My Gugas Have Quite the Appetite

"Little Lin, aside from being strong, does your Martial Soul have any other special traits? That way, we can plan out your Spirit Rings."

Ning Fengzhi's tone was incredibly gentle.

The look in his eyes was practically that of a father looking at his own son.

Lin Xiao glanced over the neat formation of Gugas before him. These little fellows looked similar at first glance, but each had its own differences upon closer inspection.

They came in different heights and builds, and their outfits were equally varied.

Some wore tiny chef hats atop their brown caps, some wore hard hats, and others were draped in Taoist robes...

There seemed to be around ten Gugas for every type of outfit.

He cleared his throat and called out to the Guga formation.

"Gugas! Report your abilities!"

"Guga! I can cook, guga! My specialty is Stinky Fried Chicken!"

"Guga can repair air conditioners, guga!"

"Guga is strong! Guga can carry steel coils, guga!"

The remaining Gugas all cried out at once, eagerly reporting their various skills.

"Guga, I can act cute!"

"Guga can perform!"

"I can mend clothes, guga!"

"Gugu gaga! Guga guga!"

For a moment, the hall became unbearably noisy again.

Their voices were soft and crisp, but a thousand Gugas shouting at once created a buzzing roar that echoed between the beams and pillars.

"Stop! I get it!"

Lin Xiao pressed his hand down, and the clamor gradually subsided.

He turned to Ning Fengzhi beside him.

"Uncle Ning, you saw it too. They can do everything."

"..."

Ning Fengzhi stood there, momentarily speechless.

He had originally thought they were merely a group of little fellows with a bit of strength. He had never imagined that they possessed such a wide range of skills.

After a brief silence, Ning Fengzhi coughed lightly.

"In that case, we'll discuss the Spirit Rings later. I need to study this carefully."

"Brother Lin Xiao!"

Ning Rongrong ran over and held up Little Guga in her arms.

"Brother Lin Xiao, can Rongrong have this Little Guga? Rongrong wants to hold her while she sleeps."

Little Guga tilted her head, looking adorably bewildered.

"Guga?"

"Rongrong! Don't be ridiculous! This is Little Lin's Martial Soul. How can you ask him to give it to you?"

Ning Fengzhi looked stern.

These were a thousand external Martial Souls! Even losing one could greatly affect his combat power.

Lin Xiao was the sect's genius, its future pillar!

His future could not be ruined because of Rongrong's momentary whim.

Ning Rongrong's little mouth immediately puckered, and her eyes reddened slightly as she reluctantly released the little fellow in her arms.

"Sorry, Brother Lin Xiao. Rongrong will give Little Guga back to you now."

The instant Little Guga's feet touched the ground, she spread her short arms and threw herself into Lin Xiao's embrace.

Her little face rubbed back and forth against his robes, filled with delight.

"Guga~ Guga guga~"

Lin Xiao picked up Little Guga, his heart softening as he nearly melted from her cuteness.

No wonder Ning Rongrong had been reluctant to let go. Anyone would find it hard to release such an affectionate little thing.

Ning Rongrong watched enviously.

She compared Lin Xiao's soft, squishy Guga Martial Souls with her own Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, and the more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt.

Her eyes reddened, and she began to cry softly.

"Wuwuwu—I don't want the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda! I want Little Guga! Wuwuwu..."

Hearing that, Ning Fengzhi's forehead twitched as he spoke helplessly.

"Rongrong, don't make trouble. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda is a Martial Soul countless people could only dream of having."

Ning Rongrong wiped her tears and sniffled.

"But Guga is cuter..."

Just as she was feeling heartbroken, a soft, squishy thing was suddenly placed in her arms.

Ning Rongrong looked at Little Guga in her embrace and sniffed with her bright red nose.

"Sniff—Little Guga? Hehehe~"

Lin Xiao rubbed Rongrong's little head.

"Although I can't give you the Gugas, you can come play with them anytime."

"Guga!"

"Mhm! Thank you, Brother Lin Xiao!"

Ning Rongrong hugged the soft little fellow tightly, and a smile immediately bloomed across her face.

Ning Fengzhi watched the two of them with satisfaction.

Good, good~ Lin Xiao cared so much for Rongrong. That was a good thing!

But was this Guga Martial Soul really that attractive?

His gaze swept over the orderly Guga formation. He slowly crouched down and extended a hand, intending to gently pat one Guga's little head.

"Bzzzt!!!"

Electricity instantly shot up his palm, and the numbness rapidly spread up his arm.

Ning Fengzhi convulsed from the shock, his head shaking continuously as his eyes rolled white.

"Ughughughugh—"

After quite a while, the current finally faded. He staggered back two steps, his face blackened with soot and every strand of hair standing on end, then opened his mouth to speak.

A puff of black smoke drifted from his nose and mouth. His throat was hoarse and dry as he coughed several times.

"Cough, cough, cough... It can even control lightning?"

"Guga?"

Thief Guga blinked her large eyes and reached back to touch the electric scooter battery she had brought with her.

"Bzzzt!!!"

"Guga!! It seems to be leaking electricity, guga!"

Her fur stood on end as she hurriedly tossed the battery aside.

The heavy battery smashed into the floor, its casing spitting out a string of electric sparks with a crackling hiss.

Ning Rongrong saw how disheveled her father looked and giggled happily.

"Hehehehe~ Daddy looks so ugly!"

Ning Fengzhi helplessly wiped his face.

"Cough, cough. The Martial Soul awakening is over, and it's nearly lunchtime. Let's eat first. Little Lin, bring these little fellows along."

Lin Xiao scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"Uncle Ning, my Little Gugas might have rather large appetites..."

"No matter. Let them eat their fill."

Ning Fengzhi waved a hand, unconcerned.

How much could this bunch of little fellows possibly eat?

They did not look that big. At most, two bowls of rice would fill them up, right?

"Om nom nom!!"

"Another bowl! Guga!!"

"Me too, me too! I want another drumstick too! Guga!"

The Gugas sat around the tables, frantically shoveling food into their mouths. Their cheeks bulged, and oil ran down from the corners of their mouths.

Beside every Guga stood a towering stack of empty plates.

The stacks beside the Fat Gugas in particular were practically small mountains.

Ning Rongrong stared wide-eyed at the scene, her mouth slightly agape. She did not even notice the meat she had been holding in her mouth slipping out.

Ning Fengzhi's hand holding his chopsticks froze in midair as he watched the food vanish at an incredible rate.

A faint sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Which table was this? The twenty-seventh? The twenty-eighth?

He could not remember anymore. He only knew that crystal pork knuckles had been served more than twenty times...

Then a terrifying thought struck him.

Just these two hundred-odd Gugas here were eating this much. Wouldn't the Gugas outside be...

Hiss... At this rate, wouldn't the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect be eaten into poverty?

As the wealthiest sect leader around, he was actually worried about not having enough money! Who would believe it if word got out?!

Lin Xiao took in their stunned expressions and shrugged helplessly.

He had told them already that the girls had rather large appetites, but they had refused to believe him.

Meanwhile, in the sect's kitchen.

A group of chefs swung their spatulas so hard they nearly threw sparks.

"Argh!! Everyone, keep it up!! We absolutely cannot lose!"

The firewood beneath the stoves crackled loudly, while steam rose from several enormous woks at once.

The chefs ran back and forth without pause, chopping vegetables, adding ingredients, and stir-frying nonstop as sweat poured down their foreheads.

Empty plates were delivered back to the kitchen trip after trip, polished cleaner than anyone's face.