The person who came was not someone else, but Zeng Haoyang, who had passed all the responsibilities to Gongsun Li.
Facing Zeng Haoyang, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, Lu Zixun still felt a bit nostalgic.
"Old man, why did you come over?"
He raised his paw and waved at Zeng Haoyang, then shuffled over to make room on the sofa for Zeng Haoyang to sit.
"It’s been a while, kiddo."
Sitting next to Lu Zixun, he naturally lifted his hand and rubbed Lu Zixun’s head, "I didn’t have much to do recently, so I came over for dinner."
Xiong Kang, who had taken out his phone to check messages and put it away disappointedly, set his eyes on Zeng Haoyang, "Elder Zeng, is Ninth Brother coming today?"
Sighing, Zeng Haoyang seemed a bit troubled, "Ever since Jiuri sent Yaya to her mother’s place, his days have been tough."
Lu Zixun, suddenly interested, looked up at Zeng Haoyang, his eyes full of curiosity.
"Yaya often pesters Rong’er asking why she can only be with mom or dad, insisting that being together as a family is the best."
Zeng Haoyang spread his hands, somewhat helpless, "Jiuri can’t handle these family issues either. He has to run around all the time. Forget about eating; I think even getting some rest is pretty good."
"After sorting out things in Lingchuan City, Ninth Brother will have more time to spend with Yaya."
As Xiong Kang was about to ask why his sister-in-law didn’t take care of it, he swallowed his words.
With Tang Rong’s personality, Long Ya always got whatever she wanted, spoiled to the extreme.
Let alone intervening, even scolding Long Ya a bit was something she couldn’t bear.
Lu Zixun, who laughed at the misfortune, suddenly thought about himself and what he would do if he had children in the future.
Suddenly, his face clouded over and he couldn’t laugh anymore.
"Okay, let’s not talk about this."
Shaking his head, Zeng Haoyang changed the subject, "The war in Crimson Land is intensifying. I heard that old Wang Duli is planning to enter Crimson Land around this time, so I specifically came to dissuade him."
Lu Zixun, raising an eyebrow, looked at Zeng Haoyang perplexed, "Old man, how did you know Elder Wang was going into the Crimson Land? I don’t remember telling you about it."
Only two people and a cat knew about this message.
Including just now with Xiong Kang, that makes only three people. It was strange that Zeng Haoyang knew about this.
"I just mentioned it."
Fearing Lu Zixun might get the wrong idea, Xiong Kang quickly spoke up.
Lu Zixun rolled his eyes at Xiong Kang and pursed his lips, thinking there was another mole around.
During dinner, amidst all the toasts, Zeng Haoyang still couldn’t persuade Wang Duli.
To ensure Lingchuan City was free of future threats, Wang Duli insisted on breaking through to the S-level during this period.
Unable to add more, Zeng Haoyang raised his glass, said cheers, and drank it all.
Xiong Kang, with a somewhat blurry gaze, and Lu Zixun sat side by side on the rooftop, looking up at the starry sky and sighed deeply.
"What are you thinking?"
Hearing the sigh, Lu Zixun turned his head and looked at Xiong Kang.
"Thinking about when we can completely drive the Insect Clan out."
Xiong Kang pursed his lips, his eyes filled with melancholy, "I really don’t want to go to the Crimson Land, but I must go there."
From Xiong Kang’s words, Lu Zixun was able to feel his inner conflict and instantly understood that this mindset was probably related to Guo Xin’er.
In front of romantic affection, Xiong Kang still chose the deeper sense of responsibility in his heart.
Grasping the beer bottle, he clinked it against Xiong Kang’s, Lu Zixun gazed at the moonlight peeking through the clouds and let out a long sigh.
He had been a cat for so long that he had forgotten he was human.
"Da Ju, let me tell you something."
Just when Lu Zixun was feeling melancholic, Xiong Kang suddenly sat upright.
Like a thief, he checked his surroundings and leaned into Lu Zixun’s ear, "Actually, you... can transform..."
Xiong Kang hadn’t finished speaking when he was interrupted by Lu Zixun.
Now feeling his head buzzing, Lu Zixun tilted his head helplessly, "Bro, give me a break. Elder Wang just told me about this yesterday and it had me upset all night without sleep."
"Alright, alright, my bad."
He raised his beer bottle and took a drink as self-punishment.
The next morning’s sun rose.
The faint light shone on the beer bottles and cans scattered all over the Emperor’s Rooftop, reflecting flickers in the light.
Blinking his eyelids, Lu Zixun opened his eyes, stood up, and his head throbbed a bit. Spiritual energy circulated through his body, and the discomfort faded away.
Seeing Xiong Kang beside him, Lu Zixun walked over and kicked him, with disdain in his eyes, "Get up, lazy bum, it’s time to get to work!"
Yesterday, Xiong Kang actually tried to outdrink him. Back in the day, the then-proclaimed "I won’t sway unless the snow sways" Lu Zixun, couldn’t withstand such provocation.
After rashly agreeing, he realized that Xiong Kang’s tolerance for alcohol was terrible.
Rubbing his eyes, the bewildered Xiong Kang sat up, exhaled a breath filled with the smell of alcohol and pressed his throbbing temples, "Who are you calling a lazy bum? Damn it, I was just in a bad mood yesterday, I was letting you win."
"Ding—Detected a justification from Xiong Kang of +11000."
Nodding continuously, Lu Zixun wore an expression of I-won’t-argue-with-a-fool—it completely infuriated Xiong Kang.
Early in the morning on the Emperor’s Rooftop, one would see a man constantly chasing a cat around, cursing all the way.
By this time, the two elders who had already awakened started playing chess in the room.
This matter, Lu Zixun and Wang Duli had tried, but even before they understood the rules, Wang Duli had scorned him.
"There is honey water in the kitchen—drink it, wash your face, then come join us."
Zeng Haoyang, after saying this in a light tone, calmly looked at the chessboard, a serious expression that Lu Zixun had never seen before.
"Cannon pin, impressive."
Wang Duli praised, his eyes reflecting a serious demeanor.
Looking at the two seriously focused individuals in the room, Lu Zixun and Xiong Kang exchanged glances, not daring to join this strange battle and hurried into the kitchen to take refuge.
The sound of chess moves from outside slowed down, just as both the man and the cat were about to fall asleep in the kitchen, they heard Zeng Haoyang’s laughter from the living room, "No way, Old Wang, you’re still one move short."
"Cut it out, shameless."
Looking disdainfully at Zeng Haoyang, Wang Duli said, "Using tactics in a chess game, you’ve got a filthy mind."
"Ah, you don’t know this,"
Shaking his head, Zeng Haoyang stroked his beard and said meaningfully, "Nowadays, the internet says a phrase, ’Those who play with tactics have dirty hearts’."