The Extreme Alchemist of the Mighty Cauldron

Chapter 1540: Chapter 1638: Dugu Chongxiao

“Damn brat, how dare you be disrespectful to Master Fang!” The middle-aged man, upon seeing the feeble child raise a stone at Fang Lin, instantly cursed and raised his hand to slap the child once more.

Fang Lin waved his hand, stopping the man’s action. The middle-aged man’s face showed a sullen expression, his features twisted into an awkward grimace.

“Kid, what’s your name?” Fang Lin squatted down, his gaze calm as he watched the child, unafraid that the ruthless little thing might suddenly hurl the stone straight at his forehead.

Faced with Fang Lin’s question, the child remained silent, his eyes brimming with wariness, the stone in his hand not once lowering.

Fang Lin smiled lightly. “It’s okay if you don’t want to say, but why didn’t you tell them that it was those three kids who bullied you first, that’s why you threw the stone at them?”

The relatives of those three kids stood by; one of the women cautiously said, “Master Fang, my Er Huzi is very well-behaved. How could he bully this little bastard?”

The chubby boy’s father also chimed in hastily: “That’s right, that’s right, these kids are usually very obedient and sensible, they wouldn’t bully him. It must be that little bastard who’s to blame.”

Fang Lin frowned. “Bastard, bastard, you keep saying. Isn’t he a child of the Dugu Family?”

The chubby boy’s father sidled closer and said, “Master Fang might not know, but though this kid’s dad was a member of the Dugu Family, nobody knows who his mother is. Moreover, his father was also frowned upon in the Dugu Family, just like this kid, born to be trouble.”

“How dare you speak of my dad!” Unexpectedly, the weak child suddenly roared in anger, hurling the stone in his hand towards the chubby child’s father.

The father, though only modestly skilled in Martial Arts, easily blocked the stone with his hand, sneering at the frail child.

“See, Master Fang? This little bastard dares to attack even us elders. What will become of him when he grows up?” the chubby boy’s father said.

Fang Lin paid them no heed, instead, he turned to look at the weak child who was so angry that his face turned scarlet red and asked, “Where’s your dad?”

“My dad’s dead!” The frail child said coldly.

Fang Lin was taken aback, “How did he die?”

The frail child bit his lip and wiped his face with a hand, making it obvious to Fang Lin that the boy was trying to erase the tears he couldn’t help but shed, not wanting anyone to see him cry.

“My dad was killed by a group of Monks two years ago.” The child said through clenched teeth, his face filled with hatred, but showing little grief.

Fang Lin fell silent; it seems the child’s father died in the great war between territories. It’s not surprising, given that the flames of war touched the Nine Countries, and many from the Dugu Family perished, including this frail child’s father, presumably.

“Why doesn’t the Dugu Family treat him properly if his father was killed by people from the three sect?” Fang Lin asked the people present in a challenging tone.

No one answered; they were at a loss for words, not knowing what to say, making the atmosphere even more awkward.

“I saw everything clearly from outside the courtyard just now; those three were bullying him, and he couldn’t take it anymore and struck out.” Fang Lin said indifferently, and the three kids didn’t dare utter a word, silent as cicadas in winter.

The elders of the three kids looked at each other, seemingly thinking that their children bullying a child without parents was nothing serious.

“Master Fang, you’ve gone too far. It’s just kids squabbling.” The chubby boy’s father said, his face feigning innocence.

Fang Lin gave him a disdainful glance, and the latter quickly shut up, not daring to speak further.

“Three against one, and still got beat to a bloody head. It doesn’t look like they will amount to much in the future. Calling others waste and bastards, I think these three are the real waste.” Fang Lin stated bluntly.

The elders of those three children naturally did not take kindly to these words. After all, their own children were always the apple of their eyes. What did that little bastard matter?

“Master Fang, we call you a master out of respect, but don’t you think your words were a bit too discourteous?” the middle-aged man said with a frown, his gaze towards Fang Lin carrying a hint of dissatisfaction.

Fang Lin didn’t even glance at him, instead, he continued to look at the frail child and asked, “Come with me, I’ll take you to meet someone.”

“Who?” the frail child was still full of wariness.

Fang Lin smiled, “Dugu Fengyun.”

···

Inside the grand hall, Dugu Fengyun came out looking confused, and his expression grew even more puzzled when he saw the people inside.

“What’s going on?” Dugu Fengyun looked towards Fang Lin.

Before Fang Lin could speak, the elders of the three children, including the middle-aged man, bowed respectfully to Dugu Fengyun, their faces filled with reverence.

These few individuals did not hold a high position in the Dugu Family, belonging to a collateral branch. Normally, it was very difficult for them to see the Family Head Dugu Fengyun, let alone step into this grand hall. This place was reserved for the direct descendants and high-ranking members of the Dugu Family. Except for the middle-aged man who had been fortunate enough to come here once or twice, the elders of the three children had never stepped foot inside.

Fang Lin pulled the frail child to the front, and the child looked up at Dugu Fengyun, his face carrying a touch of bewilderment.

After all, he was too young, very unfamiliar with Dugu Fengyun, the Family Head; he had always thought of him as a distant figure. But now, the old Family Head stood right in front of him, and naturally, the child felt somewhat out of place.

“Old Master, do you happen to know this child’s name?” Fang Lin patted the frail child’s head.

Dugu Fengyun grew even more puzzled upon hearing this and began to scrutinize the child standing in front of Fang Lin.

The child seemed a bit nervous, yet he did not show any sign of stage fright; instead, he met Dugu Fengyun’s gaze.

Dugu Fengyun shook his head; he did not know who this child was. Although he was the head of the Dugu Family, it was impossible to remember everyone clearly in such a large family.

Moreover, he had never seen this child before; there was no way he could know his name.

“This child has no mother, his father died in the great war between the two lands; he is the only one left. He has been bullied by members of his own clan, and someone even intended to break his limbs and throw him out of the family to die. Old Master, what do you think should be done about this matter?” Fang Lin spoke in an indifferent tone.

Upon hearing this, Dugu Fengyun’s face immediately turned sour.

“Head, Head of the Family, please look, our three children have also been beaten bloody by this wild boy,” the father of the chubby child stammered.

Fang Lin curled his lip and said, “So, it’s only your children who are allowed to bully others, and others can’t fight back? How’s that? Is this child lower than your three children? With the same Dugu surname, where does this distinction between noble and lowly come from?”

Right after that, Fang Lin said to the child, “Tell the Old Family Head, what’s your name?”

The child took a deep breath, his voice strong and clear, “My name is Dugu Chongxiao.”

Fang Lin grinned, ruffling the child’s hair, “A good name. If one day you have the ambition to soar above the clouds, you shall be like the dragon that seeks to ascend from the abyss.”

ps: Third update here; continuing to type. Remember to cast your votes!

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