My father is the main character, but the female leads want to kill me.

Lin Chong did not have his father come to see him off. Instead, he left the Lin family's house alone, empty-handed, and disappeared into the crowd under the watchful eyes of the family guards.

Lin Chong quietly left the city where he had lived for more than ten years, embarking on his own journey of life's trials...

……

A few days later, in the study of the president of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce, Lin Ran sat in the guest seat, quietly waiting for Li Yuhan to come and get the things.

"bump!"

With a soft sound of the door opening, Li Yuhan walked in. Today, Li Yuhan was wearing a dark green cheongsam, revealing a tempting glimpse of her fair skin as she walked.

Sitting in the main seat, Li Yuhan crossed her legs, took out a jade box from her spatial ring, pushed it towards Lin Ran, and said in an annoyed tone, "This time I found a higher-grade mask. The quality is much better than the previous one. As long as it's not too damaged, it can even repair itself."

The downside is actually not too bad; it just can't prevent powerful beings like those at the Dragon Transformation Realm from eyeing it. It's still effective against those below the Dragon Transformation Realm.

Lin Ran opened the jade box and saw that, just like the previous mask, it was initially a cold, dough-like mass. She put the mask into her spatial ring.

Lin Ran took out two jade scrolls and looked at Li Yuhan, who had a resentful look on her face, and said, "I'll also give you two good things. This cultivation method and martial arts technique are for you to practice. Consider it a return gift for the great help you've given me this time."

Upon hearing Lin Ran's words, Li Yuhan was taken aback. Out of curiosity, she picked up one of the scrolls. She was a connoisseur and knew that this scroll was definitely the highest level of storage method for martial arts techniques. This kind of technology is now quite rare.

After placing it between her eyebrows and glancing at its contents, Li Yuhan stood up in alarm. Her long, narrow eyes were filled with shock as she whispered, "Where did you get such a high-level technique?"

"The Heavenly-level intermediate cultivation technique, the Heavenly Fox Technique, I've taken a look, and it seems very suitable for you to cultivate. Perhaps if you diligently practice this technique, you can achieve a decent level of cultivation." Lin Ran smiled.

This technique was naturally obtained by him in the Sword Saint Ruins. Although it was generally unremarkable among the collections in the Sword Saint Ruins, it was still quite unique.

If someone is naturally alluring or has some kind of fox-like bloodline, practicing this technique is like adding wings to a tiger. It is said that when one cultivates it to the end, not only will one be incredibly powerful, but every smile and frown will be able to make the other person fall head over heels in love and become hopelessly infatuated.

That sounds impressive, but whether one can actually cultivate to that level is still debatable.

"Really for me? This... All the training gear I got for you in the wilderness and that mask aren't as valuable as this cultivation manual you're giving me!" Li Yuhan's speech became somewhat incoherent. Even she had rarely seen a mid-level Heaven-rank cultivation manual, let alone actually practicing it.

“I said I’d give it to you, so it’s yours. I don’t have any use for this cultivation manual. You should keep it and practice it carefully. I don’t want to see you with wrinkles on your face next time I see you.”

"Get lost! I'm still young, how could I have wrinkles!" Li Yuhan said angrily.

"It may not be possible now, but it might not be in the future. Do you really want to waste your whole life like this? Maybe if you cultivate this technique, you'll become a bewitching enchantress, powerful and eternally beautiful. With a mere wave of your hand, men will flock around you, fighting and killing for you. If you want to be the emperor of the Li Dynasty, you can become one."

Lin Ran even used a deep voice to entice Li Yuhan to cultivate this technique. He was quite curious to see what it would be like to cultivate this technique, and he felt that it would be very suitable for Li Yuhan.

"Do you really want to watch me cultivate?" Li Yuhan lowered her head, her eyes fixed on the two jade scrolls on the table, biting her rosy lips as she asked this question.

Lin Ran was stunned for a moment before nodding and saying, "Yes, I hope to see you cultivate. I hope that even decades later, when I look back, I will still see you looking the same."

"Then you just wait, I'll definitely bewitch you to death in the future, and drain you dry in bed until you're skin and bones!" Li Yuhan's narrow eyes curved into a charming arc, and she spoke extremely wild words in a seductive and tingling voice.

"Haha, I'm looking forward to that day. I might stay in the capital Anling for a while in a little over a year. If you come back, I can check on how your cultivation is going. Also, while I'm away, please take care of the Lin family and offer them some help whenever you can," Lin Ran said with a smile.

"That will cost extra!" Li Yuhan said smugly.

"Then I'll definitely add several hundred million for you."

With a smile on her face, Lin Ran stood up, waved her hand, and said, "I'm leaving. Don't miss me too much. Too many women miss me, and having another one like you is a bit of a hassle."

Li Yuhan also stood up. Hearing Lin Ran's words, she learned how to retort and said, "Then I'll have to miss you a lot and trouble you a bit!"

"If you like it, that's all that matters. Who can blame me for being so charming!" Lin Ran shamelessly boasted. Just as he reached the door, he heard hurried footsteps behind him. Before he could turn around, he felt a soft, warm body bump against his back. A rich fragrance filled his nostrils, and a pair of slender arms tightly embraced his waist.

Lin Ran was a little confused by Li Yuhan's parting "farewell". He quietly enjoyed it for a while, and then he heard Li Yuhan's soft voice in his ear: "When I become stronger in the future, I will eat you up and then not take responsibility. I will drain you dry until you can't pay your dues to your wife".

"Can you stop being so perverted? I think you're even more perverted than me!" Lin Ran was genuinely frightened by Li Yuhan's fierce words. There's always someone stronger than you!

"Hmph, isn't this a classic case of 'one is influenced by one's company'? You taught me that, Lin Ran!" Li Yuhan released her grip, and just as she was about to leave, she slapped Lin Ran's bottom hard. Then, expressionless, she waved her hand to shoo him away: "Get lost, get lost, we don't need you anymore!"

"You little rascal!"

Lin Ran glared at Li Yuhan, then vanished in a flash. A crisp "smack" rang out in the study. Li Yuhan, her pretty face flushed, covered her shapely buttocks, feeling ashamed and indignant. She tried to find Lin Ran, but he was nowhere to be seen in the study. Only a voice remained in her ear: "Very bouncy and moist. See you in a year!"

"Never again!"

Li Yuhan shouted angrily. She could feel her face burning hot, and the slight pain in her buttocks seemed to be telling her the result of jumping around in front of a tiger.

"Hmph, I'll definitely get my revenge next time!" Li Yuhan covered her buttocks with one hand and waved her little fist with the other, angrily throwing a few punches into the air as if Lin Ran were right in front of her.

After a while, Li Yuhan stopped her silly behavior and sighed softly.

"Hopefully that guy will be stronger next time I see him, otherwise I might catch up with him..."

……

Chapter 51 Southern Wilderness Town

When Lin Ran was about to hand over all the affairs of the Lin family to the First Elder, this fat man who had been his adversary for many years unexpectedly grabbed him and burst into tears, shouting hoarsely, "Lin Ran, the Lin family can't do without you!"

"Even if I hadn't yelled, I would have soon!" Lin Ran shook her head helplessly, slightly setting up a soundproof barrier in the council hall, and said, "Weren't you already resentful of me becoming the clan leader back then? Now that I'm your acting clan leader, aren't you happy?"

The First Elder scratched his round, shiny bald head and said apologetically, "I only realized later how tiring and thankless it is to be the clan leader. Although you broke many of the Lin family's rules, it cannot be denied that it is precisely because you broke through these shackles that the Lin family is getting better and better now."

"It's rare to hear anything reliable from you, so don't worry!"

I've already given you all the instructions, so just follow the rules. If you encounter any insurmountable difficulties, stay calm and follow the plan I've prepared.

"You can do it well. Remember to focus on your cultivation when you have time. I've put some effort into revising the cultivation method I gave you." Lin Ran patted the Grand Elder's shoulder, looking at his longtime nemesis, his white hair and wrinkles, and said meaningfully, "I hope you live to see the day the Lin family becomes a top power in the Nine Provinces Continent!"

"Will...will that day really come?" the elder asked.

"It will happen! Even if my generation fails, there will be the next generation, one generation after another, pushing the Lin family to its peak!" Lin Ran laughed heartily, then patted the First Elder on the shoulder and said loudly, "Let's go, old friend, the Lin family is in your hands now!"

The Grand Elder stood at the entrance of the council hall, watching Lin Ran's figure gradually disappear at the end of the path. His eyes, which were already somewhat cloudy, became a little sore. Seeing that no one was around, he quietly wiped away a tear.

"Lin Ran, I will take good care of the Lin family and wait for you to come back!"

……

The training route chosen by Lin Chong was to first go to Nanshan Pass. Traveling southwest from Linshan City, he would actually have to pass through the Nanhuang Mountains.

However, a relatively safe route that can be traveled by carriage has been explored, but that doesn't mean there are no monsters. Occasionally, a few will suddenly appear on the road, but they are not of a very high level.

This route is not deserted; there is a relatively large town called Nanhuang Town. The terrain there is well-connected, allowing you to go deep into the Nanhuang Mountains or continue southwest to Nanshan Pass.

Although the town cannot compare to a medium-sized or large city like Linshan City, it is small but complete, with everything one needs. There are brothels and taverns for entertainment, teahouses and inns for rest, places to buy supplies, and horses are readily available. In addition, there are many mercenary teams here all year round, so it is naturally full of a fierce atmosphere.

After all, not every place you can hear burly men talking loudly and unrestrainedly about which girls are the best, whistling at passing female mercenaries, swearing at monsters every day, and yelling at tavern owners about cheap liquor, "Damn it, give me my money back..."

Lin Ran drove the carriage here. At this time, he did not look like a handsome young man. Instead, he had fierce eyes, a scarred face, and a somewhat violent aura. He was clearly a handsome man, but the scars made him look rather ferocious and terrifying. He wore a wide hat and all black clothes.

This approach was quite effective. At least along the way, some female mercenaries who wanted to ride in his carriage were scared away by his terrifying appearance.

Except for the bustling areas where bluestone bricks were used to pave the ground, the rest of the town in the southern wilderness was just dirt. After parking the carriage at an inn and checking into a room, Lin Ran wandered around the brightly lit town of the southern wilderness alone at night. The bustling areas were quite lively.

The most bustling place was probably inside the alleyway, where heavily made-up women waved handkerchiefs, beckoning to burly men passing by. Just as Lin Ran was about to walk over, a glamorous woman pressed herself against him, sticking a swaying water balloon against his arm. A cheap, perfumed scent wafted over, and she called out in a coquettish voice, "Hmm~ Sir, why don't you come in and have some fun, release some pressure..."

Unfortunately, before she could finish speaking, the beautiful woman saw Lin Ran's ferocious face and his cold gaze fixed on her. She turned even paler with fright, quickly released Lin Ran's arm, and said, "I'm sorry, sir, I was blind and disturbed you!"

Lin Ran didn't say anything and walked straight ahead. It turns out that looking fierce has its advantages. One look and a scary face can solve a lot of problems.

Lin Ran strolled around the shops in the small town of Nanhuang with great interest. This was his first time visiting the town, so he naturally wanted to look around. Just then, he saw his son, Lin Chong, in a shop that sold all sorts of strange and unusual items.

This cheered Lin Ran up. He walked a little closer and saw Lin Chong looking for treasures in the shop. Lin Chong looked much darker than before he set off. He was dressed in simple clothes, with a resolute face and a travel-worn appearance. Moreover, his strength had actually improved, reaching the fourth level of the Daoist realm, which was beyond his expectations.

"It seems this child is really working very hard at cultivation!" Lin Ran thought to herself.

Lin Chong, who was inside the shop, had developed a habit of frequently looking around during this time. He noticed a man dressed in black who, without bright lights, might blend into the darkness and go unnoticed.

At that moment, the man seemed to be looking at him, but after a while, he looked away and continued walking forward. Lin Chong glanced at the strange man a few more times and couldn't help but wonder, "What a strange fellow!"

"Hey kid, do you still want these things?" The shop owner shouted as Lin Chong was about to walk out of the shop.

"Hey, I'm here. I definitely still need the stuff. Boss, could you make these things a little cheaper?" Lin Chong snapped out of his daze, went up to the boss, and started arguing with him.

Lin Ran, meanwhile, had moved to another spot to observe Lin Chong. In the shadows of one of the alleyways, Lin Ran looked in Lin Chong's direction and thought to himself, "This kid is not bad. He's very alert and knows how to bargain when buying things instead of being ripped off. Not bad, kid, you've made good progress."

As Lin Ran's son, how could he not know how to bargain? Especially in shops that sell strange and unusual items, the shop owners don't even know how much these things are worth. Just bargain as hard as you can. If they don't want to bargain, then use physical means to bargain.

Lin Chong emerged from the shop with a smile, hid in an alley to put his things into his spatial ring, looked around, and then blended into the crowd. Lin Ran followed him and was somewhat surprised to find that Lin Chong was staying at the same inn as him.

"I never expected that the father and son would choose the same hotel!"

Lin Ran smiled at this strange coincidence. After returning to the hotel, he used his spiritual power to check Lin Ran's room, which was a room on the second floor, just around the corner, about four or five rooms away from his own.

As soon as Lin Chong returned to his room, he seemed to begin meditating. Lin Ran, seeing this, did not disturb him. Instead, she remained alert to her surroundings, sat on a chair by the bed, closed her eyes to rest, and pondered what to do next.

The next morning, Lin Ran was woken up early by the sounds of a couple exercising in the next room. The couple was really vigorous; the man was shouting louder than the woman. They had been doing it all night, and now they were exercising this morning. They were really something else.

After washing up, Lin Ran saw his son Lin Chong making a move, so he got up and followed. To avoid being discovered by the little guy, he only used his mental power to keep him in check. He wanted to see what the little guy was up to.

Lin Chong, meanwhile, headed towards the simple entrance of the mercenary guild in the town, where a number of mercenaries were gathered, shouting and gesturing.

It's a lot like when you're playing a game and you're shouting on the server, "Looking for a nice girl, I'll play a healer and carry you through dungeons, I'll take care of the main DPS."

Lin Ran knew quite a bit about mercenaries. The most powerful mercenaries were the ones that grew into large, powerful teams with strict organization and management. These mercenary teams were strong in combat, but their prices were also much higher, essentially like forming their own small guild.

Normally, everyone works out in their own small teams, doing tasks and having a good time. When there's a big task, the whole team works together. Based on their level of contribution, they can exchange for rewards and get promoted, making it feel like a small society.

Some are temporary mercenary teams, which are basically formed to complete missions and cooperate with each other, lacking trust and tacit understanding.

This is actually the type of situation most prone to accidents. If there's a dispute over the spoils, they might stab you in the back twice, killing you to steal your treasure, or killing you if they don't like you.

In this world where strength is the core, this is quite common. These mercenary groups are much weaker than those legitimate mercenary teams.

Then there are the scattered mercenaries, who are either very strong or have good survival skills and can complete missions alone. Of course, there are also standard mercenary teams of five or six people who are well-coordinated.

However, in Lin Ran's view, these people, who are called mercenaries, are actually mercenary groups. They are basically doing this high-risk industry for money, risking their lives and not knowing if they will see the sun tomorrow.

……

Chapter Fifty-Two: The Ye Family of Nanshan Pass

However, Lin Ran was more curious about what her son wanted to do in this place. Was he going to make money as a mercenary and train himself?

He gave Lin Chong a lot of travel expenses, and the boy shouldn't be short of money. Besides, people think you're young and unfamiliar. If you rashly join some unknown and strange mercenary group, they might kill you in the blink of an eye.

It's not uncommon for people to team up to kill you and steal your treasure.

Lin Ran pretended to be watching from near the Mercenary Guild, but her attention was entirely focused on Lin Chong.

"This kid is quite cautious. He knows he can't just join these mercenary groups, and he's observing carefully. Not bad!" Lin Ran watched Lin Chong wandering around, occasionally chatting enthusiastically with some mercenary groups to learn some information.

Lin Chong was unaware that his father had been watching him from nearby. He wandered around for a long time before finally finding a team that suited him quite well.