There seemed to be something wrong with Song Xiaocheng's expression. It was like he suffered some great impact.
Other than the first time they met, this was the only time Xu Nan saw Song Xiaocheng being so solemn and serious.
His heart couldn't help but soften. "What's the matter? Also, don't call me dad anymore. That was just a joke. The relationship between your mother and me is truly one of innocence."
Song Xiaocheng's gaze was determined. "Acknowledging a thief for a day, a father for a lifetime."
Xu Nan. "???"
Song Xiaocheng ferociously hugged Xu Nan's thigh as he bitterly cried, "Father, I only have a single mother. Why did she leave the world so early, leaving me alone behind to suffer in the mortal world?…"
Xu Nan aimed a slap at the top of Song Xiaocheng's head as he angrily berated, "Damn, who would have two mothers?"
Song Xiaocheng wiped his tears. "In any case, I missed her, but I know the two of you definitely have a hidden secret between you both. I won't ask, I really won't ask although I really want to know."
Only now did Xu Nan recover from his earlier shock.
The smell of alcohol from this brat most probably was done intentionally by him spraying cheap beer over his collar and sleeves. He looked haggard but his eyeballs were daring around and filled with spirit.
He knew that this despicable Song Xiaocheng had something else to say. Hence, he decided to play along as he asked with hesitation.
"This...how did you know? What do you want then?"
Song Xiaocheng revealed a cunning look. His hands hugged tightly around Xu Nan's thigh. "Help me pay my credit card bills, they are only about $10,000+ RMB.
"You sold so many of my mom's shares, so you should have plenty of cash, right? Can you give me some to help me out? My mom died too fast, I didn't even have time to see her for a final time. Dad, please show me some kindness and give me a portion of the wealth she left behind. By doing so, I would think of her every time I look at the cash. Then I would feel better in my heart."
Xu Nan smiled. "No problem."
Song Xiaocheng was overjoyed at the turn of events. "Really?"
"Yup. Didn't you say you miss your mom?" Xu Nan benevolently patted Song Xiaocheng on his head. "Don't be anxious, just stay here and don't move around for now. I'm going to buy a few tangerines."
Song Xiaocheng sensed something off. "If you are willing to pay, even if you are going to buy a truckload of tangerines for me, I will still wait for you in the wind and rain!"
Xu Nan shook his head. "You understand it wrongly. Don't you miss your mom a lot? Things are very simple. I'm going to make some preparations and will send you to meet your mother. Maybe, she's waiting for you there in anticipation."
A look of fear appeared in Song Xiaocheng's eyes. "What do you want to do?!"
Xu Nan smiled. "It will be quick. It won't be painful. You will leave the world with no perception of pain."
Song Xiaocheng gave a strangled yell as he hurriedly ran off. In the blink of an eye, he vanished so quickly that he was nowhere to be found.
Xu Nan glanced at Song Xiaocheng's departing back as a thought appeared in his mind.
"Expeditious retreat? Or an Escape spell? I can't tell at all, he's very brilliant. The results of the identification spell might be faked, but there's no doubt he is Song Ying's son. He might be hiding a big secret. In any case, this brat clearly has some abilities, why does he keep sticking with me and insisting to call me dad?"
Xu Nan couldn't understand it.
Song Xiaocheng looked devious and unctuous, like someone with no lower line. That was probably what others saw on the surface. Maybe in the depths of his heart...
There was truly no bottom line!
No matter what, Xu Nan felt that Song Xiaocheng was hiding something. He definitely had a huge secret.
Xu Nan temporarily didn't know what the plans of Song Ying and her son were. But he felt that he had to investigate it.
…
After chasing the despicable Song Xiaocheng away, Xu Nan found a male toilet. He then hummed the incantation of Hagrid's Flicker in a low voice and spent three minutes before he successfully teleported back to the underground city.
It was just that the moment he reached the safe house, he was shocked by an ear-piercing alarm.
This was the sound Fireflow would produce when there was an invasion.
The underground base was in such a hidden location, why would enemies invade them?
Xu Nan hurriedly rushed out. "Fireflow?! What's the situation?"
Could it be that the underground city was discovered by someone? He was a little nervous. If this place was discovered by the government, he really didn't know how to explain it.
If things went badly, all these might be confiscated by the government.
However, what caused Xu Nan to be surprised was Fireflow's report.
"It's a bunch of kobolds! Your magical pet Lord Sour Beef Soup and your ambiguous intimacy partner Gu Xiaomeng are already heading to the surroundings near the northern wall to partake in combat. I will tell you the specifics as you rush over."
Xu Nan was very unsatisfied. "Firstly, call me City Lord. Secondly, Gu Xiaomeng isn't my ambiguous intimacy partner. What's wrong with you?"
Fireflow's mechanical voice had a hint of human aura as it spoke, "A ship's spirit has the A.I. module. During these few days, due to having sufficient energy, many modules that were previously sealed are now re-activated."
"For example?"
"For example, the humor module. Earlier, I was teasing you about your relationship with Miss Gu Xiaomeng."
"Alright then, the big shots in the arcanist empire are truly powerful. They could even develop a humor module..."
Right now, Xu Nan had no mood for the ship spirit's teasing. "Deactivate the humor module now."
"Roger." Fireflow sounded a little as though it was being wronged.
"Now, explain in detail to me. What happened exactly after I left?"
Xu Nan had the temporary authority of the flying warship. In the underground base, he could use his commander's position to teleport to short distances rapidly. Hence, he soon arrived at the surroundings near the northern wall.
Gu Xiaomeng was stuck at a place resembling an observation tower. She was casting her divine spells while occupying the high ground.
Xu Nan also saw Soupy fighting bravely alone in the darkness, in the glow of the candle lights.
Her entire body was covered in blood, and she looked extremely miserable. It was unknown if the blood belonged to her or her enemies!
Fireflow rapidly reported.
According to what the imp leader said, this bunch of kobolds was the first echelon of the great demon Inoya's advance force!
The heavenly divine kingdom, the abyss, and hell—all attacked Earth at the same time. But luckily, their pace wasn't the same, and the regions they were attacking were all different.
The gods of the Puluo World sent in monsters that were eaten by the people of China. As for the demons, they sent in monsters underground. Although the number of monsters they sent was extremely little in comparison, these monsters didn't suffer harm from the foodies in China!
According to the imp leader, this group of kobolds was merely the vanguard. From the ration and equipment they brought with them, there was still a regiment of 200 kobolds and there might even be kobold spellcasters mixed within.
Xu Nan couldn't understand even after thinking for a long while. "Why didn't they appear when I was in the underground city for such a long time? Yet, they immediately showed up the moment I left?"
Fireflow thought about it. "Maybe the underground of Earth is too complicated and they lost their way."
Xu Nan was speechless.
The imp leader echoed what Fireflow said. "Kobolds have very bad night vision and need at least light from the candle to see. Although they received the command of the great demon, it's very normal if they lost their way."
Xu Nan drew in a deep breath. "Forget it, let's not care about these. Let's get rid of these monsters that dare to invade my territory first."
He had observed. This group of kobolds was at level 1, and their combat strength was slightly stronger than gnolls but not by too much.
By logic, just Soupy alone could wipe out their entire group.
However, the current situation wasn't too optimistic because the weapons of the kobolds were quite excellent. Their standardized equipment consisted of a short curved blade and a few throwing weapons. Thus, they looked much scarier as a fighting force when compared to the gnolls.
In addition, there were about 40+ kobolds and four [powerful kobolds], which were bigger than the rest.
These four kobolds were level 2, and they were of the outstanding-version. Although they were weaker compared to the elite-version and lord-version, they weren't something Soupy could handle alone.
Soupy was fighting bitterly against them.
Gu Xiaomeng had been giving her support, but the effect wasn't that impressive.
The divine spells of Gu Xiaomeng were extremely unstable, or maybe, she was too nervous from seeing so many monsters. She had wanted to use Goddess's Discipline or similar spells to help Soupy kill some kobolds. However, due to being too anxious, she cast Strong Recovery on the kobolds instead.
Soupy wanted to cry but no tears came out.
The kobolds, whom she was about to kill after over-exerting herself, was boosted back to full health by Gu Xiaomeng!
Gu Xiaomeng also felt terribly ashamed. Under panic, she kept casting the wrong spells.
Xu Nan could only sigh when he saw this. He was very thankful that she was a priestess with a heavy divine grace. If she was a mage, Soupy might have died a few hundred times.
Soupy's performance changed Xu Nan's perspective of it being a lazy giant panda.
Although she met some setbacks among the kobolds, she still ferociously jumped into the fray!
As for the nonsensical words she shouted, 'For her highness's glory!', 'I definitely won't allow you bastards to get near Princess Xin`er!', Xu Nan chose to ignore it.
He patted Gu Xiaomeng's shoulder, indicating for her to stop casting spells.
"Let me do it."
Xu Nan's words were concise and comprehensive.
He stood in the observation tower and looked down at everything, preparing to cast burning hands to settle the small fries first.
However, at this moment, his mission card suddenly flickered~
=====
[Ron Warlock Bloodline Awakening Daily Mission]
Mission name: Be good at using weapons
Mission description: Since you have received a senior's inheritance, how can you let the weapon you obtained rust away? Despite you being a spellcaster with a weak physique, you must also have the courage to advance forward. Use Mr. Romand's Staff of Innocence to punish these kobolds! Special request: Use the Staff of Innocence to kill at least twenty kobolds while shouting its incantation at least ten times!"
Mission reward: +1 level
=====
Xu Nan choked when he saw the reward's description.
When he thought of the little curved blades in the hands of the kobolds, as well as Mr. Romand's warning of not adding stats wrongly, he suddenly felt a ball-breaking pain.
"Well, it's just fighting close-combat once…"
"There probably...won't be… anything bad happening, right?"
Xu Nan felt some hesitation.
...