24: Chapter 24 Signature

"Do you have any idea what the Divine Kingdom Core means!"

"I know."

Facing Gu Yanxiao's displeasure, Gu Han did not back down. "If it prospers, I prosper; if it suffers, I suffer. After awakening, the time flow in the Divine Kingdom will increase tenfold, and my life level will leap forward accordingly."

"You only see the benefits!" Tang Yanran stood up abruptly, her eyes instantly reddening. Her voice carried an irrepressible tremor. "Back then, your father was attacked by someone who breached his Divine Kingdom, damaging his Divine Kingdom Core!"

Tang Yanran covered her face with both hands, tears streaming down through her fingers.

"Fortunately, the other party didn't go for the kill back then, which is why your father barely managed to save his life. But even so, his Divine Kingdom was completely ruined, and his body collapsed along with it. You have no idea what that kind of agonizing torture is like!"

Gu Yanxiao waved his hand, signaling his wife to stop.

"Xiaohan, you chose the War God Path and even took first place in the assessment; we, as your parents, are proud of you. This shows you have talent, and we won't stop you from pursuing this path."

Gu Yanxiao paused, his tone bordering on pleading.

"But the Divine Kingdom Core concerns your life! We would rather you live a peaceful life, even if it means being an ordinary Life Class Divine Master, than have you risk your life to get ahead. I will find a way to scrape together Xinxin's tuition; you really don't need to take this risk."

Gu Han looked at his father's bloodshot eyes.

He understood his parents' good intentions.

In their eyes, their child's safety was more important than anything else.

But in this extraordinary world, without strength, so-called safety is just a bubble that others can easily pop with a flick of their finger.

"Dad, Mom, I understand the logic. But since there is an opportunity, why not strive for it? I am not willing to just remain mediocre like this."

"I have the confidence to give our family a good life. I also have the ability to protect my Divine Kingdom Core."

Hearing this, Gu Yanxiao laughed in anger.

"What are you going to use to protect it? Do you really think the two million awarded by the school is a lot?"

Gu Yanxiao pointed outside the window.

"In this Dongjiang County, two million might be a huge sum. But for those children from major families, it's not even enough for a month's pocket money! They have been using top-tier resources to build up their Divine Kingdoms since birth; what do you have to compare with them?"

"I was once as spirited as you, and I also thought that by working hard on my own, I could bridge the huge economic gap."

Gu Yanxiao's voice lowered, permeated with a deep sense of helplessness.

"But reality will slap you in the face hard. There is always someone better, and there is always a higher sky. There will always be someone stronger than you, someone who can effortlessly crush your pride!"

The living room fell into silence once again, save for Tang Yanran's suppressed sobs.

"Dad, if I didn't dare to work hard or fight just because there will always be someone stronger than me, then I wouldn't have aimed to take first place in the whole county in the first place."

Gu Han's voice was not loud, yet it echoed throughout the living room.

"Beyond the county, there is the city; beyond the city, there is the province, the nation, and even the whole world. If I dare not emit my own light just because the stars are shining, then what is the meaning of my existence?"

Gu Yanxiao opened his mouth but couldn't find a rebuttal.

"Three meals a day, raising children, toiling for money, and finally growing old with regrets. That is not the life I want."

Gu Han pushed the application form over.

"Dad, I have grown up. Even if you don't sign this today, I will still go to the Police Security Bureau to apply for awakening after I graduate from university in four years."

"There is nothing wrong with awakening now. I am a student, and participating in the league provides official safety mechanisms for protection. I have four years of stable development time, and if it really comes to it, I can also join the army to seek state protection."

Gu Han threw out his final bargaining chip.

"If you stop me now, you are just wasting my four-year development period with tenfold time flow for nothing. When I graduate and lose official protection, do you think that will be safer?"

Gu Yanxiao was rendered speechless by these words.

He knew too well the importance of the Divine Kingdom's time flow to a Divine Master.

Four years in the outside world is over fourteen thousand years in the Divine Kingdom.

This four-year gap would be enough for Gu Han to be left far behind by his peers.

"You..." Gu Yanxiao pointed at Gu Han, his finger trembling. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh, his whole demeanor appearing somewhat dejected.

Perhaps life had truly worn down the sharpness of his youth. Gu Han did not look down on his father; he could understand him.

Seeing that Gu Yanxiao seemed to be about to agree, Tang Yanran quickly wiped away her tears and adopted a crying tone.

"Children grow up and can't be kept. Your temper is exactly like your father's back then; nine oxen couldn't pull you back. If anything happens to you, Mom won't want to live anymore!"

Gu Han rubbed his temples with some resignation.

"Mom, you're doing it again. Can you stop adding to the stress for a moment? I met some people at the Police Security Bureau today."

Tang Yanran paused.

Gu Yanxiao also looked over.

"Their surname is Tang, and they even used insulting words."

Gu Han concisely recounted what happened at the Police Security Bureau today.

He placed emphasis on the last sentence.

"Before leaving, Tang Wuying specifically asked me to send his regards to you on his behalf."

Gu Han looked at his mother.

"Mom, they are your family, aren't they?"

The living room was deathly silent.

Gu Yanxiao and Tang Yanran exchanged a glance.

Both of them saw the helplessness in each other's eyes.

People live for a breath of dignity.

The child has grown up and will always have to face his own challenges. As parents, they had no choice but to support him.

"Bring the pen."

Gu Yanxiao suddenly spoke, his voice extremely hoarse.

Tang Yanran did not try to persuade him further, only silently turning her head away, wiping her tears.

Gu Yanxiao took the pen, his hand still trembling slightly.

He signed his name heavily in the guardian section.

After signing, Gu Yanxiao threw the pen aside, looked up, and stared fixedly at Gu Han.

"I've signed it today, but you remember this: don't act on impulse in the future! Although student-era Divine Kingdom wars have official mechanisms to prevent death, if the core is severely damaged, you will still be maimed. If you can't win, just admit defeat; there's nothing shameful about that."

"Got it! I know my limits. I'm going out for a bit; don't wait for me."

Gu Han put away the application form and turned to walk out the door.

Seeing her son's hurried appearance, Tang Yanran hurriedly asked, "Are you coming home for dinner?"