Ron had underestimated Rayleigh—an old driver with far too much experience.
This round, he'd floored the gas and gone screaming down the highway at full speed!
Seeing Ron couldn't come up with anything even filthier to clap back with, Rayleigh lifted his chin and struck a victor's pose.
"Brat, you're still too young."
"Some things… only old men like me understand."
After flipping through an imaginary brand-new "yellow dictionary" in his head, Ron shot back:
"Don't use your shortcomings to question my strengths."
"Ever heard of 'straight to the stomach in one step'?"
Rayleigh's face instantly darkened.
He wanted to retort—yet everything Ron said was annoyingly true, so he could only swallow it and let it go…
Just then—
The tavern doors burst open with a crash, and a figure flew in from outside like a cannonball.
It was Black Little Tiger…
Right as he was about to slam into the bar counter, the Lord casually reached out, scooped him up, and pulled him into his arms.
The moment their eyes met, Black Little Tiger nearly threw up at the sight of that face.
But he forced it down and said in a low voice, "Boss, don't take offense. My father's here… and his temper's a bit violent."
As the words fell, a tiger in a purple robe walked in with his hands clasped behind his back, stepping calmly across the floor.
Black Little Tiger's father.
Black Heart Tiger.
The Demonic Cult's leader—peerless in martial arts.
These past few days, Black Heart Tiger had been watching his son shamelessly fawn over Blue Rabbit, and he simply couldn't take it anymore.
After a brutal beating, Black Little Tiger finally confessed that Ron—and someone called Chatun—had taught him to do it.
So Black Heart Tiger had come to demand an explanation.
And then…
Just as Black Heart Tiger was about to start cursing, he suddenly noticed the Lord and his son, the Kesha sisters, the Netherworld Overlord, and a whole lineup of big shots silently staring at him.
Black Heart Tiger wasn't afraid of anyone…
But under those faint, barely-leaking waves of terrifying killing intent, he still swallowed every word that had reached his lips.
Seeing that, Black Little Tiger finally let out a vicious breath of relief.
If his father had actually cursed out loud…
Tomorrow the entire Demonic Cult would probably be hosting a banquet.
"You're Ron, right?" Black Heart Tiger came to the bar and sat down. After sensing that killing intent earlier, his tone softened considerably.
Ron nodded. "That's right. Welcome, Mr. Black Heart Tiger."
The moment he finished speaking, Black Heart Tiger slapped Black Little Tiger hard across the head and cursed, "Unfilial brat!"
"How can Boss Ron be as awful as you made him sound?"
"What if your father actually fought him—then what?!"
Black Little Tiger looked wronged. "Father… didn't you say you wanted to punish the people who taught me to pursue Blue Rabbit—"
Before he could finish, Black Heart Tiger smacked him again.
This time he used about thirty percent of his strength.
Smack!
Black Little Tiger spun in place twice before barely managing to steady himself.
"Unfilial brat—stop spewing nonsense!" Black Heart Tiger barked, then immediately turned around and smiled at the crowd. "My apologies, everyone."
"These past few days my unfilial son's lost his mind a bit. Please forgive him. Please forgive him."
The others could only laugh and shake their heads.
Good lord—his face changed fast.
Using his son as a shield, too…
If they hadn't released that killing intent earlier, this might already have turned into a fight.
Still…
The Lord glanced at the obedient, thoroughly "disciplined" Black Little Tiger, then looked at his own dumb son beside him, and couldn't help feeling a surge of envy.
Mm…
Later, he had to exchange parenting experience with this man.
Just then, Thor set down a bottle of Moutai in front of the father and son.
"Your liquor. Please enjoy."
"Thank you." Black Heart Tiger nodded, twisted off the cap, and took a huge gulp.
Gulp…
As the liquor slid down his throat, that unique soy aroma and the clean bite of alcohol spread through him—making his heart finally ease.
Good thing I was sharp just now.
Otherwise, I'd probably already be dead.
With that thought, Black Heart Tiger asked, "Boss… what do you think should be done about my son's lovesickness?"
"He refuses to marry anyone but Blue Rabbit."
Ron thought for a moment, then said slowly, "Actually, it's simple."
"You need two taels of nine-leaf chonglou, one qian of winter-solstice silkworm pupae—boil them like last year's snow, and it can cure the sufferings of mortal love."
Rayleigh's eyes instantly widened.
Was this really the same brat who'd been racing him with dirty talk just now?
How did he suddenly become so cultured?
Compared to Rayleigh's shock, Black Little Tiger could only give a bitter smile.
"Boss…"
"There are no silkworm pupae at the winter solstice. Snow can't last until next year. And in this dusty world… lovesickness has no cure."
Ron chuckled. "If you already know that, why keep chasing Blue Rabbit?"
"Aren't you just asking to suffer?"
Black Little Tiger sighed.
"She claims she's righteous… while my father and I are of the demonic path."
"Righteous and evil walk different roads. We can't be together."
"But… I really do like her."
"I like how loyal she is. I like how unyielding she is."
"Especially that split-second, stunning glance when she saved me… I don't think I'll ever forget it for the rest of my life."
Hearing that, Black Heart Tiger sighed inwardly.
It was over.
This account was ruined.
He'd secluded himself for over ten years, stepped outside once—and the moment his son met a female rabbit, his legs stopped working.
Then Black Heart Tiger launched into a string of questions, one after another:
"When you're thinking about her… who is she thinking about?"
"When your enemy kneels and begs for mercy… then her—who is she kneeling before?"
"When she leaves you out in the cold… whose heart is she warming instead?"
Black Little Tiger froze in his seat, eyes hollow, unable to speak for a long, long time.
Black Heart Tiger's voice was light.
But every word was like a blade—driving straight into Black Little Tiger's heart.
The other customers in the tavern were stunned too.
Too brutal.
For a simp, those words were simply too brutal!
Killing only ends a life… but words? Words kill the heart.
As expected of his real father.
Honestly, you couldn't blame Black Heart Tiger either.
What father would willingly watch his son live as a pathetic simp—
Especially when the woman he was simping for kept trying to kill his father?!
If he didn't say it this way, Black Little Tiger would never forget Blue Rabbit for the rest of his life.
A long time passed.
From noon until nightfall.
From the tavern packed with customers to only Black Heart Tiger and his son left behind.
During all that time, Black Little Tiger didn't say a single word—not even took a sip of water—his mind looping endlessly around his father's questions.
Finally, just as Ron was about to close up shop, Black Little Tiger snapped back to himself, voice choked with emotion.
"Father… let's go home."
Black Heart Tiger slowly stood, nodded to Ron in farewell, then took his son's hand and led him outside.
In that moment, Black Little Tiger's once-straight back looked slightly hunched—as if someone had ripped out his spine—leaving him with a bleak, pitiful silhouette…
"Looks like this simp really gave up," Ron sighed softly, stepping out as well and shutting the tavern doors.
Saint Rosward's party should be starting about now.
Ron also wanted to see exactly how Xiao Zizai and Jack the Ripper planned to carry out their assassination.
...
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