Chapter 26: The White Lie

  During dinner, as usual, Nina cooked a lot of delicious dishes. However, she also seemed to have noticed that the atmosphere today was somewhat different from usual and couldn't help but laugh and say: "Am I wrong? Why do I feel like Lin Feng and Lord Kal seem a bit off today?"

  Old Karl subconsciously paused for a moment, furrowed his brow, but didn't say anything else and continued eating.

  But Lin Feng's heart was a sudden "peng" sound, and the knife in his hand fell to the ground with a clang.

  "What's wrong with you, my child?"

  Nina picked up the knife and fork from the ground, quickly rinsed them off, and handed them back to Lin Feng, but she also saw the strange look on his face and couldn't help but ask suspiciously: "You... did something happen to you today?"

  "Alas, Mother, I have something important to tell you."

  Lin Feng took a deep breath and decided to express his thoughts about going out. He had been struggling with his ideas for the whole afternoon, but he didn't know where to start. Before he could say anything, Old Karl put down his knife and fork and continued speaking on Lin Feng's behalf. However, what he said shocked Lin Feng greatly!

  "It's like this, Miss Nina. This afternoon when you went out to buy food, I received a letter from the Magic Guild, it was about inviting Xiao Tou to join the guild for training."

  Old Karl took a light breath and said very smoothly: "It was just half a year ago that I wrote a letter of recommendation to the Magic Guild, stating the little guy's talent in truth. You see, it only took half a year for the Magic Guild to reply to me and ask the little guy to hurry to the Magic Guild. The president of the guild decided to personally cultivate Lin Feng, this little guy. And just this afternoon, I told him to set off early tomorrow morning. Haha, looks like the little guy is too nervous, facing you, he's so nervous that he can't speak!"

  "Ah! Really, Lord Carl? This is incredibly good news! Lin Feng going to the Magic Guild and getting personal guidance from the President is an opportunity that many people dream of!"

  Nina looked exceptionally excited, she threw her arms around Lin Feng who was standing still in shock and kissed him hard on the cheek: "Lin Feng, why didn't you tell me such great news?!"

  "Uh, hehe, because tomorrow I'll be separated from my mother."

  Lin Feng's smile was unnatural. He vaguely understood why Old Karl had lied for him, but he could only follow along with what Old Karl said.

  "Alright, my child, the separation is only temporary. I believe that even if you're studying magic with the President, at least once a year you'll have a few days of free time, right? When that happens, think of me and come back to visit!"

  "Nina happily patted Lin Feng's back, releasing him and then said to Old Karl: "Lord Karl, today is indeed good news. I'll go cook a few more dishes. We should celebrate for Lin Feng, shouldn't we?"

  "Of course."

  Old Karl smiled a little, and only when Nina walked away humming a tune happily did he put his smile away.

  Lin Feng sighed: "My teacher, why are you helping me tell this lie again? You agreed with my idea before, I'm already very grateful to you."

  "Little guy, it's not because of what happened at noon..." Old Karl looked calmly at Lin Feng: "The reason I helped you lie is that... I don't want to see a beautiful and kind mother look sad."

  Old Karl muttered something and then picked up his knife and fork again, putting food from the plate into his mouth.

  Lin Feng looked at Old Man Karl with a deep gaze, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke in the most respectful tone he had ever used since coming to this world: "Thank you... thank you, my teacher. You are truly a good person. I think that from now on, my mother will need your care for a very long time."

  "Hum, you little guy, if you still remember what I said in the future, then take some time to come back and visit."

  Old Karl snorted disdainfully and put another piece of food into his mouth.

  "Of course."

  Lin Feng looked at Old Karl like this, and suddenly a warm current rose in his heart. He sighed and said with a self-mocking tone: "Why didn't I have a father like you?"

  After saying this, Lin Feng smiled self-deprecatingly and shook his head, then swung the knife in his hand.

  But he didn't notice that when he said his last sentence, a faint shadow appeared on Old Karl's face.

  ……

  ……

  At night, the three people returned to their own rooms, but Lin Feng lay in bed, unable to fall asleep. This was his first time traveling far away since coming to this world, and also his first time leaving his mother.

  Although Lin Feng had already become an adult, he was experiencing selfless motherly love for the first time. While indulging in this feeling, he couldn't help but think of the impending separation tomorrow, and his heart felt a wave of anxiety!

  Nina also had the same feeling as Lin Feng, and now she was also having a hard time sleeping. Thinking of her child being separated from her made her heart ache, but thinking that Lin Feng could follow the president of the Magic Association to learn in the future, her heart rose with pride. However, she didn't know that this was just an old trick used by Karl to take advantage of her trust, a beautiful and kind lie.

  ……

  ……

  When the sun peeked out again, and the birds in the forest were flying about cheerfully, Old Karl had already arrived at Lin Feng's house with his staff.

  "Dong dong~"

  "Little guy, it's time for you to set off—"

  Lin Feng opened his heavy eyelids, feeling a dull ache in his head. He had no idea what time he had fallen asleep last night, and it seemed that he had also had a nightmare, dreaming of returning to his past life... However, upon hearing Old Karl's voice, he straightened up and rubbed his eyes vigorously.

  When Lin Feng finished washing and pushed the door out, Old Karl was already standing shoulder to shoulder with Nina, looking at him with a faint smile.

  Early this morning, Old Karl put on a clean white magic robe, and even the whiskers under his chin were combed very neatly, instantly sweeping away the wretched and weak appearance of yesterday.

  At this moment, he was propping himself up with his own magic wand, smiling at himself, and Nena beside him had also changed into a neat set of clothes. Only those scarlet eyes indicated that this beautiful mother had gone through a sleepless night.

  "Alright, kiddo, now you should head to the town's magic department to get your magic level assessed, then collect this month's salary, rent a horse carriage, pack enough food and water, and you're good to go."

  Old Karl was being extremely nagging today: "The road to the town doesn't need me to tell you, I brought you back from there in the first place. Oh, right, the journey from the town to the Imperial City will take about ten days or so, and food and water must be prepared sufficiently. There's no place along this road where you can replenish your food and water."

  "Thank you, teacher, I understand now."

  Lin Feng tidied up his clothes and walked in front of Nina: "Mother, I'm leaving now."

  Nina smiled beautifully: "Go, when you have achieved your cultivation, don't forget your teacher."

  "It will never happen."

  After taking a deep look at Nina and Old Karl again, Lin Feng lifted his own footsteps and slowly walked towards the town. He didn't dare to turn back, because he was afraid that if he turned back, he would see Nina and Old Karl smiling at him, and those three wooden houses, and he would not be able to bear giving up on going to Paul College...

  Looking at Lin Feng's small back gradually disappearing into the distance, Nina's eyes finally flowed with two lines of scorching tears.

  Old Karl seemed to have thought of something, and he sighed, muttering: "The wings are hard, no matter how big the cage is, it can't be locked up..."

  (End of Volume 1)

  PS: This book has been signed, but the contract is still on its way. Everyone can rest assured and collect it. Today is the weekend, tomorrow is next week, and next week Xiao Huo doesn't have any recommendations, but new books need support. Can all of you readers please give Xiao Huo a little more support? Xiao Huo is asking for votes for next week, okay? And also, the next volume won't be like the beginning of the first volume, the content of the second volume will definitely be exciting!