[Points Card: The more missions you complete, the more points you accumulate. Points can be exchanged for items.]
Lin Yi finished reading the mission materials.
After reviewing the topographical map of the Cat Demon's most active areas, he took out the points card.
The points card was solid black, and on its front was a bloody knife.
The back had a simple introduction to the points card.
In other words, completing a mission earned you points.
The points you earned were deposited directly onto this card.
He had received 10 points after completing the mission to hunt the Dog Demon previously.
But for this mission, the reward in points was written down directly.
'Redeem rewards with points?'
Lin Yi smiled, putting away the points card and the mission tablet.
He then returned to carefully studying the terrain where the Cat Demon was most active.
A demonic beast that specialized in hunting children.
Its active locations were, naturally, places like schools, kindergartens, and amusement parks.
Furthermore, the mission details specified that this Cat Demon didn't only come out to hunt at night.
It was also frequently active during the day.
'In other words, its transformation is so advanced it's practically indistinguishable from the real thing?
It even dares to come out without the cover of darkness?'
Lin Yi's brows furrowed slightly.
'No wonder the reward for this Demon Hunting mission is 25,000.'
'Compared to the Dog Demon, the Cat Demon is much more difficult to hunt.'
'It makes no distinction between day and night and can appear anytime, anywhere.'
'Naturally, that increases the difficulty.'
'And if it hangs around schools, kindergartens, and amusement parks during the day, preying on children at random... it's simply impossible to guard against.'
Just as Lin Yi was starting to feel how tricky this mission would be, there was a knock at his door.
"Xiaoyi, the food is ready. Come out and eat!"
It was Lin Dazhi's voice.
Lin Yi called back a reply and put the mission materials into his backpack.
He tucked the mission tablet and the points card into his pocket.
Wei Nan had told him before to always keep the mission tablet on his person, no matter what.
Because you never knew when you might run into the demon you were supposed to hunt.
Only by having the mission tablet with you when you killed the demon would it count as completing the mission.
Lin Yi had already figured this out.
When he killed the Dog Demon last time, the mission tablet had changed color.
He figured this was just as Wei Nan had said—the mission tablet would change after completion, serving as a notification that the task was done.
Lin Yi walked out of his room and into the living room.
On the dining table were six dishes—four meat and one vegetable.
There was also a bottle of baijiu. Lin Dazhi had already taken off his apron.
He sat at the head of the table with a smile on his face.
He looked at Lin Yi and said, "Son, come on, it's time to eat!"
Lin Yi grunted in acknowledgment and walked over to the table to sit down.
Looking at Lin Dazhi, whose face was filled with benevolent fatherly love, made Lin Yi feel a bit dazed.
'Who the hell is this? Is this really Lin Dazhi? Don't tell me he was possessed, just like I was?'
'The person is the same person.
But the soul has been swapped for another?'
'Otherwise, how could he possibly have become like this today?'
The original owner of this body had always hoped for a complete father.
Even a little fatherly love from Lin Dazhi was an extravagant hope.
Who would have thought that today, Lin Dazhi... would be so abnormal.
"Son, come on, don't just sit there dazed. Try my cooking, see how it is."
"All these years, it's always been your Aunt Hongmei who does the cooking. I rarely get a chance to show off, so I don't know if my skills have gotten rusty!"
"I remember when your mother was alive, she loved my cooking most. You did too... You were so little then, always yelling 'Daddy, hurry up and cook...'"
"Sigh, so many years have passed in a flash, and your mother is gone now..."
Before Lin Dazhi could finish, Lin Yi, who had just picked up his chopsticks, cut him off.
"If we're eating, let's just eat. Don't bring up my mother!"
Lin Dazhi: "..."
The atmosphere instantly turned awkward.
Lin Dazhi glanced quietly at Lin Yi, then picked up the liquor bottle and poured himself a full glass.
He took a small sip and put the glass down.
Lifting his head to look at Lin Yi again, he said, "I know you've always hated me!"
"You hate me for neglecting you, hate me for not treating you as well as Lin Yu, and hate me even more for..."
"Old Lin, you've had one sip and it's already gone to your head?"
"What's with all this talk about hate? You cooked this whole table of food today. You're not planning on getting all sentimental with me, are you? If you have something to say, say it. Don't beat around the bush. I have to go out later!"
Although Lin Dazhi's transformation had moved him slightly, Lin Yi's mind remained clear. He didn't let himself get soft-hearted. On the contrary, after the initial shock, he quickly realized Lin Dazhi must have an ulterior motive.
'If he'd really changed his ways, then Lin Dazhi wouldn't be Lin Dazhi anymore.'
Seeing Lin Yi speak so directly, the speech he had prepared was now completely useless.
The usual indifference gradually returned to Lin Dazhi's eyes.
He nodded and said, "Fine. I felt it was pretty awkward, too."
"Let's not beat around the bush, father and son. I'll just tell you directly.
You don't really have to go to your classes at school anymore, right?"
Hearing this, Lin Yi froze, looking up at Lin Dazhi.
Then he lowered his head and continued eating, which was a tacit admission.
"Since you're not planning to take the martial arts exam, there's no point in attending the rest of your classes.
You can just go back to pick up your diploma after graduation!"
"I found a job for you today. It's escorting deliveries. I told them you've studied martial arts at school, and although your talent isn't great, you can at least handle yourself if you run into demonic beasts!"
"It's a cargo escort job. There are long-haul and short-haul trips, and you get paid per trip based on the route.
Our family is pinning all its hopes on Lin Yu now. You're also a member of this family, so it's time you did something for it!"
"On Monday, I'll take you over there, and you can leave with the convoy right away!"
When Lin Dazhi finished speaking, Lin Yi looked up at him in surprise.
'Escorting deliveries? The mortality rate is over 67%.'
'It's because you're constantly traveling to different cities, often driving through the night. The probability of encountering demonic beasts is extremely high.'
'If you're lucky, you might come back alive. If you're not, the entire vehicle's crew could be wiped out.'
'The upside is that a job like this pays more. The downside... you might have the life to earn the money, but not the life to spend it.'
'Is this really my fucking biological father? Making his own son risk his life to earn money to support a stepson?'
Lin Yi suppressed the rage in his heart and looked up at Lin Dazhi.
"Old Lin, how about we go get a paternity test first? I really want to see if we're actually related by blood!"
"Nothing's even happened yet, and you're already this desperate to send me to my death? To earn money to support that stepson of yours?"
As his words fell, Lin Dazhi's face filled with fury.
"Who said I'm sending you to your death? Does escorting cargo mean you'll definitely die? If you run into danger, can't you just..."
"Screw you..."
BOOM—
Lin Yi slammed his fist violently onto the dining table.
The tabletop was instantly shattered, and the plates and bowls smashed to pieces.
"If you weren't my father, you'd be a dead man right now..."