Chapter 19: Something That Makes One Blush, The Thief Has Wronged Me!

Father, if you wanted to mess with me, you should’ve said so earlier...

After Ye Qingwu set Ling Tian’s arm back in place, Ling Tian looked at Ling Zhantian and spoke in a faint, distant tone:

“Watch closely. I’ll only show you this once.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ling Tian dressed himself.

Old man, if you don’t have what it takes, don’t take on the job. It's not good for anyone, yourself included.

Ling Zhantian’s face darkened. Was he really being taught a lesson by his own son? Damn it, the world’s really turned upside down!

Yet, he couldn’t refute it. He had indeed messed up.

What could he do with his own son? Of course, spoil him. If anyone else had spoken to him like this, he would’ve wiped out their entire clan by now.

A brief interlude.

Towards noon, members of the Ye family arrived as well.

The one leading them was a spirited old man.

“Father…”

Ye Qingwu went forward to greet him.

“My good daughter, he hasn’t bullied you, has he? Don’t be fooled by his higher cultivation—if I hit him, he wouldn’t dare hit back!” Ye Changlong glanced meaningfully at Ling Zhantian beside him.

Ling Zhantian curled his lip. How do you know I wouldn’t dare hit you?

But he said nothing. Let the old man show off a little—it was only polite.

“Is this my fine grandson?” Ye Changlong’s gaze landed on Ling Tian, his eyes shining as he stepped forward and embraced the boy.

Ye Qingwu told her father what had happened recently, so this attitude was only natural.

“Good boy, here’s a gift for you.” Ye Changlong produced a jade pendant—a quasi-emperor artifact, a generous present indeed.

But in Ling Tian’s young eyes, there was great confusion.

Logically, since Ye Changlong and his mother were so close, shouldn’t this trigger a counterattack quest? For example, receiving a gift or something similar?

Yet, the system voice he expected did not appear.

How odd, truly odd.

In the end, Ling Batian stepped forward and the group finally sat down.

There was little formality at the banquet—almost everyone present was blood-related.

As the protagonist, Ling Tian should have been seated at the head table, and his current status made him worthy of it.

Ling Tian was about to sit beside Ling Zhantian when a voice sounded in his mind:

[You have defeated your grandfather’s disciple and gained some recognition, but it’s not enough. Your childhood buddy Ling Shuo ignored you when you lost your status; of course you think he lacks loyalty.]

[Counterattack quest triggered.]

[Defeat your childhood playmate Ling Shuo, who is at the third level of the Sealed Emperor Realm.]

[Reward: Imperial Artifact—Banner of the Human Sovereign]

Ling Tian’s eyes lit up at the system’s voice. Well now, who knew he had such a playmate?

Third level of the Sealed Emperor Realm—in the vast Ling family, that’s not much even after a hundred years.

Was his childhood taste really so poor?

He didn’t think too much about it, just glanced around and saw the system’s prompt shining before him.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to sit at this table. I’ll join the children’s table,” Ling Tian said, eyes darting as he headed toward Ling Shuo’s table.

“That’s fine. It’s good for him to mingle with relatives his own age,” Ye Qingwu smoothed things over for him.

Everyone at these tables held significant status in the Ling family.

Ling Shuo was from the main branch.

By seniority, Ling Tian should call him cousin.

But Ling Tian’s own status made such formalities unnecessary.

There were only a few other children beside Ling Shuo—he’d deliberately chosen a less crowded table so he could eat more, no doubt.

Ling Tian sized Ling Shuo up; the boy matched his name—robust and strong.

Though only in his teens, he was taller than many adults.

“Were you introduced by someone?” Ling Shuo looked up, glancing at Ling Tian.

He hadn’t been here earlier, but now, seeing Ling Tian approach, he asked this strange question.

From his honest appearance, he glanced around with a sly look.

Ling Tian’s palm itched—he wanted to smack this kid.

“Yes,” Ling Tian nodded, curious what scheme he was up to.

“Guess—two years old? A bit early, but let’s call it basic education. Look, it wasn’t easy to get this—it’s one hundred premium spirit stones.” Without another word, Ling Shuo threw an arm around Ling Tian’s neck, lowering his head as if sharing something precious.

When Ling Tian saw what it was, his face turned beet red. This was no treasure for children—it was something entirely inappropriate!

So, he was just afraid of being seen.

Suddenly, a flash of understanding struck Ling Tian—now he knew why he’d had such a childhood friend.

Imagine someone single-minded in cultivation suddenly being pitched this—what would that be like?

A scoundrel leading me astray!

Ling Tian’s gaze toward Ling Shuo turned a little hostile.

“What’s this supposed to mean? Not interested? This is a bestseller… Or are you trying to stiff me? Do you know who my father is?” Ling Shuo’s tone grew serious at the end. No one gets a freebie from him.

“Who is your father?” Ling Tian asked with interest.

“My father is the Grand Elder! So, you’d better pay up, or I’ll just keep freeloading off you…” Ling Shuo declared, shocking Ling Tian.

He’d expected him to pull rank, but not to use his family background for this.

This way, he couldn’t be thrown out.

All the adults at the table were powerful figures; Ling Tian’s arrival had already drawn attention.

Ling Moyun, the Grand Elder of the Ling family, looked thunderstruck. How had he spawned such a wayward son?

He’d lost all face and wanted to interrupt Ling Shuo, but Ling Zhantian stopped him.

Feeling the eyes of the crowd, Ling Moyun’s face burned with shame—he wished the ground would swallow him.

“And do you know who my father is?” Ling Tian’s lips curled in a faint smile.

“Who?” Ling Shuo asked, genuinely clueless, scratching his head.

Apparently, all his wits were devoted to his little business.

“The Clan Leader of the Ling family,” Ling Tian replied without suspense.

With a crash, Ling Shuo collapsed onto the floor, only now realizing his distraction had left the table empty.

“Y-your highness, I was just joking! You can keep the spirit stones!” Ling Shuo was near tears, wishing he could slap himself—he’d picked the wrong fight.

“No, you still owe me the spirit stones…”

“Your highness…” Ling Shuo was on the verge of tears, desperate to escape; he could already feel his father’s murderous glare.

Tonight, he’d be lucky to escape with just a scolding.

Before he could speak, Ling Tian cut him off, a calm and breezy smile on his lips:

“Beat me, and the spirit stones are yours…”