Ineffective Choice and Ineffective Motherhood

Ling Ye's "kind and amiable" smile, paired with his deathly pale complexion and the still-wet golden bloodstains at the corner of his mouth, was more terrifying to Su Wanqing than the sneering grin of a demon from hell!

"Miss Su... do you... like... children?"

The tone, so gentle it could drip water, coiled around Su Wanqing's heart like a cold viper, making her hair stand on end! Like children? At a time like this? Asked with that expression?!

The loud cries of the baby in the next room continued, a background noise hammering at Ling Ye's nerves, and also at Su Wanqing's fear.

"I... I..." Su Wanqing was so scared her tongue tied itself into knots. Her body uncontrollably recoiled, her back pressing tightly against the cold wall, with nowhere left to retreat. The way this big shot was looking at her... it was like he wanted to eat someone! No, it was more terrifying than eating someone!

Ling Ye's "kind" smile remained unchanged, even becoming a bit "gentler," but the undeniable madness and urgency in his eyes could not be concealed no matter what.

"See," he coaxed, as if discussing how nice the weather was today, "there's a ready-made one next door... sounds healthy, very energetic. Just borrowing him for three days... no, maybe one day will be enough! I'll return him unharmed when I'm done, I can even... give him a fortuitous encounter?"

His tone was as casual as discussing borrowing a bottle of soy sauce.

Su Wanqing's eyes instantly widened, her pupils filled with extreme horror!

Borrow?!

Steal someone else's child?! A baby, no less?!

Just to appease that terrifying "Madam" who could freeze everything, who knows where she came from?!

This wasn't just outrageous, it was insane! It was a demonic act that trampled all human ethical boundaries!

"No! Absolutely not!" Su Wanqing refused, almost screaming, her voice cracking with fear, "That's someone else's child! We can't..."

"Can't?" The "gentle" smile on Ling Ye's face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, impatient ferocity, "Did you think I was asking for your opinion?"

He slowly stood up. Although still weak, his condescending gaze, as if looking at an ant, made Su Wanqing feel suffocated.

"I'm just informing you," Ling Ye's voice was bone-chillingly cold, "Now, you have two choices."

He extended a finger: "One, you cooperate obediently and go 'fetch' that child. After it's done, I might consider... truly helping you with Foundation Establishment, allowing you to embark on the path of cultivation and escape your mortal body."

He extended a second finger, his tone even more chilling: "Two, I'll go myself. But I can't guarantee the process won't be a little... rough. Nor can I guarantee that the mortal parents won't see something they shouldn't, and then... need their memories wiped, or... dealt with."

A naked threat! No attempt to hide it!

Su Wanqing's face instantly turned as pale as paper, her body trembling violently. She had no doubt that this big shot would absolutely go through with it! To achieve his goals, crushing a few "ants" would be nothing to him!

On one side were the bottom line of her conscience and immense guilt, and on the other were the terrifying consequences that she herself and innocent people might face...

The immense pressure and fear almost broke her. Tears welled up uncontrollably, and her voice was choked with sobs, "Why... why me... I can't do this..."

"Because you're mine now," Ling Ye interrupted her impatiently, his tone carrying an unquestionable dominance, "I saved your life, I reshaped your body with Origin Qi. Letting you do a small task is your honor. Don't test my patience, my time... is running out."

He gritted out the last few words, his gaze flicking again to the faintly glowing bellyband in his arms, as if it were a time bomb about to explode.

The baby's cries from the next room seemed to grow louder, as if urging him on.

Su Wanqing slumped to the floor, tears blurring her vision. She looked into Ling Ye's cold, urgent eyes and knew she had no choice. Refusal meant immediate death, and possibly implicating innocent people. Agreeing... meant falling into a hell of her conscience.

Ultimately, the fear of death, and the dread of Ling Ye's unfathomable power, overwhelmed her wavering sense of morality.

She nodded extremely slowly, like a puppet, her voice barely audible, filled with immense humiliation and trembling, "I... I'll go..."

Only then did a hint of satisfaction appear on Ling Ye's face, though it remained cold. "Very good. Remember, act naturally, as if... as if you were the child's mother, going to check after hearing the cries."

Mother? Su Wanqing's heart felt like it had been pricked by a needle. She hadn't even had a proper relationship, and now she had to steal someone's child and play the mother?

But she didn't dare to retort, only managing to struggle to her feet, her legs still weak.

Ling Ye frowned at her distraught appearance, seemingly finding it not secure enough. He hesitated, then, with evident pain, fumbled in his tattered cloth bag and pulled out a small piece... it looked shriveled and curled, like the leaf of some plant? The leaf was a strange grayish-green and emitted a very faint aura of tranquility.

"Take this," he pressed the leaf into Su Wanqing's hand. "A remnant leaf of 'Forget Worry Grass.' Crush it, and it can make mortals fall into a brief slumber and cause memory fuzziness. If necessary... use it on that mother."

Su Wanqing clutched the cold, withered leaf, feeling its immense weight, her hand trembling severely.

"Go quickly," Ling Ye urged, his gaze sharpening again, "I'll be watching here. Don't try any tricks, you know the consequences."

Su Wanqing took a deep breath and moved towards the door step by agonizing step, as if heading to an execution ground. Her hand gripped the cold doorknob, and she glanced back at Ling Ye.

Ling Ye was watching her with a cold, expectant gaze, as if supervising a tool to complete its mission.

Su Wanqing's heart sank completely. She twisted the doorknob and walked out.

The hotel corridor was empty, the lighting dim. The cries from the next room were clearer now, mixed with the young woman's gentle, tired cooing, "Oh, oh, oh, baby, don't cry, Mommy's here..."

Those words filled with maternal love stabbed Su Wanqing's heart like knives. Her steps felt like they were made of lead, each one an immense effort.

She reached the door of the next room, listening to the crying and soothing sounds inside. She raised her hand, but it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, unable to knock.

What to do? Should she really do it?

What would she say after going in? Just snatch the baby?

What about after using the Forget Worry Grass? How desperate would that mother be when she woke up to find her child gone?

Countless thoughts warred within her mind, the condemnation of her conscience almost tearing her apart.

Just as she was hesitating, struggling in agony--

Inside the room, the baby's cries suddenly stopped... strangely?

Then, the woman's surprised voice came, "Oh my, finally asleep? This little ancestor... so exhausting..."

Followed by a rustling sound, as if the mother was gently putting the child down and tucking him in.

Opportunity!

Su Wanqing's heart pounded wildly! The child was asleep! The mother might have temporarily left the bedside! Perhaps... perhaps there was a chance to sneak in... just to "borrow" him for a while...

The thought was like a devil's whisper, tempting her.

She reached out a trembling hand, tentatively, ever so slightly... pushing the door.

The door... wasn't locked! It was just ajar!

A gap appeared in the door. Only a dim nightlight was on in the room, making it hard to see clearly, but she could faintly hear the sound of water from the bathroom, as if the mother was washing up.

The crib was not far from the door!

Su Wanqing's heart leaped into her throat! Guilt and urgency drove her. She felt as if pulled by invisible strings, and as if possessed... she gently pushed the door open and slipped inside!

The room was filled with the scent of milk and the unique smell of a baby. In the small crib, a baby wrapped in a soft swaddle slept soundly, his little face rosy, his breathing even.

What a cute child... Su Wanqing's heart clenched instantly. Was she really going to take him?

Just as she stood by the crib, locked in her final internal struggle--

The sound of water in the bathroom stopped.

The doorknob turned!

The mother was coming out!

Su Wanqing was terrified, her mind going blank! Almost instinctively, she reached out, not to grab the child, but... to hide in a panic! Her eyes fell on a large wardrobe by the bed. Without thinking, she pulled open the closet door and ducked inside!

The closet door had just closed when the bathroom door opened.

A young mother in pajamas, her face tired but with a gentle smile, walked out. She first went to the crib, leaned down, and affectionately kissed the baby's forehead, tucking him in.

"Sleep well, my baby..." she softly hummed a lullaby, full of love.

Hiding in the wardrobe, Su Wanqing watched this scene through the gap, listening to the loving whisper. Shame and guilt washed over her like a tide, and tears fell silently. She bit her lip hard to keep from crying out.

The mother didn't notice anything amiss. She yawned, seemingly ready to rest as well. She turned off the nightlight, plunging the room into darkness, with only faint light filtering in from outside the window.

Su Wanqing held her breath, hiding in the small, dark wardrobe, afraid to move, her heart filled with torment. What should she do? Go out now? Apologize? Or...

Time ticked by.

Only the even breathing of mother and child remained in the room.

Just as Su Wanqing was about to be driven mad by her inner conflict--

Suddenly!

She felt... the remnant of "Forget Worry Grass" she had been clutching tightly in her palm...

Without warning... it began to feel slightly warm?!

And... very faintly... it started to vibrate?!

As if... activated by something?!

Su Wanqing was startled and instinctively opened her palm.

She saw that the dry, shriveled gray-green leaf had actually... unfurled! Extremely fine, silver pathways, like nerve veins, appeared on its surface! A strange power fluctuation was emanating from it!

What... what was happening?!

Ling Ye didn't say the leaf could move on its own!

Before she could figure it out--

The "Forget Worry Grass" leaf suddenly burst with a soft, yet intensely hypnotic, silver light!

The light instantly filled the small wardrobe!

Su Wanqing felt an irresistible drowsiness like a tidal wave wash over her. Her vision went black, her consciousness instantly sank, and her body slumped against the wardrobe wall, falling into a deep sleep.

And the glowing leaf in her hand, after releasing its hypnotic power, quickly dimmed, returning to its dry, shriveled appearance, as if it had exhausted all its strength.

Meanwhile.

In the next room.

Ling Ye, who had been closing his eyes to meditate, anxiously awaiting the results, suddenly opened his eyes!

The baby's bib in his arms suddenly felt hot again... vibrating!

The character "Ye" on it erupted with an even more dazzling light than before!

An incredibly strong infant consciousness, filled with grievance and dependence, like a frightened child finally finding their parent, suddenly pierced through the wall from the next room... precisely... projecting onto him!

Immediately after, a cold, furious, yet tinged with an indescribable urgency and concern, female voice exploded directly in the depths of his soul, no longer silent but filled with emotional fluctuations:

"Ye'er?! What's wrong?! Who scared you?! Did that scumbag bully you?! Tell me! Mother will tear him apart right now!!!"