Making Friends (1)

Yanglin hesitates. The medicine still in between his fingers lingered around for a while as Tong Xun's mother convinced him that it was safe for consumption. This moment lasts for half a minute, allowing Yanglin to appreciate what he's looking at currently.

"Do you still feel pain or discomfort anywhere? If there's a need, we can get a pharmacist to take a look." Tong Xun's mother continued.

"No... I'm better after resting. I'll be taking this medicine once I get home. If there's nothing else, this junior will excuse himself and not bothering the Tong Family any longer." Yanglin tried to excuse himself politely.

Based on what he knew, another person, likely a servant, will be coming from the door to invite him over to somewhere else soon.

And it happened just like what he expected.

While Tong Xun's mother took a step back to allow Yanglin to get up from the bed, a servant came into the room and delivered Tong Wansi's invitation.

"Our family head is interested in having a word with you. Would youngster give my master a face and come with me to meet him?" said the servant while remaining humble.

"Humph. Able to speak to my father is your luck. He's likely going to reward you for keep standing still after so many of my attacks." Tong Xun said. He sounded unwilling to accept that the duel ended up with a draw as the final result.

To make it worst, his father just had to bring this guy back to their home. This made him couldn't help but trying to guess what his father is trying to do here.

Yanglin thought about the invitation for a while and agreed to meet Tong Wansi. Like what Tong Xun said, the possibility of him getting some reward is likely possible. If not, there's no reason at all for him to bring him back to the Tong's household to recuperate and rest.

"Then, please follow this servant to the master's study room." the servant smiled after receiving a nod from Yanglin.

While they're walking, the servant vaguely describes his master's likes and dislikes. Although the meeting between them was informal, it was still good to know a little about the person he's going to talk to.

After all, knowing the person is considered as winning the talk. Knowing how to start, reply, and respond in a conversation is essential from where he came from or in this unfamiliar world.

If he was someone that speaks like Tong Xun, even ten lives wouldn't be enough for him to keep himself alive.

Back to the room where Yanglin rested...

"Xun-Er... Did you forget what your father said? Are you trying to openly go against your father right now?" Tong Xun's mother said as the smile was gone from her face. She looked unhappy, but it was not due to Yanglin.

It was due to Tong Xun's attitude. As a parent, all it took was a glance to compare Yanglin and Tong Xun's maturity.

"Dearest mother, Xun-Er doesn't mean that way..." Tong Xun's tone was softer compared to when he speaks with Yanglin. Apparently, he knew that he was misbehaving a while back.

"Good that you know that your action disappoints your father and me. To think that you can't even see where you're lacking after ended up in a draw against someone without background like you do." Tong Xun's mother said.

"Mother! Xun-Er..." Tong Xun wanted to debate against his mother's word, but he finds it challenging to omit anything right now.

"Go back to your room and cultivate." Tong Xun's mother touched his face where he was punched by Yanglin during the duel and left without saying anything else.

...

...

...

"Master, this servant is here with the youngster, Yanglin." the family servant said as he walked Yanglin into the room.

"Junior Yanglin greets Family Head Tong. It was an honor to have the chance to speak with someone as well-known as the leader of Bronze Lion Escort Agency," said Yanglin.

He immediately greets Tong Wansi the moment he was allowed to come into the study room.

"How do you feel now? Are you hungry?" Tong Wansi responds with a concerning tone. Without waiting for Yanglin to answer, he signaled the servant that brought Yanglin here to prepare something light for them while they're going to have a conversation.

"Take a seat, child." Tong Wansi pointed his palm at one of the seats on his right side.

"Since it's an invitation from the senior, then this junior will humbly accept it." Yanglin walked to where Tong Wansi pointed and took a seat. He remained calm while thinking about what response is most suitable to be used right now.

"I've watched the fight between you and my son from the start until it finished. Although this might sound wrong to come from the father of your opponent, I am thankful that you're the one he fights against. It is much better than some spineless, useless, pretentious individuals," said Tong Wansi.

"This might sound like I'm asking too much, but I wonder if you would consider becoming a friend of my Xun-Er?" Tong Wansi was open with his intention of calling Yanglin over.

"Please forgive this junior for not expecting such a request coming out from senior's mouth. But if junior is allowed to ask, with the young master's reputation and background, do senior need to do such a thing on his behalf?" Yanglin said.

There's a hint of truth behind his reply. With Tong Xun's status as the young master of the Bronze Lion Escort Agency, he shouldn't have a problem because friends would be flocking around him like a school of birds. Wherever he goes would be the center of all attention as long he said so.

"Hah. Birds flock together. This is the same as snakes and rats. I want my child to choose who he's befriending. Not to slither around like the snakes or scurrying around with the rats. I want him to stay and soar with a bunch of dragons, and one of them was you." Tong Wansi said.

"Please, treat this as a selfish request from this father. As long you're willing to help me in this matter, I could support you like how I support that useless child of mine." Tong Wansi said.

"Senior, the offer is attractive, but junior would have to reject your offer," Yanglin replied without even thinking about the consequences and loss that he will regret after this.