Invincible Dad

"N-no, I'm fine."

Yiyi suppressed her grievance, a joyful smile breaking out on her face as she threw herself into Xu Lai's arms. "Daddy, I want some cloud candy."

"Okay."

Xu Lai didn't hesitate at all, snapping his fingers.

A piece of cloud candy appeared in Yiyi's hand, and even Qian Xiao, who was trailing behind them, got one too.

"Boss Lady, we've successfully taken our first step today! Don't you dare get discouraged. You've gotta have a dream!" Qian Xiao shouted.

The corner of Xu Lai's mouth twitched.

If he didn't know the little brat was talking about the martial arts tournament, he would have kicked him all the way to the forbidden lands of the Immortal Domain.

Successfully taken the first step... I'm going to beat you to a pulp!

After picking his daughter up, he went to the company to get Ruan Tang.

Once they got home, Xu Lai was in the kitchen cooking when Yun Jin reported in a low voice, "The Supreme Emperor, I'm sorry. I caused some trouble."

"Go on."

Xu Lai wasn't too concerned.

As long as Earth doesn't explode, it's not a big deal. There's no problem he can't solve.

Yun Jin carefully recounted the beginning and end of the matter.

Xu Lai had an odd look on his face as he said, "Just for this little thing? Your methods were..."

"Too harsh?" Yun Jin grew nervous.

"Too light."

Xu Lai hmphed. "They dared to bully my daughter? Next time, beat them to death. I'll take responsibility for whatever happens."

"But..."

Yun Jin's scalp tingled. "That might not be a good idea, The Supreme Emperor. Yiyi is still around. If she sees blood..."

"You have a point."

Xu Lai praised her, "You were very thoughtful."

"Hehehe."

Yun Jin giggled foolishly, then plucked up her courage to ask, "So, can I play games all night tonight?"

"Yes," Xu Lai nodded.

"But what about the lady of the house..." Yun Jin asked hesitantly.

Ruan Tang wasn't against the two of them playing games, but she had a strict rule: bedtime was before eleven.

"Such frivolous pastimes kill ambition," Xu Lai said, his voice laced with the disappointment of one scolding an underachiever. "You are the future hope of the Taotie Clan. Are you going to let a mere game lead you astray? You're going to bed at eleven!"

Little Glutton was dumbfounded.

She complained resentfully, "But The Supreme Emperor, you promised me! The Supreme Emperor's words are gold; how can you go back on them?"

"In this house, she's the boss."

"…"

Fine, then.

Since The Supreme Emperor himself had said so, what else was there to say? She scurried off to the living room to play games.

After all, she was returning to her clan tomorrow. From there, she would use the Teleportation Array to go back to the Dead Realm and continue her cultivation. Her appetite... she could barely suppress it anymore.

That evening at dinner, upon hearing that Yun Jin was leaving the next day, Yiyi was visibly upset. Even the food in front of her suddenly seemed tasteless.

Yun Jin was just as sad to leave.

Compared to other second and third-generation Immortals, Xu Yiyi was definitely the most down-to-earth and least pretentious of them all. Yun Jin cherished her like a real younger sister.

"Sister Yiyi, I'll come to see you again after a while."

Little Glutton patted her flat chest and promised, "For now, leave Earth's kindergarten to Qian Xiao. I'll go and conquer those disobedient little brats in the Immortal Domain for you!"

Xu Lai was left speechless.

He could already picture the Immortal Domain in total chaos.

The Supreme Emperor was deeply troubled.

His head throbbed. "You'd better behave yourself. The Immortal Domain is nothing like Earth."

"Don't worry!" Yun Jin nodded repeatedly.

This dinner was a farewell meal.

Yiyi gave many of her toys to Yun Jin as farewell gifts, after which the two of them resumed playing their game.

This time, Yun Jin was extremely focused. She didn't even need a single continue and successfully led Xu Yiyi through the entire game, even breaking Ruan Lan's high score.

"Hehehe," Yun Jin said proudly. "Staying up all night to read the guide paid off."

Xu Lai's headache worsened.

If only she applied this level of dedication to her cultivation, Little Glutton would probably already be at the Nascent Soul Realm.

...

...

After dinner, Xu Lai and Ruan Tang soaked in the hot spring in the backyard.

Ruan Tang said hesitantly, "Xu Lai, is our daughter hiding something from me? She keeps avoiding my eyes."

"You're always so stern with her; of course she's afraid of you."

"???"

Ruan Tang frowned. "Stern? Tell me honestly, when have I ever been stern with her!"

"I am speaking from the heart," Xu Lai said, stretching his hand out toward her. Then, enunciating each word, he added, "That frown of yours is pretty fierce."

Ruan Tang's face darkened. "Then how about you feel your own conscience!"

Annoyed, she slapped away the pervert's wandering hand.

Xu Lai coughed and changed the subject. "Oh, dear, it's snowing again."

"Yeah."

Ruan Tang stretched out her hand, letting the snowflakes melt the instant they landed on her palm. She gazed absentmindedly, lost in thought.

"Speaking of which, it feels like it's been a long time since I've seen Ruan Lan," Xu Lai pondered.

"What, you miss her?" Ruan Tang looked at him with a teasing smile.

"..."

Sensing the hidden danger in her question, Xu Lai said solemnly, "She's your sister. My concern for her is an extension of my love for you."

"She has an exam in a couple of days."

Ruan Tang coiled her hair up. "And then it'll be almost time for her holiday break."

Xu Lai sighed. "Looks like we're getting a third wheel in the house again."

Ruan Tang pursed her lips to hide a smile.

Another third wheel might be a good thing; it would make Xu Lai behave himself a little. Take that 'speaking from the heart' business just now... couldn't that have waited until we were in our room? Out here... what if someone saw us!

"By the way, honey, could you handle Yiyi's school run tomorrow? I'm taking Yun Jin home and need to take care of a few things along the way," Xu Lai said seriously. "It will probably take me the whole day."

"Mm."

Ruan Tang nodded, not asking what Xu Lai was going to do.

After sending the Taotie back to the Immortal Domain, Xu Lai planned to return to the Heavenly Court to handle some business.

Of course, with the year's end approaching, he also needed to stock up on New Year's goods, especially with two big eaters and one little eater at home.

Right. I should also take the opportunity to visit Chong Yang and help myself to some of her bamboo. Maybe I'll swing by the other Demon Race territories as well.

Shaking his head, Xu Lai mused aloud, "To promote racial harmony, I, The Supreme Emperor, have truly worn myself out."

It was a good thing the Taotie wasn't there. Otherwise, she would have surely retorted, "The Supreme Emperor, isn't that just a shakedown? Let me go for you!"

That night, Xu Lai slept soundly, and Ruan Tang also had an excellent night's sleep.

The next morning, as Ruan Tang was driving Yiyi to school, Yun Jin waved continuously, calling out, "Sister Yiyi, don't forget me!"

Once the car had left Mount Haitang, Xu Lai said, "Let's go."

"Yes, The Supreme Emperor."

WHOOSH.

The two of them vanished on the spot.

High up in the clouds, a Divine Dragon lowered its head slightly, as if respectfully seeing The Supreme Emperor off.

And further away, on another white cloud, sat a young boy in a red bellyband. He held a stick of candied hawthorns in his right hand, forcefully biting one off and swallowing it.

"So, they've finally left?"

Heavenly Dao withdrew his gaze, looking down at the mortal world below.

At the foothills of Mount Haitang, in a villa district, an old man sat in a wicker chair, listening to a Chinese opera program on his phone. The rising sun cast down rays of golden light.

Dozens of kilometers away, in an area slated for demolition, stood houses that were decades old. Inside one, a middle-aged man, sick to the point of death, coughed ceaselessly, spitting up large amounts of blood.

Out at sea, fishing boats snuck out from the harbor.

At the docks, a couple who had arrived too late to buy seafood were arguing.

The mortal world was noisy and boisterous, but he liked it very much. He liked it just as he had back then, when he first arrived on Earth.