"Sovereign of the Heavenly Dao" by Fengling Tianxia [Complete]
Synopsis:
Who would judge right and wrong, and who would weigh merits and faults?
In this life, I wanted no rules, only to do as my heart pleased.
With heaven's secrets in my grasp, watch me swagger and soar.
-I am Zuo Xiaoduo. I do not walk the usual path.
Volume One: The First Dance in Phoenix City, Seeking the Dao Amid the Mortal Dust.
Chapter 1: Zuo Xiaoduo, Zuo Xiaonian
Star Soul Continent.
Flame Martial Empire.
The Central Plains, Phoenix City.
Clearwater District.
Phoenix Dance Garden Residential Community.
"Pup!" came a clear, ringing call.
Zuo Xiaoduo, who had been staring blankly as he recalled his dream, slowly brought his wandering gaze into focus, then gloomily pulled the quilt over his head.
"Little puuup..." The voice came again, drawing out the words with a certain cheerfulness that proved its owner was in a very pleasant mood.
Zuo Xiaoduo, however, was in a very unpleasant mood.
Because that name, "Little Pup," referred to him. Anyone called Little Pup probably wouldn't be pleased.
But Zuo Xiaoduo couldn't get angry right now.
Nor did he dare.
He had no idea how many names he had already had.
Yes, that was right. The person calling was none other than his own mother. Dare get angry?
There was nothing for it but utter helplessness.
Ever since Zuo Xiaoduo could remember, the names his mother and father called him had been like the sands of the mighty Yangtze, like the stars of the endless heavens-sooo many.
And which name they used depended entirely on their mood.
When they were happy, it was Pup, Little Pup, Little Kitty, Little Kitten, Little Egg, Little Darling... whatever came to mind.
When their mood was so-so, they called him Xiaoduo, which basically meant things were quite serious.
When they were in a bad mood, especially when he had provoked them, it was Little Bastard, Little Wretch, Little Brat, Little Nitwit, Little Devil, Little Debt Collector, Little Ingrate... an even more comprehensive selection.
And they called him these things in dialects from all over the country.
Sometimes Zuo Xiaoduo marveled at how learned his parents were. From north to south, east to west, there wasn't a regional dialect they didn't know-and they used them specifically to curse at him...
What they called him was his barometer for gauging his parents' moods.
For instance, calling him Little Pup or Pup right now proved that Her Motherly Highness was in a good mood. Since she was happy, she wouldn't get angry easily, so it didn't matter if he didn't answer.
I have to work out whether I'm about to get beaten from whatever name they're calling me... Life is so hard.
Zuo Xiaoduo lay in bed and sighed silently.
Those random names, Pup and Little Pup... he could let those slide. The problem was, Zuo Xiaoduo was also a hundred and twenty thousand percent dissatisfied with his actual name!
Xiaoduo?
Just listen to it. What the heck kind of name is that?
Not the slightest bit imposing!
For instance, one of his classmates was named Zhao Jianghu! How heroic was that? Another was called Li Changtian; just hearing it sounded badass!
But his own name...
And then, that day...
His father had had a little too much to drink and looked to be in a good mood, so Zuo Xiaoduo had boldly asked: Why was his name Xiaoduo? Could he change it to something nicer?
His father had given him a sidelong look, his eyes full of disdain, and said with absolute finality, "No!"
"Why?"
"No reason! You just can't change your name!"
"Then you can at least tell me why I'm called Xiaoduo, right?"
His father had snorted, rolled his eyes, and said mildly, "Because, to your mother and me, your birth was a little bit superfluous."
A little bit superfluous = Xiaoduo?!
Zuo Xiaoduo felt that his heart at that moment had been just like that string of dots above.
So you thought my birth ruined your world for two?
Am I really that superfluous?
What family isn't overjoyed to have someone carry on the bloodline? Especially since I even came with a little handle. How come I'm superfluous when it comes to you two?
At the time, Zuo Xiaoduo had asked, his eyes brimming with tears, "Do you really dislike me that much?"
His father took a sip of liquor, unhurriedly...
Yes, a special note was needed here: Xiaoduo's father had a refined, scholarly bearing, elegant and carefree, handsome and tall-the very picture of a fine gentleman in a sullied world. Apart from being a little lazy, he had absolutely no flaws...
His father said unhurriedly, "We really did at first. Then your mother discovered that, since having you, she'd actually acquired a fun new toy... She discovered that having a child was quite entertaining after all, so as she played and played... little by little, we didn't dislike you quite so much anymore..."
A toy!
Those two words dealt Zuo Xiaoduo a critical hit, and he shut down on the spot.
You two gave birth to a toy!
Beside them, his mother argued with perfect conviction: Wasn't the whole point of having a child to play with it? Just like the cat your Auntie Li kept, or the dog your Auntie Wang kept; whatever it was, you had to keep something to play with, right?
What excellent reasoning.
I actually have no response.
That evening's conversation ended there.
Zuo Xiaoduo felt he no longer had the slightest interest in asking anything else, and returned to his room nursing a thoroughly wounded heart.
Zuo Xiaoduo felt it was all thanks to his stout heart.
He felt he might simply be too broad-minded. Even such a devastating blow hadn't weighed on his mind, and he had still pulled through, carefree as ever. Most amazingly, once that evening had passed, he had actually made his peace with it-no, to be accurate, he had made his peace with it before the evening was even over.
Ah, I was a toy to begin with... A toy it is, then...
Who in this world isn't somebody else's toy, anyway?
But could I change my name?
"Pup!"
A furious roar rang out at the doorway, and his mother shoved the door open, bristling with anger. "Didn't you hear me calling you?! Are you deaf?"
Zuo Xiaoduo sprang out of bed with a boing, his face all fawning smiles. "I heard you, I heard you! I was just getting ready to come help you with the chores, Mom... Coming, coming..."