C8 Miraculous Bai Family(2)

Faang Xinghang stepped into Wenxuan Pavilion. As usual, he was greeted by the robot waiter, clad in traditional attire. Despite his frequent visits, he had never encountered anyone else in the shop, save for the occasional sparse clientele.

This visit, however, promised something different. Beyond the vintage screen, apart from the robotic page, stood a dignified man in his forties, clad in Tang-style attire, smiling serenely as he waited. The robot stood attentively to the side, like a loyal servant.

Faang Xinghang quickened his pace and reached out with both hands. "You must be Bai Chengcheng's father, correct? My name is Faang, Faang Xinghang. I'm Bai Chengcheng's teacher. Delighted to meet you."

The man extended his hand with a calm demeanor, his handshake warm yet courteously reserved. "Hello. My name is Li, Li Hengyuan. Just call me Old Li." His politeness was akin to a national leader receiving a foreign dignitary, devoid of any desire for personal connection, yet without leaving a hint of unfriendliness.

Seizing the rare opportunity to engage with the bookstore's proprietor, Faang Xinghang was not about to withdraw. He grasped Mr. Li's hand firmly. "Old... uh, Teacher Li, a pleasure to meet you. Firstly, on behalf of the school, I extend our apologies to you and your wife. Chengcheng's injury was an unfortunate accident. I intended to take him straight to the hospital, but he was adamant about going home. So, I had no choice but to bring him here.

"Admittedly, there were shortcomings in our management, and we're not trying to shirk responsibility. My visit today is to seek your understanding and to inquire if you have any further requests. We will do our utmost to accommodate them within the school's policies and capabilities. Does that sound agreeable?"

Old Li offered a knowing smile and, with a gracious gesture of his other hand, invited Faang Xinghang further inside. "I'm well aware of my son's mischievousness; he's been quite the handful for the school and for you, Ms. Faang. I have no particular requests, but I do want to express my gratitude for you personally escorting him home."

He then addressed Lu Youzhi and Fan Gongming, "You two rascals, grab a card and help yourselves to some refreshments and a break." The robot page dutifully produced two cards from the counter and passed them to the pair.

Neither of them accepted the offer.

Fan Gongming said, "Thank you, Uncle Li, and thank you, Brother Yun. No, we'll go check on Orange first." With that, he headed in the direction opposite to the one Old Li had indicated, skirted around the screen, pushed open a hidden door, and vanished behind it.

Behind the door was an elevator, which they took to the second floor. The door opened to reveal a large, antique living room. Each doorway was five meters wide, with a total span of fifteen meters across three doorways and a depth of twenty meters, making the second floor a grand total of three hundred square meters. In the city center, a three hundred square meter commercial space had been transformed into a residence for a family of three, which seemed somewhat luxurious and excessive.

Bai Yaojin and Bai Chengcheng were not in the living room. Instead, Bai Yaojin's voice could be heard from a back room, "You two just relax in the living room, and don't interrupt me while I'm treating the scabby dog."

They obediently complied, skillfully found themselves some water to drink, and then slumped into the antique loungers as if they were in their own home. Their hearts, which had been thumping wildly, finally settled. Worn out from a night of fatigue, they quickly drifted off to sleep.

Meanwhile, Bai Yaojin had taken Bai Chengcheng down to a deeply hidden basement via a secret elevator that even Bai Chengcheng hadn't been aware of.

After a few casual pats from Bai Yaojin, Bai Chengcheng's condition had greatly improved.

Bai Yaojin asked him, "Scabby dog, have you truly decided to stop being a lazy dog? You need to think it over carefully." She said this because there was an agreement between her and Bai Chengcheng.

If Bai Chengcheng chose to live a life of idleness, what Bai Yaojin referred to as a scabby dog, she was willing to support him for life, ensuring he would never have to worry about his basic needs and could live freely. As an adult, becoming a small-time wealthy man would be no issue. However, Bai Yaojin would not pass on any martial arts or skills to him.

On the other hand, if Bai Chengcheng wished to pursue training and learning, aspiring to become a martial arts master or a professional powerhouse, Bai Yaojin could grant him a set of 'divine artifacts.' This would ensure rapid progress in his abilities and a photographic memory. Naturally, this came with a cost: he would have to endure the necessary hardships, and after turning eighteen, he would receive no further assistance from his parents. He would have to be self-reliant and make his own way in the world.

As a child, who wouldn't relish the thought of being a carefree scion? It's only natural to become a bit of a layabout. This is precisely why Bai Chengcheng has been lackadaisical in his studies and cultivation. From a young age, under his father's insistence, Bai Chengcheng learned just enough of the simple Yin Yang Taichi Fist to keep fit without much effort, ensuring he could withstand the rigors of interstellar travel without the need for cell-strengthening injections.

The swift advancement of human technology and the rapid expansion of territories have provided a material foundation for high welfare. In the hunter era, nations covered all basic expenses for their citizens from birth through to university graduation, including two doses of cell-strengthening fluid to ensure everyone could endure the strain of space travel.

Bai Chengcheng's parents were adamant about him not receiving the cell-strengthening injections. They argued that, despite being proven safe, the fluid could still impact human genetics—otherwise, no one would develop superpowers after receiving the high-level injections. Such powers, however, were of no interest to Bai Chengcheng's parents.

Bai Chengcheng joked, "Fairy, I've never been this serious before. Today, I was nearly beaten to a pulp, and it's left me feeling quite uncomfortable. But you have to guarantee that my martial skills and memory will improve dramatically." Bai Chengcheng's nature meant he could never be a lifelong idler; he was always one to hold a grudge.

In the past, school regulations and laws shielded him from harm. But after being beaten to the point of fleeing in terror, nearly losing his life, Bai Chengcheng was deeply unsettled. If his skills could improve dramatically, why not train and seek revenge? If he knew the true strength of the entity he had provoked, one wonders if he would still have the courage to retaliate.

Bai Yaojin took on a more earnest tone, "You can be absolutely certain of the results. There's nothing I can't achieve. But you must think it through; once you undergo the bone marrow cleansing, you'll have to accept the associated responsibilities. To wear the crown, you must bear its weight, right? And there's no turning back. Even if it means facing a mountain of knives or a sea of flames, even if every step is fraught with thorns, you must press on without ever looking back. Can you commit to that?"

Bai Chengcheng grew impatient. "Hey, you little imp, a man's word is his bond. Bring it on, I'm not scared! It's just about fending for oneself, right? Oh, and while you're at it, could you give a wash to the big bear and the monkey too?" Deep down, he harbored the hope of being able to weasel out of it. If things didn't work out, surely his parents wouldn't stand by and watch him become dependent on welfare, would they?

"Alright, I'll consider it. You do need a helping hand to stand on your own two feet in society. Since we've made a deal, let's get started." Bai Yaojin knew her son all too well, and she was aware of Bai Chengcheng's thoughts. But she had a foolproof plan to prevent any second thoughts. With a flick of her wrist, Bai Chengcheng instantly fell into a deep sleep.

With a gesture from Bai Yaojin, a set of equipment sprang forth from the wall. The centerpiece was a two-meter square, egg-shaped, transparent container—let's call it a medical pod—brimming with a blue liquid and connected to the wall by numerous slender tubes.

With a flick of her hand, Bai Chengcheng's clothes dropped to the floor. She then tossed him effortlessly into the sealed pod, as if its outer shell were invisible. The thin tubes swiftly attached themselves to Bai Chengcheng's body, linking him to all external channels. Two more tubes were inserted into his veins, and a lightweight cap fit snugly over his head. The liquid within the tubes circulated with precision.

Bai Yaojin clapped her hands together, "All set. My son, I've waited ten long years for you to ask for help. It feels wonderful to finally be free. From this day forward, you're going to be a dragon in the spotlight. I can hardly wait to watch the epic saga of your life unfold."

Bai Yaojin went back upstairs to rouse Lu Youzhi and Fan Gongming.

The two men quickly got to their feet and greeted her, "Good morning, Auntie. Is Orange okay?"

Bai Yaojin replied with a smile, "He's fine, but you two have a problem. Orange is fed up with your weak martial arts and dull wits. He's kicked you both out of the 'Trio'."

The two of them were well aware that Bai Yaojin enjoyed her jokes, so they didn't take her words to heart. Nevertheless, they earnestly vowed to diligently practice their cultivation, ensuring that Orange would not be harmed again.

Their exceptional reverence in Bai Yaojin's presence stemmed from an understanding of her formidable nature. Despite her appearance as a frail young lady, she could inflict excruciating pain on them without laying a finger on them, using either her Qi or some form of telekinesis. The advanced techniques they had mastered were all imparted by Bai Yaojin herself, far superior to the basic skills taught at school. As a result, their cultivation levels were quite impressive compared to their peers, even without much effort. Fan Gongming might have lacked a bit in brute strength, but his agility was unparalleled among his classmates.

Bai Yaojin scoffed, "Hmph, with the effort you two put in, you'll likely never catch up in this lifetime. Orange is undergoing a transformation that will greatly enhance his powers, and he's got a photographic memory. Don't you wish for the same?"

"Of course we do," replied Lu Youzhi eagerly.

"What are the conditions, Auntie?" inquired Fan Gongming.

"Stand by Orange as his brothers for life and never betray him," Bai Yaojin declared.

"Absolutely," they responded in harmony, not yet grasping the weight of their commitment.

With a casual wave of her hand, Bai Yaojin put them into a deep slumber on the lounge chairs. She whispered to herself, "This is the promise you made; don't hold me responsible." Then, she vanished into thin air, reappearing moments later at the Lu family farm, miles away. Faang Xinghang, seated below, was none the wiser to her departure. Only Bai Fengyuan, who was downstairs, glanced up briefly before carrying on as usual.

Downstairs, Father Li Hengyuan ushered Faang Xinghang into the study.

"Teacher Li, we really should get Bai Cheng to the hospital first. His injuries are quite severe," Faang Xinghang expressed with concern, understating the gravity of Bai Cheng's critical condition.

Old Li didn't slow his pace. "Don't worry, my boy is tough. A minor injury won't kill him. Please, come in."

'A minor injury?' Faang Xinghang couldn't fathom where Li Hengyuan's confidence came from.

The servant robot, referred to as Brother Yun by Lu Youzhi, gracefully led the way. His every move was reminiscent of a well-trained butler from an aristocratic family steeped in tradition.

Seeking conversation, Faang Xinghang remarked, "Teacher Li, your robot is incredibly realistic, indistinguishable from a human. Where did you purchase it?"

Old Li chuckled, sidestepping the question. "Ah, it's been some time. Little Yun, could you bring us two plates of desserts and two pots of tea, please? Thank you."

Little Yun responded, "Certainly, Master. Teacher Faang, what kind of tea would you prefer?" His voice and intonation were devoid of any mechanical trace, indistinguishable from a human conversation.

"Anything is fine, I'm not particular about tea," Faang Xinghang replied, curious to see how the robot would handle such a vague request. From his experience, most robots couldn't process an order as vague as 'anything,' often requesting a specific tea name instead.

"Then I'll serve you the same as the Master. He's fond of bamboo leaf green tea," Xiao Yun suggested.

Faang Xinghang was taken aback. Was this robot's intelligence a bit too advanced?

Old Li caught Faang Xinghang's surprised look but offered no explanation. He guided Faang Xinghang past a folding screen into a small alcove adjacent to the reading hall.

Inside the hall, a handful of patrons were engrossed in their books. A couple more were perusing the shelves. Altogether, there were barely three or four customers. Despite the establishment's high prices, the daily footfall of seven or eight patrons hardly seemed sufficient to sustain the grandeur of the place, much less the upkeep of its antiques.