Chapter 50: Old Man

“No rewards at all? I’ll eat you out of house and home.”

At the banquet celebrating Ji Jige’s victory over the evil fire god, Meng Linna sat at the table, attacking her food with vengeance.

No rewards, and her vampiric traits had awakened from her injury.

This trip was a total loss.

As payback, she gorged at the church’s feast.

“Cough.”

As Meng Linna stuffed her face, a man appeared at her table.

“I didn’t teach you to eat like that.”

That stern voice.

Him!

Startled, Meng Linna trembled.

She looked up, seeing a not-so-familiar face.

“Old man, didn’t expect you here.”

She bit through her noodles, forcing an awkward smile.

“Haha, long time no see…”

Before her stood Meng Ming, her father.

The empire’s most powerful man, save the pope and emperor.

Rumored to be a peak S-rank.

To Meng Linna, he was just her estranged father.

Meng Ming frowned, handing her a handkerchief.

“Wipe your mouth. Look at you, where’s your noble grace?”

Meng Linna wiped carefully but couldn’t hold her tongue.

“I’m not a noble anymore…”

Her messy eating had annoyed Meng Ming.

Her muttered jab ignited his fury.

“You dare say that “If you hadn’t done something so outrageous, would I have kicked you out?”

Seeing her father’s rage, Meng Linna wisely stayed silent.

Noticing her compliance, Meng Ming’s tone softened.

“I checked. Your money was stolen, so you’re adventuring in Yanan, right? Barely hit C-rank after a month. Selling potions on the side. It pays, but it’s tough, isn’t it?”

Meng Linna looked up, surprised yet touched.

Her father, who disowned her, knew so much.

“It’s a bit tough…”

Facing her father, she bowed her head.

“Had enough tantrums? Come home. You did well, earning church recognition. I admit you shone.”

He extended his hand.

“Come back. You took detours, but with my resources, I can get you into Central Church. Not pope, but a cardinal seat’s easy.”

He wasn’t wrong.

In her past life, Meng Linna reached regional bishop, one step from cardinal.

But she’d lived that life.

Dying to an unclear assassination.

She wouldn’t accept that fate again.

Even if it meant hardship or vampirism, she’d fight it.

“Sorry, I won’t budge.”

Her softened expression hardened.

“I said long ago, I’m done with the church. No bishop, no pope. I just want to live my way. I know it’s selfish. Sorry, old man.”

“You…”

Her Father trembled, clearly unhappy.

Meng Linna braced for a scolding.

But he just sighed and stood.

“Don’t regret it.”

He left.

Watching his back, Meng Linna apologized in her heart.

Na Naya, sitting nearby, overheard.

She wasn’t keen on Scumbag Miss’s family drama.

But it was a decent mealtime story.

Meng Linna had long wanted out of the church?

Na Naya stared at her water cup, mind drifting to her first day at the monastery.

That sister who patted her head, smiling.

She wanted to escape even then?

***

“Your daughter needs your patience.”

Over wine, Meng Ming and Ji Jige opened up.

“Your daughter seems unwilling to serve the goddess further.”

“I’m just a humble servant. I can’t help much in secular matters.”

Ji Jige had overheard Meng Ming and Meng Linna.

She didn’t outright refuse.

The duke shook his head, a rare softness in his eyes.

“She’s throwing a fit. Maybe she’ll come around. Maybe she won’t. If so, I might trouble you to baptize my granddaughter.”

“Haha, you’re joking.”

Ji Jige dodged, raising her glass.

***

Until the banquet ended, Meng Linna didn’t see her father again.

No goodbye, but dodging a long lecture felt relieving.

Even after two lives, she was still a kid to him.

Meng Linna boarded the Yanan-bound carriage.

Na Naya was already there.

“Surprised I’m here?”

Na Naya blinked.

“Nope.”

Meng Linna shrank back, sitting opposite.

The air grew cold.

The carriage started as passengers settled.