Chapter 35 — IAVD (QT) Chapter 35

Ji Xiu did not stop, charging straight toward the two boys.

Zhang Peng, seeing an adult man rushing over yelling "Son," quickly realized Ji Xiu's identity and leaped up to flee. Thump! Ji Zian, still lying on the ground, stuck his leg out and tripped him. Taking advantage of Zhang Peng's instability, the boy pushed off the ground, lunged onto Zhang Peng's back, and pinned him down again. Without a word, he raised his fist to strike.

Ji Xiu: "..."

The little Tyrannosaurus Rex is on a rampage. I have to be careful, if he causes a serious injury, I won't be able to pay the medical bills.

Ji Xiu sped up. He didn't stop his son from fighting; he simply said, "Don't bite him, it's dirty. Just a couple of punches will do."

Ji Zian, who was just about to sink his teeth into Zhang Peng's arm: "..."

Makes sense. It’s gross. Who knows where this guy's hands have been.

Ji Zian adjusted his tactics instantly, pinning Zhang Peng's arms back and delivering a few heavy punches to his nose. Though he was young, his combat style was ruthless. One punch made Zhang Peng's eyes water; the second sent nosebleed splattering across the ground.

"Aaaah! Help..." Zhang Peng hadn't expected the child he was just beating to become so terrifying. Ji Zian smashed another punch into his mouth, cutting off his cries.

Seeing the boy's teeth were about to be knocked out, Ji Xiu grabbed Ji Zian's raised fist. "Stop, stop. Time to go home for dinner. Don't waste time, the food will get cold."

Ji Zian stopped.

Ji Xiu exhaled in relief. This was a trick he learned from the original owner’s memories. The original couple had spent twenty years figuring out how to handle their son: Never prohibit or order him directly, or he will resent you too. You have to find another topic to divert his attention.

Ji Zian stood up on his own, wiping his nose with his sleeve, his face cold. "Are we going or not?"

Ji Xiu didn't want to linger. He gave the whimpering Zhang Peng a warning look: "Have some discernment in the future. Don't think every kid is easy to bully." Then he followed Ji Zian.

…

As the father and son left, the crowd parted. Ji Xiu was known as a gentle, honest man, but everyone pitied him for having such a "delinquent" son who was always causing trouble that cost Ji Xiu money to settle.

Back home, Shen Lang was waiting. Seeing her bloodied and dusty son, she hurried to clean him up. She was used to it; she had a stock of medicine and had become an expert at treating wounds.

"Ji Zian, stay home for a few days, okay? Mommy's heart hurts seeing you bleed so much."

Ji Zian gave a flat response. Shen Lang smiled dotingly. "Come, eat. I made your favorite fried yellow croaker."

Dinner was quiet. Ji Xiu observed the family hierarchy. Though he was the breadwinner, the seven-year-old Ji Zian was the undisputed king of the household.

In the ancient world, people went to bed early to save on candles. After the couple fell asleep, Ji Xiu lay in the dark, planning his trip to the cliff to retrieve the secret manual.

Suddenly, a noise came from the main room.

Ji Xiu opened his eyes and listened. Through a crack in the door, he saw Ji Zian rummaging for something. The boy found a hemp sack, folded it, tucked it into his clothes, and slipped out the door. Of course, Ji Xiu thought with a sigh. Ji Zian was a person who never let a grudge go. He hadn't vented enough this afternoon, so he was going to finish the job under the cover of night.

Ji Xiu followed him into the bustling night streets of Yangzhou. Ji Zian moved with precision. He didn't go to Zhang Peng's house; he headed toward the medical clinic. He guessed—correctly—that since Zhang Peng wasn't a "tough" kid, his family would take him to the clinic for his injuries. Ji Zian planned to ambush them on their way back.

Ji Xiu marveled at his son's intelligence. At seven, Ji Zian already had the strategic mind of an adult. He understood geography, knew the local shortcuts, and possessed the patience of a hunter. He was a rare genius—it was a shame that in the original timeline, his brilliance was used only for destruction.

…

In a dark alley, Zhang Peng and his father were taking a shortcut home. Clatter, clatter! "Ouch! My leg..." "Wait, what's this?"

Ji Zian had laid a simple trap with bamboo sticks. As the father tripped, Ji Zian leaped down from a high wall like a tiger, threw the hemp sack over the man's head, tied it expertly, and shoved him aside. He then lunged at Zhang Peng.

In the pitch-black alley, the Zhangs were blind, but Ji Zian—having waited in the dark for an hour—saw everything. He rained punches down on Zhang Peng.

"Help! Dad!" Zhang Peng screamed.

"Let go! Take my money, just don't hurt my son!" the father yelled from inside the sack, assuming they were being robbed.

Ji Zian didn't care about money. He wanted retribution. He had been pinned to the ground in public today; if he didn't pay it back tenfold, he couldn't breathe. He knew the officials wouldn't suspect a seven-year-old, and his parents would serve as his alibi, believing he was asleep.

Just as Ji Zian was focused on the beating, Zhang's father managed to tear through the sack. He lunged toward Ji Zian with a raised fist.

Ji Zian sensed the air moving. He grit his teeth, ready to take a hit so he could roll away and escape. He’d just find another day to pay this man back, too. Thump! Before the father's fist could land, he was kicked aside from behind.

Ji Zian froze for a millisecond. Looking up, he saw a familiar figure reaching out to him.

"Give me your hand, let's go!" Ji Xiu whispered.

Ji Zian didn't hesitate. He grabbed Ji Xiu's hand, let himself be pulled up, and leaped onto his father's back. Before leaving, he didn't forget to land one last spiteful kick on the groaning Zhang Peng.

…

Ji Xiu carried Ji Zian through the winding back alleys to avoid detection.

"Dad, why were you there?" Ji Zian asked, his voice calm.

Ji Xiu sighed. "If I didn't come, you would have been beaten. Son, next time you go out for revenge, call me. If you get hurt again, how will I explain it to your mother?"

Ji Zian was silent for a moment before saying awkwardly, "I'll consider it."

Ji Xiu laughed softly. Though Ji Zian was only seven, he was tall for his age, coming up to Ji Xiu's waist. Despite the "villain" label, Ji Zian was actually quite handsome and refined looking. As long as no one provokes him, he’s not so bad, Ji Xiu thought, his "fatherly filter" already distorting his perspective. In his mind, his son was simply a "perfect, well-behaved" child who happened to have a bit of a temper.