The Willow Deity was all smiles too. She seemed years younger as she played with the two children.
Shi Yongheng watched quietly from the side. His gaze settled on his son, and he fell into thought.
"What are you plotting?" the Willow Deity asked when she noticed his silence.
"Our son and daughter are practically Innate gods and demons. They were born with Innate Immortal power, but they lack experience.
"I'm thinking of sealing their power into Dao Fruits and having them cultivate again from scratch."
The Willow Deity was not one to spoil her children excessively. Thinking of their future, she agreed at once.
"That's fine. Shi Fan is nearly an Immortal Emperor.
"We shouldn't set our expectations too high, but our children ought to reach the rank of Immortal Emperor, at least."
A few years later, Shi Yongheng sat in a rocking chair inside a courtyard residence, watching a boy and a girl play in the dirt. The Willow Deity was inside watching television.
Smack!
A sharp sound broke the air. The courtyard went still, and then a little girl began to cry.
"Wah! Daddy, my brother threw mud at me!" A clump of yellow-brown mud clung to Shi Liu's delicate face. Dressed in a pink princess gown, she rolled around in the dirt.
Shi Xiao stood nearby looking innocent. He sneaked a glance at his father, who had played favorites and spanked him plenty of times.
As the old man put it, sons should be raised tough and daughters pampered. A son was for practicing on; a daughter was for doting on.
Before long, Shi Yongheng had scooped the little girl into his arms. Shi Xiao, meanwhile, got a spanking and ran off wailing to complain to the Willow Deity.
Shi Yongheng had something else on his