"Ah! It's that little monster, he just won't leave us alone!" The Four Scheming Demons hugged their heads and rolled on the ground in fear.
And everyone went speechless.
This was a first for all, seeing Mad Dipper frantic and the four fearless pygmies scurrying around like headless chickens.
Then again, the power this kid showed was almost out of this world…
"Uh, Elder Li, you know this child?" Luo Yunchang asked with a trembling lip.
Li Jingtian looked oddly at her, "C-child? Young miss, he may be a child to you, but to us, he is the oldest monster. Just three hundred years ago, he threw Tianyu into chaos and defeated everyone. And now he is the strongest Divine Dragon of the imperial family, Invincible Scamp Gu Santong. We won't even be able to scratch him with all of us working together."
What a shocker! All eyes on Gu Santong were now full of fear.
Who could've seen that coming? Certainly not them! That a sweet, sweet child could be such an abomination.
Qiu Yanhai was the most bitter. Glancing at the adorable Gu Santong, he felt like crying. If he had known the kid was a centuries old freak, he wouldn't even get near him.
Everyone was now trying to make sense of what this force of nature was doing coming to the Luo clan.
"But… isn't he Zhuo Fan's son? How can he be three hundred years old?" Luo Yunchang was skeptical.
Li Jingtian looked puzzled as well, "Who told you that?"
"He did!" And the crowd had spoken, pointing at Gu Santong.
Now it is Li Jingtian's turn to be floored. He looked at Gu Santong's genial face, filled with doubt. All the renowned experts cared about the world's view of them and Gu Santong was no different. [What possible reason would this almighty expert have to lower himself and say he was some guy's son?]
The non committal Gu Santong had clearly admitted it to be the truth, leaving Li Jingtian even more confused.
"Where's dad? Take me to him!" Gu Santong said.
Li Jingtian hesitated but nodded in the end, "Wait a moment while I inform him."
It wasn't long before he was back, but this time with an even odder look for Gu Santong, "Uh, Steward Zhuo asked everyone and… the child to come inside."
Those words were enough for everyone to see that Zhuo Fan was indeed Gu Santong's dad. There would be no point for Elder Li to call him child otherwise.
Yet nobody had a clue about how a worldly expert, Tianyu's strongest Divine Dragon, ended up as his son.
One thing was certain though, they saw Zhuo Fan's handiwork in a whole new light. Only he could make this possible.
Walking in a single file, they all marched into the Luo clan's main hall. Zhuo Fan was already seated with a bright smile, "Young Sanzi, it's been ages!"
"Dad!"
Gu Santong skipped cheerfully in Zhuo Fan's arms. He didn't look like a three hundred year old monster to anyone, just a sweet child.
But the instant he saw Zhuo Fan's empty right sleeve, his eyes snapped, "Dad, your right hand! Who did this to you? I'll kill them all!"
"No need, I've already handled it."
Zhuo Fan shook his head. With Tianyu's factions in a delicate balance, he didn't want Gu Santong to be the spark that blew everything sky high and affected his plan.
"And what are you doing here? It can't be that you're here just to see little old me." Zhuo Fan switched topics with a smile.
Gu Santong nodded, "I came to give the Luo clan a decree. For the Luo clan's exemplary performance in Esoteric Debate, three months from now, the emperor will bestow upon it the title of 8th noble house in the imperial capital, in front of the clans of Tianyu. All heads of the clans and houses will be there to celebrate."
[What?!]
Everyone was stunned.
Who would've thought the imperial family would hold up their word so fast? But it also worried them. Zhuo Fan had the Dragon Vein Soul, and the emperor's attitude would definitely change towards them.
But by giving them a title in such a grand style while also inviting every clan, was there a hidden agenda that might affect the Luo clan?
Zhuo Fan squinted, but smiled in the end, "Ha-ha-ha, I see. Now I know that you've come to give me this information. Thanks young Sanzi. And how have they been treating you in the Imperial Palace, do they feed you well?"
Gu Santong's glee was replaced with heartache, "Don't remind me. Those stingy creeps only know to give me 1st and 2nd grade ingredients. Ever since I ate dad's high grade ingredients, those low ones seem stale."
"Ha-ha-ha, then why don't you stay here for a little while and live it up like a young master?"
Laughing, Zhuo Fan presented an ingredient rich in spiritual energy. Gu Santong perked up on the spot, "8th grade ingredient! F-for me?"
"Of course. What's mine is yours!" Zhuo Fan pushed the ingredient to a cheerful Gu Santong.
At the side, Yan Song's heart was bleeding. [That's an 8th grade ingredient!] With the secret alchemy art Zhuo Fan had taught him, he might even be able to refine a 9th grade pill with that ingredient.
[Giving it away just like that is such a waste.]
But the pain had only just begun.
Zhuo Fan waved Yan Song over, "Elder Yan, my son will be staying with us for a few days. He just loves ingredients. For every meal, you have to give him at least one 6th grade ingredient. Got it?"
Face twitching, alchemist Yan Song's poor heart was at its limit.
But since Zhuo Fan had commanded it, he could only suck it up and nod. Gu Santong was ecstatic, hugging his neck and kissing him, "You're the best dad in the whole world…."
All of this happened before a mute audience. Where did the fiendish monster go? In front of Zhuo Fan, he was nothing but a cute seven year old.
"Alright, alright…"
Zhuo Fan waved, telling Gu Santong to get down as his face turned serious, "Young Sanzi, there's something I must talk to you about. Perhaps you won't agree, but I must ask."
Gu Santong cocked his head.
Zhuo Fan sighed and said, "Young Sanzi, I want to use the Qilin leg."
"What?" Gu Santong cried.
"I know, it is very dear to you, and I never intended to do this either. But now I have no choice…" His eyes trailed to his empty right sleeve as he continued, "If you don't agree I'll have no choice but to force you to take it from me or make you agree and have you resent me forever."
Raising his arm, his Thunder Ring flashed as he looked Gu Santong straight in the eye.
He knew how important the Qilin leg was to Gu Santong. It was his elder's remains that he treasured greatly.
If he had just used it without even telling Gu Santong, there would always be a wall between them. It might even break off their relationship.
Gu Santong's first godfather was a scholar, who taught him to repay gratitude in kind.
Before he made this request, Zhuo Fan had first dumped a pile of ingredients in this kid's lap, earning a few brownie points coupled with the statement, [What's mine is yours.] – sharing the profits.
Forcing a great battle to take place in Gu Santong's heart.
Zhuo Fan treated him like his kin, but to avoid any arguments in the future, he still came out clean to make Gu Santong give him the Qilin leg willingly.
Zhuo Fan held his breath as he watched him. Gu Santong was silent for a long time before nodding, "If it were anyone else, I'd definitely refuse. But like dad just said, what's mine is yours."
"Ha-ha-ha, oh son!"
Zhuo Fan laughed, hugging him tighter and kissing him twice until Gu Santong giggled.
The people in the hall sighed. Steward Zhuo was a true miracle worker to get so close with that little monster. They were no different from true father and son.
Not to mention this monstrous duo would one day take the empire by the storm with no one to stop them.
Everyone could practically see the two go on a rampage and the Luo clan entering into an era of prosperity at the top.
[It was the right choice to come over to the Luo clan's side.] Was the unanimous sentiment.
Only Luo Yunchang didn't care much for interests, feeling her heart swell at the touching reunion.
[Zhuo Fan is no longer lonely…]
Zhuo Fan and Gu Santong chatted for a while and then Zhuo Fan took him to have his fill of ingredients. Especially high grade ones. These were all taken from that 6th grade spiritual beast's cave back in Beast King Mountain.
Their amount was neither plenty nor few to start with. Yan Song was the Alchemy House Elder and was ecstatic at seeing them the first time.
But now he had to watch them get stuffed down Gu Santong's gullet. In no time at all, almost none were left, much to the misery of the old man.
Not that Zhuo Fan cared. As long as he could use the Qilin leg while Gu Santong agreed, he took it as a bargain. As for the ingredients, they were merely worldly possessions, nothing compared to the Qillin leg and the ongoing relationship he had with Gu Santong.
Two weeks later, Gu Santong's time was up and he had to leave, despite his reluctance. But before he left, Zhuo Fan gave him a pile of ingredients as snacks, making the separation somewhat bearable.
When Gu Santong was gone, Luo Yunchang and the rest were preparing to leave as well, for the imperial capital. But Zhuo Fan wasn't coming with them.
He was almost completely healed and what was left was to deal with his severed right arm. Then he would be reborn, with newfound power coursing through his veins tens of times greater than before…