Laozi felt everything had been going well lately. Ever since he last scolded Tong Tian for sneaking out, Tong Tian hadn’t dared to defy him openly and secretly run off again—at least, it seemed his nagging had been effective. He was always most concerned about this youngest brother. Compared to the steady eldest brother, Tong Tian, from head to toe, exuded an unreliable childishness.
With Laozi and him always covering for Tong Tian, it had fostered Tong Tian’s arrogant, fearless personality. Such a temperament was manageable while they were around, but if they ever encountered an enemy even they found troublesome, that arrogance could easily harm him.
For this reason, Laozi had to brace himself and adopt a stern, fatherly demeanor toward his youngest brother.
As a result, compared to the gentle Laozi, Tong Tian would only ever argue with him. Now, considering the time, Tong Tian had actually been patient enough to enter seclusion this time without sneaking out midway and causing trouble. It seemed he might have truly taken the advice to heart.
Laozi was pleased.
Although they didn’t know where their future path lay or what direction the Primordial World would take, as long as the three brothers stayed together, they could unite and truly Attain the Dao.
Currently, the situation inside and outside the Primordial World remained unclear, and they needed to be even more cautious.
The most important thing was to improve their strength as quickly as possible, such as by entering seclusion to comprehend the Daoist Arts. He truly hoped Tong Tian could be like their eldest brother, Laozi, cultivating diligently every day without needing constant supervision.
Just as he was thinking this, he saw his elder brother walk past.
Laozi: ?
Wasn’t Laozi usually cultivating at this time?
Never mind, his elder brother must have gained some new insights. It was time for the two brothers to discuss the new Daoist Arts together. Just as Laozi pulled Laozi aside, deciding to have a good chat to enhance their cultivation and later summarize the experience to pass on to their younger brother Tong Tian…
Secretly preparing a study outline for his youngest brother in advance, Laozi was truly wearing himself out with worry. He believed his elder brother felt the same.
And at this moment, Laozi: …
Laozi was genuinely a bit embarrassed. In truth, he had no desire to discuss the Dao with Laozi right now. Compared to discussing the Dao, he was more preoccupied with thinking about the poorly made complementary food from last time.
As a perfectionist, he found it hard to accept how poorly he had done.
Yet, Laozi before him was chattering on and on about discussing the Dao, and from the looks of it, it might go on for thousands of years. The problem was, Laozi’s mind was completely occupied with that failed complementary food.
When he couldn’t do something well, he had no mood to listen to anyone’s ramblings, even if that person was his brother.
Thousands of years? When would he ever get to try making that complementary food again?
Laozi: I’m feeling quite anxious right now…
In that instant, he suddenly resonated with Tong Tian. He imagined Tong Tian must feel the same way every time he listened to Laozi speak—endless talk that only delayed important matters.
Thinking of Tong Tian inevitably led him to think of that daughter of his brother’s, who likely had some connection to the Heavenly Dao. The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became. Unable to bear it any longer, he stood up and interrupted Laozi’s incessant chatter. “Discussing the Dao isn’t urgent. I should go check on Tong Tian first.”
Laozi: Huh?
Wait, among the three of us, Laozi is the one who most enjoys discussing the Dao.
Why did he stand up and leave just like that!?
Could something have happened on Tong Tian's side?
…
Meanwhile, on Tong Tian's side, Taichu had already woken up. This time, she hadn't slept for long. Because she had previously been unconscious, she woke up quickly and began wandering around energetically once again.
After waking up, Taichu first began inspecting her territory.
With her hands behind her back, Taichu wandered around with great enthusiasm. She looked left and right, only to find that the place she was currently in was incredibly empty.
Yes, empty—aside from a meditation cushion, there was nothing at all.
Completely bare.
Soon, Taichu lost interest in inspecting her territory, as there really was nothing there. Though she didn't know why, Taichu felt that a home for raising a child shouldn't be like this.
The father who had been by her side just moments ago had already disappeared, leaving only a strange creature behind. This creature claimed to be a demon beast under Tong Tian's command and was now tasked with taking good care of Taichu.
"So, how do you plan to take care of me?"
Demon beast: …
After staring at each other for a moment, Taichu issued an order, "Come on, take me to find my father!"
Demon beast: …
With the little boss giving orders, what could the demon beast do? It could only comply with her request, extending a hand to hold the enthusiastic Taichu as they stepped outside.
Once outside, Taichu finally found things a bit more interesting. Compared to the dull and boring indoors, the outdoors clearly had much more to offer. Before attaining sagehood, the Three Pure Ones had always lived together. To be precise, they resided in Kunlun Mountain before attaining sagehood and before their doctrinal lineages and ideologies turned hostile. Unlike the later construction of the Jade Void Palace, Kunlun had yet to be built into grand palaces at this time.
Beneath a small bridge and flowing water were two or three humble dwellings. Aside from flowers and plants blooming due to the warmth, a few butterflies could occasionally be seen fluttering past them.
Their warm, spring-like dwelling was situated atop the continuous peaks of snow-capped mountains. Taichu, who had stretched out her arms for the demon beast to carry her, soon gazed from a pavilion at the majestic and magnificent peaks in the distance. At that moment, the weather was clear and refreshing, with high clouds casting slanting shadows. Under the bright sun, Kunlun Mountain appeared particularly isolated, as if all traces of human presence had vanished.
Standing atop the mountain peaks and gazing at the snow-covered ranges in the distance evoked a sense of grandeur that was difficult to put into words.
The demon beast looked at the scenery, which seemed no different from what it usually saw, and found it hard to understand the excitement of the child in its arms. This was a magnificent sight rarely seen even on travels.
For Taichu, it was all very fresh. She couldn't help but tug at the demon beast's fur, exclaiming, "Beautiful."
"Actually, it's nothing special…"
Compared to this grand and magnificent scenery, the demon beast was more inclined to marvel at how, as expected of the Three Pure Ones, the cave dwellings they chose were truly blessed by heaven and earth. Even without doing anything, the spiritual energy here was sufficient for some birds and beasts to transform. Although there were many spiritual energy-rich cave dwellings inside and outside the Primordial World, only the Three Pure Ones could enjoy such a uniquely advantageous location as their Daoist abode.
Just by being with the Three Pure Ones, one already stood on the shoulders of countless Primordial World beings. The demon beast couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and pride—it had actually earned Tong Tian's favor.
Though, upon closer thought, it hadn't really done much…
The reason the demon beast was allowed to stay here by Lord Tong Tian was the child in its arms. It observed that although Lord Tong Tian never spoke of it, he truly cared deeply for his child. At heart, he was a gentle Great Power. If it continued to follow Lord Tong Tian in Cultivation, there might come a day when it could attain the great Dao. It would surely repay Lord Tong Tian and his daughter well in the future.
Just as the demon beast was feeling stirred with emotion while holding the child, it suddenly sensed footsteps behind it. Turning around, it saw Lord Tong Tian looking at it with displeasure.
Demon beast: (…And I just called him gentle.)
The look in his eyes now was no different from looking at a dead person.
Taichu instinctively reached out her arms for a hug. Once taken into Tong Tian's embrace, she nestled comfortably in the familiar hold and called out sweetly, "Daddy!"
Tong Tian did not respond to her call. Instead, he turned to the demon beast and said, "She's awake."
Demon beast: (Isn't that obvious to anyone with eyes?)
Tong Tian weighed the child in his arms, feeling she had grown a little lighter. "Since you seem to have gained awareness, why not tell me where you come from?"
Still snuggled in Tong Tian's embrace, Taichu heard his question and promptly replied, "Ah, from Dog X."
Tong Tian: "…"
Demon beast: "…"
"What place is that?"
At this point, though Taichu didn't know what it was—only a vague, chaotic impression lingered in her mind—she felt an overwhelming sense of resentment radiating from within. "Overtime! Hell!!"
Heavenly Dao: (…What a model of a wage slave.)
After asking several questions in a row, Tong Tian realized the child likely only had simple words in her mind. Trying to piece them together into clues was too much to ask. Meanwhile, Taichu answered absentmindedly, far more interested in snuggling with her daddy than in answering questions.
Demon beast: (So envious… She gets to stay in Lord Tong Tian's arms all the time.)
The warm little body wriggled and squirmed in his arms. Even though the cave dwellings of Kunlun maintained a constant temperature year-round, unaffected by the seasons, it still felt a bit warm. Tong Tian noticed beads of sweat beginning to form on the child's forehead.
Having just woken up, Taichu's face was slightly flushed. Her puppy-like eyes looked up at Tong Tian as she said, "Daddy, I'm thirsty."
Tong Tian: "…"
If it's not hunger, it's thirst.
A child's world is simple—either hungry, thirsty, or sleepy. Tong Tian had yet to witness a child running wild with energy. Both he and Taichu were still in the novice stage.
Now, he and the child stared at each other, wide-eyed.
"Daddy, no water again?" As a newly awakened child, she was beginning to understand her father's hardships. Not only had she nearly starved last time, but now there wasn't even water to drink. Perhaps their family was truly poor.
Taichu looked at Tong Tian with an expression that said, "It's okay, I can endure it a little longer."
"Ah, I'll just have to endure it."
It seemed their home had nothing. She had already sensed their poverty from the bare walls earlier, but she never imagined there wouldn't even be water.
Taichu had intended to endure it, but soon she couldn't hold back any longer. "I'm really thirsty!"
Tong Tian: "…"
Actually, Tong Tian had plenty of water, but thanks to the last time the child fell ill after drinking it, he didn’t dare give her too much water. Besides, what kind of water did the child want to drink? “What do you want to drink?”
“Cola!”
Taichu answered decisively.
Tong Tian: …
Tong Tian thought of the parenting book he had just flipped through and completely memorized, which stated:
For young children in the growth and development stage, cola is strictly prohibited.
So Tong Tian replied, “No.”
Taichu’s smile instantly vanished.
Bad dad! Then why did you even ask!
Instead of cola, Tong Tian couldn’t help but think of the milk mentioned in the book as beneficial for children. Speaking of milk, he couldn’t help but think of baby bottles…
At that moment, Laozi, who had just arrived at Tong Tian’s residence intending to prepare another round of baby food, heard his younger brother’s voice, “Big brother, I’m going out.”
Laozi, who was completely focused on baby food and had just brought it over: Huh?
Author’s Note:
[Panda Head]