"Use thunderous force to deal directly with that youngster surnamed Zuo?"
"A walnut's shell may be hard, but it has its limits. Strike it with a heavy hammer, and it shatters in a single blow. Thunderous force is effective indeed! Smash it open and eat it. Our Gao Lineage must be that sledgehammer!"
He returned home.
The head of the Gao Lineage was still pondering the matter with furrowed brows when he asked, seemingly casually, "Does anyone in the family like eating walnuts?"
"Quite a few do, of course."
"Call a few of them over."
"Grandpa, I like them."
"Oh? How do you like to eat them?"
"I like..." His little granddaughter tilted her head, innocent and adorable. "I like shelling them, making a whole pile, then sneaking off to one side to eat them... eating them all myself. That's the best way to eat them, and really enjoy them!"
The Gao patriarch chuckled. "Then this walnut is yours."
He handed her the walnut he had been holding in his palm and encouraged her, "How about eating it right here?"
"Okay."
The little girl answered brightly, then ran out on her short little legs. A moment later, she returned carrying a little mallet. She carefully placed the walnut on the floor and brought the mallet down on it.
"Hahaha... I cracked it!"
The little girl was laughing.
The Gao patriarch looked over from a distance. The snowy-white flesh inside the walnut came fully into view, and his smile gradually broadened until he finally burst into delighted laughter.
"Hahahahaha... A fine strike! Cracked it open!"
Over at White Cloud Purple Reed, visitors had been coming nonstop these past few days.
The head of the Capital City's Wu Lineage came... and left...
No one knew what he had taken away.
The