“Heh heh...” Robert Carter rolled his eyes at his own son. “If you had any ambition at all, even if you were just a Warrior now, you could move this all by yourself without breaking a sweat, oh great Junior Martial Disciple.”

Brian Carter felt like he was suffocating, his face bitter. “Dad, I have my pride too.”

“...A Junior Martial Disciple after five years of training still wants to save face, do you even have any shame...”

Robert Carter snorted in disdain. “So, what are you here for? Let me be clear, I have no money! If you want money, go ask your mom.”

Brian Carter looked aggrieved. “I just wanted to help you out... watch the shop for a bit.”

Robert Carter snorted again. “No need for help... The day after tomorrow, school starts. Oh great Martial Disciple, you’re still stuck in the Martial Disciple class, standing out like a crane among chickens. I’m really proud of you.”

Brian Carter looked like he was about to cough up blood.

This was his sore spot. Most Martial Disciples were eight, nine, or ten years old, but Brian Carter was already seventeen and still stuck in the Martial Disciple class, having repeated for five years. He was already a big joke.

Standing out like a crane among chickens was true—Brian Carter was not only the oldest, but also the tallest. Even the tallest classmate only reached his shoulder... It was just too embarrassing.

A few shop owners who were helping out nearby burst into laughter.

One of them encouraged, “I think Xiaoduo is a late bloomer, he’ll definitely graduate! Xiaoduo, don’t you think so?”

Brian Carter felt his blood bar was empty, too exhausted to retort, and said weakly, “I just finished moving a whole truckload of goods... Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone just took a break... sigh.”

Amid the laughter, everyone dispersed.

Robert Carter had a great temperament and almost never got angry. Brian Carter could also take a joke, so everyone got along well. Jokes were jokes, but the shop owners actually felt quite sorry that Brian Carter couldn’t cultivate.

They’d watched this kid grow up, just like their own children.

Even though they laughed, a few of the shop owners sighed inwardly, “Such a good kid, why can’t he cultivate?”

“Exactly. Just now, when unloading, Xiaoduo insisted on carrying more and wouldn’t let us or his dad lift the heavy stuff, but didn’t say a word about it... Sigh, my own boy can’t cultivate either, but where does he have this kind of heart? If he were this considerate, even if he still couldn’t cultivate, I’d be over the moon.”

“That’s true. Let’s all think of something, maybe look for some folk remedies in private.”

“Such a pity for this kid—so filial, honest, hardworking, and enduring. Heaven must be blind...”

...

Robert Carter glanced sideways at his son. “Filial... fine, but with your calculating nature, how did you ever get this reputation for being honest, simple, hardworking, and enduring?”

Brian Carter pulled a long face. “Dad, I’m your own son...”

“If you don’t spit it out, get lost. Would you come help me for no reason?” Robert Carter knew his son’s tricks all too well and looked at him with disgust. “Speak, what do you want?”

“Ahem... I just want to take a piece of Star Soul Jade... ahem. Palm-sized is fine, bigger is better, and if it’s as big as the tabletop and sky-blue, that would be perfect...” Brian Carter grinned, fawning as he circled behind his dad and started massaging his shoulders.

Smack!

Picking up a piece, Robert Carter hesitated for a moment, then put it down, and simply slapped a piece of radiant Star Soul Jade on the table. “Take it and go!” As the owner of a Star Soul Stone shop, he was never short of polished Star Soul Jade. And the quality was excellent.

Top grade!

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your generous gift!”

Brian Carter snatched it up in a flash, his face beaming with joy. “Your son takes his leave.”

“Get lost!”

...

Fine, I’ll get lost.

Everything was ready.

“Dad, call me next time you unload the truck, don’t do it alone.”

Brian Carter called out.

Robert Carter was stunned for a moment, then the corners of his mouth unconsciously curled into a smile as he scolded, “Like I need you. Get lost!”

Watching his son’s back, Robert Carter shook his head.

Looks like Xiaonian gave him money again... Fine, I’ll bet on him one more time, the last time!

Then he couldn’t help but laugh at himself.

How many ‘last times’ has it been now?

“Sigh, I owe him. They say children are the creditors from your past life...” Robert Carter shook his head and muttered, “Creditor... so be it...”

Brian Carter happily carried the perfectly cut round white jade, the Star Soul Jade tucked in his arms, and triumphantly headed home.

All set!

Chapter Four: The Aspect of Heaven and Man

He walked all the way home.

Brian Carter was even a little excited.

Dad was so generous today, so generous it was hard to believe. The shop’s treasure, the Star Soul Jade, was just handed over like that, and with such an impatient look...

For a moment, a feeling of fatherly love as deep as a mountain, silent yet overwhelming, surged around Brian Carter.

Hmph... Dad, I know you love me!

“Even though you don’t say it, your son knows; when I make money, I’ll get you a new wife; however many you want, just say the word, one’s too few, ten’s not too many; I’ll find a hundred or eighty, work hard to build up the family; each one earns a thousand, that’s over a hundred thousand a month; do it for decades, all for Brian Carter...” Brian Carter hummed a tune, swaggering all the way home.