Chapter Nine: Grandfather and Grandson Fun [4K]
The dim yellow light illuminated the dilapidated and messy small warehouse. On a dirty chair sat a middle-aged man with a pale complexion and a listless spirit, holding a box of grilled skewers and enjoying them with a bottle of beer.
On the display rack directly opposite him were several half-transparent crystal jars flickering with a soft glow.
“I say, why do you come here every day lately?” A somewhat displeased voice came from one of the crystal jars.
“Oh, I see. You got hurt because of the parasitic urban legend while you were in Huacheng, and now the Elders’ Council is causing you trouble outside. You’re scared, so you came here to hide, right?”
Upon hearing this, the man frowned slightly, put down the skewer in his hand, took a few sips of beer, and slowly replied, “What Mr. Yunshen Machine said is indeed one of the reasons.”
The parasitic urban legend was dangerous, and the core of the parasitic urban legend that Miss Rabbit and Shuo E took to Huacheng had been modified using the powers of the pink fluffy rabbit to target his abilities. Even though he managed to escape, he was still somewhat injured.
Fortunately, it seemed that calamity did not require any special guidance for the time being and had already embarked on the “right” path by itself, giving him ample time to recuperate.
“Another reason is that since I accepted the part-time job as the Solar Eclipse Association President, even if I don’t do well, I should at least put on a show.”
“However, the main reason is that I’ve recently had a relatively light work schedule. After work, I have nowhere to go, and it’s too lonely to stay home alone, so I can only come here.”
“No place to go?” Hunqiu Luxuming retorted, “After work, why not go home, watch TV, play some games? Can’t you do something you’re interested in? Or invite some beautiful ladies from the company to dinner?
“Do you not have any interests or hobbies?”
Although it wasn’t ideal for the president of the Solar Eclipse Association, who was among the world’s few “terrorists,” to wander aimlessly on the street after work, Luxuming found the man bothersome. Having him there made Luxuming uncomfortable.
The man fell silent, feeling a slight sting in his heart, almost as if he were hallucinating.
He really had no interests or hobbies. In high school, he liked playing basketball but was scolded by his parents for wasting time, so he hardly played after that. In college, he got into e-sports, but he could never play well and was often ridiculed by his classmates, eventually giving it up.
As he grew older, he became interested in photography, but he simply didn’t have the money to buy equipment, so that interest never even began.
As for life…
If it weren’t for Phoenix’s funding, surviving was already tough enough, let alone discussing living!
“Do you know?” Hunqiu Luxuming broke the silence, “It’s because you’re such a downer that I find you so irritating.”
The man thought for a moment and said, “Well, if it’s too much, can you pretend you didn’t see me? I’ll just sit here and listen to your conversation. In exchange, I can share some information from outside.”
“Not interested!”
“Is Mr. Yunshen Machine not interested in information about Jade Gate Desert as well?” the man countered.
“Go ahead.”
“Recently, the Siye Society, Miracle Cult, and Elders’ Council have been keeping an eye on Yumen Pass. They probably want to find that thing buried deep in Yumen Pass, right? Mr. Yunshen Machine studied in Jade Gate Desert, so he should know what it is.”
Hunqiu Luxuming did not respond to the man’s question but darkly changed the subject, “If you want to stay here, then stay!”
Whatever that thing in Jade Gate Desert was, he would never say, and even if he had to say it, he certainly wouldn’t tell someone from the Solar Eclipse Association.
At the playground of Banshan Primary School.
A gentle breeze blew, carrying the unique dampness after a heavy rain, mixed with the scent of decay from the old banyan tree.
Jumeng held Luxianbei close, resting her head on her knees, looking down at the exquisite face that seemed to be peacefully asleep, lost in thought, even her breathing unconsciously became slower.
As if worried that the sound of her breath would disturb Luxianbei’s lovely dreams.
How nice it would be if this could happen every day! Jumeng thought with joy, and a line from a poem often recited at Qiaoqiao Mountain suddenly flashed through her mind—”Meeting of golden wind and jade dew surpasses countless in the world.”
Just then, at the peak of this emotional atmosphere, Luxianbei suddenly frowned, her eyes quivered slightly, then she mumbled indistinctly.
“Mom? Mom!”
Jumeng,
What a mood spoiler, so disappointing!
It felt like the first kiss with a first love, where she accidentally tasted the strong flavor of garlic wedged between his teeth.
In the silence, she expressionlessly held Luxianbei’s head, slowly stood up, and raised her arms to shoulder height.
Then, with force, she slammed Luxianbei’s head towards the ground.
“Boom——!”
A dull thud echoed across the empty playground of Banshan Primary School.
In the small wooden house.
After a while of effort teaching Qing Ji how to use the coffee machine, Luxianbei brought two cups of coffee, sitting down next to Qing Ji, handing one cup to him.
“Ancestor, why not give it a try?”
Qing Ji took the coffee, sipped, and in the next moment, his features twisted as if they were out of control. “Is this what you call a globally popular drink that can rival tea?
“Why does it taste like Chinese medicine, both bitter and astringent with a hint of sourness? Apart from a lingering aroma, what advantages does it have?”
“Western things are really unreliable! If you ask me, such a good tool should be used to make soy milk. What are you rubbing your head for? Am I wrong?”
“Not wrong, just don’t know why, but suddenly I feel a bit of a headache,” Luxianbei replied.
“Of course it hurts!” Qing Ji put down the cup with a serious expression, “With your level now, forcibly fusing with the God Realm will definitely hurt.”
“Speaking of which, I must remind you, do less of similar things in the future, or be careful about irreversible damage to your sanity.”
“I’m not exaggerating! Even if you can consistently succeed by luck, each time you pry into his memories or experience others’ emotions—sometimes the subjects aren’t even human—the accumulated effects will make you guess what will happen in the end?”
Luxianbei shook her head.
“You’ll lose your humanity! Or rather, you’ll become numb and indifferent to all external stimuli,” Qing Ji scolded, tapping the back of Luxianbei’s head in frustration.
“You’re usually so sharp. Why can’t you even understand this?”
Hearing this, Luxianbei felt a flash of realization and gradually understood everything.
This situation was like eating spicy food; at first, even a tiny bit of spice could strongly stimulate the taste buds, but gradually, it evolved into needing a lot of peppers to satisfy, until the taste buds eventually became so damaged that they wouldn’t react to any more stimulus.
If one becomes accustomed to all emotional stimuli, and there’s no longer any turmoil in the heart, living indifferently and numbly would be no different from being dead.
In fact, some urban legends that excessively devoured their cores fell into this corruption and degradation for this reason.
d*mn, unknowingly, I’ve sprinted a little way down the path of corruption and degradation.
Even if I had human warmth in my hands, that little remaining warmth wouldn’t withstand such squandering!
Luxianbei thought, looking at Qing Ji, raising an eyebrow. “Thank you for the reminder, Ancestor. As thanks, I have a gift I’d like to give you.”
“A gift?”
“Would you like to see what Mudan Street and Yan Zhi Tavern have turned into now?”
At this, a glimmer of excitement flashed in Qing Ji’s eyes.
“Then let’s go take a look!”
Although the arrogance had retreated, seeing the Ancestor’s haughty appearance still made Luxianbei want to laugh, and if she could, she would have burst out.
Even if the Ancestor got angry, she wasn’t afraid he would harm her.
This was her territory; could she not even take care of herself?
Luxianbei thought, looking at Qing Ji, “Then please wait here, Ancestor. I’ll go prepare. Besides what I just mentioned, I have other surprises for you.”
After saying that, she stood up and left the small wooden house, then departed from the God Realm Prototype.
After leaving the God Realm Prototype and waking up from her slumber, Luxianbei opened her eyes and looked around in surprise.
She had unknowingly returned home to Jingyi Apartment Complex from Banshan Primary School.
Sitting up, she saw Jumeng beside her, arms crossed and looking at her fiercely, before she realized that Jumeng must have brought her back from Banshan Primary School.
“Stinky sister…”
Luxianbei called softly, just as she was about to say something to Jumeng, when she heard Jumeng coldly snort and interrupt, “Don’t call me stinky sister, call me Mom!”
After saying that, she stood up and headed downstairs without looking back.
Luxianbei, “???”
What the heck? What’s going on? Has she awakened some strange obsession?
Forget it, it’s more important to deal with business!
Luxianbei thought, shrugging and getting up to head to a corner of the room, picking up the soundly sleeping Wang Ying.
If she had to choose someone among the people she knew to take care of Wang Ying, it would only be Qing Ji.
Who else besides Qing Ji could easily subdue a catastrophic-grade urban legend cub?
Moreover, he had experience with kids!
A moment later.
In the God Realm Prototype, on the streets of Mudan Street, near Lu Family Manor.
Qing Ji stood on the stone-paved street, staring at the Luxi Chuancaiguan, which had changed its signboard to “Yan Zhi Tavern,” lost in thought for a long time.
Although time has passed, Mudan Street was no longer the Mudan Street of old, but everything he saw was still filled with the memories of his twenties.
Before he knew it, his eyes had turned a bit red.
After a long while.
Luxianbei leaned closer to Qing Ji and asked softly, “So, Ancestor, how do you like this place I arranged for you?”
“Hmph!” Qing Ji snorted coldly, turning his face away so Luxianbei wouldn’t see his red eyes. “All you do is these useless things. Instead of wasting time on this, why not hurry up and marry one of those daughters-in-law? Make an effort so I can hold a big chubby grandson soon.”
“A big chubby grandson?” Luxianbei pouted, “Ancestor, that’s a bit biased towards boys, isn’t it?”
I haven’t even started guiding you, and you’ve already started digging into the trap? It’s no wonder I didn’t warn you! Luxianbei thought.
“d*mn it, don’t think you can change the subject by nitpicking!” Qing Ji reprimanded. “Of course, a grand daughter is good too, but you’d better give me some grandchildren!”
“Hey——!” Luxianbei sighed helplessly, throwing her hands up, “It’s not that I don’t want to; I really can’t! You should know, it’s easy to have a child, but raising one is difficult, right?”
Halfway through, she paused, sneakily glanced at Qing Ji’s expression, and seeing that he hadn’t noticed anything unusual, she continued, “You see, my parents aren’t around anymore, and if the child is born, there’ll be no one to take care of them.”
“I’ll help you take care of them!” Qing Ji interrupted, “In the past, I was powerless, but now I have both time and experience. Just bring the child to me!”
NICE, I’ve got the hook, this is the line I’ve been waiting for!
Luxianbei felt a surge of joy and blurted out, “You said it, you can’t go back on your word!”
Qing Ji shot a glance at Luxianbei, coolly saying, “A word spoken is as hard to retract as a galloping horse.”
“Good, you wait here. I’ll bring the child right over.” Luxianbei said, and with that, her figure vanished like mist blown away by the wind.
Before Qing Ji could process what had happened, she reappeared in front of him, holding a small girl with rosy lips and white teeth who was fast asleep.
Suddenly being handed a child, Qing Ji froze in place.
“d*mn it, whose child have you brought here?”
“My own!” Luxianbei said with pride, lifting her chin, “What do you think? Isn’t she cute? From now on, this child will be entrusted to you, Ancestor, you promised me just a moment ago!”
d*mn, when did this little rascal ever have a child? Upon a closer look, she even looks somewhat like her.
This child seems to be around three years old? If I remember correctly, Luxianbei was still under sixteen and causing trouble for others’ daughters just four years ago? How did our Lu Family produce such a troublemaker?! Qing Ji thought, heartbroken.
Even in his time, having a child at fifteen was considered “young and promising,” and as far as he knew, in this day and age, getting married and having children so early seemed illegal?
“What’s wrong? Don’t you like her?” Seeing Qing Ji’s silence, Luxianbei probed.
Qing Ji held Wang Ying, wanting to say something several times but hesitating. Just then, Wang Ying fluttered her long lashes, woke up, opened her eyes, lifted her head, and stared at Qing Ji with her watery gaze for a few seconds.
Then, she wiggled her little body, wrapped her arms around Qing Ji’s neck, and planted a kiss on his cheek.
Qing Ji was momentarily stunned, then he grinned, “Hey, hey!”
For a moment, he felt as if he didn’t care much about the child’s origin, as long as she was Luxianbei’s.
Wang Ying tilted her head, looking at the silly “food” in front of her, staring for a few seconds before, for some unknown reason, she started to giggle as well.
“Giggle, giggle!”
The two little sounds mingled together, creating a perfectly grandfather and granddaughter scene.
Seeing this, Luxianbei knew it was time to deliver the “fatal blow” to Qing Ji, and with a long sigh, said, “Well, since Ancestor, you don’t like her, I’ll just find someone else to take care of her.”
As she spoke, she reached out to take Wang Ying from Qing Ji’s arms.
Before Luxianbei’s hand could touch Wang Ying, Qing Ji’s face darkened, turning his body to shield Wang Ying, and growled, “Get lost!”
“Alright!” Luxianbei cheerfully responded and happily left the God Realm Prototype.
