Buying One, Getting Two Free, Simply Put, Taking Them All

"Big brother, hurry up and chase me, hahaha!"

"Mu Zha, don't run, stop right there! I'm going to teach you a lesson on behalf of mother today!"

Inside the Li residence, two young children, one slightly older than the other, both around six or seven years old, were chasing each other and playing in the courtyard. In the pavilion beside them, a beautiful woman of twenty-three or twenty-four years old was looking at the two playing with a loving expression through the open wooden window.

"Run slower, don't fall. Ouch!"

As soon as Madam Yin spoke, she suddenly felt a pain in her abdomen. The fetus inside was restless and only stopped after a while.

"It's been a year and a half, my child. When will you finally be born?"

"You only cause trouble every day. Go face the wall and reflect on your actions!"

Just as Madam Yin finished comforting the little one in her belly, she heard Li Jing's roar from the courtyard. Without a doubt, it must have been the two older ones causing trouble again.

In the courtyard, Li Jing glanced sideways at Di Xin's expression. Seeing that he was still smiling, he felt relieved. He glared at his two little ancestral pests:

"All of you go face the wall and reflect on your actions. You're not allowed to eat without my permission."

"Yes."

Jin Zha and Mu Zha lowered their heads and softly responded. They were about to move to another spot to play when Di Xin spoke and stopped them:

"Heh heh. General Li, your two young masters have excellent bones and are exceptionally talented in martial arts. If they find a renowned master, they will surely achieve great things in the future. You, as their father, shouldn't be too harsh."

"Yes! This subject... I will definitely discipline them well, so they can contribute to the eternal achievements of my Yin Shang in the future."

As soon as Li Jing spoke, he remembered Di Xin's request to conceal his identity and quickly changed his address.

"Little ones, what are your names?"

Di Xin took off the only two jade pendants from his waist, held them in his right hand, and placed them in front of Jin Zha and Mu Zha, deliberately asking:

"Tell me, and your uncle will give you each a meeting gift, how about that?"

These jade pendants were already extraordinary in material. Although not of the innate category, they still carried a trace of innate spiritual energy. Furthermore, nurtured daily by Di Xin's Human King's destiny, they gained even more mystique. Wearing them for a long time could cleanse the meridians, strengthen bones, and increase fortune. They could be considered quite good treasures.

Mu Zha quietly looked up at Li Jing, confirming that there was no useful information on his father's face. He decisively chose his own way of handling it:

"Mu Zha greets Uncle. This is my elder brother, his name is Jin Zha."

"Hmm, not bad. This is for you."

Di Xin laughed heartily and stuffed the jade pendant into Mu Zha's hand, patting his head as he did so:

"Alright, your father and I have something to discuss. Can you two go play somewhere else for a while?"

Children's first impressions are particularly profound. Di Xin also put away his stern demeanor and became more approachable.

"Daddy, we?"

After receiving the jade pendant, Jin Zha looked up to ask Li Jing, but Mu Zha dragged him away:

"Daddy, my brother and I are going to face the wall and reflect. Don't forget to call us when it's time to eat."

"Sigh!"

After the two children ran off, Li Jing sighed, clasped his hands in front of him, and said with a troubled expression:

"Great King, I am incompetent in raising my sons, and I have made you laugh."

"Hahaha, they are much less troublesome than my own two boys."

Di Xin shook his head and smiled, saying as he walked:

"I am building a Star-Gathering Pavilion in Chaoge to manage and register the hidden extraordinary individuals in the human territory, so they can contribute to the country and the Human Race.

Although the Star-Gathering Pavilion has not yet been built, its pavilion master has already been invited. You also studied under an extraordinary person, so you should know what realm a Grand Unity Golden Immortal is. How about it? Would you consider letting your two little ones study under him for a while?"

"This is my sons' honor. I thank you, Great King, on behalf of my two sons for your favor!"

Li Jing's face lit up, and he immediately agreed.

He had studied under True Man Du E, a disciple of Taishang Laojun, at the Nine Cauldrons Iron Fork Mountain Eight Treasures Spirit Light Cave. Naturally, he knew how revered a Grand Unity Golden Immortal was!

Moreover, with Di Xin's personal invitation, he couldn't refuse...

"Since you took charge of Chentang Pass, you have worked diligently every year without a single mistake. I should thank you for guarding this vast territory for me. Now that the strength of Yin Shang is growing step by step, I will eventually unify the Human Race again and suppress the eight directions! At that time, there will naturally be a place for you, and I will naturally not forget you loyal ministers."

After giving Li Jing a sweet reward, Di Xin naturally wouldn't play the villain again:

First, appeal to emotions and win people's hearts; then, display grand ambitions and give these 'underappreciated' individuals hope; finally, paint a delicious-looking picture.

He was very familiar with this operation!

"Thank you for your grace, Great King. Li Jing will swear to follow you to the death, shed his blood and brains for you, and will not regret dying a hundred times!"

Li Jing knelt on one knee, his chest filled with passion, and pledged his loyalty to Di Xin.

A scholar dies for his confidant, and a woman adorns herself for the one who fancies her. Di Xin's few words had completely broken through his psychological defenses, making him loyal from then on.

Of course, this was under the condition that Di Xin wouldn't pull any tricks. For example, after Huang Feihu's family was torn apart by King Zhou, didn't he rebel?

"Husband, who is this?"

Madam Yin was helped downstairs by a maidservant. As soon as she exited the pavilion, she saw Li Jing kneeling on one knee, his face flushed, clearly in a state of passionate excitement.

Could it be that her husband was so pent up during the year and a half of her pregnancy?

"Pah, pah, pah, how could that be? If anyone's going to be driven mad, it'll be by finding a few beautiful concubines, not by finding a heroic man?"

"Madam, who is this...?"

Li Jing stood up, intending to introduce the man, but Di Xin pressed his palm onto his.

"You must be my sworn brother's wife. I am an old friend of Brother Li Jing, my name is Rong Jun, and I dabble a bit in medicine. Brother Li Jing mentioned the child in your womb, and out of curiosity, I came to see if I could lend a hand."

"Li Jing, what exactly do you want?"

Madam Yin's face immediately fell upon hearing this. She clutched her pregnant belly and looked at Di Xin warily.

"This is my child, not a demon! I don't care who you are, if you want to harm my child, you'll have to kill me first! I want to see just how wicked my heartless husband, my child's unfeeling father, can be!"

"Madam, you misunderstand, it's not a demon!"

Li Jing explained with a wry smile, trying to approach Madam Yin, but only managed to scare her into retreating repeatedly.

"Sister-in-law, may I have a word?"

Di Xin secretly activated the Kongtong Seal, imbuing his words with a calming effect.

"Sister-in-law, the child in your womb is extraordinary, not a demon. He is destined for great things in the future, holding a high position in the imperial court.

If my calculations are correct, he should remain in the womb for thirty-six months, which is three years, before being born. It's only been a little over a year, there's still plenty of time?"

"R-really?"

Madam Yin stopped retreating and looked at Li Jing suspiciously.

"He's not lying to me?"

"Madam, he, he wouldn't lie to you!"

Li Jing found the situation both amusing and exasperating. At the same time, a pang of guilt arose in his heart; he had indeed neglected Madam Yin's feelings somewhat.

"Rest assured, sister-in-law, this child and I are fated. Once he is born, I would like to take him as my adopted son, what do you say?"