Chapter 93: Digging Up My Father’s Skull

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“Chief, this child is far too unruly. Should we send her to the village to be raised for a while?”

The village nestled halfway up the mountain belonged to the original inhabitants of Fufeng Mountain, a place isolated from the world and untouched by law. Outsiders often derided it as a haven for unruly and impoverished troublemakers.

“She’s just one year old. How unruly could she possibly be?”

“She’s simply ignorant,” Song Yu said gently as he wiped her tears. This child reminded him so much of his daughter.

Not that he thought too highly of himself, but could a one-year-old child truly cause such chaos? Surely, he could handle her.

“Also, make sure the villagers stop abducting people,” Song Yu added with a trace of disapproval. He didn’t care for such practices, even if the villagers of Fufeng Mountain had lived like this for generations, with most of the village comprised of abductees. Song Yu and his band of outlaws had settled here later, initially maintaining separate lives from the villagers. Over time, however, the villagers occasionally helped the outlaws by warning them of imperial troops, earning Song Yu’s protection in return. Yet, their way of life was something he had never truly accepted.

Though he plundered and pillaged, his targets were always wealthy households and corrupt officials. Even when women were brought back, they were usually concubines from such households, who had nowhere else to go and were temporarily placed in the village.

“The three women in my quarters—find a way to send them back down the mountain without anyone noticing,” Song Yu instructed indifferently.

“And take this basket of mushrooms down to make chicken soup,” he added, noticing how Shi Yun cherished them. “Also, warm up a pot of milk for her.”

“And bring her a slice of today’s roast suckling pig,” he added.

Lu Chao Chao instantly beamed with joy. Grabbing Song Yu’s leg, she chirped, “Daddy… Daddy!”

Song Yu froze.

The little girl clung to his leg tightly. “Daddy! Daddy!” she called again, unashamedly recognizing the provider of food as her father.

A moment of silence passed as Song Yu’s mind drifted. Her voice overlapped with a memory, stirring a rare tremor in the hardened bandit chief’s heart. Red-eyed, he exhaled deeply as he held her small hand.

“Good girl,” he said, his voice unsteady.

This time, Sister Dong had indeed abducted the right child. He wasn’t returning this one.

Scooping her up in one arm, Song Yu found himself enveloped by her bold, childlike affection. She wrapped her tiny arms around his neck and planted a loud kiss on his cheek. “Daddy!”

“Chao Chao’s one year old!” she announced proudly, patting her chest.

Song Yu blinked in surprise. “Since when?”

Lu Chao Chao counted on her fingers and then nodded with conviction. “Tomorrow! Tomorrow’s my birthday!”

Song Yu ruffled her hair. “Alright, then tomorrow we’ll celebrate your birthday.”

“I want friends! Lots and lots of new friends!” Lu Chao Chao exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly.

Yuan Man, who stood nearby, paled at her words, looking horrified. “Lots of new friends? Are you serious?”

Under Yuan Man’s panicked gaze, Song Yu nodded. “Alright, everyone will come to celebrate with you. So your name is Chao Chao? Such a lovely name.”

He thought to himself that this child must have been sent by the heavens to ease the pain of losing his own daughter.

Just then, someone rushed in with an urgent report. “Chief, many people have arrived at the base of the mountain.”

Song Yu’s expression turned cold.

“The county magistrate and the capital have sent letters. This time, we may have caused a major problem,” the Third Boss said, his face pale, the letter trembling in his hand.

Fufeng Mountain had remained stable all these years, thanks to connections within the imperial court. Even the local magistrate had been bought off.

“What are you afraid of? We once kidnapped a Second-Rank Official and survived just fine,” Song Yu said with a sidelong glance.

“But Chief, the problem seems to lie with these two children.” Third Boss hesitated.

“The boy is the only grandson of the Chief Minister, a tenth-generation single heir,” he explained. The Chief Minister held the highest rank of First-Rank Official.

Song Yu’s expression darkened. “Then we’ll send him back.”

Third Boss didn’t move. “And the one in your arms…” he added hesitantly.

“She’s the legitimate youngest daughter of the Marquis Zhongyong. Though not favored by the Marquis, the trouble seems to revolve around her,” he said, almost tearfully. “A secret message from the capital demands their immediate return, or else.”

Song Yu looked at the girl in his arms, doubt clouding his eyes.

“The message warned that if the Chief refuses, Fufeng Mountain itself might fall,” the Third Boss finished with difficulty.

“The Marquis Zhongyong’s family holds no power in court. This is strange,” remarked the Second Boss, confused.

“It seems the Emperor and the Empress Dowager are both enraged. But few are aware of this, as it hasn’t been publicized,” the Third Boss added.

Song Yu’s pupils contracted. Clenching his fists tightly, he said, “We’ll discuss this tomorrow.”

Although the others were anxious, they had no choice but to obey.

“What are you holding?” Song Yu asked Chao Chao, noticing the bulge in her arms.

“Ball. Play ball,” she said, smacking her lips.

“I’ll play ball with you later,” Song Yu said gently, treating her with care born of guilt and longing. This little girl reminded him too much of his deceased daughter. He had always been away, too busy to spend time with her. Even when she had fallen ill, his wife’s letters had failed to summon him back. By the time he returned, his daughter had waited until she could no longer and died in his arms. It was a pain that still haunted him.

Now, holding Lu Chao Chao, he vowed not to let her go.

Taking some time, he played a few rounds of ball with her. As she chased the ball, he teased, “Where did you find this skull to use as a ball?”

“Dug it up…” she mumbled.

Song Yu didn’t care. Laughing, he joked, “I wonder which poor soul you exhumed for this.”

After a while, the skull was kicked into a corner, and dinner was served.

“This snow hasn’t melted, and mushrooms shouldn’t even be growing. Where did she find such fresh ones?” the cook marveled, bringing out a pot of steaming mushroom soup. The aroma was irresistible, far richer than any ordinary mushrooms.

Even Chao Chao’s mouth watered. Yet, when Song Yu offered her a bowl, she refused vehemently, shaking her head.

“Where did you find these?” someone asked, intrigued.

“Behind the mountain,” she said, pointing.

“Behind the mountain? I’ve never seen mushrooms there before,” the cook muttered.

“Box… long box,” she explained, gesturing with her small hands. “Dug it up…”

She waddled over to the corner and retrieved the skull, holding it proudly. “Bones grew it.”

The room erupted into chaos.

Song Yu’s voice quivered. “Which grave did you dig this from?”

“The biggest, roundest one!” she answered cheerfully.

Song Yu shot to his feet, running towards the back of the mountain.

[Father! That’s my father’s grave!]

His father’s fifty-year tribulation had come true.

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