Dong Suzhu chuckled at this. "Yang Xiao, that's a fine name — and it shares a surname with my son."
Yang Xiao looked surprised. "Your son's surname is Yang too?"
"That's right. My son's name is Yang Kai, and he's the master of this Lingxiao Palace. Since you're a Disciple here, you should know that, shouldn't you?" Dong Suzhu introduced him with undisguised pride. Although she complained about Yang Kai every time she saw him, deep down she was immensely proud of him. He had come to the Star Boundary alone and built Lingxiao Palace into such a massive enterprise, then returned to the Hengluo Star Field to bring back a whole group of people, providing shelter for a hundred thousand. Such an achievement — one could hardly say there would never be his equal, but there had certainly never been his predecessor.
Yang Xiao's jaw dropped so wide he could have fit an entire egg in his mouth.
What? Had he heard correctly? This woman was his adoptive father's mother? If it had just been a coincidence of names, that would have been one thing, but how many masters could Lingxiao Palace possibly have?
No wonder that demoness of a woman had been so polite to this lady. That explained everything.
"What's wrong?" Dong Suzhu noticed the shift in his expression and studied him curiously, sensing that something was off with the little fatty.
Yang Xiao quickly straightened his robes, wiped his face in a hasty gesture, took several steps back, and bowed to Dong Suzhu with utmost respect. "Your grandson Yang Xiao greets his grandmother!"
This time it was Dong Suzhu who was stunned. Even Yang Xue, who had been standing off to the side, blinked her wide eyes and looked Yang Xiao over with undisguised astonishment.
After a long moment, Dong Suzhu finally burst into laughter and ruffled Yang Xiao's hair. "What nonsense are you spouting, little one?"
Yang Xiao shook his head with a solemn expression. "I'm not spouting nonsense. You truly are my grandmother. The master of Lingxiao Palace you just mentioned — that's my father."
Dong Suzhu's smile froze. Her expression twitched slightly. Yang Xue also put on a look of shock — the girl was young, but her mind was razor-sharp, and there was no way she didn't grasp the implications of those words.
"What's going on here?" Dong Suzhu turned to Liu Yan, sending a secret transmission through her divine sense. "Is what he says true?"
Her own son actually had a son — and she didn't even know about it. In that instant, Dong Suzhu was practically fuming, but she couldn't let it show in front of Yang Xiao. She could only ask Liu Yan privately.
"The Master said he's his adopted son," Liu Yan replied. "He also brought him back from outside this time."
"Adopted son?" Dong Suzhu breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. "You gave me a fright. I thought he'd gotten involved with someone out there…"
Granted, Dong Suzhu would have been happy for Yang Kai to take a few more wives and give her a few more grandchildren, but the four at home still hadn't produced any. If he'd really fathered a child outside, those four women back home would have thrown everything into chaos.
An adopted son? Well, that was perfectly fine then.
As if suddenly remembering something, Dong Suzhu spun around and dashed into the stilt house, vanishing from sight.
Yang Xiao stared after her in confusion. Only three small figures remained behind, looking at one another.
After what had just happened, Yang Xiao was terrified of Liu Yan, so he could only turn to Yang Xue, putting on an ingratiating smile.
Yang Xue placed one hand on her hip and spoke in her childish voice: "You're Big Brother's son?"
"Big… Big Brother?" Yang Xiao blinked in surprise, then it clicked. "Oh, you must be adoptive father's sister?"
"Hmph hmph." Yang Xue made a pair of delicate snorting sounds through her nose. "If you're Big Brother's son, and I'm his little sister, then what should you call me?"
"What should I call you?" Yang Xiao looked utterly blank.
"How should I know what you should call me? Just call me something! And make it something nice — there might be a reward for you." Yang Xue's big eyes glinted with light.
Yang Xiao felt his face twitch. He was starting to think that no one in Lingxiao Palace who was roughly his age was remotely normal. Liu Yan was like that, and now this girl who was his adoptive father's sister turned out to be the same. Just as this thought crossed his mind, he suddenly felt a wave of heat wash over his face. He looked up to find a fire serpent hovering right in front of him, gazing at him in silence.
"You're trying to burn me again!" Yang Xiao yelped in alarm.
Liu Yan walked toward him step by step, a sweet smile gracing her face, her voice impossibly gentle: "Think carefully. What should you call her?"
Yang Xiao scratched his head and ears frantically, casting a desperate look toward the stilt house. Unfortunately, Grandmother had gone inside for who knew what reason and still hadn't come back out. He considered fleeing, but knew he couldn't escape Liu Yan's clutches. He had no choice but to rack his brains.
Finally, inspiration struck. His eyes lit up as he looked at Yang Xue with excitement. "Aunt!"
Yang Xue blinked her big eyes and turned her head toward Liu Yan.
Liu Yan gave a slight nod, confirming he had gotten it right.
Yang Xue immediately clapped her hands. "Haha, correct answer! So, what reward do you want?"
Yang Xiao answered weakly. "I don't want any reward." All I want is to get back to adoptive father's side. The outside world is far too dangerous — where are you, adoptive father?
"That won't do!" Yang Xue shook her little head, her two braids swinging back and forth. She tilted her head in thought for a moment, then walked up to Yang Xiao, stood on her tiptoes, reached out her small hand, and patted his head, all while murmuring in her sweet little voice: "Yang Xiao is a good boy. Yang Xiao is a good boy. Yang Xiao is the best boy."
Yang Xiao watched her with a twitching mouth. This girl standing in front of him wasn't even as tall as he was, yet she dared to pat his head. He was a dragon, after all! Who dares touch a dragon's head? But then again, she was his adoptive father's sister, and his generation was indeed a notch below hers. He could only resign himself to his fate and forced a bitter smile. "So this is my reward?"
Yang Xue nodded earnestly. "Yes! Mama always rewards Xue'er like this."
"Heh heh…" Yang Xiao was being tormented to the point of losing all his temper. "Aunt, you're really easy to please."
Yang Xue huffed and declared indignantly, "You should be the one who's happy!"