Author Archives: Thandar

Red City Base, Refugee Camp.

Recently, a woman in the refugee camp had awakened a water-based ability by sheer luck. Her children were on the verge of starving and dying of thirst—so was she. At the last moment, a mother’s love triggered her potential, and she awakened her ability.

Her family barely managed to survive, but life hadn’t improved much. As a level-one water ability user, all she could do was produce a thin trickle of water from her fingertips, just enough for drinking. She had no offensive capability whatsoever. Every day, she kept just enough water for her family and then drained her mental energy to trade water for a little food. There was no way for her to save up crystal cores to cultivate her ability, let alone afford the fee to enter the city.

She was a single woman with three children, constantly on guard against the predatory gazes around her. Twice already, as soon as she obtained food, someone had stormed into her tent and stolen everything. Now, the moment she returned to her tent, she stuffed food into her children’s mouths as quickly as possible.

Today, she was even more uneasy.

At some point, two strange women had moved into the tent beside hers. They seemed to be sisters—one was a cripple, and the other had her face covered in black grime, with tangled, matted hair sticking to her skin. Of course, in the slums, where water was precious beyond measure, who could afford to wash? Their disheveled appearance wasn’t surprising.

But something about them felt off.

The grimy woman always sat at the entrance of her tent, staring at her with an eerie, chilling gaze—sometimes, she even examined her children.

Though they looked as miserable as the other refugees, they somehow didn’t seem to be long here.

The woman quickened her pace. But as she entered her tent, she sensed someone following her.

Terrified, she whirled around, eyes wide in alarm, and yanked out a sharpened scrap of iron. “What do you want?!”

It was that strange woman.

But with a swift movement, the woman easily disarmed her, snatching the iron shard away. Before she could scream, the stranger pressed a finger to her lips.

With her other hand, she pulled out several packets of instant noodles from her cloak and lowered her voice.

“Don’t scream. I’m here to save you.”

The woman’s eyes widened even further.

The strange woman—Chen Jiaxi—disgustedly pulled at the greasy strands of hair stuck to her face. This was the seventh level-one ability user she had picked up in the refugee camp within three days. Of course, she wasn’t just collecting ability users at random—she had already read the woman’s memories.

She was a good person, in terms of morality. Among her three children, one wasn’t even hers—it was the child of her deceased cousin. Before dying, the cousin had entrusted her with both supplies and the child. The woman had taken the supplies but had also kept her promise, never letting that child go hungry as long as she had food herself.

Chen Jiaxi felt a certain kinship with her.

The woman soaked the instant noodles in cold water—this way, they wouldn’t give off any aroma that could alert others, and her starving children wouldn’t suffer stomach aches from eating them dry. After ensuring her children were fed, she looked at Chen Jiaxi with deep suspicion. If this had been a man, she would have assumed he had ulterior motives. But this was another woman—why would she give away food? A few packets of instant noodles were incredibly valuable in the apocalypse.

“What do you want me to do?”

Chen Jiaxi glanced at her. “Relax, I won’t harm you. I want you to join our team, our base. We will supply you with unlimited crystal cores to strengthen your ability. We will provide food and shelter so your children can eat well and stay warm. Of course, once your ability reaches a combat level, you will have to fight alongside us. Do you agree?”

The woman was stunned.

Joining a team, unlimited crystal cores, food, shelter—every single thing was something she never even dared to dream of. Although she still had serious doubts about this strange woman, what choice did she have? After only a brief hesitation, she nodded. “I agree.”

Chen Jiaxi smiled in satisfaction and called out toward the neighboring tent. Moments later, the crippled woman from next door hobbled inside. However, the moment she entered, her limp vanished completely.

The woman’s eyes widened in shock, and she instinctively shrank back.

But the “crippled” woman—Qu Weiwei—simply flashed a bright smile. “This time, we’re sending three families at once. Much more efficient than one at a time.”

These past few days, Chen Jiaxi and Qu Weiwei had been hiding in the refugee camp, selecting individuals they deemed promising to bring back and train. Now, Qu Weiwei would escort the new recruits while Ge Bingbing swapped in to protect Chen Jiaxi—after all, someone with strong combat ability had to stay behind.

Meanwhile, Chen Jiaxi carefully read the memories of each recruit. If someone had a deceitful or cunning nature, even if they were already a level-two ability user, they weren’t worth taking.

Aside from scouting for ability users, they also considered strong, able-bodied people for recruitment. Many of these people remained stuck in the refugee camp not because they were weak, but because they had families to care for. In Red City Base, that was a disadvantage. But to Chen Jiaxi, these were precisely the people worth bringing in.

Their base was still under construction and required a large workforce for logistical support. Building city walls, for example, was a perfect job for family members. Even the woman’s eldest child, a fourteen-year-old girl, could be useful. She was still just a middle schooler, but kids before the apocalypse were well-nourished—at over 1.6 meters tall, she was strong enough to carry bricks, fill gaps, and mix cement.

Once the families were settled, to put it bluntly, keeping them inside the base as “hostages” ensured that the ability users and strong fighters wouldn’t betray them. With their families secure, they would fight all the harder for their new home.

When Song Kaiji had first relayed Shen Qing’s idea of taking over Red City Base, Qu Weiwei and Tang Wenjie had been completely shocked.

But Chen Jiaxi? She didn’t think it was unrealistic at all.

“Are you all underestimating yourselves?” she asked, looking at Qu Weiwei, who was still pointing a finger at her. “Do you have a problem with this? Right now, in all of Red City Base, I doubt there are more than three ability users who can overpower you. And across the entire base, there are probably fewer than ten who could take you in a fight.”

Qu Weiwei was stunned. “But… I…”

But she had never actually fought them, so how could she know she would win? “My ability was just… fed to me by Little Boss Shen with crystal cores…”

Since joining Shen Qing’s squad, in just over a year, Qu Weiwei had advanced from a level-three plant ability user to a level-nine mutated plant ability user. Meanwhile, the highest recorded ability levels in Red City Base were only level ten—just two people, one fire-type and one lightning-type, neither of whom had mutations.

Even in a one-on-one battle, Qu Weiwei wouldn’t necessarily lose, despite the elemental disadvantage. And neither of those two people were tied to the military or government—they were independent ability users. In fact, one of them had recently been looking for a way to leave Red City Base and follow the special envoy to the capital.

Tang Wenjie, on the other hand, was a level-eight metal ability user. After absorbing a mutant zombie’s crystal core, his ability hadn’t mutated, but from the start, his power had been stronger than others of the same rank. When sparring with Qu Weiwei, who was a level-nine, he actually won more often than not.

Ge Bingbing was level-eight ice, Song Kaiji was level-seven mutated spatial, Shen Yan was level-seven fire, and Lü Ji was level-seven wind.

At level five and above, leveling up became increasingly difficult. Among all the ability users in Red City Base, those at level seven or higher accounted for maybe a quarter of all high-rank fighters. And Shen Qing’s squad? They alone held about a third of those.

Not to mention the many mid-level ability users Shen Qing had personally nurtured from level one to five or six using crystal cores.

With this many high- and mid-level ability users, it wasn’t a matter of if they could take over Red City Base—it was a matter of when. How could they be compared to some weak underling trying to kill a powerful group?

“Just because you were fed to level nine, does that mean you’re not actually a level-nine ability user? Do you think other level-nine ability users never used crystal cores to get there?” Chen Jiaxi sighed deeply.

To her, the reason they hadn’t taken over Red City Base yet wasn’t because they couldn’t—it was because these so-called “college students” were too timid.

Just looking at Qu Weiwei, she got the feeling that if this girl were in a job interview before the apocalypse, when asked about her expected salary, she would have wanted to say 10,000, but instead, she’d stammer out 6,500, then go home worried she’d asked for too much and ruined her chances.

They lacked experience. They lacked the audacity to just go for it and deal with the consequences later.

Qu Weiwei: Are you spying on me? That was way too specific. Shut up, QAQ.

After all, before the apocalypse, she had spent a month and a half job hunting and still hadn’t found work when everything collapsed.

But after Chen Jiaxi pointed it out, they finally realized just how strong they had become.

Chen Jiaxi rolled her eyes. Strong was an understatement.

Shen Qing had access to resources from another world. Forget food—things like salt, sugar, and even traditional medicine, all strategic supplies, were entirely within his control. Even the government of Red City Base couldn’t compare to that. Once their own stores of salt and sugar ran out, they had to trade for them with other bases, usually offering crops or military tactics, like the iron cage strategy Shen Qing’s squad had developed.

Even if someone else had a quarter of Red City Base’s high-level ability users, they still wouldn’t be able to seize control—because even if they managed to drive out the government and military, they wouldn’t be officially recognized by the capital and wouldn’t know how to govern.

But Shen Qing’s squad? They didn’t have to worry about any of that.

All Shen Qing needed was control of Red City Base’s leadership. If he provided food and lowered the cost of entry, the people would gladly support him.

Wasn’t that exactly how their small base was already thriving?

Even the ordinary workers there had hope in their eyes, because they knew that as long as they worked, they would never starve.

A small base could run this way.

A large base? All they needed was more food and more firepower.

And food? For Shen Qing, that was never a problem.

And as for military strength? Besides continuing to purchase firearms on the black market, the next best approach was to cultivate as many loyal ability users as possible. Unlike the ability users in Red City Base, who had to balance survival with training, their team didn’t have to trade crystal cores for food. Every single crystal core they earned from missions went directly into ability cultivation. They had an endless supply, allowing their powers to grow at a rate unmatched by those in Red City Base.

Moreover, Chen Jiaxi believed Shen Qing’s thinking was highly forward-looking. They had already become mortal enemies with the research institute. Even if they chose not to attack Red City Base, did they really think the base would just sit back and let them develop freely once they discovered they had built their own stronghold nearby?

It was only a matter of time before they were found. Their base was barely over ten kilometers from Red City Base.

Strike first or suffer the consequences later!

Rather than waiting for Red City Base to discover them and come hunting—especially since Lu Yanghui and his people would never give up on capturing Shen Qing after realizing another dimension existed—why not take the initiative and seize control of Red City Base first?

Chen Jiaxi watched as Qu Weiwei disappeared into the night with the woman and her three children, along with two other families. Yawning, her gaze shifted to a man not far away. But just as quickly, she tensed, glancing warily to her right. Everything seemed normal—no one was there.

Still, with Qu Weiwei gone and no one to protect her, Chen Jiaxi immediately retreated into her tent.

---

Meanwhile, Song Kaiji, after recovering from his injuries, had only spent two more days in the apocalypse before returning to Lantang Village.

Before leaving, he had asked Zhang Sujuan, Tang Wenjie, and Qu Weiwei for a vial of their blood.

Zhang Sujuan, of course, had no questions—she trusted her son completely.

Tang Wenjie and Qu Weiwei, on the other hand, cluelessly let him draw their blood before belatedly asking, “Wait… what’s this for?”

Song Kaiji: …They just thought to ask now? Wasn’t it a bit late?

He brushed it off with a vague response. “I’m not sure if it’ll work. I’ll tell you if it does.”

Surprisingly, they actually dropped the subject after that. Song Kaiji sighed—just the three of them, with their level of intelligence (himself included)… Even if they did make it to another world, what kind of chaos could they really cause?

Once everything was set, Song Kaiji made a mad dash back to Lantang Village. Three days without seeing Shen Qing and his precious daughter? He missed them to death!

---

At that moment, Shen Qing was busy dealing with Magistrate Lin’s family.

Since his childbirth, Lin Ning had visited Lantang Village multiple times. He and Lin Zao had even attended Quan Jie’s washing ceremony and one-month milestone. Magistrate Lin himself had sent a gift through Lin Ning.

But this was the first time Magistrate Lin and his fulang had personally come to the village. Shen Qing wasn’t sure why they had come and was feeling a little nervous. The rest of the villagers were even more terrified. They were already scared stiff whenever they saw patrolling officers carrying blades—now, just catching a distant glimpse of the county magistrate had their knees shaking.

Magistrate Lin hadn’t expected that despite all of Shen Qing’s wealth and properties in the county, he still lived in such a small and somewhat humble courtyard in the village. However, the sight stirred old memories in him. Before he had passed the imperial examination and earned his title, he had lived in a similar courtyard with his husband and Lin Ning.

Perhaps nostalgic, he strolled around the yard with his fulang for quite some time.

Meanwhile, Lin Ning had already made himself at home, hugging and kissing Quan Jie before turning to Shen Qing with a pout. “I heard! Your man came back! I rushed over, hoping to catch a glimpse, but I missed it! Why didn’t you tell me? And why did he leave after only two days?!”

He was dying of curiosity! What kind of man was Quan Jie’s father? Seeing that Quan Jie had black hair and black eyes, he was probably not a foreigner, right?

Shen Qing smiled. Just the thought of Song Kaiji being able to stay in this world, of them being able to live together permanently, filled him with happiness. “He’ll be back in a few days. We’re also going to hold a proper wedding ceremony—of course, you’ll be invited.”

Lin Ning circled around Shen Qing, examining him closely, until Shen Qing felt embarrassed and touched his face. “What?”

“Nothing,” Lin Ning sighed. How had he ever doubted Qing Ge’er’s preferences before? Just look at him now—his face full of joy, tinged with the kind of bashful sweetness only someone deeply in love could show. He had never thought he’d see Shen Qing looking like this.

Whoever this mysterious man was, if he had managed to capture Qing ger’s heart like this, Lin Ning was now even more curious.

Quan Jie let out a few sleepy sounds, and Xique immediately came over to take her, carrying her to Miao Chunlei for a feeding. With his hands now free, Shen Qing finally asked, “Magistrate Lin, what brings him to my humble home today?”

It didn’t seem like a casual visit—he hadn’t brought any gifts or anything of the sort.

Lin Ning hesitated for a moment before replying, “It’s official business, but don’t worry. Judging by my father’s expression, it’s more likely good news—he might even be here to reward you.”

---

Truthfully, Magistrate Lin had wanted to visit Shen Qing for a long time. He had only held off because Shen Qing was still in postpartum recovery.

It all started with Zhao Youwei’s group and their leg wounds.

“My father asked me what you used to shoot them. I told him I didn’t know—I wasn’t there when it happened.”

Shen Qing’s heart sank.

He was worried that Magistrate Lin had recognized his weapon as a crossbow. Private ownership of crossbows was strictly forbidden by the imperial court—a serious crime. He had acted on impulse that day, both angry and desperate. There had been midwives in the room when he fired it, so if Magistrate Lin asked around, there was no escaping this charge.

But from Lin Ning’s tone, it seemed like Magistrate Lin wasn’t planning to punish him—perhaps he was willing to overlook it?

That meant his visit today was for something else.

Whatever the reason, once Magistrate Lin entered the house, he first looked at the baby and praised her a few times. Then, finally, he brought up the matter at hand.

Shen Qing immediately admitted his wrongdoing and asked for forgiveness, which amused Magistrate Lin. “You’re quite sharp,” he chuckled.

After a pause, he continued, “I had already guessed. That crossbow—does Miao Yu have one too? When he joined the county’s archery training, he picked it up instantly, shooting with impressive accuracy. It was obvious he had handled one before.”

Even after shooting, Miao Yu had still looked down at the county’s standard crossbows with clear disdain. That alone made Magistrate Lin suspect that Shen Qing’s crossbow was far superior.

Seeing Zhao Youwei and his men’s wounds had only confirmed it.

When they had been captured, Magistrate Lin had shown a rare moment of mercy—he hadn’t wanted them to die in jail, but he also hadn’t wanted to waste money treating them. So he had the county’s forensic examiner bandage them up. But even the examiner had reported that something about the wounds wasn’t right.

Now, Magistrate Lin wanted to see the crossbow for himself.

Shen Qing had no choice but to fabricate a story. “I secretly learned some hunting skills from village hunters when I was young. I once saw a similar weapon and tried to replicate it. Later, while traveling, I saw people in other places using crossbows, so I made some improvements…”

Seeing Magistrate Lin’s interest shift from suspicion to appreciation, Shen Qing boldly added, “If you like it, I would be honored to present the blueprint to you.”

This crossbow design had been refined countless times in the apocalypse. It was easy to make, used simple materials, and had structural improvements over ancient models. Magistrate Lin was delighted.

Between the high-yield crops Shen Qing had introduced and now this weapon… It was clear to him—his future career was set. A few more years, and his political achievements would be unparalleled.

He looked at Shen Qing with increasing satisfaction.

Shen Qing wasn’t just some village merchant—he was his political lucky star.

Magistrate Lin pondered how he could properly reward Shen Qing. However, Shen Qing wasn’t lacking in wealth, and he had already been honored with a plaque for his contributions to the people. At the moment, he couldn’t think of anything else that would serve as a suitable reward.

Shen Qing, on the other hand, had his own plans.

Previously, when Zhao Youwei went on his rampage, he had destroyed Shen Qing’s household registry, so he would need to go to the county office soon to have it reissued. Meanwhile, Song Kaiji was still undocumented in this world—a complete hei hu (black household, unregistered person). Shen Qing wondered if he could quietly manipulate things a little and have Song Kaiji’s name added to his family’s household registry.

If Magistrate Lin was willing to be lenient and create a perfect identity for Song Kaiji, that would be even better. Without a registered household, Song Kaiji wouldn’t be able to officially marry him.

Even though they were already living like an old married couple, with a child born between them, Shen Qing still liked the idea of being able to obtain an official marriage certificate. The thought of it alone filled him with joy.

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

The moment Qu Weiwei saw Shao Nan, her first instinct was to go on the defensive. Her fingers instantly transformed into metallic vines, ready to attack at any moment. At the same time, Tang Wenjie conjured a row of floating metal spikes, all aimed directly at Shao Nan and the few people behind him.

Shao Nan’s heart shattered.

But he knew he had no right to feel wronged. He deserved this reaction from Qu Weiwei and Tang Wenjie. Once trust was broken, rebuilding it was nearly impossible.

He immediately took two steps back and raised his hands, looking at Qu Weiwei. “I’m not here to capture you.”

“You better not be.” Qu Weiwei snorted coldly. She didn’t lower her abilities but instead turned her attention to the people standing behind Shao Nan. She recognized them—they had previously trained under her and Tang Wenjie. When they noticed Qu Weiwei looking at them, they also stepped back alongside Shao Nan and quickly spoke up.

“We’re not here to fight you, Weiwei jie, really.”

“We don’t have a choice. Orders came from the top,” they explained in hushed, hurried voices. It was a power struggle between the higher-ups, ruining relationships between those who had nothing to do with it. Among their group, Shao Nan was the only one with any real rank, but could he have disobeyed a direct order from above?

And besides, when Song Kaiji, Qu Weiwei, and their squad escaped from Red City Base, the military’s top brass hadn’t given orders to pursue them alongside the research institute. Naturally, they weren’t about to go after Qu Weiwei’s team on their own.

The military had their own problems to deal with.

The special envoy from the capital had brought advanced technology and re-established internet connectivity, but it came at a price. The capital expected something in return from Red City Base. Their first demand? Food and seeds.

That wasn’t the worst of it. Red City Base had land and plant-based ability users—producing crops would just take extra effort. The seeds they provided would be taken to the capital and crossbred with others from different bases, potentially improving agricultural sustainability for the entire population.

But the envoy had come from the government, not the military. When they arrived, they only negotiated with the base’s government leaders. Previously, thanks to Shen Qing’s contribution of high-quality crop seeds, the military had managed to gain a foothold in Red City Base and break free from government control. Now, the government was taking back some of that power.

The capital made their demands directly to the base’s leadership, then passed those decisions down to the military, telling them to cooperate. The message was clear: the government leads, the military follows.

The military’s upper ranks were furious. They were also beginning to regret siding with the research institute in capturing Shen Qing.

Especially after learning that Shen Qing didn’t have a natural immunity to X1 Virus—he simply hadn’t been infected during the initial outbreak. During the last ambush, the zombie had already begun attacking him, which meant he no longer had even that small advantage.

So why were they still hunting him?

This time, they decided to stay out of it. Especially since it was only Qu Weiwei and Tang Wenjie here—without Shen Qing, they all silently agreed to look the other way.

“It’s really dangerous right now,” Shao Nan warned. “You should avoid coming here if you don’t have to.” Then, he pulled a key from his pocket and held it out to Qu Weiwei.

It was the key to unlock Chen Jiaxi’s inhibitor cuffs.

Qu Weiwei hesitated for a moment before using her vines to snatch the key. “Why are you helping me?”

Shao Nan let out a bitter chuckle. “Because I regret it.”

And not just the military’s top brass—he regretted it too.

“Then tell me this—have the research institute’s people captured Song Kaiji and Shen Qing?” Qu Weiwei demanded.

Shao Nan paused for a split second before answering. “No. That day, the government and the research institute suffered heavy casualties, but they didn’t capture anyone. They’ve been sending out search teams ever since… even asked us for reinforcements.”

The military had refused. They didn’t want to get involved in this mess anymore. Instead, they used the situation as an opportunity to take over part of the city’s defenses. “Why? Did you lose contact with them?”

Qu Weiwei gave him a deep, searching look but said nothing. She simply turned and walked away with Tang Wenjie.

---

Meanwhile, Song Kaiji spent another day recovering in the village. If not for worrying that Tang Wenjie and Qu Weiwei would be too anxious, he honestly wouldn’t have minded staying here forever—with Shen Qing and their baby, in this peaceful little village.

Just look at this place—mountains and rivers, lush greenery, a massive, newly built estate waiting for them on the hillside. The kind-hearted villagers brought them gifts—peanuts, red dates—and greeted him with warm smiles.

And their daughter! Soft, fragrant, fair-skinned, and adorable—he didn’t care what anyone said, he declared their child to be the cutest baby in the world!!

Shen Qing, fresh from dealing with the Lantang Village coup: Peaceful? Harmonious?

Well… now it was, since he’d already shipped all the troublemakers off to the county jail to await exile.

Magistrate Lin had been merciful—sending them away immediately in the dead of winter would have meant freezing to death on the journey. Instead, they’d be exiled in the spring.

With no television, no phones, and little farm work in the winter, the villagers were bored. Everyone was dying to see Shen Qing’s husband. Even Miao Hexiang and Wu Guixiang, who were practically family, found excuses to visit multiple times a day. One moment, they were borrowing oil; the next, they were asking about black beans.

Shen Qing finally sighed, “Fine. If you all want to gawk, just sit down already. At this rate, you’ll empty my house.”

What he didn’t say was that, somehow, he wanted to show off Song Kaiji to those closest to him.

A small, secret, prideful feeling bubbled inside him—this is my man. This is my child’s father.

For the first time, he understood why wedding ceremonies had to be such a big deal.

Since Shen Qing didn’t mind, the group settled in happily.

By now, Song Kaiji had changed into ancient clothing. Fortunately, since Shen Qing often disguised himself as a man, the house had plenty of men’s clothes. Song Kaiji was slightly taller than Shen Qing, but traditional clothing was loose-fitting, so it worked well enough.

Smiling warmly, he greeted each visitor—Shen Qing had mentioned most of them before.

“You must be Second Aunt Lian! Qing Ge’er told me about you. When he and his mother suffered in the Shen family, you were the one who helped them—thank you for taking care of my Qing Ge’er.”

“You must be Aunt Guixiang! Qing Ge’er told me you’re the one in charge of village affairs now—so impressive!”

“You’re Aunt Yanzi, right? Tieshan has really made something of himself—he’s a constable in the city now! We’ll be relying on him to help with our business in town!”

Song Kaiji was the kind of person who grandmothers loved—he had every auntie in the room beaming with joy. No one had expected Qing Ge’er’s husband to be such a sweet and polite young man. Seeing the way he looked at Qing Ge’er, the way he spoke about him with such obvious care and pride—that wasn’t something you could fake.

Of course, some still wondered—if he cherished Qing Ge’er so much, why hadn’t he come sooner? If he’d arrived before the pregnancy, they could have held a proper wedding and avoided all the trouble.

Shen Qing, watching from the side, just scoffed. Zhao Youwei had been determined to seize power. If it hadn’t been the pregnancy, he would have found another excuse—maybe spouting nonsense about Shen Zhigao and “filial piety.” This had been inevitable.

Song Kaiji, ever good-natured, explained, “I was away on business and ran into some trouble—I really couldn’t get away. Qing Ge’er suffered because of it. But soon, we’ll hold a proper wedding feast here and make it up to him.”

Shen Qing blinked in surprise. He hadn’t expected Song Kaiji to suggest a wedding banquet. He’d thought they were already like an old married couple—no need for all that. He’d figured they could just celebrate Quan Jie’s hundred-day milestone instead.

Now, he felt… a little shy. But mostly, he felt sweet.

Lowering his head slightly, he murmured, “Alright.”

“This is great,” the villagers said, having little to do during the winter except waiting for a few wedding feasts to liven things up. Besides, Qing Ge’er’s family was wealthy—this wedding banquet was bound to have an abundance of delicious food. Even though Qing Ge’er’s husband hadn’t mentioned his background, just by looking at his smooth, fair skin, it was obvious he wasn’t from a poor family.

Even though everyone’s lives had improved compared to before, it still couldn’t compare to Shen Qing’s household. The villagers were eagerly looking forward to it.

The rumor that Song Kaiji had been injured by bandits while trading had spread through the village, and he simply went along with it. In his mind, reality wasn’t far off—weren’t the people from the research institute no different from bandits? However, when asked about his hair, he could only make something up. “Ah, well… I don’t really know. Maybe during the fight, a blade cut off my hair… When it was over, it was just like this.”

The onlookers clicked their tongues in amazement. A blade sharp enough to slice through hair in midair? That was something they’d only heard in storyteller’s tales—who would have thought such a weapon actually existed?

Only Lian Ou stood in silence, seeming somewhat lost.

He wasn’t a monk who had left the temple.

Lian Ou knew he shouldn’t have joined Lian Rong in spreading wild rumors, guessing at Qing Ge’er’s husband’s identity. But deep down, he couldn’t help but hope—if only it had been true, if monks really could leave the temple and marry…

The house was bustling with people asking Song Kaiji all sorts of questions. Lian Ou claimed he needed some fresh air and left without anyone noticing. Before he knew it, he had wandered far from the house, finding himself at the edge of the village, near the small forest.

He should have feared this place. It was here that Wang Shi’s nephew had cornered him. If that person hadn’t shown up, his life would have been ruined.

Not that things had improved much. There had once been many marriage proposals for him, but after what happened, they all vanished. Yet, strangely, Lian Ou was glad—he didn’t want to get married, or rather, he didn’t want to be blindly betrothed by his parents and forced into a marriage he had no say in.

He had avoided this place ever since, but today, for some reason, he found himself standing here.

A rustling sound came from the bushes. Lian Ou startled, his heart sinking. Was he really that unlucky? He turned to run, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar gray monk’s robe.

He froze.

He wasn’t sure when it had started. Maybe it was the first time he had set up a stall when Qing Ge’er had sent him and Lian Rong to sell defective goods. At the time, all he could think about was making money, so he had eagerly agreed. But when they arrived at Miaoqian Village, their confidence faded, and they shrank back like frightened quails.

Then he came to collect the stall fees. Seeing it was their first time, he patiently helped them set up, even teaching them how to call out to customers… of course, he still charged them for the stall. But when they couldn’t sell everything, he let them store the goods in the temple for free.

Later, he was the one who saved Lian Ou in the forest.

Coincidence? But if he lived at the temple in Miaoqian Village, why was he here, near Lantang Village?

Lian Ou turned to see the monk, his hair now grown into a soft layer of fuzz, walking toward him. He handed Lian Ou a small bundle, inside of which was a large sum of silver—at least one to two hundred taels. Lian Ou nearly dropped it in shock.

The monk quickly caught it and, in doing so, also grabbed Lian Ou’s hand.

“I heard…” His voice was a little unsteady. “I heard that the most capable person in your village, Qing Ge’er, his husband has returned… and he’s a monk who left the temple. He even had his legs broken by the abbot because of it.”

Lian Ou: “Ah…” That was just a wild rumor, and who knew if Lian Rong had helped spread it. Qing Ge’er’s husband had already explained—he was a traveling merchant, not a monk.

But the monk’s gaze burned into him. “I thought about it all night. If he can do it, why can’t I? Inside this bundle is all the silver I’ve saved over the years. Even if the abbot breaks my legs, I… You, would you be willing?”

Lian Ou looked back at him, speechless.

---

In the past few days, another event had taken place in Lantang Village.

Shen Qing’s grandparents had passed away. That day, Shen Qing’s grandmother had dragged her paralyzed husband to Shen Qing’s house to make a scene, only to be scared off by Miao Chunlei. She collapsed at her own doorstep.

Now, the Shen family consisted only of Li Jiaofeng and her two sons, Shen Qiang and Shen Zhuang. Shen Zhuang was never home except for meals.

The day when Old Lady Shen collapsed, Li Jiaofeng wasn’t completely heartless, she had dragged the old woman back home and called a barefoot doctor from Xiahe Village.

They couldn’t afford a city doctor, nor did they want to. If they had that kind of money, Li Jiaofeng would rather save it for her own son’s medicine. But the barefoot doctor could only treat minor illnesses and injuries—things like colds, cuts, or dislocations. More severe conditions were beyond his ability. After checking her pulse, he could only shake his head.

Old Lady Shen was dying—completely drained. Even if they had a city doctor, unless they used the same expensive treatments as Shen Qing’s family, keeping her alive with ginseng and bird’s nest, it wouldn’t matter.

Ordinary families couldn’t afford that kind of care.

Li Jiaofeng had never gotten along with Old Lady Shen, but for some reason, she changed. She bought a chicken and made broth for several days. When the chicken was gone, Old Lady Shen shed two tears and passed away.

With her gone, no one was left to care for the paralyzed Old Man Shen. Any sympathy Li Jiaofeng had for his wife did not extend to him. She left a bowl of coarse millet porridge by his bed—if he wanted to drink it, fine. If not, she didn’t care. Wiping him down and tending to his bodily needs was out of the question.

For the next four or five days, Old Man Shen lay in bed, cursing and shouting. He had spent his life commanding his wife to fight his battles while he hid behind her. Now, with no one left to speak for him, his dignity, his authority as head of the household—everything was gone. He probably spoke more in those few days than he had in an entire year, but no one listened.

After a week of yelling, he fell silent.

Li Jiaofeng didn’t even buy a coffin. She wove two straw mats, wrapped his body, and buried him in the Shen family’s ancestral plot.

Then, she went to find Shen Qing.

---

She arrived just as Song Kaiji was awake, playing with their daughter. Quan Jie had no fear of strangers; she accepted her father immediately, staring up at him with her big, bright eyes.

Song Kaiji was reluctant to let go of her but listened carefully to the conversation in the next room. It was his first time seeing how Shen Qing interacted with people from his world, and he was extremely curious.

Li Jiaofeng nervously clutched the hem of her clothes. Miao Chunlei had prepared snacks for her, but she didn’t dare touch them. She had no one else to turn to, so she forced herself to come.

“…Both of the elders in our family are gone. Now it’s just Shen Zhuang left. I was thinking… I was thinking…”

Shen Qing’s expression was unreadable, but he let her inside instead of turning her away. He even served tea. It was because, on the day of his childbirth, Li Jiaofeng had been the first to bring news of his father’s scheme. Though Shen Qing still didn’t understand why she had suddenly changed, he asked, “What do you want?”

“I want you to help me speak with Wu Guixiang about separating the family.” Li Jiaofeng bit her lip, summoning her courage.

Shen Qing had expected her to ask for money or a job at the workshop, but this request surprised him. After a moment of thought, he agreed. “Alright.”

Li Jiaofeng’s eyes lit up, and she thanked him repeatedly.

Now that their lives had improved, everything about the old Shen family—their suffering, those people—had long become distant memories, mere passing smoke in the wind.

That same afternoon, Shen Qing spoke to Wu Guixiang. Zhao Youdang, feeling some pity for Shen Zhuang, hesitated. “He’s still just a kid, not even grown yet. If they split the family, how’s he supposed to survive?”

Wu Guixiang immediately scolded him, cursing him out so thoroughly that he couldn’t even lift his head. “So just because he can’t survive, Li Jiaofeng has to take responsibility for him? Why? Are we women supposed to be the safety net for men, no matter what? Even when his father tried to kill Li Jiaofeng’s son? Why are you always so worried about other men’s hardships? What about Shen Qiang? He’s just a boy too. And with the grudge between them over Shen Zhiwei’s death, do you think Shen Qiang will even survive when Shen Zhuang gets older?”

Zhao Youdang had no comeback.

Good-natured kindness that didn’t distinguish right from wrong was nothing but cruelty. Wu Guixiang huffed. “Li Jiaofeng has finally started acting like a decent human being. Anyone would live better after getting away from that mess of a family.”

As for the deaths of Shen Qing’s grandparents, few in the village even mentioned it. And if they did, it was mostly to say that Li Jiaofeng had been unseemly, not giving them a proper funeral. But living to that age and dying was natural—who could afford to hire city doctors for every old person? No one.

In the end, all that was left of the Shen family was two acres of land, a house, and a small amount of silver found in Old Lady Shen’s room. The land was split—one acre each. Li Jiaofeng refused to take any of the silver, even adding two taels of her own and giving it all to Shen Zhuang. The house went to Li Jiaofeng.

Of course, this was a better deal for Li Jiaofeng, but she wailed that they were the main family, that they were the eldest son’s lineage, and that Shen Zhigao wasn’t even dead—who knew if he’d return in a few years? Even Zhao Youdang had nothing to say against that.

Shen Zhuang was practically thrown out, clutching a few taels of silver and a land deed, crying and wailing at the door for half the day. Li Jiaofeng shut the door tightly. He then went to cry outside his maternal grandparents’ house, but the Zhao family, though eyeing his silver greedily, didn’t let him in.

After that, Shen Zhuang left the village. Some said he had gone to the mountains to find his mother, Zhao Aiye, but no one knew if he even knew where he had been married off to. No one saw him again.

Song Kaiji watched in amazement. Village justice was something he had never seen before, completely different from his own world. Seeing how Shen Qing handled things so efficiently, with such authority, was also something new—there was a sharpness to him that Song Kaiji had never fully witnessed before.

As Shen Qing changed his bandages and cleaned his wound, he asked with a hint of hesitation, “Do you think I was too ruthless?”

Shen Zhuang was only fourteen. In this world, that was old enough to be engaged, but in Song Kaiji’s world, he would still just be a middle schooler, barely a teenager. Now, he had lost both parents and had been driven out of his own home. It was practically an exile from the village.

Before Song Kaiji could answer, Shen Qing continued, “I’m his cousin, but he never once called me that. He always called me ‘big idiot.’ The morning of the family split, he even threw mud at me.”

Song Kaiji immediately grew indignant. “Who’s a big idiot? He’s just jealous because he’s short. In my world, people over 1.8 meters tall practically want that engraved on their tombstones as a badge of honor.” He leaned in and kissed Shen Qing on the cheek. “Being ruthless is a good thing. The soft-hearted always end up getting bullied.”

After much persuading, Song Kaiji finally got Shen Qing to agree not to follow him back to the apocalypse. “Things are too complicated right now. Let me go first and see how things stand. Once it’s stable, I’ll come get you.”

He patiently explained everything about their newly built base. “Driving there takes a long time, and I have to clear out zombies on the way. My shoulder is still injured, which makes me attract even more zombies. Teleporting people isn’t easy either. Just stay here and wait for me.” He kissed Shen Qing, then kissed Quan Jie. “Stay with the baby and wait for me.”

Only then did Shen Qing agree.

---

When Song Kaiji returned to the new base, Qu Weiwei nearly lashed him with her vines. “Oh, so you do remember how to come back?! You nearly scared us to death!” But then she saw the wound on his shoulder and held back.

She glanced behind him. “Where’s Little Boss Shen?”

“He went back. He’s somewhere very safe,” Song Kaiji replied.

Qu Weiwei opened her mouth, wanting to ask if Shen Qing really was from another world. But in the end, she didn’t say it. She had heard bits and pieces about why the research institute was after him. At first, she had found it unbelievable. But the more she thought about it, the more it made sense.

She had been with Shen Qing longer than anyone except Song Kaiji. There were always strange little things about him that she had never questioned before. Now, when she pieced them together, everything clicked.

But what was the point of asking? It would just make her seem like she had no sense of boundaries. So, she kept her mouth shut.

Song Kaiji’s wound, after multiple teleportations, had split open again, seeping more blood. Qi Zhan, yawning, hovered his hand over the wound, a soft white glow appearing. “Not bad. You survived three days with a wound like this.”

Under his healing ability, Song Kaiji’s injury quickly closed up.

While he had been away, the new base had been running smoothly. Chen Jiaxi and her husband, perhaps workaholics, had thrown themselves into base construction the moment they arrived. Her husband had even resumed his old profession—already organizing the building of a defensive wall comparable to Red City Base.

“We need to be prepared—not just for zombies, but also for those people from Red City Base,” he said grimly.

Song Kaiji agreed, but his attention was drawn to Chen Jiaxi’s hands. Her inhibitor cuffs were gone.

“Shao Nan gave me the key,” Qu Weiwei said, explaining how she and Tang Wenjie had encountered him while gathering intel.

Song Kaiji was deep in thought. “If Shao Nan’s acting like this, we might be able to use that to our advantage…”

“For what?” Qu Weiwei asked. They had already escaped. Shen Qing knew the location of the new base and wouldn’t be returning to Red City Base. Weren’t all their problems solved? All they had to do now was keep building and stay on guard against any retaliation from Red City.

Song Kaiji hesitated for a long moment before finally speaking. “Well… Qing Qing asked—why should we keep running? Why don’t we just take over Red City Base?”

Qu Weiwei: “?”

She pointed at herself. “Who? Me? Us? Take over Red City Base?”

“Do you even hear yourself? That’s like sending a low-rank demon to take down the entire Tang Monk’s group!”

Song Kaiji: “…”

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

“Go check up top, this rock garden has stairs.”

“Who would hide up there? If they get cornered, there’s nowhere to run…”

The one speaking grumbled but still started climbing up. Song Kaiji’s body tensed—after just a brief hesitation, he chose not to waste his last bit of energy on teleportation. Gritting his teeth, he steadied himself against the wall and took slow, deliberate steps into the cave.

The barrier that had always blocked him—the solid rock wall—was gone. It had truly disappeared.

Within a few steps, he entered the cave.

Shen Qing’s eyes widened in disbelief, and Miao Chunlei was utterly stunned.

Someone had suddenly appeared behind her—who wouldn’t be scared to death?!

The next second, Shen Qing lunged into Song Kaiji’s arms.

“H-How is this happening? Why did it suddenly…” Shen Qing stammered, completely at a loss for words. He glanced back at the cave entrance, then at Song Kaiji beside him, still unable to believe this was real. Song Kaiji, on the other hand, had his suspicions, but he didn’t dare to be complacent.

There was no time to even take a proper look at his daughter. He immediately pulled a grenade and a machine gun from his storage space and urged Shen Qing to take Miao Chunlei and the child down to the tree. Meanwhile, he stayed behind, eyes locked on the entrance.

The cave’s narrow entrance made it easy to defend—if anyone tried to force their way in, he could take them down one by one.

Although he had some guesses about what had happened, Song Kaiji wasn’t completely sure. Had the cave suddenly “opened up,” or had it only opened for him?

Fortunately, after a while, a few of the pursuers passed by the entrance without even glancing inside. They continued climbing the rock formation.

Not long after, they came back down the way they came. “Told you, no one in their right mind would hide up here. What a waste of time.”

They had not even once looked in the direction of the cave.

The cave was still closed off to everyone—except Shen Qing. And now, seemingly, to him as well. They must have triggered some kind of mechanism, but what exactly had done it? Song Kaiji didn’t have time to think it through. The moment the tension left his body, the dizziness from blood loss overwhelmed him, and he collapsed.

“Song ge!”

Shen Qing had just settled Miao Chunlei and the baby under the banyan tree, instructing her to flee if she heard anything unusual. Not feeling safe about leaving Song Kaiji behind, he climbed back up, only to witness him falling.

Half of Song Kaiji’s body was soaked in blood. Shen Qing hurriedly pulled alcohol, bandages, and Yunnan Baiyao from his storage space, quickly dressing his wounds. Then, gritting his teeth, he scooped out half a bowl of water from the nearly depleted spirit spring and forced it down Song Kaiji’s throat.

Holding him close, Shen Qing hesitated.

He didn’t know where the new base was. Even if he carried Song Kaiji to look for Qi Zhan and the others, he had no idea how long it would take to find them. With pursuers still lurking outside, the danger was everywhere.

After checking Song Kaiji’s wounds again and confirming that, while not fatal, the blood loss was extreme, Shen Qing made his decision. He clenched his teeth, hoisted Song Kaiji onto his back, and began the descent.

---

“Qing Ge’er’s man has come to the village!”

The news spread like wildfire.

Regardless of whether they were on good terms with Shen Qing or not, everyone was shocked. But as rumors always did, the story twisted as it passed from person to person.

“Qing Ge’er’s man was out on a trading route when he got attacked by bandits. He barely made it back, hanging onto life just to see Qing Ge’er one last time!”

“My god, that’s true love!”

“No, no, you’ve got it wrong! Qing Ge’er was with a monk… That monk renounced his vows to be with him! But the abbot wouldn’t allow it, so they beat him nearly to death, and he dragged himself here with his last breath to find Qing Ge’er!”

Miao Hexiang smacked Lian Rong twice with the sole of her shoe. “Was it you who spread the rumor that Qing Ge’er’s man was a monk?!”

Lian Rong clutched her backside and ran around the house. “No! I just said it when I visited Qing Ge’er’s house that day. His hair was so short, it looked just like a monk’s hair growing back… The monks from Miaoqian Village have been too lazy to shave their heads lately, so they’ve got a fuzzy layer just like that. I only mentioned it inside the house, I never told anyone else. But a bunch of people in the village saw Qing Ge’er’s man—why am I not allowed to think the same thing?”

Because he really did look like that!

Miao Hexiang put down the shoe sole. “You better keep your mouth shut for now. It wasn’t easy for Qing Ge’er to get a man, and he even looks so fair and proper. Don’t go spouting nonsense—say something nice and give him a good reputation!”

Truth be told, Miao Hexiang had her own doubts about Shen Qing’s child and marriage. But regardless of her suspicions, Qing Ge’er was practically like her own child. She had to protect him no matter what—even if it meant turning black into white.

Lian Rong rubbed her sore backside and muttered, “What’s wrong with a monk? Monks are rich! Look at the monks from Miaoqian Village—every time we set up a stall, we have to pay them. They do nothing all day but rake in money. If Qing Ge’er’s man is that kind of monk, Qing Ge’er would be living the good life…”

“You’re still talking?!” Miao Hexiang glared. Lian Ou quickly nudged Lian Rong. “Go play outside, stop annoying Mother.”

Lian Rong stuck out her tongue. With her older brother covering for her, she bolted out the door.

---

Meanwhile, those who disliked Shen Qing in the village were whispering behind his back.

“I don’t believe that’s really his man. He probably just found someone on the brink of death, claimed him as his man to shut us up. Once that person dies, he can say he’s a grieving widow and keep playing around outside. What a clever scheme.”

The one speaking was Wang Liuzi’s wife. Her husband had followed Zhao Youwei to Shen Qing’s house that day and never returned. She hadn’t even gotten to see him. No matter how many times she went to beg at Shen Qing’s door, he never gave her a kind word. Now she held a grudge. Even though she knew Zhao Youwei’s accusations didn’t quite hold up, she still insisted on framing Shen Qing.

Others in similar situations agreed with her, but some were doubtful.

“But Shen Qing spent a fortune saving that man—ginseng, bird’s nest, throwing money around like nothing. The doctor even made trips back to the city two or three times for more medicine and supplements. That doesn’t seem like someone waiting for him to die.”

It was just a coincidence, but not long after Shen Qing gave birth, Zhao Yu was also nearing her due date. Now that Miao Hexiang’s family had some money, she valued Zhao Yu’s pregnancy immensely. She was hoping for a son so their second branch wouldn’t be entirely overshadowed by the main family. She even hired a city doctor, just like Shen Qing did, to stay at their home and monitor Zhao Yu’s condition.

The old doctor had been scared out of his wits the last time, but Shen Qing had paid him so much money that his nerves were soothed. When the Lian family came to hire him, he hesitated but eventually agreed.

Before Zhao Yu even went into labor, Shen Qing borrowed the doctor first.

By then, almost everyone in the village had seen Shen Qing carrying Song Kaiji down the mountain. The rumors spread like wildfire, and the more curious villagers found excuses to pass by Shen Qing’s house dozens of times a day.

Fortunately, Song Kaiji hadn’t suffered any fatal injuries. The old doctor stopped the bleeding, redressed the wound, and sniffed the removed bandages in amazement. “Where did this medicine come from? I’ve never seen anything like it, but it seems even better than my own hemostatic powder!”

Shen Qing was too anxious to chat. “It’s medicine from his homeland. When he recovers, I’ll have him prepare some for you.”

The old doctor was tactful enough to drop the subject and focused on tending to Song Kaiji. Meanwhile, Shen Qing placed Quan Jie beside him.

Oddly enough, the moment Song Kaiji entered the cave, Quan Jie stopped crying.

Perhaps this was what they called a father-daughter bond.

Shen Qing held Song Kaiji’s hand against his cheek. “Song ge, you have to get better soon. You haven’t even held our Quan Jie yet.”

---

Late at night, Song Kaiji woke up in pain.

He opened his eyes to complete darkness. The slightest movement sent a wave of agony crashing through his body, making him feel like he might pass out again. His shoulder was both sore and numb, with a faint itching sensation.

Staring into the darkness, he was dazed for a moment. He was still alive. But where was he?

The moment he moved, Shen Qing, who had been sleeping at his bedside, woke up instantly. “Song ge, you’re awake? How do you feel? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

Hearing Shen Qing’s voice, Song Kaiji’s heart settled immediately. He whined, “I feel awful everywhere. It hurts. Turn on the light, I need some painkillers, it’s killing me…”

Shen Qing responded right away but didn’t turn on the light. Instead, he lit the candles in the room. Afraid it wouldn’t be bright enough, he lit three at once, placing them in a candlestick, then also lit an oil lamp with a glass cover.

Watching Shen Qing’s movements, then looking at the ancient-style furnishings in the room, Song Kaiji finally remembered what had happened before he passed out.

It wasn’t a dream. He had actually come to Shen Qing’s world.

Turning his head, he saw a small bundle beside his pillow. Inside, a delicate, fair-skinned baby was sleeping soundly. As if sensing his gaze, the baby opened her eyes. She didn’t cry, just smacked her tiny lips and blew a bubble.

Song Kaiji suddenly forgot about the pain—without even taking the painkillers.

Looking at the baby beside him, he was both overjoyed and overwhelmed. “This… this is our child?”

By the flickering candlelight, Shen Qing’s cheeks flushed slightly. He nodded. “I gave her a nickname—Quan Jie. Her full name is waiting for you to decide.”

They hadn’t even had time for a proper reunion, as their first meeting was in the middle of a life-or-death escape. Now, Shen Qing finally told him about what had happened during the birth. “If that spirit spring water hadn’t rushed into my body that day, I don’t think Quan Jie or I would have survived. But the spring has nearly dried up now. Otherwise, your wounds wouldn’t be healing so slowly.”

That day in the cave, Shen Qing had drained the last bit of spirit spring water to save Song Kaiji. Thankfully, the spring hadn’t completely vanished—it still refilled little by little each day, just enough for a cup or two. With that and the ginseng, he had been nursing Song Kaiji back to health. “You’ve been unconscious for two days.”

Song Kaiji lightly touched his bandaged wound and winced. In the apocalypse, a healing ability user could have fixed this injury in seconds. But here, in this ancient world, it would heal at a much slower pace. He shook his head. “I’ve been gone for two days—Wenjie and Weiwei must be worried sick. Tomorrow, I’ll go back, get healed up, and come back soon.”

He looked at Shen Qing, then at the baby beside him. Before, he had known Shen Qing was pregnant, had known he was going to be a father. But knowing was different from actually seeing the baby in front of him. When he reached out and touched her tiny face, it finally felt real—he was a father.

Shen Qing wasn’t reassured. “I’ll go with you. I can ride a bicycle now. I’ll take you there. You’re still injured—you should save your energy.”

He regretted not learning how to drive. If he could, he’d take Song Kaiji himself.

Song Kaiji chuckled. “It’s fine, I can drive with one arm.” Then his expression turned serious. “You really shouldn’t go back there.”

Especially since he could now come here. Shen Qing no longer had to risk himself.

Shen Qing glanced at his palm. In the two days Song Kaiji had been unconscious, he had been thinking—why had Song Kaiji been unable to cross before, but could now? Recalling the events of that day, his eyes landed on the bloodstained rock.

The first time he had entered the cave, he had been chased by a wild boar. Its tusk had grazed his arm, and his blood had stained the rock. Only then had he been able to see the entrance.

So that was the trigger…

If that was the case, could Zhang Sujuan, Qu Weiwei, and the others do the same? Could they stop going back to that dangerous world altogether?

Back when Song Kaiji had just confessed to him, Shen Qing would never have told Qu Weiwei and the others about the cave—he didn’t even want to tell Song Kaiji. But after all this time, after surviving life and death together, Shen Qing at least trusted Qu Weiwei and Tang Wenjie enough to bring them here.

However… “Wasn’t Feng Hao already dead? Why is the research institute suddenly going crazy again and trying to capture me?”

Song Kaiji was holding their child, wanting to kiss her but afraid to—his beard had grown out after two days of sleep, and he worried it might scratch his delicate little daughter. But hearing Shen Qing’s question, his expression turned cold.

It all started with how the apocalypse began.

The apocalypse had started with a torrential rain. After half a day of rainfall, every human being fell into a deep sleep. When they woke up, the apocalypse had begun—some people had turned into zombies, while others awakened abilities.

“That rain carried a massive amount of the zombie virus… No, not exactly a zombie virus—it was more like the precursor to the zombie virus. Now, the authorities have officially named it Virus X1.”

“The rain was filled with X1 Virus, which had two evolutionary paths. A beneficial mutation resulted in ability awakening, while a harmful mutation turned people into zombies. That rain turned every single person in the world into a carrier of X1 Virus.”

That was also why zombies in this world weren’t attracted by sound. The only thing they sought was X1 Virus. To them, humans carrying the virus emitted an incredibly enticing scent, guiding them to hunt down and consume the living sources of X1 Virus.

It wasn’t flesh they craved, but the virus within human flesh.

And that was why zombies never attacked Shen Qing. He had arrived in this world half a year after the apocalypse began. Since he never experienced the rainfall, he wasn’t a carrier of X1 Virus. To the zombies, Shen Qing was as insignificant as a rock or a wooden stick—why would they attack something that was essentially nothing to them?

This was what Lu Yanghui had discovered from the blood samples left behind by Feng Hao. At first, he couldn’t believe it. He even wondered if Shen Qing had somehow avoided the rain—perhaps by hiding in a basement or some other completely sheltered place. But he quickly dismissed that idea because he himself had been locked in a lab for days during the rainfall, never touching a single drop. Yet when he drew his own blood, it still contained X1 Virus. And zombies had never not attacked him.

The virus in the rain had entered people’s bodies through water vapor.

But Shen Qing was different.

Even more shockingly, Shen Qing was rumored to be a space ability user. Many people—including the military and government officials who had accompanied them to the hospital—had seen him take things out of thin air.

How could someone who wasn’t carrying X1 Virus awaken an ability?

Of course, Shen Qing could be some rare natural immunity case, but Lu Yanghui had a gut feeling—when the rain fell, Shen Qing wasn’t in this world.

And his so-called spatial ability probably wasn’t an ability at all. A system? Dimensional transfer? A plane trader? Could Shen Qing somehow lead them to another world?

The temptation was too great.

“He guessed that you’re not from this world. Or, at the very least, that during the rainfall, you happened to be in another dimension. If it’s the latter, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But if it’s the former, it proves that Chen Jiaxi was lying—that she was working with us all along.”

“They interrogated Chen Jiaxi, but she refused to admit anything. So, they started investigating my and Wenjie’s old roommates…” Song Kaiji pinched the bridge of his nose. It was just bad timing—when the special envoy from the capital arrived and connected Red City Base to the internet, they actually managed to track down Song Kaiji’s so-called former roommates and verify that Shen Qing had never been part of this world.

With no other options, Song Kaiji took the risk of breaking Chen Jiaxi, her husband, and her son out. Then, their entire squad went on the run.

“Right now, Chen Jiaxi and her family are hiding at our new base. I knew you’d come back to find me, so I didn’t dare leave—I stayed hidden in the refugee camp with Qu Weiwei and the others, waiting for you.” Chen Jiaxi had filled in some details after her escape, but since they didn’t fully trust her, they had put an inhibitor cuff on her. After that, she couldn’t see any more visions.

“That cuff is sturdy as hell. She’s still wearing it. No ability can break it—it’s turned her into an ordinary person.”

Shen Qing listened in a daze. He didn’t fully understand all the implications, but he did understand one thing—his secret was out. His origin from another world had been exposed. And now, they weren’t after his blood for experiments anymore—they wanted access to his entire world.

The thing he had feared the most had finally happened.

A flicker of pain crossed Song Kaiji’s eyes. When this first happened, he had struggled with it. He had even made up his mind—if he saw Shen Qing again, he would tell him everything, then break up with him, destroy the cave entrance, and make sure Shen Qing could never come back. As long as Shen Qing, his family, and his child were safe, what did it matter if he never saw them again?

But fate had other plans.

Now, he was here.

He held Shen Qing close, resting his head on his shoulder. “I think… we could bring my mom here. And maybe Weiwei and Wenjie. I can’t vouch for everyone, but Weiwei jie, Wenjie, and Mother Tang would never do anything to harm this world.”

Qi Zhan, on the other hand… Song Kaiji wasn’t so sure. He sighed. “Or we could just leave them a huge supply of resources—enough to last a lifetime—and send them to Chi City or another base.”

With Shen Qing’s support, Qu Weiwei and Tang Wenjie had become top ability users in Red City Base. As long as they didn’t run into large-scale hunts like this, their survival wasn’t a problem.

Even though parting would be painful, at least it would be the most responsible choice.

Shen Qing lowered his gaze. “Let me think about it.”

This was a major decision—he needed time to consider it. Song Kaiji nodded, not realizing that what Shen Qing was actually thinking about wasn’t whether to bring Qu Weiwei and the others over.

The coup in Lantang Village had left Shen Qing furious. Why the hell did they always have to be on the run? Why did they have to be the ones constantly escaping?

Shen Qing raised his head. “We killed Feng Hao. Why can’t we kill Lu Yanghui too? Kill everyone trying to hunt me down and take Red City Base for ourselves?”

Song Kaiji: “…Huh?”

Song Kaiji: “…HUH??”

Song Kaiji: “…I know you’re mad, but maybe don’t be this mad.”

Shen Qing was tough—he had always known that. But this level of audacity? Taking over a government-run base with military forces stationed inside? Song Kaiji, who had grown up in peacetime, was utterly stunned.

But Shen Qing remembered something from his old school textbooks: Are kings and nobles born to rule?

If this were peacetime, he would never think this way. But this was the apocalypse. The world had already crumbled. Why did they still have to follow their rules? Why should they keep taking abuse from these so-called authorities?

Shen Qing thought—luckily, Chen Jiaxi had been rescued. She had once told him that if he ever faced a situation he didn’t know how to handle, he should ask her.

Now, he really wanted to ask—how do we take over Red City Base?

---

Meanwhile, Qu Weiwei and Tang Wenjie had agreed to meet Song Kaiji at their hideout. But after two days with no sign of him, they were getting anxious.

“Could Old Third be…” Tang Wenjie’s eyes were blank. “I shouldn’t have left him behind.”

Qi Zhan sat beside him, at a loss for words.

Qu Weiwei slammed the table. “Are we just going to sit here waiting? I’m going to check it out. Dead or alive, I need to know.”

Chen Jiaxi added, “They won’t kill them immediately—Shen Qing is still useful to them. They want him to lead them to another world. But it’s pointless. Shen Qing couldn’t even bring his own boyfriend across. Even if they catch him, it’s useless.”

Still, Qu Weiwei decided to go.

Disguised, she and Tang Wenjie blended into the refugee camp, gathering intel. They found out that half of the government’s pursuit team had been blown to bits by Song Kaiji’s grenade. A second squad had been sent after them, but they had returned empty-handed. Because of the heavy casualties, part of the city’s defense had been transferred to military control.

And notably—the military had not participated in the hunt.

Qu Weiwei let out a breath of relief. That meant they hadn’t been captured and were probably still alive. Over the past two days hiding in the refugee camp, she had watched team after team go out searching, but none had returned with news. It was frustrating, but it also meant that Song Kaiji and Shen Qing were likely in hiding somewhere and unable to return for now.

Just as they were about to leave after gathering intel, they unexpectedly ran into Shao Nan.

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

After purchasing weapons on the black market, the two set a time with the vendor for their next transaction. Song Kaiji then returned to the villa at the Red City base, while Qu Weiwei parted ways with him at the city gate, disappearing into the refugee camp.

The villa at the Red City base was empty. The leather sofa and marble dining table that originally sat in the living room were nowhere to be seen, replaced only by a folding dining table and a few chairs. During the months Shen Qing had been in Lantang Village for prenatal care, two major events had taken place.

The first was that Song Kaiji and his group had finally decided to establish their own stronghold, or rather, a small personal base. The Red City base was located in the outskirts of Red City, and it had once been an amusement park. Twenty-five kilometers beyond this amusement park, in an even more remote area, was the Red City Airport. Between the airport and the amusement park lay villages and farmland.

Of course, Song Kaiji had no intention of occupying the airport. After the initial chaos of the apocalypse, humanity had gradually learned how to deal with zombies. Especially after the military discovered, improved, and spread their iron cage tactic, casualty rates had significantly decreased. If the zombies had not evolved, ending the apocalypse would have been only a matter of time.

Even though zombies were evolving now, their rate of evolution was still slower than that of ability users. The apocalypse might not come to an end soon, but humanity was slowly reclaiming lost territory, and some pre-apocalypse infrastructure was being restored, including communication systems. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before the nation would reinstate partial transportation networks, making use of airports once more.

If he were forced to vacate the place then, it would be a real pain.

Just seven kilometers from Red City Airport, there were two hotels built to accommodate airport guests—one was a four-star hotel, and the other was an economy chain hotel, separated by only 900 meters. Both hotels had their own wrought iron fences, and the surrounding area was still farmland, making it a prime location.

If they established their base there, it would only be about twenty kilometers in a straight line from Shen Qing’s cave. Before the apocalypse, it would have been just a thirty-minute drive. Even now, accounting for zombie encounters, half a day would suffice. If Shen Qing returned to Lantang Village once a week, this location would still be quite convenient.

Many of the ability users they recruited from the outer city were willing to follow Song Kaiji and his group. Everyone knew what Feng Hao had done and was furious about it. While some regretted that Song Kaiji’s relationship with the military was no longer what it used to be, wealthy employers like him were rare in the Red City base. As long as they could survive, did it really matter where they lived? Besides, it wasn’t too far from the Red City base. They could still return from time to time to trade supplies, and even if they didn’t enter the base, the flea market and black market along the southern wall had everything they needed.

More importantly, as long as they were strong enough, they could take on missions outside instead of relying on trades. After following Song Kaiji’s team on several raids of wholesale markets, the recruits had already seen the benefits firsthand. The new stronghold had well-maintained hotel buildings, farmland nearby, and even a few ability users with plant-based powers—self-sufficiency wouldn’t be an issue.

Thus, the ability users who had decided to follow Song Kaiji trained even harder in preparation.

Song Kaiji led the team there several times, and with the cooperation of earth- and metal-based ability users, they rapidly constructed steel-reinforced walls. Though they couldn’t compare to the brick walls of the Red City base, they were sufficient for repelling small groups of zombies. Besides, to put it bluntly—there were fewer zombies in the outskirts and more in the city. If a zombie horde were to break out, it would come from the city, and Red City base would act as a shield in front of them.

After more than a month of effort, they finally completed the stronghold. The two hotels were enclosed by a three-meter-high wall, along with a section of farmland fenced off with dense metal bars. The only real downside compared to Red City base was the inconvenience of utilities like water, electricity, and gas. But they had a water-based ability user to handle the water supply, and they had bought solar panels from the black market for electricity. Recently, Qu Weiwei had been making frequent trips to the refugee camp to recruit technicians skilled in electrical work.

Gas, however, was beyond their means. They would have to wait until the electrical system was up and running, then rely on electric stoves for cooking and electric water heaters for bathing.

By now, most of their assets in Red City had been relocated to the new base. Ge Bingbing was stationed there with a few mid-to-high-tier ability users from the outer city. Zhang Sujuan, Mother Tang, Father Ge, Nannan, Yu Le, and the young hairpin artisans Shen Qing had “sponsored” were also moved there, along with the families of some ability users from the outer city. Those who lacked self-defense abilities had all been transferred, leaving only Song Kaiji, Qu Weiwei, and Tang Wenjie as the remaining permanent residents at the Red City base. One reason was to wait for Shen Qing, and the other was to continue scouting for potential recruits from the refugee camp.

Brickmakers, charcoal burners, coal ball makers, stove builders—anyone with useful skills to help build their small base. Even if they weren’t capable of fighting zombies, they wouldn’t just be freeloaders.

And the third reason… well, that led to the second major event.

Song Kaiji looked up as the door to a second-floor bedroom opened, and Qi Zhan poked his head out. “Finally back. What’s for dinner?”

Song Kaiji: “…”

That’s right—Tang Wenjie and Qi Zhan had gotten back together. Song Kaiji didn’t know the details, only that one day, while Tang Wenjie was absorbing mutated zombie crystals at home, he absorbed several at once and ended up with an energy backlash, causing his abilities to go haywire. Despite multiple healers at Red City Hospital attempting to fix it, none could help. Only after a long while did Qi Zhan show up, his expression dark.

Then, just like that, they reconciled. And whatever was said in private must have been intense—unlike before when they were vague and playful about their relationship, this time it was like thunder striking dry land, an explosive reconnection. The strongest proof? Qi Zhan finally agreed to leave Red City Hospital and join their team at the new base.

Song Kaiji seriously suspected that Tang Wenjie had absorbed multiple mutated zombie crystals on purpose.

But perhaps it had something to do with the day Tang Wenjie awakened his abilities—Qi Zhan had helped him regulate them back then, creating some kind of special bond. Qi Zhan’s ability refinement greatly benefited Tang Wenjie’s power growth. This time, after absorbing multiple mutated zombie crystals, he shot up two levels at once. While he might not be the number one metal-based ability user in Red City base, he was definitely in the top five now.

Song Kaiji retrieved a few meal boxes from his storage space and placed them on the folding table. “Just make do with this. No one’s here to cook anymore. If you want something better, you and Wenjie should move over there sooner.”

All he had in his space were pre-packed mission meals made by Mother Tang—basic and convenient.

Qi Zhan yawned, came downstairs, grabbed two meal boxes, and headed back up. “My mother-in-law doesn’t like me. If I go over there, I might eat even worse than this…” As if he didn’t know—the technicians Qu Weiwei had recruited from the refugee camp had all suffered from starvation and exposure, and many had lingering health issues. Song Kaiji was clearly trying to push him into going over sooner to start working.

But this wasn’t a life-or-death emergency. If it was just work, why rush? The longer he could delay it, the better…

---

Red City Research Institute.

Feng Hao was dead, and his lab had been vacant for a while before it was reassigned to another researcher. On the desk, scattered blood sample test strips, a pile of reports, and Shen Qing’s file lay abandoned. The new occupant, Lu Yanghui, had known Feng Hao and even worked with him. He had also personally heard some of Feng Hao’s “crazy talk” and was aware of the rumors that Feng Hao’s death had been caused by Shen Qing’s people.

Lu Yanghui picked up Shen Qing’s file and glanced over the reports before his eyes suddenly landed on one particular document.

He stared at it for a long time before slowly shifting his gaze to the scattered test strips on the table. A few days later, Lu Yanghui stared in disbelief at the results of a new lab test.

Feng Hao wasn’t talking nonsense. There really was someone who couldn’t be attacked by zombies…

His grip tightened around the report. Everyone at the research institute knew that Feng Hao had orchestrated the capture of Shen Qing. If what Feng Hao said was true, then why had Chen Jiaxi claimed she saw nothing in Shen Qing’s memories?

They were all intelligent people. Lu Yanghui quickly put the pieces together.

Chen Jiaxi… was a mole! Which meant that everything she had said about Shen Qing’s identity was most likely a lie!

---

Meanwhile, Shen Qing had privately told Miao Chunlei about the miraculous healing spring, only mentioning that his body was brimming with energy and he felt completely fine. Miao Chunlei, however, dismissed his concerns and insisted he rest for a full month.

“This isn’t about feeling strong! Plenty of people in the village are sturdy and go back to work three days after giving birth, but that doesn’t mean they should! Childbirth stretches your bones—if you let the cold seep in, you’ll regret it when you’re older!” Miao Chunlei had suffered long-term damage from childbirth herself and wasn’t about to let Shen Qing take any risks. “What’s the point of showing off? Getting up early won’t change anything! You’ve got people to take care of you, so stop complaining!”

Shen Qing was getting a headache from her nagging. Ever since that day, his mother’s personality had completely changed.

Right then, a series of broken sobs echoed from the courtyard. Miao Chunlei’s face darkened. She slammed her bowl onto the table, grabbed a feather duster, and stormed outside with two dogs in tow.

Lin Ning had come with soldiers earlier and arrested those who had broken into Shen Qing’s house, sending them to the county court. County Magistrate Lin was furious—angry at Lin Ning for acting without permission, but even more enraged at those scoundrels who had used village laws as an excuse to rob and kill.

So, to make an example, he sentenced them heavily, exiling them to the bitter cold of the far north for hard labor. Their untreated knee wounds from Shen Qing’s crossbow shots meant they might not even survive the journey.

At first, the families of those arrested were afraid to act. But then Shen Qing’s grandmother set an example—dragging the paralyzed Old Man Shen to Shen Qing’s doorstep, wailing and screaming as if she were about to die. Seeing this, others followed suit, thinking that since Shen Qing had just given birth, he might be softhearted enough to spare their men. They even sent their children to kneel at the doorstep, crying for mercy.

But the moment Miao Chunlei rushed out with a feather duster and two dogs, the children screamed in terror and ran off, leaving only Shen Qing’s grandmother wailing even louder.

She wasn’t afraid of Miao Chunlei anymore—or rather, she had nothing left to lose. With Shen Zhigao taken away by the authorities, her only support was gone, and she was left to care for a bedridden husband. If Miao Chunlei let the dogs tear her apart right now, she would only see it as relief.

Seeing her in such a miserable state, Miao Chunlei hesitated—she figured the old woman wouldn’t last much longer anyway. After a moment of silence, she finally said, “Back when I was in the Shen family, you encouraged Shen Zhigao to beat me—you know that well. Qing Ge’er and I won’t show you an ounce of mercy, and we absolutely won’t spare him. If you keep making trouble, I’ll go to the authorities and have Shen Zhigao flogged twenty times. Every time you come, I’ll add another twenty. I’ll have them whip him until he’s dead. The beatings I suffered back then—it’s about time he paid for them.”

Old Lady Shen opened her mouth wide but couldn’t utter a sound. She could still vividly recall how Miao Chunlei was beaten in the past. After a long pause, she finally dragged the stretcher carrying Old Man Shen and slowly made her way home. But before she could even reach the door, she collapsed at the entrance.

…

Watching her leave, Miao Chunlei let out a breath of relief. She turned to the children who had run away but lingered nearby, her face cold. “Go home and tell your families—if they come again, I’ll have the authorities whip them. If you don’t believe me, try it!” Then she raised her voice even louder, “If you really can’t bear to part with them, why not pack up your things and move to the new settlement? At least you’d be together as a family. On the road, you’d have people to look after each other—better than dying from infected wounds!”

She glanced into the distance. “Stay in the village, and what good days are left? Over there, at least you’d get free land.”

With that, she turned back into the courtyard. Da Huang and Er Hei barked fiercely at the children, scaring two of them into tears before they happily followed Miao Chunlei inside.

It was a long while before a few adults emerged from behind the trees, clutching their crying children and sobbing quietly themselves.

Because of all this, the atmosphere in the village had been tense, and Shen Qing’s daughter’s washing ceremony and one-month milestone weren’t celebrated with a grand gathering. Instead, they just invited close friends over for a meal to mark the occasion.

Miao Chunlei was a little regretful—such a joyful event for their family had been overshadowed by these unpleasant affairs. But Shen Qing didn’t mind. Having a large crowd wouldn’t necessarily make it better; he’d rather spend time with a few close families who truly wished them well.

Babies changed quickly. By the washing ceremony day, the wrinkled little “red monkey” had turned into a plump, fair-skinned, and beautiful little girl. Lin Ning stared in shock, doubting whether this was even the same child. And now that they looked at her, Shen Qing’s man didn’t seem so bad-looking anymore—though he still wasn’t blonde with blue eyes.

Lin Ning, Lin Zao, the Xie siblings, and Lian Ou and Lian Rong all crowded around the baby, unable to get enough of her. “Qing Ge’er, what’s the baby’s name?”

“Her nickname is Quan Jie.” Shen Qing replied. After all, both the baby and his own life had been saved by that miraculous spring. Ever since that day, the spring had shrunk to a tiny well, barely holding enough water for two scoops. Shen Qing didn’t dare to use it anymore. “As for her full name, I’ll let her father decide.”

Maybe, for her entire life, Quan Jie would never truly see her father… but at least having a name given by him could serve as some small comfort.

But then again… maybe not.

A month and a half later, as soon as Shen Qing finished his postpartum recovery, he couldn’t resist taking Miao Chunlei and Quan Jie up the mountain.

The cave was still there, but Miao Chunlei couldn’t see it—halfway up the path, a solid rock wall blocked her way. Shen Qing held Quan Jie carefully in his arms and stepped forward. He could still see the cave entrance, but it felt as if an invisible force was pushing against the child in his arms, preventing him from moving forward.

Quan Jie squirmed, her tiny head pressing against something hard. She whimpered, uncomfortable, and began to cry softly. Shen Qing quickly stepped back, rocking her gently to soothe her. Miao Chunlei watched the scene unfold, feeling sorrowful for Shen Qing and that Xiao Song—such a good family, yet forever separated.

Quan Jie was a gentle little girl; a little coaxing was enough to stop her tears. Shen Qing handed her to Miao Chunlei, then started a fire in the cave, spreading out some grass mats and blankets. “Mother, wait here with Quan Jie for a bit. I’ll go find Song ge.”

Even if they couldn’t see each other, he wanted Song Kaiji and their daughter to at least be a little closer. This was the only way their little family could ever be together.

It had been months since he last came to Red City Base. The place didn’t seem much different, but the line for entry at the gates had doubled in length. Curious, Shen Qing narrowed his eyes and observed carefully—something seemed off about the blood tests at the entrance. Now, after drawing blood, people had to queue in a separate line, making the entire process take much longer.

Feeling uneasy, he quietly asked someone nearby, “What’s happening at the city gates?”

A helpful person answered, “You just arrived? Did you save up enough for the entry fee? If not, there’s no point standing in line—you won’t get in. See that tent over there? People who can’t pay have to stay there.”

“I live in Red City Base,” Shen Qing replied smoothly. “I was out on a mission and got delayed for a few months. I don’t remember entry tests being like this before.”

“Oh, then you wouldn’t know. This rule started about two weeks ago,” the man explained. “They changed the blood test method. Said the old test strips were unreliable, so the research institute developed a new, more accurate testing method.”

The moment Shen Qing heard “research institute,” he instinctively recoiled. But what the man said next sent a chill down his spine.

“You know how Red City Base improved that iron cage tactic and rented it out to ability user teams? They even shared the strategy with other bases and got recognition from the capital. Well, the capital sent special agents here and brought a ton of good stuff with them. The best part? The internet is back! Red City Base can now connect with the capital’s network!”

Excited, the man pulled a phone from his pocket. “I thought I’d never use this thing again—thought it’d just be for watching old offline videos.”

“Now that we’re online, everyone entering the city has to register their ID number, fingerprints, and blood sample. They’re verifying people’s pre-apocalypse identities so families can find each other.”

“If your relatives are in the capital or another connected base, you can pay a fee to use the system and chat with them on WeChat!”

When this policy was announced, it caused an uproar. Some people—especially those who had committed crimes before or after the apocalypse—were panicked. But in the end, the desire to reunite with lost family outweighed the fear, and the rule was enforced.

Hearing “ID number” and “fingerprints,” Shen Qing knew this was bad. He quickly thanked the man and stepped out of line.

The man blinked in confusion. “Where are you going? You’re leaving? If you come back later, you’ll have to start from the end of the line!”

Shen Qing pulled his hood up and kept walking, head low. But before he could get far, several people burst out of the refugee camp and grabbed his arm.

“Come with us!”

Shen Qing nearly lashed out, but then he saw who it was—Song Kaiji, with Qu Weiwei, Tang Wenjie, and Qi Zhan behind him.

There was no need for explanations. Just from what he had heard, Shen Qing already knew—this was trouble. Anything involving the research institute had to be targeting him.

Now that Song Kaiji and the others had appeared openly, there was no point in hiding. The four of them turned and sprinted, while the guards at the gate suddenly sprang into action, as if they had just come to life, giving chase.

Without even turning her head, Qu Weiwei casually scattered a handful of seeds behind her. Almost instantly, each seed sprouted into massive vines, as thick as pythons and as large as trucks, writhing as if they could snap a person’s neck at any moment.

The plants blocked the pursuers, but only for a moment. A fire ability user among them unleashed a massive flame, reducing the vegetation to ashes in seconds.

By then, however, Shen Qing and the others had already gained a significant lead, putting distance between themselves, the city gate, and the refugee camp. The people at the gate stared in shock. Song Kaiji was no longer hesitant—aside from Qi Zhan and Shen Qing, who were slightly weaker, the rest of their team consisted of high-level ability users. They no longer had to worry about being taken hostage.

Turning to Tang Wenjie and Qu Weiwei, Song Kaiji instructed, “You two take Qi Zhan and go to our base first. Wait for me there.”

Tang Wenjie hesitated for a moment but, recalling that Song Kaiji could teleport with Shen Qing, he nodded. He hoisted Qi Zhan onto his shoulder and took off running at full speed. Qu Weiwei continued scattering seeds as she ran.

Rather than dealing with the troublesome Qu Weiwei, the pursuers naturally chose to focus on Song Kaiji and Shen Qing. Their main target was Shen Qing; capturing Qu Weiwei or Tang Wenjie would be pointless.

Song Kaiji retrieved a grenade from his storage space. Though he hadn’t expected this situation to unfold so soon, he had bought these grenades precisely for a moment like this. Clenching it between his teeth, he pulled the pin and hurled it at the pursuers.

At that exact moment, a golden flash streaked through the air, hurtling straight toward Shen Qing.

Without hesitation, Song Kaiji stepped in front of Shen Qing. A golden metal spike—an ability user’s signature weapon—pierced straight through his left shoulder, sending a spray of blood onto Shen Qing’s face and clothes. The spike vanished just as quickly as it appeared, returning to its owner, leaving only a gaping, blood-gushing wound in Song Kaiji’s shoulder.

Gritting his teeth against the pain, Song Kaiji turned, wrapped his arms around Shen Qing, and teleported just as the grenade exploded.

The next second, they reappeared at the entrance of the cave.

Shen Qing stood in shock, his face still warm with Song Kaiji’s blood, unsure what to do. But Song Kaiji simply reached out and wiped his face. “It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt. We’ve got Qi Zhan, remember? You don’t know this yet, but Wenjie actually managed to bring him over to our side. He’s powerful—he’ll heal me in no time.”

His gaze dropped lower, resting on Shen Qing’s stomach. Though it had long since returned to its normal flatness, he still pressed his face against it. “How’s our child?”

“She’s fine, she’s doing great,” Shen Qing choked out, tears streaming down his face. “She’s a girl, beautiful and healthy. I listened to you—I recorded videos of her for you…”

Blood was still pouring from Song Kaiji’s shoulder, flowing even faster than Shen Qing’s tears. Shen Qing turned back toward the cave. He could see inside—Miao Chunlei was holding the baby, pacing back and forth. For some reason, the child was crying.

Shen Qing shoved the phone with the recorded videos into Song Kaiji’s hands. “She’s crying. Can you hear her?”

Song Kaiji couldn’t hear anything, but he still smiled and nodded. “You need to go back now. Lay low for a while. Don’t come here again for the time being. I have to teleport to find Qi Zhan right away—whatever you want to say, save it for later. In a few days, I’ll leave a letter here with instructions on how we can meet again.”

Voices echoed from below the rock formation—pursuers had tracked them here. Song Kaiji worried they might start searching the area and gently pushed Shen Qing away. “Go, now!”

Shen Qing hesitated, unwilling to part. “Then… then be careful.”

Song Kaiji watched as Shen Qing’s body slowly disappeared into the cave wall. He had lied to him. Teleporting an adult like Shen Qing once had already drained most of his energy. Now, injured and weakened, there was no way he had enough left to teleport back to their base. Whether he could evade the pursuers and survive depended entirely on luck.

But he couldn’t let Shen Qing stay and risk his life with him.

The blood loss was making his vision blur and darken, but he knew Shen Qing was watching him from the other side of the cave wall. He forced himself to stand firm, pretending he was fine.

Back inside the cave, Shen Qing, still covered in blood, stumbled forward, shocking Miao Chunlei. The baby in her arms wailed even louder. “What happened?!”

“I’m fine… this is Song ge’s blood.” Despite his words, Shen Qing felt his strength draining away. The exhaustion from their desperate sprint finally caught up to him. He wobbled slightly, his bloodstained hand pressing against the large blue-gray stone at the cave’s entrance.

In the next instant, the solid rock wall that had always blocked Song Kaiji’s path vanished, flooding the cave with daylight.

Dazed, Song Kaiji saw a woman holding a baby inside the cave, peering out at him. The baby let out a loud cry—like the sound of new life.

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

Thandar: ahhhhhhh finally the moment I’ve been waiting forrrrrr

So much pain…

Shen Qing always thought he had a high tolerance for pain, but at this moment, he felt like his entire body was being torn apart. The midwives’ hands kept pressing and kneading his belly, the dull pain so intense it nearly numbed him. Outside the window, the battle raged on, while inside, the midwives kept calling to him, urging him to inhale and exhale… But the chaotic noises around him seemed to be drifting further and further away. His consciousness wavered, and in the end, he could only see the midwife’s mouth opening and closing, yet he could no longer hear a single word…

His vision blurred as his mind slowly slipped into darkness.

No, something was wrong—he hadn’t lost consciousness.

Shen Qing bit down on the tip of his tongue, the taste of blood filling his mouth.

The world before him was both familiar and unfamiliar—it was the three-bedroom, two-living-room layout of his space pendant. But at this moment, the house was becoming transparent, revealing brown earth and a vast blue sky.

Had he… entered the space?

Shen Qing was jolted into alertness.

Neither he nor Zhang Sujuan had ever been able to physically enter the space before—they could only retrieve items from it. This was a completely new experience.

Instinctively, he rushed toward the spiritual spring, scooping up a handful of water to drink.

He didn’t notice that his movements were completely unrestricted. His pregnancy belly was gone.

This was just his consciousness, not his physical body.

However, just as he brought the spring water to his lips, the water seemed to take on a life of its own, transforming into a stream of white light that surged into his body. At the same time, the pool of spring water on the ground shrunk bit by bit, as if that white light was the concentrated essence of the entire spring.

By the time the white light had completely filled Shen Qing’s body, the once-sprawling spring had shrunk to the size of a well, with only a shallow layer of water remaining. The entire three-bedroom, two-living-room house also disappeared, revealing the true vastness of the barren land in the space.

In the next second, Shen Qing heard a distant cry of joy from one of the midwives:

“it’s in position! The baby’s head is out—it’s coming out!”

And with that, Shen Qing was forcefully ejected from the space.

When he opened his eyes again, he was still lying on the birthing bed.

The midwives around him gasped in excitement—he had woken up!

Just moments ago, Shen Qing had looked as though he had passed out, which was extremely dangerous. A mother who lost consciousness during labor couldn’t cooperate, making it a life-threatening situation for both the baby and the parent. But now, not only had the baby repositioned correctly, Shen Qing himself had also regained full awareness—this child was about to be born!

Sure enough, in less than fifteen minutes, a baby’s first cries filled the room.

Shen Qing felt completely different from before—there was no lingering pain at all. He felt as if he could get up and run two laps without a problem. He knew that the spiritual spring had saved him.

This spring, condensed from Li Aiguo’s dying wish, had once saved his beloved Zhang Sujuan. And now, it had saved Shen Qing and his child.

The midwives quickly wiped both Shen Qing and the baby clean, wrapping the newborn in a soft swaddle before carefully placing the child by his side. One of the midwives hesitated before softly saying, “congratulations, young master Shen… you’ve given birth to a daughter.”

She had been brought in from the city and was unfamiliar with Shen Qing’s temperament. After all the risks and suffering, the child turned out to be a girl, not a son. In most families, this would mean half the usual reward for the midwives—if they got rewarded at all.

She glanced at the window, still hearing the commotion outside, and regretted taking this job.

But Shen Qing didn’t care at all.

With great tenderness, he reached out and gently caressed his daughter’s tiny face.

Newborns were never particularly pretty—red, wrinkled, and resembling a little monkey. But Shen Qing’s eyes were filled with deep affection as he studied her, convinced that her face shape resembled Song Kaiji, her eyes resembled his own… and as for her nose… well, it was still too flat to tell.

But he only took a brief moment to admire her before composing himself and turning to the midwives.

“help me move to the bed near the window,” he instructed.

Even though he felt completely fine and could get up himself, tradition dictated that new mothers must rest properly after childbirth. Since he could afford to stay still, he would.

The bed near the window was where Haitang had been sleeping these past few nights.

The midwives exchanged glances—they understood that Shen Qing wanted to see the battle outside.

The weather was cold, and Shen Qing had just given birth, meaning he absolutely could not be exposed to the wind. However, Zhao Youwei’s forces consisted of able-bodied men, while Wu Guixiang’s side was made up of women and gers. Even though Miao Chunlei had armed them, they were still at a disadvantage.

Right now, the only reason blood hadn’t been spilled was because everyone was from the same village—and no matter how good or bad a person was, most people didn’t have the stomach for outright murder. But injuries were piling up fast.

If things continued like this, the fight would inevitably spill into the house.

After a brief hesitation, the midwives followed his orders, wrapping Shen Qing in thick blankets before carrying him over, still swaddled in his bedding. They bundled him up with extra quilts and thick robes, leaving only his eyes exposed.

“Young master, should we open the window?” one of them asked.

Shen Qing shook his head. “no need for that. There are some things under my bed—fetch them for me.”

One midwife hurried to retrieve the items, returning with several wooden components and a basket of arrows.

Shen Qing swiftly assembled the wooden pieces into a crossbow.

Instead of opening the window, he simply punched a small hole through the paper window screen, just large enough for him to aim through without letting in the cold wind.

Peering through the hole, he took in the battlefield outside.

Miao Chunlei was fighting like a madwoman, swinging her long sword wildly. The two dogs circled her, barking fiercely at anyone who dared approach. The blade was long and sharp, and no one was willing to risk charging in just yet.

But beyond the courtyard gate, things were looking grim.

Many of Wu Guixiang’s people didn’t have proper weapons—most of them were armed with farming tools, which were being easily snatched away before the wielders were pinned to the ground and beaten.

The situation was becoming more and more desperate.

Shen Qing took a few quick glances before locking onto the strongest fighters on Zhao Youwei’s side. He called out to Miao Chunlei, “Mother, move aside!”

Miao Chunlei was stunned for a moment, but her body instinctively followed the order, shifting to the side. The next second, an arrow flew past where she had just been standing and struck one of Zhao Youwei’s men directly in the knee.

The man let out a scream and dropped to one knee. The fulang he had been pinning down was stunned for a brief moment before grabbing a rolling pin from the ground and beating him senseless.

Then came a second arrow. A third…

One after another, bodies collapsed all over the courtyard, filling the air with wails of pain.

Miao Xing and Miao Wang, who had been desperately defending themselves, were momentarily at a loss—how had their enemies suddenly disappeared?

The final arrow was aimed at Zhao Youwei, who was limping away. Shen Qing fired, striking his good leg.

Wu Guixiang was the first to react, her face lighting up with joy. “Qing Ge’er is amazing! He just gave birth, and he still managed to take down a whole courtyard full of people!”

She quickly called out to the uninjured women and gers, “Get some rope! Tie these bastards up!”

Then, as if suddenly realizing something, she peeked her head into the room. “Wait, did the baby come? What is it?”

Shen Qing had already looked away, instructing someone to cover up the hole in the window. “Send the doctor to check on the injured in the village. Get them medicine and bandages as needed. Put the cost on my tab.”

The elderly doctor, who had been hiding in the kitchen the entire time, had never even stepped into the birthing room. A midwife hurried off to relay the message. One fulang had dislocated his arm, one aunt had a gash on her forehead, but most of the injuries were just bruises and scrapes—painful but not life-threatening.

By now, Miao Chunlei had also snapped out of her daze. Forgetting about the courtyard, she rushed inside.

But as soon as she reached the main hall, she hesitated, afraid the cold air on her body would affect Qing Ge’er and the baby. So she quickly warmed herself in the kitchen before stepping into the room.

Inside, Shen Qing was holding his child, gazing at the baby with pure affection. He looked nothing like someone who had just crippled ten men—he was practically glowing with motherly love.

Seeing Shen Qing safe and sound, Miao Chunlei’s eyes welled up with tears again—this time, out of sheer relief.

She wiped her face and leaned in for a closer look at the baby. “What did you have?”

“A girl,” Shen Qing said, clearly delighted. “Mother, prepare the red envelopes for these midwives, as well as for the doctor. They worked hard today.”

This birth had been particularly difficult due to Matchmaker Wei’s interference. The midwives had been sweating profusely as they worked to help him deliver safely.

Miao Chunlei smiled sincerely. “Girls are wonderful. Daughters are warm and caring.” She immediately went to fetch the money.

She had already prepared red envelopes in advance, but now, right in front of the midwives, she grabbed a handful of silver and stuffed extra into each pouch. “You all worked so hard today. My ger was able to give birth safely thanks to you.”

The midwives hadn’t expected such generous rewards for delivering a girl. Overjoyed, they quickly accepted the money, showering the room with auspicious blessings.

Just as the room was filled with warmth and celebration, a sudden commotion erupted outside.

A commanding male voice shouted, “Nobody move! Get down! Stay where you are!”

Both Miao Chunlei and Shen Qing froze.

Then came Zhao Youwei’s desperate cries: “Great magistrate! Save me! They’re trying to kill us! Please, save us! My leg—my leg!”

Miao Chunlei ran outside and was shocked to see a squad of officers rounding up the women and gers who had been tying up their enemies. Others were checking on the wounded.

Shen Qing had only arranged for the doctor to treat their own side—he hadn’t bothered with Zhao Youwei’s men.

Now, Zhao Youwei, Shen Zhigao, Wang Liuzi, and the rest were groveling on the ground, sobbing and pleading for justice.

Lian Ou was also kneeling with his hands over his head, but he knew something was off. Gathering his courage, he peeked up and spotted Lin Ning riding a mule behind the officers.

Immediately, he waved frantically. “Ning Ge’er! We’re over here!”

Noticing that Lian Ou recognized Lin Ning, the officers ignored him.

Lian Ou rushed forward. “This is a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding! The people you’ve arrested are on our side! The ones lying on the ground are the real criminals!”

Lin Ning blinked. “Huh? Huh??”

How were they this capable in a fight?

From a distance, he had seen bodies strewn all over the courtyard and had nearly lost his mind. He assumed the villains had overpowered them and that Qing Ge’er had already been captured.

That was unthinkable—Qing Ge’er had just given birth!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He had immediately ordered the officers to seize the criminals and had ridden ahead himself, with Lian Rong and the others still trailing behind in the carriage.

Lian Ou looked slightly embarrassed. “…We weren’t doing that well at first. They had us pinned down. But then Qing Ge’er started shooting arrows, hitting all their legs, and we managed to turn the tide.”

Lin Ning muttered, “Of course it was Qing Ge’er… giving birth and fighting at the same time…”

He quickly ordered the officers to release the captives and joined the others in tying up Zhao Youwei’s group.

Zhao Youwei was furious. “They’re the ones who tried to kill us! Why are you arresting us? Look at our legs!”

Even in the worst droughts, when villages fought over water and ended up in brawls, the magistrate would punish both sides equally. But now, this county magistrate’s ger was clearly showing favoritism!

Not only had Zhao Youwei failed to kill Shen Qing, failed to seize the village chief position, and failed to take over the workshop, but now even his last good leg was injured. His resentment boiled over.

He glared at Lin Ning and spat, “You’re abusing your power! Oppressing the people! Corrupt official! Corrupt official! I’ll report you—I’ll take this to the prefecture!”

Lin Ning’s expression darkened.

That insult was directed at his father.

He wanted to snap back that, of course, he was siding with Qing Ge’er—why would he take Zhao Youwei’s side? But he couldn’t say that outright. If he did, it would ruin his father’s reputation.

His father was out on inspection with Miao Yu and Tieshan. These officers were people he had secretly convinced his mother to send.

Their actions had to uphold his father’s reputation, not tarnish it.

Lin Ning sneered. “Abusing power? Let’s be clear—where are we? This is Shen Qing’s home. Who owns the land and house? Oh, that would be Miao Chunlei. So tell me, who are you, and what right did you have to break in? You stormed into a widow and her ger son’s home, and you dare claim we’re unjust for arresting you?”

Zhao Youwei was momentarily speechless before snapping back, “We were following Shen Zhigao! He’s Shen Qing’s father! If he brought us here, then we had the right to enter!”

That was precisely why he had bothered bringing the useless Shen family along—so they could claim legitimacy.

“And besides, Shen Qing is an unwed ger with a bastard pregnancy! No village would tolerate that! According to village rules, he should be drowned!”

“Qing Ge’er isn’t unwed! He’s married—you just haven’t seen his husband!” Lin Ning shot back.

He wasn’t sure of the exact details of the village, so he didn’t dare say more.

Miao Chunlei, however, stormed inside and rummaged around before coming back out with a document.

“Bullshit! Shen Zhigao and I divorced ages ago! The child is mine—our ties are severed! He has no right to bring anyone into my house! What, are you saying divorce papers are useless? That every divorced woman and ger should still be at the mercy of their ex-husbands? Keep dreaming!”

Zhao Youwei could read a few characters, and when he saw the household registry in Miao Chunlei’s hand, his eyes widened in disbelief, his face turning redder and redder. After a long pause, he suddenly snatched the document from Miao Chunlei’s hand and shoved it into his mouth.

“I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it!!”

Miao Chunlei: “…”

Lin Ning: “…”

Everyone else: “…”

Miao Chunlei was completely stunned, filled with instant regret as she helplessly looked at Lin Ning. “H-he ate it! Does our household registry still count?”

Ahhh, she shouldn’t have held it so close to Zhao Youwei!

Lin Ning burst into laughter. “Let him eat it! The official red-sealed document is recorded in the government’s archives. If it’s lost, we just apply for a new one. At most, we have to deal with some grumpy clerks. What, does he think eating it makes it invalid?”

Only then did Miao Chunlei relax. Annoyed, she kicked Zhao Youwei. “Believe whatever you want. There are plenty of things in this world you don’t believe in.”

Lin Ning then exchanged a glance with the officer leading the soldiers. The man cleared his throat and stepped forward.

“You lot,” he declared, “attempted to rob a wealthy merchant of Anping County, broke into a private residence, and attempted murder. Master Shen has been personally commended by the county magistrate for benefiting the people and was even awarded an honorary arch. And yet, you lot completely disregarded that! Take them all to prison!”

Zhao Youwei, dumbfounded, fell silent, while the others began wailing and begging for mercy. They all claimed that they had been deceived by Zhao Youwei and hadn’t known that Shen Qing was no longer a villager.

The officer remained stern. “The village chief of any district is supposed to be appointed by the government. The only reason the county magistrate allowed you all to choose was because he doesn’t have time for such trivial matters and doesn’t know your village affairs well. But did you really think you could change the village chief whenever you wanted? That it was up to whoever you pleased?”

Zhao Youwei’s face turned even paler as he listened.

“Zhao Youdang has served as village chief for years without any major mistakes. Whether it was collecting grain taxes or organizing labor, he did his job well. And yet, you can’t even manage your own household—your own brother doesn’t respect you.” The officer frowned.

This man had come to the village before during labor collections, and Zhao Youdang had interacted with him several times. Now, hearing his words, Zhao Youdang was so ashamed he couldn’t lift his head.

“Fine then. Given your past good service, you’ll remain as village chief,” the officer continued, before glancing at Wu Guixiang and advising, “In the future, listen to the advice of those in your household.”

Zhao Youdang responded with a bitter smile, but Wu Guixiang was overjoyed.

Wasn’t this practically official recognition that she was the one calling the shots now?

Excited, she turned to Lin Ning, who discreetly winked at her.

Congratulations to Wu Guixiang, the first woman to achieve “behind-the-curtain rule” in Lantang Village!

Once the situation was mostly handled, Lin Ning let the officers finish up and rushed inside to check on Shen Qing.

Shen Qing was in excellent condition—not at all like someone who had just suffered through a difficult labor.

Lin Ning immediately started showering him with praise. “Qing Ge’er, you’re amazing! I feel like I didn’t even need to come! By the time I got here, the battle was already over!”

“Not at all. It’s good that you came,” Shen Qing sighed.

Zhao Youwei had been willing to drown him, but Shen Qing wasn’t willing to take a life. Though he had shot them in the legs, none of them had died. But what now? Were they supposed to just recover and go back to village life, constantly crossing paths?

Shen Qing wasn’t cruel enough to kill them, but he also wasn’t generous enough to let them stay. Even if Lin Ning hadn’t arrived, he had already planned to send them to the authorities.

“Could you speak to the magistrate?” Shen Qing asked. “Have them exiled somewhere far away to reclaim wasteland or something. Out of sight, out of mind.”

Before coming, Lin Ning had been worried about showing too much bias toward Shen Qing and getting in trouble with his father. He had only intended to protect Qing Ge’er, bring him to the county safely, and make sure he wasn’t harmed.

But now, he felt completely reassured.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I didn’t realize your household registry had already been changed. Since you’re no longer a villager, their attack on you counts as an assault and attempted robbery of a city merchant. My father will definitely convict them. Exile is already a light punishment.”

They chatted for a bit longer, then took turns praising Lian Rong for her bravery and quick thinking in going to the county for help.

Lian Rong hung her head shyly. Truthfully, she felt a little useless—she had run all that way, but Qing Ge’er had handled everything himself.

After that, they all gathered around the bed to look at the baby.

She was a quiet little girl, probably exhausted from the difficult birth. She had only cried when she was first born.

The family’s sheep had already given birth, so they had warm sheep’s milk ready in the kitchen. After drinking it, the baby fell into a peaceful sleep.

“What a considerate child,” Miao Hexiang said. “She knows her mother has important things to do and isn’t making trouble.”

Lin Ning and Lian Rong, however, both frowned, scrunching up their faces. Even Lian Ou looked slightly hesitant, as if he wanted to say something but held back.

None of them had experience with newborns. They all thought newborns were… not very good-looking.

Red, wrinkled, and monkey-like.

Qing Ge’er’s husband probably wasn’t very handsome, was he?

Sigh.

At Red City Base, Song Kaiji suddenly sneezed. He rubbed his nose and muttered to himself, “Qingqing must be thinking of me.”

He had been counting the days—Qingqing should be giving birth around now.

Song Kaiji tilted his head back and gazed at the sky, his expression full of worry.

Qu Weiwei glanced at him in exasperation. Shen Qing had been gone for months. She was starting to suspect Shen Qing had finally dumped Song Kaiji for good.

After thoroughly inspecting a crate, Qu Weiwei gestured to Song Kaiji. “Everything looks fine. Pay up.”

They were currently at the black market.

Inside the crate was a layer of grenades and landmines—over seventy in total. These were highly sought-after, expensive goods. The seller grinned when he saw Song Kaiji pay without hesitation.

“Another batch of good stuff is coming in soon,” the seller said. “Interested?”

Song Kaiji nodded. “Yes. However much you have, I’ll take it all.”

Last time had been a lesson.

The research facility had already developed shackles to suppress abilities. If they encountered that situation again, they would need firepower to fight back.

Lately, Song Kaiji had been interacting more with Chen Jiaxi. He didn’t fully agree with her methods, but she had a point—they were all still too young, too naïve, and not ruthless enough.

Maybe Chen Jiaxi didn’t fully approve of them either…

Next time they ran into trouble, he wouldn’t hesitate. No more taking chances. No more worrying about who was in the crossfire.

The next time, if they encountered a threat—whoever it was—he would throw grenades first and deal with the aftermath later.

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

Miao Shi didn’t have time to think about anything else. She quickly stepped forward and bolted the door, then dragged the wooden table from the main hall and braced it against the entrance before turning back to assess everyone present in the courtyard.

Because Qing Ge’er was giving birth, apart from the elderly doctor invited from the county, who was a man, the remaining five midwives consisted of only one fulang while the others were all women. Miao Hexiang and Lian Ou were at her side, along with the young maid Magpie and the little ger Haitang—both still children who hadn’t come of age yet.

However, when Shen Qing had lived in the county before, he had taught them some basic self-defense. Later, Miao Yu had helped find a martial artist to train the young boys in the household, and the gers and maids occasionally joined in as well. Now, Haitang had grown nearly a head taller than when Shen Qing first bought him, with a thin layer of muscle—strong and capable.

Without needing Miao Shi’s instruction, Haitang had already found a rope and tightly bound Matchmaker Wei, throwing her onto the ground before looking up at Miao Shi. “Madam, what are your orders?”

In this courtyard, Haitang was the only one truly useful—aside from the two guard dogs. Miao Shi’s mind was in a chaotic panic. Behind her, the door was already being forcefully pushed—when it didn’t budge, the person outside switched to kicking it instead. But this courtyard was built at the foot of the mountain. Back when Hunter Liu’s family lived here, they had feared wild beasts coming down from the hills, so the front gate was made from exceptionally sturdy wood. Now, with the table braced against it, the door trembled violently with each kick but remained shut.

The person outside cursed under their breath and then began pounding the door. “Open up!”

The voice was familiar—Miao Shi recognized it immediately. It was Shen Zhigao.

…Damn that Shen Zhigao!

Even if they had cut ties, Shen Qing still carried half his blood! Even tigers didn’t eat their own cubs! Even the person Miao Shi hated most, Shen Zhiwei, had only killed his nephew to protect his own son.

But Shen Zhigao—could he even be considered human?

Overwhelmed by fury and grief, Miao Shi instead became terrifyingly calm. Haitang and Miao Hexiang were both looking at her. Inside the house, Qing Ge’er let out a low groan—he was at death’s door, fighting his way back. She was the only one who could make decisions now. If she panicked and collapsed, Qing Ge’er would have no hope left!

Miao Shi clenched her teeth, her mind racing. She quickly issued orders: “Haitang, Xique, move all the heaviest objects in the house and pile them behind the door! Hexiang, go boil water and make Qing Ge’er a bowl of red sugar eggs—he needs strength to give birth! As for you—” She turned to the four trembling midwives and the elderly doctor, who kept glancing nervously at the door. “Get inside and watch over Qing Ge’er! I will handle what’s outside! If anything happens to Qing Ge’er, none of us will leave this courtyard alive!”

At those words, everyone shivered violently.

They didn’t even understand what was happening—why had their peaceful courtyard suddenly come under siege? Why had Matchmaker Wei turned traitor?

Who knew what kind of ruthless people were trying to break down the door? And what would they do once they got in?

Master Shen was a smart man—if he could hurry and give birth, they might have a chance to maneuver. But if anything happened to him, who knew what those people would do to them? Would they silence them all to eliminate witnesses?

The courtyard bustled into action as everyone rushed to carry out Miao Shi’s orders. The two dogs sensed the tension and stood stiffly in the courtyard, staring intently at the front gate. They didn’t bark—not yet. It was as if they were waiting for the moment the intruders forced their way in, ready to pounce and tear them apart!

Miao Shi took a deep breath, forcing herself to suppress her pounding heart. Then she pulled Lian Ou aside and whispered, “Ordinarily, I wouldn’t let an unmarried ger into the birthing room… but right now, we have no choice. Keep an eye on the midwives—make sure none of them turn traitor. If Qing Ge’er needs to say anything, pass his words to me.”

Lian Ou quickly nodded and ran into the birthing room.

Outside, Shen Zhigao continued pounding on the door. When no one responded, and he failed to break it down, he erupted into furious curses. “Miao Chunlei, you wretched woman! How dare you not open the door when I tell you to! Just wait—I’ll beat you to death later!”

Miao Shi—Miao Chunlei—couldn’t help but tremble slightly. Shen Zhigao used to beat her often, back when Shen Qing was still a child. Just hearing those words now made her body instinctively remember the pain, as if her arms and back were still sore from old wounds.

She bit down hard, tasting blood in her mouth. She refused to be afraid! She shouldn’t be afraid!

They had divorced—what right did Shen Zhigao have to beat her?

She was now the official head of a registered female household. She was the rightful owner of this property! If Shen Zhigao dared to break into her home, then she would make him pay for it!

She squatted beside Matchmaker Wei and slapped her hard across the face. It was the first time she had ever hit someone, and her hands were shaking. But she used all her strength—Matchmaker Wei’s teeth loosened, and blood dribbled from the corner of her mouth.

“Talk!” Miao Chunlei’s voice was ice-cold. “What are Shen Zhigao and Zhao Youwei planning? What were you supposed to do? What did you already do?!”

At this moment, Miao Chunlei’s expression was terrifying. A person who had always been meek and kind suddenly turning ruthless was even more frightening. They said that even a rabbit would bite when cornered—right now, Miao Chunlei looked like she could kill someone.

Matchmaker Wei was too scared to hide the truth anymore—she wasn’t the type who could handle this kind of pressure.

“I-I’ll talk, I’ll talk!” Matchmaker Wei sobbed, her face swelling rapidly like a pig’s head, her speech becoming slurred.

She hadn’t originally planned to harm Shen Qing! Even though, ever since the Lian family’s separation, her sons had started eyeing their own share, causing tension at home. Even though, after the trouble with the Wang family in Xiaoji village, she had felt a little awkward around Qing Ge’er… she was timid by nature. Even if she resented these things, she wouldn’t dare to actually harm someone!

But Zhao Youwei had found her and forced her to act during the delivery. At first, she refused, but Zhao Youwei sneered at her, “Do you really think my weak-willed brother, who lets his wife run wild, and that smug sister-in-law of mine can stand against me?”

Matchmaker Wei hesitated.

Zhao Youwei then rattled off several names—young, able-bodied men who had recently separated from their families and were struggling, like Wang Liuzi. He also mentioned some older village men who had long resented Wu Guixiang’s control over village affairs. And lastly, he said Shen Zhigao’s name.

“So many people support me becoming village chief,” Zhao Youwei continued smoothly. “Whether you help or not, Shen Qing has shamed our village with his bastard pregnancy. He must die. His own father will clean house, and it’ll all be justified! If you cooperate, you’ll earn merit—and the whole thing will be over quickly, with fewer injuries. But if you don’t… when I’m village chief, let’s see how long your family lasts!”

He hadn’t specified what she needed to do, yet Matchmaker Wei still felt a deep sense of unease. Growing up in the same village, she knew Zhao Youwei’s temperament well—he was nothing like his elder brother, Zhao Youdang! He was capable and cunning, but also ruthless and petty! If she refused, Zhao Youwei was the kind of person who would absolutely retaliate!

In the end, Matchmaker Wei was forced to agree. It wasn’t so much that she held any particular resentment toward Shen Qing, but rather that she was convinced that in this “coup” within Lantang Village, Zhao Youdang was bound to lose, and Zhao Youwei was certain to win. She was afraid that if Zhao Youwei became village chief, he would make life difficult for her family, so she could only swallow her conscience and obey.

As midwives, they all possessed some level of skill with their hands. The five midwives in this room all had small, soft hands, but they also needed strength! If a fetus was slightly malpositioned, an experienced midwife could correct it by massaging the belly or adjusting it manually inside the birth canal.

And just as they could correct a malpositioned fetus, they could also displace a properly positioned one.

Since she was a local, Matchmaker Wei originally held the most authority among the midwives, along with the husband midwife. She was a fellow villager of the employer, making her more trusted. Additionally, as a ger, the husband midwife had a better understanding of delivering gers. Because of this, Matchmaker Wei always had the best position to stay close to Shen Qing. While the others were chatting, she took advantage of their distraction and gave Shen Qing’s belly a subtle push.

Shen Qing didn’t understand much about childbirth, so he didn’t pay attention at first. He simply assumed this was a normal part of the process. Even though Matchmaker Wei’s push hurt him a little, childbirth was painful, wasn’t it? He just endured it.

But when the husband midwife turned back around, Matchmaker Wei suddenly jerked her hand away as if burned. That was when Shen Qing began to grow suspicious.

Seeing him staring at her, Matchmaker Wei became so frightened that she wanted to run. Her guilty reaction was so obvious that Shen Qing immediately grabbed her hand. Before he even had the chance to question her, she had already burst into tears.

Miao Chunlei’s face grew darker and darker. As Matchmaker Wei confessed, the sounds of Shen Qing’s agonized groans in the room grew louder, as if confirming every word she said.

A malpositioned fetus… Ha.

Miao Chunlei herself had once suffered a malpositioned fetus after falling. Even the midwife’s skills couldn’t save her child, who died in her womb. She had nearly died as well, and the injuries left her unable to conceive ever again!

“You’re a woman! You’ve given birth yourself! How could you do something like this?!”

Miao Chunlei lost control, lunging at Matchmaker Wei and striking her mercilessly. Matchmaker Wei’s heart was bitter, but she didn’t dare utter a single protest. She merely curled up and covered her head, enduring the blows.

But as she was being beaten, she suddenly recalled the conversation that had ultimately convinced her that Shen Qing and Zhao Youdang could never win. That day, Zhao Youwei had sat in her house and spoken coldly:

“A ger is still a ger. Even if he looks no different from a man, he still has those few ounces of flesh between his legs. So tell me, why are men noble while gers are even lower than women?”

The word lowly made Matchmaker Wei uncomfortable, but Zhao Youwei didn’t care at all about her feelings. In his mind, both women and gers were lesser beings.

“If Shen Qing truly wanted to accomplish something and lived his life without ever marrying or having children, I might respect him. I’d have no way to touch him. But he insists on giving birth and stirring up trouble in the village… Ha! Has he ever stopped to think about why, despite looking just like men, gers and women have never been village chiefs, officials, or emperors?”

Zhao Youwei touched his crippled leg. It was only after he became lame and lost his chance at becoming village chief that he reached this revelation.

From a small family to a village, from a county to a province, from a nation to an empire—those in power had to be strong and long-lived. Only then could the stability of their family and government be maintained.

Even the imperial court selected officials based on physical endurance. Many scholars complained that the imperial examination halls were in terrible condition—after spending days inside, many fell sick, some died before completing the exam, and some even perished before the results were announced. Why did the government subject them to such cruelty?

Because physical endurance was part of the test! What was the point of appointing someone as an official if they died before even taking office, or collapsed from illness as soon as they arrived? That would be a waste of imperial resources!

It was the same reason women and gers couldn’t be in power. What if they implemented new policies, laid out family plans, only to die suddenly in childbirth a few years later?

“Ha—just like Shen Qing now.”

Zhao Youwei had laughed so hard that tears rolled down his face. Stroking his crippled leg, his eyes gleamed as he asked, “So tell me, who should inherit this estate? A newborn baby? Who knows if the brat will even survive without a mother? Should we pass it to his sister? What if she, like him, gains power for a few years only to end up pregnant, give birth, and die—hahahahaha!”

“If there’s always a risk of a new leader dying, the power structure will never last. Gers and women should know their place—their only purpose is to give birth to strong, intelligent, and long-lived sons. And yet they dare dream of ruling?”

“The heavens do not stand on the side of women and gers!”

At the time, Matchmaker Wei had been stunned by his words. But hadn’t he made some sense?

Back then, Zhao Youwei had been smarter and more capable than Zhao Youdang. But because of a single crippled leg, he had lost his chance at becoming village chief…

And Shen Qing? He was a ger. Even if she didn’t intervene, he would still have to give birth. He would still be weakened in his postpartum period. By then, Zhao Youwei’s people would storm in and kill him, and he wouldn’t even have the strength to fight back.

If that was the case, wasn’t it better for her to act first? At least then, she could gain Zhao Youwei’s favor…

Now, as Miao Chunlei’s fists rained down on her, Matchmaker Wei’s heart was filled with bitterness. At the same time, she felt an overwhelming sense of inferiority as a woman.

Why did they have to give birth?

Why was fate so unfair to them, forcing them to walk through the gates of hell just to bring a child into the world…?

It wasn’t her fault. If anyone was to blame, it was Shen Qing for being a ger! If he had been born a man, he wouldn’t have suffered like this—he could have overthrown both Zhao Youwei and Zhao Youdang and become village chief himself!

She had no choice. She only wanted to survive a little more comfortably—why was that so difficult?!

But what she failed to realize was that if people like Zhao Youwei didn’t exist, then women and gers wouldn’t be in danger simply because they were giving birth. The true evil was in those who committed harm, yet they twisted the miracle of childbirth into a sign of inferiority!

Miao Chunlei struck her for a while longer before kicking her into the corner. She had to conserve her strength—she still had to protect Qing Ge’er.

Outside, Shen Zhigao and Zhao Youwei had found something heavy and were repeatedly slamming it against the door. Despite Haitang and Magpie piling up obstacles, the doorframe was beginning to come loose.

They were about to break in.

Miao Chunlei steeled herself and rushed into the birthing room.

Shen Qing was still conscious, but he was drenched in sweat, his hair sticking to his face. Two midwives were gently pushing on his belly, one was working below, and another was instructing him on how to breathe. When they saw Miao Chunlei enter, they looked guilty—blaming themselves for not noticing Matchmaker Wei’s treachery sooner.

“The fetus is a little off-position now… Fixing it takes skill. But she deliberately pushed it into complete disarray… The doctor has already used acupuncture, but it’s not working. He’s gone to prepare medicine.”

Miao Chunlei’s tears fell uncontrollably. Seeing Shen Qing suffer was like having her heart ripped apart. But she gritted her teeth, wiped her face, and ordered, “All of you, step outside for a moment. I’ll call you back in soon… It won’t take long.”

They hesitated but obeyed.

Once the room was empty, Shen Qing took out a bowl of spiritual spring water from his space and gulped it down.

After drinking the spiritual spring water, Shen Qing immediately felt a bit of strength return. He even managed to joke with Miao Chunlei, “Mother, you came at the right time. With them all here, I couldn’t find a chance to replenish myself.”

Miao Chunlei forced out a smile that looked worse than crying. Right now, all she could do was put her faith in the effects of the spiritual spring water. “Then hurry and drink more.”

Shen Qing nodded, took out another bowl, soaked some ginseng slices in it, and placed one under his tongue. Fortunately, he had prepared everything. As long as he could hold on, he would eventually be able to give birth…

Seeing that he was improving, Miao Chunlei quickly relayed everything she had forced out of Matchmaker Wei about Zhao Youwei’s plan. Then she asked, “What did you use to kill those wild boars and wolves before? Give me some.”

Although Miao Chunlei had never held a gun before, there was no room for hesitation now. Shen Qing rummaged through his space and pulled out two easy-to-use handguns with low recoil. He quickly taught Miao Chunlei how to use them and then took out several long knives and swords. “If possible, avoid using the guns. Equip Haitang and the others with the blades. Ou Ge’er told me earlier that Lian Shi has already gone to Shiqu Village to get help. We just need to hold on and buy time…”

Hearing that Lian Shi had gone for reinforcements, Miao Chunlei felt a little relief. She tucked the two guns into her clothes and called the midwives back inside before leaving the birthing room with an armful of swords and knives.

Shen Qing was once again surrounded by the midwives. He touched his belly. Underneath his skin, the child seemed to be moving, struggling with all its might to be born. This was his child with Song Kaiji—the child of him and the man he loved…

His focus was entirely on his belly and failed to notice the space pendant on his chest heating up slightly. The spiritual spring inside his space was shrinking, but invisible white light seeped into his body.

The long swords and knives, each about 1.2 to 1.3 meters long, were forged from high-quality steel yet weren’t too heavy.

When Shen Zhigao and his group finally broke through the main gate, what they saw was Miao Chunlei standing in the courtyard with Miao Hexiang, Haitang, and Magpie—all of them armed.

Before anyone could speak, two dogs suddenly lunged out of nowhere, charging straight at the ones leading the attack!

Zhao Youwei dodged behind Wang Liuzi in an instant, and the two dogs clamped their jaws onto Wang Liuzi and Shen Zhigao’s legs.

The two men immediately let out blood-curdling screams.

These two dogs were the offspring of the most formidable hunting hound from Li Yanzi’s maternal village. Their bite force was terrifying, and the sickening crack of breaking bones echoed through the courtyard.

After delivering their bites, the dogs didn’t linger. They released their grip and trotted back to stand in front of Miao Chunlei, growling low in their throats like a warning.

Their attack had crippled two men before the fight even started, and the once-aggressive mob instantly halted, stepping back in unison, fearing they might be the next to be targeted by the dogs.

Shen Zhigao writhed on the ground, clutching his mangled leg, howling in pain. He cursed at Miao Chunlei, “You wretched woman! And that bastard Shen Qing—I’m his father, and he’s committing blatant disobedience by setting dogs on me!”

“What does Qing Ge’er have to do with this?” Miao Chunlei sneered. Seeing Shen Zhigao’s misery filled her with unparalleled satisfaction.

He had beaten her so many times in the past—now, at last, she was the one holding the knife while he was at her mercy.

“This is my home. We are divorced. The child is mine. We have nothing to do with each other—except for the fact that we’re enemies. I was the one who set the dogs on you.”

Miao Chunlei’s eyes darkened, and she suddenly charged forward, swinging her sword. “And now, I’m the one cutting you down!”

The blade slashed down mercilessly, stabbing straight into Shen Zhigao’s uninjured leg.

Blood splattered, staining Miao Chunlei’s face.

Even Miao Hexiang, standing nearby, was momentarily stunned. Was this really the childhood friend she had grown up with?

But she quickly snapped out of it and followed suit. Copying Miao Chunlei’s example, she swung her blade and slashed Wang Liuzi’s good leg.

Screams filled the air as the two men howled in agony.

Seeing their comrades brutally maimed in an instant, the morale of Zhao Youwei’s followers plummeted.

Zhao Youwei’s face darkened with venomous rage. He never expected to suffer losses so quickly at the hands of two women he had always looked down on. And the fact that they had specifically targeted legs made the humiliation even worse.

He raised his voice, roaring, “That ger Shen Qing—who knows what kind of depraved things he’s been up to outside?! Getting pregnant without a proper marriage—utterly shameless! He’s disgraced Lantang Village! According to village rules, he must be drowned! And all of you who protect him—you’ll be punished the same! You’ll all die with him!”

He thought this would shake Miao Hexiang and Lian Ou, make them hesitate, or even retreat.

But they didn’t react at all.

They acted as if they hadn’t even heard him.

Zhao Youwei’s expression twisted in frustration. He turned to his men. “Seize these stubborn women and gers and drown them all! Whoever gets inside first—whatever valuables you grab from the house are yours!”

The people behind him had long been resentful of Shen Qing, and now, with the lure of loot, their eyes lit up.

Shen Qing’s family was wealthy.

Several of them shifted excitedly, eager to move—but their excitement was quickly dampened by the sight of Wang Liuzi and Shen Zhigao wailing on the ground, as well as the two murderous-looking dogs standing guard.

They exchanged glances but no one dared to step forward first.

Just then, a female voice rang out, “You have no right to enforce village rules! Who the hell do you think you are?!”

It was Wu Guixiang, arriving with a large group of people—Zhao Youdang trailing behind her.

Most of them were women and gers, primarily those working in the workshop, along with families who had recently separated.

They had relied on Shen Qing’s workshop for their independence. If Shen Qing died and the workshop fell into the hands of Shen Zhigao or Zhao Youwei, there was no way they would be kept on.

At first, it had been Wang Liuzi’s aunt who had taken a stand, then the Chen family from the east side of the village, and then Yanzi’s aunt…

They weren’t just here for Shen Qing—they were here for their own survival.

But compared to Zhao Youwei’s group, who consisted of able-bodied men and older village patriarchs, Wu Guixiang’s group was mostly women and gers, with only a few male relatives.

As soon as their gazes met, some of the women instinctively lowered their heads, as if feeling like traitors for standing against the men.

Zhao Youwei was displeased. He had planned to catch Shen Qing off guard, storm his home, and seize him. As a backup, he had even ensured Matchmaker Wei would act. Even if Shen Qing was capable of fighting wild boars and wolves, there was no way he could resist this. Once he had Shen Qing in his grasp, Wu Guixiang would have no choice but to yield.

With Shen Qing drowned and Shen Zhigao inheriting the workshop, Wu Guixiang’s support system would crumble, and he would secure his position as village chief.

But clearly, someone had leaked the information!

The time wasted breaking down the door had allowed Wu Guixiang to gather people. And now, on top of that, Miao Chunlei had set dogs on them and inflicted injuries before the fight had even begun.

Now, facing Wu Guixiang’s group, Zhao Youwei sneered.

His brother—his cowardly, weak-willed brother—was still hiding behind women even now.

Even at this moment, he couldn’t step forward and take a stand.

Back then, their father had been blind to pass the village chief position to this pathetic excuse for a man.

“You say it’s not up to me? And is it up to you, a mere woman?” Zhao Youwei scoffed. “The village chief position was passed down by my father. My brother is unfit, and the villagers support me—I’m the rightful leader. This is a family matter—you have no right to interfere!”

He limped forward a few steps, his crippled leg making his movements awkward. “I still haven’t settled my score with you. If it weren’t for your brothers, I wouldn’t have been injured, and the village chief seat wouldn’t have gone to him!”

Luckily, as she passed through Miaoqian Village, Lian Rong ran into a familiar face.

A bald monk, dressed in gray robes, was leading a mule cart. Seeing her running alone, panting like a dying dog, he curiously asked, “Where are you off to in such a rush?” He glanced behind her and added, “Why are you alone? Where’s your second brother?”

Lian Rong looked up—it was the monk who had saved Lian Ou.

She and Lian Ou often set up stalls in Miaoqian Village’s market and had to pay this monk for a spot. Over time, they became familiar with him, and since he had once saved Lian Ou, there was an unusual sense of gratitude between them.

Without hesitation, she grabbed onto the mule cart. “Take me to the county! To the county office! Please, my ge is about to be harmed—I need to find help!”

Hearing this, the monk didn’t ask any more questions. He simply unhitched the cart from the mule, then lifted Lian Rong onto its back and rode toward the county. His cart was nothing more than a flat wooden plank used for carrying goods—there wasn’t even a carriage box. But this was his territory in Miaoqian Village, so he easily called some people over to watch his belongings before leaving.

As they rode, the monk asked, “Your… which ge is in danger? Don’t tell me it’s…”

Lian Rong hesitated, then realized he probably thought Lian Ou was in trouble again. She wiped the sweat off her forehead and shook her head. “Not my real brother. It’s my cousin.”

The monk gave a quiet “Mm” in response.

Riding a mule was far faster than running on foot.

Soon, they arrived at the Anping County Office. Lian Rong had no idea where Lin Ning lived, so she steeled herself and ran straight for the front gates of the yamen.

“Hey! You brat—do you think you can just run into the yamen like this?” The guard at the entrance grumbled, using his wooden staff to push Lian Rong back.

Lian Rong clung to the staff, pleading, “Let me in! I need to see Ning Ge’er, the magistrate’s son! Or at least Miao Yu or Tieshan! I know the magistrate’s family lives inside!”

Had she only asked for the magistrate or his son, the guard wouldn’t have taken her seriously. But the fact that she specifically mentioned Miao Yu and Tieshan made the two guards hesitate. After a moment of thought, one of them said, “Miao Yu and Tieshan went out on an inspection with the magistrate. If you want to see the magistrate’s son, you can’t enter through the front. Go out, take two right turns, and head to the back of the yamen.”

He gave her a once-over and added, “But whether the magistrate’s son will see you is another matter.”

“He definitely will!” Lian Rong threw out those words and ran off.

Her luck wasn’t bad. After just one right turn, she spotted Lin Ning, Lin Zao, the Xie siblings, and a few of Shen Qing’s maids and young attendants, all walking together and chatting cheerfully.

Lian Rong had held back her tears all the way here, but now, upon seeing Lin Ning, she suddenly burst into loud sobs and threw herself forward.

“Ning Ge’er! Please save Qing Ge! The people in our village want to drown him in the pond!”

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

Even though Shen Qing followed Lin Ning’s suggestion and had Miao Shi and Miao Hexiang subtly hint around the village that he had gotten married while traveling for trade—if one were to consider the post-apocalyptic world as “trade,” then it wasn’t exactly a lie.

But forget about the villagers—even Miao Hexiang and Wu Guixiang didn’t truly believe it in their hearts. However, since it was Qing Ge’er, even if they doubted it, they would still defend him unconditionally. If Qing Ge’er said so, then it must be true!

The other villagers didn’t dare say anything in front of them, but behind their backs, gossip was spreading in secret.

“I never thought about it before, but most traders are sturdy men—why would they take a little ger? Even if that Shen Qing is strong, he’s still inconvenient. Who knows, maybe he was just taken along to satisfy someone’s needs on the road…”

“I heard from the people at the docks that this is common on ships. Those with money even bring two courtesans aboard… And you know what? In brothels, the delicate beauties are popular, but for trade routes, someone like Shen Qing is ideal. Otherwise, if they fall sick or die along the way, it’s too costly. If not for that, why would anyone pick him? With his looks, he’d never get a real man’s attention in his lifetime!”

“Tsk tsk tsk, and that child in his belly—he might not even know who the father is. Saying he got married out there? With his appearance, which respectable family would actually take him as a proper spouse?”

“No wonder they say someone important values him—so this is the kind of ‘value’ they meant! Hahahaha…”

Wang Liuzi and a few others who had always been at odds with Shen Qing had been having an increasingly difficult time in the village over the past half year. Wu Guixiang, as expected of the village chief’s wife, knew every little conflict happening in people’s courtyards. She made sure to select workers for the workshop from the families that had grudges against them.

Take Wang Liuzi’s family, for example. The one chosen was his little aunt, who had never gotten along with his mother since marrying into the family and always looked at Wang Liuzi with disdain. Ever since she started earning money at the workshop, Wang Liuzi’s entire household had been overshadowed. Yet she still wasn’t satisfied—recently, under Old Lian’s influence, she had been making a fuss about splitting the family and leaving them behind to seek wealth on her own!

The others were in similar situations.

With old grudges piling onto new ones, Wang Liuzi and his gang seethed with resentment whenever Shen Qing was mentioned, grinding their teeth in anger. Still, as they talked, they had someone keeping watch. The moment they spotted Ou Ge’er leading Lian Rong and two aunts heading their way, they immediately shut up and pretended to be gathering firewood.

The atmosphere in the village these days! Even gossiping about Shen Qing had to be done in secret, as if it were some heinous crime! The women and gers in the village were all trying to curry favor with Shen Qing—who knew which one of them might be his informant?

Back when people first suspected that Shen Qing was pregnant, they had merely “questioned” it a little, and Wu Guixiang immediately had Zhao Shitou come over and slap each of them across the face. Their ears were still aching from it! Zhao Shuanzi was useless too—his mother had him so tightly controlled that he didn’t even dare step out of the courtyard anymore, spending all day working at home!

Wang Liuzi was fuming internally but didn’t dare lift his head, afraid of drawing even the slightest suspicion from Lian Ou and the others.

As Ou Ge’er and Lian Rong walked past them, they cast a few suspicious glances their way. When they had walked farther, Lian Rong murmured, “I have a feeling they were talking bad about Qing Ge.”

Lian Ou frowned. He had the same feeling, but without catching them in the act, there wasn’t much he could do. He knew about Qing Ge’er’s pregnancy, and there was no way to stop the villagers from gossiping. After all, Qing Ge’er’s man had never once set foot in Lantang Village. Not holding a wedding in the village was one thing, but for the man to never even show up—of course those loose-tongued villagers would let their imaginations run wild.

Lian Ou mulled it over. Maybe he should suggest to Qing Ge’er to hire a respectable man from the county to pose as his husband and stay in the village for a while? Qing Ge’er knew the county magistrate’s ger and had connections with big bosses at the trading house—hiring someone shouldn’t be too difficult.

As they walked farther away, Wang Liuzi and his gang finally dared to raise their heads. Watching Lian Ou’s departing figure, they swallowed their resentment before spitting in his direction, trying to cover up their bitterness. “Tch! He’s just another cheap whore who’s been touched by men! Birds of a feather—filthy whores only flock together!”

Unlike Shen Qing, Lian Ou was one of the most good-looking gers in the village, fitting the current standards of male aesthetics. Some of them had even tried to propose marriage to Lian Ou before, but Miao Hexiang would never have considered them. Now, seeing Lian Ou’s reputation ruined, those rejected suitors felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. The one they couldn’t attain had now fallen into the mud. If they hadn’t already married, surely… hmph! Now, Lian Ou wasn’t even fit to carry their shoes!

“How does he still have the face to walk around? If he doesn’t just hang himself with a rope, he should at least be too ashamed to step outside!”

“He keeps running off to Miaoqian Village every other day, saying he’s selling goods. I bet he’s just like Shen Qing—getting a taste for being touched by men and heading there to ‘do business’…”

They spat out all sorts of vulgar remarks at Lian Ou’s back and spread obscene rumors about Shen Qing. But as soon as their lookout signaled that Miao Hexiang and Wu Guixiang were passing by with a few women from the workshop, they immediately shut their mouths. There was nowhere safe in this village—nowhere to even gossip freely! Wang Liuzi sneered, “Let’s go hang out at Uncle Youwei’s place!”

As Shen Qing’s belly grew bigger by the day, both Miao Shi and Shen Qing grew increasingly anxious. For Shen Qing, this was his first time giving birth, and his lack of experience naturally bred fear of the unknown. Miao Shi, on the other hand, had suffered losses when it came to childbirth, so she prepared thoroughly—clearing out several rooms in the neighboring workshop, planning to hire multiple midwives and even a doctor. As the due date approached, they intended to have them stay in the village, ready at any moment.

“Qing Ge’er, look at this little outfit—do you like it?” Miao Hexiang held up a tiny goose-yellow baby garment made from fine cotton for Shen Qing to see. Since Shen Qing was expected to give birth in late autumn, they had to prepare warm clothing and thick swaddling blankets for the child. “I washed it three times and softened it. Rong Jie’er personally picked out the fabric and used her own savings to buy it—one for you and one for Yu Ge’er.”

Normally, newborns were best dressed in old clothes because they were softer. However, all of Lian Rong’s childhood clothes had been taken by Wang Shi for Lian Bao to wear, and Miao Hexiang’s family didn’t have any left. So, they washed the new clothes several times until they felt like well-worn fabric.

Lian Rong, usually loud and unrestrained, was now acting shy, half-hiding behind Miao Hexiang. Ever since Qing Ge suggested they sell defective goods in Miaoqian Village, Lian Rong had saved up quite a bit of money. This time, she had gone to the market there and picked out the finest, most expensive piece of fabric she could find for Qing Ge. She remembered how good Qing Ge had been to her, but her family’s circumstances were far worse than his—this was the only way she could show her appreciation.

Shen Qing, of course, had nothing but praise. The garment was soft to the touch, with dense and even stitches that wouldn’t scratch the skin—it was clearly made with care.

They all praised Lian Rong, making her even more embarrassed, her face turning as red as a hawthorn berry. Speaking of which, Lian Rong suddenly said, “Qing Ge likes sour things! My grandmother dried a lot of hawthorn fruit—I’ll go get some to make tea for Qing Ge!” With that, she ran off in a hurry.

“She’s grown up now, even knows how to get shy—not as thick-skinned as before,” Miao Hexiang laughed. Then, she started talking about the comfort of life after splitting from the family. “My mother-in-law is much better now. Yu Ge’er has finally started showing morning sickness, so she dried a bunch of hawthorn fruit. Now that she’s living with us, she hasn’t mentioned the main house at all. I was worried that my in-laws might secretly support them, but surprisingly, they’ve completely let go.”

Lian’s new house had been completed before the autumn harvest, and they had moved in half a month ago. Wang Shi had brought Lian Bao and Lian Ye over to cry a few times, but Old Madam Lian refused to see her. Miao Hexiang, feeling sorry for Lian Ye, was torn—she wanted to help, but Wang Shi’s presence made it difficult. “Maybe when Ye Ge’er gets married, if it’s close by, Ou Ge’er can keep in touch with him.”

As they chatted, Wu Guixiang lowered her voice mysteriously, “Wang Liuzi’s family is about to split up too—probably in the next couple of days. His little aunt already told me that the old couple finally agreed. And Old Chen’s family from the east side of the village said that if Wang Liuzi’s family splits cleanly, they’ll do it too.”

In truth, these weren’t the only families considering separation. Once the precedent was set, others would follow. And sure enough, a few days later, Wang Liuzi’s family quarreled from morning till sunset before finally splitting up. However, unlike Miao Hexiang, Wang Liuzi’s little aunt wasn’t so lucky—the old couple chose to stay with the eldest son, leaving her and her husband with barely anything, practically throwing them out penniless. Still, she wasn’t discouraged and took her husband and children back to her maiden home, already discussing buying land with Wu Guixiang to build a new house.

Before long, the Chen family split as well, followed by the Liu family, then the Sun family… Wu Guixiang hardly had time to visit Shen Qing anymore, busy helping families divide their households.

With the village divided, some were happy, while others were resentful. Those who benefited naturally grew closer to Shen Qing and Wu Guixiang, while those who suffered began to harbor grudges. In a way, Zhao Youdang’s concerns weren’t wrong—the balance of the village had been disrupted. Parents who had spent years raising children, expecting to wield authority over them, suddenly found their power halved. How could they not be furious?

But by now, Zhao Youdang was powerless to stop it. Beneath the seemingly peaceful surface of Lantang Village, dark undercurrents surged.

“Ge, what do you think Qing Ge will have?” Lian Rong started rambling, “I feel like I should hope for Qing Ge to have a son, but what’s so good about a son? Ah, but whatever Qing Ge has, it’s not up to me anyway, hoping is just a waste of time.”

Lian Ou was also extremely nervous and didn’t bother responding to Lian Rong’s nonsense. However, before long, the siblings both felt like they were getting too tense—so much so that they seemed to be hallucinating. Was someone softly calling their names?

Having listened to too many old folks’ ghost stories, Lian Rong shuddered, immediately feeling like this was an ominous sign. She resisted the urge to look back, tucked her neck in, and prepared to just run forward.

It was still broad daylight! Why was this happening? Where was the demon, the ghost, the evil spirit coming from—?!

Just then, Lian Ou gave her a shove, forcing her to turn around. Fixing her gaze, she saw a woman hiding behind a large tree, calling them in a hushed but urgent voice.

It was Li Jiaofeng!

In Lian Rong’s mind, she was no different from an evil spirit. She frowned, pulling at Lian Ou, determined to leave. “Come on, Ge, ignore her, she’s a bad woman!”

Hearing Lian Rong say this, Li Jiaofeng grew anxious. Her voice rose slightly before she quickly lowered it again, as if afraid of being discovered. “I really have urgent news! It’s about Shen Qing!”

Lian Ou hesitated, glancing around. The place was mostly empty, and aside from that large tree, there wasn’t anywhere to hide. It didn’t seem dangerous. Listening wouldn’t cost him anything, so he still chose to walk over.

Li Jiaofeng also looked around quickly. Seeing that Lian Ou finally came near, she wasted no time and spilled everything in a rush: “Qing Ge’er is in danger! Zhao Youwei and Shen Zhigao have joined forces—they’re planning to drown Qing Ge’er in the pond and seize his property! You must hurry to Shiqu Village and find Sister Miao’s maternal family—if you’re late, it’ll be too late!”

After saying that, Li Jiaofeng didn’t even wait to see if Lian Ou fully understood before turning and running away. She had snuck out to deliver this warning—if she were caught, she’d be doomed!

Lian Ou stood frozen as if struck by lightning, unable to react for a long moment. By the time he came to his senses, Li Jiaofeng had already run quite a distance. He couldn’t help but shout after her, “Why are you—”

Li Jiaofeng didn’t answer, nor did she stop running. She didn’t even know why she did it herself. By all logic, she and Shen Qing were natural enemies. Even after briefly working together, Shen Qing never accepted her. But… but… maybe this was her way of atonement, of accumulating virtue for her child, of repaying the silver Shen Qing had once given her, which had helped her child recover.

Just this once. After that, it would all depend on Shen Qing’s fate.

Li Jiaofeng ran even faster.

After Shen Zhiwei’s death, Shen Lingzhi moved away from Anping County, leaving the Shen family in even worse straits. They had already sold several acres of land, leaving them with just two, barely enough to feed the family. But Shen Zhuang refused to work properly, and Shen Zhigao wasn’t much better, so the harvest was meager.

Shen Zhigao had once told Old Lady Shen that they should just consider Miao Shi and Shen Qing as dead and never trouble them again. Back then, he still had some fatherly pride, feeling that asking Shen Qing for money would be beneath him.

But the harshness of life had eroded his last bit of dignity. He was consumed with jealousy toward Shen Qing and Miao Shi. Seeing Miao Shi now dressed up and walking around the village looking well-off, he raged at home, cursing wildly, as if a divorced wife should live like a withered tree, suffering instead of having a good life.

Even his love for Shen Qiang had wavered. Sometimes he cradled the child and laughed and cried at the same time; other times, he became so violent that he nearly threw him down at the first wail, though in the end, he still couldn’t bear to.

Why?! Why could that ger and that wretched woman live in luxury while he, the father, couldn’t even eat his fill?! Shen Zhigao was on the verge of madness!

That was when Zhao Youwei came knocking.

The two of them, along with Old Lady Shen and the paralyzed but still lucid Old Man Shen, sat together conspiring. Li Jiaofeng, listening from the side, was scared out of her wits. Meanwhile, Shen Zhigao’s eyes gleamed like a wolf’s as he clung to Zhao Youwei’s every word.

“Yes, you’re right… A ger who got pregnant out of wedlock—he’s disgraced our Shen family’s name, corrupted the morals of Lantang Village! He must be drowned according to village rules. Once he’s dead, as his father, everything he has belongs to me… and that wretched woman, too…”

Li Jiaofeng, horrified, clutched Shen Qiang tightly.

At the mention of Miao Shi, Shen Zhigao hesitated, showing a sliver of rationality. He turned to Zhao Youwei and said, “But if her brothers come back, you can’t be like that coward Zhao Youdang, letting them run rampant in the village!”

“Of course not,” Zhao Youwei sneered. “This is Lantang Village—when did outsiders ever get to call the shots? My useless brother let them walk all over him, but I’m not him. Once I become village chief, our village will return to how it was. Fathers will have authority, and those meant to be underfoot will stay underfoot. Women and gers—men let them play their little games, and now they actually think they matter?” His eyes were dark and full of malice.

Old Lady Shen’s eyes shone with greed. She had grown gaunt, her cheeks sunken, looking like a walking corpse. Old Man Shen, paralyzed on the kang, demanded constant care and had become irritable and cruel, making her life unbearable.

She longed for the past. Sometimes, she saw Miao Shi in the village, dressed finely, wearing jewelry—better than she had ever lived, even at the family’s peak. Once Shen Qing and Miao Shi were dead, all of that would be hers!

Li Jiaofeng looked at these people, mad with greed and hatred, and felt like the whole situation was unreal. Did they not realize how insane this was?

Mustering her courage, she said, “Shen Qing has a powerful backer… He knows the magistrate’s ger and wealthy merchants in the city. The workshop isn’t even his—it belongs to his benefactors!”

“Shut up!” Shen Zhigao turned and slapped her hard across the face, leaving her stunned. The slap was vicious, instantly swelling her cheek two fingers high.

Ever since Shen Zhiwei’s death, Li Jiaofeng had stopped pretending in front of Shen Zhigao. She was indifferent to him, and their past affection had long faded. Shen Zhigao had never hit her before, only cursed her occasionally, and she treated his insults like a barking dog. But this time, the slap was real—she was stunned.

Zhao Youwei barely glanced at her. To him, she wasn’t worth looking at directly. He despised men who let women interrupt their conversations. “The land deeds and property documents all bear Shen Qing’s name. If his benefactors say it’s his, then it’s his?”

Did they not understand that a mighty dragon couldn’t suppress a local snake? The workshop was in their village—an outsider couldn’t just take it away. Once they killed Shen Qing and seized his assets, everything would be theirs. And as for the magistrate’s ger—he was just a ger. What could he do?

Zhao Youwei didn’t believe the magistrate would go to great lengths for a ger’s friend. The key point was that Shen Qing’s out-of-wedlock pregnancy violated village rules. Drowning was a legitimate punishment under their customs. With Shen Zhigao, his biological father, agreeing to it, even the magistrate would have no grounds to interfere!

And so, a house full of people gleefully plotted how to divide Shen Qing’s wealth, how Zhao Youwei would take over as village chief… They were all insane.

Terrified, Li Jiaofeng hesitated for days before finally running out when she heard Shen Qing was going into labor.

She was too afraid to go to Shen Qing’s house directly, so she waited until she found Lian Ou and Lian Rong in a quiet place.

Lian Ou was still processing the shock, but Lian Rong had already shoved him. “Ge, hurry home and tell eldest brother to go to Shiqu Village for help! Then go find Aunt Chunlei! I’ll go find someone!”

She took off running.

“Where are you going?!” Lian Ou shouted after her, but Lian Rong didn’t answer. Clenching his teeth, Lian Ou did as she said, rushing back to tell Lian Shi to send for help before running to find Miao Shi and relay everything Li Jiaofeng had told them.

“What?!” Miao Shi was utterly stunned. Shen Zhigao and Zhao Youwei were planning to drown Shen Qing? And it was Li Jiaofeng who brought the warning? She understood every word on its own, but strung together, they made no sense at all.

Had they gone mad?

She was still in shock when she suddenly heard Shen Qing calling from inside the house, “Mother!”

Snapping out of it, Miao Shi hurried into the room, only to see Shen Qing half-sitting up, gripping Matchmaker Wei’s hand tightly. Matchmaker Wei was in a panic, struggling desperately but unable to break free. The other four midwives stood at a distance, their faces filled with horror.

Miao Shi instantly exploded, “Are you all dead?! Haitang!”

Haitang rushed out from the kitchen, and upon seeing the situation, swiftly twisted Matchmaker Wei’s arms behind her back and pinned her down. Only then did the other four midwives snap out of their daze and hurried forward to check on Shen Qing.

The labor had just begun, and he was still in the early stages of contractions—pain coming and going in waves. He had happened to grab hold of Matchmaker Wei during a moment without pain, so he hadn’t felt anything unusual. But now that she had been caught, Wei Matchmaker turned ashen with despair. Seeing Miao Shi and the quick-handed Haitang, she was so terrified that she dropped to her knees with a heavy thud.

“I was wrong, Qing Ge’er, Sister Chunlei, I’m not human… but I had no choice! Zhao Youwei forced me to do it!”

The mention of Zhao Youwei overlapped with what Lian Ou had just told her, and Miao Shi had no choice but to believe—it was real!

It didn’t matter if they were insane or not. They were actually planning to take advantage of Qing Ge’er’s childbirth—to strike when he was at his weakest and take his life!

At that very moment, noises could already be heard from outside the courtyard gate.

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

The elderly woman, face full of fury, glared hard at Qing Yan.

Her eyes were small—so small that even when glaring, they appeared as narrow slits with no whites visible.
Anyone on the receiving end of that kind of stare would be shaken.

Qing Yan instinctively tried to sit up straight, but Duan Wucuo’s hand pressed against her waist wouldn’t let her move.

Unfortunately, the chess table was blocking the view. From the other side, it looked entirely like she had flung herself into his arms, clinging to him and refusing to leave.

He was doing it on purpose—deliberately putting on a show for the old woman across from them.

Thinking this, Qing Yan reassessed the woman as she approached.

She was dressed in rich robes adorned with soaring phoenixes, her hair heavy with golden pins and jade ornaments—commanding in every sense.
Behind her followed seven or eight dignified maidservants.

That sort of presence… could she be the Empress Dowager?

Duan Wucuo removed his hand at some point. Qing Yan gave a small cough, straightened up a bit, and rubbed her sore chin.

The woman strode up aggressively and called out in a low voice, “Ah Jiu.”

Duan Wucuo gave a lazy “Mm,” as he placed a white piece on the board—calmly finishing the endgame alone.

The old woman’s eyes turned to Qing Yan, scanning her from head to toe.

Her gaze reminded Qing Yan of broken ceramic shards scraping repeatedly at a potato’s skin.

“This one here must be the foreign Princess Huachao?”

The woman’s tone was lofty.

“Wishing Your Majesty peace,” Qing Yan said with a respectful curtsy.

There was a sudden silence in the air—like everyone had held their breath.

All the kneeling maids buried their heads even lower.

The woman’s lips twitched, her expression growing even darker.

She was only forty-one!

Her gaze shifted from disdain to outright disgust.

Beside her, Duan Wucuo let out a quiet chuckle.

Qing Yan blinked in confusion and subtly glanced at Wen Xi for help.

Wen Xi gently shook her head.

Had she guessed wrong?

But in all of the capital, who else would dare scold Prince Zhan and call him “Ah Jiu” with such ease?

Su Ruche stepped forward, suppressing her glee, and leaned close to Qing Yan to whisper, “She’s our eldest princess—Prince Zhan’s older sister.”

Ah…

Qing Yan’s eyes swept over the woman’s graying temples and the fine lines at the corners of her eyes.

Suddenly, it was very awkward.

No woman likes to be reminded of aging.

Qing Yan gave a light cough and offered sincerely, “Eldest Princess, you have such grace and poise.”

The princess snorted coldly.

“I’ve heard Princess Huachao has been frequenting Prince Kang’s residence lately—drawing no small amount of gossip from the capital.
Is this how Tao Kingdom raises its royal women?
If it weren’t for the diplomatic entourage, I’d have thought you were some illegitimate daughter from a rural backwater, born to a lowly concubine—no manners, no shame!”

Now that was rude.

Princess Consort Kang had just rushed over upon hearing the commotion and happened to catch that last line. She bit her lip, worry written on her face.

But the Eldest Princess didn’t seem to think she had gone too far. She pressed on:

“Whatever shameless behavior you got away with in your own country, you’d best drop it here in Yi Kingdom.
At the very least, act like a proper young lady if you wish to become a daughter-in-law of the Duan family!”

Su Ruche gently took the princess’s arm and coaxed her,
“Please, Eldest Princess, calm down… calm down…”

She stole a glance at Duan Wucuo, trying to hide the longing in her eyes.

Just one look. Even one glance would be enough.

But Duan Wucuo seemed entirely detached from the situation—like none of it had anything to do with him.

Su Ruche’s heart sank, but that disappointment quickly turned into subtle delight.

So what if he didn’t look at her? He wasn’t intervening either—not even to defend Princess Huachao.
Didn’t that mean he didn’t care about her either?

That was good news.

She lowered her eyes to hide the pleasure flickering in them.

The Eldest Princess took a deep breath and lowered her voice just a touch, though her tone remained cutting.

“Flirtatious, affected—hardly capable of preserving her own chastity…”

It had been a long time since Qing Yan had been scolded like this.

But after a few sentences, it all came rushing back—like muscle memory.

What maid hadn’t been raised on daily lashings of scolding from sharp-tongued matrons?

For a moment, the Eldest Princess’s face blurred with the faces of the women who used to berate her as a child.

Qing Yan didn’t get angry. Instead, she looked up at the princess with wide, innocent eyes.

The woman ranted on, white breath puffing out with every sentence.

At last, when she paused, Qing Yan curved her eyes and flashed two charming dimples.

She said sweetly, “Eldest Princess, why don’t you take a seat while you speak? You seem a bit tired.”

“You—!”

The princess’s anger flared even hotter.

There’s nothing more infuriating than punching into cotton—no resistance, no satisfaction.

Duan Wucuo’s mouth twitched ever so slightly.

Just as the princess took two more furious steps forward, he said,

“Royal Sister, your maid seems to be in a rush.”

The Eldest Princess turned—and indeed saw a maid hurrying over.

“What is it?”

The maid panted as she replied,
“Good news—wonderful news! The Empress has given birth!”

She was delivering joyful tidings, but her expression didn’t quite match.

Realizing it must be premature labor, Princess Consort Kang quickly stepped forward.

“Are mother and child safe?”

The maid replied awkwardly, in a low voice:
“Yes… but… Her Majesty gave birth to a princess…”

The Eldest Princess and Princess Consort Kang both froze.

Everyone had been so certain this baby was a boy—the future Crown Prince.

How had it turned out to be a girl?

The Empress had indeed gone into early labor. Before her due date, she’d been distressed and in constant pain. The imperial physicians had tried their best to preserve the pregnancy, but in the end, she delivered prematurely.

There were many consorts in the palace. Though the Empress was known to be jealous, it wasn’t as if she would go into early labor just because the Emperor favored another woman. But the one who had climbed into the Emperor’s bed was her own younger sister—and worse, she had caught them in the act with her own eyes. That… was an entirely different matter.

Upon hearing that the Empress had gone into labor, the Eldest Princess temporarily set aside her intention to speak with Duan Wucuo and rushed to the palace.

Before leaving, she shot Qing Yan a disgusted, venomous glare.

Princess Consort Kang also gave a few brief instructions before hurrying after the Eldest Princess to visit the Empress.

The Qiangli Garden quieted instantly.

Qing Yan slowly sat down, head lowered, picking at the sachet in her hand.

After a long while, Duan Wucuo turned his head to look at her—only to find the girl’s eyes red, as if she were about to cry.

Qing Yan was working hard to stir up the emotion, but she just couldn’t cry.

She tried to recall the times she’d been caned or fed spoiled food—but at most, it made her eyes a little misty. No tears would come.

Alright, this would have to do.

She sniffled, then slowly looked up at Duan Wucuo.

Her eyes were filled with aggrieved sorrow, a pitiful look on her delicate face.

Though she hadn’t shed a single tear, to others it looked as if she were quietly suppressing her sadness, holding it in with maturity beyond her years.

Especially when her lips moved just slightly—those faint dimples at the corners made it look as though her tears were right on the edge of falling. It was heart-wrenching to behold.

“Your Highness,” she said softly, “no matter what others may think of me or how much they may despise me… so long as Your Highness knows my heart, that’s enough.”

She held the sachet out to him, like a young girl shyly presenting her affections. In her clear, shining eyes was the reflection of the man she admired.

Duan Wucuo’s gaze dropped to the poorly stitched sachet.

He asked, “The Princess embroidered this herself?”

“Yes,” she replied.
“Every stitch and every thread holds Yan’er’s feelings for Your Highness.
This is… this is a pair of lovebirds—joined wings.
They represent my heart…”

“Lovebirds?” he repeated.

“Yes. Joined-winged lovebirds.
The one on the left is Your Highness, and the one on the right…” Qing Yan turned her face coyly, smiling bashfully—her performance of innocence and coquetry was masterful.

If she hadn’t explained it, no one would’ve guessed the design was meant to be lovebirds. It looked more like two tangled tufts of wild grass.

To appear “unvirtuous,” Qing Yan had purposely made the embroidery ugly.

In truth, she was quite skilled—she’d once earned pocket money selling embroidered handkerchiefs.

Duan Wucuo didn’t take it right away. Instead, he asked, “This incense has a rather unique scent.”

Qing Yan’s smile grew even more sincere. Her eyes sparkled.
“Your Highness has entered the monastic life and follows the precepts daily—you can’t taste wine or meat.
Wu’er often hears people say wine is the finest of earthly pleasures. I worried Your Highness might crave it yet couldn’t break your vows…
So I spent a great deal of money finding this special wine-scented incense.
If Your Highness wears it each day, perhaps it’ll ease your longing.”

She looked at him with earnest, radiant joy—the glow of a girl in love.

But inside, she was shouting:

Come on! Hurry up and scold me! Say the stitching is hideous! Get mad at the wine scent!
Slap the table and storm off! Throw the sachet in my face! Come on! Show that fearsome demon-king temper of yours!

But Duan Wucuo simply set down the chess piece in his hand—and, under her hopeful gaze, accepted the sachet.

His pale fingertips touched the cloth, and he slowly rolled the rough embroidery thread between his fingers. Then he brought it to his nose and inhaled deeply.

His eyes narrowed, and an entranced smile tugged faintly at his lips.

Wearing plain monk’s robes and an air of abstinence, his infatuated expression gained a quiet, reverent beauty.

So pure… it was almost sacred.

He sat right there, yet seemed shrouded in mist—so close, yet impossibly far.

A nearby maid was momentarily dazed before hurriedly lowering her head, blushing.

Even Qing Yan was briefly stunned.

Her hand, still outstretched from offering the sachet, hung frozen in midair.

“Princess, you are most thoughtful.
This gift… is wonderful,” Duan Wucuo said, opening his eyes and tucking the sachet into his robe—an expression of genuine appreciation on his face.

Then he turned, grasped her wrist, and lifted her delicate fingers to his nose for a deep breath.

His breath brushed her skin. Qing Yan shivered.

The depth of his gaze unnerved her. That tingling sensation from his breath began at her fingertips and spread throughout her body.

Still holding her fingers, Duan Wucuo’s eyes were calm and bottomless as he slowly said,

“Since I was young, I’ve been forbidden from drinking wine.
Even a drop will make my skin flush and itch, sometimes even break out.
But… I’ve always been fond of the smell.
The scent alone makes me drunk.
This gift, Princess, suits me perfectly.”

“…Ah.” Qing Yan’s mouth opened slightly.

So when the Consort had said “Prince Zhan doesn’t like wine,” she really just meant he was allergic…

Duan Wucuo didn’t let go. His grip on her fingers tightened slightly.

He said,
“You’ve held this sachet so long that your fingertips now carry the same alluring wine scent.”

He tilted his head slightly, her fingertips almost touching his lips.

Amid the wild pounding of her heart, Qing Yan abruptly pulled her hand back and hid both hands behind her back.

She stared at him, stiff-backed, chest rising and falling.

She had a sudden illusion—if she hadn’t pulled away, Duan Wucuo might have bitten her fingers.
Bitten them to the bone. Swallowed them whole.

He looked at the now-empty space between his fingers, then turned to her with a cryptic smile.

He sighed,
“There’s wine scent on your body too, Princess.
But… it’s too faint.
If you were to bathe in wine at night, I imagine the taste would be much richer, much more delicious.”

A terrifying image flashed in Qing Yan’s mind:
Prince Zhan smiling as he submerged her in a vat of wine—letting her soak and ferment—then pulling her out and biting into her with that intoxicated look, devouring her whole… not even the bones left behind.

Snapping back to reality, she met Duan Wucuo’s intense gaze.

The way he looked at her—Qing Yan knew that look.
It was the same look she had when she saw braised pork after going hungry for three days.

She shuddered, scalp tingling.

Panicked, she jumped up and blurted,
“I—I’m going back to soak in wine, Your Highness wait—”

She bit her tongue mid-sentence, realizing what she had just said.

Her cheeks were already flushed crimson. She didn’t dare look him in the eye again and fled in a fluster.

Prince Kang, being pushed forward by attendants, could only shake his head helplessly.

“Ah Jiu, why must you scare her like that?”

Duan Wucuo gave a casual chuckle.

He leaned back, long legs crossed on the chess table, lazily swinging.

°❀.ೃ࿔°❀.ೃ࿔

Duan Wucuo tugged lightly on both ends of the measuring tape, and Qing Yan’s toes instinctively shifted forward a little—bringing the two of them just slightly closer.

The soft tape rested across her chest, both ends overlapping, pinched in Duan Wucuo’s fingers. As he gently drew the tape taut over her clothes, his knuckles came to rest against her chest.

His eyes lowered, focused calmly and attentively on the measuring tape.

Qing Yan stood frozen, a flush rising quietly on her cheeks.
She stared at him, her heart pounding, afraid his knuckles might hear the frantic rhythm of her pulse.

Then Duan Wucuo suddenly looked up.

Their eyes met.
Qing Yan felt like a thief caught red-handed—nowhere to hide.

He read out the measurement.
The seamstress, surprised, cast a discreet glance at Qing Yan’s figure and quickly jotted it down.

Duan Wucuo’s voice seemed to reach her ears half a beat late.
She blinked and awkwardly turned her gaze away.

“Next, the waist.”

As he loosened his grip on the tape, her tense body eased slightly.
Only then did Qing Yan quietly exhale and find her breath again.

The tape slid down her back, brushing past her shoulder blades like a fleeting, ghostly touch.

Duan Wucuo bent down and wrapped the tape around her slender waist.
He reported the number.

“And now, hips.”

It was as if her soul had just returned to her body—Qing Yan hurriedly stepped back in alarm, as if the tape in his hand was a deadly snare.

Desperate to escape, she blurted,
“I have plenty of silks and fine dresses! There’s no need to make new ones!”

“Oh?”

Duan Wucuo’s tone was lazy, with a long, drawn-out ending.

His gaze slowly drifted downward—not intrusive or indecent,
but with the detached cleanliness of a man still dressed in monk’s robes.

He said offhandedly,
“Perhaps… being away from home for so long.”

Qing Yan was startled.
Cold sweat broke out along her spine.

Was he saying her clothes didn’t fit?

Had he noticed something?

No, impossible!
Although all the clothes she brought for this political marriage had been tailored to the Huachao Princess’s measurements,
her own figure wasn’t that different—barely noticeable.

Could he really detect such subtle differences?

Her heart pounded, but on the surface, she maintained a proud and haughty air.
She gave a dismissive snort and snapped,
“This princess never imagined the mighty Yi Kingdom would serve such awful food!”

A flicker of amusement passed through Duan Wucuo’s otherwise serene gaze.
Sweeping his eyes over her shapely figure, he said with veiled meaning,
“It seems the only dish the princess finds palatable is papaya.”

“Papaya?
I haven’t had any—is it good?”

Qing Yan looked at him in confusion.

He didn’t answer.
Instead, he crouched before her, monk’s robes sweeping the floor, and resumed measuring her hips.

Qing Yan wanted to run—but she forced herself to stay put.

She reminded herself:
She was playing the role of a spoiled princess hopelessly infatuated with Prince Zhan.
She mustn’t back away—she should act pleased.

But it wasn’t real.

Inside her sleeves, her delicate hands curled into fists, nails digging hard into her palms.

Beneath the folds of her skirt, her toes clenched tightly in their embroidered shoes, gripping the ground as if to nail herself in place.

She couldn’t falter. She couldn’t run.

She steeled herself, standing rigid as Duan Wucuo continued taking her measurements.

Finally, he stood up and gathered the measuring tape.

Qing Yan felt an enormous weight lift from her chest, like a prisoner released at last.

“Since we’re done, this princess will now return to have tea with the Princess Consort!”

As she brushed past him, he called out.
His voice reached her ears and made their reddened tips tingle faintly.

“Princess.”

He stepped back, leaning lazily against the long table behind him.

Qing Yan summoned her courage and turned around.

He gave a soft chuckle, straightened up, and once more spread his arms.
The tape hung from his slender fingers, its end swaying gently.

He asked,
“Did the princess forget something?”

Qing Yan blinked—then realized:
She had originally insisted on taking his measurements.

Mimicking his tone, she drawled out a long “Oh—” and tugged the tape from his fingers, forcing herself to finish measuring him.

When she finally finished, she tiptoed and looped the tape around his neck, letting it drape over his chest.

Then, without a word, she turned and briskly walked out.

The maids and seamstresses exchanged knowing glances—then quickly lowered their eyes and resumed their tasks.

Qing Yan walked lightly until she reached an empty corridor, where her steps slowed.

Wen Xi hurried to her side and subtly steadied her.

Qing Yan tilted her head, grumbling wearily like a sulky child begging for candy.

Wen Xi, sighing, didn’t scold her poor performance.
Instead, she gently patted Qing Yan’s hand and soothed her, “You did well. Don’t be afraid.”

Qing Yan immediately broke into a smile, eyes curving.
Just as she was about to speak—
a loud crack of thunder rumbled across the sky.

Soon after, the deep rumble of a storm followed.

“A heavy rain is coming,” said Wen Xi.

“Perfect!”

If it rained, she’d have a legitimate reason to stay overnight.
No need to invent an excuse tomorrow.
Her clingy, “hopelessly-in-love” act would look all the more convincing.

Whenever Qing Yan visited, Princess Consort Kang always hosted her at Xianglan Pavilion.

Qing Yan and Wen Xi rushed toward it and ran into a maid sent by the Princess Consort carrying umbrellas.

The maid had just made it back when a torrential downpour crashed down.

Princess Consort Kang set Zhaowei down and hurried to the door, kindly saying,
“Good, you didn’t get caught in the rain.”

Qing Yan’s eyes spun with calculation. She sighed in mock disappointment,
“Pity… Who knows how long this rain will last?
I’ll surely be soaked when I return to the palace.
So troublesome!”

As expected, the Princess Consort said, “In this weather, you shouldn’t go back. Though our residence is small, we’ve no shortage of guest rooms to host you comfortably.”

“Oh—but how could I impose!”

Qing Yan widened her apricot eyes in feigned protest.

“If you insist on returning in the rain, you’re telling me you don’t wish to be friends,” the Princess Consort said gently.

A maid in the corner closing the window cast a look of disdain—just in time for Qing Yan to catch it. But she wasn’t offended. On the contrary, she was delighted, for it played perfectly into her hands. Her coquettish smile grew even sweeter.

Hooking her arm around Princess Consort Kang’s, she said softly and cheerfully, “Your Highness is so kind! I really like you!”

Qing Yan had dinner with the Princess Consort and young heir, then retired to the guest room.

As soon as the door shut, she rushed to the window and opened a square porcelain box.

Immediately, a rich aroma of wine spilled out.

Inside was nü’er hong—a strong rice wine—and soaked in it was a sachet with embarrassingly poor stitching.

She fished it out and wrung it dry with all her strength.

“It must be completely dry by tomorrow morning.”

Qing Yan placed it beside the lamp, took off the shade, and let the flame dry it directly.

Wen Xi came over and sat opposite her. She studied Qing Yan’s face for a moment before speaking. “Qing Yan, do you feel wronged… or ashamed?”

“Hm?”

Qing Yan was busy turning over the sachet and barely heard her.

Wen Xi grabbed her hand, looked her in the eye, and said seriously,
“In this life, you’ll only ever be the princess’s shadow. No matter whom you marry, your only purpose will be to make him hate you—so that you can shrink into a corner and go unnoticed. There will be no tender love, no matching gazes across a shared table. Just cold lamps and bitter tea for a lonely lifetime.”

“So long as I’ve got breath and food, that’s enough.
Who cares about romance?
A man’s heart is nothing but a wolf’s heart—worse than a dog’s liver! All men are heartless liars and bastards. Who needs ’em anyway?”

Qing Yan’s tone was light and carefree. She suddenly blinked and asked,
“Sister Wen Xi, what’s so special about the papayas in Yi Kingdom’s capital?
Can you make me papaya soup tomorrow?”

Wen Xi looked at Qing Yan’s clear, limpid eyes that shimmered like they were steeped in lychee nectar. She lost her breath for a second, then flicked Qing Yan’s hand away, done trying to talk sense into her.

She must have lost her mind to worry Qing Yan might be upset.

They’d known each other half a year, and she’d never seen Qing Yan not smiling—always so radiant, as if sorrow never touched her.

“So young, yet acts like she’s nursing a heartbreak,” Wen Xi muttered.

Qing Yan didn’t respond.
Her gaze was innocent, her smile simple and unguarded—like a naive child.

Her heart was soft: repay kindness tenfold.
But also hard: no love, no pain. All men were bastards.

—

The next morning, Qing Yan woke up and ran barefoot to check the sachet.

It had dried completely, but the wine scent still clung.

“Prince Zhan doesn’t like women who are too forward.”
“Prince Zhan doesn’t like alcohol.”
“Prince Zhan doesn’t like cats.”

—Shufei’s words, Qing Yan remembered them all.

After washing up, she summoned the courtyard maid and asked where Duan Wucuo was.

The maid answered politely, but after turning away, couldn’t help rolling her eyes.

Prince Kang loved chess. While Duan Wucuo was staying at the residence, he always got dragged to the Qiangli Garden each morning to play.

Qing Yan packed the sachet and headed for the garden with Wen Xi.

Along the way, she overheard some maids chatting while sweeping the paths.

“That Princess Huachao really has no shame. The marriage isn’t even settled yet, and she’s already clinging to Prince Zhan.”

“Exactly! Yesterday, she even had the nerve to say, ‘This princess will personally take your measurements—no one else may touch you!’”
One maid put her hands on her hips and mimicked Qing Yan’s voice.

“You weren’t there, but she was absolutely shameless!”

Their laughter rang out.

“She’s blinded by his looks, not knowing how cold he is.
Tch, let her make a fool of herself.
You think Prince Zhan will put up with her? This is just giving face to Tao Kingdom.
Even if they do get married, once the delegation leaves, she’ll be tossed aside—left miserable and unwanted…”

Qing Yan’s lips curled high. Her joy was impossible to hide.

She gripped the sachet in her hand, so happy she nearly wanted to hum a tune.

She didn’t avoid the maids—just walked right past them, bold and carefree.

The maids all dropped to their knees in fear, cold sweat breaking out.

—

Early spring still carried a chill, but Duan Wucuo seemed immune to it. Even in winter, he only wore thin monk’s robes.

He was sitting on a bench in Qiangli Garden, idly twirling a smooth chess piece.

A few maids stood nearby, ready to attend him.

He had been playing chess with Prince Kang, but when a servant came to report the young heir was crying, he had gone to check.

Qing Yan arrived on light feet, sat across from him, and cupped her face in her hands, eyes bright with laughter.

She said,
“What a coincidence!”

Duan Wucuo’s fingers paused, and he lazily lifted his eyes to glance at her.

Qing Yan gave an awkward smile and admitted sheepishly,
“Fine. It’s not a coincidence. I came here just to see you.”

She pulled out the sachet and held it out to him with both hands.

Looking at him with eyes full of stars, she said:
“I made this myself—for you, Jiu Lang!”

(T/N: Jiu = Ninth. Lang is a respectful or affectionate term to call a young man).

The scent of wine lingered faintly in the air.

Duan Wucuo’s lips pressed together, but a faint and meaningful smile curved at the corners of his eyes.

In his dark gaze was a depth she couldn’t fathom.

That made Qing Yan nervous.
She couldn’t figure him out.

So she moved, circling the table, her goose-yellow skirt fluttering like layered petals in the sun.

She sat beside him—very close—and leaned in slowly.

Her eyes locked on him without blinking, voice sweet and soft:
“Jiu Lang, do you like it?”

Too close.

Should she move back?

As she hesitated, Duan Wucuo’s hand suddenly pressed lightly on her waist. With just a bit of force, her body tilted toward him, and her chin knocked softly against his chest.

“Indecent!”

Qing Yan’s shoulders trembled.
She turned to see an older woman, face flushed with fury.

Su Ruche stood behind her, attendants all kneeling on the ground.

°❀.ೃ࿔°❀.ೃ࿔

Qing Yan wanted to speak, but her mouth was stuffed with lotus syrup pastry.
Her hands were busy holding the food box and couldn’t spare a moment.
So she subtly curled the corners of her lips, forming a small arc, and with the tip of her tongue, she gradually pushed the pastry inward until she’d managed to swallow the whole thing.

Her cheeks puffed out, quivering softly with each chew, like tender little snowballs.
The lotus pastry was too delicious for her to spit out—so she let her pearly teeth gently grind it down, savoring the entire piece bite by bite.

Bit by bit, her full cheeks deflated. Then she raised her lips into a smile, revealing deep little dimples.

Duan Wucuo silently watched her finish the pastry—
well, not the whole thing, since he had already taken a bite.

“It’s good,” said Qing Yan.
She didn’t believe Duan Wucuo at all—how could he call something this delicious terrible?

The outside was flaky and crisp, drizzled with sweet syrup.
The inside was soft and melted with a lick of the tongue, releasing the fresh fragrance of lotus flowers in June.

Without making a fuss, Qing Yan ran her tongue over her teeth that had just chewed the pastry, collecting the lingering lotus scent that had softened her tongue and dulled her teeth.

Duan Wuyu chuckled. “This must be Princess Huachao?
It’s one thing to bring just any pastry, but for the princess to personally make lotus syrup pastry just to bring to Ah Jiu…”

He turned to Princess Consort Kang, who had just walked over. “Wanwan, do we still have any of the lotus pastry Ah Jiu brought?”

Princess Consort Kang gently adjusted the thin blanket draped over Duan Wuyu’s legs before replying, “If Zhao Wei didn’t sneak any last night, there should still be some left.”

The couple shared a knowing smile.

Then Princess Consort Kang turned to Qing Yan with a gentle smile.
“If there’s any left, Princess, you must try the other version later.”

Qing Yan nodded with a smile—
but her thoughts weren’t on the pastries.

She snuck a sidelong glance at Duan Wucuo, hoping to catch a hint of disgust on his face.
But…

He was too tall. No matter how she tilted her eyes, all she could see was his Adam’s apple.

Qing Yan quickly looked away.

Consort Shu brought over Cheng Mujin and Tao Ningxin, who both offered their courtesies.
Duan Wuyu asked his wife to continue hosting while he and Duan Wucuo left the residence.

Qing Yan and the others followed Princess Consort Kang into her plum garden.
She hadn’t lied—she really had cultivated her plum trees with care.
Though fewer in number than the royal garden’s, each one had been tended with great dedication.

Qing Yan’s beauty needed no mention, and both Cheng Mujin and Tao Ningxin were also widely admired in the capital.
As for Consort Shu and Princess Consort Kang, their charm was of a more mature, refined allure.

The five women sitting among the plum blossoms looked like a living portrait of unmatched beauty.
Even the blossoms paled in comparison, reduced to mere background.

Tao Ningxin couldn’t help but ask,
“Princess, you know Prince Zhan dislikes overly forward women. Why did you…”

Cheng Mujin gave her a sidelong glance before returning calmly to her tea, sipping quietly.

Qing Yan’s apricot-shaped eyes widened in mock surprise.
“Forward? How was I being forward? That was just proper courtesy.
If anything, Prince Zhan should have returned the favor!”

Tao Ningxin was stunned. “Then what do you think counts as being forward?”

“I didn’t force him to drink wine, or…”
Qing Yan pulled her collar slightly to reveal her snowy collarbone, fluttered her lashes flirtatiously,
“…or throw myself into his arms, seduce him with beauty.
So how is that too forward?”

She sounded completely justified.

Tao Ningxin’s gaze stuck on her exposed, slender collarbone, momentarily speechless.
Even Cheng Mujin lowered her teacup, looking at Qing Yan with a complicated expression.

Consort Shu pursed her lips, her eyes showing concern—Qing Yan’s personality might just drive Duan Wucuo away.
But she didn’t know how to persuade her, so she simply murmured,
“Prince Zhan doesn’t drink.”

Qing Yan’s eyes spun—clearly brewing up another bad idea…

Cheng Mujin and Tao Ningxin stayed another hour before politely taking their leave.

“I’ll walk you out,” Qing Yan said with a bright smile.
…clearly, she had no intention of leaving.

No one wanted to chase her away either.
So Princess Consort Kang invited her to stay for dinner.

“Lovely!
You’re so kind, Princess Consort. I felt so close to you the moment we met—like family!”

Qing Yan played the naïve girl perfectly.

Princess Consort Kang smiled gently.
“Well, we will be family someday.”

However, Duan Wucuo didn’t appear for dinner, and neither did she get to try the alternate lotus pastry recipe.
Qing Yan was left disappointed.

—

The next day, she returned again to Prince Kang’s residence.

“Princess Consort, I think I left my hairpin here yesterday—maybe in the plum garden…”

Princess Consort Kang clearly remembered that Qing Yan had worn a dangling hair ornament, not a pin.
Still, she said nothing and led the servants to search high and low—even nearly digging up the earth—but the hairpin was nowhere to be found.

Qing Yan sat at the stone table, chin in her hands, looking pitiful.
“Sorry to trouble you, Princess Consort…”

Princess Consort Kang only shook her head with a kind smile and invited her to stay for lunch.

As Qing Yan was leaving in the afternoon, the princess consort softly said,
“Life in the residence is often dull. But you, Princess—you have a lovely temperament and a pleasant presence. It brightens the mood.
If you’re ever free, I hope you’ll come by often to keep me company.”

Standing by the carriage, Qing Yan turned back to look at her.
Her eyes curved gently like the moon’s reflection, dimples deep and sweet.

“I like you too, big sister. I’ll come again tomorrow!”

—

The next day, fierce winds howled and dark clouds loomed.
It looked like the sky was holding in a downpour, ready to crash down at any moment.

Duan Wucuo and Duan Wuyu played chess beneath the window.
Duan Wuyu’s son, Duan Zhaowei, sat on a soft stool nearby, playing with dice bones.

Duan Wuyu remarked,
“A man’s body was found last night on Puan Street.
His head was severed, the cut unnaturally smooth.
Limbs intact, but all joints were smashed.
His organs were missing—but they did find traces of internal tissue inside his mouth.”

“Your move, Fifth Brother,” said Duan Wucuo.

Duan Wuyu placed a piece on the board and continued,
“That method seems like your handiwork. Be honest—was it you?”

Duan Wucuo picked up the black piece he’d just eaten and lazily intoned,
“Amitabha… This humble monk has renounced the world and holds compassion above all.
It is my duty to ferry the living through the mortal world, and to deliver the dead beyond the veil.”

Duan Wuyu paused, then broke into laughter.

Princess Consort Kang entered with a frown, scooping up Zhaowei.
“Zhaowei is still here—don’t talk about such things.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop,” Duan Wuyu said indulgently, looking fondly at his wife and child.

Princess Consort Kang smoothed Zhaowei’s hair, ignored her husband, and turned to Duan Wucuo.
“Spring’s almost here. I’ve invited the seamstresses from Langxiao Pavilion.
Come get your measurements taken for some new clothes.”

“Thank you, Sister-in-law.”

Duan Wuyu added, “Yes, yes—we should get you some new clothes.
You shouldn’t keep wearing that rough monk’s robe every day.”

Princess Consort Kang still ignored him.

Helpless, Duan Wuyu grinned and coaxed, “Wanwan, come sit with me.
I can only beat Ah Jiu if you’re by my side.”

She shot him a glare and replied,
“When have you ever beaten your Ninth Brother?
Even sitting next to a living Buddha wouldn’t help you.
Besides, I need to go accompany Princess Huachao.”

“That foreign princess again?”

Duan Wuyu glanced at Duan Wucuo, then turned to look at the gloomy sky.

Duan Wucuo’s face revealed nothing—no one could read how he felt about Qing Yan.

After Princess Consort Kang left, the brothers resumed their game.
A few more moves in, Duan Wuyu suddenly recalled Duan Wucuo’s line:
“To ferry the living, to deliver the dead.”

Did Buddhists even talk like that?

He’d never heard any bald monks chant such words.

He said,
“If you did it, then fine.
But if it wasn’t you, be careful—someone might be setting you up.
This capital isn’t as peaceful as it seems.”

Duan Wucuo’s lips curled into a faint smile.
“The capital is far from peaceful, true.
But peace does not exist anywhere the living roam.”

He placed a white piece on the board and said lightly,
“Time to get measured.”

Then he rose and strolled off.

“Hey, the game—” Duan Wuyu looked down at the board and realized he had lost.

He’d once been obsessed with chess in his youth, aspiring to be a grandmaster.
After feeling invincible for a time, he’d roped Duan Wucuo into a game only to suffer a devastating loss.

Unwilling to accept it, he challenged the other royal brothers.
Among the nine of them, he lost seven games.

The only match he won was against the now-Emperor, back when he was still the Crown Prince, and that victory had infuriated His Majesty so much he refused to eat for two days, pounding his chest and scolding Duan Wuyu for lacking tact.

—

Before Duan Wucuo even stepped inside the warm chamber, he heard Qing Yan’s chirping voice.

The corners of his mouth lifted as he pushed open the door.

Qing Yan was pulling on the two seamstresses, learning how to take measurements.
When she heard the door open, she turned, gave Duan Wucuo a sweet smile, and waved the soft measuring tape in her hand.

Lifting her little chin, she spoke with a touch of spoiled arrogance:
“I’ll be taking your measurements personally.
No one else is allowed to touch you. Hmph—”

That last note was the softest little pout.

The seamstresses and maids in the room all lowered their heads.

Marry a virtuous wife—jealousy ranked among the seven grounds for divorce.
No man wanted a jealous woman as a wife.

Qing Yan braced herself, waiting for Duan Wucuo to get angry.

But…

He smiled faintly, casually let out an “Oh?” and raised his arm, smiling at her with his eyes.

Qing Yan froze.

Wait—this… this wasn’t going how she’d planned.

Hiding her disappointment, she stepped behind him, tiptoeing to measure his shoulder width.
The tape slowly stretched across his shoulders, then came around to the front.
She motioned for him to raise his arms so she could measure arm length.

The tape wrinkled, and she pressed it flat with her fingertip—sliding gently over his arm through the monk’s robe.

Her fingers came to rest at his wrist. Thump thump—she could almost mistake his pulse for her own nervous heartbeat.

Next came the waist.

Lowering her eyes, she deliberately tugged her collar slightly to the side in front of him, revealing a patch of snowy skin at her collarbone.

Then she crouched, waist tucked, hips slightly raised.

She wrapped the soft tape around the back of his waist.
As she raised her hand, a slender, porcelain wrist brushed against his side.

One of the seamstresses peeked at the scene and quickly turned red, bowing her head and daring not to look again.

Qing Yan slowly looked up at Duan Wucuo. Her long lashes trembled gently, eyes shimmering with softness.

“All done?” he asked, gazing down at her.

She held the measuring tape and gazed up at him dreamily.
In a deliberately coy tone, she whispered,
“The moment I saw you, my heart fluttered… I lost my mind and forgot what else I had to measure…”

“Hmm.”

Duan Wucuo narrowed his eyes slightly, then a warm smile touched their corners.

“No matter,” he said.
“This humble monk shall teach the princess.”

He took her slender forearm and gently pulled her to her feet.

Qing Yan stumbled slightly, nearly falling against his chest.

She hurriedly raised a hand, her fingertips pressing against his firm chest.

The measuring tape hadn’t even fallen when Duan Wucuo picked it up.

He pinched the tape between his fingers, his gaze fixed on Qing Yan.

“In return,” he said,
“this humble monk shall personally take the princess’s measurements as well.”

He turned her slender body around, the tape resting on her shoulders.

“Shoulder width,” he recited, giving the number. One of the seamstresses noted it down.

Then he turned her back around and slowly passed the tape under her arm.

Qing Yan tensed, feeling the tape inching upward along her back, the sensation tingling through her even beneath the fabric.

“And now—bust circumference.”

°❀.ೃ࿔°❀.ೃ࿔