Introducing Two Friends

The old Zuo family residence in Linjiang welcomed a new resident.

All at once, it was filled with life and vitality.

"Sweetheart, this is the balcony, but don't play here normally because it's very high up and a little dangerous."

"Sweetheart, this is the bathroom. Do you know how to use the toilet by yourself?"

"Really? That's amazing."

"This is your grandma's room. It's usually kept locked, so don't go inside."

"This is the kitchen, and this is the living room..."

After getting Bao'er settled into her room, Zuo Yi took her around the entire house, going from the third floor down to the first.

Then Zuo Yi discovered that the Su Wanqing he had never met had raised Bao'er very well. Though she was only four years old, she could use the toilet herself, brush her teeth, wash her face, and even get dressed on her own.

That was truly impressive!

More importantly, Bao'er was sweet, sensible, and obedient, unlike those spoiled children who were arrogant and willful.

This made Zuo Yi quietly feel grateful to Su Wanqing.

If he ever had the chance to find the "Aunt Qing" Bao'er spoke of, he would definitely find a way to repay her.

As for Bao'er's biological mother, Zuo Yi chose not to think about that for now.

He vaguely felt that the truth would eventually come to light.

For Zuo Yi, the most important thing now was to take good care of Bao'er and accompany her as she grew up healthy, happy, and joyful.

At the same time, he would make up for the regrets in his own life.

"Daddy..."

After touring her new home, Bao'er suddenly asked, "Where is Grandma? Doesn't she live at home?"

Zuo Yi smiled. "Your grandma went somewhere very, very far away."

Her soul did.

He silently added that in his heart, then asked, "Do you want to see Grandma?"

Bao'er nodded—she was very curious.

Zuo Yi patted her little head and led her to the display cabinet. Pointing at a framed photograph on the wooden shelf, he said, "Bao'er, this is your grandma."

In the frame, Zuo Qingyun gazed gently at them both.

Bao'er looked at her memorial portrait, blinked, and softly said, "Grandma."

Zuo Yi silently said in his heart, Mom, do you see her? This is my daughter, your own granddaughter. Her name is Bao'er. She's very sweet and very sensible.

In the frame, Zuo Qingyun's smile remained unchanged.

Zuo Yi let out a long breath and said, "Bao'er, let's offer incense to Grandma."

As he spoke, he picked up three incense sticks and lightly rubbed their tips between his right thumb and forefinger. Thin blue smoke immediately rose from them.

Zuo Yi had Bao'er hold the incense sticks in both hands, then put an arm around her and bowed three times before Zuo Qingyun's memorial portrait.

"Mom, may your spirit in heaven watch over Bao'er, keeping her healthy, safe, and blessed."

After paying respects to his mother, Zuo Yi placed the three burning incense sticks in the burner.

Bao'er tugged on Zuo Yi's clothes, tipped up her head, and asked, "Daddy, can Grandma hear you talking?"

"Do you see that smoke..."

Zuo Yi crouched down and hugged her, pointing at the curling blue smoke rising from the incense. "It can carry our wishes to your grandma."

He was not simply making things up to placate a child. Using sacrificial rites to communicate with souls in the Endless Styx fell within the realm of applying laws. The most powerful wizards could even summon ancient souls to converse with them.

Zuo Yi was not a wizard, nor did he possess such abilities, but burning incense and paying respects could indeed possibly convey the thoughts of the living to souls.

It was just impossible to know whether it had succeeded.

Bao'er nodded as if she half understood. "Oh."

Zuo Yi smiled and patted her head. "Good girl."

Gurgle~

All of a sudden, he heard a strange sound, and the little girl immediately covered her tummy in embarrassment.

"Oh!"

Zuo Yi slapped his forehead in annoyance. "You're hungry, aren't you? Daddy will make you lunch!"

It was almost noon. Bao'er had to be hungry. He was truly an amateur dad—he had not even thought of it just now!

Bao'er quietly said, "Thank you, Daddy."

Seeing how adorable she was, Zuo Yi could not help leaning over and planting a kiss on her rosy cheek. "You're welcome, sweetheart. Shall we have steak for lunch?"

"Ah!"

Bao'er raised her hand to cover her little face. "Daddy, Aunt Qing said girls can't let boys kiss them."

"Aunt Qing is right!"

Zuo Yi gave an approving nod first, then said, "But Daddy is an exception. No one except Daddy is allowed!"

Dads could be that domineering!

Bao'er thought about it very seriously for a moment. Perhaps she went through an internal struggle, but in the end, she nodded.

"Okay."

She decided to listen to Daddy.

Zuo Yi chuckled. "All right, then. You can play in the living room or out in the yard. Daddy's going to the kitchen to cook."

Bao'er said, "Then I'll play in the yard."

The old residence still felt very new to her, especially the huge camphor tree in the yard, which looked very interesting.

"OK!"

Zuo Yi let her go outside to play while he headed to the kitchen to prepare lunch for the two of them.

Zuo Yi had no real talent for cooking. Back when he was poor, the best he could manage was egg fried rice and seaweed soup. Yet during his years in Sadeya, he had maxed out his grilling and pan-frying skills.

So frying a steak was simplicity itself for him. During his big supermarket trip a few days ago, he had filled the refrigerator with all kinds of ingredients: frozen steaks, macaroni, eggs, lettuce, and a full range of seasonings.

He lit the gas stove, set up a frying pan, poured in olive oil, then took out the steak he had thawed in the microwave. Before long, the kitchen filled with the mouthwatering aroma of searing beef.

As Zuo Yi fried the steak, he boiled macaroni in a pot at the same time. Working with both hands without missing a beat, he hummed a little tune and thoroughly enjoyed himself.

Very soon, a steak that was crisp on the outside and tender within came out of the pan, and he placed it on a beautiful white porcelain plate.

Perfect!

Zuo Yi snapped his fingers smugly, then picked up his knife and cut a few broccoli florets, intending to toss them into the pot to cook with the macaroni.

Then he would fry the eggs, and the steak meal would be more or less complete.

"Daddy!"

Just then, Bao'er suddenly ran in from outside and wrapped her arms around his leg.

"Huh?"

Zuo Yi hurriedly set down the kitchen knife, crouched, and pulled her into his arms. "What's wrong?"

He could sense that the little girl was frightened.

"Daddy..."

Bao'er whispered into his ear, "Outside... there's a strange thing in the big tree outside."

A strange thing?

Zuo Yi froze for a moment.

Then, in the next instant, realization struck him!

Earlier, in order to guard the house and yard, Zuo Yi had released a gargoyle. Wasn't it perched right in the camphor tree?

But Zuo Yi was baffled. Gargoyles were exceptionally good at concealing themselves, and this one possessed a certain level of intelligence. With the tree's canopy so dense, how had Bao'er discovered it?

That was truly strange!

But now was not the time to investigate that question. The question was how he could dispel the little girl's fear.

Putting the gargoyle back into his spatial ring was one option.

However, there were shady people lurking outside, and the gargoyle served as an excellent guard. Taking it in and releasing it again every day would not only be troublesome, but would also make it more likely for Bao'er to discover it.

So it would be better to let her accept now that there was such a being in their home!

After giving it some thought, Zuo Yi turned the heat beneath the macaroni down to its lowest setting, then took Bao'er by the hand and led her out of the kitchen into the living room.

He said to the little girl, "Sweetheart, shall Daddy introduce you to two friends?"

Bao'er's attention was immediately diverted. "What friends?"

"Watch closely..."

Zuo Yi smiled mysteriously. "Daddy's going to perform magic!"

He took the Unicorn Lotus Oil Lamp from his spatial ring, placed it on the table, and pressed each of the four horns on the lamp with his fingers.

The wick at the center of the lamp immediately burst into brilliant radiance.

As bright flames surged upward, the Giant Spirit Witch Slave manifested from within them.

It bowed to Zuo Yi in midair and asked in a deep, rumbling voice, "Honored Master, what are your commands?"

Bao'er's eyes widened, and her jaw dropped.

What had just happened before her eyes was simply too magical!

Holding her hand, Zuo Yi said with a smile, "Let me introduce you. This is our housekeeper. You see, it cleans our house, which is why everything is so clean."

Zuo Yi did not summon the gargoyle for Bao'er to see right away because gargoyles were very ugly, and he was afraid of frightening her.

Letting her get to know the Giant Spirit Witch Slave first would undoubtedly help her better accept the mysterious supernatural beings in their home.

The Giant Spirit Witch Slave looked a lot like a Michelin tire. Though it was weaker than the weakest of fighters, it looked far cuter than a gargoyle.

Bao'er wore a dazed, adorable expression.

The first update is here. Many thanks to the three friends "Cola with Hotpot," "Shallow Chant of Heart Rhymes," and "Journey's Story" for their generous rewards, and thank you to everyone who sent rewards!