Invincible Dad

Chapter 872: No Winners in War

Chapter 872: Chapter 872: No Winners in War Taotie’s eyes showed contemplation.

Xu Lai helplessly said, "Don’t overthink it, your brain will never figure it out."

Taotie chuckled, not feeling offended at all, and confidently nodded:

"After all, I’m not like Divine General Baize, I don’t have any ’strategist’ attributes."

After spending quite some time on Earth, and given that Liu Wan also likes playing games, Taotie has become proficient in using Earth’s language.

"The key is you can’t beat Baize in a fight either."

Xu Lai shrugged. Otherwise, how would Taotie have earned the title of the number one reckless man in the Heavenly Court? Isn’t the number one war god in the Heavenly Court appealing enough?

"..." Taotie.

After hesitating for a while, he clasped his hands together and said, "Your Majesty, I shall return to the Immortal Domain first; the army cannot be without a general for a day."

"Go on, go on."

Xu Lai waved his hand.

Xu Yiyi sweetly said, "Goodbye, Uncle Taotie."

"Hehe."

Taotie gave a silly smile; the little princess was indeed adorable.

They played by the seaside the entire afternoon until sunset before heading home.

Then they saw a floor full of shopping bags and heard lively women’s chatter coming from the guest room on the first floor.

"Oh dear, my child has put on some weight, but how come you two haven’t changed at all? I can’t accept this!"

Xu Yaoyao’s voice filled with resentment echoed.

Xu Lai wasn’t intentionally eavesdropping. At his level, even if the door had been closed, let alone left ajar, the sounds would still echo clearly in his ears.

So he chose to turn off his sensory perceptions and divine sense.

Luo Chu’s giggling voice came from the room: "I’ve always told you to exercise more; staying home every day has turned you into a pig."

"Hah? Luo Chu, let me see if you’ve gotten fat too!"

"You’re a mom now, how can you still act so childish...ah!"

Ruan Tang was initially trying to mediate but ended up being pulled into the fray by the other two women.

The playful bickering among good friends soon ended.

When the three women came out of the guest room and saw Yiyi and Ping’an sitting on the sofa, quietly reading, they all froze.

"Xu Lai..."

Ruan Tang looked towards the kitchen.

Xu Lai, who was wearing an apron and cooking dinner, turned around and smiled timely: "Have them call their husbands and kids to join us for dinner at our place."

"...When did you get back?"

Ruan Tang rubbed her forehead; they hadn’t closed the door while fooling around earlier. They usually were quite strict with the kids and hardly allowed any mischief.

They hadn’t expected, in front of the kids, to reveal the childish side that enjoys playful bickering. It was quite embarrassing.

"When Aunt Yaoyao mentioned getting fatter."

Xu Yiyi raised her little hand and seriously commented, "Indeed, a bit chubbier. No wonder Liu Fan keeps saying Aunt Yaoyao needs to lose weight."

"..." Xu Yaoyao.

Liu Fan was her son, just a few months older than Xu Ping’an, still speaking in babbles; how would he know she needs to lose weight!

"Thud"

Ruan Tang said with a dark face, "One more word and you’ll copy your winter homework ten times."

"Isn’t ten times too cruel?" Luo Chu, watching for fun, chimed in.

"Not at all! Qian Xiao will help me write it anyway."

"..."

In just a couple of sentences, the smiles on the three women’s faces vanished simultaneously.

Xu Lai couldn’t help but rub his forehead.

He was gentle and calm.

Ruan Tang was gentle and virtuous.

Who does their daughter take after?

She used to be their sweet little ’Xiao Mian’ao.’

Xu Lai and Ruan Tang instinctively exchanged glances, both filled with questions.

Xu Lai shrugged, "Not me."

Ruan Tang raised her eyebrow, "So it’s me, huh?"

"...It’s me."

Under his wife’s deadly stare, Xu Lai took the blame and turned back to continue cooking.

The dinner was very lively.

Three women, three men, and five kids.

Of course.

Qian Xiao and Yiyi were already considered big kids.

The kids ate quickly and ran upstairs to play with toys, while the three women ate slowly and leisurely.

Xu Lai, Qian Song, and Liu Beiming drank, occasionally taking bites of the food.

"Not to be harsh, but you’re gone for over half a year on business trips."

After a toast, Liu Beiming looked at Xu Lai expressionlessly, though his thigh was being pinched hard by soft-white hands—Xu Yaoyao’s.

Clearly.

Her good friend couldn’t stand how Xu Lai disregarded his family for so long and used her husband’s mouth to chide him.

"Yes, my bad."

Xu Lai didn’t argue; he filled their glasses with a full cup of baijiu for himself and Liu Beiming.

The two cups clinked lightly.

Liu Beiming, looking tearful but helpless, glanced at his wife, Xu Yaoyao. His alcohol tolerance was so poor, he couldn’t even outdrink Xu Yaoyao...

He got his talking-to.

But the drink was still going down his throat!

"Honey, why are you looking at me, planning to sleep on the couch tonight?"

"We agreed, no takebacks!!!"

Liu Beiming, thrilled, downed his drink and even poured and downed another by himself.

Ruan Tang and Luo Chu smirked; Xu Yaoyao blushed deeply and gave her husband a hard kick under the table.

"Here, Liu bro, have some more grilled oysters." Xu Lai enthusiastically offered.

"This lamb is also a delicacy; I used to have a lot back in the day." Qian Song remarked.

"..."

This time, Luo Chu kicked under the table.

The meal continued until midnight.

Xu Lai listened to the drunken Liu Beiming, who chatted about work and stress with a mixture of frustration and excitement.

Yet, when he recalled how Hua Country’s medical skills reached the world’s peak in just a year, he weepingly bowed to Xu Lai time and again, calling him Mr. Xu with each bow.

Qian Song was drunk too.

He didn’t mention Chang’an City with every other word, but he silently poured one drink after another under the moonlight in the backyard. Only he knew who they were for.

Luo Chu lowered her gaze, gently biting her lip.

She knew who her husband was toasting to—those heroic souls buried in Chang’an who will never witness this era of peace again.

Centuries, even millennia of hatred between the two races, were almost extinguished in the decisive battle last year.

The Moon Clan lost.

But the Human Race didn’t win either.

There were no winners in war, only losers.

The former, current, and next generations of the Moon Clan’s elite died in battle, even the Royal Clan fell apart, burying all hope.

The remaining Moon Clan were like a herd without a leader, unable to pose any real threat to Earth, leaving Qian Song and Luo Chu with a sense of loss.

Their lifelong aspiration was in Chang’an; they thought they would die on the Moon together, but...

Until Xu Lai appeared.

The giant stone that weighed on Earth’s heart inexplicably crumbled away.

"Don’t drink anymore."

Ruan Tang gently grasped Xu Lai’s hand; her husband wasn’t the bottomless drinker he used to be, and tonight, he was a bit unsteady on his feet.

"Today is a happy day; a little more won’t hurt."

Hearing this, Ruan Tang didn’t press further.

Instead, she and Luo Chu and Xu Yaoyao headed upstairs to the guest rooms, leaving the dining room to the three men.

As the first golden rays of the new day spilled over the sea, Liu Beiming and Qian Song lay snoring on the floor and sofa, respectively.

Xu Lai, who had maintained his position all night, lifted his head, his eyes no longer hazy with alcohol but profoundly calm.

Li Shenhuang.

With the Eight Desolate Cauldron, left the Heavenly Court revealing his full aura.