Chapter 271 A Flawless Soul
Gugu’s recovery was faster than Liu Nanfeng had imagined.
It was understandable, though. If she didn’t possess such rapid self-healing abilities, she likely wouldn’t have persisted for so many years. She would have given up long ago and never waited for Liu Nanfeng to meet her.
She was like a blade of grass, small but tenacious. It wasn’t just her resilient life force, but also her unyielding will that had brought her this far and allowed her to gain formidable power.
Sometimes, putting himself in her shoes, Liu Nanfeng felt he might not have been able to endure.
Furthermore, her personality hadn't become twisted or dark because of it, which was the most precious quality of all.
No matter how much suffering she had endured, her soul remained pure and untainted by the dust of the world.
Even under Liu Nanfeng’s gaze, her soul was like a sculpted gemstone, emitting a dazzling and brilliant radiance.
“So, do you want to see her?”
Liu Nanfeng treated Gugu as an equal as he posed this question.
Whatever Gugu decided, Liu Nanfeng would respect her wishes and not force her.
Gugu hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.
However, after nodding, she looked up at Liu Nanfeng as if asking if her decision was right and if he approved of her choice.
Liu Nanfeng crouched down, meeting her gaze. “Actually, I quite approve of your decision. No matter what, going to see her will give you closure on your past.”
Hearing Liu Nanfeng’s words, a relieved smile finally bloomed on Gugu’s face.
Although she didn’t quite understand the deeper meaning behind his words, Liu Nanfeng’s approval made her feel as if she had found a pillar of support.
Gugu’s actual age was a year or two older than Liu Nanfeng. However, due to the experimental infusion of demon bloodline during her time in the labs, her growth had been inhibited.
The bloodline had granted her immense power and a long lifespan, but it also stunted her development, similar to Little Carp.
For demons, the stronger and purer the bloodline, the longer their growth phase.
It seemed to be a restriction imposed by the very fabric of this world. If demons possessed the same growth and reproduction rates as humans, humans would likely never have become the dominant species on this land.
It would have been a choice between extinction or subjugation.
Liu Nanfeng reached out and gently ruffled her hair, then beckoned to Little Carp beside him.
Little Carp trotted over, tilting her head and looking at Liu Nanfeng with curiosity, as if asking what he wanted with her.
Liu Nanfeng took Little Carp’s hand and placed it on Gugu’s. He had them hold hands.
“No matter what happens, you still have us.”
Gugu flashed a wide, incredibly bright smile.
“Alright, you two go play.”
Upon hearing this, Gugu immediately grabbed the still somewhat bewildered Little Carp and they ran back to Gugu’s room. She wanted to fly a kite with Little Carp.
Seeing them leave, Liu Nanfeng finally stood up.
Then he saw Su Jinxiu, holding the little Jin Hua, standing by his side and looking at him with a smile.
“What is it?”
“My husband is such a gentle person,” Su Jinxiu said softly.
Liu Nanfeng scratched his cheek, feeling a bit embarrassed by her praise.
Seeing his reaction, Su Jinxiu stood on tiptoe and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.
Before Liu Nanfeng could react, she lifted the little Jin Hua in her arms. “Let our Jin Hua give a kiss to her gentle papa too.”
With that, she pressed little Jin Hua’s face against Liu Nanfeng’s cheek.
“Ah… p-p-p…”
Little Jin Hua promptly slobbered all over his cheek, leaving him covered in drool.
“Oh dear, you’re all dirty.”
Liu Nanfeng pretended to be disgusted and pulled back. Little Jin Hua’s eyes immediately widened, and she made “aba aba” sounds to express her displeasure.
“What’s wrong with playing? What’s wrong with playing?”
“Papa’s little darling.”
Seeing her adorable little eyes, Liu Nanfeng picked her up and planted a big kiss on her cheek.
“Waaah… waah…” Little Jin Hua shook her little head, expressing her displeasure.
It was as if she was saying, “If you won’t let me play with you, I won’t let you play with me either.”
“Oh my, she’s starting to dislike Papa now.” Liu Nanfeng forcibly kissed her a couple more times.
“Ah, slobber, slobber…”
Little Jin Hua immediately tried to spit saliva at him, but her strength was too weak. Most of it landed on her bib, and the rest fell onto her own face.
“Haha…”
Liu Nanfeng couldn’t help but burst into laughter, then he lifted her high into the air.
“Let’s fly!”
“Are you trying to be the Lion King?”
Su Jinxiu playfully snatched little Jin Hua from his arms, sounding slightly exasperated.
“Aba… aba…”
Little Jin Hua suddenly turned her head and flailed her limbs.
Looking in that direction, it turned out Gugu and Little Carp were running out of the house with a kite.
Little Carp was also tooting on her small horn.
“Do you want to play with them? Then you need to grow up quickly,” Liu Nanfeng told little Jin Hua.
“How is your research coming along?” Su Jinxiu asked beside him, having overheard.
“I have some ideas. I’ll check Jin Hua’s condition later,” Liu Nanfeng replied, his expression turning serious.
…
“Aba… aba…”
Little Jin Hua, with her bottom bare, kept waving her arms as if trying to grab Liu Nanfeng’s dangling hair. Su Huamei and Su Jinxiu stood by with worried expressions.
Little Jin Hua’s tummy was round and full; Su Jinxiu had just fed her.
Around her navel was a circle of black, tadpole-like runes, resembling a birthmark. They surprisingly looked rather attractive.
Amidst the anxious gazes of Su Jinxiu and Su Huamei, Liu Nanfeng extended his index finger and gently touched the circle of runes. Then, as his fingertip slid, the runes truly came alive, like tadpoles swimming along his finger.
“Aba… aba…”
Little Jin Hua seemed to sense something and strained to lift her head, looking at her little belly. Her posture was rather amusing.
But at this moment, no one could laugh.
Because just then, the runes seemed to be startled. They all swam back to their original positions, once again becoming inanimate markings.
“It won’t work?” Su Huamei asked with some disappointment from the side.
Liu Nanfeng shook his head and gently wrapped the little one in a blanket.
“It’s not that it won’t work. I’m afraid I might hurt her if I exert too much force.”
“Yes, it’s better to be cautious,” Su Jinxiu quickly added, and then hurried to pick up little Jin Hua into her arms.
“Don’t worry, it won’t hurt the child. Let’s wait a bit longer. This also gives me time to refine my ideas.”
“Alright, there’s no rush.”
After chatting for a while longer, Liu Nanfeng prepared to leave. He planned to return to their hometown the next day. His grandparents, Liu Zonghe and his wife, missed their granddaughter after not seeing her for a few days and had urged him to bring her home so they could see her within the Guanshanhai.
“Little Carp, I’m leaving. Do you want to come with me?” Liu Nanfeng called out to Little Carp, who was playing with Gugu.
Little Carp looked back and whispered a few words to Gugu before turning and running towards him.
“After I see Mama, I’ll come back to play with Gugu,” she said as she ran.
Liu Nanfeng: …
“Please convey my regards to your mother when you see her.”
As Little Carp ran over, Su Jinxiu gently tapped the pendant on her chest with her finger.
Only then did Liu Nanfeng notice that Little Carp had a new pendant on her chest that he hadn't seen before.
Little Carp wore traditional Hanfu, and she had many small trinkets, so Liu Nanfeng hadn’t paid much attention to them.
Moreover, this pendant looked quite ordinary, with nothing particularly special about it, which was why he hadn’t paid it any mind earlier.
However, Su Jinxiu’s action piqued his curiosity.