Chapter 250: A Little Something Good

"Eh? Wh… what?!"

When Liu Jian heard Yu Lin's words, his eyes instantly widened, his mouth opened involuntarily, his face filled with shock and disbelief, as if he doubted he had misheard.

The attendants behind him exchanged glances, thinking the man's words were truly astonishing!

Who would dare seize royal property? How many heads would need to be chopped?

Yu Lin didn't continue to explain; he simply raised his hand casually, pointed lightly toward the sky, and uttered a single word:

"Go."

Clang—!

A clear, resonant sword sound like a dragon's chant rang through the surroundings!

The Chi Xiao Sword answered the call, drawing from its scabbard, turning into a scarlet flash that surged skyward!

The blade's brilliance flared, and an overwhelming imperial Dao Sword Aura erupted with a roar, like an invisible giant blade, cleaving the thick clouds in the sky into two, leaving a straight, long vacuum trace!

Sunlight poured down through the fissure, as if a line had opened in the heavens!

Such a wondrous, almost mythic scene fell clearly into the eyes of Liu Jian, his attendants, and all the nearby townsfolk who happened to glimpse it.

In an instant, the whole street fell into dead silence; a pin could be heard dropping.

Everyone seemed frozen as if under a stasis spell, staring dumbfounded at the still‑split clouds, their minds blank.

Until, from some unknown corner, someone shouted at the top of their lungs:

"God… a deity!!"

That voice, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly raised a thousand ripples!

Splash!

The surrounding townsfolk, as if waking from a dream, knelt toward Yu Lin, kowtowing like crushing garlic, muttering prayers, begging the deity for blessings.

A few quick‑witted artisans skilled in carving or painting scrambled to pull out their tools, hoping to capture Yu Lin's "celestial bearing" and this Divine Miracle.

Yu Lin immediately waved his hand, and an invisible ripple swept over all onlookers except Liu Jian and his party.

The kneeling townsfolk and the would‑be artists froze, their eyes briefly vacant, then rose, glanced at each other as if nothing had happened, and the street quickly returned to its previous bustle.

Only no one paid attention to Yu Lin any longer; their memories had been erased.

Yu Lin then looked at the still‑dazed Liu Jian and said, "In short, the Chi Xiao Sword fulfilled its purpose when your grandfather revived the Han Court and pacified the world."

"Now times have changed, and it has chosen to follow me. Understand?"

Liu Jian swallowed hard, regained his composure, looked at Yu Lin, pursed his lips; his youthful nature left him a bit resentful, and he whispered, "But… sir, this is still my family…"

Yu Lin waited patiently for him to finish, then spoke softly:

"The Qin Emperor once claimed the world belonged to his house; where now is the Imperial Jade Seal he held?"

He waved his hand, turned to leave,

"Alright, this matter is settled. I still need to find a place to eat; we can talk again if fate permits."

Liu Jian: "............"

He opened his mouth, only to find he could not refute at all.

Moreover, recalling the sword that had split the clouds, his heart was solemn.

With the power this "sir" displayed, not to mention him, even splitting this city in two with a single sword would likely be no trouble!

Forcefully demanding it would be like striking a stone with an egg!

His thoughts shifted, ending in a helpless sigh.

This matter is of great importance; it must be reported to the Father Emperor at once!

Having decided, he instructed the attendant beside him, "Prepare the carriage, set out immediately; I must meet the Father Emperor!"

The attendant quickly bowed and replied, "Yes!"

The party hurried away, preparing to return to the imperial city Luoyang.

Only Liu Jian did not know that while he was preparing to return, his Father Emperor was already on his way here.

Later.

Dongjia Village.

Morning light was faint, spilling over the modest farmhouse. Dong Yong sat on a small wooden stool at the doorway, carefully washing the wild greens he had just gathered from the field ridge, intending to add them to the bubbling millet porridge on the stove once it was nearly done.

When the porridge was on the brink of being cooked, he poured the cleaned greens into the pot, gently stirring with a wooden ladle, watching the emerald vegetables soften in the swirling porridge. Finally, he carefully pinched a pinch of coarse salt from a rough clay jar and sprinkled it evenly into the pot.

As the salt dissolved, a steaming bowl of vegetable porridge scented with rice and fresh greens was ready.

The porridge was bland, hardly delicious, yet it was the main meal that sustained the father and son, replenishing their strength.

Dong Yong fetched two clay bowls from the stove edge, one larger, one smaller. He ladled most of the porridge into the large bowl for his father Dong Lao Han, and kept the small bowl for himself.

Carrying the two bowls, he stepped outside and placed the brimming large bowl before the gaunt Dong Lao Han sitting on the doorstep.

"Dad, the porridge is ready."

Dong Lao Han looked at the huge bowl, a hint of sorrow flashing in his clouded eyes; he trembled as he reached out, not to take it, but to push the bowl back:

"Ah Yong, you're young, you should work and exert yourself; you should have this big bowl…"

"Dad, I'm old, can't eat that much; the small bowl will do for me…"

Dong Yong, without further argument, placed the large bowl firmly on the low table before Dong Lao Han, his tone insistent and his face forcing a relaxed smile:

"Dad, you don't need to say that."

"I remember when you went to the fields as a child, didn't you always leave the thick, abundant portions for me? Now it's the son's turn to honor you."

He paused, his voice softer, and said, "Just eat heartily, more, and keep your body strong."

"When I chop more firewood and save enough money, I'll go to the city and hire a good doctor to examine you."

"What courtesy is there between you and your own son?"

Saying that, he lifted the small bowl, sat on the stone stool beside his father, lowered his head, and ate heartily, as if the plain porridge were a delicacy.

Old Man Dong watched his son bow his head to eat, then glanced at the bowl of genuine porridge before him, his lips trembling slightly.

In the end he said nothing more, merely extending his withered hand, lifting the bowl, and began to eat silently, in small mouthfuls.

When a person is about to die, they often have a premonition; Old Man Dong felt his days were probably few.

That's fine; it'll spare Dong Yong the burden.

Outside the courtyard, a clear, pleasant, familiar voice carrying a smile suddenly rang out:

"Brother Dong! Look what good stuff I've brought you!"

Upon hearing that voice, Dong Yong knew it was Yu Lin; he lifted his head and looked toward the sound——

He saw Yu Lin standing outside the courtyard gate, holding in his hand several plump wild rabbits and pheasants strung together with grass rope——

"Come on, come on, don't stand on ceremony today—dig in and eat your fill."