The Gods' Condition

He should have asked Shuang Han to teach him how to deal with Wu Tong whenever she got willful like that. Then again, back then, Wu Tong had apparently been spoiled rotten by Tang San, his father-in-law, and Shuang Han.

Moreover, Huo Yuhao clearly remembered Shuang Han saying that he especially liked daughters. It was not that he disliked sons.

"Yo! Little Yuhao!"

At that moment, a burly, bearded man came sprinting toward Huo Yuhao.

"Ah! Ancestor!"

That was right. This ancestor was Dai Mubai, one of the original Shrek Seven Devils, and Huo Yuhao's ancestor—or so he remembered.

"I'm telling you right now, Mubai, don't even think about touching Xiao Han's account again. You went 0-21-0. His account's win rate was originally very high."

"Th-That was just a mistake, Zhuqing! Don't be like this."

Watching the scene unfold before him, Huo Yuhao was utterly baffled. Maybe everyone spoiled their wives and... feared their wives?

In any case, it was not a matter of whether he was afraid or not. It was that Tang San was there. Though he had Shuang Han and Xiao Wu, uh... Mother?

After all, once he married Wu Tong, he had to change how he addressed them, but it still felt somewhat unnatural and unfamiliar.

"Yuhao... come rank up with me. Dai Mubai keeps pestering me. Other than Xiao Han, I can only ask you," Zhu Zhuqing said.

"Huh? Is that okay? But Ancestor..."

That was right. His ancestor was looking at him pitifully as he was ignored. Though he knew he played terribly, and when he had challenged Yuhao to The King of Fighters before, he had been completely unable to beat him.

"Wait, Yuhao, fight me for several hundred rounds first! I've already thought up all my combos!" Dai Mubai cut in.

"You've lost several times already. You've never won even once..." Zhu Zhuqing hit the nail on the head.

"Uh..." Dai Mubai fell silent.

He had been thinking up novel combos and the like, too. Besides, Yuhao always used that drunken old man against him, saying the Taotie Douluo had told him to use him back then. He felt rather similar to himself, since he loved drinking and could breathe fire.

"Forget it, Yuhao. I won't keep bothering you this time. Go on ahead. I'll just go watch the anime Shuang Han found for me."

With that, Dai Mubai could only head inside to entertain himself, while Tang Wu Tong followed him to see whether it was really any fun.

Elsewhere, amid swathes of blazing fire, two people stood embracing each other.

Yet the woman apparently did not like it there. The man then spread his wings and carried her away to another place that belonged to the two of them.

"Hongjun, Senior Brother already told you not to stay here all the time. Every time, we have to rush around frantically just to find you."

"But, Xiangxiang, this is where a second-class god like me should be. Back then... if I hadn't worked hard, I almost would have lost you."

Ma Hongjun lowered his head, recalling the past.

"Enough, enough. You're not allowed to bring it up again. Even Senior Brother said that if you keep going like this, you won't be like your old self anymore."

"Is that so?"

"Yes! Listen to me! Smile, smile!"

Bai Chenxiang used two fingers, trying to force a smile onto Ma Hongjun's face.

"Pfft!"

"Xiangxiang, you're being silly again."

"Sorry, but you really do look better when you smile."

"Is that so? I really haven't smiled in a long time. But ever since Shuang Han helped me, I have indeed smiled more. Yet now, isn't it because of him..."

"Enough. No one wants to see Senior Brother like this, but we all have to do our own part. When he comes back, we'll give him a huge surprise!"

"Mm, I understand. I'll work hard too. I'm Ma Hongjun, after all! Hahaha!"

At that moment, Ma Hongjun regained the hearty, swaggering laughter he had possessed back then. It did not feel bad...

"By the way, Hongjun, are we going there now?"

"Hm? Yes, Master is treating us to dinner today."

"Hehe, you're craving food again, aren't you?"

"Yes. It's been a long time since we did this. Let's go."

"By the way, I think your master wants to see whether I've bullied you again. We only met not long ago."

"Hm? No way. But Hongjun, don't worry about it."

As he spoke, Ma Hongjun took Bai Chenxiang and flew toward where Tang San was.

On the other side, in the castle where Tang San lived, Xiao Wu was busily working with all her strength. Tang San had just returned, and upon seeing her, quickly told her to sit down.

"Huh? Third Brother, what's wrong?"

"Xiao Wu, why are you in the kitchen again? Didn't we agree that I would do it?"

"But I wanted to make the dishes Brother Han taught me and the dishes Big Brother Nian Bing taught me for Third Brother to eat."

"All right, Xiao Wu, leave it to me. Though my cooking isn't as good as theirs, I've learned a few things too."

"All right."

As they spoke, Tang Wu Tong and Huo Yuhao entered as well. Some time had passed since they had ranked up earlier.

"F-Father-in-law... hello!" Huo Yuhao said.

"Hm? Yuhao and Wu Tong, you're here?"

"Dad! Mom!"

Tang Wu Tong threw herself at Tang San, then slowly embraced Xiao Wu.

"Hm? Yuhao, it's okay. Third Brother isn't that scary. I'm here," Xiao Wu said.

"Xiao Wu, give me some face. Even Shuang Han has never acted like this."

"Hmph, do you want Brother Han or me?" Xiao Wu demanded.

"No, no, wife, I want you. Definitely you."

With that, he called Yuhao over and headed into the kitchen with him.

"Wu Tong, how has Dong'er been lately?"

"Hm? She's doing well, but things are still a little delicate between us. I always feel like I've wronged her."

"Ah, it's really our fault too. But we've been thinking of ways to make it up to her. No matter what, that child is also a little Wu Tong."

Naturally, Huo Yuhao and Tang San could hear those words as well.

"Yuhao, let me ask quietly. Dong'er hasn't had any problems lately, right?"

"Yes, Father-in-law. We've been quite close as well."

"But it's still like Wu Tong said, right?"

"Th-That's true. And during that God Realm discussion meeting, didn't some people fail to come as well? Actually, they had their reasons."

"Is that so? I understand."

"Um, Father-in-law, I don't know if I'm overstepping, but I think many people in the God Realm no longer blame you and the others. Everyone is here, and comparatively speaking, they're quite happy."

"Is that so... Hahaha, Yuhao, you really are a fine young man. Very good!" Tang San suddenly laughed and patted Huo Yuhao.

"By the way, Father-in-law, the God Realm..."

"The God Realm is still drifting right now, but it won't be devoured or invaded. It's like an ordinary existence in the universe."

"I understand... Ah, the fire's too high over there!"

As they spoke, the two continued working in the kitchen. Later, they had a lavish gathering meal, though at times, certain people were missing.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, in the place their child had chosen for them, there was still a residence.

"Lin'er, stop pacing back and forth. I don't even know how many times this has been already," the bearded man said.

"You're the one who can talk! Isn't this old lady worried about that child?"

"Yes, yes, but Lin'er, usually I let you have your way, but not this time. Who isn't worried about that child? But who can stop them?" he asked sternly.

"You! But... is there really no way?"

"Lin'er, calm down. It's not like you don't know what kind of person that child is. Just relax, and leave them to those people as well."

"Sigh, all right. Really... I just hope that child comes back soon," Lin'er said.

Afterward, the two continued with their daily routines in the God Realm and paid visits to some old friends.