Mrs. Chen struggled to extend her hand and take the child, her gaze filled with infinite tenderness as she looked at her baby. From time to time, she reached out her finger to tease the infant, but she was thoroughly exhausted. Before long, with a smile lingering on her face, she drifted into a deep sleep.
Chen Jishi was also fatigued, but he finally felt a sense of relief, letting out a long exhale. After sitting for a moment, he suddenly remembered something, and an alarming thought struck his heart.
This matter—he had not told Mrs. Chen. That day, he dreamed of the white-haired Daoist passing through his room. Later, he learned that Mrs. Chen was pregnant, so he purposely went out to have their fortune told.
The fortune-teller had told him: if his wife’s first child was a daughter, their family would enjoy wealth and glory for a lifetime; but if it was a son, the child would inevitably bring about the death of both parents.
Initially, Chen Jishi had been skeptical, but given the strange occurrences lately, he could no longer dismiss the prediction. The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. He muttered to himself, "Though we come from a scholarly family, not exceptionally wealthy, we’ve always been secure and well-provided for. I, too, was supposed to dedicate myself to studying for imperial examinations—how did I get embroiled in these supernatural, demonic affairs? This child must be a demon, the source of my family’s misfortune. Perhaps..."
The thought arose, and he trembled as he extended his arms and picked up the child, contemplating ending this calamity once and for all.
However, as he held the baby, he noticed how bright red the infant’s cheeks were—not at all like the wrinkled, unsightly appearance of other newborns. The baby’s two bright, spirited eyes glistened like jet-black lacquer. Upon being lifted, the child showed no fear, instead giggling relentlessly while reaching out with plump little hands to tug at his beard.
Seeing the baby’s exquisite and innocent charm, Chen Jishi hesitated. How could he bring himself to harm his own flesh and blood?
Elsewhere in the forest, Zhang Pan was riding upon a cloud-shaped magic artifact, searching tirelessly for the Chen couple. Upon nearing their location, he suddenly caught the scent of something metallic—like blood—and his heart jolted in alarm. Following the trail of the scent, he hastened toward it.
Zhang Pan saw Chen Jishi raising and lowering his arms repeatedly, as though preparing to hurl the baby to the ground. Meanwhile, the child—which seemed oblivious of this intention—gleefully waved his little limbs, laughing as if his father was simply playing with him. Zhang Pan was utterly shocked. Zhang Yan had explicitly instructed that nothing must happen to this child. Furious, he shouted, "Master Chen, what are you doing?"
Chen Jishi trembled, his hand almost letting go of the child. Seeing Zhang Pan standing in mid-air, he instinctively drew the infant close to his chest, sat heavily on the ground with a "thud," disregarding the dirt staining his robes, and shuffled backward in fear. Then, as though waking from a stupor, he defiantly barked, "Don’t come closer, or else— or else I’ll smash this child right here, so your master can never make him his disciple!"
Zhang Pan’s eyes burned with fury as he bellowed, "Chen Jishi, though I, Zhang Pan, am considered an alien, even a tiger would not eat its own cub. Put that child down at once!"
Chen Jishi froze, then a look of realization swept across his face. With his emotions inflamed, he shouted, "It’s true, isn’t it? My suspicions were correct. You’re all the same breed—this child is indeed a demon!"
Though his words were venomous, he made no further movement, wary that Zhang Pan might intervene. Zhang Pan, fearing harm to the baby, dared not approach recklessly.
At that moment, a female Daoist appeared mid-air, her features graceful and composed, yet brimming with vitality. She held a horsetail whisk and seemed to be searching for something. Upon spotting the scene below, her eyes lit up with joy as she exclaimed, "Excellent, excellent! My master’s disciple—it turns out he’s here."
Descending from the clouds, she caught sight of Zhang Pan confronting Chen Jishi. With a commanding flick of her whisk, she sternly declared, "From which demon’s domain did you come? Leave at once, or don’t blame me for showing no mercy."
She recognized Zhang Pan to be a spirit monster transformed, but refrained from acting rashly, seeing that he possessed righteous spiritual energy and stood upon a magic artifact, possibly linked to some Great Xuanmen Sect. Not wanting unnecessary troubles, she aimed only to drive him away.
Zhang Pan couldn’t discern the Daoist nun’s level of cultivation. Without magic treasures to aid him, he admitted he was no match for her and thought, "This Kun Daoist is proficient, clearly belonging to the Righteous Sect. She wouldn’t tolerate harm to the child in her presence. I’ll remember her face and consult Master later for plans."
He cupped his hand with a salute and said, "Esteemed Daoist, this child will leave now." Shooting Chen Jishi a venomous glare, he activated his magic artifact and vanished skyward in an instant.
The Daoist nun gracefully stepped forward to Chen Jishi, who let out a heavy sigh, stood, and respectfully bowed with gratitude. "Chen Jishi thanks the Daoist for saving me."
The Daoist nun responded with a faint smile. "Your name is Chen Jishi? There’s no need for politeness. I happened upon this matter; my intervention was merely convenient. Speaking of which, this business also concerns you."
Chen Jishi, perplexed, asked, "May I ask, Daoist, what business that might be?"
The Daoist nun cast a glance at the baby in his arms and then at Chen Jishi. Smiling, she said, "I am here to take on a disciple."
Chen Jishi appeared struck by lightning, stumbling back two steps. With a defeated expression, he sighed, "Then so be it. I have no say in the matter. This child is yours to take." He extended the baby toward the Daoist nun.
She gave the child a casual look and said indifferently, "Why would I want this child?"
Chen Jishi, startled, replied, "You—aren’t you here to accept disciples?"
She shook her head. "No, I’m not here to take disciples myself. I’ve come to accept one on behalf of my master."
Chen Jishi offered a bitter smile. "Isn’t that the same? Either way, you mean to take my child away."
The Daoist nun furrowed her brows, glanced at the baby again, and said with a bow, "Master Chen, it’s not that I’m unwilling to accept your child, but from the signs surrounding this infant, I see their fate is monumental and beyond my capacity to bear. I hope you’ll understand."
Confused, Chen Jishi asked, "If the Daoist won’t take my child as a disciple, then who are you here to accept?"
With a slight laugh, she bowed and replied, "Naturally, I’m here for you. You have ties of karma with my master, which make you my senior brother. Now that the time has come, it’s fitting you return to the mountain."
Unhesitatingly, she clasped Chen Jishi firmly, her tone resolute. "Senior Brother, accompany me back to the mountain gate today."
Chen Jishi’s jaw dropped, his face full of disbelief. Struggling, he shouted desperately, "Wait—my wife..."
The Daoist nun turned with a serene smile. "Once Senior Brother achieves mastery in flying and escaping, you can visit Sister-in-law as you wish. Time waits for no one; Senior Brother, let us go."
With a flick of her whisk, a soft power gently lifted the baby from Chen Jishi’s arms and placed the child beside Mrs. Chen. Then, with a wave of her sleeve, a cloud of smoke arose, carrying the two upward and into the skies.
...(To be continued. If you enjoyed this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)