Guardian Of Midgard

Chapter 3 Wrong Answer

Cold sweat rolled down the guards' faces.

Just moments ago, they had been ready to drag the little girl away. Then an overwhelming pressure had swept over them.

It lasted less than a heartbeat, but in that instant, it felt as if a mountain had crashed onto their shoulders.

Their eyes locked onto the young man standing before the estate gates.

Dressed in a simple black cloak with a faded silk girdle at his waist, he carried no weapon, wore no armor, and bore none of the imposing aura one would expect from a powerful warrior.

At first glance, he looked more like a traveling scholar than a martial artist.

“Did that aura just now come from him?” They whispered to themselves, wary enough not to make any rash moves. 

Kael's brows pressed together. After seeing the jade pendant, he truly studied the little girl’s face again. 

His eyes widened. The dirt on her face had hidden it before, but now, the resemblance struck him like lightning.

She had his eyes and hair, but the rest reminded him of Lucy, the same delicate features, the curve of her brows, the shape of her nose, and the same stubborn expression.

The little girl clung to him. "You believe me now, Dad... right?" She asked in her little voice. 

The way she had called him  Dad without hesitation made his heart melt.

Immediately, Kael suddenly pulled her into his arms, tightly embracing her. “I’m back,” he sniffed. 

His arms trembled slightly.

For the first time in many years, the man who had faced countless life-and-death battles with no emotion felt his heart overflow with a myriad of emotions. 

It was more than twelve years since he had seen Lucy and although he had no idea that their passionate night years ago had left him with a child, he still felt his heart overwhelmed with guilt.

"Dad?” The little girl's voice was soft.

Kael patted her back gently. "...I'm here."

Her tiny body shook violently and the tears she had been holding back finally burst free.

"Father…” She buried her face against his chest. "Does this mean we can finally be free?"

Kael leaned back and studied her. Looking at her frail frame and patched clothes, he suddenly had an idea of what was going on.

 Instantly, a dangerous coldness gradually spread through his eyes

“Where’s you, mum?” He asked, his arms still wrapped around her. 

“Mummy…she was…” The little girl began but instantly someone interrupted them.

"This little girl would be worse than her mother!" A sharp voice suddenly rang out followed by footsteps. 

“This brat is already learning how to seduce men at such a young age.” Amelia sneered. Her face was filled with irritation.

Amelia strode past the guards who remained unsure of what to do after witnessing the little girl throw herself into the arms of the young man who had possibly unleashed that terrifying aura. 

Kael slowly lifted his head.

The moment Amelia's eyes landed on him, her steps faltered.

At first glance, he looked ordinary, wearing just simple clothes and a black cloak.

Yet Amelia's gaze quickly settled on the cloak draped over his shoulders.

Her pupils narrowed. That was a Qi Gathering Cloak and even a rare one! Even elders of powerful sects would think twice before spending such a fortune.

This young man had no family insignia and didn't appear to belong to any of the major factions she knew, but that meant nothing.

In the martial world, background was important, but there were countless wandering Qi Masters who preferred a life of seclusion, cultivating far from sects and noble families, dressed no differently from ordinary men.

A single careless offense could bring disaster upon an entire family.

The arrogance on her face vanished instantly, and a warm smile appeared in its place.

"My apologies, sir." Her voice softened considerably.

"It seems a troublesome child has disturbed your peace." She bowed her head slightly, displaying just enough respect. "I will handle the matter personally."

She extended a hand toward the little girl. "Come here."

The little girl’s fingers tightened around Kael's cloak.

"She's staying with me." Kael's voice was calm.

The corner of Amelia's smile twitched. 

"That child must have bothered you.” She let out a light laugh. “She is merely a wicked servant's daughter. She's always causing trouble. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree." She chuckled. 

Her eyes flickered toward the little girl. “I’ll let you off today. Now quickly go to the barns.” 

"I said she's staying with me," Kael repeated with a cold expression on his face. 

Amelia's smile finally began to crack.

She was not only taken aback by his defiance but suddenly felt something strange. Somehow he looked familiar, but she couldn’t seem to place her hand around it yet. 

Why was this man protecting Lucy’s daughter? She wondered, but then it struck her. 

He reached up and removed the hood of his cloak. 

Amelia frowned. He looked very familiar.

Then her eyes widened. "No...Kael?"

The moment she saw his face clearly, Amelia's pupils shrank. "It’s…you..." The smile on her face vanished.

"How dare you call my daughter a servant's wicked child?" Kael interrupted her.

Amelia burst into laughter.

"No…way." She continued laughing, and her eyes swept over him contemptuously.

"I heard you disappeared years ago, so the trash actually crawled back."

Kael frowned.

Amelia smirked, "Even after the first Uncle slaughtered your parents, you still dared to come here?"

A strange feeling suddenly appeared in Kael's chest. "What? Did you just say my uncle killed my parents?” Kael froze. 

Amelia grinned. "You don’t know?" She paused, looking at him incredulously. “No wonder you have the guts to come here.” 

Kael's eyes blazed, and he felt his whole body tremble. 

He couldn’t believe his ears. In his memory, his uncle had always been kind to his family, and even after his parents died, he continued to treat him kindly. 

Kael had always seen him as his second father. For a long moment, he said nothing.

Then, "Why? His voice was low. "I was told my parents died during an expedition."

Amelia laughed mockingly, "Expedition?"

She took a slow step forward, her lips curling into a mocking smile.

"Well, I suppose there is no reason to hide it anymore. I’ll let you know." Her gaze swept over him from head to toe.

The contempt in her eyes was undisguised.

“Your father was one of the strongest men in the kingdom. Do you really believe a few wild beasts could kill him?" She looked at him as if he were a fool.

Her lips curled. " No. The beasts didn't kill him. My father did."

The words struck Kael.

Amelia continued. "Your father was strong, but strength alone isn't enough to rule. He was soft. Too soft. Always talking about honor. Always talking about fairness."

She shook her head with contempt. “Men like that don't survive, so when he refused to step aside…he paid the price." 

Her lips curved into a sinister smile. “Your parents were foolish enough to never guard against those closest to them, so it was easy to clear them out of the way and call it an expedition accident. 

Kael's hands slowly clenched. Suddenly, memories flooded his mind. He remembered his father's laughter and his mother's warm embrace.

The promises they made before leaving for that final expedition. He remembered waiting for them day after day and month after month, refusing to believe they were gone.

The family had told him there were no bodies.

His parents had supposedly encountered a beast tide and stayed behind to buy everyone time to escape.

A lie he had believed for years.

The air around him began to tremble, but Kael just lowered his head, filled with grief.

Slowly, he opened his eyes. He couldn’t lose another loved one. 

 "Where is Lucy?" His voice came out hoarse.

Amelia smirked.

She knew she had struck a wound, so she twisted the knife deeper.

"Your father lost the clan to my father, and now you've lost your fiancée to my brother. Pathetic"

She laughed. "By now, Lucy is probably kneeling at my brother's feet. 

Kael's face darkened, and killing intent erupted from his eyes.

I’ll advise you to turn around and take your pathetic daughter with you. Never show your face around here if you don’t want to die." Her eyes dripped with ridicule.

Kael ignored her mockery. "Where is she?" He coldly demanded. 

The temperature seemed to drop.

But she just sneered. "You think you're in a position to ask questions?" Amelia's voice rose sharply. "Guards!"

Instantly, more than a dozen elite warriors rushed forward. Though fear lingered in their hearts from the aura they had seen him release earlier, none dared disobey Amelia. 

Also, they had the numbers.

She pointed directly at Kael. "Capture him!" Her eyes glittered with excitement.

Presenting him to her father would be a monumental achievement for their branch of the family.

Instantly, weapons flashed, and the guards surrounded Kael. 

"Wrong answer," Kael muttered, watching the advancing warriors approach him. 

The stone beneath Kael's feet cracked and killing intent in Kael's eyes finally erupted.