Chapter 203
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Chapter 203: Title
To Ao Lan, ranking first on Zhongxia’s wealthy list merely signified having a bit of money. Had Ao Ming wished, he could’ve claimed the top position instantly.
Moreover, worldly riches meant nothing to Ao Lan—Xiaoye seemed utterly ordinary in his eyes, perhaps even less significant than the "Squirrel Zihang" beside her.
Xiaoye’s enrollment at Lingxiu Elementary School stemmed not solely from wealth but her innate Yin-Yang eyes. Her peculiar constitution drew ghostly energy like moths to flame, making this spiritual academy essential for her protection.
"You do appear younger than me," Xiaoye remarked, measuring their heights with an outstretched palm. "See? You’re half a head shorter."
Ao Lan choked back a retort, still bitter about his post-tribulation form. Neither matching his eldest brother’s majesty nor his Second Brother’s elegance, he remained stuck in this soft and chubby appearance.
Xiaoye stifled a laugh. "My apologies, Your Highness. Shall I let you retaliate?"
"Unnecessary," Ao Lan sniffed.
Song Zihang watched them with amusement, producing almonds from his pocket. "Have snacks, not squabbles."
"Did everyone finish today’s assignment?"
Ao Lan cracked an almond shell, popping the nut into his mouth. Observing Song Zihang’s squirrel-like nibbling, he scoffed, "Homework? Completed ages ago."
"Then we needn’t wait for your last-minute scribbling later," Xiaoye chuckled, shelling her own almond.
The trio approached Classroom 1-A.
Children already filled most seats when they arrived.
Ao Lan carelessly tossed his bag onto the desk, sprawling across the chair. "Wait—which assignments are due?"
Xiaoye tapped the blackboard with her pointer. "Group leaders collect math and Daowen homework before the bell."
As class monitor, she added, "Language Arts gets reviewed in class."
"Math?" Ao Lan’s voice rose.
Song Zihang rummaged through his bag beside him. "Language Arts, not math."
"Quick, Squirrel! Let me copy yours!"
"You claimed you’d finished."
"Forgot yesterday."
Song Zihang sighed. "Math only. Daowen’s on you."
"Easily handled." Ao Lan summoned spiritual energy to animate his pen while retrieving a blue-covered notebook and jade brush for manual writing.
Xiaoye eyed the self-moving pen. "I thought your brother sealed your spiritual energy?"
"Temporarily lifted for my safety during his absence."
Ao Lan finalized both copied math answers and yesterday’s Daowen practice.
Noon sunlight filtered through the cafeteria windows as Xiaoye asked between bites, "Tickets secured, Squirrel Zihang. Your turn?"
"I haven’t told my father about this yet," Song Zihang shook his head.
Xiaoye asked, puzzled, "The East-West exchange meeting is in two days. If we don’t get tickets soon, it’ll be too late. Are you worried he won’t approve?"
"Not exactly. His line was busy when I called yesterday. I’ll try again tonight after getting home."
Ao Lan gnawed on a pork rib, chewing a couple of times before his curiosity got the better of him. "Squirrel, Xiaoye, what if I joined you guys?"
"But didn’t your Second Brother forbid it?" Xiaoye countered, recalling the striking yet intimidating man she’d met during orientation—Ao Lan’s elder sibling who radiated authority.
Song Zihang’s brow furrowed with concern. At seventeen, he was somewhat more level-headed than Xiaoye and far more responsible than the impulsive Ao Lan. "Your brother explicitly said no. This isn’t wise."
Ao Lan’s eyes sparkled mischievously. "He’s away on business! I’ll slip out and return before dawn—he’ll never notice."
"The Heavenly Law Battleground isn’t one of his corporate branches he can monitor. Besides," he added through a mouthful of meat, "they’ve guaranteed security this year."
His expression darkened suddenly. "The real nuisance is that watchdog Mo Ci that Second Brother assigned me. Struts around like he owns the place just because my brother trusts him."
Xiaoye barely suppressed a giggle. "You can’t mean that gorgeous ‘Brother Mo Ci’?"
"Gorgeous?" Ao Lan nearly choked. "The man’s ancient enough to be your ancestor! What’s with this ‘Brother’ nonsense?"
"Handsome is timeless," Xiaoye retorted with an airy shrug. "You wouldn’t understand."
…
Later that night, in a Capital City apartment,
Hu Mei glanced up from her textbooks when the phone chimed on the glass coffee table. "Yang Xingyu!" she called toward the sizzling kitchen. "Your phone!"
The clatter of cookware paused as a man in a Doraemon apron peered out, spatula in hand. "Who is it? Just put it on speaker!"
"Your son," Hu Mei deadpanned, examining manicured nails.
"Son?" Yang Xingyu’s laughter boomed. "Sweetheart, I’m twenty-nine! Since when—" The color drained from his face. "Oh. Right. The whole… parent thing."
He killed the stove’s flame, wiping greasy hands on his apron before snatching the device. "Hey champ! Miss your old man already?"
"Not on the sofa!" Hu Mei kicked his shin as he moved to sit. "You reek of stir-fry!"
Rolling his eyes, Yang Xingyu retreated to the balcony window. "Let me guess—emergency funds? Calculus crisis?"
A timid voice floated through the receiver. "Dad… can I ask something?"
"Shoot."
"Some classmates want to visit the East-West exchange meeting this weekend. May I go?"
Yang Xingyu’s playful demeanor vanished. "The Battleground? You’re still training basic forms! The holographic broadcast—"
"We already promised," the voice pleaded. "And… I haven’t seen you in three months."
“Really, is it not allowed?”
As a first-time father with no parenting experience, Yang Xingyu found himself powerless against his son’s pleading voice. It was just the Battleground’s spectator area – surely safe enough.
Yet unease lingered.
"Alright, but you must stay with Uncle Zhan Yuan."
"Okay! I’ll listen to whatever Dad says."
"Have Uncle Zhan Yuan call you when it’s time. Keep your phone on."
"Got it, Dad."
"Wait, was that Uncle Hu’s voice earlier? Is he back?"
Yang Xingyu glanced at Hu Mei scribbling solutions at the desk. He activated speakerphone. "Your uncle returned recently – been buried in exam prep."
"Greet your uncle properly."
"Hello Uncle Hu!"
Hu Mei rolled her eyes at the "Song Zihang" caller ID, having only met this "son" twice.
"Zihang, evening. Dinner eaten?"
"Yes!"
The eighteen-year-old suppressed a sigh at being called "uncle" – technically accurate given her peerage with Yang Xingyu, but aging her prematurely.
"You, Uncle Hu?"
"Still waiting – your father’s mid-cooking." Her pencil scratched across equations. "Last time you hadn’t mastered transformation. Study going well? We’ll adventure together soon."
Yang Xingyu interjected, "Perfect timing – she’s attending the exchange meeting this weekend too."
"Uncle Hu’s coming?" Excitement colored Zihang’s voice.
"Apparently."
…
The call concluded with reluctant farewells.
"Would’ve taken him myself if not for prior commitments," Yang Xingyu sighed, pocketing his phone.
Hu Mei smirked, legs draped over the chairback. "Parental concern? From the man who barely sees his son?"
"He adores me!" The protest rang hollow as Yang Xingyu retreated to the kitchen, followed by his chuckling friend.
"Shouldn’t you be studying?"
"Brain fatigue." Hu Mei stretched, feline ears springing through her hair as she relaxed.
"Still no past memories?"
"Zhan Yuan says it’s essentially rebirth." Gas flames hissed to life beneath a wok.
Hu Mei’s laughter tinkled. "Teen fatherhood feels…?"
"Surprisingly natural." Yang Xingyu chuckled, recalling that African mission months prior – retrieving a squirrel housing a human soul from primitive jungles.
(The totem deity had consumed jungle casualties’ spirits. Only Song Zihang’s Awakened Powers preserved his consciousness within rodent form.)
After completing their mission and driven by the desire to save a life, they brought the squirrel back to the Special Bureau. With Zhan Yuan and the Ghost in Red’s assistance, Song Zihang’s soul stabilized, though prolonged inhabitation of the squirrel’s body made separation impossible.
Memory loss accompanied this condition, reducing his mentality to childhood.
With Song Zihang’s parents deceased and relatives refusing to adopt a squirrel, Yang Xingyu—who’d retrieved him—assumed guardianship as an inexperienced father.
Having skipped both Meng Po Soup and the Six Realms of Rebirth, coupled with his unique Awakened Powers, Song Zihang became a half-demon. Despite insufficient cultivation, he maintained human form.
Clueless about childcare and burdened by missions, Yang Xingyu enrolled the boy in Eastern Sea City’s Lingxiu Elementary School when he stabilized at age five/six.
He did hire a nanny, of course.
"You’re utterly heartless!" Hu Mei scowled. "Sending your son a thousand miles away! Have you even visited?"
"We video-call. Haven’t had time for visits recently."
"Wish they’d built the school in Capital City," Yang Xingyu sighed.
The Lingxiu Elementary’s original Capital City location was scrapped as spirit cultivators felt safer near the dragon race in Eastern Sea City. Ao Ming’s presence had indeed minimized disaster damage there earlier.
Hu Mei tilted her head. "You mentioned entrusting Zihang to Zhan Yuan? Is he available?"
"Not before, but certainly now. He’s been touring those Yin Chai around—they’ll want to attend the East-West exchange meeting."
Meanwhile, above Pacific skies at the Heavenly Law Battleground’s cloud-wreathed arena,
Within the mountain peak palace, a figure gazed mournfully at the crescent moon.
"System," the man murmured, "Ticket sales?"
【2.78926 billion. Projected to exceed 2.8 billion by deadline.】
Jiang Nan’s composure shattered. "WHAT?!"
【2.78926…】
"Rich folks sure multiplied," he muttered. Though anticipating success for Blue Star’s first extraordinary event, 2.8 billion stunned him.
"Ten points per ticket, 0.01% cut… Highway robbery! You’re keeping all that?!"
【Event income: 28B points. Construction costs: 20B. Prizes: 5B. Maintenance: 3B.】
"What about MY share?!"
【Your 2.8M points can repay partial interest. Proceed?】
"NO!" Jiang Nan roared. "Not till my little precious is mine!"
【Confirmed.】
The man collapsed into moonlit weeping. "When will this debt end…?"
The Heavenly Law Battleground’s East-West exchange meeting required Jiang Nan’s approval—no parties permitted otherwise.
Why cooperate?
This fraudulent Battleground Champion owed astronomical debts. The former Champion’s system hounded him daily, threatening catastrophe for delayed payments.
Moreover, his Battle Spirit Body cultivation demanded points—activation and advancement both. When asked if others could cultivate thus, the system cited his unique "soul-binding" contract.
