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墨書 Inktalez
In the eerie black sky, the massive Golden Winged Bird flapped its wings to disperse the dark clouds. The woman on its back clasped her hands together, her long hair flying wildly. Around her, a soft red light flickered, and a red lotus formed from waves of light slowly unfolded its petals behind her.
The petals stacked upon one another seemed to cover the entire sky of the Infinite Demon Realm. The light emitted by the petals grew brighter and brighter, like gentle and pure moonlight showering down on everyone.
Lang Ye and Po Jun exchanged glances and simultaneously said, "Crimson Lotus Seal, could she really be Light Eye?"
Kong Xuan murmured softly, as if speaking in a dream, "No, she is just Tang Zisu, my Tang Zisu."
Malachite was purified in Tang Zisu's hands, appearing as if it were an exquisite ice sculpture, with flowing green water seemingly moving back and forth, a drop of red tear encapsulated at its center.
Tang Zisu completed the purification and slowly opened her eyes. The first person she saw was Kong Xuan, and then she reached out her hand holding Malachite towards him.
"Be careful." Kong Xuan let out a heart-wrenching roar as he realized that a hand formed from black mist in the Mire Wasteland was grasping the foot of the Golden-Winged Roc.
Dapeng let out a long cry. He charged upward with all his strength to shake off that hand, but the murky black mist gradually coalesced into a giant shadow. It resembled an illusory figure yet possessed the most terrifying substance; the shattered Bone Demon had completely absorbed millions of Demon Souls and transformed into the largest Demon Soul of black mist.
The ever-changing elongated arm chased after him again, grabbing Dapeng's wing. Dapeng tried once more to pull his wing free, but the black mist tightly ensnared it, with countless tendrils extending towards Tang Zisu.
The black mist grew thicker and denser, firmly entangling Dapeng while enveloping Tang Zisu so completely that she soon vanished from sight.
Kong Xuan, Lang Ye, and Po Jun continuously slashed at the black mist with their weapons, but once their weapons touched it, they became stuck and could not move an inch.
Kong Xuan gritted his teeth, tossed aside his weapon, and dove into the mass of black mist that surrounded Tang Zisu.
What seemed like a single mass transformed into an entire world upon entry—spacious yet dark, lonely and filled with despair.
Kong Xuan felt as if each step he took was sinking into a swamp, a force pulling his feet downward, trying to drag him into an abyss from which there was no return.
Yet, despite this, he refused to stop. He walked and shouted, "Tang Zisu, Tang Zisu, Tang Zisu."
Suddenly, a glimmer of light appeared ahead. Kong Xuan's heart leaped; it was the light emitted by Malachite.
Despair and loneliness vanished in an instant. Kong Xuan hurried forward, racing toward that glimmer.
Closer, even closer, he slowly saw Tang Zisu, mostly engulfed by dark mist.
"Tang Zisu," Kong Xuan called out, his voice trembling uncontrollably.
Tang Zisu had disheveled long hair. She shouted, "Don't come over, Kong Xuan, hurry and leave!"
"If we are leaving, we leave together. I won't abandon you."
"No." Tang Zisu shook her head desperately, her tangled hair entwined with the dark mist. "Do you know where this is? This is inside the Bone Demon. I am almost completely consumed by it. Don't worry about me, just go!"
"I won't leave. If we don't get out today, I'll stay here with you." Kong Xuan felt he had reached Tang Zisu, but the dark mist loomed like a mountain between them. He bit through ten fingers and used his bloodied hands to tear at the dark mist. It seemed to fear his blood; whenever it touched it, it dispersed. But soon enough, new waves of mist surrounded him again, endlessly pouring forth.
When his blood ran out, Kong Xuan used his teeth to rip open the wounds. Soon, his lips and teeth were stained with his own blood, contrasting sharply against his pale face.
The dark mist around Tang Zisu had reached her chest, making it increasingly difficult for her to breathe. Yet the sound of Kong Xuan tearing at his own flesh was even clearer. She watched helplessly as he turned himself into a bloody mess, writhing and trembling like a snake from exertion and pain. She couldn't bear it; she didn't want Kong Xuan to die before her eyes.
Somehow finding strength she didn't know she had, Tang Zisu bit down on her tongue, blood flowing from the corner of her mouth onto the Malachite in her hand. With her last bit of strength, she threw it to Kong Xuan, then mumbled indistinctly, "Monster Porridge."
The Malachite landed squarely in Kong Xuan's hand. His blood mixed with Tang Zisu's blood, causing the Malachite to burn hot enough to feel like it would ignite.
"Kong Xuan!" he cried out, his voice piercing like a dying beast. Fear, despair, and sorrow were insufficient to describe his emotions; he felt himself gradually being consumed by darkness along with Tang Zisu.
A single tear, a green tear edged with gold, flowed from his right eye like a pearl. It fell with a soft plop onto the Malachite, quickly soaking into it before disappearing. Kong Xuan's right eye became a dark void, devoid of its pupil.
It turned out that a peacock only had one tear throughout its life; once this tear was shed, what followed was the loss of its eye.
From the chaotic darkness came a chilling laughter, as if thousands of voices intertwined shouted, "Kong Xuan, I have won! I have won!"
Kong Xuan lay on the ground, his body stiff as if dead, still tightly clutching the Malachite in his hand.
"I have won! I have won! I have won!" The voice surged like waves, gradually spreading across the realms, causing the heavens to tremble and the earth to quake in sorrow.
Dapeng, Lang Ye, and Pojun were also gradually surrounded by the dark mist. A rift opened in the sky above the Infinite Demon Realm, and black energy began to seep into the human realm.
The rivers and mountains of the human world roared with chaos.
Kong Xuan moved his hand that held the Malachite. He slowly rose and tossed the Malachite into the air, where a massive thousand-petal lotus and an illusion of a white-feathered peacock immediately appeared.
Kong Xuan flew into the illusion; gradually, his body became transparent, surrounded by a radiant light like the fireflies he had shown Tang Zisu that day.
Kong Xuan's form was nearly invisible, yet his voice rang clear and loud: "In the name of Buddha and in the form of a peacock, I seal all Demon Souls of the Infinite Demon Realm into dust for eternity..."
The light surrounding Kong Xuan grew brighter and stronger, resembling a warm sunrise. The swirling black mist melted away in the light; even the darkness enveloping Tang Zisu dissipated. The light gently caressed her like a warm hand as she slowly opened her eyes.
Seeing Tang Zisu awake, Kong Xuan smiled at her and then extended his arms toward her.
Holding hands together for eternity—he had always thought such pretentious words were beyond him, but it seemed he would never have the chance to say them.
"Come closer and take a closer look. I want to hold you and then tell you, 'I love you.'"
In the moment when their fingertips touched, Kong Xuan's body flew backward, and a blinding white light flashed before Tang Zisu's eyes. Even though she was not afraid of the burning pain and opened her eyes wide, she could no longer find Kong Xuan.
The light continued to spread, as if after a long night, day had finally arrived. The heavens roared; what should rise did rise, what should fall did fall, what should dissipate did dissipate, and everything that should turn to dust became the black earth beneath their feet.
That year, many significant events occurred.
That year, Sun Wukong wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, nearly destroying it completely. In the end, Tathagata from the West subdued him under Five Elements Mountain.
That year, the Heavenly Emperor showed mercy, and the Demon Realm finally received rain and sunlight, allowing flowers and grass to flourish across vast lands.
That year, the human realm experienced unprecedented earthquakes, leaving ruins and debris scattered everywhere.
That year, Emperor Liu Hui and Huaiyang Wang Liu Yang, who had been entangled in a struggle for the throne for nearly a month, shook hands and made peace while all officials worked hard to rescue those who survived the earthquake.
That year, Liu Hui took on the role of his father's savior and vowed that his harem would only have Queen Qiao as his sole consort, never taking another wife.
That year, a chancellor who could grind tofu and a general who could slaughter pigs emerged in court. Although they argued every time they met in court, giving headaches to the emperor and officials alike, sometimes they would go together to enjoy a bowl of tofu stew with pork and drink a cup of Osmanthus wine. Then they would sit together on a divine blade and soar into the sky, wandering around.
That year, Black Wolf King returned to his home on the Prairie while bringing back a girl with him, marking the beginning of his fate of kneeling on a washboard every night.
That year, Golden-Winged Great Pavilion King visited Yama's Ten Halls but returned to Lion Ridge under Huaisu Wang's disappointed gaze.
That year, Po Jun adopted a little fox and declared that he would raise her and then marry her.
That year was filled with ups and downs; some were happy while others were sad. Some lives ended while others began anew.
That year, Tang Zisu lost the most important person in her life.
In the capital city, within a deep courtyard, a woman in plain clothes was cradling a baby who had just turned one month old.
A young boy with a dot of vermilion between his brows hurriedly approached and shooed her away from the window, closing it behind him. "Mistress, the doctor said you are weak and cannot be exposed to the wind. Why don’t you listen?"
Tang Zisu casually handed the child to Horse Abdomen and gently said, "How many times have I told you not to call me Mistress? Call me Tang Zisu. Repeat after me: Tang Zisu. If you call me wrong again next time, I will spank you."
Horse Abdomen's little face turned bright red. He opened his mouth several times before finally managing to say, "Tang Zisu."
"Good." Tang Zisu patted his face as if treating him like a little cat.
Horse Abdomen felt his face getting hotter. He placed the sleeping baby in the cradle and turned to look at Tang Zisu, only to find her gazing dreamily outside again.
"It’s August now; the osmanthus in Peacock Valley should be blooming, right? The osmanthus tree in the back courtyard of the Shrine smells the best. Softy loves to pick it to make osmanthus pastries. Lang Ye likes to lie under the osmanthus tree, while Jumping and Little Fish enjoy arguing beneath it. Kong Xuan..."
She had promised herself not to think about him, to forget him, but he was like an omnipresent air that filled her body.
Horse Abdomen came over, squatted in front of her, and looked up at her. "The Golden-Winged Roc King sent word a few days ago that the Phoenix King has emerged from seclusion. You should take the child to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. First, let the Phoenix King see the child; second, you can ask him about Reincarnation in person."
Tang Zisu touched her fingertips. Ever since that day when Kong Xuan shattered the Bone Demon and Horse Abdomen carried her back to the human realm, she had developed this habit. Every time she touched her fingertips, she felt warmth as if that person was holding her hand.
Seeing her lost in thought again, Horse Abdomen quickly said, "I heard that the Phoenix King is skilled in Qi and Huang techniques. When you meet him, let him help you with your health. Since that day I brought you back from the Infinite Demon Realm, your body has been weak for some unknown reason."
Tang Zisu smiled bitterly; what other reason could there be? She had already lost half of her life to Kong Xuan; now this half-life was purely reserved for the baby in the cradle.
Because Tang Zisu was going to Phoenix Palace for the Mid-Autumn Festival, Liu Hui brought his Queen Qiao a few days early to accompany Tang Zisu for the holiday.
Queen Qiao was pregnant, and her belly was particularly large even though she was only four months along. When getting off the carriage, Liu Hui was so nervous that his heart almost jumped out. He supported the queen's waist while repeatedly urging her to be careful.
Queen Qiao had beautiful brows and big eyes, exuding a hint of heroism, clearly a spirited woman. She pushed Liu Hui away, saying, "Go away, I'm not that fragile."
Liu Hui quickly took the cloak from the guards and carefully draped it over the queen, adjusting her hair as he said, "Xiao Qiao, you are not the same as before; your belly is too big now, and I’m worried."
Although Xiao Qiao complained verbally, her heart felt as if it were smeared with honey, sweet enough to melt away. Her eyes were filled with the look of a happy little woman.
Tang Zisu came out just in time to witness this scene.
Seeing Tang Zisu, Xiao Qiao hurriedly said, "Didn’t I say you shouldn’t come out to greet us? You look as slender as a bamboo stick. Vine Lily, how are you taking care of her? Quickly help Tang Zisu back inside."
Everyone entered the house and let Liu Hui and Xiao Qiao sit at the head of the table. The servants immediately served tea and fruit. Liu Hui quickly said, "Bring out the large duck pears and Osmanthus pastries I brought."
Xiao Qiao smiled and said, "This Osmanthus pastry just arrived from the south this morning. The emperor saw it and said you would definitely like it, so he brought some for you."
Upon seeing the golden Osmanthus pastry, Tang Zisu felt tears welling up in her eyes. When Softy made this for the first time, she had overcooked it a bit and added too much sugar, making it sweet to the point of bitterness. However, everyone happily shared a large plate of it, even Kong Xuan, who didn’t like sweets, managed to finish a piece. Later on, Tang Zisu saw him pouring tea from a teapot bowl by bowl, his brows furrowed all afternoon without relaxing. During dinner, Tang Zisu specially made a plate of stir-fried bitter melon with eggs for him. Kong Xuan only took one bite before frowning again and asked, "What is this?" Tang Zisu replied, "Bitter melon; you’ve been a bitter melon all afternoon today." After hearing this, Kong Xuan's expression crumbled a bit as he realized that Tang Zisu still remembered how he had frowned and made faces back then; it didn’t diminish his handsomeness but rather added to his charm...
"Tang Zisu, the queen is speaking to you," Horse Abdomen nudged Tang Zisu, pulling her back from her memories.
"Oh, Your Majesty, what did you say?" Tang Zisu lowered her head to wipe her tears with her sleeve.
"I was asking why Little Fish and Jumping haven't arrived yet."
"They're probably arguing on the way."
As soon as Tang Zisu finished speaking, Liu Hui burst into laughter. "These two are truly my treasures! Today in the main hall I wanted to send Jumping to battle against the Xiongnu, but Little Fish absolutely refused to let him go. However, Jumping insisted on going, and they ended up arguing in the hall; I almost died laughing."
Little Fish and Jumping are now inseparable, yet they have never expressed their feelings for each other. Jumping is as thick-headed as a water bucket, while Little Fish always sticks to their so-called uncle-nephew relationship. This deep affection is being dragged out and concealed like pickled vegetables, fermenting into a sour taste.
Little Bridge Empress opened her mouth and took a slice of green tangerine that Liu Hui handed over. Tang Zisu watched, feeling the acidity, and asked Little Bridge: "Your Majesty, do you like sour things?"
"Not just sour; she has no aversion to sweet, bitter, or spicy either. At this rate, she'll surely become a big fat person," Liu Hui interjected before Little Bridge could respond.
With her hand covered in tangerine juice, Little Bridge wiped it on the Emperor's golden embroidered robe: "So what if I get fat? Are you going to divorce me?"
"Oh dear Empress, I wouldn't dare even if I had the courage."
Tang Zisu smiled gently as she watched the two flirt with each other. However, Horse Abdomen was not as calm; he feared that Tang Zisu might be hurt. She might not show it now, but once everyone left, she could end up feeling sad for a long time. This royal couple should really stay at home instead of flaunting their affection in public.
It was quite annoying.
Fortunately, Jumping and Little Fish arrived. This time they did not argue; they simply ignored each other, even sitting back-to-back, which made everyone chuckle quietly.
Liu Hui thought that Little Fish was cowardly. What’s so hard about confessing feelings? Would saying he liked someone kill him? Once Liu Hui, the Emperor, bottled up his feelings, it could turn into something truly terrible. He had an idea; he was determined to play matchmaker.
Liu Hui asked: "An Ai Qing, how old are you this year?"
Little Fish quickly stood up to respond: "Your Majesty, I have wasted nineteen years of my life."
A loud crunch echoed as Jumping bit into a pear—how did he not choke on it!
Liu Hui continued: "Have you ever married?" Little Fish shook his head. Liu Hui slammed the table: "Good! I still have eight unmarried sisters. Pick one that you like!"
A mouthful of tea sprayed onto Little Fish, and Huang Sang resembled the maid from "Red Sleeves," leading a group of young ladies and waving a perfumed handkerchief in front of him: "Oh young man, I have eight lovely young ladies here; choose whichever one you fancy."
Little Fish stood up to wipe the water off his back, but he couldn't reach it. He huffed, "Why did you splash water on me, Piggy Jump?"
Jumping turned away indifferently: "What are you pulling? You're not even a prince; do you really think you've climbed up to become a phoenix?"
As soon as Liu Hui saw that his words had an effect, he seized the opportunity: "An Ai Qing, why don't you say something? If you feel overlooked, I can marry all eight of them to you."
Wow, eight? Does the emperor have a sister factory at home? With Little Fish's small stature, wouldn't that just make him a target?
Little Fish quickly waved his hands: "No need for that, Your Majesty. You should keep them for alliances. Eight is too much for me; I'm still young, and besides, how can I settle down when the world is in turmoil?"
"Alright!" Liu Hui slapped the table. "I'm very touched by your response, so I will appoint you as an advisor to accompany Jumping General to bring peace to the world!"
Little Bridge Empress was counting how she ended up with eight sisters-in-law and finally understood the emperor's meaning. She suddenly felt she wasn't in sync with him. Tang Zisu watched Little Fish and Jumping, smiling; this pair of bickering lovers would probably get closer with Liu Hui's addition.
Thinking of this, Tang Zisu suddenly said: "Little Fish, Jumping, loving well during the time we can love is a very happy thing."
Little Fish and Jumping suddenly turned red, but they could see the uncontainable sadness in Tang Zisu's smile. It was almost a despair that hardened the heart into stone; perhaps one cannot let go of all constraints without experiencing life and death—just simply loving someone.
The atmosphere became somewhat heavy. Horse Abdomen quickly said, "I'll go bring the child for the emperor to see."
Horse Abdomen brought the child in front of Liu Hui. Little Fish and Jumping also leaned over to take a look. Just then, the child woke up and was pouting his little mouth adorably, with big bright eyes that sparkled like two large emeralds set in his milk-white face.
Little Bridge teased him with a necklace around her neck. The one-month-old baby actually smiled at her, grinning innocently without teeth.
Little Bridge excitedly shouted at Liu Hui: "He smiled at me! He smiled at me!"
Tang Zisu said: "He is congratulating the empress on being pregnant with a Dragon and Phoenix fetus."
Although Liu Hui knew they were not ordinary people, he still found it quite magical. He asked, "Tang Zisu, can you understand what he is saying?"
Tang Zisu nodded, "Of course, a mother and child share a bond."
The birth of this child had caused Tang Zisu considerable suffering, but everyone had been there to care for her. Even Peng Yue had brought the best doctors to attend to Tang Zisu, as her health was too fragile; she was too weak to give birth, especially since she was not carrying an ordinary child.
At the last moment, she sent the midwife away, leaving only Softy by her side. She feared that giving birth to an egg or a small fluffball would frighten everyone. However, in the end, it was just an ordinary child; aside from being a bit fairer and prettier, there was nothing unusual about him. But now Tang Zisu began to worry: without any characteristics of the Phoenix Clan, could this child truly be considered one of them? Would he be able to recognize his ancestry?
That night, after everyone had left, Tang Zisu sat alone at a small stone table in the backyard. She filled two cups with wine and slowly drank by herself.
Moonlight spilled over the tall trees and flowed onto her hands. Tang Zisu tried to catch the moonlight in her hands but found it had already stained her clothes.
It had only been a year since he last took her to see the moon, yet it felt like a lifetime ago. The moon now was rounder and bigger than it had been that day, but it lacked its warmth.
Tang Zisu raised her cup to invite the moon, calling out to that unknown person, "Dare you indulge in a drink with me?"
In love, one always dares to indulge but never dares to let go!
Horse Abdomen stood in the shadows watching Tang Zisu. He knew that even though her body was not suited for staying out in the cool night for long or drinking cup after cup of wine, he could not stop her. He could not deny her even a moment of reckless longing for Kong Xuan.
Kong Xuan, Kong Xuan, your name is like a spell. Are you alive or dead? Where have you gone?
On Mid-Autumn Festival day, Peng Yue personally came to pick up Tang Zisu.
As soon as the baby saw Peng Yue, his big eyes blinked rapidly at him. Peng Yue felt as if he were being drawn into two sparkling green waters; by the time he looked up again, his eyes were already red.
Phoenix Palace is located on Cangnan Mountain at Wutong Peak. Tang Zisu held the child and flew atop Auspicious Cloud over the majestic mountains. Here, the landscape was vast and beautiful; everywhere was adorned with green phoenix trees, and lakes sparkled like pearls scattered among the mountains. The clear waters shimmered with light, flowers bloomed with fragrance, birds sang sweetly, and white mist swirled around—truly a fairyland.
"That is the Phoenix Palace," Peng Yue said, pointing at the palace surrounded by a rainbow glow. "I haven't been back for many years."
Suddenly, a clear cry rang out as a fiery red bird flew over.
Tang Zisu exclaimed in excitement, "Phoenix!"
Peng Yue replied, "That's the Xuan Bird. There are many birds here that look like phoenixes, but there is only one true phoenix."
Feeling embarrassed for her outburst, Tang Zisu watched as the Xuan Bird transformed into a young girl in red standing before Peng Yue.
She bowed gracefully and said in a melodious voice, "Xuan Bird Zhu Er pays respects to the Great Peng King."
Peng Yue, with an air of nobility, nodded lightly for her to rise and then said, "Quickly take us to see the Phoenix King."
Tang Zisu recalled what Kong Xuan had said about the phoenix undergoing a rebirth every five hundred years, forgetting all past ties. Thus, there was no real father-son bond between them. After reaching adulthood, both he and Peng Yue had built their own palaces elsewhere. She wondered what kind of person the Phoenix King would be.
Under the guidance of the Xuan Bird, they arrived at a magnificent palace. Half of it was hidden in the clouds, while the exposed part appeared to be made of white stone like Han Baiyu, shimmering under the sunlight. Surrounding the palace were swaying green paulownia trees, blooming with purple flowers that stretched into the azure sky like wisps of smoke and clouds, rolling gently in the breeze.
As they drew closer, a sense of reverence welled up in Tang Zisu's heart. Was this where Kong Xuan was born?
A figure slowly descended the steps, enveloped in a faint red glow. His plain robe brushed against the ground, moving like blossoming lotus flowers with each step.
Though Tang Zisu could not clearly see his face, she knew this must be the Phoenix King. She quickly adjusted her clothing and took the child from Horse Abdomen behind her.
Peng Yue had already knelt down in worship, saying, "Father."
The Phoenix King reached out to help Peng Yue up but looked at Tang Zisu and asked, "Are you the mortal woman that Xuan Er spoke of?"
Tang Zisu responded with a yes, then performed a graceful bow. She looked up at Phoenix King and suddenly understood why Kong Xuan looked the way he did.
It could be said that Phoenix King resembled Kong Xuan somewhat, but his demeanor and mannerisms were just like Peng Yue's. He was essentially a combination of the two brothers, or rather, a singular product of them both.
Phoenix King glanced at the child in Tang Zisu's arms and reached out to uncover the swaddling cloth. He examined the child from head to toe, who was quite spirited and even grinned back at him.
Phoenix King smiled slightly, like a light boat drifting on emerald waves. Tang Zisu felt her heart flutter again; this family was so stunning that it made it impossible to have friends!
"Does he have a name yet?" Phoenix King's voice sounded like pearls dropping onto a jade plate.
Tang Zisu hurriedly replied, "Not yet, his nickname is Baby. You are his grandfather, and since his father is not here, please bestow him a name."
Phoenix King frowned. Tang Zisu noticed that all three of them had a particular fondness for this gesture, and they each did it in their own uniquely attractive way.
"That's not necessary," Phoenix King replied coldly.
Tang Zisu was somewhat confused. "What do you mean? Don't you recognize him as your grandson? Is there a paternity test here? Let him confirm DNA compatibility with you as his grandfather."
Naturally, Tang Zisu's words were hard for everyone to understand. However, Phoenix King always spoke his mind. He said, "Wait for Kong Xuan to name him."
Tang Zisu struggled to comprehend his words. Kong Xuan—Kong Xuan was already nowhere to be found; how could he name the child?
Phoenix King's hand touched the child's face. "He is not dead, nor does he need reincarnation; he will return. You have his ties there."
This statement from Phoenix King nearly brought Tang Zisu to her knees. Although she wouldn't admit that Kong Xuan would die, she couldn't imagine him coming back. Phoenix King's words were like an umbrella in the storm or a bowl of hot soup in the snow.
Phoenix King was aloof; after giving the child a golden pearl, he vanished without a trace. Peng Yue said this pearl was a treasure known as the Golden Auspicious Pearl, which could ward off poison, fire, and water. Usually, Wind King cherished it greatly, so giving it so generously to the baby showed how much he liked this child.
Knowing that Kong Xuan was still alive filled Tang Zisu with strength. She wanted to ask the Phoenix King about Kong Xuan's whereabouts, but Peng Yue stopped her, saying that if he knew, he would have told her already. Since he didn't say anything, it meant he didn't know. He urged her not to worry and promised to send more people to inquire, advising her to take good care of the children.
Tang Zisu felt grateful towards Peng Yue. He had saved her when she was left with only a breath in the Infinite Demon Realm, and now he was helping her again. Although she knew he was Kong Xuan's biological brother, she still felt thankful.
Peng Yue's search in the celestial realm lasted only five days, but five years had passed in the human world.
Five years was enough to extinguish a person's hope.
During these five years, many changes occurred. Liu Hui indeed had twins, and now Little Bridge was pregnant again. She was anxious and had no time for battles; Liu Hui coaxed her, saying, "I won't take a consort, so why not give me a few more children?" Reluctantly, Little Bridge Empress agreed with tears in her eyes. With such a sentimental yet reliable CEO, she decided to continue having children!
Jumping and Little Fish also got married. They initially planned to bring their families to the capital, but Butcher Zhi and Butcher Zhu thought there were too many people in the capital and only sent Jumping's younger brother to study there, aiming for him to be the top scholar this year. In recent years, due to unrest in the border regions, Jumping had been constantly fighting on the battlefield without time to have children with Little Fish. So, Little Fish resigned from his position as Left Chancellor to serve as his wife’s strategist. The couple fought side by side on the battlefield, instilling fear in their enemies. People might not know that the emperor of the Great Celestial Empire was named Liu Hui, but they certainly knew of the Butcher General and Tofu Strategist.
The most interesting case was Lang Ye. After Softy returned to the prairie with him, she had not become pregnant. It was already difficult for humans and demons to conceive, and doctors warned that given Softy's mortal constitution, even if she did conceive, it could endanger her life.
Many wolves came to see him; the Wolf King could not be without heirs. They suggested that the Wolf King take another concubine and even selected a lineup of wolves for Lang Ye to choose from.
Softy felt pressured and ran away from home late at night, nearly freezing to death on the prairie. When Lang Ye found her, he was terrified and declared on the spot that he would only have one woman in his life—Mi Ruanruan—regardless of whether she could bear children.
Strangely enough, after that incident, Softy became pregnant.
This frightened Lang Ye; he worried for Softy's life. In his attempts to learn from monkeys about how to handle such situations, he thought of someone—those elderly men he had helped over the years.
Lang Ye rushed overnight to find Taishang Laojun. After causing a ruckus with Sun Wukong, Laojun now had headaches whenever he saw anyone. Lang Ye explained his purpose and shamelessly begged Laojun for help.
With a long sigh, Laojun said, "Don't you know that humans and demons are different? What kind of child are you trying to have? It's simply playing with fire."
Lang Ye replied, "You say humans and demons are different; I say all paths lead to the same destination. Please help me; she's pregnant with a child—perhaps more than one."
Lang Ye pulled at his beard and tugged at his hair, causing Taishang Laojun to feel intimidated. He gave him two pills to make him leave quickly.
Lang Ye perked up, asking, "Are there any dietary restrictions? Should I take them before or after meals? Will there be any side effects?"
Taishang Laojun replied with a strong voice, "Leave."
Lang Ye flipped back to the Prairie.
Softy had already undergone a fundamental change in her constitution after taking the pills. These two pills granted Softy three thousand years of lifespan, enough for her to accompany Lang Ye in exploring the vast world. However, Lang Ye felt it was still insufficient; he wished that no matter if they died or were reborn, they could always be together.
Softy gave birth to four cubs, all male. Three were genuine Little Black Wolves, while one was an infant with a little tail dragging behind. At that moment, Softy had already fainted, and Lang Ye hurriedly ordered someone to take the children away, fearing that Softy would be scared upon seeing them, as humans and beasts were inherently different.
By the time the first month passed and Softy still had not seen the children, she cried and shouted, asking if the children were dead. Lang Ye quickly dismissed the thought, insisting that the little ones were alive and well, healthy and thriving! When Softy asked why he wouldn’t let her see them, Lang Ye thought it over and realized she would eventually find out. So he led her to see them.
The little wolves were just in time for feeding. The Wolf Nanny he found was lying on a soft mat, with three little wolves and one infant nursing beneath her. The infant was delicate and tender-skinned, but its little black tail wiggled adorably.
Softy stood there in a daze, not saying a word, but her expression grew increasingly grim.
Lang Ye was terrified; what was wrong with his little Wife? Would she reject their children? Oh no! The wolf life was too cruel; he needed comfort!
Suddenly, Softy moved, striding over to the Wolf Nanny. Lang Ye, feeling cowardly, closed his eyes, bracing himself for what might happen next. He feared that Softy would throw the children away one by one; he couldn’t bear to witness such a bloody scene.
Instead, Softy gathered all four children into her arms. The little Brat, having left the nipple, cried out insistently. Tears streamed down Softy's face as she said, "Good babies, Mommy will take you to nurse. From now on, you’re not allowed to drink anyone else's milk; we don’t want you getting sick."
A fragrant breeze swept by as Softy, holding all four children, went into the bedroom, leaving Lang Ye standing there in a daze. The Wolf Nanny, with tears in her eyes, said, "The Wolf King Young Masters have been taken away by the princess."
Only then did Lang Ye realize what had happened. He howled and dashed off to chase after his little princess.
Softy placed the four babies on the couch, her heart melting.
She had actually prepared herself during Tang Zisu's delivery, thinking that no matter what kind of monster she gave birth to, she wouldn't be afraid. But now, seeing the three little wolves with their drooping ears and small eyes that were a deep blue-black, their tiny noses snorting adorably, it was enough to melt her heart. The only one who was so small already had thick eyebrows and big eyes, with skin as smooth as milk, and arms and legs as delicate as lotus roots. Softy was furious with Lang Ye for not letting her see such a cute child for an entire month. Did he even want to be around? That bastard wasn't allowed in this room for six months.
The little wolves had particularly sensitive noses; they immediately recognized this person as their mother. They all snorted and nudged over, some grabbing at her clothes while others licked her face, and the remaining baby was eagerly searching for a nipple.
Softy no longer had any milk, so she needed to find a nanny. However, this time the nannies were strictly selected; any with a hint of allure were dismissed. Watching those flirtatious poses made her wonder if they were there to nurse the children or to nurse their father. Thus, rumors took flight in the demon realm and the divine realm, with everyone knowing that Black Wolf King Lang Ye married a jealous and petty woman.
On the day the child turned one hundred days old, Lang Ye held a grand banquet, and Tang Zisu along with Horse Abdomen took the little baby to the Prairie.
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