Golden Carp xx Dragon Gate
After getting ready, Luke headed down to the dining room.
Looking at his loved ones seated along the five-meter-long dining table, Luke felt an indescribable happiness.
His parents were busy making breakfast in the 40-square-meter open kitchen.
His younger siblings were playfully chasing each other around the 100-square-meter dining room.
Luke was just about to sigh sentimentally at the scene—
But his father's voice interrupted his thoughts:
"Luke, I've prepped all the ingredients—just waiting for you to cook."
With no choice, Luke accepted the apron from his mother and entered the kitchen to start preparing breakfast for the family…
---
Ever since Luke started cultivating, he could master anything the moment he tried it—and even fine-tune the details.
So whenever Luke was home from school, breakfast and dinner were always his responsibility—and they were 'universally praised'.
This skill had also won over countless young girls' hearts.
Cooking while reflecting, Luke thought to himself:
'It's a double-edged sword.'
He wasn't physically tired—just bothered by the time it took.
Still, any chef would feel fulfilled seeing their dishes completely devoured, and Luke was no exception.
---
After breakfast, the kids began packing their bags—
The holidays had started, and they were preparing to spend them at Yellowstone Ranch in Montana.
Luke 'loved' the ranch.
Before high school, he had studied in Montana, only returning to Los Angeles during breaks.
Now in university at Stanford, he usually came home on weekends to L.A., and returned to Yellowstone during long holidays.
Maybe it was due to his cultivation, but Luke always felt close to nature.
---
This time, joining Luke on the trip to the ranch were:
Jamie Dutton (John Dutton's second son)
Rip Wheeler (adopted son)
Beth Dutton (John's daughter)
Angela (Luke's biological younger sister)
Since they were planning to travel and have fun along the way, Luke prepared a heavily armored and modified Dodge RAM Mammoth.
Yes—you read that right: the Dodge Mammoth.
Because Luke had long proven his genius-level intellect, Grandpa had acquired Dodge Motors years ago.
Luke shamelessly pulled out design concepts from twenty years into the future—
The result? Massive profits, leaving GM and Ford choking in the dust.
---
Luke's father Drake was loading luggage and camping gear into the truck's rear with Jamie and Rip.
Angela and Beth came over with their packed suitcases.
Luke didn't have much to carry—just a backpack of clothes, as Yellowstone had everything he needed.
He went to the basement and came back with a large, long duffel bag.
By the time he reached the car, all the luggage was packed.
Luke tucked his oversized bag into a corner of the trunk himself.
Looking at his father, he asked quietly:
"Dad, did you load the beer into the fridge?"
Old Man gave him a look. Luke instantly understood.
Then his father patted him on the shoulder with a smile:
"Drive safe on the road. Take care of your siblings."
---
Luke's mom, Elsa, stood at the villa entrance with Luke's 10-year-old twin siblings, waving goodbye.
"If anything happens, call immediately."
Luke waved back and set off with the group.
---
There were five people in the car. Only Luke and Jamie had driving licenses.
Jamie had just gotten into Yale Law School.
Rip was 15. Beth and Angela were both 14—too young to legally drive, but all three already knew how, thanks to Luke taking them out driving on the ranch during holidays.
---
Their planned route:
From Los Angeles → Las Vegas → Salt Lake City → camping overnight in Idaho → Yellowstone Ranch, Montana.
Total distance: about 1,800 km (1,120 miles).
It was the first long-distance road trip for these young adventurers.
But with Grandpa's immense wealth, their family had eight private jets—so road trips were a rare luxury.
---
The family and Dutton family were very close.
They even partnered in business, leading to the Yellowstone Ranch expanding significantly—
Their neighbors now included their family's "Nick Ranch" (named after Grandpa's name).
The two families built homes near the shared border.
Grandpa had entrusted John Dutton to manage the ranch.
So the kids from both families could run wild across the vast lands, doing whatever they pleased.
Horse riding, fishing, camping, hunting—everyone could do it all.
But Luke was always the best.
---
The five teens cruised through California into Nevada, singing and munching on chips.
While still on the road, Luke got a call from his uncle (his grandma's nephew).
So as soon as they entered Nevada, they received a grand welcome.
---
Luke had always believed Grandpa had started from scratch in America.
But as he grew up, he realized his grandparents had kept a low profile.
He never knew Grandpa's background—but someone who could build a multi-billion-dollar empire in the heavily-dominated America surely wasn't ordinary.
But what surprised Luke the most was his sweet, gentle grandma—Mariana.
He found out she was from the Luciano family (as in Charles "Lucky" Luciano—the real-life inspiration for 'The Godfather').
She was the youngest—and only—daughter of the family, with three older brothers.
She was treated like a princess in the mob dynasty.
So anyone capable of marrying her—like Grandpa—must've been a legend, even if he never said a word.