Chapter 13

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This was the conclusion Jiang Han had reached after much thought on the way. He didn't want to deceive everyone, but he really couldn't think of a better reason.

"Sorry..." Jiang Han muttered to himself.

At this moment, Lu Baichuan and the others were somewhat stunned. This... sounded too much like a folk tale? But looking at Jiang Han's expression, it didn't seem like he was making it up. Moreover, this reason could fully explain the strange occurrences around Jiang Han.

Mysterious pills, ghost-like steps... Each of these was something rare and hard to come by, and Jiang Han had obtained them all at once. Perhaps only his mysterious "Master" could do such a thing?!

Everyone stared at Jiang Han, making him feel extremely uncomfortable. His lips twitched slightly, and he spoke dryly, "Um... everyone..."

"Damn!" Shi Jian suddenly roared, startling Jiang Han, "You're not simple, kid! Your luck is so good, from now on, you're my big brother! Brother Han, I need your support!"

Instantly, several black lines appeared on Jiang Han's forehead. He looked at the approaching Shi Jian with a twitching mouth, feeling speechless.

"I think you're even more complicated, able to come up with such a trendy phrase like 'need your support'!" Jiang Han thought to himself, but he could only think it; saying it out loud would make him look foolish.

Seeing Shi Jian about to pounce, Jiang Han cautiously took a few steps back, "I don't like men..."

"Having lived with you for so long, I now realize that Brother Jian is really despicable. Oh my God, I actually shared a room with such a pervert..." Blind Man quickly moved a few steps away from Shi Jian, even shuddering for effect.

"Get lost! Can't you shut up?!" Shi Jian roared.

Blind Man nodded firmly, "I can!"

Shi Jian: "..."

"Alright, stop fooling around." Lu Baichuan stepped forward, staring seriously at Jiang Han, "Xiao Han, are you sure you want to leave?"

Jiang Han took a deep breath, looking at the hopeful gazes of Ding Yanyan and the others, feeling a bit reluctant, but he still nodded heavily, "Yes!"

"Why? Are you unhappy with us? Why do you want to leave..." Ding Yanyan's eyes were a bit red; she almost treated Jiang Han like a younger brother, and hearing him say he was leaving made her very sad.

"Yan Sister, don't say more!" Lu Baichuan interrupted Ding Yanyan, sighing, "Xiao Han is still young, different from us. His path is long, and it's his good fortune to be taken as a disciple by a great master. As his brothers and sisters, how can we hinder him?!"

Ding Yanyan was taken aback, opening her mouth but saying nothing. She knew Lu Baichuan's words made sense, but despite that, after living together for over two years, the sudden departure made her very reluctant.

Lu Baichuan, of course, could see this. He smiled, put an arm around Ding Yanyan's shoulder, and looked at Jiang Han, "I believe Xiao Han won't forget us. When he makes it big, he'll come back to take care of his brothers and sisters! Hahaha!"

"Of course, haha!" Jiang Han felt moved, suppressing the bitterness in his heart, and smiled.

"Captain seems to be taking advantage of the situation..." Shi Jian glanced at Lu Baichuan, muttering under his breath.

"Not just seems... it's the truth." Blind Man also whispered.

"Are you saying that, didn't you notice that Yan Sister didn't resist?" Someone nearby raised an eyebrow.

Jiang Han was taken aback, looked up, and only then noticed that Lu Baichuan was tightly hugging Ding Yanyan's shoulder, and Ding Yanyan's cheeks were slightly red, but she didn't move.

"Boss, am I indirectly helping you?" Jiang Han chuckled, "Without me, this day might have been far off, huh!"

"That's a bit true... Ow, I'm wrong, I won't say anything more... don't use so much force..." Lu Baichuan's face showed a proud smile, but it quickly turned sour, and he smiled apologetically, begging for mercy from Ding Yanyan.

Everyone laughed, making Ding Yanyan's face even redder.

"Hmph!" Ding Yanyan finally released her hand from twisting the soft flesh on Lu Baichuan's waist, her face still flushed with embarrassment and reluctance over Jiang Han's departure.

"Xiao Han, when you're alone in the future, be careful. People can be dangerous, don't trust anyone easily..." Ding Yanyan's face was gentle, and she softly advised.

Jiang Han could only nod repeatedly, feeling that Ding Yany suddenly reminded him of his mother... both nagging about things he had heard hundreds of times.

Are women really this fond of nagging? Jiang Han thought.

"Don't worry, Yan Sister, I'm not a kid anymore, I understand a lot. Besides, I have my Master to protect me, most people wouldn't dare to mess with me!" Seeing that Ding Yanyan was about to continue, Jiang Han quickly smiled and interrupted her.

"That's right, Yan, don't worry. You've seen his smooth talk, ha, he won't be at a disadvantage!" Lu Baichuan laughed.

"The change in address was quick..." Shi Jian muttered again.

"Jian, are you jealous? Look, Sister Qing is watching you, seize the opportunity!" Jiang Han teased.

Sister Qing was another woman in the team, with a face that was quite attractive. Everyone in the team knew she liked Shi Jian, but Shi Jian always pretended not to notice, leaving their relationship ambiguous.

"Cough, cough!" Shi Jian glared at Jiang Han, turned his head to avoid Sister Qing's gaze, "Brat, don't talk nonsense!"

Jiang Han pursed his lips, noticing the disappointment in Sister Qing's eyes, but he didn't say anything more.

Matters of the heart need to be grasped by oneself; others can only play a supporting role, not truly intervene.

"The sky is almost dark, let's not talk here, let's go back and talk!" Lu Baichuan looked up at the sky, calling everyone to walk and talk, "By the way, Xiao Han, when do you plan to leave?"

Jiang Han was taken aback, pondered for a moment, and shook his head, "I'm not sure, probably in the next few days."

"Then after we turn in the mission, let's go for a few drinks!" Lu Baichuan laughed, "We won't go home until we're drunk tonight!"

"Okay!" Jiang Han laughed in response.

...

The journey was silent, and everyone hurried along. When they returned to Baiyun City, it was already completely dark. They all agreed to meet at the Adventurer's Tavern, with Lu Baichuan and the others going to turn in the mission, while Jiang Han ran back home to tell his mother, so she wouldn't worry.

The distance between the Adventurer's Tavern and Jiang Han's home wasn't far, and soon he stood at the gate of the courtyard. The room was lit with a dim yellow light, and a figure was visible through the window, with a slightly hunched back.

His swift steps suddenly paused, and Jiang Han stared at the figure, feeling a lump in his throat after a moment.

Yes, for him, Jiang Mother was just his nominal mother, but for Jiang Mother, he was her entire world!

In this world, people married early, and Jiang Mother was only in her thirties, but she had already bent her back and turned gray.

All of this was for him, for Jiang Han!

He rubbed his slightly sore eyes, quietly opened the door, and walked in. The smell of food filled his nose, making his stomach growl.

"Xiao Han, you're back." Jiang Mother's face, which had been filled with worry, instantly relaxed into a smile. She looked at Jiang Han with affection, "Are you hungry? The food is still hot, eat quickly!"

Tears welled up in Jiang Han's eyes; these words were so much like what his mother on Earth would say!

When he was young, whenever he came home late at night after playing, he would always hear his mother say these words. Even when he grew up and started working, whenever he was tired and returned to his mother's place, there would always be a fragrant meal waiting for him.

What he once took for granted and didn't cherish, he now realized how precious it was when he truly lost it.

"Um, I'm hungry, I'll eat!" Jiang Han discreetly wiped away his tears, raised his head, and smiled at Jiang Mother, then sat down and started eating heartily.

He had come back to tell Jiang Mother that he wouldn't be home for dinner, but seeing her affectionate gaze, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Eat slowly, be careful not to choke." Jiang Mother quickly handed him a cup of water.

"Okay! Mother, you eat too."

"I've already eaten." Jiang Mother smiled and sat quietly beside him, watching him eat ravenously.

But Jiang Han knew that Jiang Mother hadn't eaten, or if she had, it was just a piece of bread.

"Um, Mother, I'm going to meet up with Captain and the others later, and pick up the reward for this mission. I can't eat too much now, or I won't be able to eat later." Jiang Han took a few more bites, then suddenly looked up and said.

"Oh, are you coming back tonight?" Jiang Mother nodded, knowing Lu Baichuan and the others and that they were good people, so she was not worried about her son being with them.

"Probably not." Jiang Han shook his head, "Mother, go to bed early, don't wait for me."

"Alright, go quickly, don't keep them waiting." Jiang Mother smiled.

"Okay." Jiang Han nodded, stood up, and walked out.

Jiang Mother stood at the door, watching Jiang Han's figure disappear, then sighed softly, returned to the table, and slowly ate the food Jiang Han had left, savoring every bite.

On the other side of the room, a shadow flashed by the window, and a few drops of crystal-clear liquid fell in the night sky... It was called tears.

As the night deepened, Jiang Han's figure darted through the streets, his lips almost bleeding from the bite, and tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.

"Mother! From now on, you are my... second mother, Jiang Han!!!"