Chapter 18: A Father-Son Tragedy Caused by Soup Dumplings
Chapter 18: Chapter 18: A Father-Son Tragedy Caused by Soup Dumplings
The Green Origin Realm was home to countless Spells, and as a hidden master, Uncle Li was an absolute pro at something like targeted teleportation.
Lou Xiaotian was still cackling when, in the blink of an eye, two steaming-hot buns appeared right in front of him.
Their appearance, so different from before, instantly drew Lou Xiaotian’s gaze.
He gazed at the two exquisite, jade-like buns, unable to tear his eyes away.
But he knew buns had to be eaten while they were hot.
He leaned in for a sniff, and the faint, alluring aroma was the last straw. Lou Xiaotian could wait no longer.
He eagerly took a bite. When the broth exploded in his mouth, he fell victim to the same trap as Uncle Li.
Only, he reacted faster. He stuck his butt out, and the broth missed his clothes, splattering onto the floor instead.
Looking at the few drops of broth on the ground, then savoring the exquisite flavor still in his mouth, Lou Xiaotian was filled with regret. ’I should have thought through a better way to eat this.’
Lost in self-reproach, Lou Xiaotian didn’t notice his bedroom door open.
Outside the door stood Lou Xiaotian’s father, Lou Batian, the Town Lord of Xiaohe Town.
True to his name, he had been an overlord in his youth. But as he grew older, he lost interest in fighting and killing, choosing a small place to live out his days in peace.
As this was his only son, he naturally cherished Lou Xiaotian.
Lou Xiaotian had been acting mysterious lately and seemed to be mixed up with some strange characters, which made him a little worried.
He had come for a father-son talk, but there was no answer when he knocked.
He could sense Lou Xiaotian’s presence inside, so he opened the door. What greeted him was the sight of his son with his butt stuck out, indecently slurping on a bun.
’What a disgraceful sight!’
Lou Batian’s face darkened.
His son could be a spoiled brat, but he had to have some basic decorum!
Seeing Lou Xiaotian’s posture, Lou Batian tore through the ward on the door, slipped inside, and kicked his son squarely on the rump.
"Is this how I raised you? To stand with dignity and sit with poise! If anyone saw you like this, they’d think the Lou Family has no manners!"
The words flew from Lou Batian’s mouth like a machine gun.
With his mouth already stuffed, Lou Xiaotian couldn’t argue back. And because Lou Batian had struck so quickly, the startled Lou Xiaotian lost his grip, and the remaining soup-filled bun went flying from his hand.
"No!"
A look of pure despair crossed Lou Xiaotian’s face as he watched the bun arc through the air.
Ignoring Lou Batian’s oppressive presence, he dove forward, intending to use his own body as a cushion.
’He could get hurt, but the bun must be saved at all costs.’
The contorted expression on Lou Xiaotian’s face as he sacrificed himself for the bun made Lou Batian’s blood boil.
’It’s just a bun, isn’t it?’
’Is it really worth all this?’
These questions prompted Lou Batian to wave a hand, magically pulling the bun into his grasp.
THUD!
That was the sound of Lou Xiaotian hitting the floor.
It hurt.
Seeing the bun was safe and sound, Lou Xiaotian breathed a sigh of relief, a dopey smile on his face.
"Dad."
He grinned, and a trickle of broth dribbled from the corner of his mouth.
Realizing this, Lou Xiaotian quickly slurped it back in. SLURP.
Lou Batian felt his chest tighten at the sight.
Just as Lou Batian was about to lecture his son further, his nose twitched.
’Something’s off. Something’s very off.’
Ever since he’d entered, he’d noticed an unforgettable aroma in the room.
At first, he’d thought it was Lou Xiaotian’s incense.
But what kind of incense smelled like food? And savory food, at that.
Lou Batian’s eyes widened. His gaze shifted from his son on the floor to the bun in his palm.
That aroma... it seemed to be coming from the bun.
Lou Batian, a man who prided himself on having tasted every delicacy imaginable, found his gaze uncontrollably stuck to the bun.
He could see how important this bun was to his son. A gentleman doesn’t take what another cherishes... but he wasn’t a gentleman. Besides, it was only natural for a father to take something from his son.
More importantly, he could feel his usually unshakeable composure wavering before this little bun.
It was like a pebble dropped onto the surface of a tranquil lake, sending out circle after circle of ripples.
The ripples spread, one after another, until they covered the entire surface, stirring something deep in his heart that he could no longer ignore.
Lou Xiaotian saw the change in his father’s eyes and knew this was bad.
"Dad, give me back my bun."
Lou Xiaotian sprang up, but in front of his old man, his meager cultivation was nothing.
His body moved faster than his brain.
As Lou Xiaotian straightened up, Lou Batian’s foot stomped him back down to the ground.
SMACK! It was a loud one.
Father and son’s eyes met. Both fell silent. Only the dancing dust motes spoke to the explosive tension in the air.
"Dad, don’t eat it! I’ll agree to anything!"
Lou Xiaotian was frantic, trying to bargain with his father.
He knew that if his dad ever got a taste of Boss Lu’s buns, he’d have one more competitor to deal with in the future.
The current regulars were already enough of a headache for him.
Even he had to get in line early, terrified of missing out.
"Heh. Your old man doesn’t need anything from you."
Lou Xiaotian’s plea made it obvious to Lou Batian that there was something special about this bun.
Naturally contrarian, Lou Batian, as quick as a flash of lightning, stuffed the entire bun into his mouth.
It happened so fast that Lou Xiaotian had no time to stop him.
The consequence of his haste was that he followed in his son’s footsteps. The broth burst out, and Lou Batian instinctively stuck his butt out to dodge.
It had to be said, they were truly father and son.
He managed to dodge, but he’d forgotten he was still pinning his own son to the floor with his foot.
DRIP. DRIP.
The hot broth, mixed with his own father’s saliva, dripped onto Lou Xiaotian’s face.
Feeling that warm trickle, Lou Xiaotian’s world came crashing down.
Humiliation!
This was utter humiliation!
This was the last straw.
His eyes blazed red, and his fury shot to the heavens.
"Mom!"
He couldn’t beat his old man, but he could summon his dear mother to fight on his behalf.
"Son, did you call for me?"
At his cry, a woman of otherworldly, breathtaking beauty appeared in the room, taking in the entire situation at a glance.
Seeing her son bullied to the verge of tears, the woman’s gaze turned to daggers that shot, SWISH SWISH SWISH, into Lou Batian’s body.
At their level of cultivation, a single thought could become reality.
So the daggers were real, too.
In an instant, several bloody holes appeared on Lou Batian.
They weren’t fatal, but they hurt.
"You old fossil, how dare you bully my son! I’ll skin you alive!"
The woman’s delicate brows knitted in fury. Her angry expression made the massive Lou Batian cower, not daring to fight back at all.
"My dear, my dear, please, let me explain!"
"OW!" cried Lou Batian as he scurried about, shielding his head. His words were garbled, as he still hadn’t finished the bun in his mouth.
He couldn’t bear to spit it out; it was just too delicious.
If the circumstances weren’t so dire, he would have interrogated his son under torture to find out where these buns came from.
They were just so damn good.
"What’s that smell?"
"Are you eating something delicious behind my back?"
The woman’s delicate nose twitched. Her gaze grew suspicious as she stared at the greasy sheen on the corner of Lou Batian’s mouth.
"Ahem, Mom, here’s what happened. I bought something delicious to share with you, but Dad snatched it away and ate it himself! He even tried to beat me into submission!"
Lou Xiaotian tattled with righteous indignation. Seeing Lou Batian covered in lumps, he put his hands on his hips, looking utterly smug.
Hmph!
He, Lou Xiaotian, was a man with connections, too.