Chapter 90: Leopard and Little Butterfly

Lin Fan nodded again. It had to be said that his uncle had indeed guessed what was on his mind. He was very curious why this sword had the word “violet” in its name. Could it be that it emitted a purple glow?

“Actually, I don’t even know what kind of sword it is. Sometimes I even wonder whether it really is a sword, because I can’t see the blade at all. It only has a rather finely crafted hilt. Over the years, I’ve occasionally taken it out to study it, but I’ve never been able to make any sense of it,” Lin Haotian said after a moment’s thought.

“Just a hilt?” Lin Fan seemed to be confirming it again. A sword without a blade—could that still be called a sword?

“Yes,” Lin Haotian said bluntly. “But your grandfather once said that the blade is hidden inside the hilt. It isn’t very long, and this sword recognizes its master. Maybe it simply hasn’t met the one it belongs to yet.”

“Of course, these are all legends passed down from the older generation. In this modern society that reveres science, it does sound a little strange,” Lin Haotian added.

“Oh,” Lin Fan replied coolly.

Lin Haotian had thought that after hearing this, Lin Fan would ask him for the sword. Instead, Lin Fan’s reaction was somewhat beyond his expectations. He found himself growing less and less able to see through this nephew of his, because Lin Fan had changed far too much compared with four years ago.

“You two have heard enough of the story. Stop hiding in there and come out,” Lin Haotian called toward the bedroom inside. “Haven’t you always wanted to meet your captain?”

The bedroom door opened at once, and out came a sturdy young man and a frosty-faced woman.

“Xiaodie, see? I told you, how could the captain have died so easily?” Leopard said with a trace of excitement in his voice.

“Then hurry up and shut your mouth,” the woman called Xiaodie said coldly.

Leopard and Xiaodie were both from Falcon. Back in the military, the two of them had been fairly close to Lin Fan and Xu Qiang. Later, when Lin Fan and the others were sent to the United States on a mission, they were declared dead. Leopard, however, had never believed for a moment that Lin Fan would die.

It was not until some time ago, when Lin Haotian told Leopard that Lin Fan had not died and had returned to the country, that Leopard and Xiaodie had become overwhelmed with excitement and followed Lin Haotian all the way here, refusing to be left behind.

The two of them were still the same as before, always bickering from time to time. Watching Leopard and Xiaodie argue, Lin Fan could not help feeling a wave of nostalgia for his days in Falcon. But it was only nostalgia. He knew he would never return to Falcon again. In this world, once certain things happened, there was no turning back.

“Captain! Captain!” Leopard and Xiaodie cried out excitedly as they stood before Lin Fan. Especially Xiaodie—she had always believed Lin Fan was dead, and now, suddenly seeing him standing alive and well in front of her, her hands trembled faintly.

Compared with Xiaodie, Leopard’s easygoing nature came through at once. He had never believed Lin Fan was dead, so Lin Fan’s sudden appearance brought him nothing but excitement and joy. He knew that with Lin Fan around, life would be full of color and variety again, no longer just mission after mission as it had been before.

In truth, when he first entered the room, Lin Fan had already heard movement in the bedroom. But since his uncle had not said anything, he could hardly burst in recklessly, so he had paid no attention to it. Only now, with Leopard and Xiaodie suddenly appearing, did he understand why Lin Haotian had not chosen to discuss things at the Tang residence, but had instead chosen this place.

Glancing at his uncle, Lin Fan slowly rose from the sofa, for a moment not knowing what to say.

Leopard, however, lunged straight at him and gave him a huge hug, almost kissing him in the process. It had been four years since they had last seen each other, and he had missed Lin Fan terribly. If Lin Haotian had not stopped him back then, Leopard would surely have gone to the United States with Lin Fan as well.

Though Xiaodie was even more agitated than Leopard, she was still a woman, and could not act as wildly as he did. “Captain, how have you been all these years?” she asked after forcing herself to calm down.

Seeing that Leopard was still holding him tightly and had no intention of letting go, Lin Fan could not help rolling his eyes.

“I’m not into that sort of thing. Keep hugging me like this and I’ll be dead before long.”

Leopard froze for a moment at that, then quickly let go of Lin Fan. Scratching his head, he grinned awkwardly twice and said, “Captain, so you can joke too.”

Lin Fan curled his lips and said somewhat unwillingly, “Four years have passed. Did you think I was still the same as before?”

Indeed, in the past Lin Fan rarely joked, his expressions were few, and he was not one to voice his feelings. But those who knew him well understood that beneath the surface he was a deeply sentimental man, and that he would occasionally show a sense of humor. More importantly, anyone who was with him would never lack excitement. On missions, so long as Lin Fan was alive, he would do everything in his power to protect the safety of the others.

“Yes, I have to say, you really have changed a lot in these four years,” Lin Haotian said, even he himself not sure whether he was praising his nephew or mocking him.

Lin Fan did not respond at all. Instead, he smiled and said to Leopard and Xiaodie, “From now on, don’t call me captain anymore. I’m no longer part of Falcon. If you really want to call me something, call me ‘boss.’ I wouldn’t mind at all.”

“Boss sounds a little smoother than captain, and it feels more imposing, too,” Leopard muttered under his breath after hearing that. Then he turned and asked, “Don’t you think so, Xiaodie?”

Xiaodie nodded thoughtfully. She still could not quite understand why Lin Fan said he was no longer with Falcon, and why he wanted her and Leopard to call him boss. It was true that boss sounded more domineering, but she still found it a little hard to get used to.

Seeing Leopard and Xiaodie’s reaction, a sly smile appeared at the corner of Lin Fan’s mouth as he looked forward to hearing them call him boss. In a certain sense, Leopard was also his brother. As for Xiaodie, though she was a woman and their relationship could not be described in terms of male brotherhood, they had nonetheless gotten along very well in the military. If the two of them could also join Dragon Soul, then...

“What boss? You two should figure out who your superior is first,” Lin Haotian said as he abruptly stood up. His face darkened as he shot Lin Fan a hard glare. “You brat, put those little schemes of yours away. They are my men. My men.”

Lin Haotian was getting anxious. Ever since Lin Fan and Xu Qiang left Falcon, the strength of the Falcon Special Forces had declined sharply. Leopard and Xiaodie were already among its best. If Lin Fan were to poach them as well, who was he supposed to cry to then? Thinking of this, Lin Haotian stared at Lin Fan with obvious vigilance, clearly warning him not to set his sights on Leopard and Xiaodie.

Lin Fan could only shake his head and smile helplessly. His uncle truly deserved to be the commander of Falcon Special Forces. The moment the thought crossed his mind, Lin Haotian was already trying to crush it in the cradle. But having no chance now did not mean there would be no chance later. In any case, he had already returned to China, and there would be plenty of opportunities to meet those two again.

Leopard and Xiaodie, meanwhile, looked blankly back and forth between Lin Fan and Lin Haotian, utterly unable to understand why their superior had suddenly become so tense.

“Come on, come with me to see your father,” Lin Haotian said, finally relieved once he saw that Lin Fan was no longer speaking.

“Okay,” Lin Fan nodded slightly. Since Lin Haotian was now playing the role of his uncle, he naturally had to be mindful of his own tone. He might be arrogant, but never to the point of having no limits. He might be wild, but never so wild as to forget the height of heaven and the depth of the earth.

“Sir, what about us?” Leopard asked cautiously. He wanted very much to stay with Lin Fan a little longer, but Lin Haotian’s stern expression just now had frightened him badly. He had never seen their superior like that before. In Falcon, Lin Haotian’s authority was not something anyone dared challenge, so after speaking, Leopard glanced at him very carefully.

“You two stay here. You don’t need to go anywhere,” Lin Haotian ordered.

“Yes, sir,” they replied at once. They did not dare disobey his orders, because obedience to command was the bounden duty of a soldier. Lin Fan knew all this only too well, for in the past he had been just like Leopard and Xiaodie, never disobeying an order from above. But now he no longer had to be bound by such rules. He owed all of that to his country...

As for Lin Haotian’s order, Lin Fan had nothing to say. After all, he was no longer a member of Falcon.

“Captain, when will we be able to see you again?” Leopard asked hurriedly as he saw Lin Fan about to leave.

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