Encountering Trouble

Thinking of the smile on Bibi Dong's face whenever she spanked him, Deng Tianxin couldn't help but grit his teeth.

He swore in his heart that he would pull a massive prank on Bibi Dong in the future.

Realizing that Bibi Dong had already left, Deng Tianxin's expression shifted.

Deng Tianxin took a deep breath, then tilted his head back and laughed toward the sky.

"Hahahaha! The old witch is finally gone!"

Deng Tianxin laughed heartily, standing at the entrance of the Saintess Palace with his hands on his hips and his short legs spread wide, his posture as arrogant as a general who had just captured an enemy stronghold.

He laughed for a full ten seconds before stopping, still feeling unsatisfied, and wiped the tears of mirth from the corners of his eyes.

"Two years! Two whole years without having to see her!" Deng Tianxin counted on his fingers, feeling happier with every digit, "Two years without being held while sleeping, two years without being forced into a bath, two years without getting spanked—just thinking about this life makes me feel blissful!"

He turned and strode back into the Saintess Palace, plopped back into his favorite recliner, crossed his legs again, picked up his teacup, and took a delightful sip.

The tea had already gone cold, but it didn't matter; the taste of freedom was sweeter than any tea.

"Cook! Cook!" Deng Tianxin shouted at the top of his lungs.

The Saintess Palace's cook soon poked her head out from the kitchen, looking at this arrogant little ancestor with a puzzled expression.

"Extra dishes tonight!" Deng Tianxin waved his hand grandly, full of spirit, "Braised pork ribs, sweet and sour fish, soy-braised pork knuckle, and a pot of old hen soup! The old witch is away, so let's celebrate!"

The cook couldn't help but chuckle as she agreed, then retreated to prepare dinner.

After a year of living together, she had become accustomed to the love-hate relationship between this little ancestor and Bibi Dong.

Deng Tianxin lay back on his chair, satisfied, staring at the ceiling and beginning to fantasize about the wonderful life he would lead for the next two years.

Since he had the day off tomorrow and two months of rest, he could go out and have some fun.

No, he wasn't going out to play; he was going to find fragments.

His strength had reached level 27, and as long as he didn't do anything suicidal, no one could hurt him thanks to his abilities.

"Cook!" Deng Tianxin shouted at the top of his lungs again.

The cook poked her head out from the kitchen once more, holding a spatula, her face filled with the helplessness of someone thinking, What does this little ancestor want now?

"I'm going on a long trip tomorrow, for about two months," Deng Tianxin hopped off the recliner and brushed the non-existent dust off his clothes, "What kind of dry rations do we have in the kitchen that I can take? Pack me a bag."

The cook froze, her spatula nearly falling to the floor: "A long trip? You, all by yourself? Her Highness the Saintess just left; if something happens to you, how am I supposed to answer to her?"

"What could she possibly do to me?" Deng Tianxin waved his hand dismissively, "Besides, the old witch went to Slaughter City herself; she won't be back for two or three years. By the time she returns, I'll already be back here lying in my chair drinking tea, and she won't suspect a thing."

The cook wanted to persuade him further, but seeing the determined look on Deng Tianxin's face, she swallowed her words.

Over the past year, she had thoroughly learned this little ancestor's temper; once he decided on something, not even ten soul beasts could pull him back.

Even the Saintess herself was often driven to the point of high blood pressure by him, so what could a mere cook do?

"Then... then you must take care of yourself." The cook finally compromised.

The next morning.

The cook had packed the rations early in the morning, stuffing a bag full of cured meat, dry biscuits, dried fruit, and a water skin until it looked like a giant steamed bun.

She even specifically tucked in two extra packs of the osmanthus cakes Deng Tianxin loved, wrapping them tightly in oil paper.

Although the little ancestor had a sharp tongue, he had always been a fan of her cooking, and he never hesitated to praise her whenever he ate something delicious, which gave the cook a genuine sense of affection for this nominal little master.

When the carriage drove out of Spirit City, the sky was just beginning to brighten.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and most of the shops along the street were still closed, with only a few breakfast stalls emitting plumes of white steam.

Deng Tianxin lifted the carriage curtain and glanced back at the towering walls of Spirit City, a sense of indescribable relief surging in his heart.

He was free.

He was truly out of the cage now; no one to tell him when to wake up, no one to urge him to cultivate, and no one to pinch his cheeks and force him to call her "Sister."

He was a wild horse off its tether, free to run wherever he pleased.

Thinking of this, Deng Tianxin couldn't help but chuckle, causing the carriage driver in front to look back at him with a confused expression.

The carriage traveled toward the Heaven Dou Empire for two full days.

Deng Tianxin wasn't in a hurry; he ate and drank as he pleased along the way, stopping to stroll through small towns and ducking into markets to see if there were any rare trinkets.

He had the pocket money Bibi Dong left him before she departed; it wasn't much, but it was more than enough for daily expenses.

The only regret was that there was no one to bicker with, and he had a belly full of snarky remarks with nowhere to use them.

On the evening of the third day, Deng Tianxin ran into trouble.

Deng Tianxin was leaning against the carriage, gnawing on a piece of cured meat, when the carriage suddenly jolted to a halt. Immediately after, the driver's terrified voice came from outside: "Gentlemen, I'm just a driver. There's only a child inside, there's nothing of value..."

"Cut the crap! Hand over everything valuable!" a rough voice roared, accompanied by bursts of laughter and the metallic clashing of weapons.

Deng Tianxin put down the meat, wiped the grease from his mouth with his sleeve, lifted the curtain, and jumped out.

Outside the carriage stood seven or eight men, all burly and thick-necked, wielding knives and axes; they were clearly habitual offenders.

The leader was a bald man with a scar running from his brow bone to his chin, pointing a notched broadsword at the driver, who was shaking in his boots.

When Deng Tianxin rounded the back of the carriage, the group of bandits first froze, then erupted into thunderous laughter.

"Hahaha! It really is a nursing babe!"

"He's even got horns on his head! What is that thing? Is he wearing a headpiece?"

"Little kid, have you been weaned yet? Did you tell your mommy you were heading out?"

Bald Scar laughed the loudest, his rolls of fat trembling with every guffaw.

Brother Scar hoisted his broadsword onto his shoulder and walked over to Deng Tianxin, looking down at the little shrimp who didn't even reach his waist, his tone dripping with mockery: "Little shrimp, you got any money on you? Hand it over, and Uncle will let you off the hook today."

Deng Tianxin looked up at him, his expression blank.

Although there were many of them, everyone except Brother Scar was just an ordinary person; in front of a Level 27 Great Soul Master like him, they were no different from a bunch of scarecrows.

Just as Deng Tianxin prepared to make his move, a cold, clear female voice drifted down from a large tree by the roadside.

"So many grown men bullying a child—don't you feel ashamed?"