THE LING TIAN LEGEND
episode 9

Ever since first lying in a cradle in this life, Ling Tian had fallen in love with such feelings. It was as if he had returned to the sea, the only moment in his past life that he could feel at ease. Lying in the cradle gave her the impression that she was on her yacht, facing the sunset and feeling the waves wagging the boat up and down. Thus, during this one year period, Ling Tian spent nearly half of it in that cradle.

“Tian’er, my dear.” A soft voice floated up, causing the corner of his mouth to involuntarily attract a happy smile. With hands as smooth as snow and as soft as cotton, they gently pulled her into a hug. Looking up, a gentle and warm face filled his gaze, with eyes full of pampering love. This is Ling Tian's mother, Chu Ting’er. Beside him was a middle-aged man, about thirty years old, with a square face covered in constancy. Hmm, he can still be considered handsome. A gentle smile was seen on his face, similar to the spring breeze, and an expression of satisfaction could be seen from his eyes. This was only his father, the one who had the most military authority within the Empire, Chief General Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao bowed, giving a gentle kiss on the face of baby Ling Tian. The stump on his face felt like a steel needle, bringing a momentary discomfort to Ling Tian, which Ling Tian glared at him with unhappiness.

“Haha, this little boy seems unwilling, hmph hmph.... I will give you more to be unhappy, haha!” As he spoke, Ling Xiao gave him two more kisses. Ling Tian ended up with a face full of saliva.

Chu Ting’er jokingly pushed her husband aside, saying, “Shoo shoo shoo, your beard is so stiff, you stabbed the baby.”

“Hahaha, so? Why didn't you sound it last night? Heh heh heh... Aiyah!” Ling Xiao spoke, only for the soft part of his waist to be pinched by Chu Ting’er who was angry and embarrassed. Ling Tian did not need to avert his eyes to guess how wretched his father's face was back then. At that point, he suddenly understood a famous saying from his previous life: love and pain will always go hand in hand.

“Our son is beside us; what nonsense are you saying now? To think you've become a father!” Still seething with the remnants of her anger, Chu Ting’er reprimanded with ruffiness.

“Hehe, what might this little boy know? Don't you agree with me, son?” With that answer appeared a handsome face in front of Ling Tian, winking at him.

“Hmph! Woo... stop meddling!” Hearing the voice of Chu Ting’er that was about to explode suddenly becoming softer, Ling Tian turned his head, only to see his plump and towering chest impressively covered by a lecherous hand that gently massaged him.

Ling Tian was filled with anger! F**k, are you treating me like I am invisible by displaying such toxic scenes to damage young minds openly? Ling Tian angrily grabbed that depraved hand, viciously pulling it.

“Hahaha! Our son blames me for breaking his territory, hoho!” A sharp and bright laughter sounded.

With her chest finally released, Chu Ting’er, with a face flushed with embarrassment, spoke half laughing and half again with a shy rage, “Dasar naughty!” This soul-stirring sight moved Ling Xiao and he could not help but lightly grasp his wife's slender waist and move towards his mouth.

“Dong!” However, Ling Tian's kick on his stomach, still in his mother's embrace, effectively kept him quiet.

“Hahahaha! This little boy is so domineering!” The couple laughed together this time.

A pair of footsteps sometimes sounded as it approached, before the person spoke, “Baginda, Madam, the guests have arrived. His Majesty requested that His Majesty and Madam appear.” The voice belonged to a gentle and beautiful-faced servant girl who was standing beside the couple who was lightly whispering to them.

“Oke, I understand. Tell Grand Sire that we will be there soon.”

“Yeah, this must be Young Master right? Ever since this old man walked out of Phoenix Cry this year, this is the first time I've seen a baby! This is a small sign from me, nothing great.” Carrying their son, Ling Xiao and his wife had just walked into the large hall when a viridian-colored jade talisman floated in front of little Ling Tian.

“Master Wang came all the way from another kingdom, bravely facing many difficulties. How can I receive this kind of generous gift from you? Please retract your gift, Master,” replied Ling Xiao politely.

This Sir Wang was an old man with a snow-white beard and a body covered in a well-made robe. Both his hair and beard were carefully trimmed and one could tell that he was very attentive to his demeanor. Ling Tian curiously opened his eyes, only to see Sir Wang showing his displeasure by blowing up his beard.

General Ling's words were troubled there; this gift was given as a sign for your son's first year, and not for General Ling. With so many imperial officials in place, General Ling did not have to worry about the possibility of imperial impeachment due to bribery! ” The crowd laughed at his words, echoing his sentiments.

He must have been joking; the current Ling Xiao was similar to the Minister of the Right Hand, with authority under one and above tens of thousands. Even if an official was tempted with greed, who would dare to board this tiger ship to pluck fleas? Impeach him's? That guy must be sick of life! The officials presented all the thoughts secretly to themselves: This old man Wang has just made us all break out in cold sweat with that one joke!

“Hahaha, if that were the case, it would be impolite if I rejected you. In that case, let this Ling accept your gift in place of my son.” Ling Xiao only smiled, seemingly unaffected by this matter.

“No, this is exactly the opposite; the General who instead gave me respect!” Ling Tian could not help but roll his eyes; it seemed like this fellow was trying hard to flatter his father, so he couldn't possibly be part of the enemy camp.

“Has this little boy been named?” A similar white-haired old man moved this time. Ling Tian got a surprise. He was already one year old, but this was the first time someone dared to call him “bad boy” in front of his grandfather and father. It seems like this person is not as simple as it seems.

“Hehe, The Old, this old man who chose his own name. He was called Ling Tian, wasn't his name good?” His grandfather, Ling Zhan, stood up as he spoke with a laugh. As he listened, the more Ling Tian felt that something was amiss. Although Ling Zhan's words contained a hint of laughter, Ling Tian could feel a hint of buried coldness. It seemed like this Old One was not a simple person at all.

The moment he finished speaking, the entire hall consisting of more than dozens of people immediately fell into complete silence!

These words of the Old One could be said to have committed a grave offense. The emperor was also known as heaven, but Ling Zhan gave his grandson the name Ling Tian. Although it could be considered a joke, one could also trap Ling Zhan as a bid’ah.

“Hehehehe, this statesman is too polite. Just like your grandson Yang Huang, this old man was shocked when he heard that day, wondering when Yang actually gave birth to an emperor. Hehe...” Ling Zhan's eyes flickered with a cold radiance, not giving up in the slightest. [2]

Ling Tian was enlightened, it turned out that this old man was actually the head of the Yang family, Yang KongQun. They were the only one of the six great family clans in the Sky Bear Empire who had the ability to fight against the Ling family. So they're bad guys. It was only fitting that his face looked like he was constantly begging for a beating! Ling Tian thought to himself furiously.

“Hahaha, so from the words of your Old Ling, ordinary people are forbidden to name their children with the characters ‘naga’ or ‘bird phoenix’? Aren't you too chatty, Old Ling!” Twirling his beard, Yang KongQun spoke with a smile.

“Hehehehe, if one sentence from this old man makes you fussy, is it logical for you to talk about my grandson?” Ling Zhan was full of anger. That Old Man. When his grandson was born, Ling Zhan went there with good intentions to congratulate him. However, not only did Yang KongQun not return this favor, he chose a day like the celebration of his grandson's first year to pollute the atmosphere! If he knew this was going to happen, he would stir the wine he prepared for Old Yang's granddaughter a whole month into the pot of mixed soup before sending it to them!

The two old men glared at each other like roosters fighting for supremacy, no one was willing to compromise. The surrounding civilian and military officials could only look at each other anxiously, silent in fear.

These two men were people in the Sky Refining Kingdom whose feet could cause the ground to shake with just a single step, and who could not be offended by their own class. One was the head of the Ling family clan, the number one Duke in the Empire, the old man of the empress and the Chief General; the other was the head of the Yang family clan, the current Prime Minister of the empire, the father of the current empress, the father-in-law of the current emperor!

If one were to seek death and try to disturb them, they would bring upon themselves a very great calamity. Those who sat closer to the two old men began to wipe their sweat silently while creeping backwards. All of them came with good intentions to flatter them and get into their good books, yet they ended up in the middle of a battle between the Empire's peak powers. The crowd could only mourn their misfortune.

Yang KongQun puffed up his beard and said, “Ling Old, this old man is just making a casual comment. When did I ever say that your grandson's name isn't good? This old man came with good intentions to congratulate you, but look at you, repaying kindness with hostility. ” [3]

Ling Zhan pulled the corner of his mouth back, forming a smile that was not really a smile, as he replied: “That's right. Both of us, misty parents gave a good name to our grandchildren. However, this old grandson seems to be brighter than yours, heeheehee. ”

Yang KongQun decided to stop while he was ahead and just chuckled, “You could say so, but this old man is much busier compared to you. Haiz, I have to pacify three grandchildren every day, and the worst part is that I still have two grandchildren. One minute I was pregnant one, the next, the other; it gave me back pain. Difficulties like this are hard to withstand. Unlike you, Old Ling, who only had one and was so free, only needed to carry him once every few days. You even have time to spend taking care of your garden. What an envious lifestyle! ” As he spoke, the latter beat his waist by pretending with a face full of complaints.

Although Ling Zhan was grumbling deep inside, he could not give a suitable answer. His family is small in number, especially in the Ling Tian generation, where only “One seedling can be seen on a plot of land three thousand miles”. [4] Yang KongQun's words were clearly aimed at the fact that his house was not as advanced as his own. However, reality was like that, and Ling Zhan could not straighten his back from this humiliation. He could only glare at his son hatefully as he scolded, “A pointless thing!”

Ling Xiao hugged his wife and son all this time, engrossed in seeing the two old men fighting. How could he foresee a disaster falling from the sky? Now that his own father's anger was directed at him, he could only retreat without a word, putting on a bitter expression. If her father suggested that she take the concubine in front of the crowd, she would be placed in a difficult situation.

Chu Ting’er's face reddened in embarrassment and anger. Stretching out her slender fingers that were as smooth as jade, she pinched her husband's waist fiercely. As a daughter-in-law, she was naturally unable to speak even if the Grand Sire's mouth was unwise. However, by his side was a human punching bag; it would be useless if he did not use it!

Ling Xiao could only breathe in cold air while grimacing in pain.

Ling Tian's small face seemed excited throughout the lively scene that was unfolding in front of him. However, he was actually sneering at himself: Old One, you don't need to look so happy. Because you dare to offend this Young Master here, I'll make sure I'll send your three grandchildren to the palace to become eunuchs within a few years' time and trick your two grandchildren into becoming my concubines. Then I'll see how arrogant you are! Heh heh…

After seeing the battle between the two end, the crowd was also finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. They immediately exploded into empty chatter in an attempt to distract the two old men from each other if they decided to go to another round. If they were to start another battle, wouldn't everyone who came here today seem like they were here for the purpose of watching the show rather than to celebrate? Furthermore, how could someone from their class possibly put on a fiery show without penalty?

Comfortable at that moment, a sharp earth-shattering sound rang out from the front door, “Emperor, Empress and Empress have arrived!”

[1] The surname “Ling” in the name Ling Tian can also mean high rise (er). In this case, paired with its name “Tian”, which means sky or sky, its name means to rise higher than the sky itself.

[2] The “Huang” in Yang Huang's name is a homonym that sounds like an emperor. Thus, the grandfather denied that they named their son as an emperor, which was also a betrayal.

[3] Actual phrase for “paying kindness with animosity” should be “Dongbin” Dog Guidelines. The original phrase says “,”, which tries to say that dogs (people) cannot say the intentions of good people and thus bite the hand that feeds it.

[4] “One seedling can be seen on a plot of land covering three thousand miles” literally referring to the fact that Ling Tian is the only descendant of his generation. Note that Chinese miles are only 500 meters away.