Happiness and Beauty

Five hundred thousand!

Guan Zhishang, on the other end of the call, suspected there was something wrong with his ears and that he was hearing things.

He asked incredulously, "Did you say five hundred thousand?"

"That's right."

Zuo Yi said flatly, "That's the price. If you can afford it, we have a deal. If not, don't bother me!"

Law Coins were the lowest-tier Law Creations. They could serve as currency in circulation or as everyday consumables, used in planar conquest and as an energy source for creatures like Giant Spirit Witch Slaves and Gargoyles.

In the Sadea World, Law Coins circulated in enormous quantities. They were also known as wizard gold coins, distinguishing them from ordinary gold coins. The exchange rate between the two was roughly 1:100.

Based on the base price of food, one ordinary gold coin in the Sadea World was worth roughly 800 Xia yuan in the Blue Star World.

By that calculation, one Law Coin was worth 80,000 Xia yuan.

But in the Blue Star World, aside from Zuo Yi, no one truly understood the value of Law Coins, nor could anyone make use of their true purpose. Their actual value was therefore difficult to determine.

Previously, in an emergency, Zuo Yi had sold one Law Coin at the price of ordinary gold. He had definitely taken a huge loss on that deal, though he did not care.

Now that this jewelry store manager wanted to buy one, if they had happened to meet again by chance, Zuo Yi would not have minded selling him another for eighty or a hundred thousand to make up for his recent losses.

However, the other party had actually investigated him in secret. That disgusted Zuo Yi, so he intended to disgust him in return.

Zuo Yi was not a "saintly mother" type of Saint Knight. The virtues he believed in did not include "humility" or "mercy." After hundreds of planar wars, who knew how many corpses and how much blood had paved the path behind him!

After saying that, Zuo Yi ended the call.

"Fuck!"

Guan Zhishang had indeed been disgusted. He cursed at the phone, which was already giving him a busy signal, "Five hundred thousand? Why don't you just rob me? Do you take me for an idiot?!"

Something that had originally sold for just over 7,000, and he had been willing to pay triple the price for it. He had thought himself quite generous, yet Zuo Yi had unexpectedly demanded 500,000. How could he possibly accept that?

But after venting his anger, Guan Zhishang quickly calmed down.

He had investigated Zuo Yi and sought to purchase the Law Coin not because he needed it himself, but because he had accepted a job.

Guan Zhishang did not want to be taken for a fool, but if he failed to complete the job...

Young Master Yuan's face immediately surfaced in Guan Zhishang's mind, making him shudder involuntarily.

No!

Guan Zhishang gritted his teeth, a vicious glint appearing in his eyes. "Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!"

As the store manager of Gold Jade Fortune Jewelry, Guan Zhishang often dealt with all sorts of shady characters, so he naturally had a few underhanded connections. He also had Zuo Yi's phone number, home address, and other information in his possession.

Evil surged from his heart!

He quickly found a number he rarely used in his contacts and called it. "Hello, is this Old Six?"

"I'm Old Guan from Gold Jade Fortune, Guan Zhishang. I have a job I'd like your help with..."

While Guan Zhishang was looking for someone to deal with Zuo Yi, Zuo Yi had already put the matter out of his mind.

He summoned the Giant Spirit Witch Slave and had Agu boil water and make tea for him.

Leaning lazily back in his chair, bathing in the blazing afternoon sunlight, savoring black tea fragrant with its aroma, and listening to Bao'er and A-Tai playing upstairs, Zuo Yi felt that the years were peaceful and life was pleasant.

Night fell.

The curtain of night slowly descended, and a crescent moon hung in the sky.

Zuo Yi was worrying over dinner.

Other than barbecue, his cooking skills were truly not much to speak of. It had not mattered when he had been alone and could eat whatever he wanted, but now that he had a precious daughter, things were different.

Zuo Yi had to make sure Bao'er ate enough, ate well, ate healthily, and ate delicious food. That made things much harder.

Ordering takeout was out of the question, because it was difficult to guarantee the quality of the ingredients. Yet his own cooking was poor, and after struggling for half the day, he finally made two bowls of tomato and egg noodles—following a video tutorial on his phone.

"Sweetheart, try it first..."

Zuo Yi placed the bowl of noodles before Bao'er and said uncertainly, "If it doesn't taste good, Daddy will make something else."

He thought that he needed to improve his cooking skills in the future. He could not keep cramming at the last minute like this.

"Okay."

Bao'er skillfully picked up her chopsticks, lifted a noodle to her mouth, blew on it twice with a "hoo-hah, hoo-hah," then put it in her mouth and chewed.

Zuo Yi sat upright across from her, anxiously waiting for her verdict. "How is it?"

Bao'er swallowed the chewed noodles and said with a grin, "It's pretty tasty."

She was not a picky eater, and her tastes were not that demanding.

Zuo Yi immediately let out a huge sigh of relief. "Tomorrow, Daddy will buy more groceries. I'll take you with me, and we'll buy whatever you like to eat."

Woof!

Before he had even finished speaking, Taike, who was squatting beside Bao'er, barked and rubbed his head against her calf.

He was reminding Bao'er not to forget about him.

Bao'er understood at once. "Daddy, then let's buy more steak. A-Tai really likes steak!"

Buying any more steak would bankrupt him!

Zuo Yi could not help glaring at the little household-wrecking glutton, frightening him into immediately hiding behind Bao'er.

Forget a pup—even an Abyssal Cerberus at its peak was no match for Zuo Yi. Its awe of Zuo Yi came from the innate intimidation that a higher-ranked lifeform exerted over a lower-ranked one.

But Taike had been very lucky. The moment he was born, he had found himself a powerful protector!

Bao'er shielded him. "Daddy, A-Tai hasn't eaten dinner yet!"

"It's fine."

Zuo Yi said resentfully, "He ate so much at noon. He doesn't need to eat tonight."

An Abyssal Cerberus had an astonishing appetite and could never eat enough, but it could also go without food or water for a long time.

Taike whined in protest.

Bao'er felt a little conflicted, but after thinking about it, she felt that Daddy was right. Eating too much was not good either, so she did not ask for food on his behalf again.

She finished the noodles together with Zuo Yi.

Although dinner was a little simple, it was still just as happy and wonderful for the father and daughter.

"Agu."

Bao'er waved at the Giant Spirit Witch Slave, who had come to clear the bowls and chopsticks, and said, "Thanks for your hard work!"

The Giant Spirit Witch Slave smiled honestly. "It is my pleasure to serve you."

He carried the empty bowls into the kitchen.

Bao'er had already become accustomed to such fantastical scenes. She turned to Zuo Yi and asked, "Daddy, can I watch TV for a little while?"

Zuo Yi nodded. "You can, but not for too long."

"Okay."

Bao'er agreed. "When I was at home, Auntie Qing only let me watch TV for an hour a day."

Zuo Yi's heart stirred, and he asked, "Do you remember where Auntie Qing's home is?"

"Um..."

Bao'er racked her brain, frowning as she said, "I remember Auntie Qing's home was very, very far away. Auntie Qing and I rode in a car for a very, very long time to get here. I can't remember clearly."

She lowered her head sadly, took Zuo Yi's hand, and asked, "Daddy, did Auntie Qing not want me anymore?"

Zuo Yi's heart ached at the sight. He gently pulled the little girl into his arms and comforted her, "Your Auntie Qing must have run into some trouble, but it's all right. You have Daddy now."

From Bao'er's description, she and Su Wanqing probably had not been living in Hang City, but in another city.

But that did not matter. "Daddy will take care of you and protect you!"

"Okay!"

Bao'er rested her head against Zuo Yi's chest and said, "Daddy, you're so nice."

Zuo Yi lowered his head, kissed her hair, and smiled. "It'll get even better."

"All right."

He said, "I'll take you to watch TV."

The television in the living room had been bought years ago and was rarely turned on before. Since it had a smart box provided with the telecom broadband service, Zuo Yi found Bao'er's favorite, Tom and Jerry, for her to watch.

Bao'er happily sat on the sofa, called Taike over, and held him while they watched together.

"A-Tai, look, look! That's Taike. He has the same name as you!"

Taike: Woof woof woof, whine~

The sound of the television, Bao'er's soft chatter, and Taike's barking intertwined, filling the Zuo Family Old Residence with an unprecedented bustle and clamor, along with much more life and vitality.

Here is the first update.

Today was the author's forty-fourth birthday. This morning, he received birthday wishes from many friends, as well as a birthday gift from his daughter—a pair of slippers. He felt very happy.

Well, if everyone could offer some more support with votes, that would be even better (^__^)