Chapter Thirty-One: Parents and Children

Near the headquarters of the Money Gang, there stands a peculiar manor.

It is filled with young boys, some of whom have spent their time swindling, cheating, or even killing throughout the martial arts world. Unsurprisingly, they are all very young—none of them over twelve years of age.

Long Xiaoyun is among them. Unexpectedly, even though he has navigated the world of martial arts with relative ease, he is faring miserably in this manor because he simply does not fit in. The others were originally little beggars from the streets, living hand-to-mouth, capable of killing for a mere two steamed buns. They are completely unlike Long Xiaoyun, who has been raised in luxury and comfort.

Long Xiaoyun sometimes killed to resolve grudges for his father, Long Xiaoyun, and at other times to protect his own status and interests. Killing was a means, not an end; he had never killed out of hunger. Thus, his cunning and ruthlessness seemed trivial to the others, for they had witnessed far more vicious and heartless acts. They even considered Long Xiaoyun’s schemes childish because his stakes were always set too high. High stakes might compel someone to risk their life, but stakes that are too high simply make one look foolish. Consequently, he is mocked as "Stupid Dragon" or "Stupid Cloud" and is ostracized by the others.

One day, after finishing some fried chicken, he heard someone in the manor shout, "Long Xiaoyun, come out! Someone is here to see you!"

Hardly anyone ever visited the children in this manor. They were all orphans. Seeing the flash of envy in the eyes of those who usually looked down on him, Long Xiaoyun puffed out his chest proudly and walked past them.

In a small room, he found his mother, Lin Shiyin.

Long Xiaoyun asked, "Mother, why are you here?" If anyone were to visit, it should have been his father, Long Xiaoyun.

Lin Shiyin smiled and said, "What? Am I not allowed to come?" Observing that Long Xiaoyun had lost weight and grown tanned, she couldn't help but say, "My child, you’ve grown thin!" In her memory, Long Xiaoyun always had a round face and round eyes.

Seeing his mother smile, Long Xiaoyun was momentarily stunned. As far back as he could remember, he had only ever seen his mother weeping by the windowsill; he had rarely seen her smile. Hearing her words, Long Xiaoyun replied repeatedly, "Mother, I’m doing very well here. I have many friends, and they all like me."

"There is plenty of delicious food here, not just *boboji*, but also fried chicken."

"The fried chicken is so fragrant."

Tears welled up in Lin Shiyin’s eyes. Coming from their family, how could he have never eaten fried chicken? "My child, you have suffered."

Long Xiaoyun laughed and said, "Mother, I told you, it’s not hard at all. The people here are all talented, and they speak so well; I really enjoy being here."

Lin Shiyin asked, "Is that true?"

Long Xiaoyun widened his eyes to look as innocent as possible: "It’s true!" Poor children grow up early, but having been raised in a special family, he had been lying to his mother since he was a toddler.

Lin Shiyin said, "They told me you killed people, but I didn't believe it."

Long Xiaoyun replied, "They are framing me!"

Lin Shiyin said, "It wasn't until they showed me the files that I realized you truly... had killed people."

Long Xiaoyun shook his head and said innocently, "Mother, I had no choice."

Lin Shiyin looked at her son earnestly and said, "You were the mastermind; you were not forced."

Long Xiaoyun fell silent, then asked, "Who are 'they'?"

Lin Shiyin replied, "They are members of the Money Gang."

"The Money Gang!" Long Xiaoyun asked, "How would the Money Gang show you the files? Unless... did Father join the Money Gang?"

Lin Shiyin shook her head. A major event had occurred at home, and she had remarried; she did not know how to tell her son.

Long Xiaoyun said, "Then why? Could it be... because of Li Xinhuan?" He was clever and immediately guessed that it must be related to the leader of the Money Gang, Li Xinhuan. The history between his mother and Li Xinhuan... oh, the romantic entanglements of the older generation were a tangled mess indeed! As a youth, he could not understand why the emotions of adults were so complicated. They were all decades old, yet still caught up in love and romance—wouldn't it be better to spend that effort on something productive? Must one die if there is no love? The martial arts world was a mess precisely because of people like them! It was truly... looking for trouble where there was none!

Lin Shiyin thought for a moment and finally said, "During the time you were away, a great change occurred at home..."

As Lin Shiyin spoke, Long Xiaoyun was plunged into shock.

Long Xiaoyun widened his eyes and said, "What? Li Xinhuan married both Mother and Father at the same time!"

Lin Shiyin replied, "That is correct."

"Can a man marry a man?"

"He can! As long as one has no sense of shame."

"..."

Is this the world of adults? Long Xiaoyun could not comprehend it, yet he was deeply shocked. Suddenly, he thought of something and asked hesitantly, "So? Li Xinhuan has become my father?"

Lin Shiyin said, "According to the rules, he is indeed your father. From now on, you may change your name to Li Xiaoyun." When a woman remarries, the son also takes the new surname. Even without a blood connection, they were legally father and son.

Long Xiaoyun shook his head and asked, "Then what about my father?"

Lin Shiyin said strangely, "By custom, you should address him as 'Second Mother' or 'Second Aunt'." Nominally, Long Xiaoyun was now Li Xinhuan’s concubine, and Lin Shiyin was the legitimate wife. This world practiced a system of one husband, one wife, and multiple concubines. It was quite logical.

Long Xiaoyun felt the world go dark before his eyes. He could not grasp why a stranger had become his father, or why his own father was no longer his father. Is this the martial arts world? So absurd?

He did not know that, in the imperial court, a young man named Zhu Houzhao was harboring similar questions: Why, under the laws of etiquette, is my father no longer my father?

Afterward, Long Xiaoyun finished listening to the family affairs recounted by his mother. Having been hardened by the harsh lessons of society, he was no longer easily shocked. Suddenly, he thought of something and said, "Li Xinhuan is the leader of the Money Gang, so doesn't that make me the Young Leader of the Money Gang?"

Lin Shiyin nodded and said, "Yes, it does."

Long Xiaoyun said, "Since I am the Young Leader of the Money Gang, shouldn't they let me out?" It made no sense for the son of the gang leader to be under house arrest.

Lin Shiyin shook her head and said, "I asked Xinhuan, but he said no."

Long Xiaoyun said, "Does Li Xinhuan have a bias against me?"

Lin Shiyin replied, "Not at all. Xinhuan is kind to everyone; he has no bias against you, and you must not hold any bias against him."

Hearing her call him "Xinhuan" so affectionately, Long Xiaoyun thought of his own father, and his heart was filled with a strange, indescribable feeling. For a moment, he felt utterly exhausted.

Lin Shiyin continued, "The reason you cannot be released is that you have broken the rules of the Money Gang."

Long Xiaoyun argued, "But I am the Young Leader!"

Lin Shiyin said, "Even the leader must abide by the rules of the Money Gang, let alone the Young Leader."

"Furthermore," Lin Shiyin added, "there is a terrifying person within the Money Gang. They are preparing to deal with this person, so you are actually safer here."

Long Xiaoyun was baffled: "A terrifying person?" Could there be anyone in the Money Gang more terrifying than the leader himself?