Chapter 43

Chapter 43

There's another one in her belly?!!!

Qing Nong's words came to an abrupt halt. He was like a duck whose neck had been squeezed, his eyes bulging wide as he stared dazedly at the closed door. The midwives had already rushed back into the room to help.

After a long while, it was only when the Old Medical Cultivator approached cheerfully and began pacing around him that he finally snapped out of it. Qing Nong's eyes suddenly lit up!

Awooo awooo awooo!!! He could no longer contain his excitement and directly transformed back into his true form, wildly circling around the room. Two eggs!! Two of them!

That meant two cubs!!

Qing Nong's face flushed bright red. He couldn't hold back a few wild laughs and leapt three feet into the air with excitement. He snatched up the Old Medical Cultivator in his jaws and hopped around joyfully on the rooftop, making the ground seem to shake violently. If those elder dragons found out, who knew how happy they would be!

The Old Medical Cultivator was terrified, his face turning pale. He raised his walking stick and frantically whacked Qing Nong's nose. "You brat, what are you doing?! Put me down! It's not like it's your wife giving birth, so why are you so excited?!"

As his words fell, Qing Nong felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head. He quickly transformed back into human form, panic-stricken, and covered the Old Medical Cultivator's mouth. "Are you trying to get us killed? If Huo Wuyan hears that, we're both doomed!"

On a normal day, if he spoke even one extra word to Lu Yuanyin, Huo Wuyan's gaze would turn cold and frightening. If he heard this, who knew how Huo Wuyan would make them suffer.

Those weren't cubs—they were their living gods!!

Most spirit beast clans had difficulty producing offspring. Unlike humans, they eagerly anticipated every single cub's arrival.

Even the most ferocious spirit beasts would not casually slaughter cubs. If they found a cub from another race, they would raise it with care and affection. Some despicable spirit beasts would even secretly steal other's cubs to raise!

Qing Nong looked at the small golden egg resting quietly in the wedding quilt, his expression softening. Besides, these were Huo Wuyan and Lu Yuanyin's children. One was the person he admired most, the other the one who had risked her life to save him. How could Qing Nong not be excited that their children had been born safely!

Just as Qing Nong was about to pick up the little cub, he saw the Old Medical Cultivator also reaching out. Their eyes met, and both saw the unwillingness to yield in the other's gaze. They were about to start a fight over who would hold the plump golden egg when a slender hand slowly rested on the wedding quilt.

Both of them froze. Their gazes shifted upward, and they saw Huo Wuyan picking up the plump golden egg from the quilt with an expressionless face.

The egg was only the size of a palm, completely golden and perfectly round. It looked more like a child's pretty toy than an egg—fragile and delicate, almost weightless in his hand.

He could feel the faint residual warmth on the eggshell. Huo Wuyan's fingers were stiff, and there was a rare dazed look in his eyes. So this was the child Lu Yuanyin had risked her life to give birth to.

Their child.

Huo Wuyan turned his head slightly. His white hair fell, and a faint ripple passed through his crimson pupils. He could sense a low, weak fluctuation coming from within. Inside flowed blood that was the same as his.

Huo Wuyan's thoughts were hazy. These past few months felt like nothing more than a fleeting illusion he had experienced during his tribulation.

He had never imagined he would have offspring.

Because of his parents, he detested matters between men and women. He hated close contact with others. He had once thought he would live out his days as he always had—alone, silently falling, and sleeping forever beneath the dragon clan's forbidden grounds.

Unexpectedly, during an ordinary thunder tribulation, an arrogant and willful young girl had abruptly barged into the dim cave.

Even if he didn't want to admit it, he had to concede that even though he was gravely injured at the time, he could easily have killed Lu Yuanyin. Yet he had silently leaned against the stone wall, despicably allowing her subsequent offensive actions.

Huo Wuyan felt as if his long-dormant heart had been gently tugged. A complex emotion slowly spread through his chest. He couldn't help lightly touching the egg lying in his palm. He could hear his own heartbeat growing louder and more intense.

Qing Nong and the Old Medical Cultivator peeked at Huo Wuyan, watching the plump golden egg lying quietly in his palm. Their hearts itched with envy! They wanted to cuddle the cub too!

Damn! They wanted to steal that egg!

As time ticked by, a dampness filled the air. Huo Wuyan felt a coolness on his face. He looked up slightly and saw a few raindrops lightly landing on his cheek. The sky had turned dark, and heavy clouds gathered above the city like a giant beast lurking in the sky, ready to tear through the void at any moment. The giant trees in the courtyard swayed violently as sand and stones flew.

Several midwives rushed out of the room carrying basins of bloodied water. Even the noisy cicadas seemed to pause for a moment.

From inside the room came the midwife's encouraging shouts, mixed with Lu Yuanyin's agonized screams. Her voice was very weak, completely lacking her usual vitality.

Huo Wuyan put down the egg and turned his gaze, staring fixedly at the closed door. The thick smell of blood filled his nostrils, and his heart grew more restless.

The rain poured down. Just as Huo Wuyan's patience was about to run out, and he felt like barging into the room, the midwife's excited voice suddenly came from inside. "It's coming out, it's coming out! Just a little more effort, and it'll be done!"

As her words fell, the pattering raindrops fell one after another. The dark sky suddenly split open with a crack. Clouds drifted, and auspicious light appeared. Countless birds happily circled upward.

In this world, one side was a violent storm, while the other side was a sign of heavenly blessing—a truly peculiar sight.

Qing Nong and the Old Medical Cultivator looked at the unusual phenomenon in the sky, unable to stop their amazement. The dragon clan were divine beasts. They were born with the power to summon wind and rain, and their birth would cause unusual signs in heaven and earth. Auspicious clouds would gather, and the place of their birth would enjoy favorable weather for years. They had only heard of this legend before, but now they saw it with their own eyes.

Truly miraculous.

After Huo Wuyan and Lu Yuanyin left, the city remained deathly silent. It wasn't until their figures completely disappeared into the void that the crowd finally woke from their stupor.

At some point, the clear and cloudless sky that had been there just a moment ago was now covered in dark clouds. Layers of shadows overlapped, barely allowing any light to pass through. The world was dim, and the air in the city inexplicably felt stuffy and hot. Cicadas chirped incessantly.

People looked up in surprise at the suddenly changing weather, muttering to themselves. But within moments, a fierce wind swept through the city, raising sand and stones. Birds took off in alarm, and the thick trees swayed violently in the gale.

The sky was as dark as ink, pressing heavily down on the city, as if the entire void could collapse at any moment. It was a terrifying sight.

Given such dangerous conditions, the disciples didn't dare continue their matches. They leaped off the platform one after another and took shelter in the surrounding restaurants, frowning as they looked at the rolling black clouds above. "What kind of crazy weather is this? How ridiculous!"

"Didn't those guys from the Celestial Observation Tower say there would be no rain recently? They can't even predict the weather right. What else are those trash good for?!"

"That guy earlier was really scary. I thought a fight was going to break out! And those elders are all spitting blood..."

"That Gu Lingqiu is usually so arrogant, but now he's got his tail between his legs, not even daring to fart, haha!"

The crowd instantly buzzed with excitement. They looked at each other, all seeing envy and fear in each other's eyes. They ignored the ongoing competition and eagerly discussed what they had just seen and heard. The city was especially noisy.

Lu Sisi was silent for a moment before snapping back to reality. She quickly ran into the crowd, her face full of worry. She saw Gu Lingqiu still standing there with a gloomy expression. His hair bun was disheveled, and a few strands of hair hung over his brows, obscuring the look in his eyes.

His face was covered in bright red blood, making him look like a demon from hell—extremely terrifying.

She immediately felt heartbroken and tears streamed down her face. Lu Sisi bit her lip and couldn't help cursing, "A Yin has gone too far! You've been so good to her, how could she let someone treat you like this..."

"How could she be so cruel as to betray your true feelings!"

Then she looked at him with concern. "How are your eyes?" Her voice choked with tears.

But Gu Lingqiu just silently stared at the ground beneath his feet. Drops of bright red blood fell from his fingertips, leaving dark stains on the floor.

Lu Sisi wanted to examine the injury on his eyes further, but Gu Lingqiu suddenly stood up. He pushed her hand away with a gloomy expression and walked away from the crowd. Lu Sisi couldn't help stepping forward. "Brother Gu!"

In the blink of an eye, Gu Lingqiu's tall figure had quickly disappeared into the crowd. The onlookers buzzed with low murmurs at his disheveled state.

Lu Sisi stared blankly at the direction he had gone. A wave of inexplicable sadness washed over her. Hearing the undisguised sourness and envy in the people's words, she felt an unbearable ache in her heart.

The person everyone envied should have been her!

But then, thinking of what Lu Yuanyin had just done, she couldn't help feeling a trace of relief.

By publicly humiliating Brother Gu like this with Huo Wuyan, with Gu Lingqiu's sharp nature, even if Lu Yuanyin regretted it later, he would never forgive her. She had personally pushed Brother Gu away, snuffing out their last sliver of hope.

From now on, there was absolutely no possibility between them!

Lu Sisi bit her red lips fiercely. Brother Gu could only be hers!

Chongyao Sect Master exchanged glances with the other elders. They saw the deep complexity in each other's eyes, never expecting such a thing to happen today.

This Gu Lingqiu, despite his youth, he already had remarkable cultivation, and had the potential to become a second Immortal Lord Changye.

They had already decided to carefully nurture this promising seedling. After interacting with him these past few days, they had sensed that beneath his calm and steady exterior lay an extreme pride and arrogance. He was intensely proud, conceited, and had a radical temperament.

Almost having his eyes gouged out by Huo Wuyan in public, humiliated and embarrassed like that, they wondered if it would affect his future disposition. Cultivation leaves no room for mistakes; one mistake will inevitably plant a root of disaster.

Chongyao Sect Master sighed helplessly, swallowing the blood that surged in his throat, and said to the elders in a low voice, "I'll go check on Lingqiu. You handle things here."

Today's decision—whether it was right or wrong...

The elders, recalling Huo Wuyan's actions earlier, looked grim. "But what about the dragon clan..."

Chongyao Sect Master patted his shoulder and comforted him quietly, "It's fine. He has so many things to deal with every day; he won't bother with these childish matters. Don't worry."

With that, his form flickered and vanished, then reappeared hundreds of meters away in an instant.

Gu Lingqiu rode his flying sword, speeding toward the Chongyao Sect territory. The fierce wind whipped his jet-black hair, and he strode with a dark expression toward his room.

In front of the courtyard, a small peach tree stood. Gu Lingqiu paused—this was planted by Lu Yuanyin four years ago.

Now the branches were covered in small green peaches. Gu Lingqiu stared fixedly at the tree, as if he could still see Lu Yuanyin's busy figure. Her smiling face gradually fused with that hateful face from before, and he couldn't help but draw his sword and frantically slash at the massive tree. Sharp sword aura exploded, leaving deep gashes on the trunk.

Until the tree could no longer take it and snapped cleanly in half, dust flying. Gu Lingqiu leaned weakly against the wall, then slumped to the floor in defeat.

Gu Lingqiu sat silently in a corner, strands of hair messily falling over his brows, obscuring the dark expression in his eyes. Thinking of the humiliation that cursed couple had inflicted on him, thinking of the strange looks from those around him, he felt as if his heart had been ripped out and thrown to the ground, trampled without mercy.

He could accept betrayal from anyone, but not from Lu Yuanyin...

He had only just managed to escape the shadow of his past humiliation, yet now the one who hurt him was the person he once cherished most, bringing that beast to humiliate him so thoroughly before so many people!

Rage filled his heart, nearly drowning him. A flash of red crept into his eyes, and a murderous intent flashed across his face.

Gu Lingqiu looked at his longsword, at the faded tassel on the hilt, and felt laughable in a way he couldn't put into words. Even now, he still couldn't bear to let go of that venomous woman!

He laughed bitterly, then suddenly yanked off the faded tassel. Spiritual light flickered in his palm, sparks kindled from his fingertips, instantly engulfing the tassel.

As the flames flickered, the tassel slowly crumbled into a pile of black ash. Gu Lingqiu felt as if his heart had been scorched clean, leaving an empty void.

Before long, rain began to fall from the sky. The rain fell like a woven curtain, shrouding the whole town in a hazy mist. The sound of pattering water came from outside the window, and raindrops cast countless reflections on the thin window pane.

It seemed even the heavens wept for him, mourning his humiliation.

The hand hidden in his sleeve suddenly clenched. Gu Lingqiu's dark eyes were overcast with gloom as he gripped his sword so tightly his knuckles went white. Slowly, he took out a jade talisman, thinking of what those people had said.

He curled his lips into a cruel smile.

Since she was so heartless, he would not blame himself for being unjust.

The rain poured down in torrents, waves churning.

Above the turbulent sea, several white-haired elders raised lotus leaves to carefully scoop up fish from the water. The shore was already strewn with dead sea beasts.

Those sea beasts, normally arrogant and high-and-mighty, now wished they could slink away with tails tucked. Seeing their food supplies nearly exhausted, their hearts ached as if bleeding, but they dared not let a single expression show.

After they had fished out every small silver fish from that sea area, the elders looked at the fish in their baskets and couldn't help but beam. These small silver fish are a unique treasure of the Boundless Sea, rich in spiritual energy and tender in flavor. Normally, they were worth a fortune, and our little treasure will surely love them!

They chattered quietly while carefully picking over the fish. This one's too skinny—not fit for our cub's mouth—toss it!

This one's too fat—definitely greasy—toss it!

Hong Rong sat lazily to the side with a twig in his mouth. Watching those sea beasts who dared not voice their anger, he wiped the sweat from his brow. These sea beasts usually used their thick skins to bully everyone, but now they've met the dragon clan—a bunch of bandits!

Hong Rong couldn't help but gloat. Ever since those old dragons heard there was a cub, they waited to retrieve the Xun Dragon Pearl, then hurried off to Chongyao Sect. Along the way, they wanted to take every good thing they saw for the cub, looting countless tribes and making their trip drag on.

He spat out the twig and was about to stand up, but the jade talisman in his sleeve was flickering madly. Hong Rong raised an eyebrow and activated the communication talisman. On the other side, Qing Nong's face suddenly appeared, contorted with excitement.

His features were so distorted that he looked unbearably ugly. Hong Rong felt like looking away, but before he could speak, Qing Nong bellowed, "It's born! It's born!"

Hong Rong was baffled. "What's born? Explain clearly! You're being absurd."

Born? What?

The old dragons also perked up their ears.

Just as they were confused, Qing Nong's shrill voice came through, "You idiot! Did you think it was your father who gave birth?! You pig brain! It's Lu Yuanyin who gave birth!"

As his words fell, Hong Rong's mind went blank.

The old dragons froze, staring blankly, when Qing Nong continued shouting, "Two cubs!!!"

"Two! Two!"

All the old dragons: "Whoa??!!!!"

Author's note:

None.