Shang Sikong's suspicion was reasonable.

Crown Prince Ji Gui also saw no issue with the logic, but the crux of the problem was the staggering cost for the Moon Clan to step from Chang'an City onto Earth. They had no choice but to force their way through.

Only Cultivators at the pinnacle of the Golden Core Realm possessed the ability to traverse the starry sky. Any Cultivator below this Boundary who wanted to enter Earth had to use a Teleportation Array. But the Teleportation Array was in Chang'an City, and it was the only Formation capable of connecting the two worlds.

Last time, just to send Gu Jiu'an's trio and Shang Er to set foot on Earth, the Upper Crescent Moon Clan had lost a Supreme Elder. That was a Dao Endowment that was never to be summoned unless the clan faced a crisis threatening its very existence. All just to send four people to Earth.

They had been intended as a surprise force, one in the light and one in the shadows, meant to play a key role in the future occupation of Earth. They never expected things to turn out like this...

Gu Jiu'an and his two companions were captured alive. Meanwhile, Shang Er was inexplicably and severely injured, now suffering from amnesia. He was currently hiding in a crummy motel, terrified to even step outside.

When had the once proud and dominant Moon Clan ever been in such a sorry state? The word 'tragic' didn't even begin to cover it.

"Father, I have a vague feeling that the stray dog by the artificial lake at Dongli University is no ordinary animal. Otherwise, every time I fainted and lost my memory, I wouldn't have been... by it..." Shang Er trailed off.

"Been what?" Crown Prince Ji Gui frowned. He hated it when people spoke in half-sentences.

"..."

With a face full of humiliation, Shang Er gritted his teeth. "I was... pissed on by it!"

Crown Prince: ???

Veins bulged on the Crown Prince's forehead. "What do you mean 'pissed on'? Speak to me in human language!"

On the Moon, royal authority reigned supreme over everything, including dignity. Since the Crown Prince had asked, Shang Er didn't dare to hide a thing, not even daring to lie. He could only explain in a low voice what he meant.

Then, the palace fell silent.

Shang Sikong suddenly lost the will to go to Earth and rescue his son. What was the point of saving such a waste of space? Was he supposed to tell everyone in the Moon Clan that the next leader of the Upper Crescent Two was pissed on twice by a dog from Earth? Did he and his clansmen have any dignity left? How would they keep the Upper Crescent Three and Upper Crescent Four Moon Clans in line after this? They might as well drop the 'Upper Crescent Two' name and just call themselves 'Pissed-On Two.'

"Your son truly lives up to the name my father bestowed upon him. A prodigy indeed," the Crown Prince said icily.

Shang Sikong's face burned with humiliation. He had boasted endlessly about his son before, all for the sake of gaining favor with the Crown Prince and earning great merit for the future conquest of Earth. Now, all that boasting had turned into slaps that stung his cheeks again and again.

"Father, Crown Prince, I think there's more to that dog than meets the eye!" Shang Er said anxiously. "I fainted in that same spot twice! It can't be a coincidence. I fear it was the deliberate work of a powerful human expert who attacked me from the shadows!"

Shang Sikong pondered, "For what purpose?"

"Humiliation!" Crown Prince Ji Gui clenched his fists and spoke with cold fury. "That hidden expert must have recognized Shang Er and did this to disgrace our Moon Clan!"

After much consideration, this hypothesis seemed the most plausible.

But their guesses were completely off the mark. Xu Lai hadn't made a move at all, nor could he be bothered with Shang Er. It was Shang Er who had attacked first and was simply sent flying by the recoil. As for why he landed in the same place twice... Don't ask. If you did, the answer was simply fate. How a person and a dog could be bound by fate, well, that was a matter worth pondering.

* * *

While Shang Er was pleading for help from his father and the Crown Prince, the Martial Dao World of East Sea City was on high alert. For the past few days, any Martial Artist entering or leaving East Sea City was subjected to strict inspection, and no one knew why.

Of course, those with good sources still managed to learn some of the inside story—seven Martial Artists from the East Sea Martial Dao Association had been murdered. Their deaths were gruesome, and the killer remained unknown.

The Martial Artists were gripped by panic. But life was much more comfortable for ordinary people; the less you know, the simpler your life is.

* * *

The night was as cool as water, and time slipped away quietly.

As dawn began to break around six in the morning, Xu Lai opened his eyes.

Ruan Tang, dressed in pajamas, was sound asleep with her head pillowed on his arm. Xu Lai watched her for a long time, a smile curving his lips.

Sleeping Ruan Tang was just too cute, curled up in his arms like a kitten with her cherry-red lips slightly pursed.

"The wedding dress will be ready in ten days at most," Xu Lai murmured. He had worked late into the night again yesterday and was already nearly halfway done.

Soon, he would be able to see Ruan Tang in her wedding dress with his own eyes. Although... that woman would surely find all sorts of excuses to get out of wearing it!

Thinking of this, Xu Lai couldn't help but reach out and gently flick Ruan Tang's nose. "Meeting you is the greatest fortune of my life."

He got up and freshened up.

Xu Lai went downstairs to make breakfast for his wife and daughter, only to find Beibei sitting on her conch shell, looking resentful.

While taking ingredients out of his Storage Space, he asked, "What happened?"

Beibei pouted and refused to speak.

How could she, the number one swordswoman of the coastal seas, admit that she had accidentally been caught and slurped on by that wretched Xiao Hei again? It was way too embarrassing.

"Got slurped on?"

Xu Lai saw right through Beibei's predicament. She exclaimed in exasperation, "Xu Lai, you have to do something about that wretched panda!"

"It's not a panda, it's a Gold Swallowing Beast."

"I don't care if it swallows gold or silver! If it touches one more finger of mine, don't blame my sword for being merciless!"

"..."

Xu Lai pursed his lips and didn't reply.

Even though the Gold Swallowing Beast only began its Spirit Awakening at age three, its physical durability wasn't something an ordinary person could breach. With Beibei's current Boundary, she could slash at it for three days and three nights and still be lucky to leave a scratch on Xiao Hei. This was a Gold Swallowing Beast, after all—a supremely powerful race ranked nineteenth for innate talent in the entire Immortal Domain!

"Oh, by the way, if you don't have anything to do, take some food to Ruan Lan," Xu Lai said casually. "That girl partied all night. She must've completely forgotten she has class today, huh?"

"Alright, where is she?" Beibei replied.

"Room 3006 of the Maple Leaf Hotel, thirty kilometers away," Xu Lai said.

After half an hour, Beibei placed four servings of food into her shell and sped off toward the location Xu Lai had mentioned.

Xu Yiyi, who loved to sleep in, was uncharacteristically up bright and early. She pattered downstairs barefoot and stood outside the kitchen, rubbing her eyes and saying in a soft, sleepy voice, "Daddy, can Yiyi go to work with you today?"

As she spoke, her expression was simply heart-melting.

"What's the matter, sweetheart?" Xu Lai quickly stepped out of the kitchen, scooped his daughter into his arms, and said with a pang of heartache, "Don't cry, don't cry. Daddy's here."

Xu Yiyi pouted. "I dreamed last night that Daddy was with another woman and didn't want Yiyi or Mommy anymore."

Xu Lai shook his head decisively. "That will never happen. You two are my whole world."

"Really?" The little girl beamed with joy and peppered Xu Lai's face with kisses. She looked at him with eager anticipation. "Then can I go see where Daddy works?"

Xu Lai smiled. "Of course."

His daughter was his world. Whatever she said, goes.

"Go and call your mommy down for breakfast," Xu Lai said. "And go put your slippers on. Don't let your little feet get cold."

"Our house has underfloor heating, so it's not cold."

Xu Yiyi ran towards the second floor, shouting as she went, "Mommy, Daddy's calling you to get up for breakfast!"

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