Yuebin Tower, third floor, guest room.
After being tossed around all day, Little Carefree had curled up on the couch and fallen asleep, while Li Xinge sat cross-legged on the windowsill, cultivating.
At his level, sleep had already become optional.
Elsewhere.
Green Maple Valley, at the residence of Third Elder Li Xuanyong of the Li Family.
It was already deep into the night.
But Li Xuanyong's entire family had no mind for sleep, because tonight was the night Li Xuanyong's grandson's wife was giving birth.
Dressed in a purple robe, Li Xuanyong sat upright in a grand chair. His face was calm, but he could hardly conceal the excitement in his heart.
His branch of the family had dwindled.
He had only one son and one daughter.
His daughter had married far away for the sake of the family. His son had given his life for the family many years ago, and upon hearing the terrible news, his daughter-in-law had followed him in death, leaving him only a seven-month-old grandson, whom he and his wife had raised together.
Now his grandson was married and was about to have a child of his own.
Even if Li Xuanyong died right now, he could do so with his eyes closed.
Amid the anxious waiting.
A loud cry suddenly rang out from the courtyard. The entire family stirred in unison and turned toward the delivery room.
"Congratulations, Master! Congratulations, Young Master! It's a boy!"
The midwife emerged with a beaming smile, carrying a baby in her arms.
Li Xuanyong slapped his thigh. His usual composure vanished without a trace, and excitement spilled plainly across his face.
The usually stingy man called out loudly, "Good! Excellent! A reward—give her a generous reward!"
"Thank you, Master."
The midwife's face blossomed with joy.
Looking at the baby in her arms, Li Xuanyong could hardly wait. He had just reached out to take him—
"Smack!"
"You're a grown man. What do you know about holding a baby? Don't scare my precious great-grandson."
Beside him, a kindly old woman with a head of silver hair spoke with displeasure.
Li Xuanyong gave an awkward laugh.
The servants and maids nearby desperately held back their laughter, doing everything they could not to burst out loud.
Everyone in the Li Family knew that Third Elder was the most henpecked man of them all.
The old woman took the baby from the midwife. Looking at the sturdy infant, she smiled until her eyes narrowed into slits.
"Xingdong, come quickly and look at your son."
The old woman called out to him.
Yet there was no response for a long while. When she turned to look, her grandson had already rushed into the delivery room.
"That boy only knows how to worry about his wife. He doesn't even have time for his son."
The old woman muttered under her breath.
Though her voice was quiet, Li Xuanyong still heard her.
He said smugly, "Isn't that just like me? A child of my, Li Xuanyong's, blood is bound to be lovestruck!"
The old woman rolled her eyes.
"Old woman, I have something to discuss with you."
Li Xuanyong rubbed his hands together and chuckled.
The old woman played with the baby in her arms and said impatiently, "If you have something to say, say it. If you have nothing useful, get it out quickly."
"Xingdong has grown up and has a child of his own now. It's time for him to contribute to the family. I want Xingdong to join the enforcement squad."
The old woman's expression stiffened. Then she cursed, "Oh, I knew that old bastard of yours wasn't brewing anything good! No. Don't even think about it!"
"Dong'er is also a member of my Li Family. Why can't he do it?"
Li Xuanyong retorted.
"You old bastard, you should know better than anyone what kind of place the enforcement squad is. It's fighting and killing from dawn to dusk. If anything happens to Dong'er while he's in the enforcement squad, what are we supposed to do?"
The old woman raised her voice.
"Keep your voice down. So what if it's fighting and killing? Without them fighting and killing, where would you get these carefree days of food and clothing? I've made up my mind. Dong'er will report to the enforcement squad tomorrow!"
"You dare!"
The old woman glared at him.
"What is there to fear? Serving the family is the duty every descendant of the clan ought to fulfill!"
Li Xuanyong stuck out his neck as he spoke.
"There are so many vacancies in the family. Why must he join the enforcement squad? Won't the mines do? Won't the marketplace do? I've already lost one son and one daughter for the family. Now I have only this one grandson left. Do you want me to send off another young man while I'm still old and gray?"
The old woman's eyes reddened.
"What's wrong with joining the enforcement squad? Other families' children can join the enforcement squad and risk their lives for the clan, but my, Li Xuanyong's, child is special? He can cling to life and shirk death? With all the resources the family has spent over the years, we might as well have fed them to a dog. At least a dog knows to guard its master's gate!"
Li Xuanyong roared angrily.
"I don't care whether you agree or not. It's settled. Nothing you say will change it. I am a Third Elder of the Li Family first, and your husband second!"
Li Xuanyong had spent his entire life yielding before his wife, but at this moment, his attitude was incomparably forceful.
"Li Xuanyong, you bastard!"
The old woman was beside herself with fury. She gritted her teeth and cursed him.
"Grandmother, don't be angry with Grandfather. I was the one who took the initiative to ask Great-Grandfather about this."
A deep, muffled voice rang out, interrupting their quarrel.
It belonged to a burly young man with a broad back and thick waist, heavy brows, and large eyes. He looked somewhat simple and honest.
The old woman froze for a moment, then tried to persuade him. "Dong'er, do you know what kind of place the enforcement squad is? Back then, your father..."
"Grandmother, don't say anything more. I know my own choice very well."
"And besides, I've never blamed Father for sacrificing himself for the family."
"Even though I don't know what he looked like, I've always been proud since I was young to have a father like that."
"Actually, I've always wanted to join the enforcement squad and serve the family."
"But I was always worried that if something happened to me, Grandfather's branch would end with me. If that happened, then even if I died, I would have no face to meet my father."
"Now I have a son too. If something happens to me, let him take my place and be filial to Grandmother. I beg you, please grant me this."
Li Xingdong dropped to his knees with a thump, his tiger-like eyes brimming with tears.
The old woman stood there in a daze for a long time. In the end, she let out a long sigh.
Her voice slightly choked, she said, "The three generations of you, grandfather and grandson, are all exactly alike. Your father was like this back then, and now you're the same. What else can I say? If you want to go, then go."
"Thank you, Grandmother!"
Li Xingdong's eyes were red.
"Why are you still kneeling? Get up and look at your son."
Only then did Li Xingdong rise. He looked at the infant's tiny face, red and wrinkled like dried fruit.
Frowning, he said, "He's really ugly."
"Didn't you look like that when you were little?"
The old woman rolled her eyes.
"Right, I haven't felt my great-grandson's bones yet."
Li Xuanyong slapped his forehead.
The old woman remembered as well and hurriedly said, "That's right, that's right. Quickly feel my precious grandson's bones. Don't let him take after you—spending his whole life unable to excel in literature or martial arts!"
"You!"
Li Xuanyong's eyes bulged with fury. He pointed at the old woman, trembling for quite some time without being able to get a word out.
"What do you mean, 'you'? Try glaring and flaring your nostrils at me again!"
The corner of Li Xuanyong's mouth twitched.
"I'm ashamed to argue with a woman like you."
"Hmph."
With that, Li Xuanyong reached toward the infant and felt up and down the baby's body.
Li Xuanyong's expression gradually grew solemn.
Seeing him like this, Li Xingdong and the old woman's hearts instantly rose into their throats.
Could this child have terrible bones?
"Xingdong, go invite the First Elder at once."
"Grandfather, could it be...?"
Li Xingdong's breathing suddenly quickened.
"Why haven't you gone yet?"
"Yes!"
The old woman beside them seemed to understand something as well and sent all the servants around them away.
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the First Elder arrived.
"First Elder, feel this boy's bones. I'm not entirely certain."
Li Xuanyong lowered his voice.
The First Elder nodded solemnly, took the baby, and began examining his bones.
"First Elder, how is he?"
Li Xuanyong pressed him impatiently.
The First Elder stroked his graying beard and burst into hearty laughter. "Heaven truly intends to raise my Li Family! Old Third, you didn't feel wrong. This child has Seventh-grade talent!"
"Seventh-grade talent, Seventh-grade talent..."
Though he had already guessed that the child's talent was extraordinary, when that guess became reality, he still found it impossible to suppress the excitement in his heart.
Li Xuanyong's aptitude had limited him, and this was as far as he would go in his lifetime.
But his great-grandson possessed Seventh-grade talent. He knew all too well what a child with Seventh-grade talent meant to the Li Family.
"Xingdong, you and your grandson's wife have rendered a great service to my Li Family! If the Family Head learns of this, he'll certainly be delighted and reward you handsomely."
The First Elder patted Li Xingdong on the shoulder with a laugh.
Li Xingdong scratched the back of his head and gave a simple, honest smile.
He didn't care about rewards. He only hoped that his child could grow up safe and sound and become someone useful to the family in the future.
"First Elder, since you're already here, why not give the child a name?"
Third Elder spoke up.
The First Elder nodded and sank into thought.
Before long, he said, "By this child's generation, he should belong to the Qi generation. He is an uncarved jade. Why not call him Li Qiyu? What do you think?"
"Li Qiyu!"
Third Elder rubbed his hands together and laughed heartily. "Good name. From now on, this child will be called Li Qiyu."
"Qiyu's talent is extraordinary. My Li Family is already standing at the edge of a raging storm, and now all the pressure rests on the Family Head alone. Why not seal this news for now, lest it arouse the envy and hatred of people with ulterior motives?"
The First Elder suddenly spoke.
"Your words make sense. We'll do as you say. If anyone leaks the news, they'll be dealt with according to clan regulations."
"Agreed."
Before you continue