Chapter 42: Lar's Sorrow (Part 1)

"Are you really going to play horse with me? Sara is so happy."

The little girl's angelic face was lit up with a smile as radiant as a hundred flowers in bloom. I... I swear, those big, sparkling eyes—could this be the legendary new signature move, the Invincible Sparkling Meteor Eyes?

Seeing the situation turn bad, I quickly dodged. Fortunately, the main target wasn't me; otherwise...

Sure enough, the two barbarian brothers were frozen in place, one foot suspended in mid-air, unable to put it down. They could only turn their bodies helplessly, their stiff smiles as rigid as zombies.

"Sara, Uncle Doug still has some things to take care of. I'll come back to play with you next time, okay?"

Doug said with a nearly fawning, ingratiating smile. Gav nodded hurriedly beside him: "Yes, yes, we just heard that a large group of Fallen Ones attacked the villagers. We want to go and check it out..."

Damn, I didn't expect Gav to lie so convincingly. It seems I'm the only pure one among the four of us.

"Is... is that so? Then Sara won't bother Uncle Doug and Uncle Gav. Be careful, and come to play with Sara often, okay?"

The understanding little girl lowered her head sadly, fidgeting with the small white floral sleeves of her dress.

"Daddy is often not at home, and Mom is very busy. Uncle Doug and Uncle Gav haven't come for a long time. Sara is so lonely. Sara is a child no one loves. Everyone ignores Sara..."

As she spoke, her big, watery eyes turned red, and her long lashes drooped. What a little devil, I never thought that Lar, such an old stick, could have such a beautiful daughter...

The legendary Invincible Sparkling Meteor Eyes in a heartbreakingly cute version appeared. Oh, oh, oh, fortunately, I had already dodged.

Doug and Gav weren't so lucky. Under the "innocent" gaze of the little girl, their hearts were torn to shreds, overwhelmed by guilt and shame. They were from another world, after all. Even the thick-skinned Doug had a simple, honest side. In our world, such a little girl might not only fail to elicit sympathy and pity but also arouse some people's evil desires. Hmph, hmph...

What? You say that person is me? Impossible, I'm not that kind of person, really...

In the end, the poor barbarian brothers were dragged away by the little girl, leaving me free. The little girl seemed very shy, always avoiding my gaze, which was very cute.

"Wu, congratulations on your return from training."

Lar said with a happy face.

"Thank you, Lar. I owe it all to your guidance."

I said sincerely. My combat experience was taught by Lar, and most of my knowledge of the dark world was taught by Akara. These two can be considered my mentors, and they have done me a great favor. I, Wu Fan, am not the kind of person who forgets kindness. Without them, even with my bug amulet, I might have already faced near-death experiences. Sometimes, relative experience is more important than relative strength, such as setting up camp. If not for Akara's guidance, I might have set up camp anywhere and woken up in the middle of the night to find a few Fallen Ones playing "rebirth" in my tent. Hmph, hmph...

"How many levels are you now?"

Lar took the cup his wife handed him and sipped it contentedly.

"Level 3." I continued my great bluffing.

"Thank you." I quickly said as I took the cup from Lar's wife.

"This is my wife, Sara."

Lar pointed to the middle-aged beauty, his tone full of pride. Their relationship was very sweet.

"This is my friend, Wu Fan." Lar gently reported to his wife.

I looked at Sara, who was indeed a very beautiful woman. Sara's fairy-like beauty probably came from her.

"Wu Fan? What a unique name. Can I call you Wu like Lar does?"

Lar's wife, Sara, covered her mouth and laughed softly, her demeanor gentle and charming. Lar, this guy, really had good luck, with a good wife and a cute daughter.

"Of course, it's my honor."

After Sara left, I said enviously, "Lar, your life is really sweet, a gentle wife and a cute daughter, tsk, tsk..."

Is that so? My words seemed to touch something, and Lar's smile was a bit forced.

"What, you look so down. Could it be that you... can't...?"

"You can't!"

This was a matter of a man's dignity. Even the steady Lar turned red.

"Only..." Lar glanced at the two barbarians playing with Sara in the distance, his face full of guilt.

"I feel guilty towards Doug and Gav."

"Hmm, what do you mean?"

"Doug and Gav, they are both very talented Transcenders. But... but they followed me, an incompetent person."

Lar suddenly clutched his head, his pained expression caught me off guard. He's not a child anymore, how could he start crying so easily?

"I always can't let go of my family. I always hope to spend more time with Sara and Sara. I always fear going to battle and never seeing them again. Doug and Gav are being held back by me. It's all my fault."

"A few years ago, the Transcenders who transcended with me, some have already reached Lut Gholein, and the rest are preparing to challenge Andariel. Only I am still aimlessly struggling."

"Wu, do you look down on me? As a noble Paladin, I am weak and incapable, lacking ambition, always indulging in the warmth of home. Even if I am insulted like this, I am willing. But Doug and Gav, they had the hope of reaching Lut Gholein, but because of me..."

"And Sara... they... Wu, you saw Sara just now. She is already thirteen years old, but she still plays the horse game with me. Isn't it ridiculous? No, it's not at all ridiculous. Since she was born, I, this incompetent father, haven't spent much time with her. In her heart, the way she communicates with her heartless father is still the horse game she knew when she was three..."

Lar, once he opened up, was like a floodgate. All the pent-up sorrow and pain poured out. He sobbed softly, his disheveled state left me speechless. I never expected the usually steady and humorous Lar to hide such unknown pain.

I understood Lar's feelings. As a Transcender, bound by family, torn between the love for family and the duty to protect the dark continent and expel the forces of hell, the struggle was constant. To put it in a less appropriate but fitting way, it was "loyalty and righteousness cannot be both achieved."

And because of his indecision, the two brothers, Doug and Gav, who followed him, were also aimlessly struggling, which made Lar even more guilty.

"Uncle Lar, you're thinking too much."

I patted his shoulder. Lar looked up, his eyes red.

"Actually, to be honest, my thoughts are similar to yours. Do you know what my biggest dream after becoming a Druid is? I think, now that I am a Druid, my status has changed, and I should be able to find a good wife. Then I will take her to live in seclusion in the mountains, living a peaceful and happy life, regardless of what happens to the dark continent."

Seeing Lar fall silent, I pressed on: "So, you don't need to feel ashamed or sad about these thoughts. No one likes war, killing and being killed. The loss of life always brings pain and confusion. No one wants to part with their loved ones. They just choose different ways to protect them. They hope to kill more enemies on the battlefield to ensure the safety of those they cherish. And you..."

I looked at Lar with a half-smile.

"Are a bit more exaggerated, not only wanting to protect their safety but also their hearts. You may not be an excellent warrior, but you are definitely an excellent father. No one can mock you for this, absolutely not..."

"As for Doug and Gav, I don't know what they think, but you don't need to carry the burden of guilt. They chose to follow you voluntarily. If they are unhappy, they will naturally choose to leave. It's their choice, not your responsibility."

"Right..."

Doug and Gav, who had been standing beside me for some time, suddenly shouted, their eyes red with tears. What kind of emotion could make these rough, tough men cry?