Lin Xiaomei only then felt a little embarrassed and let go of her son. "You've never been away from home for this long before, and you didn't even write to tell us how you were doing. A-Tian, go tell your boss that his son is back."
The young attendant nearby immediately ran into the shop. Before long, Luo Dashan hurried out.
"Xiao Chen's back? My son's home!" Luo Dashan came out still wearing his chef's uniform. The moment he saw Luo Chen, his grin nearly split his face in two. "Come on, get inside. This young man here is Xiao Chen's classmate, right?"
Luo Dashan had noticed Su Heng standing beside them. Su Heng smiled shyly. "Hello, Uncle and Auntie. My name is Su Heng, and I'm Brother Chen's roommate."
Lin Xiaomei beamed. "A roommate, how nice. Su Heng, right? Come on, get inside."
Luo Dashan chimed in, too. "That's right, come on in. Uncle will cook you some fish!"
Luo Dashan dashed into the kitchen, while Lin Xiaomei led the two boys toward the back courtyard. As they walked, she kept greeting the customers, proudly repeating, "My son's back!" "This is my son." "My son goes to school in Heaven Dou City!"
Once the three of them reached the courtyard, Luo Chen couldn't help asking, "Mom, what made you decide to open a restaurant?"
"That's a long story. Ever since your Uncle Fule took office, our Hailun City has started developing tourism and fishing. One day, someone suddenly showed up at the door of our shop and said he wanted to try our home cooking. I happened to be out delivering clothes, and your dad didn't want him to think people in Hailun City were inhospitable. So he used that clay pot of his to stew a pot of fish soup. The man tried it and found it incredibly delicious. Then word spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred. People started coming from far and wide, saying our tailor shop served amazing fish soup. Your father and I discussed it and decided we might as well open a restaurant. To our surprise, business took off, and your dad became Chef Luo overnight!"
Luo Chen chuckled. "I never knew my dad had it in him. He's got a hidden talent! Su Heng, let's try my dad's cooking together today."
"I'd love to, Brother Chen!" Su Heng replied.
While they waited for the fish stew, Lin Xiaomei asked Luo Chen, "Xiao Chen, how have you been these past few months? Has anyone at school picked on you? Are you getting along with your classmates?"
Su Heng immediately wanted to say something, but Luo Chen stopped him with a look.
Su Heng was practically bursting to speak. Auntie, you're asking if he's been bullied? You should be asking if he's bullied anyone! Who in their right mind takes on a whole team alone? The others summon their Martial Souls, and he brings a pack of Soul Beasts and hits them with Evil Eye Gaze—first locking them down, then beating them up. Who could possibly handle that?
"Of course not, Mom," Luo Chen said. "My classmates are all good people, and we get along really well. They wouldn't pick on me. Right, Su Heng?"
Su Heng nodded at once. "That's right, Auntie. Brother Chen's very popular."
Now a Soul Grandmaster, Su Heng had four ordinary Gulu Balls. Over the past few months, under Meng Shenji's guidance, he had also contracted two Soul Beasts: a five-hundred-year-old Feather Eagle and a more than six-hundred-year-old Beetle Immortal.
That had taken Luo Chen's strength up another level. By now, even an ordinary Soul Elder probably wouldn't be able to withstand one of his moves.
There had once been someone who thought he could surpass Luo Chen. After working hard for ages, he suddenly realized the truth: if their strength grew by multiplication, Luo Chen's grew exponentially. He couldn't even imagine how terrifying Luo Chen would be once he became a Titled Douluo.
Sometimes even Luo Chen wondered: everyone said Dugu Bo was the strongest Titled Douluo at group attacks. If Luo Chen became a Titled Douluo and commanded all beasts, which of them would be the strongest at attacking groups?
"Ha ha ha! The fish soup's here!" Luo Dashan carried the clay pot into the room, and the rich, savory aroma of fish soup instantly filled it.
"That smells amazing!" Su Heng praised it at once, unable to take his eyes off the pot.
Even Luo Chen couldn't help swallowing. He hadn't known his dad had a knack for this.
"Dad, you stew fish with your Martial Soul?" Luo Chen couldn't help teasing him.
"Ah, our Martial Souls don't even have a Soul Power Level, so we might as well find some use for them. And stewing fish works just fine. Maybe using them will even produce some Soul Power."
Well, his dad certainly had ideas. But what he'd said gave Luo Chen one of his own. His parents had no Soul Power. In other novels, the parents were either dead or powerful, but he had two parents who weren't Soul Masters. He couldn't bring himself to leave them behind.
But he already had a plan. He wanted to replicate his Gulu Ball and make something like a Soul Tool, so his parents could catch Soul Beasts and defend themselves.
For now, though, he'd better enjoy the fish soup in front of him. Su Heng had already started drinking at Lin Xiaomei's urging.
"Whoa, Uncle Luo, you're an incredible cook! What kind of fish is this?"
Luo Dashan chuckled. "It's a local specialty of Hailun City: Silver Cod. It has few bones and tender, fatty meat, so it's perfect for soup!"
As they were talking, a hearty voice came from the front room. "Dashan! I heard your boy's back?"
Luo Chen looked up and saw a dark-skinned, middle-aged man with calloused hands stride into the room, carrying a gleaming fish.
"Uncle Chen!" Luo Chen stood up. Old Chen was a veteran fisherman in Hailun City who often got together with Luo Dashan for drinks. He sized Luo Chen up and grinned. "You've grown taller and put on some muscle, too. I heard you went to school in Heaven Dou City. You're making something of yourself!"
He set the fish in his hand on the table. "Golden Scale Fish. Caught it this morning. Let's stew it for you to help you build up your strength."
Luo Dashan came over for a look, his eyes lighting up. "Old Chen, that's a real catch! You can't get more than a few Golden Scale Fish in a whole year."
Old Chen waved his hand. "Your boy's finally home. How could I, his uncle, not bring him something? Besides, I come here to mooch meals every day now that you've opened this place. What's one fish? And you know how good I am at fishing."
Everyone laughed. Old Chen sat down, took the bowl Lin Xiaomei handed him, and sipped the fish soup. His eyes narrowed in satisfaction. "Dashan's cooking is truly something else. You have no idea how much livelier Hailun City has become since you opened this place."
Curious, Luo Chen asked, "Uncle Chen, has the city changed much lately?"
Old Chen set down his bowl and counted on his fingers. "A lot! After Lord Fule took office, they built a pier, and all sorts of merchants came from out of town. Several inns and restaurants have opened in the city, and you even see Soul Masters now and then."
Su Heng cut in. "Soul Masters? Are there many?"
"Not many," Old Chen said, shaking his head. "One or two pass through now and then, drink a bowl of fish soup, and leave. This little place can't keep the big shots around."
Luo Chen's heart stirred, and he asked, "Has anyone... caused trouble?"
Old Chen chuckled. "Who'd dare? Your dad's clay-pot Martial Soul may not have any Soul Power, but getting splashed with a whole pot of fish soup would still hurt. Besides, they've brought in patrols. The city's much safer than before."
Luo Chen breathed a sigh of relief.
Old Chen stayed a little longer, then stood to leave. Before going, he patted Luo Chen on the shoulder. "Study hard. When you make something of yourself, don't forget your Uncle Chen."
Luo Chen nodded. "Don't worry, Uncle Chen. I won't forget."
After seeing Old Chen off, Luo Chen returned to the table. Watching his parents bustling about, his resolve only grew stronger.
I have to make a Gulu Ball Soul Tool, so my parents can defend themselves, too!
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