During Ruan Tang's sleepless night, a piece of news caused an uproar in the Martial Dao World—a leading Martial Dao family of Hua Country, the Jiang Family, had been annihilated!

In Hangcheng, Liu Family Head Liu Long was drenched in cold sweat. It was common knowledge that the Liu Family had recently arranged a marriage alliance with the Jiang Family. Now that the Jiang Family had been wiped out by a mysterious force, Liu Long, fearing he would be implicated, issued several statements in quick succession, declaring he had no association with them whatsoever.

Upon hearing the news, martial artists were abuzz with discussion. After all, just the night before last, the entire Earth had been plunged into darkness in an instant—such a phenomenon was too astonishing to ignore.

Could it be that a peerless powerhouse had descended or awakened and then eradicated the Jiang Family?

Speculations abounded within the Martial Dao circles, but no one knew the exact reason. Tan Chang was still recovering from his injuries and hadn't reported the incident's details to the Martial Dao Association. However, according to the speculation of a Ninth Grade Great Martial Sect, the battle had very likely taken place near Mount Haitang.

Everything began to make sense.

「...」

When Ruan Tang woke up the next day, she had dark circles under her eyes and was listlessly washing up. Ruan Lan, who had eaten her fill and slept soundly the night before, appeared at the doorway and pleaded earnestly, "Sis, youth might be an asset, but you can't just throw away a whole night like that."

GURGLE.

Ruan Tang spat out her mouthwash and emotionlessly shouted towards the kitchen, "Xu Lai, Ruan Lan says she's not eating anymore."

"I'll eat! I'll eat!" Ruan Lan instantly caved. "Sis, I was wrong!"

A great author once said that fine food and love are two things that should never be betrayed. Love can be forsaken, but fine food is a must.

Stretching languidly, Ruan Lan's graceful curves were dazzling in the sunlight. "By the way, sis, could I borrow my brother-in-law for a day?"

Borrow!?

Ruan Tang's willow-like eyebrows shot up. It seemed Ruan Lan was plotting a rebellion.

"Yu Xiaoxiao and Li Li want to treat brother-in-law to a meal, but he keeps refusing." Ruan Lan was particularly frustrated about this. Xu Lai wasn't giving her any face at all!

"Invite him yourself." Ruan Tang didn't make decisions for Xu Lai.

Ruan Lan's expression fell. The whole reason she came for help was that she couldn't persuade him herself. Her large eyes darted around, and as if an idea struck her, she broke into a sly smirk. "Fine, I'll go ask him myself!"

After a simple yet sumptuous breakfast, Xu Lai drove, taking his wife, daughter, and his hitchhiking sister-in-law to the kindergarten and university.

The moment he stepped into the school infirmary, Li Shouzhong, his eyes bloodshot, excitedly grabbed Xu Lai's hand. "Director Xu, there's been a breakthrough in the research!"

"Keep it up."

Xu Lai's casual two-word reply came as no surprise to Li Shouzhong and the other elderly doctors. After briefly discussing their progress, they dived back into their grand medical enterprise.

Xu Lai sat at his desk, spacing out. It had been a long time since any students came for treatment. Even when they did, they were treated by Li Shouzhong and the other doctors, leaving no opportunity for Xu Lai.

Although it was boring, Xu Lai could tolerate this minor solitude, so he simply closed his eyes to meditate.

When he next opened them, it was exactly five in the evening, quitting time.

But upon arriving at Galaxy Kindergarten, he found Ruan Lan already waiting, flanked by the tall Yu Xiaoxiao and the delicate-looking Li Li.

"Brother-in-law!" Ruan Lan waved happily.

"Hello, brother-in-law," Yu Xiaoxiao and Li Li greeted him in turn, their eyes filled with gratitude. A life-saving favor was not something to be forgotten.

"Hello," Xu Lai nodded.

"Daddy, let's go eat with Auntie," Xu Yiyi said, her eyes full of hope. "Auntie said she'd give Yiyi a bunny."

A smile touched Ruan Lan's lips. Xu Lai was a doting father, and he would never refuse Yiyi's requests. Sure enough—

"Sure," Xu Lai agreed without the slightest hesitation.

He then saw Qian Xiao standing alone at the school gate, waving goodbye to Xu Yiyi. Apparently, Luo Chu had already gone to work. Starting today, the little boss of Galaxy Kindergarten would return to his lonely days.

"Come with us," Xu Lai beckoned.

Qian Xiao's eyes brightened for a moment, only to dim again. "My neighborhood has a midnight curfew," he said. "I can't make my nanny worry."

"I'll take you home tonight." Xu Lai took out his phone. "Tell your mother."

"Okay!" Qian Xiao took the phone but then froze, scratching his head awkwardly. "I... I don't remember her number."

Xu Lai rubbed his forehead.

After calling Ruan Tang to explain everything, the group set off on foot towards the reserved restaurant. It was close by, less than a kilometer away.

The BMW 3-Series sedan parked by the road abruptly vanished, reappearing moments later in the parking garage of Haitang Court. This scene went unnoticed by anyone. Only a stray dog on the street stared dumbly at the spot where the car had vanished. With a whimper, it took off running.

「...」

The restaurant was a star-rated establishment by the sea, neither too crowded nor too empty. Xu Lai glanced at the menu. The cheapest dishes started at four digits, and even a glass of plain water with a slice of lemon cost over a hundred.

Thinking of his meager salary, Xu Lai sighed. So loaded.

"Xiaoxiao's treating today," Ruan Lan said with a grin. "She and Li Li are both loaded, so don't be shy. Order whatever you want."

Xu Lai passed the menu to Qian Xiao and Xu Yiyi. The two little ones truly didn't hold back, ordering all the most expensive items. With a point of a small finger, a thousand yuan was gone.

Yu Xiaoxiao, however, didn't mind at all. Hailing from the North, she laughed heartily. "Brother-in-law, thank you again for saving our lives!"

"It was nothing," Xu Lai waved his hand nonchalantly.

"Uhm..." Li Li hesitated for a moment, then asked with shining eyes, "Brother-in-law, are you a Martial Artist?"

The moment she said the words "Martial Artist," Yu Xiaoxiao also looked over, her expression tense. The situation that day had been extremely dangerous, with countless eerie No-Face people gathered at the construction site. How could an ordinary person have escaped unscathed? This was why the young women had their suspicions.

"No," Xu Lai shook his head honestly. He was a Cultivator, one who cultivated the Dao, Karma, and Laws. Martial Artists were merely an inevitable choice born from Earth's scarcity of Spiritual Energy.

"Oh."

Yu Xiaoxiao and Li Li were both somewhat disappointed. Coming from well-off families, they had naturally heard a lot about Martial Artists. They had thought Xu Lai was a powerful expert, but now it seemed they had let their imaginations run away with them.

However, their attitudes didn't change. They remained just as friendly toward Xu Lai, acting even more like his sisters-in-law than Ruan Lan herself.

The dinner was thoroughly enjoyable. In the words of the foodie Ruan Lan: "The food wasn't that great, but it was edible, I guess." It was a good thing the head chef didn't hear her; the man, who took great pride in his culinary skills, would have been heartbroken.

After dinner, the group took a stroll along the coastline. It was bustling with tourists and remained lively even at night.

Who would have expected them to be approached by an old, white-haired Taoist in a clean robe, a sycophantic smile plastered on his face?

"Ladies, care for a fortune reading? No cheating the old or the young, one thousand per reading!" As he spoke, the old Taoist's eyes wandered inappropriately over the women, and he even let out a few lewd snickers.

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