Chapter 964: Two Troublemakers

Xiaoye was genuinely happy for two days.

During those two days, the Linghai Dragon Clan's threshold was about to be worn out from all the visitors coming to congratulate Xiaoye and, incidentally, to see the little white dragon; the gifts they received were so many they grew soft in their hands.

But two days later, when the family of four sat down to eat dinner, chatting away, Xiaoye almost came to blows with these two troublemaker kids.

First, the eldest, Ao Jing, said: "Dad, the younger brother has hatched. During this time I helped him accumulate strength and successfully hatch, and I'm really exhausted. I plan to rest properly. From now on, family affairs, you discuss with the younger brother."

Ao Ji exploded upon hearing: "Brother! I'm still young! I just hatched, I haven't even had a chance to properly look at this world, my brain hasn't fully developed—aside from eating and playing, what do you expect me to do?"

"You just hatched, it's not like you were just born." Ao Jing mercilessly rebutted, "You already opened your spiritual awareness inside the egg, and you're telling me your brain isn't developed?!"

Ao Ji played dumb: "My brain is in my head—how could I not know whether it's developed well or not? Want me to open it up and show you?"

Ao Jing had just opened his mouth to continue rebutting him when Xiaoye, furious, was already slamming the table.

These two troublemakers, what nonsense are you spouting back and forth?

When the second son hadn't hatched yet, the eldest was clearly responsible and capable—he was his top pick for Dragon King heir—but now that the second son has hatched, the eldest has also gone crazy.

In the end, who becomes the Linghai Dragon Clan's Dragon King isn't decided solely by cultivation talent; various factors must be considered.

Xiaoye always felt that no one was more suited to take over his position than his own Jing'er.

Jing'er was raised by him personally—how could he tolerate the thought of him abandoning his duties midway?

The more Xiaoye thought about it, the angrier he grew, telling Ao Jing: "After dinner, go to the ancestral hall and kneel, really reflect on yourself."

"Let me come back tomorrow to kneel." Ao Jing defied Xiaoye for the first time, saying, "Shan Shan invited me to help her with something at the Feng Clan."

As soon as Shan Shan was mentioned, Xiaoye had nothing to say.

Originally, making him kneel in the ancestral hall was just an angry remark; Xiaoye merely thought that in the ancestral hall he could calm down and have a good talk with Jing'er.

Just as Xiaoye was about to relent, Ao Ji let out two "tsk" sounds: "Dating is great—big brother even knows how to use his sister-in-law as a shield, and I want to date too!"

The anger Xiaoye had just suppressed shot back up instantly.

This little brat—just now he was saying his brain wasn't fully developed, and now he's already thinking about dating.

This little second son is just hopeless!

"I didn't say not to punish you after punishing your brother, right?" Xiaoye gritted his teeth, "After you eat, you're also going to the ancestral hall to kneel and reflect!"

Ao Ji shrugged, adopting the attitude of a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.

Xiaoye casually added: "One or two, both hopeless—you can't help mud climb a wall!"

"Dad, what you said makes perfect sense, I agree." Ao Ji said boldly, "Why don't you and Mom, while you're strong and healthy, have another little third and fourth? Have more kids, and surely you'll end up with an heir that pleases you completely."

At that moment, Ao Jing's lips twitched; he silently lowered his head to scoop rice, lowering his presence.

Ao Ji grinned, Xiaoye's face was cold as frost, Zhong Susu frowned, and her chopsticks were already set down.

The next moment, Xiaoye sprang to his feet, grabbed Ao Ji by the collar, and dragged him straight to the ancestral hall.

This was Ao Ji's first family punishment after hatching.

Zhong Susu sighed.

Ao Jing stood up and said, "Mom, I'm going to Shan Shan's place."

Zhong Susu nodded: "Go, rest well; I'll have a good talk with your dad over there."

Ao Jing patted Zhong Susu's shoulder and said, "Mom, I think your younger brother's suggestion is not bad; you and Dad are in your prime, you should have a few more—I wholeheartedly agree, let's consider it."

Having said that, without waiting for Zhong Susu's opinion, Ao Jing slipped away.

Zhong Susu watched her eldest son's back, her feelings a mixed bag.

When did Jing'er's urge to abandon his duties begin?

Perhaps most people would think it's because of Ji'er.

After all, Ji'er's performance when he hatched was outstanding, unmatched for a time.

But Ji'er's temperament is clearly unsuitable for being Dragon King.

Moreover, Zhong Susu doesn't think Jing'er's reluctance stems from his younger brother's excellent cultivation talent; his desire to abandon his duties began even earlier.

Even before he confirmed his romantic relationship with Shan Shan.

Maybe it was from earlier overwork, or maybe it's this age when love comes first—anyway, Zhong Susu understands.

Having been young herself, she still understands these little thoughts of the children.

As long as she guides them well, once this phase passes it'll be fine.

That night, Ao Jing didn't return home; he sent a message saying he would stay at the Feng Clan for two days.

Ao Ji was made to kneel in the ancestral hall until midnight.

After returning from the ancestral hall, Xiaoye washed up briefly, lay in bed with Zhong Susu, and vented: "Every single one of them just wants to make me die of anger!"

Zhong Susu counseled: "Lighten up—Ji'er is just playful, Jing'er is in the throes of passionate love, not wanting to work is only human; for now, go easy on the two of them, and after a while it'll be fine."

But who would have thought—just as Zhong Susu had finally managed to soothe Xiaoye, someone came with a report: the Second Young Master had disappeared.

In the dead of night, the moon was dark and the wind high.

Ao Ji, who was supposed to be kneeling in the ancestral hall as punishment, had vanished.

The guards outside the ancestral hall said the doors and windows were shut tight, they heard nothing, and when the punishment time ended they opened the door to find the person gone.

Several guards searched the ancestral hall inside and out, but still couldn't find Ao Ji.

Finally, looking up, they discovered that a hole had somehow opened in the southwest corner of the ancestral hall; Ao Ji must have slipped out through there.

Xiaoye felt like he was about to explode; he sent a group out to look for Ao Ji, but they came up empty.

After that, for about half a year, Ao Ji never appeared again in River City.

No one knew where he had run off to.

At first Xiaoye was angry, but after a week he began to wonder if he shouldn't have punished the children by making them kneel in the ancestral hall.

"He's only just hatched two days ago—have I really been too hasty?"

"You say he's such a tiny person—where could he possibly go? Won't something happen to him?"

"When he comes back, I promise I won't lose my temper again..."

Zhong Susu, however, was not worried: "That little slippery guy is very capable; wherever he goes he won't suffer a loss—don't worry, after he's had enough fun he'll come back on his own."

Xiaoye let out a long sigh.

How could one not worry?

Even though he is the Dragon King, he is still a father.

As a father, how could one not worry about a runaway little son?

And at this time, Ao Ji had already followed the Dragon Vein line, remarkably coincidentally meeting Liu Junyan and Xiao Jiu at a seaside in the south.

Ao Ji is sweet-talking and good at conversation; he often makes Xiao Jiu laugh nonstop.

Liu Junyan also likes this kid; on Ao Ji, he faintly saw a shadow of Xiaoye when he was young.