WHEN A DEMON PRINCE LOVES

Father Is The Ultimate Best

“My handsome, cute son, why are you here?” General Xu picked the little boy up and then held him close to his chest, he began to pant his small head with his wild palms, it was a nice sight to behold for the soldiers who served under the General and only get to see him giving orders and whopping their asses on the training field.

“Father, on my birthday you promised to teach this son martial arts but haven’t kept your words, father I have once heard you tell senior brother that a man’s word is his bond, you must keep your promise to me” Xu Bu tong pouted his tiny lips and crossed his arms in defiance, then he stared straight into his father’s eyes.

General Xu chuckled lightly at his son’s attics, he thinks he has spoilt him too much, even General Xu eldest son Xu Feng doesn’t have the spine to take him on so fearlessly, He wished his eldest son was more like his little brother but he can’t blame him too much after all he wasn’t pampered and spoilt rotten like this one, his eldest son had always been treated more strictly because he was to inherit the Xu families legacy.

General Xu eldest son was brave, bold, and talented and was a good soldier but the General wanted him to also be a bit rebellious after all he was just eleven years old, also he should not always blindly follow orders but also have an opinion of his own, he should combine his wants with that of his families and unite them as one and not just abandon his own longings and wishes.

General Xu didn’t want to force his children to only follow the path the family has laid out for them but to have their own path as well.

Xu Bu tong his second son always strives for what he wanted with so much zeal and determination, never fearing anything or willing to back down but he also had his family at heart.

“Is that why you have dressed like this” General Xu did a full body scan on Xu Bu tong with his eyes.

Xu Bu tong wriggled his way out of his father’s arms and stood at akimbo with his chin raised he said “Of course I have to dress this way, today is a special day since I will be commencing training with father and his men” he smiled beautifully after the last word “training left his lips, Xu Bu tong has always been fascinated by her father’s spear arts since he saw him training with his elder brother Xu Feng.

The sparks created from their clashed wooden spears used during his elder brother and father’s training was something he couldn’t comprehend, he was still a child but smart enough to know that wooden items shouldn’t create sparks, “so how did they do it” was the question swimming in the curious little Xu Bu tong’s mind, once he is curious about something he wouldn’t give up until he sees to the end of what he sorts, hence his reason for requesting that he be taught martial arts despite as his birthday present, Xu Bu tong had to do this because he knew how reluctant his parents were about his learning something so dangerous.

Candidly speaking General Xu had never expected his son to ask for such a present after all he already had a present ready for him just like every other birthday, asking Xu Bu tong what he wanted as a birthday present was just a formality, something General Xu had gotten used to doing over the years since his little boy could speak, moreover Xu Bu tong’s response to his question was always “Father knows what is best for Bu tong, whatever father gives is what Bu tong desires” after saying that General Xu will then gift him what he prepared earlier however who would have thought for Xu Bu tong’s fifth birthday, she did behave out of the norm and actually request for something.

General Xu didn’t want his second son to be put in danger by practicing martial arts, he did prefer him becoming a skilled scholar because one of his sons will always be facing dangerous situations so as a father he wanted the other to at least be safe so that if anything unexpected were to happen to his first son, which he doesn’t pray for, the Xu family will still have a successor.

General Xu had already used his big mouth to promise that whatever Xu Bu tong asks for his birthday present he would give, so he had to fulfill this promise no matter what.

General Xu sighed while thinking of these things, His only relief was that he had prepared a very expensive wound and scar removal cream for him as his birthday present and had given it to him on that day as a second gift, he prepared these gifts ahead because he knew how much his second son hated having scars or wounds, he did cry from a very little wound, General Xu really didn’t understand what someone who was that frighten of small bruises will survive a full martial art training.

General Xu had given Xu Bu tong such gifts because even if he had decided to teach Xu Bu tong only the most basic martial arts techniques, getting wounded was something unavoidable when training, and since it was Xu Bu tong’s taboo to have scars on his precious body because he considered it to be bad luck and practically believed he did become not marriageable, someone no one will want if that were to happen.

“Father is a man of his words and I will never break a promise” General Xu reassured his son.

“I trust father won’t disappoint me so how about we start training now” Xu Bu tong flattered General Xu with his words full of praises.

“I have been summoned to the imperial palace to train the crown prince, how about I teach you martial arts some other time”

“I will come with father, I can train there too” Xu Bu tong jumped and wrapped his legs around his father’s left leg to prevent him from leaving him behind, he couldn’t wait another breath of time to quench his burning curiosity to learn all there is about martial arts.

“Stop your wishful thinking, do you think an imperial palace is a place where anyone can walk in?” General Xu softly flickered his adamant son’s forehead with his finger and then attempted to gently remove his wrapped body from his leg but that proved fruitless, Xu Bu tong was acting all rebellious because he wouldn’t let go even if thunder was to strike him this very instance.

“Xu Bu tong, you better let go of my leg, or else I will s***k you so hard that you did start seeing those storybooks immortals you always read about” General Xu berated him with a stern face, he only ever called out his name that way when he was super angry, Xu Bu tong was usually scared at times like this but he wasn’t going to chicken out, not this time, the only way for Xu Bu tong to achieve such rebellious state of mind at a time when he wanted to piss in his pants was to act like he heard nothing his father had said.

Beads of sweat began to form on Xu Bu tong’s forehead, he didn’t dare to look his father in the eyes any longer however he still won’t let go “how long can I keep this up” he mumbled those words out as his big teary eyes began to water, even his personal maid Fen Mi who had been silently standing behind both father and son couldn’t help but voice out “young master how about you listen to Master, you can still train some other time”

“Whose side are you on” Xu Bu tong turned and stubbornly glared at Fen Mi thoroughly, Fen Mi could not believe that her good intentions were received this way, she only said that because she feared for her young master and didn’t want Master Xu to treat him unfairly.

Xu Bu tong couldn’t take the pressure his father was releasing his way, he was about to crumble in fear at his father’s might when he heard hearty laughter escaping his lips “Fine, I will let you accompany me this time”

Once Xu Bu tong heard these words, his teary eyes sparkled brightly, it was filled with excitement and restlessness, he couldn’t wait to be like his elder brother and father, Xu Bu tong let go of his father’s leg and began to spin around with his hand spread widely while shouting “Father is the best, the father is the ultimate best”.

General Xu felt like his heart could burst with happiness at this moment, his daughter was just too adorable, he could stay here watching her forever but that wasn’t possible since he had duties to fulfill.

General Xu started moving towards the manor gates, leaving behind the excited boy “Better follow me if you don’t want to be left behind” he said as he pushed open the huge heavy metal gate like it was a soft feather, General Xu was followed by the two of his soldiers, a young boy in white robes and a man in black robes, this two were both among his most trusted aids in the capital.

Xu Bu tong didn’t take Fen Mi out with him this time but instead took a boy servant that was also one of his attendants, the boys were called Jian Song and he senior Xu Bu tong by a year, they were like playmates since they were little, both boys were made to ride in the carriage even if Xu Bu tong would have preferred riding with his father on his horse, Xu Bu tong had previously asked to ride with his father but he had turned him down stating that it was too dangerous, Xu Bu tong didn’t like been treated like an egg and would have complained if it was any other day, but he understood that he could not request any more from his father on this day or he might end up losing what he had obtained through sweat and blood.

At such a young age, Xu Bu tong had learned the principle behind the advance and retreat tactics, you gain something to lose something, to make sacrifices for a greater purpose, he let go of his desire to ride a horse for the purpose of training in martial arts because he could sense that if he kept insisting on riding with his father, he might just send him home altogether and if that happens then Xu Bu tong will lose on both ends hence he made the decision to make that request another day. This goes to show how smart he was for such a young child.

Xu Bu tong kept looking outside the window of his wooden carriage slowly passing on the street, it was the first time he had left his father’s manor, and couldn’t be more excited by the hustling and bustling atmosphere in the capital, he gasped at everything he saw, from the street fighting to the different street vendors marketing their various wears using whatever means necessary, it was a thrilling experience, one he hoped to repeat in the not so distance future.