Chapter 74
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On the west coast, there is a town named Four Ocean City. Four Ocean City is lively and bustling, attracting people from all corners of the world and cultivators who enjoy traveling in the mortal realm.
Pei Yunshu, accompanied by Little Zhuyou, arrived at an inn. After instructing the waiter to bring some signature dishes, he picked up water and fed Little Zhuyou a sip.
Little Zhuyou held Daddy’s hand, obediently drinking water. Sitting on a stool next to Pei Yunshu, he sat upright but gradually leaned in Pei Yunshu’s direction.
Their extraordinary appearance, one big and one small, attracted glances from the surrounding people, who then turned to listen to the extraordinary stories told by the wandering cultivators.
At the center was a table of young cultivators, the highest cultivation being Foundation Establishment. Among them, a youth in a blue shirt was enthusiastically narrating the recent conclusion of a cultivation competition.
“I heard that among the final ten, Shanshui Sect alone had four disciples?” someone curiously asked.
The man in blue nodded, “Yes. But for some reason, Yuncheng, who could have taken the top spot, changed his demeanor midway and almost killed a fellow cultivator. So, the higher-ups pressed down his ranking as a punishment, causing him to miss the top spot.”
Others expressed regret, “It’s a pity for such a slip-up.”
“Only he regrets it. Shanshui Sect doesn’t. The first place this time still belongs to Shanshui Sect. I heard he is a disciple of Master Lingye,” another person sighed. “In the current cultivation world, Shanshui Sect is truly dominant.”
The man in blue added, “Apart from Shanshui Sect, there are also many talented youths from other sects. Third place goes to Wu Jiu from Yuanling Palace, and fourth place to Bian Rong from Xuan Yi Sect… Compared to them, my abilities are far from enough.”
Pei Yunshu wiped Little Zhuyou’s hands and poured himself a cup of tea. He listened to the conversation with an unchanged expression, just leisurely enjoying the talk. He felt happy for Wu Jiu and Bian Rong. To him, it sounded like listening to someone else’s story.
“Daddy,” Little Zhuyou finally moved closer to Pei Yunshu, legs pressed against Daddy’s. “Daddy, where are we going after we finish eating?”
He raised his little head, looking at Pei Yunshu. His pure, dark eyes, avoiding the light, should have been eerie, but on his adorable little face, they looked quite appealing.
Imitating Zhuyou’s posture, Pei Yunshu tilted his head and asked, “Where does Zhuyou want to go?”
Zhuyou thought for a moment. “Zhuyou and Daddy don’t want to stay in Four Ocean City.”
So young, yet so thoughtful. Pei Yunshu smiled, pretending to hesitate. “Does Zhuyou not like it here?”
Anywhere was fine; it was just that there were too many people.
Zhuyou remembered what the silver dragon said. It would make the dragon father come here to find him and Daddy. How could he allow Daddy to be found for real?
Little Zhuyou hugged Pei Yunshu’s hand, rubbing his face against Pei Yunshu’s palm. He obediently said, “Zhuyou doesn’t like places with many people.”
“Okay,” Pei Yunshu softened as he was teased, his five fingers rubbing Zhuyou’s black hair. “Zhuyou can go wherever you want.”
Suddenly, a commotion arose among the cultivators, breaking their conversation. The people in the inn curiously looked toward the cultivators, who seemed excited.
“Is what you’re saying true?!”
“Did you really see a powerful figure at the East Sea?!”
The speaker’s face had turned red, standing up with a trembling hand holding a teacup.
The questioned person said, “Why would I lie to you? A month ago, I went to exchange a Dragon Silk with the Merfolk, and unexpectedly, that powerful figure was sitting by the East Sea. I could only glance at him from a distance. A few days ago, I went to the East Sea again, and that powerful figure was still there, clear as day. I couldn’t be mistaken.”
“Doesn’t that mean he stayed by the East Sea for over a month?”
Others expressed regret, “Why didn’t you tell us earlier? No, I’m going to the East Sea right now. Even if I can’t get guidance from the powerful figure, just seeing him once would be enough.”
One person quickly left the inn, and the others followed hastily.
After hearing their conversation, Pei Yunshu frowned slightly. Before Little Zhuyou looked over, he quickly relaxed his expression.
The waiter brought hot dishes from behind, and Pei Yunshu washed the chopsticks, handing them to Little Zhuyou. The two of them leisurely enjoyed their meal. Little Zhuyou’s hands were covered in oil. He picked up a shrimp, put it in Pei Yunshu’s bowl, and smiled at Daddy. “Daddy is too thin, eat more.”
Pei Yunshu’s wrist was exposed from his sleeve. He placed his hand next to Zhuyou’s wrist. “Daddy’s arm is thicker than Zhuyou’s.”
Zhuyou reached out his hand, wiped it with a handkerchief, and then carefully held Pei Yunshu’s wrist.
His hand was indeed small. Currently, he couldn’t even grip one of Pei Yunshu’s wrists, but he tried hard, bypassing Pei Yunshu’s wrist bones to touch his own small fingers.
“Daddy is still too thin,” he compared, “Wait until I grow up a bit more, and I’ll be able to hold Daddy’s wrist. When Zhuyou grows up, Zhuyou’s hands will be even bigger than Daddy’s hands. With one grip, Zhuyou will be able to hide Daddy’s hand in the palm.”
While saying this, he reached out and grabbed Pei Yunshu’s entire hand.
Pei Yunshu chuckled. “Then Zhuyou slowly grow up.”
Little Zhuyou glanced at him and asked slowly, “Daddy, before I grow up, you’re not allowed to let others hold your hand.”
This affected pose made Pei Yunshu feel like he was seeing the adult Zhuyou. He subconsciously nodded, “Daddy promises you.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he realized that something seemed off.
But Little Zhuyou, with a delighted look, gave him a brilliant smile, and he put this matter out of his mind.
***
In the southern town, a new family arrived, renting a courtyard on the first day.
The family consisted of a father and son. The father was handsome, and the son was also exceptionally good-looking. On their first day in the town, the older residents passing by couldn’t help but glance curiously at the two.
Pei Yunshu and Little Zhuyou had just moved to the southern town yesterday. They had a good night’s sleep, waking up only when the sun was high in the sky.
Zhuyou is currently at the age where he loves to play, and Pei Yunshu has not relaxed for a long time; he is happy to accompany Zhuyou in leisure. After waking up and having some food, he took Zhuyou to the courtyard and made a swing.
Zhuyou had never done these things before. He squatted on the ground with his back to Pei Yunshu, expressionless, looking at the wood and rope on the ground, feeling embarrassed in front of his dad.
“Zhuyou?” Pei Yunshu behind him said, “Hand Daddy a piece of rope.”
Zhuyou picked up a piece of rope and handed it to Pei Yunshu. Pei Yunshu smiled and praised him, “Has Zhuyou never seen this before?”
The little boy shook his head, looking pitifully at Pei Yunshu.
Pei Yunshu said, “This thing is very interesting. After Daddy sets it up, I’ll teach Zhuyou how to play.”
He didn’t use any spells, just did it bit by bit. In this warm sunshine, without worrying about anything else, taking time slowly was an exceptionally beautiful thing.
After Pei Yunshu set up the swing, Zhuyou had already fallen asleep on a nearby stone table.
Pei Yunshu chuckled, bent down to pick him up, and slowly walked back to the room along the small path in the courtyard. Just as he placed Zhuyou on the bed, Zhuyou rubbed his eyes and woke up, softly saying, “Daddy.”
“Daddy is here,” Pei Yunshu took off his shoes and got on the bed, sleeping together with him. “Zhuyou, sleep a little longer.”
Zhuyou laid in Pei Yunshu’s arms, pouting, asking for a kiss. Then, cuddling with Pei Yunshu, he drifted back into dreams.
***
Pei Yunshu and Zhuyou adapted well to life in the southern town. As Zhuyou’s name was quite strange in the mortal world, Pei Yunshu gave him a new name, calling him Pei Yunjiao.
Today they went fishing, and tomorrow they went for an outing, playing for several days in a row. One evening, as Pei Yunshu brought Zhuyou back, he saw students coming home from the private school along the road.
Those students also had young children with them. Pei Yunshu watched them walk by hand in hand, feeling a slight tremor in his heart.
The next day, he also sent Zhuyou to the private school.
Zhuyou didn’t understand the ways of the world, nor did he grasp etiquette and principles. Seizing this opportunity to let him read a bit would not only allow him to meet peers but also learn some principles. It was a win-win situation.
On Zhuyou’s first day at the private school, he looked at Pei Yunshu’s retreating figure, his face showing mixed emotions. Only after he couldn’t see Pei Yunshu’s figure did he turn around, put on a stern face, and followed others into the private school.
As Pei Yunshu had expected, Zhuyou quickly made friends with many children his age. Those children were lively and bold. Sometimes they would come to Pei Yunshu’s yard in groups to find Zhuyou to play together.
Zhuyou sometimes agrees and sometimes refuses, but Pei Yunshu is very relieved because he can see that Zhuyou has an excellent social circle, and those children have great respect for little Zhuyou.
This leisurely time gradually passed for more than half a month. One day, Zhuyou seemed particularly uneasy during dinner.
Pei Yunshu couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong?”
Zhuyou looked up at him, his face showing a tangled expression. After a while, he finally put down his bowl and crawled into Pei Yunshu’s arms.
“Daddy, Tiger’s mother asked me if my mom has passed away.”
The voice was dull and not happy.
Tiger’s mother was a well-known matchmaker in the vicinity.
Pei Yunshu was at a loss for words. After a while, he figured out how to say it, “Zhuyou doesn’t have a mom.”
“…”
He was quite embarrassed; he really couldn’t say the words “you have a dragon father” in front of Zhuyou.
The little Zhuyou was just Zhuyou in front of him. Saying such a thing in front of Zhuyou might sound awkward if Zhuyou recovered in the future.
Little Zhuyou: “So, is dragon father Zhuyou’s mom?”
Pei Yunshu hesitated and thought for a while before nodding hesitantly.
Little Zhuyou clenched the hem of Daddy’s robe.
He lowered his head, and his expression was unreadable.
“Then, Daddy… will Daddy abandon Zhuyou?”
Pei Yunshu quickly hugged him and comforted, “How could that be? Zhuyou, don’t think randomly. I am your Daddy, how could I abandon you?”
There was a trace of a sob in Zhuyou’s voice, “Then, Daddy, Daddy won’t let Zhuyou have another mom, right?”
Pei Yunshu smiled wryly, “What are you thinking? When did Daddy plan to get married?!”
He coaxed Zhuyou with kind words, not understanding why Zhuyou suddenly brought up this topic today. However, two days later, when Tiger’s mother came to visit and couldn’t stop talking about the good girls in town, Pei Yunshu understood Zhuyou’s intentions.
He declined Tiger’s mother’s good intentions and smiled, “I have Yunjiao, and that’s enough.”
“How can it be enough with just a son?” Tiger’s mother scolded him with dissatisfaction, “You are still young and handsome. What will you do in the future if you don’t marry now? When your Yunjiao grows up, you will be all alone. It’s so pitiful.”
“Miss Xu from the south end of the town, Miss Zhao from the north end of the town, many people are secretly inquiring about you. Tell me, Young Master Pei, these are all good girls from respectable families.”
Pei Yunshu looked helpless, “They are all good girls, but I am not to be a husband.”
Tiger’s mother became anxious and persuaded him for a long time. When it was time to leave, Pei Yunshu didn’t loosen his stance. She could only sigh and pretend to be angry, saying, “Wait, I will come to disturb you again tomorrow.”
As soon as Tiger’s mother stepped out of the door, before she even reached home, she saw Zhuyou waiting on the roadside. Zhuyou looked at her quietly, a small figure in the dim sunset, his appearance even more extraordinary.
Tiger’s mother said, “Yunjiao, it’s already late. Why haven’t you gone home?”
Zhuyou looked up at the sky, then at Tiger’s mother, and said, “My daddy won’t marry, not anyone.”
Tiger’s mother chuckled, not particularly concerned, “You are still a child and don’t understand the benefits of having a woman around. When you reach your daddy’s age, you will know how kind Auntie is. Auntie is doing this for your good. Without a woman at home, can you even have a proper meal?”
Zhuyou remained indifferent, repeating again, “Auntie, please don’t go looking for my daddy anymore.”
His eyes gradually showed fluctuations, his vertical pupils appeared and disappeared, and on his skin, faint and fierce dragon scales became visible. The sound of roaring waves grew louder, and when Tiger’s mother tremblingly looked in the direction of the sound, she saw water flowing out of the seamlessly sealed gaps in the house. The house bulged, as if it would burst at any moment.
When she turned her head again, Zhuyou had disappeared without a trace. Tiger’s mother, with weak legs, walked into her house. As soon as she entered, she was completely frightened and collapsed on the ground.
The entire courtyard was filled with water up to half of a small calf, and in the water were pairs of men and women she had once matched, their faces grim, moving toward her in the bloodwater.
Tiger stood under the eaves, calling out in confusion, “Mom?”
With a shudder, Tiger’s mother, and with that tremor, the bloodwater in the entire courtyard disappeared in an instant, as if the previous scene was just an illusion.
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