi Chen discussed the details a bit more with Lin Zhenbei and confirmed their cover story before he enthusiastically escorted Lin Zhenbei and his son to the temple gate.

"Qing Feng, Ming Yue, what\'s with this service?"

"Haven\'t you brought a few pounds of our Hidden Dragon Temple\'s special chestnuts for Captain Lin and your dear brother Lin Zhengyi?"

"Really, how inconsiderate."

Yi Chen mockingly chided Qing Feng and Ming Yue.

The two rosy-cheeked children hurried out with two bags made of kraft paper.

"Big Brother Lin, here you go."

"Captain Lin, here are some chestnuts for you."

The two little ones offered the bags to them.

But before their words ended, a sugar-coated chestnut fell onto Qing Feng\'s head.

"Big Senior Brother, why are you hitting me!" Qing Feng said, holding his head and looking aggrieved.

"That\'s getting off lightly."

"You impolite, unlucky child, what are you calling Captain Lin? You should call him Uncle Lin."

Lin Zhenbei: "..."

Lin Zhengyi: "..."

Watching the two figures depart, Yi Chen still waved his hands from behind, bidding them farewell.

"Come and visit whenever you have time~"

Blown by the cold wind outside the temple, Lin Zhengyi felt the pain from the thrashing by his father\'s loving hammer on his face wasn\'t so bad anymore.

Just then, Lin Zhenbei, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He gazed affectionately at his eldest son.

"My boy, have you learned it?"

"Huh? Learned what?" Lin Baihu responded with a look of enlightenment, unsure of what his father was getting at.

This time, Lin Zhenbei surprisingly chose not to let Lin Baihu experience the full weight of paternal love.

He found an open space, patted beside him, and gestured for Lin Baihu to sit next to him.

"Zhengyi, what do you think of Taoist Yi Chengzi from Hidden Dragon Temple?"

Lin Zhengyi pondered for a moment before answering, "I\'ve inquired about him, and it seems Taoist Yi Chengzi generally doesn\'t have a bad record."

"Even though he\'s quite calculating, he\'s also rather pitiable, single-handedly maintaining the entire temple. His master, Bai Yunzi, is simple and straightforward, a proper character. For such a person to entrust the position of temple master to him, he must certainly not be a bad individual."

"Now it seems the revered man has become a bit greedy, but how many people in this world are saints without any selfish desires? Even if Yi Taoist is somewhat covetous, after all, he saved the child\'s life."

"During this trade, Taoist Yi Chengzi actually didn\'t say anything wrong, in reality, we didn\'t suffer a loss at all; on the contrary, we benefited."

"All in all, my impression of Taoist Yi Chengzi is still quite positive. Although he is a little greedy, when faced with evil spirits, he dared to explore with the child, not hiding away and feigning death like those from Ling Feng Temple."

Hearing his eldest son\'s words, Lin Zhenbei smiled. He reached out and touched the large bump on top of Lin Zhengyi\'s head.

"Does it still hurt?"

"Zhengyi, I know that you have always had a strong sense of justice and hatred for evil."

"This is both a good and a bad thing."

"Let me tell you, kindness and a sense of justice are both extremely excellent and costly qualities."

"But without power, kindness and a sense of justice will only harm you."

"You want to be a good person, to eliminate demons and heretics, and father knows this."

"You once vowed, \'As a man, one should stand for justice and clear the evil miasma with a loyal heart.\'"

"But the cost of upholding justice is very high. Only if you are more cunning and astute than those evil ones can you fight against them and still keep yourself safe."

At this point, a nostalgic look came over Lin Zhenbei\'s face, as if he was reminded of something. He sighed and continued:

"In short, you must think carefully before you act in the future and learn a little from Yi Taoist of Hidden Dragon Temple."

"Grow your abilities. You are my only son, and I don\'t want to send a white-haired man to a black-haired one, do you understand?"

At this moment, Lin Zhengyi\'s face also showed a moved expression.

"Father, I understand. I will definitely think carefully from now on and keep several things in mind."

"You have grown up, and it is good that you understand."

"Does your head still hurt?" Lin Zhenbei stretched out his large hand and gently rubbed the lump on his son\'s head.

His touch was soft, making Lin Zhengyi feel as if he had returned to his childhood, when his father would comfort him in the same way after he fell.

"Father, it doesn\'t hurt anymore." A mist appeared in Lin Zhengyi\'s eyes.

The love of a parent for their child is deep and unending.

Soon enough, "thwack," a lump formed on top of the existing bump on Lin Zhengyi\'s head, causing it to protrude impressively and distinctively.

"Doesn\'t hurt?"

"Doesn\'t hurt, does it? Your old man\'s heart aches."

"It kills me."

"That Spirit Beast Egg was acquired by me at great expense, I nourished it for ten years, and it was about to hatch. I was planning to give it to you in a few days."

"You good-for-nothing rascal~"

"See this hammer~"

Paternal love is like a mountain, sometimes unique and profound.

Another vivid and visual lesson in the education of love.

Lin Zhengyi\'s cries echoed across the open ground.

"Have you learned your lesson?"

"I have, I have."

"Did you learn from Yi Taoist\'s ways?"

"I have, I have."

"Dad, stop hitting me, or I\'ll tell mom!"

Sensing the threat, Lin Zhenbei immediately stopped his educational discipline.

He reached out, intending to touch his son\'s swollen lump again as a gesture of comfort, perhaps having been a bit too hard this time.

But this time he didn\'t make contact.

Lin Zhengyi leaped three feet away, dodging the touch.

He let out a scream, which halted the clouds in their tracks and resonated through the forest.

"Ah~"

"Dad, again?"

"That\'s too much!"