Chapter 13: Fathers Are Human Too!

“Mother, come with me.”
Bai Ruyu pulled Mrs. Jiang back into the room and gave a quick instruction to the three children outside.
“Ergou, if anyone comes, you must shout loudly for us.”
The three children, sharp as they were, instantly understood that their eldest sister was about to discuss something serious with their mother. They nodded repeatedly, promising not to let anyone approach the room.

Once inside, Mrs. Jiang looked puzzled. “Ruyu, what’s wrong?”
She had only asked about how to style her hair; why had her daughter’s expression suddenly changed?

“Mother, look at this.”
After closing the door, Bai Ruyu glanced at the system mall, then extended her hand toward Mrs. Jiang.

The mall was only level one, with a limited selection—just one page and twenty items, arranged from most to least expensive.

“What is… this?”
Mrs. Jiang looked doubtfully at her daughter’s clenched fist, which she slowly opened in front of her, her pupils growing wide.

“Ruyu, what is that thing?”
It looked strange—something she had never seen before.

“Mother, this is a lighter!”
Bai Ruyu demonstrated how to use the lighter, leaving Mrs. Jiang staring in astonishment.

“Ruyu, this… this thing is called a lighter? Does it serve the same purpose as a fire striker?”
Mrs. Jiang touched the small flame with her finger, feeling the heat, then quickly withdrew her hand and gently blew on it, her eyes filled with indescribable wonder.

“Yes, it serves a similar purpose.” Bai Ruyu put the lighter away and nodded solemnly.
“Mother, what I’m about to tell you must be kept secret at all costs. If others find out, the consequences would be unimaginable.”

Mrs. Jiang paused, then withdrew her curiosity, her face a mix of fear and inner conflict.
“Can’t you tell your father either?”

“Father can know, but no one else. The younger siblings are too young; to prevent them from accidentally letting it slip, I’ll explain later.”

Hearing this, Mrs. Jiang clutched her chest and took a deep breath. “Good, good, at least your father can know. Otherwise, I’d be scared all alone.”

Bai Ruyu suddenly found her mother somewhat adorably naive.

“Ruyu?” Mrs. Jiang noticed her daughter’s silence and looked up to find her staring blankly.
She waved her hand in front of her. “Ruyu, whatever it is, just tell me! Your father and I will bear it with you.”

Bai Ruyu snapped back to attention and saw her mother’s serious, resolute expression, which warmed her heart unexpectedly.

---

Leaning close to Mrs. Jiang’s ear, Bai Ruyu whispered mysteriously, “Mother, have you ever heard the legend that one year in the mortal world equals ten years in the underworld?”

“No, I haven’t. Why?” Mrs. Jiang turned her eyes sideways, seeing her daughter’s secretive smile, and her heart skipped a beat.

Better that she hadn’t heard it—because it was all just nonsense Bai Ruyu had made up.

“Mother, actually, when I suddenly grew strong before, that was just my last burst of life. When I lay in Father’s arms and let go, I went down to the underworld.”

Bai Ruyu began to tell the story she had prepared.
“As soon as I arrived, I met Grandfather and Grandmother. They took me away, healed me, and let me stay in the underworld a while to keep them company.”

Seeing Mrs. Jiang’s expression change from nervous curiosity to tearful sympathy, Bai Ruyu paused.

After a moment, Mrs. Jiang choked out, “Ruyu, you really suffered.”

Bai Ruyu shook her head and smiled. “Not at all. While I was in the underworld, I saw many fascinating things and people I’d never encountered. I learned a lot of useful things.”

Mrs. Jiang, both pained and relieved, hugged her tightly.
“You’re such a good child. Who would’ve thought you’d learn skills even in the underworld? Ruyu, you’re amazing!”

Bai Ruyu teased mysteriously, “Mother, that’s not even the most amazing part! Guess what the best part is?”

Mrs. Jiang lowered her gaze to think, then her eyes lit up. “The best part is that Grandfather and Grandmother gave you a treasure like that lighter?”

Bai Ruyu shook her head, opened her left hand, and from nowhere appeared a piece of filled chocolate.

“The best part is that Grandfather gave me a skill: whenever I want, I can pull things out of his treasures or put things back in.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than her body suddenly went limp, almost collapsing to the floor. Luckily, Bai Ruyu was quick to catch her.

“R-Ruyu, what did you say? Your Grandfather has such treasures? And you can use them too?”

Heavens above!

Could this be the legendary ‘good things happen to good people’?

Bai Ruyu helped her sit down, speaking seriously.
“Yes, King Yama gave them to Grandfather. Grandfather has stored many things inside.”

“Shush, shush, shush!” Mrs. Jiang was stunned for a moment, then hastily hushed her.
“Don’t say any more! I know nothing, and unless absolutely necessary, you mustn’t use them recklessly or let others find out, understand?!”

Though her face was stern, her eyes showed deep worry.

Such an extraordinary power—whether it was a blessing or a curse, she could not tell.

“Don’t worry, Mother, I’m careful. Grandmother also gave me some life-saving items.” Bai Ruyu unwrapped the chocolate and slipped it into Mrs. Jiang’s mouth.

She said all this partly to make it easier to retrieve things later with a plausible excuse.

And partly to test her mother’s reaction—which, judging by now, passed. What remained unknown was how her father might react when he found out.

Mrs. Jiang frowned. “Two fists can’t beat four hands. You don’t have three heads or six arms, so be cautious.”

At this moment, she had no appetite to savor the novel flavor in her mouth; her feelings toward her parents were a mixture of gratitude and grievance.

They had healed Ruyu, taught her useful skills, and given her life-saving abilities—she had no complaints.

She was eager to pay respects and offer thanks.

But why give Ruyu such a special power? If it fell into the wrong hands…

She dared not imagine the consequences.

---

“Father! You’re back!”

“Tired from carrying water, Father? Come sit and rest.”

“Sit down, Father, have some water!”

The three children’s voices echoed throughout the courtyard.

Inside, mother and daughter exchanged smiles.

“Looks like the younger siblings are just as vigilant.” Bai Ruyu was the first to run to open the door.

Outside, Bai Xiuming knelt to set down two buckets of water, immediately surrounded by the three children.

He raised an eyebrow, frowning. “You three? Have you done something naughty to make your mother angry?”

Their excessive enthusiasm made it impossible not to suspect something.

“No, we’ve been very good today.” Little Ya puffed up proudly.

“Not good?” Bai Xiuming narrowed his eyes, doubtful. “Then why are you hanging around here so dutifully, showering me with attention? Isn’t it to plead your case to Daddy?”

Just as he was puzzling over it, his wife’s resigned voice came from beside him.

“You three even guard against your own father.”

The three little ones didn’t see anything wrong. Eldest sister told them not to let anyone near, but she never specifically told them to let Father come close.

“Sister didn’t say Father should come near.”

Little Ya blinked her big eyes and nodded proudly.

“Yes, Sister said if someone comes, we must shout loudly. Father is a person too!”

Ergou quickly added from the side.

Bai Xiuming glared, “You little rascal! What are you saying?”

If he’s not a person, then what else could he be?

“Dad, why are you hitting me again?” The third child pouted, holding his head with a look of grievance.

“Dummy…” Ergou glanced at the pitiful third child.

Suddenly, he felt that this little brother wasn’t very bright.