Chapter 311

Chapter 311: Bald Little Lu Chao

This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation

“Hahaha, look at this! Whose kid is this? Their hair is completely burnt off!”

“This is hilarious! Face all black, clothes in tatters, holding a milk bottle… The only thing white on them are their eyes! Hahahaha!” Lu Zheng Yue, who had matured quickly due to the past battles and plagues, finally found himself at ease, his youthful nature resurfacing.

Pointing at the doorway where Lu Chao Chao stood, he laughed so hard he nearly bent over.

But mid-laugh—

Lu Chao Chao tilted her head up and crisply called out, “Second Brother.”

“Hahaha—hic!” Lu Zheng Yue’s laughter came to an abrupt halt.

His expression froze.

Mouth agape, he stared at her in shock.

The laughter disappeared completely.

“You-you-you…” He pointed at her, utterly speechless.

Wen Ning shoved him aside, glaring fiercely before scooping Lu Chao Chao into her arms with distress. “You’re still laughing?! Look at Chao Chao! She was out all night, and you wouldn’t even let me search for her! Are you even her Second Brother?!” Wen Ning’s voice carried anger and concern.

Seeing Lu Chao Chao’s pitiful state, Wen Ning’s eyes brimmed with tears.

“Oh, my dear Chao Chao, who bullied you? Tell Sister Ning, I’ll get revenge for you! That wretched scoundrel, what did they do to you? Even burned off all your hair!” Wen Ning stomped her foot in fury. It had taken three years to grow two small pigtails on Lu Chao Chao.

Now, those pigtails were nothing but charred curls, emitting a burnt smell. They couldn’t even be tied up anymore.

Her clothes were mere strips of fabric now, making her look even more pitiful.

Lu Chao Chao blinked innocently. “Fought… fought with a big meanie.”

Wen Ning wiped her little face repeatedly, revealing patches of fair skin beneath the soot.

Now, her face was half black, half white…

Which made her look even funnier.

“Pfft—” Lu Zheng Yue couldn’t hold back and let out another chuckle.

Wen Ning shot him a death glare. “Lu Zheng Yue, do you have a death wish today?!”

Lu Zheng Yue quickly waved his hands. “A-Ning, you misunderstood. I… I…”

After a long struggle, he finally blurted, “A-Ning, don’t pity her! She doesn’t deserve pity…”

She fought a heavenly entity while sucking on a milk bottle—how can you pity her?!

Wen Ning’s eyes turned red with anger.

“Not worth pitying? How can you say that?! Chao Chao is only three years old!!” Her disbelief was evident.

“She’s so delicate! Her tiny hands can barely hold a milk bottle! How can you say such a thing?!” Wen Ning was furious, but Lu Zheng Yue’s expression turned even stranger.

“Delicate?”

“Only able to hold a milk bottle? Don’t be fooled by her appearance.” His face was twisted in grievance as he turned to Wen Ning.

She wielded a sword and dared to stab the sky itself—how can you call her delicate?!

Wen Ning kicked him. “Ignore your brother; he’s heartless.”

Lu Zheng Yue: I’m wronged, but I can’t explain!

Not that anyone would believe him.

Wen Ning would probably think he had lost his mind.

Carrying Lu Chao Chao inside, Wen Ning instructed the maids, “Bring a tub of hot water and some fresh clothes for a little girl.” After a pause, she added, “And a pair of scissors. I’ll see if her hair can be salvaged…”

Lu Chao Chao’s hair was beyond hope.

It looked like a dog had chewed it.

No, even worse than that.

“Chao Chao, who was so vicious to burn your hair?! I’m going to find their parents and hold them accountable! Look at your clothes! Your hair…” Wen Ning was beside herself with rage.

Hair was a girl’s second face!

Lu Chao Chao looked like a burnt rice ball.

“Parents? He doesn’t have any. No father, no mother,” Lu Chao Chao waved dismissively, completely unconcerned.

Wen Ning paused, her tone softening. “He’s an orphan?”

Lu Chao Chao nodded. “More or less.” No father, no mother, birthed by the heavens—wasn’t the Heavenly Dao itself an orphan?

Wen Ning sighed. “That is pitiful. No wonder he didn’t hold back.”

“It’s fine. He cried louder than me. Looked even more miserable. I didn’t lose…” Though, it wasn’t exactly a win either.

Lu Chao Chao sat in the wooden tub, while Wen Ning changed the water three times before she was finally clean.

But her hair… there was no saving it.

Wen Ning sighed repeatedly and carefully said, “Chao Chao… do you know that if you shave your head a few times while young, your hair will grow back soft and smooth? How about I shave it for you?”

Lu Chao Chao fell silent.

Outside, thunder roared, rain poured relentlessly.

The little one pursed her lips, eyes red, and nodded.

When she walked out of the room, she had become a bald little monk.

Yet, her round face, big eyes, and innocent expression made her look even cuter than before.

Lu Zheng Yue!!!

He shut his mouth tightly, daring not to laugh, and forced a serious expression. “It’s… quite unique…” he muttered, let out two dry chuckles, and ran away immediately.

Outside, his hearty laughter echoed.

Lu Chao Chao ground her teeth. “Stupid Second Brother! So annoying!”

“Ignore him. Your Second Brother must be too tired,” Wen Ning consoled.

Rong Che glanced at Lu Chao Chao… then glanced again.

“In all my years in Desolate City, this is the first time I’ve seen such a torrential rainstorm,” he remarked, frowning at the sudden downpour.

“Indeed. The wind outside sounds like weeping—gives me chills.”

“You know, many people in the city claimed to hear crying last night. But when they went to check, no one was there. Could it be a ghost?” The group whispered among themselves.

Lu Chao Chao listened closely.

Sure enough, faint sobbing mingled with the rain and wind.

Oh? Wasn’t that the Heavenly Dao crying again?

Serves you right!

“How’s the plague in the city? Are the people recovering?” Lu Zheng Yue asked.

The Imperial Physician smiled. “They’re recovering well. After the divine light shone upon them, the decay receded, and their skin turned rosy again. Thanks to Second Young Master Lu stabilizing morale, the city avoided catastrophe.”

“The Eastern Ling Emperor ordered the massacre of the city, forcing citizens to flee with whatever valuables they had. The scattered riches spread the plague beyond control.”

“Now, it has reached the Eastern Ling capital.”

“It is said someone gifted the palace lamp oil from the underground palace to the young emperor. He used it for lighting and got infected. Now, he is gravely ill.”

The young emperor of Eastern Ling—last year’s arrogant little crown prince.

“If he dies, only the hostage prince Xuan Ji Chuan remains as an heir.”

“Eastern Ling has already sent for Xuan Ji Chuan to return and inherit the throne.”

The group sighed and turned their eyes to the bald little Lu Chao Chao.

Xuan Ji Chuan had always been her little follower.

…

The rain poured for three days and nights.

Desolate City had never seen such a storm, and water began to accumulate. The initial excitement among the people turned into worry.

“If this rain doesn’t stop soon, it’ll be a disaster.”

“Some low-lying areas are already flooded.”

Lu Zheng Yue had the city officials prepare for evacuations while patrolling with his men.

That night, Lu Chao Chao tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

She had heard that Desolate City’s roasted meat was legendary, but the rain had put her in a sour mood.

Dressed in her inner robes, barefoot, she angrily pushed open the window.

“Cry, cry, cry! Haven’t you cried enough?!”

“If you keep crying, I’ll cut you down with my sword! So annoying!”

The torrential rain—

Suddenly stopped.