Chapter 34: You Dare Remove My Son's Eyepatch?

Ming Xi was just about to retort when she saw the group of bandits rudely trying to drag Xiao Tong out, intent on gouging out his left eye.

Unexpectedly, as those fierce and menacing bandits closed in, there was not a trace of fear in Xiao Tong’s eyes. Instead, he wore a smug smile. The expression seemed innocent, yet there was something eerie about it—as if he had been prepared for this all along.

"Yao Long!" Xiao Tong suddenly lifted his head, fixing his gaze on the panicked magical beast, Yao Long. His blood-red pupil was ethereal and profound.

The massive lightning-elemental beast, Yao Long, had been trembling uncontrollably, but upon hearing Xiao Tong’s call, it stopped retreating.

"...Yao Long, you are being naughty. What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and pay your respects to your master!" Xiao Tong suddenly commanded.

W-what?!

The bandits were stunned by this outburst. Had the child lost his mind? How could he speak to the magical beast Yao Long like that? That was clearly the bandits' own beast! Did this kid actually think he could tame it?

However, to the bandits' disbelief, Yao Long let out a thunderous roar. The lightning crackling around its body became even more terrifying as it took a step forward and knelt in submission before Xiao Tong.

"That’s a good boy! Now... go take care of these bad uncles who bullied me and my mother."

Xiao Tong gave the order with a wicked grin. Yao Long immediately extended its sharp claws and sent the bandits who had tried to grab Xiao Tong flying in an instant. With a chorus of miserable shrieks, the men vanished into the horizon.

The bandit leader was struck dumb, sweating profusely. He could not believe what he was seeing. Yao Long was actually obeying Xiao Tong’s commands and attacking them?

What was going on? How could this happen?

Yao Long let out a low growl, lowering its head to glare at the remaining bandits. A murderous intent radiated from its eyes.

"This... this is impossible! Yao Long... have you lost your mind?" The bandit leader retreated, his face pale with terror.

Ming Xi, meanwhile, was pleasantly surprised. She pulled her clothes tight, stepped back to Xiao Tong’s side, and pinched his chubby, baby-like cheeks with doting affection. Still astonished yet looking smug, she said, "No way, my adorable son? You actually have this kind of talent! Lost your nerve now, you bosses? You even dared to lift my son’s eyepatch?!"

In his terror, the bandit leader could only lament that one false step had led to eternal regret. Why, oh why, were his hands so itchy? Why had he insisted on uncovering the boy’s eye? If this kid could tame Yao Long so easily, did that mean... any beast he looked at with that eye would obey him?

Good heavens! This ability was too terrifying! If things went wrong, the entire stronghold might be destroyed by this child.

As he trembled in fear, the bandit leader saw Ming Xi walking toward him step by step.

"So, boss, do you still... want to take us back to your lair and have your way with me?" Ming Xi approached him triumphantly and patted him on the shoulder.

"I want to... er, no, no, no! I don't want to! Spare me, great heroine! Spare me, young hero! I won't do it again! I’ll never do it again!" The bandit leader scrambled to kowtow. Since even Yao Long had rebelled, a single word from this child could bring a bolt of lightning down to strike them dead. They no longer had the courage to be arrogant.

"That’s more like it! Now, be so kind as to escort us into your stronghold. I have a few questions for you."

"Yes, yes! Of course! Absolutely!" The bandit leader kept kowtowing, not daring to lift his head.

"Let’s go, my adorable son!" Ming Xi called back. Xiao Tong hurried out from behind the curtain and ran to her side.

"Mother, did I make up for my mistake this time? You shouldn't be angry anymore, right?"

"Don't try that with me. Don't think I don't know what you're thinking! And don't think I’m letting you off the hook for what you said earlier—" Ming Xi’s face flushed with a hint of rage. "You actually dared to call your mother a flat-chested runway?!"

"A runway? What is a runway?"

"A runway means... it means as flat as a board! Are you planning a mutiny, you brat? How dare you say that to your mother?"

"But it’s true, Mother is as flat as a board and still... still used that trick."

Damn it! Ming Xi was speechless. This boy was truly on the verge of rebellion!

"By the way, Mother, what about the carriage driver?"

"Er, well... he... he was just frightened, I suppose. Let’s see if he wakes up on his own later. I’ve already paid the fare, so as for the rest... that’s not my concern."

Ming Xi shrugged helplessly. As a fox spirit, she didn't know much about these things. If the man had high blood pressure or heart disease, there was nothing she could do.

...

After entering the stronghold, the bandit leader ushered Ming Xi and Xiao Tong straight into the main courtyard.

"Please, have a seat, honored guests! I’ll have food prepared for you immediately. What would you like to eat?" the leader asked, bowing and scraping.

"Roast chicken and fine wine—just that! What do you want, son?"

"Whatever Mother eats, Xiao Tong will eat."

"You heard him! Hurry up and get it ready! And let me tell you, don't even think about poisoning the food. We aren't foolish enough to be played by you!"

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare! I’ll go prepare it for you right away!"

The bandit leader scrambled off, wondering to himself: What on earth is happening? How did these two ancestors suddenly descend upon us?