Two days later, at the Back Mountain Courtyard on Dragon Tiger Mountain.
Everyone had gathered for a meal, and the table was filled with warmth, laughter, and cheerful chatter.
Yet one person seemed distracted-Lu Xueqi.
She picked up food several times with her jade chopsticks, but never brought it to her mouth. Her brows were faintly furrowed, and she looked a little paler than usual.
Zhang Qingxuan noticed something was off and asked with concern, "Xueqi, why aren't you eating? Is the food not to your liking?"
Lu Xueqi shook her head and forced a faint smile. "No, I just don't have much of an appetite. I don't feel like..."
Before she could finish, her expression suddenly changed. Her stomach churned, and a powerful wave of nausea rose within her.
"Urgh-"
She covered her mouth, her brows tightly knitted.
Zhang Qingxuan frowned slightly and was just about to speak-
Lu Xueqi waved a hand and drew a deep breath. "Qingxuan, I'm fine. It might just be..."
"Don't move. Sit still!"
Zhang Qingxuan's voice suddenly grew low and stern, brooking no argument.
With that, he closed his eyes. His spiritual power surged out like a tide as he carefully examined Lu Xueqi's condition.
Suddenly, as though he had sensed something, his pupils contracted. In a flash, he appeared beside Lu Xueqi, caught her wrist, and laid three fingers over her pulse.
Lu Xueqi grew nervous, a flicker of panic crossing her beautiful eyes. "Qingxuan, I..."
"Listen to me. Don't speak!"
Zhang Qingxuan's voice was unusually calm, but the fingers resting on her wrist trembled slightly.
He examined her carefully once more, guiding his spiritual power along Lu Xueqi's meridians and cautiously probing inside her body-
There, he found the faint but unmistakable presence of a brand-new life.
A moment later, Zhang