Ao Xingyun knelt on one knee, gasping for breath.
"Father..."
Ao Haichao held his twin maces, shielding Ao Xingyun, and warily watched the three figures in black robes opposite them.
The figures were clad in black robes, their wide hoods obscuring most of their faces. However, where their skin was exposed, it was also shrouded in black, with wisps of black smoke swirling, sometimes resembling human faces, sometimes ghostly apparitions.
Save for their fair hands, they possessed no other distinguishing features.
The three figures in black robes were so alike in build that it was impossible to tell them apart.
They were silent and unmoving, yet their power was immense.
The Old Dragon King clutched his chest, his expression one of dejection. With the depletion of heavenly and earthly spiritual energy, beings like them, who were born of such energies, were most affected. Otherwise, at his peak strength, dealing with these individuals would not have been so strenuous.
If he hadn't stopped them from reopening the Heavenly Gate and restoring spiritual energy, it would have been a win-win situation for both sides.
His own strength would have gradually recovered, making him virtually invincible in this mortal realm.
But he was a dragon.
Dragons had their own mission.
Their existence was to protect humanity.
If the Heavenly Gate were to be fully opened, dangers would follow, and humanity would inevitably face catastrophic disaster.
Just then, a massive roar echoed from beneath the ground. Behind the three figures blocking their path, a colossal stone tablet slowly rose from the earth.
Unfortunately, the stone tablet was severely damaged. Besides being weathered by the passage of time, it was also marked by various signs of deliberate destruction. The most significant damage was a sword mark that had split the tablet in two.
Much like the Dragon Gate, the stone tablet bore several ancient inscriptions.
However, with a piece missing, only the characters "Heavenly Gate" remained.
Countless rays of light flowed over it, making it appear sacred and extraordinary. The flowing light illuminated a radius of a hundred miles, then shot towards the sky as if to pierce a hole in the heavens.
Alas, likely due to its damaged state, it faltered midway and eventually descended. However, even so, it created a spectacle of immense power, with nearly half of Great Xia witnessing this wondrous sight.
The three figures in black quickly turned, and along with several others, they swiftly surrounded the stone tablet.
"Father, they're preparing to..."
Ao Haichao exclaimed in alarm, recognizing their intent.
"Second brother, assist me!"
Ao Xingyun, who was kneeling on one knee, suddenly cried out, emitting a powerful dragon's roar.
Simultaneously, a wind began to whip across the desolate plains, growing stronger. Fog, seemingly from nowhere, started to gather in the air.
True powerhouses could endure for millennia, remaining unfading and immortal. What's more, dragons, being immortal beings, even in death, had merged with the earth, retaining some of their consciousness.
A single dragon's roar, almost echoing throughout Great Xia, seemed to be Ao Xingyun's reply.
Such a grand display caused the expressions of some in the Ninth Department to change drastically. Coupled with the earlier surge of light towards the sky, certain matters could no longer be kept hidden.
Meanwhile, Liu Nanfeng was oblivious to all of this. He was currently in a state of distress.
His left ear buzzed, his right ear hummed.
He regretted giving the flute and horn to the two little ones, leaving him with a pounding headache while the children were having the time of their lives.
"Stop blowing, you're too loud."
Liu Nanfeng's head was ringing.
"Do."
"Xiu."
Liu Nanfeng: ...
Little Koi: →_→
Gugu: →_→
The two children cast sideways glances at Liu Nanfeng, who returned the gesture.
Little Koi: Do~
She gently blew, testing the waters, to gauge Liu Nanfeng's reaction.
Liu Nanfeng, who had been sitting on a stone bench, leaped up.
"I'll spank your bottom!"
"Do do do..." Little Koi turned and ran with her short legs, her little bottom wiggling, her movements both cute and comical.
"Xiu xiu xiu..."
Gugu blew urgently on her spoon. The little one wisely decided to employ a diversionary tactic.
As expected, Liu Nanfeng turned and ran towards her.
Gugu turned and fled.
"Gugu gu... xiu xiu xiu..."
"You're so old, about to be a father, yet you're still like a child," Liu Zonghe remarked from a distance, displeased.
Yu Huilan, standing beside him, rolled her eyes. "What's wrong with that? It shows he genuinely loves children."
"Mother is right. Once the baby is born, he'll be a great dad," Su Jinxiu said, caressing her belly, her face glowing with maternal affection.
"A great dad? Him? I doubt it. He hasn't even figured himself out yet," Liu Zonghe scoffed dismissively.
Yu Huilan pouted. "What do you think a good father is? Someone rigid and dictatorial like you?"
"In the eyes of children, a good father is one who plays and messes around with them."
"Mom is right," Su Jinxiu chimed in with a smile.
"Why do you retort to everything I say?" Liu Zonghe grumbled, clearly annoyed.
"Because you're speaking ill of my son."
Liu Zonghe: ...
Su Jinxiu quietly got up to leave. These two always bickered when together, yet they were a loving couple.
However, Su Jinxiu deeply envied such a relationship. She hoped that when she grew old, she and Liu Nanfeng would be the same.
"Wow, ha ha..."
Little Koi was finally caught by Liu Nanfeng. After a few pats on her bottom, she was scooped up under his arm as he went to catch Gugu.
Little Koi giggled and shrieked, her little feet kicking in the air.
"Gugu, keep going, run faster!"
Little Koi cheered towards Gugu, who was being "chased" by Liu Nanfeng and darting around the flower bed.
"Gugu... Gugu..."
Gugu ran about in a panic and accidentally bumped straight into Su Jinxiu's arms.
Upon seeing Su Jinxiu, she froze stiffly, looking nervously at Su Jinxiu's belly.
She knew that Su Jinxiu had a baby inside her.
Grandma always said not to fall or bump into anything, lest the baby inside the belly get hurt.
So, she knew that Aunt Su's belly couldn't be touched.
But just now...
Gugu felt scared and worried, tilting her head and looking anxiously at Su Jinxiu.
Her small body trembled, her long eyelashes quivered, and she looked at Su Jinxiu with great apprehension. She was afraid of punishment.
Because in the past, when she made mistakes, she would be punished—with blows, kicks, or hunger, among other things.
As a result, she was always covered in bruises and dared not make any more mistakes. She lived in constant fear, yet even so, she couldn't escape beatings, though she never understood why.
When Su Jinxiu raised her hand, Gugu's mind went blank; she even forgot to dodge.
But the palm didn't fall as she expected. Instead, it gently stroked her cheek.
"It's okay, you didn't do anything wrong, don't be scared."
Su Jinxiu's voice was gentle, piercing through Gugu's desolate heart, making her feel as if she were immersed in warm water, a warmth spreading through her body. A faint glow emanated from her wings.
The little girl's eyes reddened, and large tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Waa..."
She suddenly burst into tears, throwing Su Jinxiu into a flurry of activity. She hadn't scolded or punished her, and couldn't understand why she was crying.
However, now was not the time to ask. Su Jinxiu crouched down, embraced her, and gently patted her tender back.
"Gugu, be good, don't cry anymore."
"Nanfeng, you're an adult, why are you still acting like a child and making Gugu cry? Can't you be more mature?" Yu Huilan hurried over, immediately blaming Liu Nanfeng.
Liu Nanfeng looked bewildered, completely unaware of what had happened.
Liu Zonghe, standing nearby, had a look of embarrassment. That wasn't what he had just said.
Alas, women.
ps: Catching up for yesterday, two more chapters.
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