The Xiao Clan of the Jia Ma Empire's Imperial Capital.
As a rising power in the Imperial Capital, the Xiao Clan was situated on a bustling street lined with various shops on both sides.
Xiao Lin, having just returned from a victorious battle, had now arrived back at this familiar street. However, just as Xiao Lin reached the main entrance of the Xiao Mansion, a small figure came rushing out.
"Daddy!"
Immediately, this figure lunged toward Xiao Lin.
Xiao Lin opened his arms wide and pulled the small figure into a tight embrace.
"Zhan'er, while Daddy was away from home, did you listen to Clan Leader Grandpa?"
Xiao Lin asked with a smile as he pinched the little person's nose.
That's right, this small figure was naturally Xiao Lin's son, the now six-year-old Xiao Zhan.
Unlike the original story where Xiao Yan began cultivating at the age of four, Xiao Lin didn't actually want his precious son to start the hardships of cultivation at such a young age.
Furthermore, Xiao Lin had discovered early on that his son Xiao Zhan's talent in the way of cultivation was not particularly outstanding.
Therefore, thinking that this kid could rely on him for now and rely on his own son's greatness in the future, there was no need to have such harsh requirements for him regarding cultivation.
In any case, the eventual outcome would be ascending together by clinging to the thighs of the future Flame Emperor. So, unless Xiao Zhan took the initiative to ask to start cultivating, Xiao Lin would not force his son into such things.
After all, cultivation was something that depended on oneself; being forced to cultivate by others could easily lead to problems.
It was precisely because of this that Xiao Zhan had spent six happy years. Regarding this, Clan Leader Xiao Dongcheng was also quite helpless; he always felt that Xiao Lin doted on his son far too much.
However, in Xiao Lin's words: if he didn't spoil his own son, was he supposed to let someone else do it?
"Of course I listened to Clan Leader Grandpa, it's just..."
Xiao Zhan first answered Xiao Lin's question, but as he spoke toward the end, his little expression suddenly became conflicted.
This left Xiao Lin feeling somewhat surprised.
His son was only six years old, and he hadn't forced him to cultivate; could he already have troubles?
"Young Clan Leader, the Young Master has been very quiet in the clan recently. It's just that every day, he asks us about your news no less than once, and then he has no heart for playing."
At this time, a Xiao Clan member standing nearby answered Xiao Lin's question on behalf of Xiao Zhan.
As the words of this family member fell, Xiao Zhan's face instantly flushed red with embarrassment.
As a boy, how could he miss his father every single day? This was too embarrassing!
Now that it had been pointed out by a clansman, it made him feel even more self-conscious. Consequently, he turned his head and gave that talkative clansman a fierce "glare."
However, how could the gaze of a small child possibly scare anyone?
To those watching, it only looked adorable. So, even though that clansman was being glared at by Xiao Zhan, he still stood to the side stifling a laugh.
"Zhan'er, did you miss your father?"
Seeing this, Xiao Lin couldn't help but feel the urge to tease his son.
Since awakening his innate wisdom, Xiao Lin had actually pushed himself very hard, either creating cultivation technique or practicing.
Even though he had stayed at home for these past six years, he only occasionally spent time with his son. Thinking about it now, it seemed he had somewhat missed out on his son's growth process!
Thinking of this, Xiao Lin couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
Fortunately, although Xiao Zhan was young, he was indeed very sensible and rarely bothered his father. For him, being able to stay with his father for an hour or two every day made him very satisfied.
This time his father had gone out to fight a war and was gone for several months; of course he would miss his father.
Don't look at how Xiao Lin exposed Great General Mo Ya's conspiracy within a few days of arriving at the border front; subsequent battles were still fought between the Jia Ma Empire and the Chu Yun Empire.
So, naturally, several months had passed throughout all of this.
For a young child, after losing his mother, he would naturally develop a certain dependence on his father. One could say that Xiao Lin was currently playing the role of both father and mother.
However, from a modern person's perspective, Xiao Lin was not actually a very competent father. Because most of the time Xiao Lin was cultivating, it was Clan Leader Xiao Dongcheng who was looking after his son.
This was the reason why guilt surfaced in Xiao Lin's heart at this moment.
"Daddy, can you not go to war anymore in the future?"
At this time, Xiao Zhan asked a question that was beyond Xiao Lin's expectations.
Hearing this, Xiao Lin was stunned for a moment, then smiled and nodded.
"Alright, Daddy promises you, Daddy won't go out to fight in the future."
Xiao Lin had originally planned to resign from his position as a General in the army after this war between the Jia Ma Empire and the Chu Yun Empire ended. After all, with his current strength, tempering himself in the army no longer had any effect.
He didn't plan on taking over Mo Ya's position as Great Marshal, did he?
Therefore, in order to focus on cultivation in the future and to be able to spend time with his son, this Jia Ma Empire General position was, for Xiao Lin, already less than a chicken rib.
"Really?"
When Xiao Zhan heard his father agree, he immediately cheered happily.
"How could Daddy lie to you? Tomorrow Daddy will go to the Imperial Palace and resign from the General position. That way, Daddy won't need to go out to war anymore!"
Xiao Lin gave his son a direct guarantee.
"That's great! Then can Daddy teach me how to cultivate in the future?"
However, what Xiao Lin didn't expect was that after he made the guarantee, his son didn't ask to be taken out to play, but instead asked to be taught cultivation?
Xiao Lin truly had never thought about this.
"What is it, does Zhan'er like cultivation?"
Xiao Lin asked in confusion.
By this time, Xiao Lin had already carried his son into the Xiao Mansion.
"I can't say I like it, but I don't hate it either. Clan Leader Grandpa also asked me if I wanted to start cultivating. At that time I didn't know, and now I still don't know. But I know one thing: Daddy is going to be the Clan Leader in the future."
"As Daddy's child, I definitely cannot lose face for Daddy. So, I want to cultivate. I want to be able to help Daddy in the future."
After a moment of silence, the clearly six-year-old Xiao Zhan actually spoke words that even an ordinary adult might not be able to say!
It must be said that children without a mother sometimes mature quite quickly. At the same time, Xiao Zhan's words caused Xiao Lin's heart to feel a surge of bitterness.
Yes, Xiao Lin thought of his deceased wife again.
However, in front of his son, he quickly restrained these emotions.
"Zhan'er, you don't have to force yourself regarding cultivation. Your father is still here!"
"No, Father, I want to cultivate!"
The moment his son changed how he addressed him, Xiao Lin knew that his son had made up his mind.
To this, Xiao Lin would not provide any obstacles. He had decided early on that his son could start cultivating whenever he wanted to.
He wouldn't have any objections!
Now, his son wanted to start cultivating.
Although the reason was somewhat beyond his expectations, his son's maturity also made him feel very gratified.
"Alright, then Father will personally teach you how to cultivate!"
As these words left Xiao Lin's mouth, it signified that the six-year-old Xiao Zhan had officially begun his cultivation.