A Promise with the Little Monster

Over the past few days, Du Lie had left, and the Executioners had not come looking for trouble either. The Li Lineage briefly got back on track.

Early morning.

Within the Li Lineage grounds, Li Xiao, bored out of his mind, came to Li Yan's door. He heard Li Tong crying from afar.

Puzzled, Li Xiao approached. When the little girl noticed he had come, she lowered her head and charged toward him.

"Big bwother, Mommy won't let Little Tong eat candied hawthorns. I want candied hawthorns."

Li Xiao scooped up the little girl at his feet. The sight of her bun-like face trembling as she cried made his heart ache.

"You want candied hawthorns? I'll take you to buy some."

Li Xiao spoke softly.

Hearing this, Li Tong immediately stopped crying. Her big eyes blinked, and she planted a smacking kiss on Li Xiao's cheek.

Afterward, she did not forget to make a face at her mother.

"Don't trouble your cousin. Your brother has so much to do every day. How would he have time to take you out for candied hawthorns? Besides, didn't you just have some yesterday? No more."

Li Xiao's aunt scolded her with a stern face.

Hearing her mother's scolding, Li Tong pursed her little lips, looking as though she would burst into tears the next moment.

Li Xiao hurried to soothe her.

"It's all right, Auntie. I don't have anything to do today, so I'll take her out for a stroll."

He spent all day fishing and had not gone out for a stroll in a long time. This was a good chance to take the little girl out to play while he was at it.

Hearing Li Xiao's words, his aunt could hardly say anything more.

As for safety? She never worried about that. Leaving Li Tong with Li Xiao was more reassuring than leaving her with her father.

After all, in this plane, anyone capable of hurting her nephew had yet to be born.

Then Li Xiao walked out with Li Tong in his arms.

"Young Master!"

Everywhere he went, the Lineage disciples bowed to Li Xiao. Imperceptibly, Li Xiao's standing within the Li Lineage had come to far surpass that of Li Kuangfeng and the others.

Li Xiao acknowledged each of them, putting on no airs.

Luoyang City.

It was the largest city in the Upper Realm. Its walls alone stood a hundred zhang high.

Along the streets of Luoyang City, all manner of shops crowded both sides of the road, and hawkers' cries rang endlessly down the entire street.

At that moment, inside an inn.

With Li Tong in his arms, Li Xiao ordered a tableful of dishes, drawing strange looks from those around him.

Li Xiao paid no heed to these worldly gazes.

Although, at his realm, going without food or sleep would have no effect on him.

As someone from Blue Star, however, what pleasure would there be without these touches of everyday life?

Besides, the little monster in his arms possessed the Heaven-Devouring Saint Physique, devouring heaven, earth, and even air. This little bit of food was not even enough to fill the gaps between their teeth.

At the table, Li Tong stared at the dishes before her, her eyes shining, her drool almost dripping.

While Li Xiao was not paying attention, Li Tong acted with sharp eyes and quick hands, grabbing several soup dumplings and stuffing them into her mouth.

Li Xiao smiled helplessly.

"Eat slowly. Nobody's going to fight you for it. Once we're done, we'll go buy candied hawthorns, all right?"

Hearing this, Li Tong's eyebrows instantly curved into crescents above her bulging cheeks, and she nuzzled hard into Li Xiao's arms.

"Big bwother is the best."

Li Xiao chuckled softly.

"Do you think it's tasty, Tong'er?"

"Tasty... tasty."

Li Tong nodded without a second thought.

Hearing this, Li Xiao lifted his head and gazed at the sky. His eyes shone like stars, able to pierce through everything. Then his gaze turned resolute, and he lowered his head.

"If we get the chance someday, I'll take you somewhere with lots of delicious food, and we'll eat lots of delicious things. How does that sound?"

Hearing this, Li Tong's big eyes filled with curiosity.

"Then you can't trick me, big bwother. Pinky promise."

"All right. I won't trick you. Pinky promise."

And so, the two of them, one big and one small, hooked pinkies and pressed their thumbs together to seal it. Even many years later, Li Tong's eyes still brimmed with tears whenever she recalled this scene.

A short while later, the two had eaten and drunk their fill.

Li Tong rubbed her round belly and let out a burp.

"Big bwother, I'm full."

Li Xiao affectionately pinched the little monster's bun-like cheeks, casually tossed down a spirit stone, and left with Li Tong.

The waiter stared, dumbstruck, at the spotless plates stacked several layers high across the table.

On the street.

Like a little sprite, Li Tong looked here and there among stalls and shops of every size.

Whatever caught her eye, Li Xiao bought for her.

"Big bwother, candied hawthorns! It's candied hawthorns!"

Not far away, Li Tong spotted a vendor selling candied hawthorns and rushed over.

Li Xiao followed, casually took down several skewers, and stuffed them into Li Tong's arms before turning to take out money to pay.

After a moment's thought, Li Xiao tossed out a spirit stone, took down the entire pole with its great cluster of candied hawthorn skewers, and stuffed it into the system space.

"System: ..."

Li Xiao turned around again, but Li Tong was nowhere to be seen. His expression changed drastically, and his divine sense instantly enveloped all of Luoyang City.