The Restless Spirit’s Father - Chapter 375

Sounds of celebration came from the waiting room as they congratulated Chuan Nayi and Liu Xiaodan about having a real baby. It was soon followed by the talks about the wedding. Guangru only listened through these noises, with his eyes blinked normally as if he was just an outsider.

“Shouldn’t you be gone by now if you’re going to possess that baby?” Shanhu’s voice came from behind him, and the child turned to take a look at the Pekingese.

The demon child then sat down at the side and pulled the dog into his embrace. He then started to pet it with his small hand with fat fingers. “Do you know? This was also the last wish that I was able to grant before I turn into a demon. I could remember the happiness they both felt when they finally had a baby of their own. I don’t want to take the genuine joy away from Baba and Mama now…”

As if understanding the sentiments, Shanhu only hummed before looking up at the demon child. “I can’t believe that I will ever meet a demon who could put someone else before themselves. I guess this is also why the Elder decided to help you in your journey. Tell me, Guangru, what do you plan on doing now?

“Will you leave and look for another set of Baba and Mama?”

“…should I?” Guangru’s eyes glazed as if he was going to cry. He then cast his gaze at the Pekingese who didn’t put a filter in her mouth. “If you continue to hold back, you may start feeling that the child had taken them away from you. If you ended up harming the child, don’t you think your Baba would be mad at you? Not that I’m saying that is going to happen to you, but… that’s normally the case for demons…”

Guangru released the Pekingese and got to his feet. He then ran out of the house as if he had a destination in mind. It would take him a long time to get there, and that was why he should start flying now. The demon then got out of the property without looking back.

Shanhu only watched the child vanish into the light of day before Lanlu walked towards her. He then asked the female dog that was staring at the door as if expecting something big to happen. “What are you waiting for?”

With a grin, she chuckled. “I’m waiting for a miracle.”

…

The whole Wu Family Estate household grew busy. The plans for the wedding were suddenly pushed to a start as soon as Jiang Yanyu arrived at their house. Of course, the women were so happy about the news. No matter what, this was a very happy occasion.

Liu Xiaodan started calling his friends to tell them about it and the upcoming wedding. Ruan Jin was the first one to receive the call and even choked on his food. Wen Taio and Xu Disung were also hysterical and kept on praising the magic one while they were all in a video chat. In the end, Liu Xiaodan spent like an hour talking to them.

Just then, he picked up his phone and dialed Li Feng’s phone number. For some reason, his finger couldn’t press the Call button. He had not forgotten that Qiao Shan died only days ago, taking their growing child with her. He was even the one who killed the child just so he could save the father. Someone’s girlfriend getting pregnant was very awful news to someone who had suffered from that….

“…I have to be a little s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e…” Liu Xiaodan decided not to let Li Feng know for today. Everything was happy, and he couldn’t stop himself from being happy. Then again, could he really say such a thing to Li Feng right now?

“Xiaodan…”

The magic one twitched and turned to find Old Xiong on the side of the room. He closed the door and went to sit in front of the elder guardian. The man smiled at the stuffed bear. “Old Xiong, Nayi’s pregnant. Soon enough, we will have a baby in the house. Can you watch over my baby, too?”

An agreeing hum came from the bear. “That’s easy to do, Xiaodan. However, don’t you think you’re forgetting someone? You should realize that something is unusual. Nayi had been pregnant for a few weeks already. Don’t you think it’s odd?”

“Odd?” Liu Xiaodan frowned. Well, it was not like they had not slept with each other again after moving here. What was Old Xiong trying to say? That was the only time that Liu Xiaodan felt like something was indeed strange. He then took a serious look at the bear. “…Guangru… is not supposed to be around if he’s inside the child, right? Did he forget to possess the child’s body?”

“No, Xiaodan. He just… didn’t do it.”

“That’s strange. Wasn’t that his wish?” Liu Xiaodan got to his feet. He then looked around and realized that the friends were not around as well. “Where did everyone go? Did Guangru go somewhere? He should be here; he came home with me…”

Bihan was the first to return to the room. “Master, Guangru seemed to have gone to a far place to the north.”

The rest had gone back as well as if they couldn’t catch up with him. Tang Mingming then panted as if he was just running. “Xiaodan, he’s headed to the mental facility. What do you think he’d be doing there?”

…

Guangru turned around and smiled at the black bird that poked his head from the ceiling. “God Raven, how have you been? Have you seen the dead forest spirit?”

“Why are you here, Guangru? Why are you brimming with more power now? How many humans have you fed on? Did Xiaodan turn into a killing machine?” God Raven was surprised by the aura coming from Guangru. Actually, he came as fast as he could to make sure that the visitor was their little master. Ah, yes, the ancient demon tree ruled this place for a while before it came to the city.

“Don’t be like that. We just happen to be attacked a lot.” With a childish smile, Guangru responded. He then started to jump up and down. “God Raven!”

The black bird then turned to the side. “It’s high noon. We’re sleeping. Hm, I’ll wake her up. Go find a better shade from the sun if you don’t want to exhaust yourself.” He was about to leave, but he felt something. He then turned back to face Guangru again. Instead of a bubbly child, what stood before him was the demon child. On his hand were two pieces of dense black seeds.

Guangru then chuckled. “Tell her I have a gift. Concentrated flesh of an ancient demon…”

…

It was already evening when Liu Xiaodan managed to get to the facility. There were no more paths and routes to get here even if he had his own car. He had to leave the friends with the black car kilometers away as he walked through the dense jungle that surrounded the medical facility and hid it in plain sight. The father then summoned the swamp creature so he could jump over the wide marsh of sewer water.

Darkness was all over, but Liu Xiaodan’s eyes could see properly. He left the swamp creature at the side and walked around the rubble and ruins of the once-grand medical facility. Then, under the faint light of the moon, he spotted the small child seated on a huge piece of rubble.

“…why did you suddenly have the urge to return here?” Liu Xiaodan only spoke as soon as he climbed the place where Guangru was. The child only glanced at him while dangling his eyes over the edge. Seeing that the child didn’t run away, he sat down next to him. “Come on, Guangru. Let’s go home.”

“Do you still need me? With a real one on the way, you won’t have time for me anymore.” Guangru didn’t take a look at him again. “It’s okay… I actually felt so much over the months. No one had ever treated me like that, but both of us wouldn’t be able to deny that I’m not a human child. I can’t even steal that gift from you…”

Liu Xiaodan gave him a long stare before smiling and leaning on his arm behind him. “I’m pretty sure Nayi was happy to know that her first real baby is going to be a real child. Whether they ended up something like me or not is too early to think about. But Guangru, I don’t think I can last this long without you. Why do you have to leave?”

Before the child could echo his first words, Liu Xiaodan reached out to c.a.r.e.s.s on his head. “Guangru, do you know why my parents love you so much? Why the others envy them for having you as their grandchild? It’s because you’re so behaved and obedient. You’re a demon and yet such an angel as a child. I don’t want the baby to grow up into something opposite. They will need someone to guide them.”

“Hm?” Guangru’s eyes started to widen as he stared at Liu Xiaodan’s smiling face.

“Guangru, you’re my baby boy, but being someone’s child doesn’t stop at this… little human form you have. You have to grow up, too. You get to be in grade school, and then you’ll be choosing between the in-crowd or the nerds… attend high school… college…” He leaned down and planted a kiss on the child’s head.

“You might not be born to my flesh, but you are still my child. Come on, don’t you want to continue being mine?”

The child demon scooted to face him, but Liu Xiaodan continued to smile warmly at him. “Guangru, let’s go home. Your mother and your little sibling are waiting for you.”

“Go on, Guangru.” The Mother’s voice echoed. “This place is not your home anymore. It’s where your Baba is.”

Guangru blinked and then climbed to be carried by his Baba. He then hugged Liu Xiaodan tightly, sobbing like he had never tried before. “I… I’m sorry, Baba…! Guangru shouldn’t have run away and tried to leave you alone!”

The father rubbed his back and cajoled him as they got down from the rubble. “It’s okay. It’s normal for a child to run away at times. What is important is that you choose to come home. Come on, let’s ride this swamp creature to the other side of the water.”

“Let’s ride it until we reach the car!”

“Okay! Hold on tightly, alright? Here we go!”

The high-pitched laughter of a child and the mellow voice of his father resounded faintly into the darkness of the night, unhindered by the restrictions of blood or the conventions of normalcy.

END OF VOLUME SEVEN

END OF THE RESTLESS SPIRIT’S FATHER