After Changing to the Ruthless Way, the Brothers Cried and Begged for Forgiveness-Chapter 503: Good Daughter, Call Me Father
Ancestor Sui Bian watched Xiu Yu lead Yu Zhao away by the hand, feeling a little out of sorts; he rubbed his nose and muttered under his breath: “Women really are fickle. She was not like this before.”
Old Black Daoist laughed gloatingly beside him: “Sui Bian, no matter how handsome you are, after a few hundred years Xiu Yu is bound to be tired of looking at you.”
Ancestor Sui Bian rolled his eyes: “What do you know? She is just caught up in the moment. Give it a few days and the novelty will pass.”
Old Black Daoist was about to tease him again when Senior Ling Long had already stepped after the two women; she said without looking back: “If you dawdle any longer, you will lose them.”
Ancestor Sui Bian and Old Black Daoist stopped bickering and hurried to catch up.
As they drew near, Yu Zhao’s voice drifted over: “Senior Xiu Yu, this… I really have no use for it.”
When the two men came up, they found the group stopped at a stall run by a clean-cut man; the stall was covered with delicate ornaments. Senior Xiu Yu was holding a pair of red round-bead hair ties, each threaded with a few crystal-clear gems, exquisitely made.
“Little Zhao, you should call me aunt,” she corrected with a smile, then held the hair ties up to Yu Zhao’s head and compared them in place: “Look how cute these are; they will look wonderful tied in your hair.”
Yu Zhao was full of helplessness: “Aunt, I am not truly a little girl. Wearing these would look strange.”
Xiu Yu dismissed the concern: “How would it be strange? You look so adorable as you are; with these you will be even more likable.”
Yu Zhao shot Ancestor Sui Bian a dead-eyed look, trying to beam a plea for rescue his way.
Ancestor Sui Bian leaned over, took one look at the hair ties in Xiu Yu’s hand, and burst out laughing: “Not bad, not bad, these are great. Perfect for meeting the elder.”
Yu Zhao stiffened.
Buoyed by the approval, Senior Xiu Yu grew even happier. After asking the price, she bought the red-bead hair ties without hesitation.
When they left the stall, the despairing Yu Zhao had two small tufts tied atop her head, each bound with a red-bead hair tie.
They had only walked a short way when Ancestor Sui Bian pointed toward a stall tucked in a corner and exclaimed with delight: “A Starry Sky Stone.”
Old Black Daoist looked and brightened: “It really is. Such a big piece, and good quality too. With this, we will have the Starry Sky Stones we need.”
“Come on, let’s have a look,” Ancestor Sui Bian said as the group quickened their pace.
The stall keeper saw them heading straight for the Starry Sky Stone and said bluntly: “Starry Sky Stone, ten pieces of Spirit Jade.”
The stone was about half the size of a fist, and ten pieces of Spirit Jade was a fair price. But Old Black Daoist, tight-fisted by habit, haggled at once: “Five pieces of Spirit Jade.”
The stall keeper gave him a sideways look like one would give a pauper.
Old Black Daoist gave a sheepish smile, stepped back, and made way for Ancestor Sui Bian.
Ancestor Sui Bian was reaching out to inspect the stone when an arrogant voice sounded from the side: “I will take that Starry Sky Stone.”
They turned to see a man in black with wicked brows and eyes sauntering over. Ancestor Sui Bian and Old Black Daoist both tensed when they recognized him. Senior Xiu Yu’s tone went cold: “Pei Li, what are you doing here?”
Pei Li’s lips crooked; the usual viciousness in his eyes vanished in an instant, and his voice softened without his noticing: “I happened to be passing by. Since you like this Starry Sky Stone, I will buy it for you.”
“There is no need. I do not want anything from you.”
He acted as if he had not heard her rejection: “Xiu Yu, why keep such distance between us? Take this stone as a token of my regard.” Then he looked at the stall keeper: “I will pay double.”
The stall keeper glanced from Xiu Yu’s group to Pei Li, clearly torn and loath to offend either side.
Ancestor Sui Bian’s face sank: “Pei Li, are you looking for trouble on purpose?”
Only then did Pei Li seem to notice Ancestor Sui Bian. He deigned to look his way and said lazily: “So it is you. I was so focused on Xiu Yu that I did not see you there. Why, does this Starry Sky Stone have your name on it, that only you may buy it?”
Ancestor Sui Bian ground his teeth at that punchable expression. Thinking of his good brother Old Black Daoist standing right beside him, his heart grew steadier. He was about to speak when Pei Li’s gaze fell on Yu Zhao, whose hand Xiu Yu was holding.
“Who is she?” Pei Li narrowed his eyes. His look flicked between Yu Zhao and Xiu Yu, and he probed: “Xiu Yu, this child would not happen to be…”
Before Senior Xiu Yu could answer, Ancestor Sui Bian suddenly lunged out, pulled Yu Zhao to his side, and declared loudly: “That is right. She is my daughter.”
Old Black Daoist almost choked.
Yu Zhao stared, dumbfounded.
Ling Long and Xiu Yu both stared at Ancestor Sui Bian in shock.
Pei Li’s expression changed at once; the cold returned to his eyes: “Since when do you have a daughter? How have I never heard of this?”
Ancestor Sui Bian snorted triumphantly: “Do I need to to you whether I have a daughter?”
He bowed his head to Yu Zhao, eyes bright with supplication and an attempt at charm: “Be good, daughter, call me father.”
Yu Zhao fell silent.
Ancestor Sui Bian quickly sent a voice transmission: “Little Yu Zhao, help me out. I will owe you one.”
Yu Zhao opened her mouth but could not force out that one word; she could only shut her eyes, grit herself, and nod hard.
Ancestor Sui Bian stiffened his neck and explained: “My daughter is shy. Just look how much we resemble each other.”
Pei Li studied their faces for a moment, and his expression grew even uglier. In truth, Yu Zhao and Ancestor Sui Bian did not look alike, but both were striking and stood out in a crowd; at a glance, one might find a vague resemblance in manner if not in features.
“If she is your daughter, why is Xiu Yu holding her hand?”
“Because one loves the house and its crow. Understand?”
Pei Li shot Ancestor Sui Bian a venomous look and turned to Xiu Yu: “Is that so?”
Senior Xiu Yu was impatient: “This is my business. It is not your turn to demand explanations.”
“Xiu Yu, I only wish to know more about you.”
“There is no need. And I am not interested in the Starry Sky Stone, so do not try to curry favor by buying it.”
Pei Li took a deep breath and forced down the anger roiling in his chest: “Then what do you like? I can buy it all for you.”
Ancestor Sui Bian cut in first: “So you do not want this Starry Sky Stone? Stall keeper, quickly, wrap it up for me.”
The stall keeper looked at Pei Li: “This…”
Pei Li’s eyes went wintry and fixed on him. The man dared not say another word and hurriedly wrapped the stone, handing it to Ancestor Sui Bian.
Money and goods changed hands, and the deal was done. The Starry Sky Stone went into a Storage Space, and Ancestor Sui Bian could not help showing off again: “All right, we have other matters to attend to. We will take our leave.”
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Chapter 503: Good Daughter, Call Me Father
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