Chapter 7: Like Father, Like Daughter

Merged with the dark night, a dark shroud flew through the sky.

Following a child’s little finger, it landed on a courtyard. As soon as it landed, the dark shroud dispersed, revealing An Shan and Xiao Mei. There were corridors around them, the dark night was lightly lit by crystal lamps around.

Since he hid their presence, them being there did not alert anyone or any formation in the surrounding areas. Walking up to his front, he slid open a room just in front of the courtyard. As he did, a crystal lamp inside lit up by itself.

Greeting his eyes, was a room with untidy mattress, dresses piled up on one side and some paper flowers and cranes here and there. He was sleepy, yet the room still staggered him.

“…”

“Eh, eh… The maids so lazy, did not do their work! Pay cut!”

Her excuse just poured fuel to the fire. He pinched her cheek, pulling her in.

“Uwwaahhh, domestic vio—”

“What maids, this is your room! Tidy up your room on your own!”

“Uhh, wokayy…”

He let her cheek go, sniffing the surroundings.

“Ah well, at least it’s not smelly,”

“Ancestor, that’s cruel! Xiao Mei’s not smelly!”

“I just said so, now be quiet,”

“Unn,”

“Tidy those up first,”

“Un!”

She went and tidied up her dresses at the end of her room. An Shan walked over. Looking around, he grasped the size of the room.

‘Around a quarter should do,’

He took out something from the spatial ring, a palm-sized turtle shell, green.

It was the same type as the turtle shell from before, Xiao Mei turned, looking at it with interest. An Shan palm made an open gesture, suddenly enlarging the small shell. Seeing this, Xiao Mei’s eyes widened. The shell kept getting bigger, finally stopping as it almost reached one end of the room to another.

“Turtle’s becomes bigger!”

“Shut it, people still sleeping!”

It was now the size of an elephant, filling half of her large room. Looking at it carefully, it was similar to the turtle shell under the ancestral hall. Oblivious to her, it was the same. An Shan just adjusted the size.

He wanted to sleep, and what better sleeping chamber than the legendary turtle shell of the Black Turtle Imperial Clan?

Before entering, he tapped the floor here and there. Sending his energy throughout the whole room, he made sure to prepare for his own safety, drawing some invisible lines and characters. It took him a few minutes.

Finally done, he put his feet into the turtle shell, then slid all his body in. With his mere head outside, he turned to Xiao Mei, almost forgetting something.

“Hm, Mei-er, I’m going to sleep. While I’m sleeping, stand guard. This is your mission, absolutely no one should get in, you hear?”

“Ah, y-yes, ancestor!”

“If you fail this mission, I’ll spank you till your butt comes off,”

“An-ancestor! That’s too much too cruel…!”

“You think so? Well, good. Then accomplish your mission! Guard your room like your life’s on the line!”

“More like my butt’s on the line… Awwright,”

“You don’t sound convincing, perhaps some motivation—”

“N-no! Even if it’s a great villain, I won’t let him in!”

“Un, now excuse your ancestor. He needed much rest,”

In front of the Ancestral Hall, a middle-aged man in golden robe was turning left and right, nibbling his finger. He was Patriarch An Hong, growing restless as time went by.

It had been two hours since, yet they still could not find her. With the Grand Elders’ keen eyes, they found faint traces of her stepping into the hall, yet it stopped just in front of the altar. There was no trace of her going out, which was weird. She could not fly yet, not even with the help of artifacts. Merely in Purification Stage, she was way too much of a greenhorn to use Qi to fly.

So how come there were traces of her going in, yet none going out?

Did that mean, someone took her out by flying… Impossible! If there was anyone else, they ought to detect him or her just then. If it was outsiders, even Soul-Titans could not get in without alerting them or triggering the formations. Hm, what if it was one of the ancestors? Well, if any of the ancestors awakened, the Grand Elders’ token would have vibrated, informing them.

There was no reaction whatsoever, and all the isolation chambers had no sign of recent activity.

Thus, another theory arose. While the Grand Elders were responsible for security of the Ancestral Hall, there were still things unknown to them, such as the location of Soul Artifacts or details of Top-tier Formations. Such top-secret information was only available to the ancestors, even Patriarch himself was left in the dark.

This huge Ancestral Hall was made during the founding of the sect, thus there was no doubt there existed secret passages and mechanisms which eluded them. Going with that thought, they kept searching the front of the altar, the place the last of her steps could be found.

Still, nothing.

“Mei-er, Mei-er… Must you make your daddy like this? Maybe I should just send you away as a bride even earlier… Ahh, whatever clan received you, I pity—”

“…Patriarch,”

A Grand Elder stopped his mumbling. The elderly grandpa, with white hair and beard, had thick robe of white on. The smell of medicines seemed latched on him.

“Oh, Lord Jia, how goes?”

“Couldn’t find other clues, this is weird. Perhaps she had gone outside while we’re searching?”

“How could she? Is that even possible?”

“It is possible, considering the hall still has secrets we don’t quite understand. Perhaps,”

“…She stumbled upon a hidden passage, either trapped or…”

“Or already came out. It’s just a conjecture. But—”

“I understand, I will go out and search the surroundings. Could you please take over my position in the meantime?”

“No problem, Patriarch, no problem…”

Patriarch An Hong flew up into the sky.

Using his spirit search, he scanned the whole surrounding areas. However, nothing. Then an idea came to him. If Xiao Mei came out already, where would she be? Hm, there would be two likely places.

“To Ling Shuren, or her room?”

Could it possibly be so easy? Then again, he ought to exhaust all possibilities, so he flew to the main mountain, just next to the peak where Ancestral Hall was.

The main mountain of Absolute Aegis was high enough to have snow on its peak all the time. Barely before it, stood the palace of the Patriarch. With walls all over and pavilions here and there, it covered a huge area, with elevated mountain peak at its back. It housed not only the family of the Patriarch, but also all the five founding clans, including the An Clan.

As Patriarch An Hong hovered near, he used his spirit search. As the Patriarch, the formation within the palace would not hinder him scanning the inside. While he did, he focused his attention on his naughty daughter’s room. He was not hopeful at all, merely thinking he would explain to the elders he did search – Hm? He staggered.

In his vision, he could clearly see his daughter’s Qi within her silhouette, wrapped in thick blanket right in front of her room. Her head was knocking left and right. Clearly, she was dozing off.

…

He froze.

‘Your sister! So easy to find?! Where were the build-up, conflict, climax? This should be rejected!’

He questioned the logic behind this!

Still, thinking of the heartaches and weak legs he had from her stealing the ancestral token, even trespassing ancestral hall, the cold air around his head steamed. In his vision, he could even see drool coming down from her mouth. That girl was clearly too relaxed!

No restlessness, no guilt whatsoever!

“An, Xiao, Mei!”

He shouted as he flew down into the palace.

By the stairs next to the courtyard, filled with blooming pink flowers, a heartwarming scene unfolded. It was a touching scene of love between a father with his beloved daughter…

Being disciplined.

Pak!

“Naaah!”

Pak!

“Uwaahh!”

Pak!

“Gobu!”

The sound of spanking and shouting pervaded the area. They were so loud, the maids woke up from their sleep ahead of schedule. They, along with the surrounding guards, gathered around the area. They came, due to curiosity. All stayed, due to the scene.

A childish voice protested such an intimate show of love;

“Stop! This! Is! Domestic! Violence! Naaahhh—”

“You sure know difficult words!”

“My late! Mother! Taught! Me! Uwaah—”

“How dare you! Your mother’s still alive and kicking! She’s just out for business!”

A stronger Pak sound came out. That one hand kept moving, while the two mouths kept blathering. Clearly, this father and daughter pair was really close. They could exchange conversation so smoothly. Em, communication between a parent and a child at its best. What an example.

“She’s running late! So I called mother late mother!”

“You sure know how to spin words, take this first prize!”

“Naaahhhh!”

Xiao Mei could only lament her fate. Stripped to her undies, her father continued to spank her butt. It was swelling so much, she thought at this rate, she really would have her wish fulfilled sooner than expected.

She would have an even perkier butt than Aunt Su Min!

“I really should not wish so— Naaahh!”

Ah, that enviable butt…

…

“Ha, ha, ha…”

Slivers of sunlight appeared in the dark sky.

Patriarch An Hong breathed heavy, vapor came out from his mouth. He had indeed controlled his strength, yet for some reason, it was tiring. For a Peak Heavenly-Stars Cultivator to be so tired dealing with a mere Purification Stage brat, it was truly bizarre. As for Xiao Mei, her tongue was out, her eyes rolled up, her butt swelled up.

Spanking this little twerp for so long, there were so many eyes witnessing. The Patriarch finally noticed the maids and guards, even some of his own relatives there. His eyes sharp, he was clearly not in a mood for conversation. Seeing him, everyone dismissed themselves from the scene;

“Aiya, forgot my work,”

“Y-yeah, let’s go… Busy, busy!”

“Ah, prepare breakfast, breakfast!”

Within a few seconds, the whole area was devoid of people. The two were left alone. Seeing his little daughter, unconscious with her tongue out, his anger subsided. He truly vented his anger out this time. Fortunately, he did not crush her bones.

This little brat really had tough bones!

He really took his time punishing her. Fortunately, he did not forget to send messages to the four Grand Elders, informing them that the culprit had been captured. Remembering Ancestral Hall, he finally remembered something. Sending his Qi into her, he pulled her from the side of the yellow river, back to the world of living.

Being held on air, she wiggled, opening her eyes. For awhile, she dozed off before realizing;

“…Ah, I’m alive!”

“Yes, fuck my life,”

“V-villain, you’re still here!”

“Who’re you calling villain?! Now give me back the ancestral token,”

“…Eh, eh,”

“What are you eh-ing for? Just give it to me. I’ll get it back sooner or later,”

“I don’t have it!”

“Oh, the spanking’s not enough…”

“Wait, I really don’t have it— Naahhh!”

After a few more rounds, he finally stopped when her tongue was out.

Seeing she was really stubborn, he checked over her clothes. Turning her upside down, shaking and waving… Still, there was no trace of the ancestral token.

“So it’s not on you… What a headache, where did you hide it?”

“…I didn’t hide it!”

“Oh, in your room?”

“No, not in my room! Definitely not! Nuh-uh!”

“Appreciate the confirmation,”

“Gubu?!”

Patriarch An Hong dropped her to the ground. He turned to the back, going towards her room. Yet weirdly, something was dragging his lower robe. It was Xiao Mei, holding his robe so desperately. Tears in her eyes, as if she was facing injustice.

“You, let go!”

“…Dad! You’re trespassing a maiden’s sacred territory! You’re a great villain wannabe?!”

“How come you only know difficult words during this kind of time! Let go!”

“No, I don’t wanna lose my butt!”

“Now you’re not making sense!”

Of course, no matter how desperate Xiao Mei held her father back, it was impossible afterall. With him dragging her along, he slid open her room’s door.

“Ahh, my butt… Uwahh,”

Xiao Mei wailed, as if her life was about to end. The Patriarch ignored her, knowing she made no sense 90% of the time. The room was dark, and as he stepped forward, he sensed a formation. A simple formation, yet enough to jolt him. The door at his back shut close, stunning him.

“What the…?”

Light now filled the room. He turned to look.

As he did, his eyes widened. A majestic looking turtle shell the size of an elephant was in front. It was shining green, sparkling. In an instant, he could feel the abundant life force his eyes conveyed. His blood flowed, pumping life force all over. It was so high, he recalled seeing an uncovered maiden up close for the first time, years back. An uncovered beauty, with the right curves and jade-white skin… Twins mounts, up and down…

Ah, the great first discovery!

He trembled, and for a while, could not muster any words.

“This, this, this turtle shell… It’s a peak high-level treasure! No, grand-level treasure even! Mei-er, be honest now, where did you steal this?!”

He slid towards the turtle shell, placing his hands and cheek on it, rubbing it all over. Hearing his question, Xiao Mei felt like her honor was challenged.

“Muh, what do you mean I steal this? I never stole nothing! Nuh-uh!”

“Oh yeah? Then what do you call taking ancestral token from my study?”

“It’s borrowing! Borrowing! You’re my dad, don’t be such a dried-up squid!”

“Who you’re calling a dried-up squid?!”

“Aaahhhh, villain! Villain!”

He had his hands pinching her cheeks, hard. In response, she cried out loud. The father and daughter pair was so lively, making so much noise this early morning…

“…So loud! Shut it!”

A voice reverberated inside the room, coming from the turtle shell. As it did, the pair froze. Silent, their eyes fell onto the turtle shell.

…

For awhile, time seemed frozen.

They blinked.

From it, a head came out!

Chapter 7: Like Father, Like Daughter