ã€ŠMy Corrupted Systemã€‹


 Boss

    Zane leaned back on the large, comfortable bed, his strong but aging body shining slightly under the soft room lights. At forty, his sharp features and dark hair gave him a mature and confident look.

    His partner, Maya, a woman who looked 25 but was actually 35, sat straddling him. Her long black hair fell over her shoulders, moving up and down in rhythm with her body. Her bright green eyes met his, and her red lips moved as she whispered, "Ahhh... Zane," her voice filled with pleasure. She was slim, with natural curves and full, perky breasts.

    They changed positions and began to explore one another with increasing excitement. Zane was now standing on the ground, Maya who was now on all fours with her back raised.

    "Maya, you''re perfect," Zane said in a deep voice as his hands moved over her soft breast, drawing moans from her mouth.

    She turned her head to meet his black eyes, and he leaned in, giving her a deep kiss before pulling away. As their excitement reached its climax.

    Zane''s breath became heavy as they eventually came to an end. "I''m close, Maya," he moaned, holding on to her hips.

    Maya''s voice shook with excitement as she moaned. "Do it, Zane... I''m ready."

    Just as he was about to finish, a loud knock echoed through the room, followed by a voice. "Boss! Boss!" The urgent tone cut through their intimate atmosphere.

    Zane froze, frustration flashing across his face. Living an alert life, his thing quickly calmed down. He cursed under his breath as his excitement faded away. With a sigh, he pulled his thing out of Maya, causing her to turn around and glare toward the door.

    He leaned down, planting a soft kiss on her forehead. "Sorry. I''ll be back in a minute," he said, his voice filled with irritation.

    Maya pouted, cursing silently at the guy who is responsible for this.

    Zane walked over to a nearby chair, grabbing a white robe and putting it over his muscular body. "If it''s not important, I swear I''m going to beat him to death," he muttered, running a hand through his hair before making his way to the door.

    He walked towards the door and pushed it open. Zane glared at Victor, who stood there looking nervous. Victor was a man with a strong yet slim build, appearing to be in his mid-thirties.Under Zane''s glare, his eyes moved uncomfortably.

    "What the hell is it, Victor?" Zane yelled.

    Victor took a deep breath. Seeing his boss in a white gown, he realized he had interrupted an important moment. But what he had to say was even more urgent.

    "Boss, the Viper Gang... they''ve attacked one of our casinos. They''re trying to take over our territory!"

    Zane''s face grew even more dark. "Those bastards think they can mess with the Iron Gang?" he continued in a threatening voice. "Do they believe I''ve passed away?" Victor jumped as zean banged a fist against the doorframe. "Call every man we''ve got. I want them ready in 10 minutes outside the house We''re going to remind those snakes who run this city!"

    Victor nodded.Yes, Boss!" he replied as he retreated to carry out the command.

    Maya, who had covered herself in the sheets, stood up and walked over to Zane, her red painted nails gliding over his back. "What''s going on, zean?" she asked, in worried tone.

    Zane turned to her and informed her, "Don''t worry, it''s just Darius is making trouble again." His thumb brushed her cheek as he held her face. "I''ll be back in no time. Now, help me getting ready."

    She nodded while cursing Darius, the leader of the Viper Gang, in her mind. That bastard! Can''t he pick a better time to start trouble? Always causing problems when we''re busy! Does he even sleep?

    She sighed in frustration and went to get Zane''s clothes, As Zane put on his dark pants, Maya helped Zane in putting into a black shirt and smoothing it over his wide chest. "With a gentle touch, she fixed his short, dark hair with her thin fingers." With her thin fingers, she gently fixed his short, dark hair.

    Zane glanced at the mirror, adjusting his collar. Maya hugged him from behind, pressing her warm body against his back. He gently removed her hands from his chest and turned around. He put his hands on her face and gave her a gentle forehead kiss. "Wait for me. "I''ll be back soon," he assured.

    She nodded and gave him a smile as he left as soon as the door closed. Maya sighed, her frustration returning back. "Damn those Viper bastards," she muttered, went back into the king-sized bed with its white sheets. "Well, if they won''t let me finish, I''ll do it myself," she said with a sly smile as she opened the drawer next to her and took out a toy.

    She leaned back on the bed, her green eyes half-closed, her gentle moans filling the empty room. "Ahh! Ahh!..."

    __________

    Before long, Zane is faced by more than a hundred loyal Iron Gang members outside his home. Each man had a gun and was prepared as they stood in rows. Tension filled the air, and the ground was covered in long shadows from the dim light of the house. "The Viper Gang thinks they can walk into our casino, take our territory, and just walk away?"

    With his keen eyes scanning his soldiers, Zane spoke. He paused and continued. "I think they forgot who is in charge of this city. We''ve earned our spot in Ravenford by fighting, bleeding, and surviving.

    Nobody invades our area, particularly our casinos, which are our primary source of revenue. "Tonight, we remind those snakes what happens when they cross lines," he added, pointing his gun in the sky and firing it.

    The men let out a loud roar. Zane smiled, allowing the enthusiasm to grow. He asked, "Are you ready?" They all yelled, "YES, BOSS!" in harmony their voices full of loyalty and ready to fight.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    "Let''s go," Zane said as he headed toward his car. Everyone followed suit, making their way to the long line of cars waiting under the dim glow of the streetlights.

    At the front was Zane''s vehicle, a shiny black SUV with dark-coloured windows. Its size and well-maintained look were the ideal combination of intimidation and authority. Cars, pickup trucks, and a few old vans followed.

    Zane settled into the passenger seat of his SUV when Victor climbed into the driver''s seat. "Let''s move," Zane issued the order.

    The convoy began to move out as the engines roared to life. The few people walking on the street stopped and stared at the magnificent sight of more than twenty cars travelling in harmony.

    The convoy''s reputation arose as it passed through the heart of Ravenford, which was not a metropolis but rather a thriving urban hub dominated by several big and small gangs, including the Iron Gang at its peak, which had over a hundred members and a monthly profit exceeding tens of millions of dollars, making them the undeniable rulers of the city''s underworld.

    The gang''s leadership consisted of three key figures: Zane, the boss; Victor, the vice leader; and Malcolm, the financial mastermind responsible for managing government bribes and the gang''s assets.

    As the queue of cars wound its way through Ravenford''s narrow streets, some spectators quickly moved out of the way.

    Victor glanced at Zane as they neared their destination. "They''ll know we''re coming, Boss."

    "Good," Zane replied, his voice calm but filled with menace. "Let them see us coming. Tonight, the Viper Gang learns why no one messes with the Iron Gang."

    The battle for Ravenford''s underworld was about to begin.

    The Iron Gang soon appeared in front of the biggest casino in the city. The towering building stood as a symbol of luxury and strength.

    The name of the casino was displayed above in enormous shining letters and the building was visible from miles away. Engines rumbling as they came to a stop, the gang''s cars arrived in a well-organised line. Zane''s black SUV stopped just in front of the main gate, which was made of golden double doors.

    The door of the SUV opened as Zane stepped out, then slammed shut behind him with a powerful bang. With their weapons in hand, the rest of the gang followed behind.

    As Zane and his men stepped inside, the casino employees stood close by, their shoulders slumped and heads bowed, fear clear on their faces as they avoided making eye contact. The once lively atmosphere was now filled with an uneasy silence.

    A man of a similar age as Zane sat across from them, relaxing on a cheap plastic chair as if he owned the place. This was Darius, the Viper Gang''s boss and Zane''s halfbrother.

    He has short black hair and dark eyes flashed with confidence and arrogance. He was dressed in black trousers, polished shoes and a dark green jacket over a plain white shirt. Although Darius was smaller than Zane, he had the pride of a guy who thought he was better than Zane in everything.

    Behind him stood over fifty gang members, armed with different types of guns, bats, and pipes.

    Darius rose from his chair with a smile as Zane and over a hundred Iron Gang members exited their vehicles. The Iron Gang''s sheer numbers made the Viper Gang''s presence a wave. Armed with weapons and years of loyalty, they lined up behind Zane, waiting silently for his word.

    Darius spread his arms mockingly. "Brother Zane, you came pretty fast. I was just getting comfortable."

    When Zane''s piercing eyes met Darius''s, his face became darker. For a moment, he was reminded of their early years, playing in their father''s garden, laughing, and making plans for the future.

    However, those times had long since passed. Darius broke up the Iron Gang after their father passed away, stealing some of its members to start the Viper Gang. Out of some sense of brotherly affection, Zane had let him mature for 10 years and had refrained from intensifying their disputes.

    However, this? It was an outrageous provocation to take Ravenford''s biggest casino, which brought in between $10-30 million a month. Calling it a transaction and taking over the *iron gang* casino?

    "Darius," Zane spoke in a low, threatening voice, "you''ve got some nerve. Do you think your Viper Gang can afford a trade like this? This is the city''s largest casino."

    The tension was thick, every eye watching the two brothers.

    Darius chuckled, unfazed by Zane''s hostility. "You''ll definitely consider trading after you see this," he said smoothly, snapping his fingers. "Bring them here."

    Two muscular men stepped from behind. They had great body shapes, towering and powerful. Each carried someone on their shoulder.

    One man had a boy, around 13 years old, dressed in a simple white shirt and shorts, his head covered with a black cloth mask.

    The other held a woman with a similarly masked face, dressed simply in a green garment. Their cries were muffled into weak, painful "uuuuhhhh" noises as both had their mouths tied with a ball. They struggled against the ropes binding their wrists and ankles.

    The muscular men then quietly threw their captives on the ground. The boy and woman hit the ground.

    The woman tried to scream, but the ball distorted her voice into a loud, pained groan as she hit the ground.

    The tightrope left faint signs on her bare flesh, and her hands and legs were tied tightly. The teenager strained against his restraints, his tiny body shivering as he shook in fear.

    Darius''s smile grew as he pointed at the two captives. "Brother, let''s now discuss our trade.

    Staring at Darius, Zane said, "Who are these two?" Although a hint of doubt appeared on his face, he still said, "If you think I''ll trade my casino for this cheap stunt, you''re out of your mind Darius."

    Darius smirked. "I knew you''d say that," he said, then gestured to his men. They stepped forward and pulled off the masks, revealing a woman and a teenage boy.

    The boy, about 13 or 14, had messy dark hair and wide, frightened black eyes. He was trembling in fear.

    The woman''s brown hair fell over her shoulders. Despite the signs of age on her face, her soft features and curvy figure still held traces of her past beauty.

    Zane''s expression shifted. His breath hitched, and his eyes locked onto the woman. "Diana..." he muttered in a shaky voice.

    Darius laughed, obviously pleased by the response. You do remember her, then. Your former partner. What about this boy? He knelt next to the teenager, grabbed his chin, and made him turn to face Zane.. "Look at him, Zane. See the resemblance? He is your son."

    Zane''s gaze moved between Diana and the boy.

    Darius continued, "She left you because she was pregnant. And now, here they are."

    Zane felt different types of emotions: grief, sadness and anger. But his voice is still the same, showing no sign of emotion. "Diana left me 14 years ago. Since then, I''ve built a new life. "Maya is the one who stood by me during my darkest times, while Diana left & that boy isn''t mine."

    "You really have no heart, do you?" Darius taunted, slightly pushing the boy''s head back. "You can stand there like stone, even if it''s your own flesh and blood? Impressive.

    With a bitter tone, Zane''s voice wavered. "Take them and go. I refuse to fall for your tricks.

    Darius laughed sharply and mockingly, his smile growing as though he had been waiting for this. "All right, then," With a slight tilt of his head, he raised two fingers and flicked them forward. "Take her gag off." One of his men immediately obeyed, stepping forward to remove the gag from Diana''s mouth.

    As soon as the gag was removed, Diana cried out,"Zane! "Please, save your son at least." Her voice trembled and tears were forming in her eye''s, but Zane remained icy.

    Darius gave a gloomy laugh. "You see? It seems reasonable to trade your child for the casino, doesn''t it? He approached Diana slowly, running his fingers over her hair in a soft motion. "But fine, if you don''t want them¡­ I''ll sell her to the underground market, and as for the boy¡­ he''ll make a fine worker in my factory. Such a shame, though. A mother and son¡­ torn apart."

    Zane said coldly, "Take them and get out of my casino."

    Diana''s tear-filled eyes widened in disbelief. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "Zane... you''re really going to just walk away?"

    Zane appeared on the verge of leaving. Not even his troops anticipated that he would abandon his own child. Even though they had always admired him, this incident caused them to reconsider everything.

    As Zane turned around ready to leave but as he turned around his hand made a signal his men recognized instantly.

    Soon, Gunfire exploded through the casino as Zane swiftly turned around and drew his weapon. His calm expression was gone, replaced by a cold, deadly fury.. Without hesitation, he aimed at Darius and pulled the trigger. "Sorry, brother," he muttered, his voice heavy with anger and regret.

    Zane''s men fired in unison, their shots cutting through the air. Darius''s men fell one after another, blood staining the pavement. Many didn''t even have a chance to react before they were gunned down. Some of Darius''s men collapsed instantly, while others staggered before falling. Within minutes, the ground was covered in bodies.

    Seeing no way out, a few of them dropped to the floor, pretending to be dead to avoid the bullets. Blood spread across the ground, and the air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and blood.

    Still tied up, Diana and the boy were trapped in the chaos. Bullets tore through Darius''s men nearby, spraying blood onto their faces. Diana struggled against the ropes, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her muffled screams were filled with fear as she watched Darius''s men fall one by one. Beside her, the boy whimpered, his wide, terrified eyes searching for help, but the gag kept him silent.

    Darius staggered back as Zane''s bullets struck him, his clothes quickly soaking with blood. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, staring at Zane in disbelief. He spoke out, struggling for oxygen, "You... killed me... for them?" He never imagined it would end this way; in all the previous fights they had had, he always expected a beating rather than a gunshot, but this time it was different.

    Zane glanced down at him, his face silent and icy.. After a moment, he spoke, his voice low. "I didn''t kill you for them. I killed you because you left me no choice. You forgot our brotherhood and your friendship with Diana."

    As Darius''s body fell, Zane put away his gun, his chest rising and falling heavily. Blood pooled around the fallen men, and the sharp scent of gunpowder hung in the air.

    Zane walked over to Diana, who sat trembling, silent tears running down her pale face. The boy clung to her, his wide eyes filled with fear. Zane crouched down and pulled out a small knife. "Hold still," he said quietly.

    Zane cut the rope that bound Diana & the boy''s legs and wrists. The child scared slightly but stayed motionless underneath Zane''s calm stare as he turned to face him. When Zane released him and took off the gag, the teenager gave him a tight hug and sobbed, "Daddy, I missed you so much."

 V 1 End | Fight To Death

    The boy''s words caused Zane to freeze. With his hand protectively resting on the boy''s back, he returned the hug.

    Trembling and crying, Diana was drawn also into the embrace, her horror temporarily calmed by their warmth. Zane responded in a gentle tone, "Yes, I am your dad."

    Diana sobbing uncontrollably as she held Zane close. His icy appearance simply broke down showing the guy she had known before¡ªsomeone with the capacity for compassion and love.

    Zane got up and supported Diana with his hand as she stood up. With a gentle tone, he said, "Let''s go. We''re heading home."

    Victor approached, his expression filled with joy, just like the other men of the Iron Gang standing behind him. "Boss," he said quietly, "what should we do about the cleanup?"

    Zane said, "Take care of it. Call Malcolm to handle the arrangements and bury my brother next to our father."

    Victor said. "Understood, boss."

    Diana and the boy were led to the car by Zane, who helped them in getting inside before hopping into the driver''s seat.

    "Zane¡­ thank you for saving us," Diana said quietly as the automobile started to move. Diana was still clutching her son closely.

    For a little while, Zane said nothing, his anger at Diana''s choice to flee with his child still burning. He looked at the kid in the rearview mirror and his voice grew softer. "Kid, tell me your name."

    With a pause, the kid looked at Diana. She put a kind touch on the boy''s shoulder and added, "His name is Liam," with a loving smile. "Liam, this is your¡­ father."

    When Zane heard the word "this is your father," his chest tightened. The child gave him a shy nod as he gazed at him.

    With occasional glances at the teenager and Diana in the rearview mirror, Zane sat silently for a half hour. Nobody said anything, everyone just waited calmly.

    Zane''s automobile soon reached his residence. Enclosed by tall walls and a massive iron gate that opened when the guards spotted the boss''s car, the estate was vast. The mansion''s modern construction combined stylish glass panels, and the road was surrounded with trimmed bushes.

    Once inside, Zane opened the door and stepped out.

    Inside, Maya was seating in the main hall. With the belt loosely wrapped at her waist, she wore a light blue bathrobe that clung to her thin body. With her bare feet resting on the soft couch and her skin glowing from the bath, she was idly flipping through the channels.

    She looked towards the gate when she heard the faint sound of the car pulling in. Curious, Maya stood, tossing the remote onto the sofa. She adjusted her robe and walked towards the door.

    Maya froze as she stepped outside. Zane was gently assisting a woman out of the car when she fixed her gaze on him. A fourteen-year-old boy emerged behind them, his curious eyes looking around the mansion.

    Maya''s chest tightened as her eyes settled on the woman. She didn''t need an introduction, she knew exactly who she was. Diana. The woman Zane had loved before her, the one who had vanished, leaving behind only a note saying she couldn''t be part of a life filled with gang violence.

    She said, her voice shaking, "Zane¡­ What''s happening? Why is she here?"

    Zane took a step forward. "This is Diana, as you have probably guessed, Maya. And this¡­" he said, pointing to Liam, "is probably my son. They will stay here going forward."

    Maya''s eyes grew wide and began to fill up with tears. She moved away and shook her head. "Your son? She simply appears after all these years, and they''re living here now?" Tears rolled down her cheeks as her voice broke.

    She turned and fled back into the house, sobbing, as Zane took a step towards her. He called after her,"Maya!" he called after her, but Diana gently grabbed his arm.

    Diana whispered softly, "Let her go, Zane," with a hint of sorrow in her voice. "She needs time, and I also need to discuss everything with you.

    Zane''s expression was a mix of understanding and irritation as he looked at Diana. He nodded and let out a long sigh. "You''re right," he responded quietly.

    Just then, two of the servants emerged to welcome him. Sensing the tension, they glanced between Liam, Diana, Maya and Zane. With caution, one of them spoke. "Master Zane, welcome back."

    "The car keys are inside," Zane added, "Park it." Additionally, prepare two rooms: one for Diana and one for Liam. Also, prepare a hot bath for me in another room."

    The servants looked at one another but simply nodded. "Right away, sir," one said, rushing to do what he said.

    Zane looked at Liam and Diana again. He continued, "Follow them," his voice a little softer. "Your rooms will be shown to you. We''ll discuss this later." Since a lot has transpired today, he simply needs room to rest.

    As they followed the servants inside, Diana nodded and held Liam''s hand. The boy''s eyes widened as he looked at the immense size of the mansion.

    Despite her composure, Diana''s eyes were distant, as memories of her time spent with Zane were suddenly returning.

    The servant escorted them upstairs and opened a door to reveal a comfortable and equipped room for Liam. "This will be your room, sir," the maid replied, smiling politely.

    Liam glanced up at Diana, who gave him a nod.

    They proceeded to another room down the corridor. A slightly larger guest room, the maid opened the door. "And this is your room, ma''am," Diana was informed by the maid.

    Diana thanked her and went inside. Diana was the only person in the room when the maid excused herself. Her fingers touched the edge of the bed as she glanced out the window in sadness. She said to herself, "What have I done, coming back here after all this time?"

    For a while, Zane stood in front of Maya''s door, his heart was heavy. He wanted to knock and say something, but he was unable to find the right words. He sighed for a while and then turned away.

    After a while..

    He entered into a luxurious place with smooth marble walls and a big soaking tub built into the floor in the Japanese style. The tub was filled with hot water that had a mild, soothing sandalwood aroma.

    The water rose to Zane''s shoulders as he got into the tub. He leaned his head back against the edge and closed his eyes for a time, but his mind would not allow him to rest. Like a tidal wave, memories of the past came flooding in.

    She was around 12 years old, When I first saw her. She was standing in his father''s grand hall, a timid girl with Messy hair and teary eyes, carrying her little luggage.

    From the stairway, he gazed at her with interest, he was thirteen at the time. He had questioned his father, "Who is this?" In a sharp voice, his father announced, "She''s staying with us now. Treat her with kindness."

    He recalled how uncomfortable she had initially been, But as he and Darius played tag in the garden with her she became more at ease and her laughing could be heard throughout the hallways. They had spent hours together, viewing the stars, climbing trees, and sneaking into the kitchen for sweets.Stolen novel; please report.

    She was simply Diana back then, his friend and partner in mischievous activities. She was not involved in the ruthless society they would inherit, nor was she a member of the gang. She was only a little girl with a hopeful heart and lovely eyes.

    Zane opened his eyes and sighed, the memory fading. The icy weight of reality remained despite the water''s warmth. "What has gone wrong?"

    Then his memory of the moment when everything changed began to return. His father''s death had started a competition between him and Darius over iron gang leadership.

    As memories flooded back, Zane stared at the moving water. Diana was later his everything, and he had once thought she would always be by his side.

    However, one morning she suddenly vanished. He was still troubled by the note she left behind: *"I can''t stay with you any longer, Zean. This gang violence is not something I want to be part of. I want to live a peaceful life away from all of this. I am sorry for leaving you Zean."*

    He was lost by her sudden departure. For weeks, he questioned everything¡ªwas this fight with Darius, this struggle for power, truly worth it? The love of his life was gone, and the brother he grew up with had turned into his greatest enemy.

    If it hadn''t been for Maya, he might have lost everything. At a time, when he lost motivation and the will to fight for gang leadership, his mother had introduced him to Maya.

    Thanks to Maya''s constant support, he had slowly regained his confidence. With her at his side, Zane changed the momentum, taking back the control of the Iron Gang from Darius and making it rise back to its peak again.

    But now, sitting there, Zane''s thoughts drifted back to Darius. His brother was dead¡ªkilled by his own hand. He stared at his palm, the weight of his actions sinking in.

    His mother and aunt had only ever asked one thing of them: "Promise us you''ll never fight each other to the death."

    With a heavy sigh, Zane felt the weight of his guilt pressing on him. He had broken that promise, and no victory could erase that.

    Zane sighed deeply, running a hand through his damp hair. The weight of everything¡ªDarius''s death, Diana''s return, the boy who might be his son¡ªpressed down on him like a suffocating blanket. He wasn''t sure how he''d face his mother and aunt now. How could he explain what he''d done?

    After what felt like an eternity, he rose from the tub, water falling down his muscular body. He wrapped a white towel around his waist and stepped out into the adjoining room, rubbing his face wearily with another towel.

    He was shocked to see Diana seated on a chair. The Diana he remembered was not her. Her beauty had diminished into a more quiet elegance. Her face was free of makeup, and she was dressed simply, in a wrinkled blouse and a loose-fitting skirt. Her eyes bore the weight of a life full of hardships, and she appeared exhausted.

    They were silent for a moment, both looking into each other''s eyes. Zane stood there, his chest tightening as he took in the sight of her. This was not the confident, carefree woman he had fallen for. Time and hardships had shaped her into the woman she was now.

    Diana looked at Zane, and said, "I understand that you''re upset with me for going away, but I had no other option, Zane.. You and Darius were constantly fighting, dragging yourselves deeper into gang violence."

    "When I found out I was pregnant, I felt hopeless about our child''s future. You told me you don''t want children and also who would look out for our child if you were hurt? I... I believed that the only option was to leave." As she talked, she started crying uncontrollably.

    Hearing all this, Zane''s eyes grew darker, he said, "Don''t you feel even the slightest bit of shame for taking my son from me, Diana? I didn''t say anything before because of the boy.? You think he was safer without his father? You should have known¡ªhe was safer here, with me, than out there, alone with you."

    "And Darius... he''s dead now. Do you understand? None of this would''ve happened if you hadn''t left and gotten caught."

    Zane went closer and grabbed Diana''s chin, making her turn to face him. He said, "Look at me, Diana," in a serious and rude voice. I''m sick of listening to your reasons. What you thought at the time or the reason you left doesn''t matter to me.

    But Zane stopped, his eyes softening, as soon as Diana''s eyes began to fill up with tears. Letting out an annoyed sigh, he let go of her chin. He repeated, "Just leave. Take your tears and go. I don''t want to talk about this anymore."

    With a shiver Diana got up and moved slowly towards the door. She paused at the door''s edge and turned around, her eyes watery. With a shaky voice, she said, "I''m sorry, Zane." Without waiting for a response, she walked out and closed the door.

    With a sad sigh, Zane fell onto the bed. His mind was racing with thoughts. He kept thinking about Maya and their happiness before Diana returned and ruined it all.

    He was surprised by how much the memories of Maya''s upset face hurt. "What am I supposed to do?" With a hand over his hair, Zane spoke softly. He felt tired, and as he closed his eyes, the sleep took over him.

    In the morning, as the servants opened the door, Zane woke instantly, his reflexes sharp from years of training. They entered quietly, tidying the room. Zane got up, prepared for the day, and had the breakfast the servants brought him. Afterward, he decided to speak with Maya to apologize, but on his way to her room, he found Diana and Liam sitting at the dining table.

    "Zane, why don''t you join us for breakfast?" Diana shouted as he passed by through the corridor.

    After giving her a quick glance, Zane shook his head. "I''ve already eaten."

    But before he could leave, Liam turned to face him, longing in his wide, hopeful eyes. "Daddy, can you join us, please? It is my first time having breakfast with a full family.

    After some hesitation, Zane moved to the dining table and took a seat beside Liam. The child, with his untidy brown hair falling over his forehead, held Zane''s arm while wearing a basic white shirt and blue shorts. Liam whispered, "I really missed you," in an emotional voice.

    Zane placed a hand on Liam''s head and said in a gentle voice, "I missed you too, son."

    Diana, wearing a long brown skirt and a light blue top, sat silently across the table. She wore her hair loosely in a bun, and her face had a soft, motherly touch despite her weariness. Silently, she observed them, a small smile forming on her lips as she took in the scene before her.

    The moment was interrupted by the sound of a door opening. When Zane looked up, he saw Maya leaving her room and making her way over to the dining table. Her wet hair fell in loose waves over her shoulders, still drying from her bath. She wore a black top and grey shorts that highlighted her lean, sexy figure. But it wasn''t her appearance that caught Zane''s attention, but it was her red eyes.

    The sight made Zane''s chest tighten. She had been crying, and he knew it. He felt a feeling of guilt, but before he could speak, Maya walked up to the table and sat down next to him, crossing her arms. Her sharp eyes, once so full of warmth, were now cold and distant.

    Unaware of the tense environment, Liam smiled and put up a little plate with a sandwich before the tension could build. "Look, Dad! This is made by Mommy. He said, "Here, eat it!" with a lively tone.

    Zane looked at the sandwich and paused. He thought about Diana, who had never been good at cooking and frequently said that the kitchen wasn''t her area. But here she was, preparing their son''s meals. He hadn''t anticipated how much she had changed.

    Maya complained, her irritation barely concealed. "We have chefs, kid. Why would Zane eat her food? They make better meals than this."

    Liam''s eager eye pulled Zane back as he turned to face her, his lips opening to reply. Zane said softly, "Let me try," and reached for the sandwich. He took it in his hands and chewed carefully. It wasn''t horrible, but the bread was a little too toasted, and the filling was not equally distributed. He was about to say something comfortable when he swallowed it.

    Maya grabbed the sandwich out of his hand before he could do so. She said sharply, "Let me taste." She chewed on the sandwich without waiting for a reply, her gaze narrowing. She remarked simply, "It''s not even that good," and put the partially consumed sandwich back on the plate. "This is not as good as what the chefs cook. Diana, why even bother to prepare food?

    Diana''s fingers tightened on the skirt''s edge as her face became nervous. However, she remained silent and lowered her gaze and acted like she was avoiding the dispute from getting more heated.

    Liam''s joyful smile shifted, and he quietly grabbed another sandwich piece.

    They never expected Maya to interfere while Zane was eating a sandwich.

    Maya folded her arms and reclined in her chair. "Don''t you think you should say something to me, Zane?" she asked in a frustrated tone.

    Zane was about to reply when his stomach began to growl uncontrollably. He instinctively held the region where a sharp pain broke through his abdomen, just below his ribs. He leaned forward a little as his face twisted in pain.

    Maya''s hand flew to her own stomach, and she froze. Her voice trembled as she shouted, "What... what is this?" The pain grew worse as it moved up into her chest, and she pushed her hand to her lower abdomen.

    Sweat was building on Zane''s forehead as he gritted his teeth. As he struggled to endure the intense discomfort, his breathing became shallow. He muttered, "Something... isn''t right."

    Maya held the table''s edge as she fought to stay strong while her body felt pain. "Zane... we are poisoned by someone?" Her voice was barely audible.

    Suddenly, Diana started laughing, her tone growing darker. She reached into her blouse and from her breast she pulled out a gun and pointed it towards Zean.

    Zane''s eyes widened in shock, his body already heavy with the effects of the poison. Despite the pain, he asked, "What the hell are you doing, Diana?!" in a tone that was something between confused and angry.

    Maya cried out in pain. "It hurts, Zane! "Help me!"

    The boy, who had been quietly watching from the table, suddenly pushed back his chair and rushed toward the room. A smile spread across his face, and in the chaos, a small gun remained hidden in his hand. "See ya, fake Dad!" he said, his voice filled with mockery. "My job here is done."

    But instead of leaving right away, he started moving around the room, grabbing anything valuable he could find. With his boss dead, he still needed his payment¡ªso why not take a few things for himself? The thought made him smile as he moved around the house.

    Zane attempted to call for assistance, his teeth hardened. "James! Clara! Get in here, someone! His voice was weak as he called out.

    Diana''s laughter cut him off. With a voice full of hatred, she spoke, "No one''s coming Zean. Thanks to the sandwiches I made, they''re all asleep now. However, your was unique, the poison was only in yours sandwich.

    Zane remained upright and supported himself by leaning against the dining table. "Why, Diana?" he clenched his teeth and questioned. Why are you doing this?"

    Diana''s face was filled with sorrow and rage. "Why?" she shouted. "You killed Darius¡ªyour own brother¡ªfor a casino! You''re a monster, Zane! You''re a monster.

    He wanted to take over your Casino, yes, but you didn''t have to kill him. You destroyed everything. And now, I''ll destroy everything you have.

    Her hand trembled as tears filled up in her eyes. She thought about the time she had spent with Darius, how happy they had been. From the very beginning, they were in love. But to break Zane''s motivation to compete and make him give up the Iron gang, she and Darius had come up with a plan. They made Zane fall for her, hoping that once she disappeared, he would lose his motivation, and Darius could take over the gang.

    But that bitch Maya ruined everything.

    Her voice shook with anger as she said, "Before you die, I''m going to make you feel what it''s like to lose someone you love. Just like you took Darius from me, I''ll take this bitch from you."

    She turned the gun toward Maya, who was in pain, barely conscious. "Say goodbye to her, Zane," Diana said with a twisted smile.

    Zane''s heart pounded as adrenaline surged through him, momentarily numbing the pain. He roared, "No!" and lunged forward with all his remaining strength, knocking over a chair in the process. His hand instinctively went to the small knife hidden in his shirt¡ªthe same knife he had used to cut Diana''s rope yesterday.

    *Boom!*

    The gunshot echoed through the room as Diana fired. Zane felt pain in his chest, but he didn''t stop. With yell, he drove the knife into Diana''s chest, the blade sinking deep.

    Blood came out from the wound as Diana staggered backward, her eyes wide with shock. She held the knife, her breaths ragged. "You¡­ can''t¡­ save her," she is poison¡­ It''s too late. She''ll die¡­ just like you¡­"

    Her legs weakened, and she collapsed onto the floor, blood pooling around her. Her twisted smile remained as she laughed, her voice fading into silence.

    Zane stumbled back, holding his bleeding side. His vision blurred, and he fell to his knees. His gaze went to Maya, who fell over the table and was unconscious.

    Desperation took over as Zane pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling while he put it into emergency call mode.

    Victor quickly picks up as he notices the boss''s phone coming. In a casual tone he asked, "Boss? What''s going on?"

    Zane''s voice was weak, each word a struggle. "Victor¡­ get here¡­ save Maya¡­ please¡­"

    "Boss? Boss! Are you okay?!" Victor''s voice grew worried, but Zane could no longer respond.

    The phone slipped from his hand as his strength gave out. He collapsed onto the floor beside Diana''s lifeless body, their blood pooling together. His eyes slowly closed, his last thought filled with regret and longing for a future he would never see.

    ____________________

    Hello everyone, it''s me, the author. I just want to let you know that this is the end of Volume 1. The next part will focus on the MC''s reincarnation and introduce some basic details about the cultivation world, such as cultivation realms.

    In the future, there will also be a side story explaining how the MC got the system. This side story will be written after I finish this novel and start a new one titled Dead Men Tell the Best Tales on Webnovel. The side story will provide a better understanding of why everything happened the way it did.

 A Baby Girl

    In the bright midday light, the Azure Sky Sect stood proudly among the tall peaks. Beautiful green hills and sparkling waterfalls surrounded the grand halls and monuments that reached into the clouds.

    The surrounding area was softly misted, giving the scene an otherworldly feature. As they travelled along the stone paths, disciples in blue and white robes engaged in conversations about cultivation.

    The atmosphere of the sect was magical, the peaceful walking of some and the elegant flying of others on sword or without the use of swords.

    Su Mei, an inner disciple, sat cross-legged in quiet meditation. She was focused on advancing from the mid-stage to the late-stage of the Vein Fusion Realm.

    The air around her buzzed with spiritual energy, swirling gently, but despite the calm atmosphere, she was frustrated at her heart.

    Years had passed, and while others advanced, she remained stagnant.

    With the financial backing of her respected father, an inner sect elder, she should have reached the pinnacle of the Vein Fusion Realm by now, at the age of 200.

    But even with her extraordinary talent, the breakthrough she so desperately needed remained elusive.

    Su Mei''s breathing became uniform, each breath slower than the one before, as she concentrated on directing the flow of spiritual energy through her meridians.

    The energy flowed through her veins like a soft stream, but when it got closer to breakthrough just at that movement it met an invisible barrier, the spiritual energy hit the barrier but it had no effect.

    For a brief minute, Su Mei pushed harder, seeking to break through the barrier. However, her attempts were unsuccessful. The spiritual force faltered, became unstable and then vanished completely.

    Her body experienced a sudden backlash that felt like lightning strikes. Su Mei breathed heavily and put her hand on her big chest as she felt severe pain. Her shoulders trembled as beads of sweat dripped down her white face.

    Frustration overtook her, and she clinched her hands, breathing heavily. The bitter taste of failure hung heavily on her tongue as she bit her lip to suppress her desire to scream.

    Regardless of how much spiritual energy she purified or how skilfully she managed it, the bottleneck remained unmoving, an impossible wall that prevented her from moving forward.

    She let out a tired sigh, relaxed her tense shoulders, and turned her attention to healing. Even though she was exhausted, she remained determined and thought, "I''ll try again in a few days."

    Even after falling, Su Mei''s beauty remained captivating. Her stubborn yet beautiful face was framed by her long, smooth dark purple hair.

    Her closed purple eyes and her slender, curvy figure were elegantly highlighted by the sect''s luxurious blue robes, embroidered with complex golden cloud patterns.

    The fabric thighly clung to her big chest and slender waist before flowing down her legs, offering small glimpses of her smooth skin.

    A few hours later¡­

    As Su Mei remained deep in meditation, a voice echoed from outside the cave. "Senior Sister Su!"

    It was Lin Chen, a fellow inner disciple under the same elder. He admired Su Mei''s beauty and talent but had always fallen behind her in cultivation. "I know you''re cultivating, but I found something that might help you break through!"

    Su Mei''s eyes narrowed as her focus got disrupted, but hearing about a breakthrough she immediately became curious. With a wave of her hand, the stone door opened, revealing the world outside.

    Sunlight spilled into the cave, illuminating Lin Chen. He was a striking young man with short, dark red hair and sharp brown eyes. He wore the same uniform as her which had the Azure Sky Sect''s symbol on the chest.

    She remained calm and said, "Come in and tell me what you''ve found, Junior Brother Lin. If it helps me break through, I will surely reward you."

    Lin Chen cupped his fists and replied, "Senior Sister, As you can see, I''ve broken through to the late stage of the Elemental Bloom Realm and reached the peak stage in just a few days."

    Hearing this, Su Mei narrowed her eyes and used her spiritual energy to assess his cultivation. To her surprise, he was telling the truth.

    Despite being more than fifty years younger than her and having no significant support, Lin Chen had managed to reach the peak of the Elemental Bloom Realm. Considering his lower talent compared to hers, his achievement was truly remarkable.

    Lin Chen then reached into his spiritual bag and pulled out a glowing fruit. "It''s all thanks to this, Senior Sister."

    Su Mei''s gaze locked onto the fruit a golden glow, as the fruit came out it soon filled the cave with a calm & peaceful environment. The fruit was shaped like a five-pointed star, each petal curling outward.

    Su Mei took the glowing fruit in her hand and it aroused curiosity in her eyes as she felt very calm just touching it. Though it felt unique, she couldn''t help but ask, "What is this magical fruit, and where did you find it, junior brother?"

    Lin Chen smiled faintly and replied, "I went on a dangerous mission outside the sect. Let''s just say it wasn''t easy to get my hands on this. I had to fight off many people to acquire two of these fruits."

    "I consumed one myself, and after experiencing its effects, I realized you''ve been trying to break through for a long time. So, I brought this one for you, Senior Sister. I hope¡­ you''ll accept it," he said, in a shyly voice.

    Suddenly, Lin Chen''s demeanor shifted from shy to becoming calm and radiating an unfamiliar confidence. Su Mei noticed but chose to focus entirely on the fruit in her hands.

    "As for what this fruit is," Lin Chen continued, "I''m not sure. I checked the sect library before bringing it to you, but I couldn''t find anything about its origin."

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    He spread his hands in a helpless gesture. "But I''m certain this will help you, so without much thought, I brought it to you, Senior Sister."

    Seeing Lin Chen''s gesture made Su Mei feel unexpectedly good, though she remained cautious. She knew Lin Chen''s reputation, he was far from faithful and was known to have relationships with other junior sisters.

    Despite this, she decided to focus on the fruit for now. Is this truly the key to my breakthrough? Her thoughts raced, but her expression stayed calm.

    She looked up at Lin Chen and asked seriously, "Are you certain, Junior Brother Lin? Do you truly want to give this fruit to me?"

    Lin Chen smiled confidently. "Yes, Senior Sister. I''ve already taken one, so I don''t mind giving this one to you. I just hope it helps you.

    And¡­ if you''re happy with its effects, I was hoping you might consider going out with me." His voice grew shy as he finished speaking.

    Su Mei frowned inwardly at the suggestion. She didn''t particularly like the idea, knowing Lin Chen''s history with other junior sisters.

    Still, she decided to keep her composure and replied calmly, "Why not, Junior Brother? If what you''ve said is true and this fruit helps me break through, then I''ll consider it."

    Lin Chen''s face lit up with excitement. "Alright, Senior Sister!" He quickly cupped his fists, turned, and left the cave, saying, "I''ll look forward to that day, Senior Sister!"

    As the stone door closed behind him, Su Mei sighed softly and turned her attention back to the glowing fruit in her hands. Whether this works or not, my breakthrough depends on it, she thought, her determination rose up.

    She examined the fruit closely, marveling at its warm glow. It was unlike anything she had encountered before. Should I research it first? she wondered. But the thought was quickly dismissed.

    If word of the fruit spread, it would attract the attention of powerful figures within the sect. Even her father, an inner sect elder, or the sect master might want to take it from her.

    Resolving herself, she sighed and decided to consume it immediately.

    Opening her red lips, she tilted her head back and swallowed the fruit whole without chewing¡ªa method unique to cultivators that preserved the fruit''s potent properties.

    It slid smoothly down her throat, and as soon as it reached her stomach, a warm energy began spreading through her body.

    The energy moved in gentle waves, traveling down to her core and forming a soothing circle of energy. It felt as if her body was being wrapped in a comforting embrace.

    The warmth pushed away all distractions, calming her restless thoughts. Her mind became as clear as a still lake, and she quickly entered a meditative state, fully focused on cultivating.

    Days passed¡ª10, then 20...

    Su Mei was finally ready to break through to the late stage of the Vein Fusion Realm, but the process was not easy. She ran into the same bottleneck again when she directed her spiritual energy. The invisible wall remained in place, preventing her from moving forward.

    As the spiritual energy clashed within her meridians, she began sweating & her breathing became heavy. She gritted her teeth, pushing her willpower to its limit, trying to force the energy to go against the wall.

    Just as she was about to give up and started getting negative thoughts a strange energy washed over her mind, bringing an unexpected calm.

    As her thoughts cleared and she approached the barrier once more, it suddenly vanished. The spiritual energy surged forward, flooding her meridians without resistance. The power caused her robes to ripple, and she emitted a gentle golden glow.

    As the breakthrough settled, the spiritual energy around her gradually faded. Her long, dark purple hair, which floated a little in the spiritual energy, now returned softly over her shoulders, same with her robes it went back to its place. She felt as though a heavy weight had been removed from her.

    Su Mei opened her purple eyes and let out a long, quiet breath.

    She placed a hand on her big chest, feeling the smooth, steady flow of spiritual energy circulating within her. a tiny smile appeared on her lips as she said, "I finally did it and It only requires focus and a calm heart."

    "The fruit''s effects were stronger than I expected... Without it, I might have failed again."

    For a moment she closed her eyes, trying to feel what she had achieved. For the first time in years, her body and mind were in perfect harmony.

    A sense of fulfillment washed over her, but a lingering thought remained. "I wonder how long this peace will last," she murmured.

    Curious, Su Mei decided to examine her spiritual core, where she had felt the energy from the fruit gather. She guided her spiritual energy inward, allowing it to flow through her meridians and into her core. But as she focused, something unexpected caught her attention.

    Her spiritual core was resonating with a steady rhythm, sending calming waves throughout her body once more. Su Mei frowned slightly and concentrated harder. That''s when her eyes widened in shock. Inside her core, a tiny life form was forming.

    What is this? How is this possible? Her mind raced with questions. Cultivator women could easily block pregnancy through spiritual energy, and there had been no such event to even suggest this. Yet the life inside her was undeniably there.

    The small, growing presence absorbed spiritual energy from her core and returned it as soothing waves that calmed her mind.

    Su Mei placed a trembling hand over her stomach, her thoughts filled with worry. This was no ordinary event¡ªit was something beyond her understanding.

    Su Mei''s face turned cold as anger flared inside her. How could this happen? she thought. If her father or the other disciples found out, it would be a disaster.

    The tiny life form inside her core was rapidly taking shape, resembling a baby. Though it didn''t seem to hinder her cultivation yet, who could say for certain it wasn''t some sort of parasite or other malicious force?

    As these thoughts spiraled in her mind, her core emitted another wave of calm energy, forcing her racing heart to slow. She gritted her teeth, frustrated at her inability to stay angry. "I need to find Lin Chen," she muttered, clenching her fists.

    But as soon as her frustration surged, another calming wave spread through her, making it impossible to hold onto the emotion.

    Su Mei opened the stone door and ran out into the night without hesitation. She didn''t need a flying sword because she was at the Vine Fusion Realm. She was now travelling at full speed to Lin Chen''s cave.

    After ten minutes...

    She landed in front of the stone door of Lin Chen''s cave. Without wasting time, she shouted, "Lin Chen, come out! I have something important to discuss with you!"

    Instead, a weak and panicked voice came from inside. "Senior Sister¡­ Help me! Help me!"

    Su Mei got worried hearing Lin Chen''s voice and immediately used spiritual energy to push the stone door aside.

    Looking inside, she found Lin Chen lying on his bed with a painful expression on his face. His body was soaked in sweat, and he held his stomach. His whole body shook wildly, He cried out in desperation, like a woman going into labour.

    "Senior Sister¡­ help¡­" he groaned, his voice weak and rough. His bloodshot eyes looked at the door Su Mei in desperation.

    "Something''s inside me¡­ It''s trying to come out of my stomach, but it can''t find a way. It feels like my stomach is going to burst open if it doesn''t find a way out! Please¡­ take it out of my stomach."

    Su Mei''s thoughts raced. Her experience of the sight before her was unusual. The pain and hardship he was going through were similar to childbirth, yet it was unbelievable that a man was experiencing it.

    She was shocked and asked, "How is this possible?" But looking at Lin Chen in pain she thought, No time for questions. I have to act now.

    Her beautiful blue robe fluttered as she straightened her posture. She lifted her thin hand and called forth a sword from her spatial ring. The blade of the weapon glows dimly with spiritual force. She also took out a set of pills and healing medicines and put them nearby.

    "Hold on, Junior Brother Lin, I''ll take care of this."

    Lin Chen could barely nod, his pale face contorted in pain.

    She channeled spiritual energy through her hands, to examine Lin Chen''s abdomen. Her hand controlled the energy carefully and as her energy probed deeper, she detected the presence of a small, growing life. Her heart skipped a beat, but she kept her expression calm and composed.

    She then slashed her sword lightly through the fabric of his robe, exposing Lin Chen''s abdomen.

    She gently positioned the blade above his stomach and cut precisely, using spiritual force to stop the blood flow before it could spread.

    Su Mei stayed focused as Lin Chen cried in pain and trembled slightly. Her spiritual force covered the wound, forming a layer of protection and closing the surrounding veins.

    She worked carefully, her firm hands guiding the sword deepe. Slowly she exposed the lifeform within Lin chen. She said to herself, "Almost there." I have to take it out as soon as possible.

    Despite her efforts to block the bleeding, she couldn''t prevent the pain, and Lin Chen''s screams echoed through the cave. At first, Su Mei frowned, frustrated. Why is he crying so much? Isn''t this the same man who bragged about surviving countless dangerous missions?

    However, her core sended calming energy, soothing her anger. Taking a deep breath, she regained her composure and focused entirely on the task at hand.

    Su Mei then used spiritual energy to lift the small life form out of Lin Chen''s stomach. She was confused as the fragile figure of a baby girl appeared out. The child was tiny, around ? of the size of a human hand with smooth, golden eyes. Though completely hairless.

    Su Mei placed the crying baby on a clean surface nearby and as she didn''t dare to touch it, wrapping it in a spare cloth she summoned from her spatial ring. Her movements were quick as she turned her focus back to Lin Chen.

    She then channeled spiritual energy into his body to stabilize his condition. She applied a layer of medicinal paste to his wound to stop bleeding and heal the wound. Next, she put a healing pill in Lin Chen''s mouth and used spiritual energy to help him swallow it.

    Within a minute,

    Lin Chen''s breathing stabilized, the tension in his body easing as the pain subsided. His face, though still pale, showed signs of relief. Su Mei exhaled quietly, her sharp focus softening slightly as her attention shifted to the crying baby.

    The newborn let out cries, its voice echoing and filling the cave with a noise. Su Mei''s unease deepened as she looked at the baby. What kind of creature is this? Why does it look so human? she wondered.

    Suddenly, a familiar calming wave pulsed through her core, soothing her racing mind. She closed her eyes briefly, centering herself as the strange energy settled her unease.

    Her purple gaze instinctively dropped to her own stomach for a fleeting moment before returning to the baby. Do I have to give birth too?

    She shook her head and sealed the baby''s mouth with spiritual energy to quiet its cries. unwilling to dwell on the matter any further. For now, she simply waited for Lin Chen to regain consciousness and answer her questions.

    When he finally opened his eyes, he saw Su Mei standing nearby, her gaze cold and unwavering. Embarrassed, he lowered his head slightly.

    "Senior Sister, thank you for saving me," he murmured, his voice laced with shame.

    Before Su Mei could ask any questions, the baby suddenly started laughing, "Ah ah ah!" Su Mei furrowed her brows as the spiritual energy she had used to quiet the baby was absorbed directly by it.

    It felt as though the baby had just eaten food and was now content.

    Lin Chen stared in confusion. "Senior Sister¡­ how is the baby eating spiritual energy like that?"

    Ignoring his question, Su Mei turned to him, her gaze cold and piercing. In a sharp tone, she demanded, "Lin Chen, explain yourself! How did you end up pregnant? And what is the origin of this baby?"

 Mission

    Lin Chen''s face turned pale, and he stammered, "S-Senior Sister, I truly don''t know! I think it might have been because of that mysterious fruit. I had no idea something like this would happen¡ªI only thought it would help with cultivation."

    "Now that the effect has worn off, my cultivation feels the same, but my spiritual energy is completely drained."

    "It''s slowly recovering, but that''s why I couldn''t handle this myself. If I had enough spiritual energy, it would''ve been much easier, at most I''d probably just be a little tired, given my current Realm."

    Su Mei folded her arms and glared at him. "Where did you even find such a fruit?"

    Lin Chen looked nervous but finally spoke, "It happened during my last mission. I found a tree that emitted a mysterious aura. I went to look around and saw two fruits suddenly growing out from their branches."

    "Curious, I picked one and ate it, and instantly felt my meditation improve. I decided to bring the other fruit for you, Senior Sister, knowing you were struggling with your cultivation."

    He hesitated before continuing, "But¡­ after I took the second fruit, the tree withered and crumbled into nothing within moments. At the time, I thought it was just some mysterious phenomenon."

    "However, I now have a theory. Maybe the tree was seeking a host and could only produce two fruits in its lifetime and as for why it bore fruit as I passed by, I don''t know."

    "And why I, as a man, gave birth to a baby girl instead of something resembling the tree is beyond me." He looked away, his expression filled with embarrassment.

    Su Mei''s anger flared. This idiot! He thought he was eating something good, but he didn''t even stop to think about what the fruit was! She clenched her fists, glaring at Lin Chen.

    "Do you even realize what you''ve done, Lin Chen? You''ve put both of us in an impossible situation. If anyone finds out, the whole sect will mock us, and my reputation will be ruined!"

    Lin Chen flinched at her words but asked hesitantly, "Senior Sister¡­ Did you also eat the fruit?"

    Su Mei froze for a moment, her mind racing. Then she quickly said, "No. I didn''t. I was planning to investigate it first. Now that I know what it does, I don''t intend to eat it at all."

    She avoided Lin Chen''s gaze as she spoke, her calm demeanor hiding the storm of emotions within her. She turned her back to him, her hands trembling slightly. What am I going to do now? She thought.

    Lin Chen noticed Su Mei''s cultivation aura. It was slightly unstable, likely due to her recent breakthrough. His sharp senses picked up on the faint traces of advanced spiritual energy around her. With a small smile, he said, "Senior Sister, don''t worry. I know you''ve probably eaten the fruit. If you need my help when the time comes, I''ll assist you."

    Su Mei''s face darkened, her anger flaring up. "I told you, I didn''t eat it!" she snapped. Without giving him a chance to respond, she turned and stormed out of the cave, her robes billowing as she moved.

    "Senior Sister, if you ever need my help, make sure to call me!" Lin Chen shouted after her retreating figure, his voice echoing in the quiet night.

    As the door closed again, Lin Chen turned his attention to the baby on the ground. Using a gentle thread of spiritual energy, he brought the child closer to himself. The baby giggled happily, as she wiggled in the air.

    Lin Chen sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Now what am I supposed to do with you?" he muttered. "Should I throw you away? No, that''d be too cruel¡­" He frowned, pacing back and forth as he thought. Finally, he let out a deep sigh, "Alright, fine. I''ll take care of you."

    He looked at the baby''s look and golden eyes and smiled faintly. "But what should I call you?" After a moment of thought, he said, "Since you''re a girl, let''s go with¡­ Lin Yue. Yes, Lin Yue will be your name."

    The baby giggled again, seemingly happy with the name. Lin Chen gave her a half-smile and shook his head. "I hope you don''t turn into a monster and eat me," he joked, though a small part of him wondered what mysteries this child might bring into his life.

    Ten minutes later...

    Su Mei returned to her cave, her mind full of thoughts. Worry came and went like waves, crashing against her resolve before receding. What should I do with this child? Should I kill it?

    The idea crossed her mind, but before she could even fully consider it, an unfamiliar sensation washed over her¡ªan instinct she didn''t recognize as her own. It was as though her body, her very being, rebelled against the thought of harming the baby.

    Her brows furrowed as she sat down. Why do I feel this way? she wondered. Su Mei had never been particularly kind or nurturing.

    She had often abused her father''s influence as an inner sect elder, using his authority to intimidate others and gain advantages. Compassion had never been her strong suit. Yet, here she was, unable to bring herself to even think of harming this unborn life.

    "I don''t want to kill a baby," she muttered to herself, shaking her head. "But what should I do?" She moved around the room, in thoughts. Finally, she came to a decision.

    "I''ll leave the sect for now. I''ll take on a mission far from here and figure things out after the birth. Once it''s born, I''ll decide whether to keep it or¡­" She hesitated, unable to finish the thought.

    Su Mei clenched her fists. This thing is affecting my emotions too much, she thought bitterly. The calming energy radiating from her core was influencing her mind, consuming her spiritual energy and keeping her unnaturally calm.

    Without wasting time, she made her way to the mission hall.

    Disciples were choosing assignments to acquire resources and contribution points in the busy mission hall. As missions were issued, the air was filled with the waves of spiritual energy and the hum of conversation.

    Notices describing missions ranging from easy chores like gathering herbs to dangerous missions needing teamwork were posted on the walls. Uncle Fang, the overseer of the mission hall, sat in the middle of the room.

    He was a big, round-faced, chubby man who was well-known for his humble nature and sharp vision. He was appointed to the hall by the sect head himself, and despite his humble nature, everyone knew he was a skilled cultivator.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    Su Mei walked toward Uncle Fang, her graceful movements drawing the attention of nearby disciples. Her reputation preceded her¡ªnot only was she beautiful, with her long, dark purple hair and striking purple eyes, but she was also the daughter of an inner sect elder.

    Many whispered about her, saying she often used her father''s influence to get her way.

    Though she never forced anyone, it was well known that she rarely went on missions herself, instead relying on others eager to earn her favor.

    Those who offended her often disappeared mysteriously, though she never openly provoked anyone. Her presence commanded both awe and wariness.

    Uncle Fang smiled but tilted his head in curiosity. "Niece Mei, what brought you here today? And Congratulations on breaking through the late stage of Vein Fusion Realm."

    Su Mei nodded politely, concealing her internal conflict. "I''m grateful, Uncle Fang. I am looking for a mission, Something simple and far away, preferably in the mortal world."

    Uncle Fang said in confusion. "The mortal world? Niece Mei, isn''t that troublesome? You''ve just broken through. Shouldn''t you stay here and stabilize your cultivation first? I can sense uneven spiritual waves coming from you. It could affect weaker people nearby or make others your enemy."

    Su Mei maintained her composure. "That''s exactly why I need to go, Uncle. I plan to stabilize my cultivation while away, and the mortal world is a good place for that. There''s no danger, and I won''t make any enemies there."

    Uncle Fang stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I see your reasoning, but are you sure? These days, many people in the mortal world pretend to be ordinary, only to reveal themselves as pig eating tigers. You might find yourself in unnecessary trouble."

    "Don''t worry, Uncle Fang," Su Mei said, her tone firm but polite. "I''ll be careful, and you can choose a mission that''s unlikely to draw attention."

    Uncle Fang sighed heavily. "Alright, if you insist. But be cautious, Niece Mei. You may have broken through, but it''s still better to avoid unnecessary risks."

    He turned to the mission board, scanning it for a suitable task. After a moment, he pulled out a scroll and handed it to Su Mei.

    "So, the mission is to pick up the new disciples that the low-ranked mortal clan finds every five years in the mortal territory. Normally, this is assigned to outer hall disciples, but since you''re looking for something safe and easy, it''s a good choice."

    "The southern territory has mostly harsh spiritual energy making cultivation difficult. As a result, it''s unlikely that any strong cultivators reside there, so the risk should be minimal.$

    "It''ll also give you time to stabilize your spiritual energy. With your cultivation level, the task of bringing those disciples here should take no more than 2 months, Niece Mei."

    Su Mei took the scroll and bowed slightly. "Thank you, Uncle Fang. I''ll make sure to complete this mission without issue."

    Uncle Fang nodded, though his expression remained slightly concerned, if something happened to her then who is going to face her father. "Be safe, Niece Mei. Remember, the mortal world can be unpredictable. Don''t let your guard down."

    "I won''t," Su Mei replied before turning and leaving the mission hall.

    As she walked away, she unrolled the scroll to read the mission details, her mind already calculating her next steps. This will give me the time and space I need, she thought.

    Once I''m far enough from the sect, I''ll figure out what to do next.

    After an hour¡­

    At the majestic gate of the sect, stood Su Mei. A huge range of mountains, each covered with clouds and filled with spiritual energy, extended beyond the gate. With its flowing waterfalls, floating relics and busy members honing their skills, the sect itself was a work of art.

    She looked back one last time. Having been born and raised inside the sect''s protective walls, it was her first time leaving in 200 years. She had not gone on any missions because of her father''s overprotectiveness, after her mother died in a mission, but now things were different.

    She was now a strong cultivator at the late stage of the Vein Fusion Realm, standing outside the sect, summoning her flying boat from her storage ring. The boat is crafted from dark jade with a complex golden rune on it.

    It had a small room area enclosed in an energy barrier, shielding it from wind and spiritual disturbances. The boat hovered in the sky, as it absorbed spiritual energy from the stones placed in its core.

    Stepping onto the boat, Su Mei directed it forward. The boat glided smoothly through the clouds, its energy-efficient design allowing her to conserve her spiritual power.

    She avoided Cultivation cities and sect territories, knowing that flying through their areas without permission could create unnecessary conflicts.

    As she moved further south, the landscape began to change. Dense forests and fertile lands gave way to rocky mountains, dry valleys, and sparse greenery. The soft spiritual energy in the air got thinner, marking her entry into the southern territory.

    Days turned into weeks as Su Mei traveled. During this time, she noticed small changes in her body. Her stomach had begun to swell, she put a hand on her abdomen, to feel the lifeform inside of her.

    Unlike Lin Chen''s experience, her pregnancy was like a normal woman, she didn''t need to cut her stomach open.

    Also, over the past few days, she had been studying through books about childbirth and observing mortal women in the southern territory who were giving birth.

    Su Mei''s eyes were fixed on the wide Southern Territory as she stood at the edge of her flying boat. She saw that only a few plants, such as the Bloodthorn Vine and Voidroot Cactus, could survive here due to harsh spiritual energy present in this region.

    Her dark purple hair fluttered in the wind, and her hands gently rested on her swollen belly. She felt that the time for giving birth was near.

    According to the map imprinted in her memory, Su Mei knew a small city was nearby. Without hesitation, she adjusted the boat''s direction.

    The boat responded immediately, flying in the direction of the city.

    After a few minutes, as she got closer to the city, a view of the little community surrounded by decaying sandstone walls appeared more decorative than defensive.

    Is this really meant to keep enemies out? she wondered, her eyes scanning the faded carvings on the walls.

    The city was as simple as inside it the buildings of stone and mud bricks stood close together, their flat roofs built to endure the relentless heat. Narrow, winding streets wove through the settlement, alive with the daily movements of mortals going about their routines.

    Slowing the boat, She guided the boat downward, landing smoothly on the sandy ground a kilometer away from the city. As the boat settled, the dry wind brushed against its surface.

    Su Mei stepped off the boat, her feet sinking slightly into the golden sand. The sand swirled around her blue shoes, briefly revealing her smooth, jade-like ankles before her flowing sect robes settled elegantly around her legs.

    She raised her hand, and with a simple flick, the flying boat shrank instantly, disappearing into the small blue crystal embedded in the golden ring on her finger.

    From her spatial ring, she retrieved a plain grey cloak, its fabric light yet sturdy, with faint glowing runes along the edges¡ªcrafted to conceal the presence.

    She wore the cloak and pulled the hood over her head, letting it drape over her sect robes. Adjusting it carefully, she tied the cloak around her waist before covering her face with a thin white veil, covering all but her purple eyes.

    Then Su Mei moved swiftly through the sky in city direction, to keep her presence concealed, she descended into a quiet corner of the city. Her landing was light, barely disturbing the dust on the cracked stone pavement.

    Next, Su Mei observed the nearby market through her spiritual sense, she saw mortals exchanging metal coins for goods at various stalls and shops. So they don''t use spiritual stones here¡­ the realization made her pause.

    In the sect, wealth was measured in spiritual resources, but here you need metal thing''s.

    Wanting to avoid unnecessary trouble, she decided to search for hidden metal wealth. Su Mei extended her spiritual energy carefully, scanning cracks in walls, the floors of stalls, and hidden shop compartments.

    After finding little, she pushed her spiritual energy further in search of hidden treasures. However, due to her unstable cultivation, she suddenly lost control of her energy and sent the strong spiritual waves in random directions.

    At a nearby fruit stall, a middle-aged vendor suddenly stiffened, his eyes rolling back before his body collapsed onto the wooden stand, knocking over baskets of fresh fruits.

    A woman carrying her child stopped a mid-step, her knees giving out as she fell to the ground. The child slipped from her hand, hitting his head on the dirt road. His cries pierced the air, sharp and panicked.

    Near a well, a group of children played joyfully, their laughter filling the streets, until one boy, at mid-jump, suddenly froze and crashed onto the stone pavement. His friends stood frozen, their innocent faces twisting in horror before they erupted into terrified screams.

    The city, once bustling with noise and life, was now filled with chaos and confusion.

    Shouts rang out as people rushed to check on the fallen, their expressions shifting from concern to dread. Whispers of fear spread like wildfire. A curse? A hidden killer? Panic filled the air.

    Su Mei stood motionless, watching the scene unfold with a calm, detached gaze. There was no guilt in her eyes¡ªonly cold acceptance.

    Life and death are merely part of this world, she thought indifferently.

    Once, she might have felt pity for mortals caught in the crossfire of a cultivator''s power. But after 200 years, that sympathy had long since faded.

    Weakness is a sin.

    However, as she observed the city''s growing alarm, irritation flickered in her eyes. I was careless¡­ I need to avoid unnecessary trouble. If anyone from the sect realizes I''m here and I am pregnant, my reputation will be ruined.

    She swiftly retracted her spiritual energy, suppressing her presence to avoid further deaths.

    The city is already on high alert¡­ I need a different way to cover my expenses here.

    Her mind worked quickly, searching for a new plan.

    Without wasting time, she reached into her storage ring, retrieving a pair of gold earrings gifted by her junior sister. The earrings shone under the sunlight. At the center of each earring, a small jade gem sparkled, adding to their already impressive value.

    These should be enough to make a quick trade and avoid suspicion, she thought.

    With a flick of her sleeve, Su Mei concealed the earrings within her hand. No distractions now. I need to finish this quietly and disappear.

    With the earrings in hand, Su Mei stepped out into the bustling market. The streets were crowded with people, many covering their faces with cloth to protect themselves from the harsh desert winds.

    The market was lively, filled with merchants shouting prices, customers bargaining, and the scent of spices and cooked meat lingering in the dry air.

    She walked toward a large, well-established shop, its sturdy wooden frame and decorative banners setting it apart from the smaller stalls around it.

    The moment she entered, a staff member approached her, his expression shifting to caution.

    He knows that People who concealed themselves like her were usually here for big transactions¡ªeither selling valuable goods or making expensive purchases.

    The staff member, a thin man with sharp brown eyes and dark hair tied back neatly, bowed slightly. "Miss, are you here to sell or buy?"

    "To sell," Su Mei responded calmly.

    The man nodded and gestured for her to follow. "Please, this way."

    He led her to a private area where a middle-aged man sat behind a counter, inspecting a piece of jewelry through a magnifying glass.

    This was Manager Xu, the store''s chief appraiser. He had graying hair, sharp blue eyes, and wore fine silk robes with a single jade ring on his left hand, marking his status.

 V 2 End | Baby out & Basic Cultivation Realm

    Manager Xu asked, "What do you want to sell miss?"

    As he looked at Su Mei, who was covered in a cloak and veil, only her striking purple eyes were visible. However, despite her slim frame, her unusually large stomach caught his attention. He quickly deduced that this woman was pregnant, but why was she alone?

    Before he could think further, Su Mei stepped closer and placed the gold earrings on the counter. The moment Manager Xu picked them up, his experienced fingers traced the metal, and his brows lifted in surprise.

    Blood Sun Gold¡­ he thought, recognizing the rare material. The craftsmanship was exquisite, and the gold alone made it worth at least 10,000 gold coins! He glanced at the woman before him, but her veil concealed her expression.

    Keeping his voice steady, he said, "Well, these are quite good¡­ I can offer you 100 gold coins."

    Su Mei nodded without hesitation.

    Manager Xu nearly dropped the earrings. Is she serious?! He had expected her to bargain, but she simply accepted his offer. Hiding his excitement, he turned to a nearby young girl dressed in simple linen robes. "Xiao Lan, bring 100 gold coins."

    Xiao Lan, a petite girl with long black hair and bright green eyes, quickly brought over a small bag of gold coins. Manager Xu handed it to Su Mei with a polite smile. "Here you go, miss. It was a pleasure doing business with you."

    Su Mei took the bag, nodded slightly, and left without another word.

    Manager Xu watched Su Mei''s departing figure, his sharp eyes gleaming with interest. He signaled his assistant to alert the Black Viper Gang is one of the most notorious criminal groups in the scorchwind city.

    A rich pregnant woman selling her jewelry?He chuckled inwardly. She must be ignorant of how dangerous this place is. Countless criminals and even rogue cultivators lurk in the southern region. Someone like her is an easy target.

    Despite his composed expression, excitement flickered in his eyes. The earrings she sold were no ordinary trinkets.

    He was certain they were a pair of the Blood Sun God Earrings, crafted by the legendary master artisan Yan Wujin. If he could obtain the other earring from her, the value would triple instantly.

    A foolish woman walking into a den of wolves, he mused, a sly smirk forming on his lips.

    As she walked out, she clenched her stomach. The pain was steadily growing. Although she was blocking the baby from coming out using spiritual energy, it was quickly draining her reserves.

    The Azure Sky Sect had soft, refined spiritual energy that nourished the body, making recovery easy.

    But here, in the harsh Southern Territory . The energy was dense and rough, difficult to absorb. Each step she took made it clearer that her spiritual energy was running out faster than she could replenish it.

    She spotted an inn nearby and made her way there.

    The inn''s entrance was simple, with a wooden sign swaying gently in the wind. Inside, the manager, a middle-aged man with short black hair, a round face, and dark brown eyes was seated behind the counter, watching people enter and leave. The scent of roasted meat and cheap wine filled the air.

    Seeing Su Mei approach, he greeted her with a wide smile. "Welcome! Are you here to stay or to eat? A night''s stay is 1 silver coin. A meal with wine is 10 bronze coins."

    "Stay," Su Mei answered and pulled out a gold coin.

    The manager''s eyes widened in excitement. A single gold coin was worth 100 silver coins! Trying to maintain his composure, he turned and shouted, "Xiao Rui! Show this lady to a VIP room!"

    Xiao Rui, a tall young man with short, messy brown hair and gray eyes, hurried over. He wore a simple beige tunic and bowed slightly before gesturing toward the staircase. "Please, follow me."

    Su Mei walked upstairs, her steps steady despite the increasing pain. Upon reaching the room, she took out another gold coin and handed it to Xiao Rui.

    His eyes shone with gratitude. "Thank you, miss! If you need anything, just call me."

    Once the door closed behind her, Su Mei''s expression darkened. She could sense several people tracking her ever since she left the shop. Her patience ran out.

    With a cold look in her purple eyes, she released a wave of spiritual energy in their direction.

    Outside, in a hidden alley, five figures who had been lurking in the shadows suddenly froze, their bodies convulsing as blood gushed from their mouths. Within seconds, they collapsed, lifeless.

    The sudden deaths once again sent waves of fear through the city. People whispered in hushed voices, some fleeing the streets while others hurriedly shut their gates. Panic spread like wildfire, this was the second time such a thing had happened.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    Su Mei sighed. I should have destroyed that shop too, but why did I even come to this city? I could have given birth outside or on the boat and threw the baby away. Why go through all this trouble just to abandon the baby later?

    But before she could dwell on these thoughts, a strange calmness washed over her, pushing away the dark impulses.

    Just then, another wave of pain surged through her body, making her tremble. I don''t have much time left¡­

    She quickly took out a protective device from her spatial ring. A glowing jade talisman covered in complex runes. Activating it, a soft, translucent barrier formed around the bed, ensuring that no one could enter while she was vulnerable.

    Without hesitation, she spread a large number of spiritual stones around herself, their rich energy seeping into the air. She then took two pills, one for pain relief and another to recover spiritual energy. Both were of the highest quality.

    Almost instantly, a soothing warmth spread through her body. The unbearable pain dulled, and her drained spiritual energy began replenishing at a rapid pace.

    Su Mei exhaled, gripping the edge of the bed tightly. The baby is coming¡­ I need to focus.

    Su Mei took a deep breath as she stood next to the bed, calming herself.

    Then, she unclasped her grey cloak, her long, silky purple hair flowed out from her shoulders as the heavy fabric slid off.

    Moments later, she took off her veil revealing her beautiful red lips, She then reached for her outer robe''s sash and pulled it loose.

    Once tightly wrapped around her slim figure, her blue robe slipped from her shoulders, pooling softly at her feet.

    Then, she loosened her white inner robe, allowing it to slide down her frame before it, too, gathered at her feet.

    Lowering herself onto the bed''s edge, she reached down to remove her shoes, embroidered in silk slippers. She slipped them off one by one, revealing her smooth, soft feet against the cool floor.

    With quiet resolve, she stood again, her fingers finding the ties of her last layer of clothing. Her purple undergarments, light and thin like a second skin, were the only barrier left.

    Slowly, she loosened them, letting the fabric slide down the length of her jade legs until they, too, joined the pile of discarded garments.

    Su Mei now only wore the pieces of purple jewelry. It was an intricately carved purple jade pendant resting just above her collarbone, hanging from a fine gold chain around her neck.

    On her wrists, she wore a pair of thin jade bangles, their smooth surfaces cool against her skin.

    A small, ornate anklet encircled her right ankle, a fine gold chain inlaid with tiny purple gemstones, these were a gift from her mother, since then she never removed them.

    It was finally time she thought as she placed her hand on her belly.

    She had been holding back the birth using her spiritual energy, but now the baby was pushing harder, eager to come out. Tsk, impatient thing, she thought.

    Then she sat on the bed in squat Position Activating a secret art, she controlled her bones, shifting them slightly to ease the process.

    Her pelvic bones widened, and her body naturally adjusted. With a final push, enhanced by spiritual energy, the baby slid out smoothly.

    --------

    Su Mei glanced down at the newborn, it was a boy. His small body was covered in a sticky, translucent fluid, his tiny chest rising and falling as he took his first breaths.

    Though slightly exhausted, Su Mei barely felt any pain. A quick cleansing spell followed, removing all traces of blood and fluid from both of them.

    Then she sat in a meditative position to restore her drained energy, the baby remained silent.

    After 10 minutes..

    Unlike Lin Chen''s child, this one did not cry right away, only making soft sounds like, "Ahh¡­ Aha¡­ Ooh¡­ Ba¡­" as if trying to speak.

    When Su Mei reopened her eyes, she found the baby''s golden gaze wandering around, full of confusion.

    Her purple eyes narrowed.

    A sharp, dagger-like blade of pure spiritual energy formed at the tip of her finger. Without hesitation, she placed it against the newborn''s soft neck.

    A single flick, and it would be over.

    The baby blinked, seemingly afraid and started crying.

    Su Mei stared at the child for a long moment, then sighed, withdrawing the energy blade. "I''ll spare you¡­ You are like my own child, after all."

    She wasn''t sure if this was a strange fate or some trick of destiny. But one thing was clear, this child had played a role in her breakthrough to the late stage and if she kills him she probably will never be able to break through.

    Since you helped me in breakthrough I will spare you for now and, I''ll leave you something as well so at least you won''t die for a while, consider this as a favour.

    Then she took out her jade pendant from her neck and placed it around the baby''s neck. The baby had already stopped crying and was looking at Su Mei with curious, confused eyes.

    She carefully adjusted the thin, flexible chain, ensuring it sat securely.

    Su Mei then stood up and first reached for her purple undergarments, sliding them up her smooth, fair legs.

    She then pulled them over her hips, adjusting the fit before securing the laces at the back with a help of spiritual energy.

    Her body had already regained its slim form, as if she was never pregnant.

    Next, she picked up her inner robe, shaking it lightly before putting it over her shoulders and tying it around her waist.

    Next, she retrieved her outer robe, lifting it and wrapping it around herself, then tying the sash firmly around her waist.

    After ensuring her robes were properly adjusted, she reached for her veil and gray cloak, folding them neatly and placing it inside her spatial ring.

    Along with it, she stored the scattered spiritual stones, the protective device, and any other items she had used. Once everything was in order, she took a deep breath, composing herself for what was to come next.

    After that, she removed the protective barrier.

    Standing up, she placed a small bag filled with 98 gold coins beside the baby. With a flick of her fingers, she formed a message using spiritual energy and imprinted it onto a nearby wooden board.

    "Take care of the baby. Use this money, it should be enough for a while"

    Then, she opened the window with a slight wave of her spiritual energy and rushed outside, vanishing into the sky at full speed.

    As Su Mei soared through the air, the wind rushing past her, a sudden memory surfaced in her mind of her junior sister, Li Xue.

    Li Xue had always admired beautiful things and had once gifted Su Mei a delicate earrings, saying, Senior Sister, this will look lovely on you!

    Though Su Mei had accepted it with a nod, she had never worn it. Thinking of her now, an unfamiliar warmth flickered in her chest.

    Her expression darkened. That fool still has my earring. I should retrieve it.

    Then, Su Mei moved like a shadow, silently appearing inside the shop. It was daytime, and the streets outside were bustling, but inside the dimly lit room, Manager Xu sat alone at his desk, greedily admiring the earring in his hand.

    If I can find the other one¡­ The price will skyrocket! he thought, unaware of the danger lurking behind him.

    Before he could sense anything, a thin thread of spiritual energy pierced the back of his head. His body stiffened, eyes widening in shock.

    Blood trickled from his nose, then his ears, but no sound escaped his lips. In an instant, he was dead, his body slumping forward onto the desk.

    The ink bottle beside him tipped over, its dark liquid mixing with the growing pool of blood.

    Su Mei reached out, taking the earring from his lifeless fingers. Without a second glance, she vanished just as silently as she had arrived, retreating unnoticed into the bright daylight outside.

    Just then, footsteps echoed from the hallway. The door opened, and Xiao Lan, one of the shop''s assistants, stepped inside.

    "Manager, " Her voice caught in her throat.

    Her eyes widened in horror. Manager Xu was slumped over his desk, blood dripping onto the wooden floor.

    Her breath hitched. H-he''s dead?! But Who killed him?

    Meanwhile, high above the city, Su Mei summoned her flying boat. She stepped on it and with a flick of her wrist, the boat shot forward at full speed.

    Her gaze remained fixed ahead. There was no need to look back. She also had a sect mission to complete.

    _____________________

    End of Volume 2. I hope you can give some reviews now ??.....

    BASIC CULTIVATION REALM

    ---

    1. Seed Awakening Realm

    2. Iron Pulse Realm

    3. Elemental Bloom Realm

    4. Vein Fusion Realm

    5. Spirit Anchor Realm

    More will be common soon...

    ---

    NOTES:

    - These Realms are universal basics¡ªmost sects use similar stages.

    - Some additional details about each realm, such as how the breakthrough feels and other specifics, will be added later.

    -Also, each realm is further divided into four stages: Early, Mid, Late, and Peak stages.

    LIFESPAN INCREMENT ON EACH REALM ¨C

    1. Seed Awakening Realm

    Lifespan Added: +30¨C50 years (total: ~110¨C150 years).

    2. Iron Pulse Realm

    Lifespan Added: +50¨C70 years (total: ~160¨C220 years).

    3. Elemental Bloom Realm

    Lifespan Added: +80¨C100 years (total: ~240¨C320 years).

    4. Vein Fusion Realm

    Lifespan Added: +100¨C150 years (total: ~340¨C470 years).

    5. Spirit Anchor Realm

    Lifespan Added: +150¨C200 years (total: 500¨C600 years at peak).

    ---

    NOTE:

    - More detailed version will be coming soon....

 Currpted System Activating

    Zane was feeling peaceful, lost in a deep dream. Everything felt calm and warm, as if he were floating in a quiet world.

    But one day, a familiar figure of a sexy woman with green eyes and black hair appeared in his dream, it was Maya.

    "Save me, Zane!" she cried desperately.

    Zane''s eyes widened. Maya looked terrified, her body trembling as if she were trapped in something beyond her control. Then, a cold, mocking laughter echoed through the dream.

    Then a woman who had brown hair and black eyes said, "Hahaha¡­ Zane¡­ You can''t save her."

    "Diana."

    Zane''s heart pounded as Diana''s sinister voice filled his mind. Maya''s green eyes darkened, and before he could react, Diana raised a weapon and fired.

    Bang!

    A sharp pain shot through him. He gasped, struggling to move, but his body wouldn''t respond.

    Suddenly, everything went dark.

    Zane''s consciousness stirred. He wasn''t dreaming anymore. He was awake¡­ but something was wrong.

    His body felt trapped, wrapped in warmth, yet restricted. He tried to open his eyes, but it was impossible.

    Where¡­ am I?

    He attempted to move his arms, but they wouldn''t move. Then he tried his legs, but the result was the same¡ªhe couldn''t move them either.

    Panic set in. He could feel himself breathing, but he was enclosed in something soft, yet tight.

    I have to get out!

    He struggled, pushing against the strange walls surrounding him. But they wouldn''t budge. His instincts kicked in, and before he knew it, his mouth opened and started eating down the thing which was blocking his path.

    A strange texture filled his mouth. He swallowed it, and for some reason, more of it kept coming. He kept eating, over and over, feeling full, but his path remained blocked.

    But he didn''t stop.

    After what felt like hours, a sudden shift occurred.

    The blockage that had been stopping him shifted around his legs and pushed him forward, sliding away.

    With a final push, he was thrown out.

    Zane landed on something soft. His small body trembled as he gasped for breath.

    He felt¡­ strange. His muscles were weak. His body was covered in a warm, sticky substance, but within seconds, it vanished, replaced by a cool, refreshing sensation.

    Slowly, he opened his eyes.

    Bright golden light flooded his vision.

    "Aah¡­ Aha¡­ Aho..."

    Strange sounds escaped his lips. His own voice felt unfamiliar, softer, weaker.

    As his blurry vision adjusted, he saw a figure in front of him¡ªa woman.

    A beautiful woman with long, flowing purple hair, sitting in a meditative posture. Her naked figure radiated a faint purple glow, her skin flawless, her features serene.

    Zane had never seen someone like her before.

    Who is she? And why is she meditating?

    His gaze moved around, trying to take in his surroundings. He noticed a golden, translucent barrier enclosing them. It shimmered, like a protective shield.

    His heart pounded. He tried to speak, but only soft, baby-like sounds came out.

    What''s happening? Why can''t I talk?!

    Confused, he tried to rub his eyes, but the moment he lifted his hands, he was shocked.

    His fingers were tiny. His arms¡­ short and chubby.

    What¡­ What is this?!

    He looked down at his body. His limbs were small. His skin was soft.

    His breathing quickened.

    No¡­ no way¡­

    A terrifying realization crept into his mind.

    He was in a baby''s body.

    What is happening?!

    Zean''s mind raced in confusion.

    Didn''t I die when Diana shot me? Why am I still alive? And¡­ why am I in a baby''s body?!

    His golden eyes darted toward the beautiful, naked woman still meditating in front of him.

    Is she¡­ my mother? But why is she meditating? And what''s that golden, translucent barrier around us? Some kind of magic? Is this real¡­ or am I still dreaming?

    Everything felt too vivid, too detailed to be just a dream. He looked around the room for more clues.

    The room was spacious, but not overly luxurious. The walls were made of solid rock and brick, their surfaces smooth yet showing signs of age.

    Intricate paintings and calligraphy scrolls hung on the walls, depicting ancient landscapes, celestial beings, and mystical symbols.

    The air carried a faint scent of burning incense, its source a small, ornately carved incense burner resting in the corner.

    The bed was covered in soft, dark-colored silk sheets, slightly wrinkled, with a thin but high-quality blanket folded neatly at the side.

    A single wooden table stood near the bed, holding a ceramic teapot and two cups, along with a few unlit candles.

    Everything about the room gave off a simple yet refined, showing wealth but not extreme luxury.

    Suddenly¡ª

    "Corrupted System is activating..."

    A voice echoed in his mind.

    Zane froze. Who said that?!The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    His eyes widened as he looked around. Other than the meditating woman, there was no one else in the room.

    "Hello?! Who''s talking?!" He tried to speak, but only baby-like sounds came out.

    Before he could process it, something dark purple and translucent appeared in front of him, a floating screen!

    It flickered like an old, unstable hologram, its words slightly distorted. At the top, large glowing letters read:

    CORRUPTED SYSTEM

    Below that, a loading bar was filling up:

    [Loading: 5%¡­]

    [Loading: 10%¡­]

    A thin, flickering line slowly moved across the screen, similar to a game loading screen.

    Zanw''s breath caught in his throat.

    "A¡­ system?! Like in games?!"

    His instincts kicked in, and he reached out to touch it, but his tiny hands passed right through.

    It''s not physical?

    The loading continued. 15%¡­ 25%¡­ 50%¡­

    Each second felt like an eternity.

    Finally, after five minutes, the bar hit 100%.

    [System Successfully Loaded]

    A new screen appeared, displaying information:

    ---

    CORRUPTED SYSTEM

    Name: Zean (Changeable)

    Age: 0/20

    Cultivation: None

    Skills: None

    System Features:

    - Corrupts every technique, cultivation method, and skill host practices

    - Prevents all harmful side effects of corrupted techniques

    - Corrupted techniques are more lethal but are weak against Divine techniques

    Missions:

    Main Mission: Find and capture the lost system assistant and return it to the system.

    Reward: Unlock additional system features + obtain System Assistant

    Temporary (Once-in-a-Lifetime) Mission: Join a sect

    Reward: Gain a Corrupted Divine Body related to the sect chosen.

    ---

    As Zane read through the details on the floating screen, he immediately noticed something.

    His name was the same as his previous life, but there was an option to change it.

    Changeable? Why would I need to change my name? Am I supposed to start a new identity?

    Then, his eyes moved to the age section.

    Age: 0/20

    He frowned.

    Zero makes sense since I''m a baby¡­ but what does 20 mean? Does it mean I''ll only live for 20 years?

    A chill ran down his spine.

    That''s way too short! What kind of messed-up system is this?!

    He tried complaining.

    "Hey, System! Why is my lifespan only 20 years?!"

    But¡­ no response.

    A deep frown settled on his face.

    So, it only talks when it wants to? Useless.

    He sighed and moved on, reading the Cultivation section.

    Cultivation: None

    His brows furrowed.

    Cultivation? Isn''t that a farming term? Does this thing want me to become a farmer?!

    That didn''t make sense. But since there was no explanation, he couldn''t understand it right now.

    Skills: None

    Skills¡­? Like combat skills? Do farmer''s need skills, probably farming related skills?

    The more he read, the more confused he became.

    With a deep sigh, he moved on to the next section:

    ---

    System Features:

    - Corrupts every technique, cultivation method, and skill host practices

    - Prevents all harmful side effects of corrupted techniques

    - Corrupted techniques are more lethal but weak against Divine techniques

    ---

    Zane read it twice, then a third time.

    His expression darkened.

    The hell is this system even talking about?

    Corrupt every technique? So, it makes everything I learn¡­ what? Evil? Tainted? Twisted?

    And what''s this about techniques being more lethal but having a weakness against Divine techniques.

    He felt like he was reading a game description in a language he barely understood.

    Zane slapped his own cheek.

    Slap!

    A sharp sting spread across his skin.

    His eyes widened.

    "Ow. Okay, this is definitely not a game. That hurt."

    He sighed again.

    Damn it¡­ I wish I played more games in my past life. Maybe I''d understand all these weird terms better.

    But he never had time for things like games or entertainment.

    His entire life had been spent fighting, killing, training, and sleeping with women. That was all he knew.

    And now, he was stuck in a world with a lifespan of 20 years and a Cultivation system.

    Great. Just great.

    He continued reading.

    Missions:

    Main Mission: Find and capture the lost system assistant and return it to the system.

    Reward: Unlock additional system features + obtain System Assistant

    Zane''s eyes narrowed.

    So the system isn''t talking because its assistant is missing? The assistant is the one who normally does the talking?

    That means¡­ once I find it, I can actually ask questions.

    That made sense.

    This system assistant must be like an advanced AI¡­

    That realization made him feel slightly relieved. At least once he completed this mission, he could start getting some real answers.

    Then, his eyes moved to the Temporary Mission.

    Temporary (Once-in-a-Lifetime) Mission: Join a sec

    Reward: Gain a Corrupted Divine Body related to the sect chosen.

    Zane frowned.

    "Sects? What the hell is that? Is it like a gang?"

    And divine body?

    "That sounds powerful, but what does it actually do?"

    His head was starting to hurt.

    Everything in this world was completely foreign to him.

    He didn''t understand this system or what was happening. Probably ''cultivation'' means something different here¡­

    Then, he looked at the woman.

    Only this naked lady, who is probably my mother, can answer my questions. And what''s that purple energy surrounding her?

    Let''s wait until she comes out of meditation.

    After a few minutes, the woman in front of him opened her beautiful purple eyes.

    The moment she did, a small, dagger-like sword made of pure purple energy formed at her fingertip.

    Without hesitation, she placed it against his tiny neck.

    Zane froze.

    Is she doubting that I''m not a normal baby because I didn''t cry?

    Let''s give a fake cry to survive.

    "Ahh¡­ Waaahh¡­ Aha¡­ Waaahh!"

    His weak baby cries filled the air.

    Seeing him cry, the woman hesitated for a moment before withdrawing the sword.

    Though it had only been there for a second, Zane still felt a sharp sting on his neck. Instinctively, he reached up with his tiny hands, rubbing the spot.

    "What the hell?! That was painful!"

    His mind raced.

    "How did she even make a sword out of thin air?! Someone please explain!"

    And despite being unbelievably beautiful, why was she so violent?!

    He watched as the woman started mumbling in a strange language, her voice calm yet unreadable.

    Then, she placed a glowing jade pendant against his neck. Zane flinched but felt nothing.

    Afterward, she stood up and put on her clothes, which looked somewhat like ancient Japanese or maybe Chinese robes.

    Zane''s baby hands shot up to cover his eyes.

    "Don''t look! She''s my mother! I can''t get horny in a baby''s body!"

    Trying to shake off his thoughts, his attention shifted back to her actions.

    His eyes widened in shock.

    With a flick of her hand, she gathered the scattered white crystals from the ground and stored them into her ring.

    Then, with another simple motion, the golden translucent barrier around them disappeared¡ªvanishing into the small ring on her finger.

    "Wait¡­ WHAT?! How did she do that?! A whole barrier just disappeared into her ring?! Is that some kind of storage space?!" He mumbled.

    Realization hit him.

    Am I in a magical world? Does ''cultivation'' mean becoming a magical being? If I train, can I also produce swords with my fingers?

    His mind spun.

    No wonder she looked fine after giving birth. On Earth, women take days to recover, but through meditation, she absorbed the energy of those stones and healed instantly!

    He clenched his tiny fists.

    I need to try this!

    Closing his eyes, he focused. He tried to mimic what she had done, emptying his mind, sensing the energy around him, waiting for some mysterious power to flow into his body.

    ...

    Nothing happened.

    Minutes passed, but there was no change.

    Zane sighed in frustration.

    Damn it. I guess it''s not that easy.

    As he opened his eyes, he noticed the woman placing a bag beside him. It came out of that mysterious ring, making him even more shocked.

    Then, with a wave of her hand, she used purple energy to write something on the wooden table from a distance.

    His jaw nearly dropped.

    She can write from far away using energy?! So this is cultivation¡­ I want to do something like that too!

    But before he could process everything, the woman suddenly turned, walked toward the window¡ª

    And jumped.

    Zane''s heart nearly stopped.

    But instead of falling¡ª

    She flew.

    Straight into the sky.

    His tiny mouth hung open in disbelief.

    They can FLY too?! Just how powerful are cultivators?!

    But as awe turned to realization, another thought hit him like a rock.

    Wait¡­ Why is she leaving me here?!

    His gaze darted toward the money bag and the mysterious text on the table.

    Did she abandon me?! He said in baby voice so that''s why she wanted to kill me and hearing her babies cry she stopped.

    "Did she abandon me?!" he mumbled in a weak baby voice.

    "Is that why she wanted to kill me? But hearing her baby cry, she stopped¡­?"

    A bitter laugh formed in his mind.

    "Am I some bastard child she had from an affair, so she left me here?"

    For the first time since waking up in this world, he felt a strange sadness.

    Being born as a bastard really feels different...

    But then¡ª

    Wait¡­ Who''s going to feed me?!

    His baby stomach wasn''t growling yet, but he knew that newborns needed food every few hours.

    I hope whoever she left that message for comes quickly¡­ or I''m screwed.

    Hours passed, and no one came. Other than the sunlight streaming through the windows, nothing changed.

    Zane was bored. The only thing he could do was stare at the room. His stomach still didn''t growl, but an unbearable emptiness spread through his body.

    He tried to move, but his tiny limbs were too weak. He could only shift his head slightly.

    Am I really going to die like this? Just because no one is here to feed me?

    His thoughts grew hazy, and his eyelids drooped as exhaustion took over.

    Just as he was about to drift into sleep, something inside him stirred. A strange warmth spread through his body, calming his hunger.

    Without knowing how, his body instinctively went into a deep, tranquil state. His breathing slowed, and his tiny chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm.

    At first, he felt nothing but peace. Then, an invisible energy from the air around him slowly flowed into his body. It was soft, soothing, like a gentle warmth spreading through his veins.

    It felt good.

    But that peaceful sensation didn''t last long.

    The lingering white energy left behind by the spiritual stones was almost gone. As soon as it ran out, his body instinctively searched for another source.

    Then¡ª

    A sharp pain tore through him.

    "Ahhh! Aahhh!"

    His tiny body convulsed, his soft skin turning red as something wild and violent rushed into his veins.

    The energy in this region was harsh burning, scorching, unrefined. Unlike the gentle energy from spiritual stones, this was the raw energy of the environment itself.

    Zane''s peaceful state shattered, replaced by unbearable agony.

    Zane''s small face twisted in pain, his tiny hands clenching into weak fists. His golden eyes, filled with distress, welled up with tears as his body trembled.

    His body stopped absorbing the energy.

    The pain was fading, but the memory of it made his body tense. He didn''t want to go through that again.

    His mind raced, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

    I was feeling hungry, then I closed my eyes, and my body¡­ just did something on its own.

    He recalled how good it had felt at first, how a warm energy had filled him, soothing his hunger. But then, out of nowhere, the pain had hit him like fire coursing through his veins.

    "What changed? Why did it suddenly hurt?"

    Then, a realization struck him.

    "Is this what my mother was doing when she was meditating? Was she absorbing energy like this? But¡­ she wasn''t in pain."

    Zane''s eyes darted around the room, searching for answers. He thought about the white crystals which his mother had stored in her ring, which emitted a faint white mist.

    But now, the mist is gone. Most of it had disappeared over the past hours, and the last traces had likely been absorbed by him.

    Realization struck, and frustration welled up inside him.

    "Damn it, Mother! You could''ve at least left me some crystals! Do you really want me to die here?!"

    His tiny face twisted in frustration, his golden eyes slightly teary. A helpless anger bubbled inside him. He wanted to scream, to shout, but all that came out were weak baby noises.

    He clenched his tiny fists, but his body was too weak to do anything.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    After some hours¡­

    Inside the inn, the manager, Luo Han, a middle-aged man with short black hair, a round face, and dark brown eyes, sat behind the counter. He glanced at the stairs leading to the VIP rooms and turned to one of his workers.

    "Xiao Rui, did that guest ask for food? It''s already night. If not, go check and take their order."

    Xiao Rui, a tall young man with short, messy brown hair and gray eyes, nodded. He wore a simple beige tunic, the standard uniform for workers at Blazing Ember Inn.

    "Understood, Boss," he replied.

    Xiao Rui was just an ordinary staff member, earning 10 silver coins a month, along with food and lodging. He had grown up in Scorchwind City, a place surrounded by dangerous lands filled with monsters.

    Leaving the city wasn''t easy. The only safe way out was with merchant caravans, which arrived once a month, or having a talent for cultivation.

    However, the caravans charged one gold coin per person, guaranteeing protection along the way. As for cultivation, he had no talent for it.

    For years, he had dreamed of leaving with his wife and starting a better life elsewhere. Today, he had earned 1 gold coin from an important guest. If he could get just one more, he could finally leave this city.

    This VIP guest would be the key to his leaving this city.

    With that hope in mind, he climbed the stairs and knocked gently on the door.

    "Honoured guest, do you wish to order food? just let me know what you need."

 Taking Baby Home

    Zane lay there, his small body shivering with hunger and fatigue.

    I can see the moonlight coming in, But when will I be fed?

    A tear slid down his cheeks, soaking the silk below him, and his eyesight became blurred.

    Zane murmured, "I don''t want to feel that pain again," as his small hands clutched lightly and his tiny chest rose and fell with soft shivers.

    "Is no one coming for me...?"

    As hopelessness continued to set in, a knock sounded at the door, followed by a voice speaking in an unfamiliar language.

    Zane''s teary eyes widened.

    A warm, overwhelming relief surged through him, and more tears welled up inside him, not from sadness this time, but from pure happiness.

    Finally¡­ someone''s here.

    For the past few hours, his body had been instinctively absorbing spiritual energy, forcing him into a cycle of pain. He had tried to stop it, but every time he got relaxed, his body would automatically absorb energy again.

    It has happened 20-30 times.

    His tiny body ached all over, his skin slightly red from the strain. His golden eyes were teary. His throat is dry. He looked absolutely miserable.

    Damn that woman! She just abandoned me without even thinking about how I''d survive!

    His frustration grew.

    Why even give birth if you can''t take responsibility?! First Diana, now this bitch. Why do I keep meeting these kinds of women?!

    But right now, anger wouldn''t help him.

    He needed to get someone''s attention before he actually died of hunger.

    Without shame, he started crying loudly.

    "waa, wah, waah¡­"

    Xiao Rui stood outside the room, staring at the heavy wooden door.It was old, with visible cracks and scratches, yet sturdy.

    He heard it again, low but distinct, and his brows furrowed.

    "A baby''s cry?"

    He thought about the woman from earlier and muttered, "But how¡­?"

    At the time, he hadn''t given it much thought, but now that he replayed the moment in his mind, something felt off. Her stomach had seemed a little too big.

    Was she¡­ pregnant? Did she give birth?

    He hesitated.

    "Honorable guest, can you hear me?" he called out, pressing his ear against the door.

    No response. Only the muffled sound of crying.

    His thoughts became confused. She might be in danger if she had given birth. But at the same time, greed flickered in his brown eyes.

    A wealthy woman traveling alone might have left valuable things behind.

    But, he is smart and he knows that it''s dangerous for anybody to travel the Southern Region by themselves.

    Only strong martial artists or cultivators, these people well out of his grasp, are able to travel alone in the Southern region.

    Yet, Curiosity still remained inside him. He reached for the handle, his fingers shaking a little. He turned the cold, worn metal knob, and opened the door.

    The door made a creaked sound.

    Inside the room, Zane''s tiny eyes were temporarily blinded by the low light that broke into the room.

    His golden eyes, still wet with tears, locked onto the man.

    For some reason, he felt¡­ relieved.

    His crying slowed as a strange sense of comfort took its place.

    Xiao Rui paused for a second before grabbing a lamp from the hallway as he noticed the darkness inside.

    He entered the room cautiously, holding the lamp high to light the dark room. In the dim light, the surroundings became visible, including a plain bed, old calligraphy on the walls, and a little, frail figure lying on the silk sheets.

    ---

    The room was filled with warm light, and Zane blinked, his golden eye''s still filled with tears.

    He noticed a man standing in the doorway, holding a lamp. His skin was slightly tanned, the kind earned from years of working outdoors. Short, messy brown hair fell over his forehead in loose strands, and his gray eyes held a cautious look.

    He looks like a worker from a poor country.

    ---

    Xiao Rui''s gaze landed on the baby. The child had been crying, but now, he had stopped for some reason.

    Noticing the dim moonlight from the window barely illuminated anything, casting long shadows across the stone walls.

    Xiao Rui approached the nearest unlit lamp. He carefully tilted his own lamp, letting the flame touch the wick. A small burst of light flickered before settling into a steady glow.

    He moved methodically, repeating the process with the other lamps. With each one lit, the room gradually brightened, pushing away the cold darkness. The golden light danced across the rough brick walls, making the space feel warmer.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    Finally, with enough illumination, he turned his gaze back to the baby who was staring at him, almost as if he was happy to see him.

    His skin was flushed for some reason, and beside him lay a small bag.

    Xiao Rui''s brows furrowed as he walked toward the bed. The baby''s fragile appearance gnawed at his mind, but curiosity drew his gaze to the bag resting nearby.

    Carefully, he bent down and picked it up. His fingers trembled slightly as he loosened the drawstring and peeked inside.

    His eyes widened.

    Under the soft glow of the lamp, gold coins gleamed brightly.

    This much...? he thought, his breath hitching at the unexpected treasure.

    But before he could fully process the shock, something else caught his attention.

    The wooden table nearby bore markings of deep words carved with precision.

    Holding the lamp higher, he moved closer, The flame flickered gently, casting shadows across the rough surface.

    Setting the lamp down on the table, its steady glow illuminated the carved letters more clearly.

    His lips moved as he read the message aloud in a hushed voice:

    "Take care of the baby. Use this money, it should be enough for a while."

    Xiao Rui''s eyes shifted from the bag of gold coins in his hands to the baby on the bed.

    So¡­ that woman wants me to take care of this baby in exchange for money?

    His quick gaze swept around the room.

    No blood. No signs of childbirth.

    His brows furrowed as he ran his fingers over the deep, cleanly carved letters.

    No ordinary person could do this¡­ Only a cultivators could carve precisely like this on a wooden table.

    He turned to face the baby again and saw something, a green round jade pendant on his small neck with some complex carving.

    Xiao Rui leaned in and touched it out of curiosity. He felt a cold sensation run through his fingers.

    This pendant¡­ it looks valuable.

    For a moment, his eyes flashed with greed.

    However, he shook his head swiftly.

    "Taking from a cultivator''s child¡­ that''s asking for death."

    He turned back to the gold bag instead. He clenched it tightly.

    I could finally leave this miserable city with this money and start a new, better life. Maybe even open my own inn and order people around.

    The thought warmed him, and a tiny smile appeared on his face.

    If this child really is a cultivator''s offspring, he might have inherited their talent too & If I raise him well, he could see me as his father¡­ unless his mother returns.

    His grey eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the baby again.

    If she never comes back, I don''t even have to tell him the truth that I am not his father.

    He tapped the bag of gold, deep in thought.

    And if he does grow into a true cultivator, then my future¡­ is set.

    Zane had been watching the man for a while now. From speaking in a strange language to touching his pendant, everything felt bizarre. But more than anything, he was hungry.

    His tiny body trembled with frustration. He couldn''t hold back anymore.

    "Whoa! Wha! Whaaa!"

    The unexpected cries made Xiao Rui flinch.

    He looked at the baby whose face was a little bit red, his grey eyes flitted with worry. "What is causing it to cry now?Is it hungry?"

    He rubbed the back of his head and sighed. "I know absolutely nothing about babies. It will be best to take him home and leave it to my wife."

    After a moment of uncertainty, he tucked the money bag into his pocket and turned his attention to the baby. Then he reached down and gently lifted the baby.

    As he lifted the baby, soon it stopped crying too

    Xiao Rui relaxed a little bit.

    But just as he relaxed, he suddenly stiffened.

    What the¡ª?! Why is this baby so hot?

    His fingers twitched as he felt the child''s unnaturally high temperature.

    "Damn it¡­ If something happens to him, won''t that cultivator come after me?!" He said worriedly.

    His heartbeat quickened.

    "I need to take him to a physician first¡­ but I also need to get him out of here without the manager noticing it." He thought.

    His sharp eyes landed on the wooden table where the carved message remained. That needed to go.

    Without hesitation, he gently placed the baby back on the bed and turned toward the table.

    First, he grabbed the candle from the table and carefully placed it aside. Then, gripping the heavy wooden desk, he dragged it toward the window.

    The wood scraped against the stone floor as he heaved it closer, sweat forming on his brow.

    Finally, with one last effort, he lifted the desk slightly and¡ª

    Boom!

    He shoved it out the window.

    The desk fell down, crashing into the empty alley below.

    He quickly looked outside. "Good." It was late, and hardly anyone was around. The fall didn''t seem to catch much attention.

    Letting out a small breath of relief, he turned back toward the baby.

    Now, how do I sneak him out?

    After thinking for a while a thought crossed his mind.

    Xiao Rui took a deep breath, then reached down and tore a strip of cloth from the white silk bed sheet.

    Without hesitation, he gently stuffed the cloth into the baby''s mouth.

    Zane''s golden eyes widened in shock.

    "Mmm! Mmmph!"

    His tiny fists swing wildly, his muffled cries of protest barely making a sound.

    Zane''s golden eyes burned with anger as he glared at Xiao Rui. He tried to shout, "What the hell, you bastard?! What do you think you''re doing?!" But no words came out of his mouth as it was already gagged.

    Xiao Rui didn''t pay attention to the baby''s reaction. Instead, he next grabbed the entire bed sheet, carefully wrapping the child inside like a bundle of laundry.

    He left just enough space for the baby to breathe, securing the sheet tightly so no limbs would stick out.

    Zane, now wrapped up like a helpless sack, was losing his mind.

    Is this guy insane?! Does he think I''ll just stay quiet?! Is he going to throw me into a river like I did in the past?!

    But at least I did it to adults¡­

    The thought like this lingered in his mind. More memories surfaced, and with each one, his anger began to fade. A strange, sad feeling settled in his chest.

    Was this what it felt like, to be powerless?

    Xiao Rui took one last glance around the room, then lifted the bundled bed sheet over his shoulder and moved toward the door.

    The corridor outside was dimly lit by a few oil lamps hanging on the walls. The air smelled of old wood, faintly mixed with smoke and spices from the kitchen downstairs.

    Xiao Rui walked slowly, trying to keep his footsteps light.

    Step. Step. Step.

    After about ten seconds, he reached the staircase. The wooden steps creaked softly under his shoes as he went down.

    As he reached the bottom, the manager looked up from behind the counter.

    His sharp eyes locked onto Xiao Rui.

    "Took you long enough. What happened? Did the guest ask for something?"

    Xiao Rui adjusted the bundle of bedsheets on his shoulder to find a more comfortable position before answering.

    Keeping his tone calm and respectful, he said, "Yes, boss. I was told to change the bedsheets. After replacing them, I am taking this dirty one to be cleaned."

    He raised the bundle slightly so the manager could get a clear view of the bedsheet. "I''m just taking it to the cleaner now," he said.

    The manager scrutinized the bedsheet while rubbing his chin. "Didn''t we already have clean bedsheets in that room?"

    Xiao Rui tightened his grip on the package, maintaining a calm demeanor. Instead of displaying concern, he expressed a hint of disgust and stated, "She. . . um, made it dirty. "

    The manager''s frown deepened. "Made it dirty? How so? "

    Xiao Rui paused, then leaned closer and lowered his voice, as if confiding an unpleasant secret. "She was on her period. "

    The manager''s face contorted in disgust at Xiao Rui''s disclosure. "Tsk. . . damn it," he muttered, shaking his head. ""At least she paid a gold coin, so I can''t complain." The manager dismissively waved his hand."Just make sure it gets cleaned properly."

    Xiao Rui gave a polite nod. "Of course, boss." His heartbeat thumping, he made his entrance. He was just a few steps from the entrance when the manager''s voice cut through the silence.

    "Stop."

    Xiao Rui stiffened, a shiver running down his spine as his grip tightened around the bedsheet. The weight on his shoulder, the heavy silence, and the dim light all felt suffocating at once.

    Xiao Rui turned toward the manager, his nerves on edge as he struggled to keep his composure under the man''s piercing gaze. The manager''s expression remained blank, giving nothing away.

    "Take it," he said, flicking a small pouch in Xiao Rui''s direction.

    The bag landed in his palms with a faint jingle, the sound of coins clinking softly.

    "Twenty copper coins," the manager said, his voice calm but firm.

    The manager studied him for a moment longer before giving a brief nod. "Don''t mess it up."

    Xiao Rui nodded and turned toward the inn''s entrance, clutching the pouch of coins tightly.

    Outside, the stone road lay quiet under the pale glow of the moon. Most stalls had already closed, their owners gone for the night, while a few lingered, their lanterns flickering as tired vendors packed up their wares.

    Xiao Rui stepped out into the night. The cool breeze brushed his face as he shifted the bedsheet in his arms.

    Only when the inn was out of sight did he finally exhale softly. His grip on the pouch eased, but his thoughts stayed alert.

    Moving swiftly through the quiet streets, he kept his pace steady. His home was not far from the inn, just a short distance away. The stone pathway beneath his feet was rough and uneven, worn down by years of footsteps. The soft glow of lanterns lit the road, their light flickering against the quiet wooden houses in the night.

    Before long, he arrived at a small, humble house with a slightly tilted roof. The walls, made of rock and clay, showed signs of age but stood firm.

    He knocked on the door, for three solid taps.

    A muffled voice came from inside.

    "Who''s there?"

    "It''s me, Lian. Open up."

    A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing Lian, his wife.

    She was a young woman in her early twenties, her dark brown hair tied neatly into a low bun. Her almond-shaped eyes, sharp yet warm, held a touch of curiosity. Her fair skin was smooth, and she wore a simple, slightly old robe.

    Her brows furrowed. "You''re early today. What happened?"

    Xiao Rui didn''t answer immediately. Instead, he stepped inside and gently placed the bundled bedsheet on the wooden table.

    Lian''s frown deepened. "Why did you bring a bedsheet home?"

    She crossed her arms, clearly puzzled as he hurriedly began unwrapping the cloth.

    The moment the final layer was pulled back, a small, golden eyed baby was revealed.

    His tiny chest heaved up and down, his face flushed, and his golden eyes, still wet with unshed tears, were filled with anger and frustration. Around his neck hung a green jade pendant, which had intricate carvings.

    Lian gasped, stepping closer in shock. "A baby?! Whose baby is this? And why in the world did you wrap him up like this?!"

    Zane, finally freed from his prison, breathing heavily, his small limbs trembling.

    "Waaaah!!", He was trying to say something,

    To Lian and Xiao Rui, it sounded like ordinary infant cries. But in reality, the baby''s furious thoughts raged.

    *You idiot! Who ties up a newborn?! Just wait, once I can move, I''ll strangle you to death!*

    He glared at Xiao Rui with pure rage.

    Lian went closer and immediately scooped him up, carefully removing the small cloth from his mouth.

    "There, there¡­ you poor thing." She gently patted his back, trying to soothe him.

    Zane quieted slightly at her touch, the warmth of her arms far better than being trapped in a stuffy bedsheet.

    She turned back to her husband, her expression serious.

    "Explain. Now."

    Xiao Rui exhaled and sat down, rubbing the back of his neck. "Listen¡­ this isn''t just any baby. He''s the child of a cultivator. A woman booked a room at the inn, and when I checked, she was gone and only the baby and a bag of gold were left behind."

    Lian''s brows knitted together as she glanced between the child and her husband. "A cultivator''s child? Are you sure?"

    Xiao Rui nodded. "There were no signs of childbirth, and the way she carved letters into the wooden table was so perfect¡­ only a cultivator could do that."

    Lian looked down at Zane, studying his delicate yet oddly refined features.

    Xiao Rui continued, his tone more serious. "He''s also burning up. We need to take him to a physician before it gets worse."

    "Feed him first. Then take him to the physician."