Chapter 125 - At the Door to the Life Chronicle, a Dream, a Girl, and a Crow - Part 1

A baby girl. Her eyes were completely white, not a trace of black, like milky-white glass.

Everyone fell silent. Never mind this world’s preference for sons over daughters; this newborn baby girl was also blind.

The midwife didn’t dare breathe too loudly. She knew how high Li Yuan’s status was in Gemhill County. At the same time, she felt a nameless sorrow welling up in her heart. She knew how kind Yan Yu was; many refugees had survived only thanks to her compassion. Why then, heaven above, would such a virtuous woman be given a daughter who was blind?

Fearful and filled with regret, the midwife stood there trembling, clueless as to what she should do. The entire room grew deathly quiet, the only sound coming from the newborn’s cries.

Eventually, those cries subsided, and suddenly became a soft, babyish laugh. Kicking her tiny legs, waving her little hands, the infant reached toward the door-frame, where no one stood, motioning as though she wanted to be held by someone.

Li Yuan snapped out of his daze. He took the swaddled bundle from the midwife. Gazing down at the baby girl, he unexpectedly smiled, proud and joyful, and announced, “I have a daughter! She is my firstborn!”

His reaction finally woke everyone from their shocked stupor. They hurriedly offered congratulations.

“Congratulations, Master!”

“Now we have our young lady!”

On the bed, Yan Yu lay covered in sweat, her damp hair clinging to her forehead. She hadn’t yet grasped the situation, only smiled weakly and said, “Husband...let me see her.”

Li Yuan replied, “You should rest. I’ll go bathe her first.”

With that, he carried the baby behind a folding screen, speaking cheerfully as he teased her, “Time for a bath. Let’s get you squeaky clean so your mother can see you. All right?”

The maids had already prepared soft towels, a basin of warm water, and a little lifebuoy made from a hollowed gourd for bathing. The baby was placed in the buoy, floating quietly on the warm water while occasionally kicking her little legs. She turned her head toward the door, letting out little cries, though these were drowned out by the chatter of everyone bustling about.

Sensing something, Li Yuan glanced toward the doorway, but saw nothing. He returned his attention to the wooden tub, where the midwife was carefully bathing the baby girl.

Once the newborn had been washed and rewrapped in a clean swaddling cloth, Li Yuan carried her back to the bedside. The maids and midwife knew to take their leave. With a quiet squeak, the door closed behind them.

Yan Yu slowly lifted her head and stared at Li Yuan, exhausted. “Our daughter...is she...” She couldn’t bring herself to say the word

disabled

, but from the earlier stunned silence and the fact that Li Yuan hadn’t immediately shown her the baby, she had a good idea.

Li Yuan said, “She’s beautiful.”

Yan Yu managed a small smile. “You’re just trying to cheer me up.”

Li Yuan continued, “She’s my firstborn daughter, and I’ll love her forever, just as I love you. Before she was even born, I’d been searching for the right name. I told myself that if we had a girl, I’d pick a lovely name. She didn’t disappoint me.”

Yan Yu smiled through her fatigue. “You’re just coaxing me...”

Li Yuan said, “Her name will be Li Sheng. The Sheng (琞) formed by the sun (日) and moon (月) suspended in the sky, illuminating the fine jade (玉) below.”[1]

“Sheng...” Yan Yu repeated thoughtfully. “Does that character even exist?”

“It does. I found it in a book,” Li Yuan explained.

She replied, “You’re a very thoughtful father indeed. Now, aren’t you going to bring Sheng’er over so I can see her? Who will feed her, you or me?”

Li Yuan still hesitated slightly. The two of them exchanged a look. Though exhausted, determination and happiness shone in Yan Yu’s eyes. She was both a clever and resilient woman.

Li Yuan handed her the swaddled bundle.

Immediately, Yan Yu saw those porcelain-white pupils. Her heart clenched; it hurt worse than if she herself had gone blind. Tears streamed down her face.

Li Yuan gently wiped them away.

Holding her baby, Yan Yu choked up and said, “My poor child...my poor child...”

Li Yuan didn’t know what to say. He placed a light hand on her shoulder, letting her lean against him.

A mother holding her blind daughter, and a father embracing them both—an incredibly tender scene.

All of a sudden, the baby giggled again in her sweet, high-pitched voice, kicking her legs and waving her small hands. This time, however, she wasn’t facing the door; she was reaching toward the window.

Li Yuan glanced in that direction. The oiled-paper window had somehow come open. He walked over and shut it.

Just then, the door gave another soft creak. Xue Ning came in, her belly round, calling out, “Yan Yu, congratulations!”

Noticing the somber mood in the room, she fell silent and quietly made her way to the bedside. When she saw the baby in Yan Yu’s arms, she froze. The light in her eyes dimmed, and she slowly sat down at the edge of the bed, speaking in soothing tones to keep her friend company.

Seeing Li Yuan watching from near the door, Xue Ning smiled at him. “Go do what you need to, dear. I’ll stay here with Yan Yu. Everything’s fine.”

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

Seven days later.

The child in Xue Ning’s belly was also born, this time a perfectly healthy boy.

Li Yuan named him Li Ping’an. With a boy’s mischievous, troublemaking nature, plus his family background, he thought Ping’an would be a fitting name. Ping’an symbolized peace, a life of safety above all else. He hoped for a life of many children and much happiness.

One main reason Li Yuan had decided to have children was so that, hundreds or even thousands of years later, he wouldn’t be alone. That was why he had accomplished this before reaching sixth rank. He also wanted to deepen his bond with both Yan Yu and Xue Ning. He was afraid that his growing power would one day frighten them, gradually replacing their love with mere respect and awe.

So far, it was all working out nicely.

In the busy days that followed, Li Yuan threw a grand celebration for the babies’ one-month feast. To make things simpler, the two babies shared their banquet.

With Tie Sha leading the way, guests from all walks of life came to offer congratulations.

Li Yuan received many gifts—mostly gold, silver, rare trinkets, and such. After consulting his wives, he decided to invest all of them back into the Ginger Tavern’s supply chain. At the same time, they opened two additional porridge stands outside Union Town, having previously operated only outside Silver Creek.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

A few days later.

On a dark and windy night, a carriage halted in the wilderness. Inside, Yu Chaojin sat quietly until he heard movement outside.

“Reporting to Sect Master Yu, we’ve confirmed the information.”

“Speak,” he said in a calm voice.

“It appears that all of the demonic beasts from the demon enclosure have vanished.”

“Understood. Dismissed.”

“Yes, sir.”

The footsteps receded, fading into the night.

Yu Chaojin narrowed his eyes. A few days before, he’d had no desire to attend Li Yuan’s children’s one-month feast, but upon hearing Tie Sha would be there, he got an odd feeling and went as well. He deliberately walked around the estate and overheard faint barking, barks that sounded like powerful demonic beasts. Afterward, he sent informants in the inner district to investigate.

“Tie Sha gave him the demon dogs. But how could an eighth rank possibly control a seventh rank ebony marquis? Unless he himself is seventh rank, and not just that, he must be a top-tier beast tamer at seventh rank. So he’s become a legitimate beastmaster, which is why Tie Sha values him so much?”

Yu Chaojin mulled this over. Another matter also came to mind. Tie Sha had tried hard to hide it, but plenty of inner disciples had seen it, so Yu Chaojin naturally heard, too.

“That day, when the Sun-Wei alliance invaded the inner district, and all of them died, most with blade wounds from the Blood Blade Patriarch. But some...had bite marks, as if they’d been mauled by a large demonic beast. And the gate to the demon enclosure had been rammed open.”

Yu Chaojin’s pupils contracted sharply as a terrifying, seemingly impossible conclusion formed in his mind.

If...Li Yuan is the Blood Blade Patriarch, that would explain everything.

After his informant returned to the inner district, the man did not go straight back to his regular post; he headed for Blood Fury Hall instead. There, he bowed before a figure in white robes and said, “Sect Master, Deputy Sect Master Yu finally told me to investigate the demon enclosure. I gave him the info you instructed me to.”

Tie Sha nodded. “Well done. And remember to keep this confidential.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Dismissed.”

1. If you look carefully, the radicals that form the name Sheng (琞) are the sun (日), moon (月), and jade (玉). ☜