Chapter 122

But now that they're both in the tent, forced to grow closer, and with the surrounding area deserted for miles around, undisturbed by outsiders, it's easy for them to develop a feeling of mutual dependence. The other person's presence becomes exceptionally strong, making it impossible to ignore.

"I... I think I'll just focus on cultivating my Internal Cultivation. This environment is very helpful for cultivating cold-attribute Internal Cultivation. Anyway, I'm just killing time, um, killing time."

Having inexplicably found an excuse, Murong Qing closed her eyes in a panic and began to circulate her internal energy to regulate her breathing.

Si Ming did not cultivate traditional Internal Cultivation, so he could not be self-sufficient. Without the sun, he could do nothing. Naturally, he did not bring a high-powered artificial sun lamp with him. With nothing to do, he could only stare at Murong Qing.

Undeniably, Murong Qing is a true beauty. Her distinctive personality usually draws everyone's attention, and only strangers are amazed by her appearance. On the other hand, her heroic spirit also overshadows some of her girlish charm, lacking the delicate vulnerability that easily evokes a man's protective instincts.

Whether you like her or hate her, when you think of Murong Qing, the first impression is her personality, the second is her temperament, and only lastly will you think of her appearance.

She could easily make a living based on her looks, but she insists on relying on her talent; that perfectly describes her.

The eyes are the windows to the soul. After Murong Qing closed his eyes, much of his strong and heroic spirit disappeared, and the curves of his face softened, as if a sharp sword had been sheathed and forced to hide its edge.

Her face wasn't the kind of skin that's delicate and flawless; its color was between egg yolk yellow and egg white, giving it a very elastic and vibrant feel, rather than the kind of pale, delicate skin that's so fragile it needs to be handled with care.

Under the dim light, Murong Qing's face inexplicably gained a touch of shyness. Without saying a word, she looked no different from an innocent and carefree girl her age, and exuded a unique girlish charm.

Si Ming felt like he was looking at a work of art. He suddenly understood the meaning of the phrase "beauty under candlelight." Looking at a woman in dim light does indeed make her more and more attractive. No wonder the ancients liked this style.

Normally, Murong Qing could calm down in less than five seconds, but at this moment she couldn't calm down at all. She was particularly concerned about Si Ming's gaze, especially since she could feel that Si Ming's gaze was fixed on her face.

A touch of shyness, a touch of joy, a touch of anxiety...

This was a feeling she had never experienced before. Murong Qing felt her face begin to burn uncontrollably, especially after she noticed the sunny, youthful aura emanating from Si Ming.

She suddenly understood the meaning of the phrase "restless mind." Her thoughts were like a Monkey leaping up and down in the bushes, impossible to catch no matter how hard she tried; her ideas were like a herd of wild horses galloping across the wilderness, impossible to restrain no matter how hard she tried.

While cultivating her Internal Cultivation in this state, Murong Qing almost lost her balance. Fortunately, she was practicing the most orthodox Confucian mental cultivation method, which was neither too rigid nor too gentle, neither too hasty nor too impatient. Even when the cultivator was distracted, she still managed to complete a full cycle of internal energy.

Murong Qing had no confidence in completing the next cycle, so she opened her eyes and said with a hint of coquettishness, "Could you please stop staring at me like that?"

Si Ming hurriedly looked away, scratched his head, and was about to speak when his expression suddenly changed.

"Roar--"

A sound like the howl of a demon came from very close by. The sound was filled with chaos, slaughter, and tyranny, causing a jumble of thoughts to arise in Si Ming and Murong Qing's minds. It was as if a million voices were shouting "Kill!" "Kill!" "Kill!" which amplified their destructive desires dozens of times in an instant. They wanted to tear everything around them apart and smash it to pieces.

Fortunately, the two were just immersed in a romantic atmosphere. The transition from romance to destruction and killing was quite a distance, and it was not an easy thing to switch back so quickly.

"Calm your mind and eliminate distractions!"

Si Ming let out a low shout, and then circulated his Blazing Sun True Qi. He still remembered that his master had once said that there was a shadow of another supreme divine skill in the Blazing Yang Battle Art, so it had the effect of dispelling poison and warding off evil.

Sure enough, after circulating his True Qi, most of the chaotic thoughts in his mind disappeared instantly, and the illusory sound of "kill, kill, kill" became faint, finally allowing him to think.

"What on earth happened? Could this be the roar of the monster that the old man mentioned? Is this news actually true? I thought it was just a rumor. Hmm, the ground seems to be shaking?"

Si Ming noticed that Murong Qing was still suppressing her mind, so he quickly channeled some of his True Qi into her to help her clear her mind of distractions.

The two exchanged a glance, remained silent, lifted the tent flap, and stepped outside. Looking up at the dark horizon, they could vaguely see countless beastly figures galloping wildly through the darkness, rushing towards the three outer mountain peaks.

"Such a strong Yao Qi! Could all of these be Demon Beast?"

Chapter I Twins

(Note: This is an abandoned beginning that was originally posted on Qidian. I'm moving it here as a supplement. It's unrelated to the main plot. The following chapters will be the same. If you don't want to read it, you can skip to the next volume. Chapters with the ancient Roman number are related content.)

Water Mirror Manor is located in the center of Weiyang Lake. There are no bridges connecting it to any of the surrounding areas; it can only be reached by boat.

Weiyang Lake is crystal clear, with fish and shrimp clearly visible in the water. Its surface is as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the white clouds and birds in the sky. The coral reefs on the lake bottom, like emerald carvings, make people marvel at the wonders of nature.

However, while the daytime scenery of Weiyang Lake is beautiful, it still pales in comparison to its nighttime view. As the saying goes, "The lake and the moonlight complement each other, the surface of the pool is calm and the mirror is unpolished. Looking afar at the verdant Weiyang Mountains and waters, it is like a green snail in a silver dish."

Unfortunately, this beautiful scenery is rarely appreciated, because the entire Weiyang Lake, which stretches for eight hundred miles, is under the jurisdiction of the Si Clan's Water Mirror Manor. Outsiders who trespass without permission can be treated as thieves and killed without exception. Because of this, Weiyang Lake is quiet all year round and rarely seen by people, with only the occasional sound of birdsong.

But the tranquility of Weiyang Lake has been shattered today.

People came and went in a hurry at the Water Mirror Manor, creating a chaotic scene. Everyone had their own thoughts and occasionally looked up at the direction of the Birth Pool, some happy, some worried, some expectant, and some Curse.

The young clan leader is giving birth.

The Water Mirror Manor Si Clan possesses a special bloodline that can only be inherited by women. Therefore, women are revered. The stronger the bloodline, the greater the probability of giving birth to a girl. Conversely, if a boy is born, it proves that the person's bloodline is becoming thin and they will usually be removed from the main family's genealogy and become a branch of a sub-family.

Those who coveted the position of clan leader were all silently Curse the young clan leader for giving birth to a son.

In the birth pool brimming with the vitality of life, Si Jingyue, the second master of the Water Mirror Manor and the designated next clan leader, gritted her teeth, her face tense, her body trembling slightly. Despite her extraordinary Foundation, she did not let out a heart-wrenching scream like an ordinary woman, but instead endured the pain with all her might.

"It's out! It's out! Keep pushing!"

The physician from the second lord's lineage anxiously yet joyfully encouraged them from the side—to avoid any "switching of the beams and pillars," even the midwife must be a trusted confidant, since such things had happened several times in the clan's history, and they had to be careful.

Soon after, accompanied by the cry of a newborn baby, the people gathered around the birth pool showed different expressions. Two of them, Si Jingyue's husband and her mentor, were relieved and completely at ease. They were only concerned about Si Jingyue's safety. The others held their breath and waited for the verdict that would determine their fate.

Si Jingyue's mother, the current clan leader Si Jingzhi, couldn't wait to ask, "Is it a boy or a girl?"

"She's a rich girl!"

The doctor shouted.

The remaining people breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a great weight lifted from their shoulders. Then, their faces lit up with joy, and they raised their hands in celebration, repeatedly congratulating Si Jingzhi.

Just then, the doctor exclaimed in surprise, "There's another one! It's twins!"

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then quickly came to their senses and hurriedly congratulated Si Jingzhi on the double happiness. They seemed extremely relaxed. As long as there was a baby girl, their status was secure. Having another one would just be icing on the cake. On the contrary, Si Jingyue's husband and her mentor became tense again.

This time, the wait wasn't long, and soon the sound of a baby crying could be heard again.