https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-277-Are-Supergrade-Skills-Not-Just-Randomly-Bred-/13009818/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-279-Five-Saints-Egg-He-Really-Got-It-/13009823/
Chapter 278: Poison Clan! Grandfather's Gift!
Chapter 278: Poison Clan! Grandfather's Gift!
Before a seemingly ordinary courtyard stood a rather peculiar sight.
However, the term "ordinary" is relative, especially when considering the modern and ancient perspectives of Dragon Country.
This residence, not particularly tall, resembled traditional ancient courtyards, yet it lacked the characteristics of Jiangnan-style gardens. Instead, it gave off a vibe more akin to the deep courtyards of the north, with its red walls and green tiles.
The only striking difference, something that caught the eye and left a lasting impression, were the two peculiar objects standing on either side of the courtyard entrance, instead of the typical stone lion sculptures.
They were two enormous toads sitting cross-legged on stone pedestals.
Indeed, two large toad sculptures adorned the sides of the entrance.
These additions gave the grand and solemn courtyard an indescribable feeling.
But that wasn't all.
On the black lacquered entrance, two objects were carved and painted as colorful patterns.
They were two vividly colored centipedes.
The thousand legs of these centipedes formed a symmetrical pattern above the door, connecting with the door seams to create a rather odd shape.
Wow, just at the entrance, two of the five poisons were already present.
As expected, just as Su Ping had learned before, the Rong family was indeed an outstanding Poison Clan with a long heritage of Beast Taming.
Although, over the past few decades, with the suppression of Beast Taming Clans, the Rong family had declined significantly, but their legacy remained.
As Su Ping carefully examined the toads on the stone pedestals, wondering what kind of pet beast they were, the entrance door was pushed open.
A man who appeared young but had a rather weathered look walked out with a smile. Behind him were Su Ping's familiar Rong Qiu and another man who resembled Rong Qiu and even shared a strong resemblance with him.
The leading man spotted Su Anyong, who had returned, and immediately called out:
"Ghost Saint, you've come in person. Please forgive me for not coming out to greet you immediately. Don't take offense, Ghost Saint."
Cold Grandpa waved his hand, ignoring the man's overly courteous gesture, and patted Su Ping's shoulder, "Xiao Ping, this is your cheap grandfather, Rong Bao. Call him Grandpa!"
"Grandpa!"
Su Ping called out with great enthusiasm.
Upon hearing this, Rong Bao, who had been smiling even in front of Cold Grandpa, now showed a slight tremor in his eyes as he looked at Su Ping:
"Yes, he looks even more like the photos and videos."
The man sighed, not paying attention to Cold Grandpa's reference to him as a 'cheap grandfather'.
Cold Grandpa spoke again:
"Old Ghost Rong, is this your first time meeting your grandnephew? Have you prepared a gift?"
"Hmm..."
Upon hearing this, Rong Bao was slightly taken aback and shot an unfriendly glance at Su Anyong.
Obviously, Su Anyong hadn't informed him about this, and he had come unannounced. How could he have prepared a gift?
Rong Bao thought for a moment and laughed, "For my grandnephew's first visit, I wouldn't skimp on the gift. Ghost Saint, rest assured, I'll give it to Xiao Ping during dinner!"
The man behind Rong Bao, who bore a resemblance to Rong Qiu and seemed like a brother or even his own uncle, smiled and said:
"Ghost Saint, please go inside with Father Rong. Xiao Ping, after your long journey, go home and rest first. It's not too late to join us for dinner later. We'll have a good chat then."
The man's smile was elegant, and behind his gold-rimmed glasses, he had a very handsome face.
"Tsk tsk, Old Ghost Rong, your son Rong Xia is more polite than you."
Cold Grandpa chuckled and took a few steps into the courtyard.
Rong Bao didn't seem to mind the man's sarcasm. He turned to Rong Qiu and said:
"Xiao Qiu, take my grandnephew to his room to rest. Xiao Ping, after your journey, go and rest. It's not too late to join us for dinner. We'll have a good chat then."
Upon their first meeting, Su Ping's impression of this cheap grandfather was not bad.
It wasn't as distant as he had imagined.
In the past twenty years, Su Ping had never seen this man, and he had never mentioned coming to Linzhou to visit him.
To talk about family affection was simply nonsense.
In Su Ping's opinion, his true family consisted of his soul pet and some other pets, as well as Su Anyong and Su Ping himself.
As for the Rong family members before him, he didn't feel particularly distant, but he also didn't feel overly close.
Grandfather, uncle, and even Rong Qiu, who led him to his room, were all just like that.
Of course, Su Ping still remembered the kindness shown to him by these Rong family members, and he was grateful and wanted to repay them.
But as he always said, Su Ping had a good temper and seemed easy to get along with, but he was also very clear-headed about many relationships.
After not seeing each other for over twenty years, talking about blood being thicker than water was pure nonsense, especially for these aristocratic families.
There might be some truth to it, but it wasn't the whole story.
The reason for such closeness and warm hospitality could be attributed to a few factors:
Even for so-called blood relations, unless they were immediate family, they still needed to prove themselves before others would acknowledge their familial ties.
Entering the courtyard, Su Ping wasn't surprised to find various representations of toads, spiders, centipedes, scorpions, and snakes, the most representative poison-type pet beasts, in the form of carvings and markings.
As a characteristic of the Rong Family, it was said that they were also known as the Five Saints Clan, or the Poison Clan.
Auntie Rong Qiu smiled as she spoke.
When this woman first went to the Heart of Wood, she pretended as if it was nothing.
"How's the research on the Frostwater Wolf going?" she continued.
"It's going well. With your ability to nurture poison within yourself and use special resources for breeding and evolution, you've managed to stimulate the poison glands of the Snow Wolf. It's a unique understanding of breeding!"
"Haha, to receive praise from the top breeder in the breeding competition, I'm truly fortunate, Auntie! How's the evolution of your Forest Wolf going?"
Auntie Rong Qiu led Su Ping to a detached courtyard and spoke.
"I've thought it through. I'll continue to promote the dual system of wood and poison for deeper evolution and breeding. I've also come up with some ideas for special abilities and forms."
"That's right. With your breeding talent, you don't need the Rong Family to worry about pet breeding. But since I've already promised your father, I won't hold back on the necessary help! So, if there's anything you need for evolution, just ask."
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Auntie Rong Qiu said.
Su Ping nodded and didn't hesitate to ask for help:
"Indeed, I need some assistance. Poison resources are hard to come by in the market, and the Breeder Association has strict restrictions. Since the Rong Family is known for their poison-type pets, I'd like a top-grade resource for the poison system."
Auntie Rong Qiu was slightly taken aback and thought for a moment before nodding, "No problem, I'll discuss this with Father."
Su Ping spent half a day chatting with Auntie Rong Qiu.
It was then that Su Ping gained some understanding of the Rong Family.
Such a massive residence naturally couldn't accommodate just Grandfather Rong Bao, Uncle Rong Xia, and Auntie Rong Qiu.
In the Rong Family residence, apart from Uncle Rong Xia's family, there were several other branches.
Scattered among these various branches, the direct descendants and relatives alone numbered over a hundred.
This was what Su Ping had imagined a large family to be.
However, in the past, the members of the Rong Family had held important positions in various situations in the Dragon Country.
But now, they could only take on more relaxed roles in commerce or other fields, barely getting by.
This was the Dragon Country's suppression of influential families.
Of course, the younger generation, like Su Ping's generation, had it a bit easier. Within the Rong Family, there were those who served in the military or studied in academies.
Apart from the Rong Family's affairs, what Su Ping and Auntie Rong Qiu talked about the most was undoubtedly Su Ping's inquiries about the Heavenly Mountain.
Little Qing was the pet beast that the Rong Family discovered in the large wild park of the Heavenly Mountain.
Of course, whether it was personally discovered by a Rong Family member was unknown.
In any case, with Little Qing there, the legendary-grade resource, Jade Demon Spring Ginseng, was likely to be found there.
The continuous mountains and forests connected several cities.
Finding the Jade Demon Spring Ginseng there wouldn't be easy, even if Little Qing could sense something.
However, they had to try.
Su Ping had already made up his mind.
As for when he could find the Jade Demon Spring Ginseng, or even if he could find it at all, was an unknown."
Even Su Ping had no idea. But even with a slim chance, Su Ping wouldn't let it pass.
However, an unexpected event occurred that very night, catching Su Ping off guard.
They didn't have to wait long.
The Rong Family's night banquet, with Cold Lord's attendance, soon began.
As the first time the reluctant grandson visited the Rong Family, Su Ping witnessed the chaotic scene of the Rong Family's seven aunts and eight uncles that Auntie Rong Qiu had mentioned.
Not to mention those of the younger generation, close to Su Ping's age, there were quite a few.
Compared to the Dong Family, which Dong Muchun said had suffered significant losses, this Five Saints Clan, the Rong Family, seemed to be thriving?
As the host of the banquet, Su Ping received warm hospitality from Grandfather Rong Bao within moments of his arrival. Not only was he seated between Grandfather and Cold Lord at the head of the long family table, but he was also enthusiastically introduced to everyone by his cheap grandfather.
On the grand family table, everyone wore smiles and greeted the unfamiliar direct descendant of the Rong Family, the eldest granddaughter, with the utmost warmth and friendliness.
At least, this was the case on the surface.
However, when Grandfather Rong Bao, the cheap grandfather, spoke the next sentence in front of everyone, many faces in the room couldn't maintain their composure:
"The early passing of my daughter, Rong Chun, is one of my few regrets in life. Now that Su Ping has returned to the Rong Family after so many years, and as his cheap grandfather, I must express my feelings! Therefore, I, as the head of this generation of the Rong Family, have decided to entrust one of the Five Saints Eggs produced in our Five Saints Mystic Realm to Su Ping for incubation and nurturing."
Upon hearing this, Su Ping was perplexed, Su Anyong frowned slightly, and Cold Lord revealed a faint smile, as if he had expected this.
As for the other members of the Rong Family, aside from Auntie Rong Qiu, even the nominal Uncle Rong Xia, couldn't hide their discomfort.
(End of Chapter)
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