Episode 4: Dragon Blood Warriors Chapter 3: Hoggle

The next morning, on the dining table in the Baruch family’s living room, Linley was surprised to find his father glowing, even his mental outlook was completely different.

Putting down the knife and fork in his hands, Hogg looked at Linley with a smile, “Linley, stay home for a while this time, father hasn’t seen you for a long time, let’s get together as father and son.”

Father letting himself stay at home for a while longer?

Linley was a little surprised, after all, his father had never said anything like this in all these years. Originally, Linley had planned to go to Finlay City to take a stroll and see Alice in the meantime. But this time of year had long since thrown Aeris to the back of his mind.

“Okay, father.”

Linley nodded happily.

Hogg nodded happily, only there seemed to be something more amongst Hogg’s eyes. ……

Linley had stayed in Wushan Town for ten days, and even when it came time for the next semester of the Ernst Academy to begin, he hadn’t been in a hurry to go back. And Hogg didn’t urge Linley to go to the academy.

On top of the Wu Mountain to the east of Wu Mountain Town, beside the babbling brook, Linley sat cross-legged quietly meditating and refining his magical power.

Earth system elements and wind system elements penetrated Linley’s body from all over his body, all the sinews, muscles and meridians of his body naturally absorbed the elements to improve his physique, and after a small portion of these earth system and wind system elements were absorbed, the vast majority of them were refined and ultimately flowed into the middle dantian position in his chest.

The elements that flowed through all the meridians in the body eventually gathered here.

Linley sat there for half a day, and when Linley opened his eyes, the sun had already set.

“It’s time to return to the academy as well.”

Linley stood up and let out a long breath, “Ever since I gave those magic crystal cores to my father, my father’s attitude towards me has become much better, much more cordial.”

These past ten days should have been the ten days that Linley had gotten along with Hogg the most cordially.

“What prompted such a great transformation in father? Magic crystal cores? Father shouldn’t be because of money. Or …… the wounds on my body?”

Linley couldn’t quite determine why his father had become so kind to himself all of a sudden, even after thinking about it.

Stepping into the Baruch family mansion, Linley caught a glimpse of his father, who was reading books, “Father, it’s rather dark, the books should wait until tomorrow.”

“Oh, Linley is back.”

Huo Ge smiled as he closed the books, “What you said makes sense, I’ll read it tomorrow then yes.”

“Linley, you’ve been out cultivating for so long you must be thirsty too.”

Huo Ge picked up the kettle placed on the coffee table next to him and poured a cup of white boiled water, “Here, moisturize your throat, the temperature of this water is just right, it’s not too hot and not too cold.”

“Thank you father.”

Linley’s heart warmed.

This was how Huo Ge had treated Linley in these ten days, so good. Whereas in the past, Huo Ge was always serious. Rarely did he reveal such a warm side.

Drinking his tea, Linley spoke, “Father, I’ve been at home for a while now, I’m going to go to the academy tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

Huo Ge was slightly stunned before nodding, “Alright then. At the end of this year, you can come back earlier.”

“En.”

Linley answered.

Huo Ge softly instructed, “Linley, your father doesn’t have much ability, the family will rely on you in the future, and you’ve given me this magic crystal core, which is also enough for your brother’s expenses in the O’Brien Empire. At this point, I’m already satisfied, only in my heart I still forget the shame of our family. I hope you don’t forget that the treasure of our family’s heritage is still out there.”

Feeling his father’s hopes for him, Linley took a deep breath and nodded slightly.

“I have no other cravings right now, I only wish to see the Warblade ‘Slaughter’ before I die.”

Hogg’s voice was very low.

Linley felt that the atmosphere wasn’t right, and immediately said, “Father, don’t be so negative, you’re only forty now, and there are long days ahead. I’m confident that in less than ten years, I’ll definitely bring back the warblade ‘Slaughter’ and place it in the middle of the family’s clan hall once again.”

“Ten years, good, good.”

Hogg nodded his head gently. ……

The next day at noon Linley left Usan Town, and that evening in the middle of the Baruch family’s living room sat two people, Hogg as well as Hillman. The door to the living room was closed, and the generation of magic crystal cores was sitting on the living room table.

Hillman was shocked by such a bag of magic crystal cores, and Hogg opened his mouth and said, “Hillman, in the recent period of time I will sell these magic crystal cores, and these gold coins hope that you will keep them for me.”

Hillman instantly came to his senses and hurriedly said, “Lord Hogg, no, how can you hand over such a large fortune to me. Can’t you be in charge yourself?”

“Hillman, don’t call me Lord Hogg, just call me Big Brother Hogg.”

Hogg smiled kindly.

Suddenly Hogg stood up and faced the east, “You say I’m in charge myself? Haha …… Hillman, I’m afraid you know the most about our Baruch family, about my Hogg.”

Hillman was stunned, he didn’t know why Hogg mentioned this.

“That thing please deep inside has been almost eleven years, these eleven years, I feel my heart is being eaten by ants, I have been enduring, enduring day after day, year after year …… turning eyes are eleven years.”

Hogg’s whole body shivered slightly.

Hillman blue color changed, violently stood up, horrified, “Lord Hogg, you want?”

“Yes, I must investigate what happened back then, and I must avenge Lina.”

Hillman’s face was livid and fierce.

“Lord Hogg.”

Hillman said hurriedly, “Didn’t we check it out back then? The enemy’s power is huge, and just checking that part is already terrifying. If you go and check, you will probably lose your life.”

Hogg let out a low roar, “Death? I’m still afraid of death? Hillman, you have no idea the pain I’ve felt in these eleven years, that kind of mental torture. I’ve had enough of it. Now this magic crystal core that Linley gave me should be worth around eighty thousand gold coins. It’s completely enough for Walden’s expenses. With this amount of gold coins, I don’t have any more burdens.”

“For so many years, I’ve been holding back, for what? It’s still not the two sons, now that Linley has grown up and Walton is in the O’Brien Empire. There’s nothing I need to worry about anymore.”

Hogg grabbed Hillman’s shoulders with both hands and stared into Hillman’s eyes, “Hillman, although you address me as Lord Hogg, but for so many years, we are brothers. At this point, I hope you can fulfill me.”

“Hogg, you ……”

Hillman was anxious.

Hillman knew very well that once Hogg really went to investigate what happened back then, he would probably lose his life.

“My mind is made up, Hillman, you have to know that this kind of day now is worse than death for me.”

Hogg’s eyes were a little red, and Hillman’s heart was filled with helplessness when he saw Hogg like this. He was able to understand Hogg’s thoughts.

For so many years, why was Hogg always so harsh and cold?

Others didn’t know, but Hillman knew very well that before Linley, Walden’s mother, ‘Lina’, died, Hogg was a very cheerful person. Then ever since Lina had died, Hogg’s disposition had changed.

Although Hogg said to the public that Lina died in childbirth, but Hillman, butler Hilly and the others still knew the truth.

“Hillman, you don’t need to persuade me anymore, I only ask you, will you help me or not?”

Hogg stared at Hillman.

Hillman stared at Hogg for a moment, and finally sighed long and feebly, “Alright, I’ll help you.”

Hogg couldn’t help but have a smile on his face, a smile of relief.