Talisman Saint Physique

The two men's words plunged Jiang Fu'an into silence.

He was merely a mortal now, without the ability to fly through the sky or burrow through the earth. He truly did not want to be drawn into conflicts between cultivation families.

Those waters ran far too deep; one careless step, and he would be crushed to pieces.

How to refuse, however, left him in a difficult position.

If he bluntly said he would not go, he would certainly anger Ma Ping.

He had worked hard for so long to build up these few connections, and he did not want to throw them away just like that.

At last, Jiang Fu'an forced a troubled smile onto his face:

"Brother Ma, from what you just said, there will probably be bloodshed and killing when the time comes, won't there?

"To be honest, I've hunted wild beasts in the mountains all my life, but I've never laid a hand on another person. It truly frightens me.

"Besides, if we really attack the Rong Family, will the imperial court simply stand by and do nothing?"

Ma Ping burst into loud laughter.

"Brother Jiang, killing people is no different from killing wild beasts when you get down to it. Everyone has a first time.

"Once you get used to it, it's nothing much.

"As for the imperial court, they have never interfered much in the affairs of the cultivation world.

"Besides, my daughter is a Foundation Establishment True Person of the Melodious Sound Sect. With that connection, what are you afraid of?"

When Jiang Fu'an heard the words "Foundation Establishment True Person," he quickly picked up the thread.

"Right, since your daughter is a Foundation Establishment True Person, why not ask her to act personally?

"To be honest, I think a crushing battle like that would be much safer.

"In a fight like this, the two sides sound evenly matched. If something goes wrong and there are casualties, that would be bad."

At this, the smile on Ma Ping's face faded somewhat, and his tone hardened.

"She will be participating in the Melodious Sound Sect's grand competition next year. She is in seclusion now and cannot spare the time.

"But even without her, our Wang Family has this victory in the bag.

"To be honest, we specially invited a helper at Qi Refining Late-Stage Great Perfection. We are completely confident.

"Brother Jiang, this is a rare opportunity. You really ought to think it over carefully."

To be honest, Jiang Fu'an did not care about this so-called opportunity at all.

Before long, a second portion of Fu Yuan would descend in the Hall of Sacrifice. Why risk his life now?

His face was full of apology.

"Brother Ma, I'm truly sorry... I'm timid by nature. I really don't dare fight others to the death.

"How about this? If anyone in the Hunting Team under me is willing to go, I certainly will not stop them.

"They spend all year in the mountains and forests, and their skills are all quite good. With you leading them, they will surely be far better than me."

This was as far as Jiang Fu'an could go. If the other party was still dissatisfied, then this friendship could only end.

Ma Ping listened quietly from beginning to end. Neither pleasure nor anger showed on his face; he merely sighed softly.

"Very well. Since Brother Jiang is unwilling, I will not force you.

"As for those people in the Hunting Team, I'll have to trouble you to introduce them to me."

"That's no problem! Leave it to me!"

This time, Jiang Fu'an agreed with exceptional decisiveness.

After the meal, he led Ma Ping to meet the people from the Hunting Team. He himself did not linger, instead turning around and returning to the rear courtyard to begin arranging the residence.

When the afternoon sun slanted westward, Ma Ping and Sun Xiuyuan left the Jiang residence together.

After walking some distance, Ma Ping finally could not help snorting, his voice tinged with displeasure.

"This Jiang Fu'an—I originally thought he was a decent man worth befriending. Who would have thought he was so afraid of death?"

Sun Xiuyuan waved a hand and smiled as he advised him.

"Brother Ma, every man has his own aspirations. Besides, Brother Jiang did not refuse to help entirely, did he? Didn't he hand the entire Hunting Team over to you?

"He may be timid, but he truly has a knack for managing a household. In my opinion, he is still worth associating with."

Ma Ping shook his head and said nothing more.

After that, the entire Hunting Team often went to the Wang Family. Sometimes they would be gone for the entire day, apparently intensifying some sort of training.

Jiang Fu'an saw it all but did not ask questions. He only focused on staying home with Su Wanqing.

She was already more than eight months pregnant, and her body was growing heavier by the day. This was precisely when she needed someone by her side the most.

That evening, Jiang Fu'an was squatting beside the bed, gently massaging Su Wanqing's swollen ankles.

Suddenly, Su Wanqing let out a soft cry of pain. Her entire body abruptly curled up as both hands clutched her belly tightly.

"What is it? Is the baby coming?"

Jiang Fu'an immediately stood and supported her shoulders.

Su Wanqing bit her lip and nodded. The pain was so great that she could not speak.

"Midwife! Quickly, get the midwife! Wanqing is giving birth!"

Jiang Fu'an turned his head and shouted loudly toward the door.

A month earlier, he had brought the most experienced midwife in town into the residence, feeding and housing her well precisely for this moment.

Before long, an elderly woman with graying hair but bright, lively eyes hurried in, supported by the maid Cuihua.

The midwife showed no panic. After merely glancing over Su Wanqing's condition, she turned to Jiang Fu'an.

"Master, please wait in the outer room. Leave this place to this old woman."

By local custom, men were not allowed into the birthing room.

Naturally, Jiang Fu'an would not defy it.

He gave Su Wanqing one last look before turning and leaving the room.

That wait lasted a full two hours.

The sky had long since turned completely dark, and the lanterns hanging in the courtyard swayed faintly in the wind.

Su Wanqing's suppressed cries of pain occasionally came from the birthing room, each one tugging at Jiang Fu'an's heart.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he paced back and forth beneath the corridor, glancing from time to time toward the tightly shut door, afraid that she would suffer a difficult birth like Wang Lanhua had back then.

"Waa—!"

At last, a loud, crisp cry split the night.

Jiang Fu'an halted in his tracks and let out a long breath.

Then, with a slight stir of his thoughts, a translucent panel quietly appeared before his eyes.

Four options were neatly arranged upon it: "Jiang Xianghe," "Jiang Xiangyue," "Jiang Xiangchun," and "Unnamed."

He raised a finger and lightly tapped "Unnamed."

The text on the panel immediately refreshed:

[Name: Unnamed]

[Gender: Male]

[Lifespan: 66]

[Fate: Keen and Studious (Blue): Intellectually gifted and eager to delve into study]

[Spiritual Root: Metal-Wood-Fire Three-Element Spiritual Root]

[Special Physique: Talisman Saint Physique (Purple): Possesses extraordinarily high talent in the path of talismans]

Jiang Fu'an's eyes immediately lit up, and joy surged in his heart.

This child's talent was likely beyond what Seedling, Yue'er, and Stone could match even combined.

"Keen and Studious" paired with the "Talisman Saint Physique"—they were simply a match made in heaven.

He could almost foresee this child becoming a highly revered talisman master in the future.

He immediately made up his mind:

This child absolutely cannot be sent into a sect. He must remain by my side and be carefully nurtured personally.

Remembering that the child had yet to be named, he pondered for a moment. Two words gradually surfaced in his mind.

Talent that was too high could easily breed arrogance and madness.

He only hoped this child would hold fast to a humble heart throughout his life, keep his feet on the ground, and walk steadily along the road beneath them.

He shall be called Xiang Qian.

Jiang Xiangqian.