Boom~

The crackling of lightning never stopped jarring his ears, rousing the weakened and pale Zhuo Fan.

Above, all he saw was a dome of blackness, with only a hazy red light shining down on the earth around him.

Earlier, they jumped inside that hole in the sky after following the curtain of red light, the same one that kept changing positions! Looking further, one could see above the red curtain, the purple lightning raining havoc like dragons all around and towards it.

But once the lightning touched the red light, it bounced back.

The red light was a haven, freeing this patch of earth from the lightning’s deadly assault!

“Is this… Heavenly Emperor’s remnant?” With a faint smile, Zhuo Fan was heavily wounded but that didn’t stop the joy he felt. He was finally here.

Looking around, all he saw was yellow rocky outcrops everywhere.

It didn’t look like much, but he wasn’t disappointed in the least. It was the person that made a mountain known, not the hunk of rock itself! Even if the Heavenly Emperor’s remnant was a wasteland, it still hid treasures!

Zhuo Fan crawled to his feet, eager to begin searching. He tried getting up but then found something heavy on him.

Gu Santong was holding on for his dear life, his small face in tranquil sleep.

Gu Santong was stirred awake and wiped the drool for his face. He opened his hazy eyes and gave an innocent smile, “Ha-ha-ha, you’re awake!”

Zhuo Fan smiled a nod.

But then, another lightning roared nearby and Gu Santong was frightened into burying his head in Zhuo Fan’s chest, his hands holding onto Zhuo Fan for his dear life!

Zhuo Fan shook his head, never imagining Invincible Scamp would be such a shy kid.[It is understandable if we were outside, but why are you acting all scared here when you know the lightning can’t touch you?]

“Uh, Gu Santong, we’re safe here. You should let go and let me look around!”

“Don’t wanna!” Gu Santong shook his head, holding him tighter, “I’m scared of purple lightning. Holding you feels safe!”

Zhuo Fan smiled dejectedly and shook his head, “Oh please, you’re much stronger than me, so how can you feel safe next to me? It’d make more sense if I was the one holding onto you!”

Gu Santong grumbled and lifted his head, “You kinda remind me of dad, and felt safe holding on to you…”

“Dad?” Zhuo Fan started, “You have a dad?”

Gu Santong rolled his eyes and Zhuo Fan’s face twitched, [What the hell am I saying? Who doesn’t? It’s not like this kid came out of a rock or something, right?]

He hurriedly brushed it off with a chuckle, “Uh, that’s not it. I was just surprised. With how strong you are, your dad must be amazing!”

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen my father for as long as I can remember!” Gu Santong said downcast.

Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow in thought.

Knowing what he was thinking, Gu Santong added, “The dad I’m talking about is godfather. He is surnamed Gu and had two sons. When I was chased around because of the Demon Purging Decree, it was he who saved and nursed me!”

“Did he give you your name?” Zhuo Fan asked.

Gu Santong nodded and showed a bittersweet smile, “The Gu clan was a clan of scholars, with every generation working as officials. They weren’t very high ranked, neither held important positions, but they had a happy life. After he saved me, he took me as his third son and taught me to read and write. He wished for me to be a sensible man, so he named me Santong.”

(StarReader: san=three tong=communication)

“Uh, I see. He picked up a precious treasure! With you watching over them, their success was guaranteed. They must’ve been instantly promoted and their clan became a first rate one, right?” Zhuo Fan chuckled.

But Gu Santong sighed in sadness, “No, I harmed them instead. If it weren’t for me, their whole clan wouldn’t have died!”

Zhuo Fan was startled and soon could guess what happened.

This child was hunted down with the Demon Purging Decree, and even a mere greeting would earn that person death. Reading all those books must’ve gotten to that clan’s head to have welcomed their calamity into their house.

“Uh, don’t feel bad. That is also fate!” Zhuo Fan patted his head, “Is this why you turned into the empire’s enemy?”

Gu Santong nodded, his eyes taking a hint of savagery from the bitterness in his heart, but then sighed at the end, “In the end I was too careless, agreeing to that old fart’s promise. Now I am powerless to fight the seven houses.”

“You could’ve just broke your promise. A child’s words do not hold weight. No one would blame you!” Zhuo Fan ruffled his hair, like a devil on his shoulder, pushing him towards malice and destruction.

But Gu Santong shook his head vehemently, “Dad taught me the value of reading, taught me honor. I won’t disgrace his teaching just because he died!”

“Good child!”

Zhuo Fan nodded, but inwardly sighed, [Such an ambitious sapling got ruined in an instant. Ah, but all bookworms are suckers…]

[But, that’s fine as well. How else could I’ve had such leeway if this kid was immoral?]

Zhuo Fan felt like extending that Gu scholar a gesture of gratitude. [Thanks for having misled this mighty kid onto the path of a bookworm and off my kill list!]

Zhuo Fan rejoiced and showed a sneaky grin, “You must always listen to your godfather. He was right!”

Gu Santong nodded, falling for Zhuo Fan’s ploy like a baby.

“By the way, what did you mean when you said I reminded you of your dad?” Zhuo Fan’s eyes beamed.

Gu Santong blushed, turning meek as he mumbled, “When you held me as we charged in here and protected me from lightning, remind me of the time when dad protected me and told me to escape…”

“Oh, I see!”

Zhuo Fan exclaimed, [The kid took my act as fatherly love.] The difference here though was while that Gu guy loved kids, Zhuo Fan loved himself.

His ‘selfless’ act in protecting Gu Santong was all so he could have him under him, that his death would be such a pity. If the scenario was instead a one guaranteed survivor, Zhuo Fan wouldn’t hesitate to throw the kid to the wolves.

Who knew this act would lead to a huge misunderstanding instead?

So Zhuo Fan showed a queer smile, “Uh, Santong, how about I’ll be your dad?”

This rotten and shameless punk even had the balls to call the kid by his name to get closer.

Gu Santong seemed opposed to the idea, feeling quite awkward as well, “Why would I do that? I’m three hundred years old. And how old are you? That’s too queer…”

“What’s so queer about it? You may have three centuries over me, but you’re a child at heart and need looking after!” Zhuo Fan shouted his righteousness, his tone growing soft, “And we are also here by fate. I was fond of you the moment I saw you!”

“Really?” Gu Santong was expectant.

Zhuo Fan nodded. [Damn right I am. Particularly of your insane power. I like that the best! So hurry up and work under me like a good little soldier!]

Gu Santong rubbed his chin and lifted his head, “What’s in it for me?”

[Why you little prick!]

Zhuo Fan cursed inside, but he soon accepted the fact, since all kids were pricks, “I can protect you!”

“Do I even need your protection?”

“What was that just now then if not protection?” Zhuo Fan said, “Also, you may be unreasonably strong, but far too gullible and easy to dupe. Just think, if you hadn’t readily believed that guy’s lie ending up protecting the imperial family for a millenia, wouldn’t you be exacting revenge on the seven houses by now?”

“Accept me as your godfather and I will safeguard you, as well as show the world who they really are! Bloody bastards, dare to cheat my son? You must be tired of living!”

Zhuo Fan sputtered, talking big words that made Gu Santong laugh, but still couldn’t stop from making the kid feel warm inside, “We, father and son, are the strongest and smartest combination! Did you see that old guy and the four little shits listening to every word I say? They are all stronger than me but aren’t they still hanging on my every word? That is wisdom. The wise controls and so do the powerful…”

Gu Santong bobbed his head.

Zhuo Fan finished off with his biggest sales pitch, “Join me and with my power, no one will pick on you. Above all, you will never have to eat that garbage ingredients again. If I can find an 8th grade, I won’t ever give you a 7th grade!”

Zhuo Fan then showed him 20 7th grade ingredients, “As a token of my sincerity, these are all the 7th grade ingredients from my ring. I also admit all those other ingredients I’ve given you were already in my storage ring. Only the 8th grade ingredient had to be found. I truly had to enter the lightning array and suffer untold hardships for it!”

Zhuo Fan’s speech was impeccable, mixing truth and lies flawlessly and hiding his greatest offense in order to gain trust. He knew Gu Santong cared most about other’s intent to hurt him. It was a shadow left in his heart a long time ago. Zhuo Fan must never ever admit to having set the lightning array himself, ever.

“I know!”

Gu Santong took the ingredient, [He’s hooked!] as he drooled, “I still had my doubts about you trying to harm me, but now I trust you. Since you are forthcoming with the ingredients from your ring, I’m sure there is nothing else hidden.”

Zhuo Fan nodded and sighed inside. [How can I feel at ease leaving this gullible child all alone in the world? Most of all, letting others use him would be poor judgment from my part. That’ll cause me endless trouble! He’s far more fitting in the care of my adequate and fatherly hands, he-he-he…. ]

“As for you hiding ingredients, I knew it already!”

“You did?” Zhuo Fan was shocked. If the kid did know and with his temper, he’d have stolen them by now from Zhuo Fan. But why didn’t he?

Gu Santong smiled, “To be honest, eating ingredients isn’t important. It’s the wait for them that I find most appealing. Godfather usually went out for weeks even a month sometimes to find me ingredients to eat. He always returned with 1st or 2nd grade ones but the image of him appearing filled with hope at sunset gave me peace…”

“Oh, I see. Then give them back and I will return one every one or two weeks!” Zhuo Fan licked his lips, still hoping to not waste them like this.

But Gu Santong held them close, and turned around, “How can you ask back something you’ve already given? What kinda dad are you?”

Zhuo Fan’s eyes shined and laughed, “Does that mean you will take me as a godfather?”

Gu Santong meekly nodded.

Zhuo Fan burst out laughing at the heavens!

[Ha-ha-ha, with this monstrous son, what seven houses, what Regent Estate would ever dare mess with me…]