Robbery! Guga!

Lunch had taken a full five hours.

The Gugas sprawled all over the ground, clutching their round bellies as they lay on their backs with limbs spread wide, smacking their lips nonstop, looking completely stuffed.

"Guga~ Full Guga~"

Lin Xiao set down his bowl and chopsticks as well, letting out a satisfied burp.

"Burp~~"

Ah, the food provided for a sect genius was far better than what he had had before.

Back then, although he had eaten better than most children his age, it had never been anywhere near this lavish.

Usually, he even had to mooch off Rongrong's snacks to satisfy his cravings.

A smile tugged at Ning Fengzhi's lips.

"Xiao Lin, can these Martial Souls of yours be put away?"

Lin Xiao blinked, understanding the unspoken meaning.

(Xiao Lin, your Martial Souls eat far too much. We can barely afford it.)

After sensing them for a moment, he shook his head slightly.

"Uncle Ning, I'm afraid not. If the Gugas don't eat, they'll keep consuming my Soul Power...

You wouldn't want me to keep feeding the Gugas and end up unable to level up, would you?"

"Sigh... Fine."

Ning Fengzhi rubbed his brow, feeling a headache coming on.

What else could he do? He could only have the cooks prepare ingredients and start cooking earlier.

What kind of situation was this...

Beside him, Ning Rongrong wiped her mouth and hopped down from her stool.

She pattered over to Lin Xiao in tiny steps, wrapped both arms tightly around his arm, and gently swayed back and forth.

Her big eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"Brother Lin Xiao, Rongrong wants to hear another story. Keep telling Wu Song's Three Battles Against the White Bone Spirit!"

Seeing his daughter like this, Ning Fengzhi shook his head helplessly, but he did not interrupt.

It was a good thing that Rongrong liked clinging to Lin Xiao. With his talent, becoming a Title Douluo would be no problem.

And judging by the strength of his Martial Soul, he was an attack-type Soul Master, which perfectly suited the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's requirements for a future spouse.

The two had grown up together, and their future would surely become a fine tale.

Lin Xiao smiled at the little girl swaying against him.

"Come on, let's go back and tell the story while we enjoy the breeze."

"Yay!!"

Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up. She grabbed Lin Xiao's wrist and impatiently pulled him outside.

Following her pull, Lin Xiao stood up and waved back at Ning Fengzhi.

"Uncle Ning, we're heading back to the courtyard first."

Ning Fengzhi nodded with a smile.

"Go on. Don't run too fast, or you might fall."

The two left the hall one after the other and headed toward the small courtyard along the corridor.

"Guga? Gugaga!"

Seeing their boss leave, the Gugas lying on the ground scrambled to their feet and trotted after the two on their short little legs.

Along the way, quite a few sect disciples stopped and watched curiously at the sight.

Lin Xiao and Ning Rongrong walked at the front.

A group of Gugas waddled behind them on their tiny legs, the crooked procession looking just like a pair of ducks leading a huge flock of ducklings down the road.

"Guguga~ Guga~~"

A female disciple nearby clasped her hands to her chest, her eyes full of envy.

"So cute~ I want to raise one too."

Another male disciple beside her shook his head with a wry smile.

"Forget it. Didn't you see how much they ate at lunch? Could you really afford to raise one? Your monthly allowance wouldn't even cover one meal for them."

Hearing that, the female disciple instantly wilted.

It seemed... that really was true.

Sigh... My girlish heart had just shattered like that~

Just as the female disciple was wallowing in disappointment, the outside of her thigh was suddenly patted lightly.

Her body stiffened, and she flew into a rage, spinning around sharply.

"Which bastard dared to take advantage of me?!"

A male disciple beside her quickly took two steps back, waving his hands as he repeatedly defended himself.

"Not me, not me! You know I like men."

"Guga!"

The female disciple froze, then looked down beside her leg.

A chubby Guga was looking up at her with its tiny head tilted back, blinking its eyes. One little hand still hung in the air—the slap just now had come from it.

Beside it stood a Little Guga half a head shorter than Fat Guga.

The female disciple's anger vanished instantly, replaced by fondness in her eyes as she bent down into a squat.

"Little cuties~ What do you want from your big sister? Do you want to come home with me?"

The plump Guga at the front rose onto its tiptoes, puffed out its chest, and stretched out a little hand with a smug expression.

"Guga! Robbery Guga!"

The female disciple could not stop laughing at the little fellow's appearance. She deliberately played along, pretending to be afraid.

"Big sister is scared~ Little cutie, what do you want to rob me of?"

Fat Guga did not hesitate and shouted loudly.

"Guga wants food!"

"Okay~ Big sister will give you everything~"

The female disciple placed a pastry wrapped in oil paper into Fat Guga's hands.

Fat Guga smugly raised her chin, then patted Little Guga's head beside her.

"Guga, your turn Guga."

Little Guga shrank back, timidly edging out from behind Fat Guga. It tried hard to puff out its tiny chest, stretched out a hand like its big sister, and spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"Guga... rob... robbery..."

"Oh~~ Little cutie~"

The female disciple's heart nearly melted. Then she suddenly spun around, her face instantly switching to battle mode.

"Hand over all the pastries and snacks you have on you!!"

"..."

The smiles on the surrounding disciples' faces froze on the spot.

Someone pointed at himself in utter confusion. "?? Senior Sister, these... I worked really hard to snatch these..."

The female disciple planted her hands on her hips and glared at him fiercely.

"Quit talking nonsense! If you don't want me to beat you to death, hand them over now!"

"Sigh..."

"Little cuties~ Come play with big sister again~"

The female disciple waved goodbye to the two Gugas.

"Guguga!"

Little Guga cried out happily, then followed the group with Fat Guga, both of them carrying a huge pile of pastries and snacks.

Leaving behind only a group of disciples clutching their wallets and weeping bitterly.

Once they returned to Lin Xiao's residence.

He expertly lay down on the reclining chair beneath the large tree.

Ning Rongrong obediently sat on the small stool beside him, propping her chin on both little hands. Her big eyes shone as she stared unblinkingly at Lin Xiao, filled with eager anticipation for the story.

This was where the two of them usually spent the most time, and it was also the most comfortable spot in the entire courtyard.

It faced directly into the wind, with cool breezes blowing through almost constantly to drive away the heat.

After every meal, lying here in the gentle breeze and chatting idly felt so comfortable that one never wanted to get up. It was utterly pleasant.

The Gugas also ran into the courtyard, filling it to the brim. Some squatted on the ground, while others clung to the chair legs. They all quieted down, munching on the snacks Fat Guga and Little Guga had robbed, waiting for the story.

"Brother Lin Xiao, hurry and tell it! What happened after Wu Song stole Tang Seng's fine wine? What did he do?"

Ning Rongrong leaned forward impatiently and urged him on.

Lin Xiao cleared his throat and slowly began.

"Wu Song picked up the wine jar and gulped down a huge mouthful of fine wine. The alcohol hit him all at once."