Chu Hanjin was a little surprised.

He was just over a month into the pregnancy. Could he really feel the baby moving this early?

Meanwhile, the little black lamb in his arms was still frantically nuzzling his hand.

Maybe it was because the father’s spiritual energy was particularly strong, and the child also had spiritual energy this early on, even capable of entering his dreams.

Chu Hanjin glanced at Yue Lin, who was busy in the kitchen.

His fingers rested on his abdomen, and after some thought, he decided not to tell him.

This would be a secret between him and the child.

The first thing Yue Lin did after making food for Chu Hanjin wasn’t to rush over to eat but to take off his rain-soaked clothes.

He said, “My clothes are completely drenched.”

Holding his chopsticks, Chu Hanjin couldn’t help but glance up.

Yue Lin took off his wet outer robe, revealing his shoulders and waist, his muscles well-defined, showing clear signs of having been through many bloody battles. His back was covered with scars, which stood out.

But his shoulders were strong, his waist trim, and his tight skin covered powerful muscles, which moved fluidly with each motion, creating a rather striking sight.

His skin was a healthy wheat color. After removing his clothes, he grabbed a dry cloth to wipe himself off and then slipped on a clean inner garment.

The fresh, white clothes didn’t make him look elegant. Instead, he wore them casually, with the front slightly open, exposing his collarbones. A few strands of loose hair hung down as he pulled a chair to sit across from Chu Hanjin.

“……”

Chu Hanjin’s hand, which was holding a piece of food, paused again.

Yue Lin pointed his chopsticks at his food and started eating. As he leaned over, his loose robe hung open, almost revealing his toned chest and taut waist.

“What were you doing all day?” Yue Lin asked, “Don’t tell me you were just waiting for me to come back again?”

Annoyed by his teasing, Chu Hanjin furrowed his brow and said, “First, put your clothes on properly.”

Yue Lin responded, “What’s the matter?”

His personality was always bold and carefree, with little regard for propriety. He looked down at his open shirt. “Hmm?”

Chu Hanjin closed his eyes for a moment and said, “It looks indecent.”

“……”

It was just the two of them here. Since Chu Hanjin said it looked indecent, it clearly meant Chu Hanjin found it indecent to look at him.

After years of being around friends and brothers, this was the first time someone told Yue Lin that he was dressed inappropriately. He glanced down at his clothes again and casually wrapped them a little tighter. “Is this better?”

Chu Hanjin: “No.”

“……”

Yue Lin fumbled with his clothes, folding them layer by layer. “How about now?”

Finally, Chu Hanjin nodded reluctantly. “That’s fine.”

Now that he was satisfied, his mood seemed to improve, and he ate a little faster, though he still chewed carefully. Since he was in the early stages of pregnancy and frequently suffered from nausea, he had to stop eating occasionally to let the discomfort pass before continuing.

When Yue Lin noticed him putting down his chopsticks, looking a bit uncomfortable, he set his bowl aside and gently placed an arm around Chu Hanjin’s shoulders. “This kid is really mischievous.”

He couldn’t let Chu Hanjin enjoy a peaceful meal.

As he comforted him, he gently placed his hand on Chu Hanjin’s abdomen, rubbing it through the fabric. Chu Hanjin’s body stiffened slightly.

But he didn’t pull away because the child seemed to enjoy Yue Lin’s touch. The more Yue Lin rubbed, the calmer the child became.

The atmosphere felt strange. Chu Hanjin lowered his eyelashes, allowing Yue Lin to touch his abdomen.

After a while, Yue Lin withdrew his hand. “Feeling better?”

Chu Hanjin’s ears turned slightly red, and he responded nonchalantly, “Much better.”

Yue Lin smiled and pulled back.

Their current relationship was awkward, seemingly bound together solely by the child in Chu Hanjin’s belly. The dynamic between a father and a second father was intimate on the surface, but apart from sharing responsibility for the child, there was no deeper connection or affection between them.

At least, that’s what Chu Hanjin believed.

After finishing their meal and tidying everything up, the mountains were quiet. Like most rural households, after dinner, they would head to bed. The bed was spacious, and Chu Hanjin, out of habit, lay on the inside, leaving a space for Yue Lin.

Outside, the wind and rain continued.

As Chu Hanjin calmed down, his thoughts drifted to his senior brother and the people from Yuanshan Sect… It had been over half a month since he and Yue Lin had gone missing. They must be worried by now.

A soft sound came from beside him as Yue Lin lay down. He seemed to catch a scent and asked, “Your hair smells really nice. What do you wash it with?”

“……”

Chu Hanjin glanced at him, ignoring the question, and changed the subject. “If the weather clears up tomorrow, I’ll go out with you.”

“You don’t need to go if it’s too much trouble,” Yue Lin replied.

“No,” Chu Hanjin paused, “I also want to find a way out quickly. Staying here indefinitely… who knows how long we’ll be trapped.”

There was also the possibility that they might never leave.

In any case, waiting passively wasn’t a solution.

Yue Lin nodded, “Alright, if it’s clear tomorrow, we’ll head out together.”

As Chu Hanjin closed his eyes, he heard the sound of Yue Lin pulling up his blanket. Then he felt his own blanket being tugged and tucked in, shielding him from the cold wind.

…Yue Lin was surprisingly considerate.

After spending this time together, Chu Hanjin had come to realize that Yue Lin was calm, intelligent, highly skilled in various tasks, and had exceptional spiritual energy when it came to cultivation.

He didn’t know much about Yue Lin’s past, but up until now, he had been straightforward and capable, with a clear sense of right and wrong. Although he had a violent and fierce side, he wasn’t the type to be malicious or cunning.

Recalling the things Yue Lin had said in the illusion, the cruel deeds he spoke of didn’t seem to match his character. But why did he have so many enemies?

Chu Hanjin gently touched his abdomen.

Though he didn’t have romantic feelings for Yue Lin, he still hoped the child could grow up in a complete family.

Beside him, the soft sound of breathing echoed. In the morning, the rain had indeed stopped. The weather was unpredictable—sometimes the rain would stop abruptly, and sometimes it would start again out of nowhere.

Chu Hanjin sat up as Yue Lin walked in, carrying a small bird. Upon seeing Chu Hanjin, he quickened his pace. “Let me help you with your hair.”

Chu Hanjin wasn’t very skilled at managing his own hair. When he was young, his parents helped him tie it up, and when he got older, his senior brother helped. Later, it was done by Chu Tong. Hearing Yue Lin’s offer, he sat down on a stool. Yue Lin grabbed a wooden hairpin and gently gathered Chu Hanjin’s soft, silky black hair, tying it up and securing it with a jade crown.

His movements were slow and careful, and he seemed intrigued by the fragrance of Chu Hanjin’s hair, leaning in to sniff it a few times.

At this point, Chu Hanjin couldn’t take it anymore and pushed him away. “Thanks.”

He walked over to the table. “When are we leaving?”

“We’ll leave after breakfast. I’ve already prepared water and some dry rations.” He pointed to the nearby bundle.

There were also straw hats for sun protection, with a layer of light gauze draping down. When worn, it half-covered the face, leaving only glimpses of his elegant eyebrows and eyes. It was meant to provide shade, but when Chu Hanjin wore it, it looked more like a decorative accessory.

As they left, Yue Lin couldn’t help but glance at him a few more times. But the next second, Chu Hanjin coldly urged, “Let’s go.”

The two of them left the yard, one after the other.

Near the firewood gate, a wild horse was tied up, stamping its feet impatiently, snorting from its nose, clearly agitated. However, as soon as Yue Lin approached, the horse instantly quieted down, having obviously been harshly disciplined before. Yue Lin said, “Get on the horse. Don’t worry, I’ll hold the reins, and it won’t act up.”

The little horse seemed quite pitiful.

“It wasn’t here yesterday,” Chu Hanjin asked. “Where did you find it?”

“I found it while wandering in the mountains. I had originally caught a cow, but it smelled too bad, and no matter how much I washed it, the smell wouldn’t go away.” Yue Lin smiled as he stroked the horse’s neck. “But you’re much better behaved, aren’t you?”

“……”

Visibly, the horse shuddered.

Chu Hanjin couldn’t help but chuckle softly as he mounted the horse. A seat had already been padded with cloth for him. Yue Lin grabbed the reins and turned towards the path. “Let’s go, let’s go.”

Chu Hanjin realized that Yue Lin had a bit of a playful side.

The sun shone brightly, and a thin mist lingered over the mountains, blanketing the wild and desolate landscape. The forests were deep green, and they occasionally passed through flower-filled fields, woodlands filled with singing birds, and even pools of cascading water. However, the area was so remote that there were no paths. They had to forge their way through with each step.

They soon reached the drunken fish herb field again. By now, there were many butterflies, flitting around the flower tips, their colorful wings fluttering in a dance.

Yue Lin looked at the field from horseback. “So, I really planted this flower field?”

Chu Hanjin replied, “Of course you did. There’s no one else here.”

He gazed at the field in full bloom and said, “It seems I liked you very much.”

“……” Chu Hanjin coughed lightly.

“But I can’t remember.” Yue Lin’s voice grew quieter, his eyes deepening. “Before and after death, I’ve never liked anyone this much.”

Chu Hanjin was momentarily stunned and said, “Tell me your story.”

After saying that, he realized it was the first time he had shown an interest in learning about Yue Lin.

He cleared his throat softly and added, “After all, the road is long… and a bit boring.”

Yue Lin held the horse’s reins, slowly leading it through the flower field. “Me? Where should I begin? How about from here? My father had twenty-seven concubines, and countless women outside the family. His greatest pleasures in life were sleeping with women and beating women. My mother was a maid who washed clothes for one of his wives. She had a bit of beauty, and one day, my father took a liking to her and brought her to his bed.”

Yue Lin turned to him and smiled. “But my father didn’t care about birth or lineage. Whoever could give him a strong son to inherit the family’s legacy would rise in status, and that child would inherit his estate. So, I grew up with a whole bunch of siblings, all of us fighting to earn our father’s favor by cultivating our Daoist skills.”

Chu Hanjin replied, “And then?”

“Of course, there were many schemes and betrayals. For example, my third brother killed my sixth brother, and my sixth brother killed my ninth sister. But my father didn’t care. If they died, they died. Blood relations mean little. He only cared about the final winner among his children, who would inherit his estate and position.”

Chu Hanjin asked, “Did you inherit it?”

Yue Lin answered, “I did.”

Hearing this, Chu Hanjin paused before asking, “Did you kill your siblings?”

“Of course not.”

Yue Lin gazed at the horizon, catching a butterfly and letting it go. “I only killed one person.”

Chu Hanjin asked, “Who?”

Yue Lin turned his gaze back to Chu Hanjin and smiled. “My father. I killed my father.”

There wasn’t a trace of regret in his voice. “He was too cold and heartless.”