Chapter 386 (2/2)

”You've sure have gotten big but aren't those cheeks a bit too plump?”

”Xue's cheeks aren't plump!”

”Yes, they are.”

With a little poke to one of those cheeks, he caused Xue to pout a little bit but soon she started laughing loudly when he started to tickle her. The father-daughter reunion was then interrupted by a somewhat painful pinch to his thɨġh from the side.

There he saw Liena looking at him with a forced smile on her face. Soon he realized what the problem was as he glanced down to where his son was standing.

”Jun, why don't you greet your father together with your sister?”

Zhang Dong placed the laughing Xiu down on the ground but was instantly tackled once more. It seemed that his daughter was energetic as always, she had gotten even more energetic with age. On the other hand, his son seemed the exact opposite of his older sister.

”Zhang Jun greets father…”

The greeting lacked any sort of emotion behind it. It was as if he was greeting an elder from the sect rather than his own father. While Xiu had some old memories with her father, Jun was far too young to remember him in any good light.

What the child was left with were stories from his other parent and from the people around him. While he didn't think that anyone from them would badmouth him, there could have been other people that might have.

There was no way of him knowing what Jun was thinking. He was already at an age where he could understand many things. His children were also somewhat special in the way as they both came from a nascent soul master.

They were naturally smarter than a regular child and developed sooner. This he noticed by the way this son acted as if he had practiced interacting with elders and knew proper decorum.

”You don't need to be so stiff.”

While this wasn't anything out of the ordinary around this world, he didn't really want to bring up his kids in such a way. All the respect and fear of the elder generation that was beaten into each generation here was something that he never liked. At least with his own close family members, he would like to have a less strenuous relationship.

Thus he placed his hand on the boy's head and gave him a good fatherly pat.

”You are my son, when we are alone you can act as you wish, being a bit spoiled is also allowed, just look at your big sister.”

Zhang Jun looked to Xiu, who was obviously wanting to be picked up. While he set her back down due to Liena giving him the starte, he was forced to pick her back up as the child didn't relent. He held her with one hand as she was still rather small, the moment Xiu's face brightened up but it also caused Liena to sigh out.

”You're spoiling her too much….”

”It's fine, it's a father's obligation to spoil their daughters!”

Liena frowned a bit but she didn't reply to the answer. Xiu on the other hand realized with this little exchange that there was someone above her mother in the family hierarchy now. This realization would cause some friction between the mother and daughter combo but that was a story for another time.

”I… I'll try father.”

Jun on the other hand was still somewhat reserved. This was fine as Zhang Dong knew that a relationship like this needed some time. This was something that the two could work on after they were safe. For now, Liena took Jun's hand and the four walked out from the escape pod to meet up with the people outside.

”Master.”

”Master.”

”Big Brother!”

”We will return to the sect, I'll have to ask you to take care of the children for now.”

”No, daddy, stay!”

While he was talking, Xiu instantly cut him off and started crying.

”Uh… no, daddy just has to go talk to the elders, It won't even take that long…”

”No, don't leave Xiu, you can't!”

While Jun didn't seem affected by his father leaving, his older sister continued to cry. It was clear to him that the child was afraid that her father would disappear as he did before. Problematic as it was, he could not take the small child to the meeting with the elders. They would be discussing the future of the sect, not something fit for her ears.

'This might be a problem…'

He turned to Liena for help but his wife instead of helping him out started to sob as well.

”Wait, not you too…”

”I'm sorry but It's just been so long…”

It seemed that his wife had also not gotten over the fact that he had returned. Soon all three members of his family started to cry, Jun included.

'Oh, jeez…'