153: Chapter 33 About Calling Him "Dad"

After Huang Rong, Meng Li, Guo Jing, and Mu Nianci left one after another, only Yang Tiexin, Bao Xiruo, and Yang Kang remained in the hall of the Dream Travel Residence.

Logically, a family reuniting after eighteen years apart was a rare and joyous occasion.

In their moment of privacy, they should have been overjoyed.

But that was not the case.

The eighteen-year separation had inevitably created a sense of distance and estrangement within the family.

This wasn't as apparent earlier with the presence of an 'external adversary' like Wanyan Honglie and 'outsiders' like Meng Li.

Now, with only the Yang Tiexin family present, the distance and estrangement brought by time were immediately magnified.

The three of them looked at each other—you at me, I at you, and then at him—in speechless silence.

Among them, Bao Xiruo was relatively fine. She and Yang Kang were mother and son and had never been separated. Although she and Yang Tiexin had been apart for eighteen years, the bond of husband and wife remained, their feelings for each other were still present, and there were no misunderstandings like in the original story.

However, a deadlock had arisen between Yang Kang and Yang Tiexin.

It was true they were biological father and son, but they had no emotional foundation and no common topics of conversation.

In the end, it was Bao Xiruo who broke the silence.

'Kang'er, kneel down and call him Father.'

Yang Kang hesitated for a moment, then knelt before Yang Tiexin as instructed.

But that word, 'Father'—he opened his mouth, only to find it stuck in his throat, impossible to utter.

Meng Li, who was secretly observing upon hearing the commotion, could understand his reaction.

Not only was Yang Kang inherently proud, but even for an ordinary adult, to suddenly be asked to call a strange man 'Father' without any incentive or emotional foundation would be difficult, even if the man truly was his father.

Mu Nianci and Huang Rong also understood this reasoning, so they said nothing.

Bao Xiruo and Yang Tiexin were aware of it as well. Therefore, although they dearly wished Yang Kang would speak, they did not urge or pressure him.

However, Guo Jing, whose mind didn't grasp subtleties, did not understand.

Due to his own experiences, he had always longed for a happy family but knew it was hard to achieve.

Thus, he deeply envied the Yang Tiexin family's reunion.

Seeing Yang Kang hesitate to call Yang Tiexin 'Father,' Guo Jing was greatly puzzled.

He wished he had a father but did not.

Younger Brother Kang had a father, so why was he so reluctant to call him one?

Guo Jing couldn't figure it out. Anxious, he rushed over: 'Younger Brother Kang, say it! He is your real father!'

Yang Kang was already embarrassed. Now, being pressed like this, he immediately felt his Face was at stake.

Yang Tiexin, who had been watching him, noticed this. Though disappointed, he didn't want his son to be humiliated. He sighed and said proactively, 'Get up.'

Hearing this, Yang Kang stood up directly.

Guo Jing wanted to say something, but Huang Rong cut him off in time: 'Brother Jing, it's almost noon. I plan to cook myself. Come and help me.'

'Oh, okay.'

Guo Jing agreed and ran off to the kitchen.

Meng Li conveniently stopped the RV.

At that moment, Huang Rong's voice of disdain for Guo Jing came from the kitchen: 'That's not how you chop vegetables. You've never helped in a kitchen before, have you?'

As soon as the words fell, Guo Jing was pushed out of the kitchen by Huang Rong.

Immediately after, Huang Rong said to Bao Xiruo and Mu Nianci, 'Auntie Yang, Sister Mu, please come in and help me. Brother Jing has no experience, and being a big man, he's clumsy and almost made things worse.'

Guo Jing was a bit bewildered.

He hadn't done anything after going in.

Bao Xiruo and Mu Nianci, suspecting nothing, went into the kitchen as asked.

Then, Huang Rong said to Guo Jing, 'Brother Jing, there's no meat in the kitchen. You and Uncle Yang and the other men should go hunt some game nearby.'

Hearing this, Meng Li seemed to understand something.

Guo Jing, just recovering from his bewilderment, didn't think much and readily agreed: 'Oh, okay.'

Then, he said to Yang Tiexin, Meng Li, and Yang Kang, 'Uncle, Elder Brother Meng, Younger Brother Kang, let's go.'

Meng Li smiled and nodded.

'Alright,' Yang Tiexin responded softly.

Yang Kang said nothing but followed along.

The four of them left the Dream Travel Residence and headed straight for the distant mountain forest.

Entering the woods, Meng Li glanced around and spoke up: 'This place is quite large, and it's daytime, so game might be hard to find. To be more efficient, let's split up. Guo Jing and I will be one group; Uncle Yang, you and your son can be the other.'

'Uncle Yang, you have rich hunting experience. Yang Kang probably doesn't have much. This is a good chance for you to teach him.'

Yang Tiexin glanced at Yang Kang and nodded.

Yang Kang, however, frowned.

He felt he was being looked down upon.

It was true he had been a young prince living in luxury, but he also knew horsemanship and archery, had been to hunting grounds, and returned with a full bag every time.

Feeling displeased, Yang Kang said nothing but secretly decided to prove himself with his catch later.

However, it turned out that hunting in a game park and hunting in the mountains were not the same.

Especially without carrying a bow and arrow, that Sharp Weapon.

After splitting into pairs, Yang Tiexin didn't act immediately. Instead, he carefully observed the surroundings based on his experience.

Yang Kang, unable to discern the signs and due to the estrangement, simply picked a direction and started walking.

But after only a few steps, Yang Tiexin, having finished his observation, spoke up: 'There are no signs of animal activity over there. Most likely, there's no game within a certain range. Go this way. There are traces of small animal activity here.'

With that, he led the way in the direction he pointed.

Yang Kang, half-believing, followed.

Not long after, the two indeed spotted a wild deer not far away.

Yang Kang's heart leaped with joy. Without a word, he lunged forward.

Yang Tiexin wanted to stop him but was too late.

As a result, Yang Kang missed, and the deer was startled away.

Seeing Yang Kang frown, Yang Tiexin couldn't help but say, 'You were too hasty. Wild deer have keen senses and are swift. Without traps, to catch one, you must first observe the surrounding terrain and drive it into a dead end.'

'So what do we do now?' Yang Kang asked.

Yang Tiexin said, 'Follow the direction it fled. It probably didn't run too far.'

Soon after, the two found the deer again, not having run far.

This time, Yang Kang didn't rush to catch it. Instead, he looked at Yang Tiexin.

Yang Tiexin carefully observed the surroundings and made a few hand gestures to him.

Yang Kang acted according to the instructions, forming an encirclement with Yang Tiexin, successfully driving the deer into a dead end and capturing it.

Looking at the deer he had caught with his own hands, Yang Kang felt an unprecedented sensation.

This feeling brought him more joy and pride than receiving treasures from Wanyan Honglie.

Yang Tiexin stroked his beard and said, 'Kang'er, this is your first time hunting. With just a little guidance from me, you were able to apply what you learned and successfully catch the game.'

'You are clever. You'll probably learn the Yang Family Spear Technique very quickly later on.'

Yang Kang was taken aback: 'Learn the Yang Family Spear Technique?'

Yang Tiexin nodded: 'You are my son, a descendant of the Yang family. Naturally, you must learn the Yang Family Spear Technique.'

Yang Kang said, 'My Master taught me some of the Yang Family Spear Technique before, but it was far less exquisite than what Miss Mu used during the Martial Arts Marriage Contest.'

Yang Tiexin laughed: 'That's natural. The Yang Family Spear was created by our Yang family ancestors. Although part of it has been passed down to the outside due to certain reasons, the true essence is only mastered by Yang descendants. What Daoist Master Qiu taught you are just the superficial Moves passed down outside, not the essential essence.'

'So that's how it is,' Yang Kang said, understanding dawning on him.

'With this deer, it should be enough to eat. Let's head back.'

'Alright.'