Chapter 14

As time passed day by day, Dongfang Xiuzhe grew older, and before they knew it, three years had gone by.

Everyone in the General's residence noticed that their young master was different from other children, with very peculiar behavior that didn't match his age.

Ordinary children, after learning to walk, are usually very mischievous, curious about everything they see, and always want to touch things, often resorting to crying, fussing, and screaming.

However, their young master was completely different. No one had ever seen him cry or fuss since birth. He was as quiet as a kitten every day, and sometimes he would remain motionless for one or two hours.

What was even more puzzling was that many people had seen the young master laughing to himself for no reason!

Thus, many people secretly speculated that their young master must have been injured and left with a disability when he was young.

But was that really the case?

In the warm March breeze, the willows swayed gently.

In a small courtyard of the General's residence, a three-year-old child sat under a tree, eyes closed, motionless.

He seemed to have merged with the tree behind him, and he had maintained this posture for nearly half an hour.

Suddenly, with a sound like an eggshell cracking, the child's eyes snapped open, emitting a sharp light.

"I've broken through, finally broken through!"

A smile appeared on the child's face as he sprang to his feet, his movements so agile that it was hard to believe he was only three years old.

Perhaps everyone had guessed it, but this child was none other than Dongfang Xiuzhe, the one people often talked about as being "injured and left with a disability"!

"Nearly half a year of effort has not been in vain. My cultivation has advanced to a new level, and now I can finally create talismans!"

Dongfang Xiuzhe patted the dust off his bottom, stretched out his tender little hand, and snapped his fingers. Then, not far away, the maid Xiaocui, who had been standing motionless like a statue, sneezed and came to life.

"Master, there are many bugs in the tree. Don't stay under it!"

Xiaocui hurriedly ran over and carried Dongfang Xiuzhe to one side, unaware that he had been sitting under the tree for a long time.

"Take me to Mother!" Dongfang Xiuzhe said, his eyes sparkling with wisdom, making it hard to guess what he was thinking.

Xiaocui, without any suspicion, took Dongfang Xiuzhe to the lady's quarters.

At that moment, Xie Qiuping was sighing in her room, feeling a deep pain in her heart every time she thought about the difficulties her son had faced at birth.

Her son, Zhe'er, had a peculiar temperament and rarely smiled, which pained her as a mother. She had bought many toys that children usually enjoy to make him happy, but he showed no interest in any of them.

Does this child have no interests at all?

Xie Qiuping had heard the maids and servants mention more than once that they had seen Zhe'er laughing to himself, but why had she, as his mother, never seen him laugh?

How much she longed to see her son smile!

"Alas," Xie Qiuping sighed again, "If only Zhe'er would have some requests, at least I would know what he wants."

Just as she was about to send a maid to check on the young master, Xiaocui brought Dongfang Xiuzhe into the courtyard.

"Mother, are you here?" Dongfang Xiuzhe's clear, young voice echoed in the courtyard.

Xie Qiuping quickly pushed the door open, hiding her worried expression and smiled, asking, "Zhe'er, where did you play today? Come, tell Mother!"

Dongfang Xiuzhe had no time to play. He seized every available moment to cultivate, which was why he had progressed so rapidly, being able to create talismans at the tender age of three. Among all the yin-yang masters of his previous life, no one had such talent!

Dongfang Xiuzhe briefly recounted where he had been and what he had done, but to others, even his cultivation seemed like play.

Xie Qiuping listened with a smile, occasionally praising him. When Dongfang Xiuzhe finished, she quickly said, "Zhe'er, are you hungry? Mother will have someone prepare some delicious food for you!"

Shaking his head slightly, Dongfang Xiuzhe didn't want to waste any more time and got straight to the point, "Mother, I have a request!"

Xie Qiuping was clearly taken aback, then her face lit up, and she asked, "What do you want, Zhe'er?"

Growing up, Dongfang Xiuzhe had never made a request or even shown any signs of being spoiled, which made Xie Qiuping feel quite surprised today.

"Mother, I want to go outside the residence and take a look," Dongfang Xiuzhe said.

"Why do you suddenly want to go outside the residence, Zhe'er?" Xie Qiuping felt curious.

To prevent anyone from having ill intentions toward Dongfang Xiuzhe, Xie Qiuping had never taken her son out of the residence.

Dongfang Xiuzhe didn't say anything, just continued to look straight at his mother.

Xie Qiuping didn't press further and discussed it with her husband, Dongfang Long, who finally agreed to Dongfang Xiuzhe's request.

Dongfang Long, despite his busy schedule, made time to accompany his wife and son on this outing.

Since Dongfang Long was personally accompanying them, they didn't bring any guards.

Every citizen of Tianbo City knew the great general Dongfang Long and would bow and greet him, but that's another story.

The family of three had arrived at the largest commercial street in Tianbo City.

The wide street was lined with shops, and the flow of pedestrians was constant, with the sounds of buying and selling echoing continuously.

"Zhe'er, do you like sugar figurines?"

"Zhe'er, do you want this toy?"

"Zhe'er, look at this, isn't it pretty?"

The couple asked many such questions along the way, but Dongfang Xiuzhe just shook his head lightly. He had no interest in these toys meant to amuse children!

"Alas, I don't know what my son wants," Dongfang Long felt very troubled.

At that moment, Dongfang Xiuzhe suddenly stopped, his eyes fixed on something ahead, as if he had found his target.

"Zhe'er, what do you like? Tell Mother!"

Xie Qiuping bent down and followed her son's gaze but saw no shops suitable for children, unable to guess what had caught his interest.

When they followed Dongfang Xiuzhe into a paper shop, both Xie Qiuping and Dongfang Long were puzzled.

"Great General, please forgive me for not greeting you in time!"

The shop owner, seeing the great general Dongfang Long, hurried out in a panic.

Dongfang Xiuzhe had no interest in the formalities and went straight in, selecting the paper needed to create talismans.

"I never thought my son would have such a unique interest!"

When Dongfang Long learned that Dongfang Xiuzhe wanted to buy some paper, he couldn't help but think.

After walking around the shop, Dongfang Xiuzhe had felt the texture of all the paper and had made his decision.

Lifting his little hand, Dongfang Xiuzhe pointed and said, "This one, that one, and that one..."

"Little Master has a keen eye. These three are the best in my shop!" the shop owner flattered.

Glancing at the person who had interrupted him, Dongfang Xiuzhe continued, "I don't want these three. Wrap up the rest!"

What!

The shop owner's smile froze...