The next morning, at the dining table in the Baruch family's living room, Linley was surprised to find that his father's face was radiant, and even his mental outlook was completely different.
Putting down his knife and fork, Hogg smiled and looked at Lin Lei: "Lin Lei, this time, I will stay at home for a while. Father hasn't seen you for a long time. Let's get together as father and son."
Father let himself stay at home a little longer
Linley was a little surprised, after all, his father had never said such a thing for so many years. Originally, Linley also planned to go to Finlay City to visit and see Alice. But this time, Alice had already been thrown behind her head.
"Okay, father." Linley nodded happily.
Hogg nodded happily, but there seemed to be something more in Hogg's eyes.
…
Linley stayed in Wushan Town for more than ten days, and he didn't even bother to go back when Ernst College started next semester. And Hogg didn't urge Linley to go to the academy either.
On the Wushan Mountain to the east of Wushan Town, next to the gurgling stream, Linley sat cross-legged and quietly meditated on refining his magic power.
The earth and wind elements penetrated from all over Lin Lei's body, and the muscles, muscles, and meridians in the body naturally absorbed the elements to improve his constitution. After a small part of these earth and wind elements were absorbed, most of them were refined. The transformation finally flows into the dantian position in the chest.
The sea is open to all rivers, and all the elements flowing through the meridians of the whole body are finally gathered here.
Linley sat like this for half a day. When Linley opened his eyes, it was already sunset.
"It's time to go back to the academy." Linley stood up and took a long breath. "Since I gave my father those magic crystal cores, my father's attitude towards me has become much better and kinder."
The past ten days should have been the most harmonious ten days for Linley and Hogg.
"What prompted such a big change in my father? The magic crystal core? My father shouldn't be because of money. Or... the scars on my body?" Lin Lei thought about it, but couldn't be sure why his father became so kind to him all of a sudden.
This word can fully describe Hogg's attitude towards Linley today.
Walking into the Baruch family mansion, Linley saw his father reading books at a glance: "Father, it's getting darker, so let's wait until tomorrow to read the books."
"Oh, Linley is back." Hogg smiled and closed the book. "What you said makes sense. I'll see it tomorrow."
"Lin Lei, you are thirsty after practicing outside for so long." Hogg picked up the kettle on the coffee table next to him and poured a cup of boiled water, "Come on, moisten your throat, the temperature of this water is just right, neither too hot nor too cold."
"Thank you, father." Linley's heart warmed.
This is how Hogg treated Linley for the past ten days, and it's very good. In the past, Hogg was always serious. Rarely shows such a warm side.
Drinking the tea, Linley said, "Father, I've been at home for some time now, and I'm going to the academy tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Hogg was slightly startled, then nodded, "Okay then. At the end of this year, you should come back earlier."
"En." Linley responded.
Hogg asked softly, "Linley, your father doesn't have much ability, the family will depend on you in the future, and the magic core you gave me will be enough for your brother's expenses in the O'Brien Empire. At this point, I I'm very satisfied, but I still remember the shame of our family in my heart. I hope you don't forget that the treasure of our family's inheritance is still out there."
Linley felt his father's expectations for him, took a deep breath, and nodded slightly.
"I don't have any other desires now, I just hope to see the sword 'slaughter' before I die." Hogg's voice was very low.
Linley felt that the atmosphere was not right, and immediately said: "Father, don't be so negative, you are only forty years old now, and you will have a long life in the future. I am confident that in less than ten years, I will definitely bring back the sword 'Slaughter' and release it again. into the family hall."
"Ten years, good, good." Hogg nodded lightly.
…
Linley left Wushan Town at noon the next day, and that night in the living room of the Baruch family sat two people, Hogg and Hillman. The living room door was closed, and the magic crystal nucleus of that generation was placed on the dining table in the living room.
Hillman was stunned by such a bag of magic crystal cores, and Hogg said, "Hillman, I will sell these magic crystal cores in the near future, and I hope you will keep these gold coins for safekeeping."
Hillman suddenly woke up and said quickly, "Lord Hogg, no, how can you give me such a great wealth. Can't you manage it yourself?"
"Hillman, don't call me Lord Hogg, just call me Big Brother Hogg." Hogg smiled kindly.
Suddenly Hogg stood up and faced east: "You say I am in charge of it myself? Haha... Hillman, you probably know the most about our Baruch family and about me Hogg."
Hillman was startled, he didn't know why Hogg mentioned this.
"Please keep that incident in my heart for almost eleven years. In the past eleven years, I felt that my heart was being bitten by ants. I have been enduring it, day after day, year after year... In the blink of an eye It's been eleven years."
Hogg's whole body trembled slightly.
Hillman's expression changed, he stood up abruptly, and said in horror, "Master Hogg, do you want it?"
"Yes, I have to investigate what happened back then, and I have to avenge Linna." Hogg's face was ferocious, with a sullen look on his face.
"Lord Hogg," Hillman said quickly, "Didn't we check it back then? The enemy's power is huge, and it's already terrifying just to check that part. You might lose your life if you check it out."
Hogg let out a low roar: "Death? I'm still afraid of death? Hillman, you don't even know the pain I've been through for the past eleven years, the kind of mental torment. I've had enough. Now this demon that Linley gave me The value of the crystal core should be around 80,000 gold coins. It is completely enough for Walton's expenses. With this gold coin, I have no burden."
"For so many years, I've been holding back. Why? It's not two sons. Now that Linley has grown up, Wharton is also in the O'Brien Empire. I don't have anything to worry about anymore."
Hogg grabbed Hillman's shoulders with both hands and stared into Hillman's eyes: "Hillman, although you call me Lord Hogg, we have been brothers for so many years. For this sake, I I hope you can fulfill me."
"Hogg, you..." Hillman was very anxious.
Hillman knew very well that once Hogg really went to investigate what happened back then, he would probably lose his life.
"I've made up my mind, Hillman, you must know that life is better than death in these days." Hogg's eyes were a little red, and Hillman was full of helplessness when he saw Hogg like this. He could understand what Hogg was thinking.
Why has Hogg been so strict and indifferent all these years
No one else knew, but Hillman knew very well that before Linley and Wharton's mother 'Lina' died, Hogg was a very cheerful person. And since Linna died, Hogg's temperament has changed.
Although Hogg said to the outside world that Lina died of dystocia, Hillman, the housekeeper Ciri and others still knew the truth.
"Hillman, you don't need to persuade me, I just ask you, can you help me?" Hogg stared at Hillman.
Hillman stared at Hogg for a moment, and finally sighed feebly: "Okay, I'll help you." Hogg couldn't help showing a smile on his face, it was a smile of relief.