Chu Hanjin’s expression was serious, almost like when he was discussing important matters, calm and composed, yet tinged with a hint of strictness as if he were questioning something.

Yue Lin was stunned for a moment, “You…”

Not angry?

Not embarrassed?

And still able to discuss with him whether it was suitable to continue and if it would harm the baby?

If it had been before, this cold and elegant immortal lord would have already drawn his sword, furious and indignant, perhaps even ready to go down with him in flames.

It was so bizarre, it felt as if someone had taken over his body.

Yue Lin carefully examined Chu Hanjin’s face.

There was perhaps a hint of discomfort, but compared to before, his expression was more open and clear. After making eye contact, he only slightly lowered his head. Chu Hanjin coughed softly, “I asked you a question.”

Yue Lin quickly replied, “I’ve been very careful, I wouldn’t harm the baby. Besides, at this stage the baby needs nourishment.”

Chu Hanjin nodded thoughtfully, “I see.”

They fell into silence for a moment before Chu Hanjin asked again, “Do you plan to continue?”

Yue Lin tilted his head, “Hm?”

Chu Hanjin gestured to the bed, his voice steady, “Are we continuing tonight?”

Yue Lin: “……”

He had been expecting Chu Hanjin to be angry and was already feeling relieved that wasn’t the case. Continuing? Yue Lin quickly responded, “No, it’s about time to sleep.”

Chu Hanjin nodded, “Alright, sleep.”

He was just about to lie back down when Yue Lin reached out to stop him, holding his shoulder to prevent him from lying down, “You’re not clean yet. Sit still, I’ll get a cloth to wipe you down.”

Indeed, there was a sticky feeling on Chu Hanjin’s body, the thin layer of sweat having dried. He had been planning to endure it and go to sleep, but upon hearing Yue Lin’s offer, he sighed in relief, “Alright.”

Yue Lin patted his shoulder, “I’ll be right back.”

He quickly grabbed his clothes from the bedside, fastened them, and tidied up his slightly disheveled hair. His tall figure moved swiftly as he exited the room.

Through the gauzy window, Chu Hanjin could see Yue Lin’s figure bustling back and forth.

Yue Lin returned with a cloth soaked in warm water, wrung it out, and gently wiped it along Chu Hanjin’s neck, “Here, wipe yourself down.”

This was part of their routine after such intimate moments.

Chu Hanjin reached out to take the cloth, “I can do it myself.”

Yue Lin responded, “I’ll do it. Just sit there, you can’t reach your back.”

Chu Hanjin thought for a moment and nodded, “Alright.”

The hot cloth, steaming slightly, felt like it was cleaning a beautiful marble statue. Chu Hanjin’s skin was pale and flawless, his neck long and elegant. His slightly damp hair clung to his jade-like ears. His straight nose and thin lips, combined with his upright posture, made him appear calm and composed.

But because Yue Lin was helping him wipe away the sweat, he remained still. When the cloth brushed against his chin, he lifted his head slightly, resembling a cat closing its eyes in contentment as it was scratched.

Yue Lin’s lips curved into a smile. He loved seeing him like this.

Sitting so upright, Chu Hanjin resembled a jade Buddha. But it was only through such moments of dishevelment and other subtle expressions that Yue Lin truly felt he belonged to him.

As Yue Lin continued wiping him, the warmth of Chu Hanjin’s skin seemed to seep into his own hands.

Yue Lin cleared his throat, “Let me change the water.”

Chu Hanjin nodded, “Mm.”

Yue Lin left and returned to finish wiping Chu Hanjin’s neck, then his chest, now as white as jade. When it came time to wipe his lower half, something he had done many times before, he found himself feeling awkward, holding the cloth for a moment.

Yue Lin glanced at Chu Hanjin.

Chu Hanjin seemed to realize it too, looking back at him.

Yue Lin spoke casually, “We need to clean thoroughly, or you’ll catch a cold.” He quickly tried to change the subject, “Have you thought of a name for the baby?”

Chu Hanjin’s expression shifted into thought, his attention successfully diverted, “I’ve thought of many, but I haven’t decided yet.”

Yue Lin hummed in agreement, pressing the warm cloth to his abdomen to wipe away the sweat, “Yeah, I’ve thought of many too, but none of them feel quite right. It’s easy to come up with something that sounds nice, but finding something meaningful is hard.”

Chu Hanjin was about to nod when—

The sudden warmth on his skin made him realize what part of his body Yue Lin was wiping.

“……”

He could tell Yue Lin was desperately trying to distract him, helping him ignore any discomfort or embarrassment. During his pregnancy, as his belly grew, it had been difficult for him to bathe on his own, so Yue Lin often helped him wash. But tonight, the situation was different from their usual bathing routine.

Chu Hanjin stayed silent for a while, cooperating by shifting his body as Yue Lin held his shoulder.

Yue Lin added, “You can choose the baby’s name. Whatever you decide, I’ll like it.”

His voice was calm, and his words of affection were now spoken as casually as a greeting. Though said without much thought, they somehow warmed Chu Hanjin’s heart.

He nodded, “Alright, I’ll choose.”

Once the cleaning was done, Yue Lin took the warm water out. When he returned, it seemed he was preparing to clean himself. His robe was loosely draped, his hair half-tied, and a dark red mark was visible on his collarbone.

Seeing Yue Lin wringing out the cloth, Chu Hanjin thought for a moment and said, “Let me help you.”

Yue Lin was washing his face, rubbing it until it was slightly red, and seemed not to hear clearly, “Hm?”

Chu Hanjin repeated, “Let me help you wipe your back.”

Yue Lin’s movements stopped, “……”

His damp face was caught between surprise and solemnity. After drying his hands carefully, he asked, “What’s going on tonight?”

Chu Hanjin tilted his head slightly, puzzled, “You helped me, so I’ll help you. Isn’t that fair?”

Yue Lin hesitated, “You don’t need to help me just for the sake of fairness, especially given your condition. I feel like…”

Yue Lin thought to himself, You’re acting a little strange tonight.

But he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Chu Hanjin had never woken up in the middle of the night before. Was he always this keen on mutual assistance? Yue Lin pondered this.

Seeing him decline, Chu Hanjin said, “Alright, then I won’t help.”

Yue Lin quickly finished wiping himself down.

After putting everything away, Yue Lin returned to the bed, only to find Chu Hanjin propping his chin up with one hand, waiting for him, not asleep.

Yue Lin thought he had something to say, but Chu Hanjin was simply waiting for him. Once Yue Lin was in sight, he lay down under the covers.

Yue Lin: “?”

He was a bit confused, but Chu Hanjin said nothing, merely scooting over slightly and offering him a corner of the blanket.

•

The ritual at the Salt Lake of Many Eyes was set to take place a few days later.

On a clear day, Bai Gu reported several times, “My Lord, everything is ready for the journey. When should we depart?”

Yue Lin responded, “No rush.”

Bai Gu hesitated, “But…”

Disciples of the Rongku Sect who had won top spots in the hunting competition had the opportunity to visit the Salt Lake of Many Eyes, where they could absorb and bathe in spiritual energy. If they were fortunate, they might even find a weapon filled with spiritual energy, which would help them break through in their cultivation—an enviable opportunity.

Because this was an annual reward, the date was always fixed: mid-July, during the time when spiritual and evil energies were at their peak, and the journey took place at night.

Bai Gu said, “If we miss the time when they travel alone on the mountain path, once we reach the salt lake, it will be guarded by a barrier and heavy security. The central formation is one of Rongku Sect’s most prized techniques, not to be underestimated. If we don’t move soon, we may return empty-handed.”

Yue Lin gave him a sidelong glance, “I know what I’m doing.”

Bai Gu withdrew from the room.

Chu Hanjin was napping at the time.

Yue Lin, holding a fan, gently fanned him while half-closing his eyes, calculating their departure. The time was drawing near, but Chu Hanjin had yet to give birth. The originally planned date had been set in haste, and things hadn’t gone exactly as calculated.

Chu Hanjin was sleeping soundly.

His face was serene, his hair lightly fluttering in the breeze, and everything about him seemed calm and peaceful.

But in a place Yue Lin couldn’t see, Chu Hanjin was having a dream.

In the dream, he found himself standing in a courtyard, hearing a distant voice calling, “Father.”

The child’s voice was tender, almost as if it was right next to him, but when he looked around, he couldn’t see anyone.

Chu Hanjin thought it might be an illusion and lowered his head. But then he heard the crisp voice again, “Father!”

He raised his head, but there was still no sign of the child.

He was about to head back inside to call Yue Lin when he heard the voice once more, this time exceptionally clear, coming from the giant tree above him. Its lush green leaves were full of sunlight.

Chu Hanjin stepped back and looked up.

There, hanging between the branches, was a round fruit swaying, “Father.”

“……” Chu Hanjin realized that it was the fruit talking to him.

Chu Hanjin reached out and lightly poked the fruit’s skin, “Is that you?”

The fruit replied, “Yes, it’s me, it’s me!”

Chu Hanjin couldn’t help but laugh softly.

The fruit swayed gently in the breeze, plump and jiggling, and asked, “Can I be your child?”

Although what he saw was just a little green ball, at that moment, Chu Hanjin was certain that this was the child in his womb, the one sharing his breath.

His heart softened inexplicably, “Yes.”

The fruit cheered, “Then I’m coming down!”

After saying that, the fruit wobbled around on the branch, swaying left and right as if it was trying hard to jump down.

It was adorable. Chu Hanjin couldn’t help but smile.

Just as he was watching the fruit with gentle affection, in the midst of the peaceful silence, he suddenly heard a sharp snapping sound, as if something had broken, dislodging from its original position.

It wasn’t the sound of a tree branch breaking.

It came from his abdomen.

“……”

Chu Hanjin’s eyes flew open.

His hand instinctively moved to his abdomen. Usually, he could feel the child’s breathing, the beat of their heart, and even their occasional movements and mischief. But now, he felt nothing except the heavy weight of something pulling downward.

Chu Hanjin clenched his fingers, “Yue Lin.”

A figure leaned over him, Yue Lin’s deep golden eyes close, “What is it?”

Chu Hanjin whispered, “The baby… is coming.”

Yue Lin immediately formed a spell, and a human-sized plant appeared in the formation, its stem about as wide as two fingers, covered in large, lush green leaves that slowly unfurled.

This was the ginseng plant that had been used as the medium for conception.

Chu Hanjin felt a sharp, cold pain, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He said, “It hurts.”

But the pain only lasted for a moment.

Once the fruit dropped, it was no longer connected to the parent body.

“It will stop hurting soon,” Yue Lin, trying his best to remain calm, fought to keep his composure. He cut his own finger, then gently pricked Chu Hanjin’s fingertip, letting a drop of blood fall into the pot that nurtured the ginseng.

The blood climbed up the ginseng plant, flowing towards a brown scar at the top, where the fruit had once been removed. Now, from the wound, a new fruit began to grow, young and green, impossibly tender.

“The transfer has started.”

Yue Lin held Chu Hanjin’s hand tightly. His knuckles trembled as if they might break, and then, in the next moment, he pulled Chu Hanjin into his arms, kissing the pale side of his ear, “It’ll stop hurting soon.”

What Chu Hanjin felt wasn’t just pain.

It was the silent sorrow of a tree losing its fruit.

His heart felt empty.

Yue Lin understood all too well the bond between Chu Hanjin and the child over the past months. Wrapping his arms around him, Yue Lin held him closer, kissing him repeatedly.

The weight in his abdomen gradually lessened, while the fruit on the tree grew rounder, bending the branch under its weight. It was no ordinary plant—the surface of the fruit was covered in soft, woolly fibers, encased in a hard shell, with pale, tender things visible inside.

Chu Hanjin stared at the “sphere.”

A flesh ball?

Or a fruit?

He couldn’t tell what had been born.

At this point, Chu Hanjin’s abdomen had completely flattened, the sensation of childbirth fading away.

Yue Lin, holding him, also stared intently at the “sphere.”

“……”

They remained silent for a while.

Then, Yue Lin stood up suddenly, catching the ball just before it could break the branch and roll to the ground!