Disembowelment

"That's not a very pleasant thing for a Daoist priest to say."

The leading woman was taken aback for a moment, then covered her lips and chuckled.

When she laughed, the six behind her laughed as well. Seven faces, lovely as peach blossoms and plum flowers, bloomed into smiles at once, creating an indescribably eerie sight.

"What we carry was bestowed by Child-Bestowing Guanyin. They are blessings, they are destiny..."

One hand cradling her swollen belly, she gently stroked it, her voice sweet and melodious.

"If not, then what else could they be?"

The moment her words fell, the six women behind her tilted their heads in unison.

Their movements were stiff, their angles identical, like puppets tugged by the same string.

"Yes, heaven-sent sons."

"The whole city envies Master's good fortune, yet this Daoist priest insists on standing here and spouting such strange nonsense."

Their soft voices overlapped and intertwined, each adding a word, rising and falling one after another, until it was impossible to tell who had said what.

Shen Hui stood where he was, his expression unchanged.

His gaze swept over the seven women one by one before settling on that row of high, swollen bellies. After lowering his eyes for a moment, he spoke calmly.

"Blessings... destiny?"

As he spoke, the corner of his mouth curled slightly, as though smiling but not smiling.

"If that is so, then this poor Daoist shall grant you all a stroke of destiny as well."

Before his words had faded, he raised a hand.

A jade-green pearl appeared out of thin air in his palm.

The pearl was lustrous throughout, with arcs of lightning coursing across its surface.

The entire main hall was cast in a dim emerald glow. Even that faint, elusive fragrance in the air was swept clean