168: Chapter 168 Be proud of your father

His voice was calm, as if stating a simple fact. But Chu Tianjiao noticed a faint flicker of emotion in his eyes when he mentioned the word "father." It was subtle and fleeting, but he caught it.

"Do you know where your father is now?" Chu Tianjiao asked again.

Ji Zi shook his head. "I don't know. When I was sealed, Father was already old. He said he had something to do and told me to sleep obediently until he returned. Then, I fell asleep."

He paused, looking up at Chu Tianjiao. "Senior, my father... is he still alive?"

His voice was steady, but his hands were trembling slightly.

Chu Tianjiao remained silent for a moment. Looking at the youth and the suppressed hope in his eyes, a wave of complex emotions welled up in his heart. He didn't know how to start, but this was something he had to say.

"Your father... has fallen in battle."

Silence fell over the courtyard.

The leaves of the ancient tea tree of enlightenment stopped swaying, and the golden rain of light from the human emperor banner seemed to freeze in mid-air. Xiao Nannan gripped Chu Tianjiao's hand tightly, the Willow Deity's gaze fell upon the youth, and the Ancient Kirin Emperor set down his teacup.

Ji Zi sat there, motionless.

There was no expression on his face, and no tears in his eyes. He just sat there with his back straight and hands on his knees, as if he hadn't heard a thing.

Chu Tianjiao did not rush him. He knew the child needed time.

After a long while, Ji Zi spoke. His voice was soft and calm—so calm it was heartbreaking.

"Father... he must have protected the Human Race well, right?"

Chu Tianjiao was stunned.

He hadn't expected that the first thing this child would ask after waking up and hearing of his father's death wasn't "how did he die," "who killed him," or "I want revenge." Instead, he asked if his father had succeeded in protecting those he meant to protect.

Chu Tianjiao's eyes reddened slightly. Looking at the youth before him—at his straight back and calm gaze—an indescribable emotion surged within him.

Void Emperor, you have a fine son.

He stood up and walked over to Ji Zi. "Stand up."

Ji Zi looked up at him and then slowly stood.

Chu Tianjiao looked at him and said word for word, "Your father, the Void Emperor, fought bloody battles in the forbidden zones his entire life, fighting to the death against several Supremes. He shed his last drop of blood for the Human Race and fought to his last breath for All Living Beings. He did a magnificent job."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable certainty. "As his child, you can be immensely proud of your father."

Ji Zi stood there, listening to those words, his lips trembling. His eyes turned red and tears welled up, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to let them fall. He was the child of the Void Emperor; he couldn't cry. His father had fought his whole life, bled his whole life, and never shed a tear before others. He couldn't either.

Seeing him like this, Chu Tianjiao felt a pang of pity. He reached out and gently patted the youth's shoulder. "Cry if you want to. No one will mock you."

Ji Zi shook his head, his voice choking. "Father said that a man does not shed tears easily."

Chu Tianjiao smiled. "Your father also said that a man does not shed tears easily, it is only because he hasn't reached the point of true heartbreak."

Ji Zi was dazed for a moment, and then he finally broke. Tears slid from his eyes, silently streaming down his cheeks. He didn't make a sound; he just stood there, letting the tears flow.

Just then, the void mirror floated over. It swayed gently beside Ji Zi, the silver light on its surface soft and warm, as if comforting him, as if telling him—don't be sad, your father has always been watching over you.

Ji Zi looked at the void mirror and reached out a trembling hand to gently stroke its surface. "You... were always with Father?"

The void mirror trembled slightly, as if nodding.

"When Father left, he left you behind?"

The void mirror trembled again.

"He wanted you to... watch over me?"

The void mirror trembled once more. It slowly rose, circled around Ji Zi, and then stopped in front of him. The silver light on its surface flickered a few times, as if it were saying something.

Ji Zi looked at it, fell silent for a moment, and then whispered, "I know. Father wanted me to grow up safely, get married, have children, and live a good life."

His voice was soft, tinged with a sob. "But... he is the Void Emperor. As his child, I cannot only think about growing up safely."

He looked up at Chu Tianjiao, his tears now dry, replaced by a look of determination. "Senior, Father spent his life guarding the world. I want to continue guarding it in his stead."

Chu Tianjiao watched him, silent for a long time. Then, he smiled. In that smile, there was relief, approval, and an indescribable complexity.

"Good."

He said softly.

"From today on, you will stay here. I will teach you how to cultivate, how to become strong, and how to protect this world."

Ji Zi looked at him and gave a solemn bow.

"Thank you, Senior."

Chu Tianjiao shook his head.

"There's no need to thank me. Your father protected this world back then. As a junior, it is only right that I do this."

He paused and continued, "Remember, you are the child of the Void Emperor. Your father was a hero. And you have the potential to become someone even greater than him. But this path is one you must walk yourself."

Ji Zi nodded, his eyes full of resolve.

"I will."

The night wind blew, and the leaves of the ancient tea tree of enlightenment swayed gently, scattering bits of Dao Rhyme. The human emperor banner shed golden rain, looking exceptionally gentle under the moonlight.

Xiao Nannan looked at the youth, her eyes full of tenderness. She thought of her own brother, of Xiao Shitou, and of the youth who grew up in Qingshi Town. They were all the same kind of people, possessing the same determination and the same persistence.

The Willow Deity watched the scene quietly, a hint of gentleness flashing in her eyes as well. She didn't speak, but simply raised her hand, and a streak of emerald light flew from her fingertip, merging into Ji Zi's body. It was Life Essence, which could nourish his Physical Body and stabilize his Foundation.

Ji Zi felt a warm power surge into his body. He turned to the Willow Deity to thank her, only to see the green-robed woman had already closed her eyes, as if nothing had happened.

The Ancient Kirin Emperor stood up and walked over to Ji Zi, sizing him up. "Not bad, a solid Foundation. Truly the child of the Void Emperor. If there's anything you don't understand in the future, you can ask me."

Ji Zi hurriedly bowed. "Thank you, Senior."

The Ancient Kirin Emperor waved his hand and sat back down at the stone table to continue drinking tea.

Chu Tianjiao looked at Ji Zi with a smile on his lips. "Alright, it's getting late. Go rest first. Tomorrow, we begin your formal cultivation."

Ji Zi nodded and followed the void mirror toward the stone chamber at the back of the courtyard. After a few steps, he stopped and looked back at Chu Tianjiao.

"Senior."

"Yes?"

"When Father... when he left, did he say anything?"

Chu Tianjiao was silent for a moment. He thought of what the human emperor banner had told him and the Void Emperor's final entrustment. He walked up to Ji Zi, looked into his eyes, and said softly:

"Your father said he was sorry. He wasn't there to watch you grow up or see you become a man. But he wanted you to know that he loves you. He loves you more than anyone else in this world."

Ji Zi's eyes reddened again, but he held it back. He nodded vigorously, then turned and followed the void mirror, disappearing into the night of the Undying Mountain.

Chu Tianjiao stood in place, watching his retreating figure for a long time without moving.

Xiao Nannan walked to his side and took his hand. "Teacher, he will become a very good person."

Chu Tianjiao nodded. "Yes. He will."