At this thought, Xu Lai transmitted his Divine Sense to Tan Chang at the foot of the mountain. "I hear there's a youth Martial Artist competition in East Sea City?"

Tan Chang, who was meditating in his room, was startled. He respectfully replied, "Yes. Today is the last day for registration, and the competition begins the day after tomorrow."

"Are there referees?"

"Yes." Tan Chang looked perplexed, not understanding why Xu Lai was asking these questions, but he answered truthfully, "There are three Seventh Grade Martial Ancestors from the Martial Dao Association."

"I want to watch. Get me a ticket."

"..."

Tan Chang was flabbergasted.

You, a powerhouse suspected to be in the Divine Gate Realm, who can condense a Dragon Vein with a wave of your hand, want to watch children compete? Is the world of the powerful always this baffling?

"My daughter and a friend's child are participating," Xu Lai remarked with a sigh. "I have no choice. I have to go and protect them."

Tan Chang's vigilance shot up. Xu Lai was now an existence the Martial Dao Association had to cater to. If his daughter were to get injured during the competition... let alone anything else, if he held a grudge and left Hua Country for another nation, it would be a tremendous loss for the country!

Therefore, Tan Chang quickly said, "Yes, I will arrange it right away."

Xu Lai sent no further Divine Sense. Tan Chang, however, forwarded the message to Gao He, who was also taken aback and immediately increased the security level tenfold. The referees, originally Seventh Grade, were forcibly upgraded to Ninth Grade. If Gao He himself weren't only at the Eighth Grade, he probably would have personally stepped in as a referee.

Of course, all of this was a matter for the day after tomorrow. Xu Lai continued to sip his tea, pretending to know nothing.

Before long, Yiyi threw herself into Xu Lai's arms, cooing, "Daddy, we want to go out and play for a while."

Xu Lai knew they were planning to register Yun Jin. He smiled and said, "Go ahead."

"Mm-hm, mm-hm."

The four children skipped away, full of excitement.

「It was six o'clock in the evening.」

Yiyi returned secretively with Yun Jin in tow, both little girls looking rather thrilled.

"What's the happy occasion?" Ruan Tang asked casually.

"Nothing." Yiyi shook her head repeatedly. The competition had to remain a secret from her parents, or they would surely forbid her from going. According to Qian Xiao, many children got injured and hospitalized every year.

Fearing she might let something slip, Yiyi took Yun Jin to play video games right after dinner.

Taotie didn't return to Haitang Court until nine at night. Upon entering, he went straight to the backyard and gazed at the moon, lost in thought.

Xu Lai, who was soaking in the hot spring, beckoned to him. "So? Does Liu Wan meet your requirements for a wife?"

Xu Lai had figured it out. Taotie didn't understand roundabout approaches; one had to be direct with him, especially about matters between men and women.

Taotie grew embarrassed. "Well... to be honest with you, Supreme Emperor, I've never thought about it."

"Then think about it now."

"..."

Taotie was at a loss for words. He sat right down on the ground, frowning in contemplation. After a long while, he finally exhaled a murky breath. "Supreme Emperor, what does it feel like to like someone?"

"I remember you love stargazing. Do you see that star up there?" Xu Lai pointed.

"I see it." Taotie looked over, puzzled. "That star... what about it?"

"Is it beautiful?" Xu Lai asked again.

Taotie hesitated. "Although it can't compare to the sea of stars in the Heavenly Court's gardens, it is beautiful."

"One day, when you find the stars so beautiful that you suddenly wish to share the sight with someone special, that's what it feels like to like someone," Xu Lai said nonchalantly.

Taotie seemed to be in deep thought. He clasped his fists and said, "Supreme Emperor, I plan to return to the Immortal Domain today."

Xu Lai didn't press him further. He couldn't force fate. It was a clear case of unrequited love, and any further attempt at matchmaking would be in vain.

So he simply waved his hand. "Go on."

Bowing, Taotie took his leave, turning into a streak of light that vanished over the horizon.

Not long after, Xu Lai also returned to his room. Ruan Tang had just finished her bath, and Xu Lai began to dry her hair for her.

"I wonder how Taotie and Liu Wan are doing," Ruan Tang mused.

"Let's worry more about us," Xu Lai replied.

Hearing his words, Ruan Tang closed her eyes. "Aren't we doing great? Oh, right, my secretary just called. Guess what happened to the Ruan Family?"

"The Ruan Corporation has gone bankrupt, and all its assets have been seized! Ruan Jin and his father have become debt defaulters. Grandpa was so shocked that he suffered a mental breakdown and was institutionalized for compulsory treatment.

"It turns out my parents didn't own any shares in the Ruan Corporation, so they narrowly escaped disaster. Life is so unpredictable."

When speaking of the Ruan Family, one could clearly hear that Ruan Tang's voice was calm and devoid of any fluctuation, as if she were discussing something entirely unrelated to her. She had resolved to sever all ties with that family long ago.

Xu Lai took her hand and smiled. "Good deeds and bad are all seen by the heavens. I suppose Heaven just couldn't stand it anymore."

"Exactly. That's why even if a person doesn't do good, they must at least refrain from doing evil." Ruan Tang turned and threw herself into Xu Lai's arms. "I'm sleepy. Let's go to bed."

"Alright."

「The night was cool as water.」

Inside the room, Xu Lai and Ruan Tang held each other as they drifted off to sleep.

Meanwhile, in a shabby motel room, so small it could only fit a single bed, lay another couple. But their faces held no warmth, only resentment. They were none other than Ruan Qingshan and Song Ru.

After their usual tirade against Xu Lai and Ruan Tang, Ruan Qingshan spoke first. "Why don't we... go back to your parents' place? At least they have a house in the countryside where we could stay for a while..."

"Ruan Qingshan!" Song Ru snapped. "Do you have any idea that I was the person everyone in my hometown used to fawn over? If they saw what I've become, how could I ever show my face again!"

"But we can't even afford food right now." Ruan Qingshan clenched his teeth. "Our son, Ruan Jin, has completely given up on himself. I just... I can't accept this!"

Song Ru fell silent. For the sake of her so-called pride, she would never go back to the countryside. But for her son...

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

Despite the late hour, a heavy knocking echoed at their door. A loud woman's voice boomed from outside, "You two owe three days of rent! If you don't pay up, get out tomorrow!"

Song Ru and Ruan Qingshan didn't dare to answer.

Only after the footsteps faded away did Ruan Qingshan whisper, "How about this? Tomorrow, I'll go beg Yin Shan again. Borrow some money from him, at least enough to get through the New Year."

"Have you forgotten how we bullied his family all those years? They'd rather see us dead! Wasn't last time's humiliation enough?" Song Ru said resentfully. "Besides, have you forgotten who bankrupted us? It was their daughter and son-in-law, those two bastards!

"Why should they get to live in a villa, drive luxury cars, and enjoy the finer things in life when all of that should have been ours!" Song Ru grew more and more agitated as she spoke.

"Stop it," Ruan Qingshan said miserably. "Xu Lai is someone even the Wan Family Head has to treat with respect. We're lucky to be alive."

At the thought of this, Song Ru's face paled with fear, but she forced herself to say defiantly, "This is a lawful society! Does he dare to kill us? You have to live with a clear conscience, and I, Song Ru, my conscience is clear!"

Ruan Qingshan didn't reply. He knew that with the methods of a Leading Family of East Sea City like the Wan Family, making two or three people simply vanish would be all too easy.

"That's right. Xu Lai is a vile man who deserves to die. You... you want him dead, don't you?"

A ghostly voice, like a devil's whisper, suddenly echoed throughout the room.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.