"Mhmm," Ling caught the aroma of cooked dishes. He had justgotten home from school. He tossed his bag aside before making hisway to the dinning where his father awaited.
Ling takes a piece of braised meat and pops it into his mouth. Whilehe ate, he turned to his father seated on the opposite side of thedinning.Â
"Dad, let's switch up the soup tomorrow, so we don't get tired ofmeat."
"Be thankful we have food. Stop being so picky!" Long's gruffvoice came from the kitchen.
"You're 18 now. When will you learn to fend for yourself? I'veplayed both father and mother for years. It's time for a break."Â
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Ling chuckled between bites. "Dad, your cooking skills are top-notch. I'd love to cook for you too, but everything would end upburnt!"
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"Heh!" Long chuckled. "Actions speak louder than words. Everthought of trying?"
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Soon, Long, towering at almost 1.9 meters, emerged from thekitchen with an apron. Despite his bulk, the apron was comicallysmall, drawing a teasing comment from Ling. Ignoring his son'sribbing, Long plonked a dish on the table, apron still on. "Dig in!Every penny saved is a penny earned. And this apron is new…"
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"You've been saying that for three years!" Ling rolled his eyes.
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But Long brushed it off, digging into his meal with gusto, prompting Ling to mention the military recruitment vehicle spotted earlier.Long's demeanor shifted slightly. Setting down his bowl, he spokegravely, "Serving the country is everyone's duty. You seem to thinkbeing a soldier isn't good?"
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"No, of course not!" Ling clarified, wary of crossing his father.
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"Good." Long continued, "The fronts are turbulent, and the army'srecruiting again. They aim to call back old soldiers and enlist newones…"
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Ling's chopsticks halted midair. "Dad, this doesn't concern us, does it? You left the military 18 years ago. And I'm just about to take mycollege entrance exams…"
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"Eighteen years…" Long sighed. "I've been away that long. Fourtimes I ignored the call, worried about you. But today, you're 18."
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"Dad…" Ling's expression shifted.
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"You know what I mean." Long's eyes brimmed with pride. "I left the army when you were born. But now, my son's an adult. And I'm needed."Â
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"Father…" Ling's tone wavered.
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"Enough talk. Eat!" Long interrupted, his tone softer. "After this meal, you're on your own. There's money on your card. The car'swaiting. I can't delay."
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"Father!" Ling protested, but Long dismissed him, urging his son to excel and consider the Divine Tree Civilization Academy.
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As the conversation shifted, Ling couldn't shake the worry for his father. "Dad, you're not young anymore. You haven't fought ortrained in years. Would you even be useful?"
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Long's eyes flashed with defiance. "You think being at the ninthlevel of the Thousand Pound Realm makes me useless? A battlefieldisn't just about strength. When I was your age, I fought and wonagainst a Ten-Thousand Stone Realm expert!"
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However, Ling felt hollow inside. His father departed abruptly,leaving him unprepared. Concern for his father's safety clashed withworry about his own future.
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Accustomed to his father's care and company, Ling struggled toadjust to this sudden solitude. "Father…you forgot to wash thedishes before you left!" he exclaimed, a mix of annoyance andlonging in his voice.
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He sighed, avoiding thoughts that only heightened his anxiety. TheBlack Cloud Battlefield loomed dangerously in his mind; he fearedhe might impulsively chase after his father.
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"Civilization Academies…" Ling muttered, sinking into the sofa,lost in thought. His father's insistence on the Divine TreeCivilization Academy conflicted with Ling's own uncertainties.
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Once eager to join the Civilization Academies, Ling now hesitated."If you hadn't gone to the Black Cloud Battlefield, I'd pursue theCivilization Academies," he mused. "But now…I can't help butworry about you."
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His father's departure forced Ling to reconsider his plans. "I won'tjoin the Civilization Academies," he resolved, teeth clenched. "Imust enter one of the war academies."
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The prospect weighed heavily on him. While the CivilizationAcademies offered safety, the war academies prepared students forfrontline duty. Ling's determination to be with his father led him tochoose the latter.
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Yet joining the war academies wasn't easy. Ling grappled with therigorous criteria, knowing it demanded more than mere desire.
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"The war academies are established for nurturing experts," Lingreflected. "They won't waste resources on the weak."
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He sighed, aware of the challenges ahead. "I've only opened threeapertures," he murmured. "It won't be easy to join the waracademies at this level."
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As he contemplated, time passed swiftly. Before he knew it, dawnhad arrived, signaling that life must go on despite his father'sabsence.
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After a simple breakfast and washing up, Ling slung his bag over hisshoulder and stepped out of his house. Downstairs, a youth with aflattop haircut awaited. Spotting Ling, he called out hastily, "A`Ling, heard my dad saying yesterday that Uncle Wei..."
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"Mn," Ling grunted before the flattop could finish.
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Growing anxious, the flattop stammered, "What's Uncle Wei up to?How old is he? Heading to the Black Cloud Battlefield seems likecourting d…?"
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He stopped abruptly, unable to utter the words "courting death" toLing's face, though he felt it was true.
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"He went willingly. I couldn't stop him," Ling forced a smile."Besides, there are millions of soldiers and invincible experts fromthe human races there. He won't get into trouble easily."
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"I know, but Uncle Wei is only at the Thousand Pound Realm!" theflattop fretted more than Ling. "Thousand Pound Realm experts arepowerful to us, but they're considered the weakest in the BlackCloud Battlefield. Soldiers from various races start there."
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"I know."
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"Why aren't you worried, A` Ling?!" the flattop exclaimed, feelingpanicked for Ling. If he were in Ling's shoes, he'd be in tears.
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"What's the use of being nervous?" Ling sighed. His father had left;being anxious now was futile.
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"Let's go to school, talk less nonsense," Ling instructed.
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"Go to school?" the flattop exclaimed. "You still want to go toschool..."
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Ling shot him a glare, feeling embarrassed. "What do you suggest?Sit at home and cry every day, waiting for bad news from thefrontline?"
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"Let's go," Ling rolled his eyes. "In a few days, the school will postthe list for recommended universities. I want to register."
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"Haven't you already registered?" Khan asked, puzzled. "We wenttogether last week."
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"I registered for the Civilization Academies then. This time, it's thewar academies," Ling clarified.
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Khan was taken aback. The war academies?
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"You..."
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"I'm leaving," Ling cut him off, heading off to register for the waracademies without further delay. Whether he passed or not wasanother matter.
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