Son, Put Your Father To The Test (FF)

Shui Qinghan had just slain a powerful beast of the fifth level of the Tongtian Realm and was preparing to leave for his next training ground when suddenly, a voice called out.

"Junior Brother Qinghan!"

Hearing this, Shui Qinghan raised an eyebrow slightly, recognizing the familiar voice.

He quickly turned around to see a handsome young man in black flying towards him.

He was momentarily stunned, and his once sharp expression showed a hint of surprise.

"Senior Brother Qin Zi?"

He hadn't expected to run into Qin Zi here.

Whoosh, whoosh!

Just as Qin Zi was about to approach, several figures instantly appeared in front of Shui Qinghan, blocking his path and coldly staring at Qin Zi.

"What?!"

Qin Zi was startled. The three people who suddenly appeared were clearly experts at the Saint Realm, and from their stance, they were protecting Shui Qinghan!

"These three are…?"

At this moment, Shui Qinghan smiled and said, "They are my friends."

Immediately, the three nodded and disappeared in a flash, retreating into the shadows.

Seeing their speed, Qin Zi was even more shocked. These were no ordinary Saint Realm experts!

He took a deep breath and asked hesitantly, "Junior Brother Qinghan, who are these people…?"

"Oh, they are my Dao Protectors. Two of them are at the ninth level of the Saint Realm, and the other is a Saint King."

Shui Qinghan smiled.

"Hiss!!"

Qin Zi was utterly stunned by such an extravagant lineup—Was this guy backed by some wealthy matriarch, or had he married into a powerful family?

He took several deep breaths to calm himself before asking, "Did you become the young master of some powerful faction?"

"Hahaha, do you think I'm that lucky?" Shui Qinghan shook his head and smiled. "I caught the attention of a young master and was given all of this."

"You mean…" Qin Zi found it hard to believe.

"That's right. I became a follower of that young master," Shui Qinghan said naturally, with no hint of shame on his face.

Instead, he seemed rather proud.

His eyes gleamed with a hint of fanaticism as he continued, "That young master is a peerless talent. His temperament and character are admirable, and I believe following him will allow me to witness far greater horizons!"

With excitement, he grabbed Qin Zi's hand and said, "Senior Brother Qin, why don't you join me in following the young master? With your talent, the young master would surely value you!"

"This…"

Qin Zi hesitated.

Follow someone else?

Qin Zi was proud and ambitious; he aimed to become an unrivaled powerhouse, so how could he lower himself to follow another?

But he couldn't say this outright, as it would embarrass Shui Qinghan.

"Does Senior Brother Qin feel it's beneath him?"

Shui Qinghan frowned slightly, seeming a bit frustrated, but he didn't get angry. Instead, he remained calm.

Looking at Qin Zi, he said, "Senior Brother Qin, I understand what you're thinking. The truth is, what cultivator hasn't dreamt of reaching the pinnacle, standing above all others?"

"But reality forces most of us to bow our heads. After experiencing certain things, we come to realize that those naive fantasies are hard to achieve."

He paused, his eyes sincere. "Senior Brother Qin, I used to think I would never follow anyone, but that was before I met the young master."

"He made me realize that some people are destined to be extraordinary, destined to stand at the summit."

"Such people are so perfect that they make you lose the courage to compete with them. Even following behind them feels like an honor!"

"Finally, I understood what it means for a wise bird to choose a good tree to perch on. There are truly people in this world who are worthy of being followed."

A look of reverence crossed his face as he pointed to the scar on his cheek. "Do you know how I got this scar?"

"This was a test from the young master!"

"Back then, many geniuses flocked to him when he was selecting his trusted followers, but in the end, I was the only one who passed. I was the only one willing to risk everything, even my life!"

"Life and death moments test a person's resolve and loyalty the most."

"I follow the young master not for fame or fortune but for a pure belief that he is worth following!"

"Maybe I won't be able to achieve great things in this lifetime, but being able to witness greatness behind someone like him makes my life worthwhile."

He looked up slightly at the sky, his eyes filled with deep admiration and longing.

Hearing this, Qin Zi fell silent.

"A wise bird chooses the right tree to perch on."

Indeed.

Perhaps some people truly are worth following. After all, there was someone like that right beside him—his father!

In his heart, as a divine body with incredible potential, Qin Zi had always been proud, believing that one day he could surpass his peers.

But he had never thought about surpassing his father, nor did he ever plan to.

To him, his father was the eternal peak. He only wanted to follow in his father's footsteps forever.

And now.

Shui Qinghan must have met such a person as well.

Though that person might not compare to his father, in Shui Qinghan's eyes, he carried the same significance.

With a serious expression, Qin Zi looked at Shui Qinghan and said, "Junior Brother Qinghan, I understand your thoughts. Some people are truly admirable, and your young master must be one of them."

"However… everyone has their own path. For now, I don't wish to follow anyone. Whether my future is bleak or bright, I want to forge it myself."

"I hope you can understand."

Hearing this, Shui Qinghan showed a hint of disappointment.

But then he smiled, relieved. "Hahaha, fair enough. Everyone has their own aspirations. This isn't something that can be forced."

"Everyone walks their own path. I hope we can both see even more beautiful vistas in the future."

"We definitely will."

Qin Zi smiled and nodded.

He was glad Shui Qinghan could take it so well.

He had been worried that Shui Qinghan might be too insistent, forcing his beliefs onto others, which could have led to a fallout.

And Qin Zi didn't want to fall out with Shui Qinghan.

Not just because of their shared bond as fellow disciples, but also because, strictly speaking, Shui Qinghan was his brother-in-law!

After thinking for a moment, Qin Zi asked, "Junior Brother Qinghan, can you tell me which young master you're following?"

Shui Qinghan smiled warmly. "Of course! There's nothing to hide. I follow the young master of the royal Qi family—Qi Huang!"

"Although the Qi family is a fallen royal family, the talent and brilliance of Young Master Qi Huang rival those of the heirs of the three flourishing royal clans and the two great holy sects."

"Several sovereigns of the Eastern Domain have predicted that Young Master Qi Huang has the potential to become an emperor! As long as he survives, he will undoubtedly ascend to the throne!"

"Hiss!!"

Qin Zi feigned shock, sucking in a breath, though he wasn't particularly impressed.

"Oh, so he only has the potential to become an emperor? I thought he might have the potential to become a Great Emperor!"

"Senior Brother Qin, since you've come to the Eastern Domain, why not visit the Qi family as a guest? Young Master Qi Huang has always been a man of humility."

Shui Qinghan enthusiastically invited him, now fully adopting the role of a host, no longer seeing himself as an outsider to the Qi family.

This was, in fact, a reflection of his loyalty!

"I have other matters to attend to, so I may not be able to for the time being," Qin Zi said, looking apologetic.

"Is that so…"

Shui Qinghan felt a bit disappointed but then smiled. "That's fine. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. If you ever need anything, you can always come to the Qi family and find me."

"Sure." Qin Zi nodded.

After some more pleasantries, the two finally bid farewell.

Shui Qinghan continued his planned training, while Qin Zi returned to reunite with his father, Qin Chuan.

"Father, where are we headed now?"

Qin Zi asked.

"Obviously… wherever the excitement is," Qin Chuan replied with a mysterious smile.

Just moments ago, the system had issued a task:

Ding! As the host has reached a certain level of strength and left the beginner's village, the system is now issuing tasks!

Ding! You have received the main quest: "My Father is Qin Chuan."

Note: As a father constantly overshadowed by his son, you must gain enough fame so that when your son mentions your name, people won't look confused. Therefore, within one month, make a name for yourself.

Quest reward: An imperial weapon!