Murong Meixin watched as Heart Knife withdrew from the conversation and sidled over. "Hero Fang, Ninth said that when a wife gives birth, the pain is unbearable, and we men of the Central Plains can only stand by helplessly. That’s why we’re useless!"
Fang Songhe frowned slightly, pondering for a moment before replying, "Ninth makes a fair point. A child has both a father and a mother, so why should the mother bear all the pain of childbirth? In fairness, the pain should be split equally between them."
Murong Meixin was left speechless.
What now? He suddenly found the logic rather convincing!
Su Lingxi crouched on the ground, feeding dried fish—snatched from the pond by a crow—to nameless snakes, insects, and rodents. He cast a disdainful glance at the group of idle men and clicked his tongue in contempt.
Arguing over such nonsense—more childish than three-year-olds!
"Wife, will it hurt?"
Black Goose burst into the room with a dramatic "Wahhh!" interrupting what should have been a ladies' tea party. Seeing him rush in, Murong Meixin and Heart Knife quickly followed.
"Wait for me!"
Su Lingxi, short-legged and frantic, scrambled after them, eager to offer his own attentions.
"Where’s Lady Shangguan?"
"Yeah, where’s Sister Shangguan?"
Murong Meifei’s voice carried over, "Lady Shangguan said there are still evil spirits roaming the world. She couldn’t stay—there are places that need her."
And just like that, Shangguan Huanxi slipped away quietly, unwilling to leave behind false hope.
She departed with effortless grace, carrying only a single pack, gripping her sword, and riding a single horse—nothing more.
Shangguan Huanxi, once the ruler of Canghaizhou, the legendary number one under heaven, never paused to indulge those who chased after her.
Yet it was precisely this untouchable nature that made people yearn to follow her, to catch even one more glimpse of her retreating figure—that alone would be enough.
Heart Knife and Su Lingxi exchanged a glance.
Heart Knife: "Maybe… we should give up?"
Su Lingxi nodded. "Let’s give up."
They locked eyes again—then, in the next instant, both moved at once.
Heart Knife leapt out through the window.
Su Lingxi sprinted through the door.
Their voices echoed in unison through the air: "I won’t lose to you!"
Meanwhile, Black Goose’s wailing continued, "Wife, giving birth must be so painful! Just imagining it makes me… makes me… nauseous… Ugh!"
White Dove snapped, "Hey, I’m the one who’s supposed to be sick, not you!"
Murong Meixin: "Junior Sister, pregnancy and childbirth sound terrifying. I’ve heard the Northern Territories have all sorts of strange secret arts—maybe there’s a way for men to bear children! Junior Sister, let’s go to the North—"
Murong Meifei: "Get lost!"
Sang Duo shrieked as Murong Meixin was sent flying, "My medicine!"
A dark figure moved faster. As Murong Meixin plummeted in free fall, he spotted a black-robed man reaching out to catch him—only for the hand to swerve past him and steady the medicine cabinet instead.
With a thud, Murong Meixin hit the ground.
Sang Duo gasped in delight, "Cang Yan!"
Then came a howl of despair, "Dirty! I’m dirty now!"
A messenger pigeon landed in Fang Songhe’s hand. He read the letter—sent by Song Chunming—and smiled at the clamor inside the house. "Guess it’s time to send word back that all’s well."
A small green snake slithered out from the girl’s shoulder, its tail lightly brushing her cheek.
On the day Chu'he was taken by Chi Yan, the little snake had been flung away by the violent force, but thankfully unharmed. Once Chu'he returned, it clung to her as usual.
Taking the hint, Chu'he stepped outside and spotted the lone boy beneath the tree.
He sat on the swing, head bowed, long white hair slightly disheveled. His long legs rested lightly on the ground, rocking the swing idly, silver ornaments chiming with each movement. His ruby-red earrings, once dazzling, now seemed dimmed.
In one hand, he mercilessly gripped a wide-eyed little spider; in the other, he plucked at its fur absently, muttering under his breath.
"What’s so great about having kids?"
"As if I couldn’t give A'he a little one too."
"Even without a child, A'he would still love me—love me most, love only me."
With every muttered line, he yanked out another tuft of fur. The poor spider, Big Eyes, trembled pitifully, tears welling in its many eyes.
When the boy was in a foul mood, his destructive instincts surfaced. Compared to refining humans into poison, plucking Big Eyes’ fur was restraint.
His cruel nature left the defenseless spider suffering.
"Ninth."
Ninth’s fingers tightened, making Big Eyes let out a tiny "squeak" as it curled its legs. He looked up, eyes glittering.
Behind Chu'he, the medicine room buzzed with chaos. Before her, only the rustling autumn wind and Big Eyes’ faint squeaks filled the air. Yet without hesitation, she quickened her pace toward him.
Her footsteps seemed to carry magic, vibrating the air, igniting the gems adorning the boy’s clothes.
Even his most beautiful feature—those crimson eyes—sparkled like a galaxy of stars, as if the Milky Way had descended early upon the earth.
In moments, she was upon him, a gust of wind crashing into his arms. Instinctively, he released Big Eyes and spread his arms, catching her securely.
The swing swayed, but he held her steady, arms locked tight.
The warmth of her body against his chest sent a tingling through him. The tension in his shoulders melted away, the coldness in his eyes fading. The stars in his ruby gaze shimmered brighter than any gem.
Chu'he nestled into the swing beside him, boneless against his chest. She cupped Big Eyes in her palm.
The tiny spider gazed up at her, pitiful and harmless—who could guess it was a venomous poison insect?
Chu'he lifted her eyes. "Ninth, can’t you stop bullying it?"
Ninth blinked innocently. "I’m just playing with it. Not bullying."
Chu'he hummed skeptically. She called the little green snake over, instructing it to take Big Eyes away to play.
The snake raised its head, casting a haughty glance at Big Eyes before slithering off. The spider scrambled after it on all eight legs, vanishing into a pile of dry wood in seconds.
Ninth looked down at her, eyes gleaming.
Chu'he met his gaze, sensing the sudden burst of joy radiating from him. Smiling, she cupped his face and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
His laughter rang clear and bright, like a spring breeze sweeping through fresh grass, warm and sweet.
Even the sparrows on the branches seemed fooled by the false spring, bobbing their heads and chattering excitedly among themselves.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled light over their intertwined heads as he leaned close to Chu'he’s ear, his voice trembling with laughter. "A'he, can I kiss you again?"
Chu'he straightened up, crossing her arms with an air of regal aloofness, much like the little green serpent from before. "No more kisses."
Ninth bent down, his tone syrupy and pleading. "Why not?"
"If I let you kiss me whenever you want, where’s my dignity in that?"
Ninth lowered himself further, pressing his cheek against hers. "I don’t need dignity. You can kiss me instead."
He was simple and direct, his innocence tinged with a wildness untouched by moral conventions.
A strange thrill surged in Chu'he’s heart. "Ninth."
"Hmm?"
"You look so easy to bully like this… It makes me want to drag you back into that dark little room again."
Ninth’s expression shifted slightly, and he quickly clamped his legs together.
