After being scolded by Zhu Ping’an, Gu Xuan stood there with a trace of confusion on his face.
For the first time, he began to doubt his own worldview. What exactly had happened to this world?
Listen to that. Ordinary siblings without blood relation? Could a carbon-based lifeform even come up with such a statement? Was this the kind of relationship that should exist within normal human ethics?
Making up such a relationship was not the scary part. The scary part was that someone actually believed it.
“A simp is truly incredible…”
Watching Zhu Ping’an stride away, Gu Xuan sighed sincerely.
Among the three hundred and sixty professions, every field can produce a master. To be able to simp to this extent, he could be considered the king of simps.
After Zhu Ping’an returned from outside the city, the college entrance examination was about to begin.
Over the past month, everyone in Qingcheng had been extremely busy.
In this world, the college entrance examination was the most important event. Everything else had to make way for it.
Walking along the streets of Qingcheng, one could see motivational slogans for the exam everywhere.
[The road to Qingbei is forged with your fists!]
[The sky at five in the morning is dark, but you, as a future martial artist, shine brightly!]
[Never give up easily. There was once a man who became famous for seven years with a single Iron Mountain Lean!]
[The outcome is not yet decided. You and I are both dark horses!]
The entire city of Qingcheng was completely immersed in the atmosphere of the exam.
Zhu Ping’an first returned to the Martial Artist Association to hand in the mission of hunting the Fire Cicada Snake’s gallbladder. After that, he went to pay his respects to the Yin-Yang Elders before finally setting off for home.
“Ping’an is back?” Xia Yue glanced at him and could not help asking, “Where did you go? Why are you so dirty?”
“I went outside the city for a bit.” Zhu Ping’an grinned.
“What? You went outside the city?” Xia Yue’s voice instantly rose several pitches. “How could you not tell the family about something so serious? Do you know how dangerous it is outside the city?”
“Mom, didn’t I come back safely? I’m fine. I even brought you all a gift.”
Zhu Ping’an pulled out the newly hatched Fire Cicada Snake King from behind him. Keeping the hatchling by his side would not help him much. Its growth speed would likely be slower than his own rate of leveling up.
It would be better to leave it with his parents and sister. That way, if anything happened, the Fire Cicada Snake King could protect his family.
The little creature was only a little over 30 centimeters long, pink all over, and its scales had not yet grown. It looked like a skinned lizard, lazily lying in Zhu Ping’an’s hand.
“Ah!!!”
Xia Yue let out a piercing scream and kicked Zhu Ping’an straight out the door before slamming it shut with a bang.
“Take you and that disgusting pink freak and get out of this house!”
“Mom, what was that sound?” Zhu Kaixin’s voice came from behind the door.
Xia Yue replied, “Nothing, Kaixin. From today on, you’re an only child now~”
Zhu Kaixin, “???”
Outside the door, Zhu Ping’an awkwardly rubbed his nose. He had only thought about how the Fire Cicada Snake King could protect his parents and had forgotten that its appearance was not something normal people could easily accept.
It was not until Zhu Jianghua returned home that Zhu Ping’an was allowed back inside. The whole family gathered around the Fire Cicada Snake King hatchling and began discussing how to deal with the little thing.
After a long silence, Zhu Jianghua, as the head of the family, spoke first.
“How about… we steam it? Keep the original flavor, add some mustard soy sauce. It would definitely taste fresh and sweet.”
“Dad! The snake is so cute. How can you steam it?” Zhu Kaixin reached out and patted the hatchling’s head. “I say we coat it in breadcrumbs and fry it until both sides are golden!”
“That’s disgusting! Throw it out already! You’re actually thinking about eating it!” Xia Yue said with a face full of disgust.
Zhu Ping’an’s mouth twitched nonstop.
“Family, is there a possibility that we’re here to discuss how to deal with this Fire Cicada Snake King, not how to cook it?”
“I think we should move to a bigger house with a yard. The location can be more remote. After all, once the Fire Cicada Snake King grows up, its body length will exceed 5 meters. Including its tail, it could reach over 10 meters. Our current home definitely can’t accommodate it.”
Zhu Ping’an thought for a moment before speaking.
“That way, your safety will also be guaranteed. Once it grows up, its combat strength can rival a 3rd stage Martial Artist. Even if no one comes to cause trouble, we can treat it as a free heater.”
The Fire Cicada Snake King’s entire body was blazing hot, even during heavy snow. It would indeed be perfect for warming hands.
“So that’s it. I thought you brought back some exotic species from outside the city for us to snack on.” Zhu Jianghua suddenly understood.
Zhu Ping’an, “……”
Some things were truly engraved in the bones of people from the Grand Xia Empire, such as seeing something and immediately considering whether it could be eaten, or automatically mastering farming skills once they reached a certain age.
After some explanation, Zhu Jianghua and the others finally accepted that a Fire Cicada Snake King would be living in their home from now on. Since Xia Yue strongly disliked its appearance, they decided after discussion to let Zhu Kaixin raise it.
Zhu Kaixin was delighted and gave the Fire Cicada Snake King a name: Zhu Baofu.
After settling the matter of the Fire Cicada Snake King, Zhu Ping’an casually ate something and went to bed. Tomorrow was the day of the college entrance examination, and he needed to be well rested.
Late at night, everything was silent, and stars dotted the sky.
At this late hour, for some reason, Zhu Jianghua quietly got up. He opened Zhu Kaixin’s room in the dark and walked in…
After a while, Zhu Jianghua came out holding a dark shape. By the faint starlight, one could barely make out that he was holding the Fire Cicada Snake King hatchling.
Zhu Jianghua carried it back to his bedroom.
“Wife, do you think that silly boy Ping’an is really stupid or just pretending? The Fire Cicada Snake King hatchling has clearly already acknowledged him as its master. With the intelligence of a Fire Cicada Snake King, once it grows up, won’t it end up eating the two of us?”
Xia Yue glanced at it, her face full of disgust.
“Why did you bring that thing over here again? It’s disgusting. Take it away! Our son may be a bit silly, but his intentions are sincere. What, are you suspecting your own son of trying to harm you?”
“Not that far. It can’t harm me anyway. I’m just afraid this little thing might accidentally hurt Kaixin. I’m thinking about how to handle it in a way that ensures safety without hurting our son’s feelings.” Zhu Jianghua rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“Do whatever you want. I still have to play mahjong tomorrow. You handle it.” Xia Yue lay down on the bed with a facial mask on her face.
“This is a headache. Maybe I should put a beast contract on the hatchling? Damn it, putting a beast contract on a Level 3 exotic beast feels like such a loss.”
Zhu Jianghua muttered to himself. Meanwhile, as he spoke with Xia Yue, the Fire Cicada Snake King hatchling trembled in his palm, looking utterly terrified, as if it had encountered its natural predator.