Outside, a tempest raged, but within the Gusanhai, all remained as peaceful as ever.
Liu Nanfeng entered the scroll and, on his way, checked on the others. The butterfly demon's physique had grown even larger, showing signs of imminent transformation. Liu Yuancai, who lived nearby, would come ashore daily to watch it, and the two of them actually got along quite well.
Furthermore, perhaps due to the influence of the spiritual energy, the failed test subjects from the laboratory had not only recovered from their injuries but also experienced a significant increase in strength and vitality.
With Liu Nanfeng's direct care, they were all living comfortably. Some had even begun to actively explore their surroundings, gradually gathering together.
What surprised Liu Nanfeng even more was that as they explored, the obscuring mists began to recede, revealing more areas.
After completing his rounds, Liu Nanfeng appeared in the center of the hillside where Gugu resided.
This was Gugu's exclusive territory.
However, Liu Nanfeng did not see Su Jinxiu, only Gugu.
No, it was two beings; Gugu was holding little Jin Hua and sitting on a stone bench, playing with her.
A tiny person holding an even tinier person, it was a heartwarming sight.
As Gugu made soft "gu gu" sounds, little Jin Hua would wave her tiny hands and cry out, as if responding to her.
Liu Nanfeng suspected that little Jin Hua's first spoken words might not be "Mama" or "Papa," but "Gugu."
He wasn't surprised that Su Jinxiu wasn't here, leaving Gugu to care for the child, as this wasn't the first time.
"Give her to me." Liu Nanfeng reached out and took the little one from Gugu's arms.
Gugu was still a little reluctant.
"Daddy's here, did you miss Daddy?"
"Wah wah…"
"You missed Daddy?"
"Gugu →_→"
As time went on, little Jin Hua's face had fully bloomed, rosy and chubby, indescribably cute.
Liu Nanfeng couldn't help but plant a kiss on her little cheek.
This caused little Jin Hua great displeasure. She clenched her tiny fists and pushed his face with all her might, as if disgusted.
"Let's go find Mama."
Liu Nanfeng, holding her, lowered his head and asked Gugu, "Do you want to come with me?"
Gugu nodded.
So, Liu Nanfeng, with little Jin Hua cradled in one arm, held Gugu's hand with the other.
He did this to consider Gugu's feelings, ensuring she wouldn't feel neglected now that little Jin Hua was around.
The two arrived at a cliff edge midway up the mountain, the very place Gugu had first entered Gusanhai.
Su Jinxiu was seated by the cliff's edge, with a massive skeletal Dharma form appearing in the air behind her.
The originally cold and imposing skeletal Dharma form now exuded a sense of great joy.
Instead of inducing chills or fear, it evoked a sense of warmth and familiarity from the depths of one's heart.
Many people had told Liu Nanfeng before that Su Jinxiu was exceptionally intelligent, a genius of sorts. Thus, despite only having a century of cultivation, she had few equals. He hadn't truly grasped this concept then.
However, after giving birth, he finally understood what it meant to be a genius.
With her strength restored and in the spiritually abundant Gusanhai, Su Jinxiu experienced a minor enlightenment every three days and a major one every five.
She often had epiphanies while playing with her child, entering states like the one she was in now.
It was even more remarkable than Liu Nanfeng's own advantages, her power surging upwards.
The skeletal Dharma form behind her subtly began to show signs of regenerating flesh and blood.
Su Jinxiu had told him that this was the method of "returning to life from death" and "reversing yin and yang," the most profound aspect of the "White Bone Sitting Meditation Sutra."
She had gained this insight from the experience of childbirth.
Liu Nanfeng sometimes truly suspected she was the destined protagonist.
Of course, if one considered it, childbirth held great mystery, and gaining insight after going through it seemed somewhat understandable.
If one thought this way, then Liu Nanfeng would mention something even more astonishing.
Su Jinxiu had, from a single smile from little Jin Hua, achieved an enlightenment akin to the "Joyful Aspect" within the "Twelve Aspects of All Beings."
From then on, her skeletal Dharma form was no longer cold and eerie but possessed emotions.
"I don't know what she's enlightened to this time, but it looks like it won't end anytime soon."
Liu Nanfeng's gaze fell upon the skeletal Dharma form in the air.
The skeletal Dharma form emanated a soft, radiant white light. A bright moon rose from its chest, floating above its head, emitting its glow. With each inhale and exhale, the moon's phase shifted from waxing to waning, and the skeletal Dharma form correspondingly flickered in and out of existence.
"Gugu~"
"Let's go, I'll make you something delicious."
"Wah wah…"
"You want to eat too? That won't do. You have to grow a bit bigger. For now, you can only drink milk."
"Ptooey…"
"Oh dear, you spat my saliva. Looks like you need a spanking."
"Oooh…"
The little one seemed to imply, "I'm here, I'm not afraid of you."
"Gugu…"
Gugu, standing nearby, couldn't help but laugh.
The two returned to the house outside the flower garden. Liu Nanfeng handed little Jin Hua back to Gugu for safekeeping, then entered the house. First, he prepared a bottle of milk for little Jin Hua and had Gugu feed her, then he busied himself.
"Gugu, what do you want for lunch?"
"Gugu…"
"How about braised pork?"
"Gugu… Gugu…"
Gugu nodded repeatedly. She loved the braised pork Liu Nanfeng made the most.
Braised pork was also Liu Nanfeng's most signature dish. The reason for this was his own love for it, which had led him to research the dish extensively.
For braised pork, one needed good quality streaky pork, cut into cubes. Then, it was placed in cold water and blanched in hot water, adding ginger and cooking wine to remove the gamey odor.
After skimming off the foam, it was removed, drained, and dried. Then, the pot was heated until scorching hot, without oil. The meat was placed directly into the dry pot, allowing the fat to render out.
Until it turned a golden-brown color, then various seasonings were added. A small trick here was to add a piece of fermented red bean curd.
The braised pork made this way was rich but not greasy, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with oil sizzling with every bite.
Not only Gugu loved it, but Little Carp also adored it, eating several large bowls each time.
Of course, this referred not to the rice, but to the meat itself. She could eat several large bowls of just the meat, a true glutton.
By the time Liu Nanfeng finished cooking, Su Jinxiu returned. She was pleasantly surprised to see Liu Nanfeng, but her first action was to embrace little Jin Hua.
She then kissed her cheek twice and asked, "Did you miss Mommy?"
Little Jin Hua smacked her lips and continued to sleep soundly, ignoring her. She had just finished her milk and was feeling sleepy.
"Perhaps I should ask my mother to come in and help care for her for a while longer. It's not really a solution for Gugu to always be looking after the child."
"I'd rather not."
Su Jinxiu also worried that staying here for too long might affect their health.
"Gugu~"
Gugu, standing nearby, overheard and expressed her displeasure. She loved looking after the baby.
"Then let Huamei come in to take care of you for a while," Liu Nanfeng suggested.
"What about you? Can't you take care of me?" Su Jinxiu glanced at him, a hint of dissatisfaction in her tone.
"I have some matters to attend to recently."
"What matters?"
Liu Nanfeng remained silent, instead looking at little Jin Hua's abdomen in her embrace.
Because Liu Nanfeng had regulated the temperature within the Gusanhai world, little Jin Hua was not bundled up. She wore only a thin, pure cotton inner garment.
The loose clothing revealed a bit of her small belly.
Around her exposed navel was a circle of tadpole-like runes.
Su Jinxiu immediately understood his meaning.