Chapter 6: Do You Want Me to Praise Him?

Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Do You Want Me to Praise Him?

The Demon Suppression Bureau was one of the most powerful militant agencies in the Daqian Dynasty. Its primary responsibility was to suppress demonic practitioners, heretics, and ruthless outlaws within Daqian’s borders. Its counterpart, the Demon-slaying Bureau, mainly handled cases related to monsters and demons. Both served as powerful supplements to the forces of the Government Office.

Lu Yuan’s previous goal had been to join the Demon Suppression Bureau. However, the minimum requirement for the Demon Suppression Bureau was Eighth Grade Martial Cultivation...

"Right." Lu Yuan nodded. The Demon Suppression Bureau was the best place to temper oneself, not to mention its abundant resources and Cultivation Techniques. Most importantly, he should have many "acquaintances" there, allowing him to farm experience.

"I will do everything in my power to help you reach the Eighth Grade before you turn eighteen!" Lu Ming said with a serious expression. The younger a person was, the greater their potential. Before the age of thirty was the golden period for cultivation; once past that, one’s progress would drop drastically.

"Before eighteen..." Lu Yuan’s gaze flickered. For his past self, it really might have taken that long to reach the Eighth Grade. But with the counterattack system, he felt he could probably achieve it before turning sixteen.

"Thanks, Dad."

"You’re saying this to me?" Lu Ming patted Lu Yuan’s shoulder and went into the house.

Not long after, Wei Huiling walked out with Yaoyao, who had washed up and changed into clothes that didn’t quite fit her. The family began to eat...

At the same time, the Lin Family was also having dinner.

Sitting at the head of the table was Lin Qingfeng, the head of the family. He had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, possessing a heroic yet elegant demeanor, with a small mustache above his lip. Next to him sat his wife, Song Yumeng, who looked to be in her twenties and was as beautiful and cold as frost. Opposite them were the siblings, Lin Siyao and Lin Siheng. The Lin Family had a rule: casual talking was forbidden during meals unless it was about an important matter.

"Dad, Brother Yuan’s boxing and saber techniques have both reached Great Mastery," Lin Siyao suddenly looked up and said.

"Oh," Lin Qingfeng replied indifferently. "Lu Yuan? Did you give him pointers?"

"No, he practiced on his own. Besides, I don’t know his family’s boxing and saber techniques," Lin Siyao shook her head. Family martial arts were secrets, strictly guarded from outsiders.

"He started practicing martial arts at the age of three, and it took him nearly sixteen years to reach Great Mastery. Do you expect me to praise him?" Lin Qingfeng glanced at his daughter. Originally, he hadn’t minded Lin Siyao playing with Lu Yuan. But when it came to them becoming overly intimate or getting engaged and married, he was firmly against it. He truly looked down on Lu Yuan’s aptitude, believing it would be difficult for the boy to become a true expert in the future. After all, martial arts cultivation increased not only one’s strength but also their lifespan. He didn’t want his daughter to suffer for half her life because of this.

"He was just playing around at three, not practicing seriously! Brother Yuan officially started learning martial arts at six..." Lin Siyao argued on Lu Yuan’s behalf. When their family moved here, Lu Yuan had been seven, and his basic boxing was already taking shape.

"That’s still ten years!" Lin Siheng suddenly interjected. "Lu Yuan’s boxing has reached Great Mastery? No wonder I was no match for him today..."

"Keep quiet; no one thinks you’re mute!" Lin Siyao glared at her younger brother. He called Lu Yuan his ’brother-in-law’ every day, yet did nothing but undermine him.

"You hear that?" Lin Qingfeng didn’t need to say more; his son had already made the point for him. For those with talent, their Cultivation naturally progressed as they grew older. The only limitation was their physical body...

"Siyao, if Lu Yuan cannot reach the Seventh Grade before the age of twenty, I advise against marrying him," Song Yumeng spoke up.

"Mom, why are you bringing this up again?" Lin Siyao immediately frowned. They were always bringing this up. It was true that higher Cultivation increased one’s lifespan, but did a husband and wife absolutely have to possess the exact same Cultivation and live equally long? Even if their talents were similar and their progress synchronized initially, wouldn’t one of them eventually take a step further? As long as they loved each other and were happy together, that was enough. As for one of them growing old and passing away, leaving the other behind... they would cross that bridge when they came to it. Pain and heartbreak were also parts of life; perhaps experiencing them would even aid in comprehending the Dao through severing worldly ties.

"Your mother is doing this for your own good," Song Yumeng said earnestly. "You possess a Profound Yin Body and can go very far in the future. Moreover, your body is innately freezing cold. Without powerful Cultivation, being with you will bring him no benefits—only harm."

A marriage between the two of them wouldn’t be so simple. Setting aside the disparity in Cultivation and the difficulties they would encounter along the way, it was extremely difficult for someone with a Profound Yin Body to conceive. The higher their Cultivation, the harder it became. Could Lu Yuan and the Lu Family accept this? Lu Yuan was the sole heir of his family’s third generation...

"I know! But Brother Yuan will definitely become a powerful expert!" Lin Siyao’s eyes flickered. She was trying to persuade her parents, while also trying hard to convince herself. If he couldn’t catch up, she could help him. As long as the two of them were of one mind, nothing could stand in their way in the future.

"..." Lin Qingfeng and Song Yumeng both fell silent. She wouldn’t shed a tear until she saw the coffin. When the time came, she would understand it on her own.

"I’m going to defeat Lu Yuan tomorrow!" Lin Siheng suddenly raised his head and clenched his fist.

SMACK.

Lin Siyao slapped the back of Lin Siheng’s head. "Just eat your food!"

***

"This poor child. How much suffering has she been through?" Wei Huiling looked at Yaoyao, who was sitting beside her with a bulging little stomach, yet was still relentlessly shoveling rice into her mouth. Her heart ached for the girl.

Yaoyao paused, carefully peeked at Wei Huiling a couple of times, and then lowered her head to continue shoveling rice.

"Mom, stop giving her more rice, or it’ll be troublesome if she eats herself to death," Lu Yuan reminded her. She had already eaten more than half a roast goose and shoved down two large bowls of rice. Earlier, when the fat human trafficker said Yaoyao could eat, he hadn’t thought much of it. Now, he saw it was true. She could eat even more than he could.

"I know, I’m not stupid." Wei Huiling rolled her eyes at her son and patted Yaoyao’s head. "No more after you finish this, okay? You can eat again tomorrow."

"Mhm." Yaoyao paused for a moment and nodded. She slowed down her eating, savoring the food... After finishing, she sat to the side, though she couldn’t help but gulp when she looked at the remaining dishes on the table.

Lu Ming’s expression remained calm, and he didn’t say much. That was just how Demon Blood worked—they had large appetites and were born with immense strength. Even though this little one only looked to be seven or eight years old, if well-fed, her strength wouldn’t be less than a hundred pounds. She could do heavy lifting and handle all household chores. Moreover, with sharp senses, agility, and talent surpassing ninety percent of ordinary people, she could even guard the house. Raising her would not be a loss.

"I’ve always wanted a daughter..." Wei Huiling’s expression suddenly became somewhat complicated. "What a pity..."

Back then, when she had a difficult labor with their second child, Father Lu decisively chose to save the mother. However, her body was damaged, making it exceedingly difficult for her to conceive again.

"Just treat her like a pet cat or dog. Absolutely do not get too emotionally invested and treat her like a daughter," Lu Yuan immediately warned. "I bought her to help you with chores, not for you to pamper her."

"You..." Wei Huiling glared at her son. What kind of talk was that? This was a human being; how could she be raised like a cat or dog? "If you don’t know how to speak, then keep your mouth shut! Yaoyao is my person from now on, and I’ll be the one in charge of her!"

"Let’s see who she listens to." Lu Yuan waved his hand. "Yaoyao, come here."

Yaoyao immediately stood up and shuffled over to Lu Yuan.

"Good girl." Lu Yuan reached out and patted her little head. "Mom, do you see that?"

"You..." Wei Huiling’s eyes widened, and she took a deep breath. "Do you believe I’ll smack you?"

"I’m finding her ecological niche—her position and living space in this house for the future. You can pamper her for a while, but can you pamper her for a lifetime?" Lu Yuan hurriedly explained. "Only when she understands her place, as well as her role and value in this family, can she feel more secure and at ease..."

"Bullshit! You think you know everything?" Wei Huiling scolded, though in her heart, she had already accepted his words. It did seem to make a bit of sense...