The Amusing Adventures of a Directionally Challenged Dad and Daughter

"Hero, young lady, do you still remember me?"

The newcomer was none other than Young Master Yao.

His standard smile, revealing eight teeth, looked a bit silly—though his teeth were quite white.

Old Gu Six nodded. How could he forget someone who had sworn an oath to the heavens?

Thinking of the karmic entanglement caused by that oath, Old Gu Six felt a headache coming on.

Yao Jixin, seeing his nod, immediately bounced forward. "Hero, where are you headed? Can I come with you?"

"We're going home. No."

Unfazed by Old Gu Six's coldness, Yao Jixin continued cheerfully, "If not, no problem! Since we’ve met by fate, how about I treat you to a meal?"

"No need." Old Gu Six found him noisy and grew even more indifferent.

"You're staying at this inn too? What a coincidence—so am I!" Yao Jixin reached out to take the reins of Old Gu Six’s mule.

Old Gu Six dodged his hand, stared at him for a long moment, then said calmly, "Don’t go into the deep mountains. Your life may be in danger."

Back then, he hadn’t expected an oath to bind him to this man. Now, warning him counted as severing that karmic tie. Whether Yao Jixin believed him or not was his own business.

Yao Jixin froze, astonished. The hero truly was extraordinary—he hadn’t even mentioned his plans, yet the man knew he was heading for the southwestern mountains.

Someone had approached his father, claiming to have found treasure deep in those mountains, complete with a map. Rumor had it the hoard belonged to the Yuan family, a once-great cultivation clan from a century ago, and might even include cultivation manuals.

His father and grandfather had dragged him along to "broaden his horizons," though he had no interest in the adventure.

Now, with the hero’s warning, he could use it as an excuse. His grandfather held the man in high regard—he’d surely agree.

"I won’t go! I didn’t want to anyway."

Old Gu Six said nothing more and walked past him. An inn attendant came out to take the mule cart while another ushered them inside.

The inn was packed, every seat taken. Murmurs about the treasure drifted through the air.

Chang’an thought, Your intel is way too late. The treasure’s long gone—you’re all in for a wasted trip.

But ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‍those cultivation manuals? They hadn’t seen any. Maybe they were still hidden somewhere.

How had the treasure’s location leaked, though?

She wondered if it was the young man they’d rescued from the ship who’d spread the word.

She was wrong. The source was a distant branch of the Yuan family, living under false names. The secret had slipped out when one of them drunkenly blabbed. Word spread, and soon, people forced the man to sketch the treasure sites—though his knowledge was limited. Only three spots were marked: the gorge, the pool’s depths, and the ancestral hall.

Father and daughter exchanged glances. Good thing we got there first. If we’d waited till peace returned, there’d be nothing left.

Old Gu Six shuddered, relieved they’d beaten the crowds.

They checked into their room and stayed in. Yao Jixin, too, retreated upstairs to find his father and grandfather.

He repeated Old Gu Six’s warning. Elder Yao immediately decided, "Jixin stays behind. Return home tomorrow. Send your second and third brothers instead. We’ll wait here for them."

Once Yao Jixin was excused, his uncles noticed his karmic threads had severed.

Stunned, their doubts vanished. The man had saved Yao Jixin’s life to cut ties.

A true master. Thankfully, they hadn’t offended him—though forging a connection seemed impossible. He clearly wanted nothing to do with them.

No matter. They walked different paths. Why force a bond?

At dusk, Old Gu Six left the inn alone, heading for a nearby tailor’s shop.

Summer days were long. Even at 7 p.m., the sky was still light, and the shop remained open. Without a curfew, businesses here stayed late.

The shop was nearly empty. A man buying clothes for his daughter was a rare sight—let alone for a thirteen-year-old.

The shopkeeper and clerk were momentarily speechless.

Realizing his rudeness, the shopkeeper hurried to apologize. "Forgive my ignorance, young master."

"No matter." Old Gu Six wasn’t bothered. In this world, fathers didn’t shop for grown daughters—especially not ones nearing marriageable age. Such behavior invited gossip.

Dressing female relatives was women’s work. But rules meant nothing to this pair.

As a mortal, his daughter was a young lady. But in her true form? Barely five.

Humans lived a century per lifetime. Dragons lived a century per year. His girl was still a child.

Chang’an had no idea that after two lifetimes, she was still underage. The thought was depressing.

Old Gu Six ignored the stares. He wasn’t stealing—he’d pay.

Wait. My savings are low. Forgot to ask her for money.

Eyeing the pile of clothes, he knew his ten taels wouldn’t cover it. He pulled out a handful of pearls, each as big as a little fingernail, identically sized and lustrous.

"Will these suffice?"

The honest shopkeeper took just one. "More than enough, young master."

Old Gu Six had picked comfortable cotton dresses for all seasons. The bundle looked large but wasn’t costly.

A clerk packed everything. As Old Gu Six lugged the parcel out, Chang’an spotted him from the inn.

Taking in his "stolen goods" posture, she spun around and fled. I don’t know this man.

Was she so moved she couldn’t bear to cry in public?

Back in their room, he dropped the bundles and sipped tea. Chang’an asked, "Dad, how’d you buy so much with ten taels?"

He choked on his drink. Spent money and still have to explain?

"Found some pearls in the South Sea." He produced another handful, planning to string a bracelet for her.

Chang’an glanced at them. "Keep them." She handed him two more silver ingots—not because she was stingy, but he had nowhere to store more.

She didn’t know about his innate pocket dimension, vast as a small world. It could hold anything.

But Old Gu Six kept it secret. He was quite enjoying his carefree, "sponging-off-his-daughter" life.

They only stayed in Lincheng for one night before departing. After they left, Yao Jixin also set off, though of course, their destinations were different—each heading back to their own home.