NOVPUB
Chapter 304: Conversation Between Father and Son 2
"Have we met before? Why do I feel so familiar with you?"
Once that question left his mouth, Aldrey looked at Aldrian’s reaction. He focused on those unreadable blue eyes. Aldrian didn’t show much expression aside from a smile, leaving Aldrey uncertain of what he was thinking. A person like this was dangerous to face as an opponent because nothing could be discerned from that face.
Aldrian also looked into his father’s eyes, thinking of a thousand ways to answer the question. He could lie to his father, or he could be honest and simply admit that he was Aldrian. After considering for a moment, he decided there was no harm in revealing himself now. Sooner or later, his father would find out anyway.
He felt it was the right time for his father to know that his son had already left the secret realm and made his mark on the continent. The son he had trained for so long had grown into someone capable of bearing the burden of their family’s challenges.
His recent meeting with his mother had shown him that he could trust his parents’ judgment and not overthinking. With a sigh, he looked at his father and said,
"We met a few years ago."
Aldrey frowned. They had met a few years ago? Where? He tried to recall the young man’s face, but nothing about him seemed familiar. Aldrey hadn’t encountered many new people since leaving the secret realm, and he was certain he had never seen this face before.
Even if he stretched the timeline back to when he was still trapped in the secret realm, there was no one like this young man there either. And before being trapped? He was confident he had never encountered this young man then, either.
"Sorry, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before. Is it possible that you saw me, but I never noticed you?" Aldrey asked.
"No, we met face to face. You always talked to me," Aldrian replied.
Aldrey frowned more deeply. Always talked to him? Suddenly, something clicked in his mind. The feeling he got when he saw this young man was unusual and inexplicable. It was the first time he had ever experienced such a sensation, and it had been bothering him since yesterday.
His heart trembled as a realization struck, aligning with his instincts. His gaze wavered as he looked at Aldrian, the questions in his mind multiplying.
"I want to ask again. Did we meet outside the empire?" Aldrey asked, but Aldrian could hear the change in his father’s voice—it was trembling slightly.
"Yes," Aldrian replied.
"Were you close to me?"
"Yes."
"Was your mother also close to me?"
"Yes."
"Are you in disguise right now?"
"Yes." Aldrian then slowly removed his disguise. His black hair began to shift, turning red from the tips upward. His face started to change, becoming more radiant—a face so striking it could captivate even a goddess. His blue eyes remained the same but grew clearer, perfectly complementing the now-unveiled features beneath the disguise.
"Did you always come to me and your mother when you were afraid of something?" Aldrey’s voice was slightly choked, and his eyes had turned faintly red. He struggled to hold back his emotions.
"Yes."
"Did you always follow me in whatever I did outside the house?" By "house," Aldrey meant their home inside the secret realm. 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝘣.𝘤𝘰𝑚
"Yes."
"Did you always try to imitate me in everything I did?"
"Yes."
"Did your mother always scold me when she saw you come back from outside with a dirty body and wounds?"
"Yes."
By now, nearly all of Aldrian’s disguise had disappeared, leaving only a small section of black hair on his head. His true appearance, the full glory of Aldrian Aster, was revealed—the face Aldrey had not seen for the past five years. Although five years had passed, Aldrey could still see traces of the little Aldrian in that face.
"Did your father and mother love you?" Aldrey stood up from his seat and slowly approached Aldrian.
"Yes."
Aldrian’s smile grew warmer with each question his father asked. At this moment, Aldrey’s red eyes were glistening, and Aldrian could see how much effort it took for his father to hold back his tears. Though none had fallen yet, it would only take the slightest push for Aldrey to break down and cry.
"Did you call me ’father’?" Aldrey asked, his voice already trembling slightly as he sniffled, stopping beside Aldrian.
Aldrian stood up, meeting his father’s gaze. At that moment, his disguise fully vanished. His face bore an undeniable resemblance to Irene, yet exuded masculinity and charisma—a striking combination that could captivate anyone at first sight.
"Yes," Aldrian replied, his tone steady yet warm. He then bowed his head slightly and said,
"I’m here, father."
Unlike his meeting with his mother, where he had shed his tears in front of her, overwhelmed by the emotion of seeing her again after so long, this time he held back his tears. Though deeply moved by finally meeting his father face to face after so many years, he wanted to show his father that he was no longer the same child he once was. He had grown into someone dependable, someone who could bring pride to his father.
Aldrey instantly hugged Aldrian. In that moment, he was no longer the powerful cultivator at the duke stage, nor the genius of today’s generation from the Flamecrest family. He was simply a father, releasing the pent-up longing for his little family—especially his son. Aldrian’s height was nearly the same as Aldrey’s, so he could hug his son comfortably. Aldrey patted Aldrian’s back a few times, as if to show just how precious he was to him.
Aldrian returned his father’s hug, and after a minute, Aldrey gently grabbed his son’s shoulders, looking into his face. Although no tears had fallen, Aldrey’s nose and eyes were red from holding back his emotions, and only the sound of his sniffling could be heard.
As he looked at Aldrian’s face again, a wave of pride surged within him. He had never felt this proud before, seeing how much his son had grown over the last five years. Aldrian was nearly the same height as him now, and he seemed to have become a strong cultivator in his own right. Any problems or burdens that had weighed on his shoulders seemed to fade away the moment he saw Aldrian.
"What is going on, son? Why are you here? Wait—what happened in the secret realm? How can you—"
"Relax, father. Let me tell you my story, and you’ll have all your questions answered."
Aldrey fell silent. Even the way Aldrian spoke now was different—more mature. There was no trace of the childlike voice he remembered from the secret realm. Aldrey nodded and pulled his seat closer to Aldrian, wanting to sit near his son and hear everything. He was determined to understand what had happened to his son and why he was here.
After that, Aldrian began telling his father about his adventures, starting from the moment he left the secret realm and made his way to the Ivory Empire. What he shared was largely the same as what he had told his mother, though some parts were omitted or altered due to the secrets he still held.
Aldrey listened to his son’s story for the next few hours, his face showing many different expressions. However, the most prominent was a look of pride, which appeared every time Aldrian spoke of his actions, decisions, and the results he had achieved. In that moment, Aldrey felt as though his life was complete. Even if he were to die young, he would have no regrets. His son had become so strong and dependable, even forging his own connections with sovereigns and noble families.
Although his son’s story seemed absurd, Aldrey knew better. Aldrian could not be measured by normal standards. How could a young man, whose very birth caused a phenomenon with the appearance of a dragon and phoenix visible across the entire continent, be considered ordinary? Aldrey, more than anyone, understood just how extraordinary his son was, with potential and strength beyond imagination.
From the very first day he began training his son in cultivation, Aldrian had proven compatible with many elements. When he left the secret realm with Irene, Aldrey believed there was no one on the continent who could defeat Aldrian at the same cultivation level, even if that person were the most talented cultivator from a noble family. In fact, Aldrey was terrified by the out-of-this-world growth of his son, when he had personally trained him.
But then he smiled at Aldrian, a smile that showed a father’s relief at seeing his son safely before him. Although all of Aldrian’s achievements were monumental, making the entire continent tremble, there was nothing more reassuring than seeing his son safe and sound.
"Your adventure is truly amazing, son. I have no doubt that your name will be etched into the history of this continent—no, I believe once your name is known to the world, it will resonate across the entire continent. Your achievements are far from simple; they have caused an uproar across the continent," Aldrey said.
Aldrian also smiled, simply accepting his father’s compliment. Just like when he was a child, he felt proud and glad that his father acknowledged his actions and achievements. However, he saw his father’s expression shift to one of irritation. Aldrey then asked in a slightly annoyed tone,
"So, mind telling me why you didn’t mention who you really were earlier, ’Drian’? I feel so foolish for speaking to you so politely; I just want to bury myself." His father emphasized the ’Drian’ in a sarcastic tone.
Aldrian’s smile turned rigid, knowing that his father was likely itching to give him a good beating!
