Chapter 22: The Plea For Help

His question catches Lin Ke by surprise. Lin Ke raises an eyebrow. "What do you want to know? I don't know what there is to know about me… You know exactly who I am. I'm just an ordinary guy who's looking to become a prominent artist." He says in a nonchalant way.

Master Sal frowns, and replies. "No, there's no way. What kind of ordinary guy can break out of my Art? What kind of ordinary guy can know about that… What kind of ordinary guy has a SEMI-DIVINE TOOL?" Master Sal seemed to have gone a little insane at the end of the speal.

Lin Ke doesn't know how to respond to the rapid flow of accusations. His mouth was slightly open in surprise. "Uh… I don't know?"

This makes Master Sal even more intensive and he continues to rant. "You must be from the Highest Realm. You must be! Please! If you are from that place, just one word from you, or send one person from your family! If you do that, you could conquer everything in our realm! Please, avenge our family! You can do it right. You can do it right?" Master Sal was looking increasingly desperate as he spoke, his hands clutching the air in front of him. His face had an expression of pain, anger, sorrow, frustration and overwhelming determination. "Last but not least, protect Lia please. If you're really from that place, if you're really from that place… If you're really from that pl-"

"Grandpa… Stop… That's enough. I don't need anyone else to protect me grandpa." Lia placed a hand on Master Sal's shaking shoulders. Her eyes were turning a little red as well, but she held back her tears in the face of Master Sal's already broken heart.

Lin Ke didn't know what to do. He didn't know how to respond. Here was the person he thought of as the strongest in this world begging him for help. That weary face was asking him to help. Lin Ke stood up and tried to calm Master Sal down and comfort him.

"Look Master Sal, I don't know the exact details of what happened, and I don't know if I can really be of help to you, but if I am able to, I will assist you in any way I can." Lin Ke says with a small forced smile of his face. The moment those words left his mouth, he completely regretted it. 'Sh- iet.' He thought to himself under that smile. 'What did I just get myself mixed up into? I'm just an ordinary artist! Why did I agree???'

Master Sal, hearing what Lin Ke had said, looked at him as if he'd seen his savior. "Really? You'll help us? Thank you so much! Now, if I might ask, which family do you hail from? Even if it's a higher realm then mine, I've visited it before and I know most of the major families."

Lin Ke blinks. "Errr. The thing is… I really am not from a higher realm or whatever. I have no idea what you're talking about at all…"

Master Sal furrows his brow. "Wait really?"

"Yeah really."

Master Sal pauses with a blank look on his face. He looks as if his soul was lost. The thoughts going through his head were as such, 'What? What did he just say? Maybe he's just joking? He doesn't seem to be joking though… Wh-' Then, after thinking over his options for a bit, he finally decided, 'Hm, even if he isn't part of one of the major families. He must have many deep secrets… I guess it's worth it to have him be our ally. Plus, he seems to be a trustworthy person….'

After deciding this he sighs and says, "Alright. I suppose you're genuine in your desire to help…" He rubs his head and sits back down. "Of course, that's for the future. For now, I suppose you would want breakfast after that hectic morning?"

It was only at this moment that Lin Ke realized his stomach was completely empty and growling. He felt famished after the extremely eventful morning he had just gone through. The day hadn't even started goddamn it. He rubs his stomach, "Yeah sure, that would be great."

Master Sal smiles, "We can talk more during breakfast, for now, Lia, can you bring Lin Ke to the dining room? I'll be right there, I just need to handle something first."

Lia stands up and says, "Yes grandpa. Lin Ke, let's go." She gestures at him and walks towards the door.

Lin Ke stands up and follows her out. As they walked in the hallway, the air was slightly awkward between the two of them. Lin Ke didn't know what to say to Lia after what he had just heard about her history. Should he apologize? Should he be sympathetic?

"I'm sorry about my grandpa... " Lia was the one who spoke first. "He's been through a lot. He told me that if it wasn't for my parents forcefully shoving me in his arms, he would've ran in to help, even if it meant dying with the family. He was the one who raised me my whole life, and I'm super thankful to him for that." She tried to keep her voice steady, but it still broke with a little emotion.

"Your grandpa's a great man." Lin Ke replied. "He must love you a lot…" Not knowing how to ask he just straight up said it. "Do you… remember how your parents look?"

Lia shook her head. "No, I was only a few days old at the time so I don't really know. I've only seen a few photos of them that grandpa painted for me." Lia's beautiful face was set into a sad smile. "As far as I know, Grandpa is the only family member left."