Ling Li's gaze turned distant, her expression softening with an unspoken weight. "I didn't tell Chatty — it isn't my secret to share. But Pharsa is pregnant. It's why I've assigned her a different task."

Four Eyes blinked in disbelief, processing her words as if they were a puzzle he had to piece together. Ling Li's lips curved into a gentle laugh, warm and echoing. "Honey, she's pregnant with triplets."

For a moment, Four Eyes stood frozen, his mind racing. "Triplets?" he repeated, rubbing the back of his neck in an attempt to grasp the reality of her news. "Must run in her genes… what a surprise."

He paused, then a tender smile broke through his astonishment. "Murphy will be ecstatic. I'm so happy for him. He's been alone for what feels like an eternity… longing for family."

Ling Li placed a gentle hand on his arm, her touch calming him like a soothing balm. "You and Fatty are his brothers, not by blood but by heart. We are here for him; we are his family. Shensei had previously revealed that Pharsa will indeed have triplets, indicating that his divination is quite powerful."

Four Eyes nodded slowly, emotion welling in his eyes as the truth of her words sank in. "Right… I know. We're all here for both Murphy and Pharsa. They'll never be alone again."

Ling Li stepped back, her demeanor shifting as focus replaced warmth. "You should return to your training. I need to head home and prepare Shi Min's acupuncture."

Reaching out, Four Eyes let his hand linger gently over her womb, an act filled with both tenderness and concern. "Be careful. Are the three boys behaving themselves?"

Ling Li smiled, placing her hand over his in a protective gesture. "I'm careful. The three beanies are quite well-behaved."

With a graceful reluctance, she peeled away from his embrace, a quiet resolve in her movement. "Go back. Don't keep Master Veyron waiting."

A heavy sigh escaped Four Eyes, his fingers lingering in the air where she had been before they fell to his side. "Okay," he murmured, glancing back to the path ahead.

Just as he turned to leave, Ling Li's voice called him back, a soft yet commanding whisper that cut through the air.

"Um… Honey."

He paused, looking over his shoulder, his heart quickening at the sound.

Ling Li's gaze sharpened, her voice now serious. "Be more decisive when you attack."

Before he could respond, she vanished in a dazzling shimmer of light, leaving behind the faint, haunting scent of lotus and the echo of her words lingering in the air.

Four Eyes remained still for a moment, the gentle wind brushing past him as if urging him onward. Then, with a newfound determination in his steps, he turned his focus forward. Master Veyron was waiting, and Ling Li's guidance resonated in the depths of his mind, sharpening his resolve.

The Bath of Preparation

Under the brilliant light of Peonies Castle, Shi Min emerged from Ling Li's study, his heart heavy and burdened. The conversation had reached its end, yet the echo of his mother's unease clung to him like a persistent shadow, weighing upon his chest.

He could feel her quiet turmoil—an invisible specter of fear that enveloped him—and it shattered him from within. Ling Li, his mother, had always been a pillar of strength, an unwavering fortress. But beneath her composed exterior, Shi Min recognized the depth of her struggles. He had witnessed the endless way she bore the weight of the world, how she offered a gentle smile even amidst exhaustion. It pained him to see her valiantly maintaining her facade, never allowing her children a glimpse of her faltering spirit.

His admiration for his mother was profound.

She had raised him and his siblings — Ren, himself, and Lily — with an unwavering grace that seemed almost ethereal. Their father, a fleeting presence in their lives, had vanished into the shadows of his own insecurities after Lily's birth, consumed by paranoia. Ling Li had sought annulment without bitterness, never once allowing a negative word to escape her lips about the man who had left them in the dark.

But Shi Min could not remain in ignorance.

Driven by a need for truth, he had delved into the depths of his father's past, unearthing a tale of manipulation, instability, and emotional warfare. If he were to distill the essence of that man into a single word, "psycho" would be a fitting description.

Thus, he and Ren had grown up too quickly, forced to mature under the weight of their mother's heartache. They had become shields for Lily, protecting her from the harsh realities they had faced, allowing her to revel in the joyous innocence of a childhood untainted by despair. In every moment, they supported Ling Li, managing the household tasks, guarding her precious time, and striving to keep her worries at bay.

With the precision of a seasoned general and the tenderness of a devoted mother, she had balanced work, family, and the demands of the Li clan.

As Shi Min entered his room, silence enveloped him like a soft, familiar shroud. He made his way to the bathroom where a wooden bathtub awaited him, its polished Hinoki Cypress surface gleaming warmly under the gentle glow of soft light.

With a reverent touch, he retrieved the small pouch that Ling Li had entrusted to him earlier. As he opened it, a cascade of crushed herbs and powdered roots danced into the tub, swirling together with the rising steam to create a heady, intoxicating aroma that filled the room.

He turned on the hot water, and as it trickled into the tub, the herbs began to unfurl in a vibrant display, blooming to life in a fragrant ballet.

While waiting for the water to reach the desired level, he stepped under the shower, rinsing away the remnants of sweat and grime that clung to him like a second skin. The warmth enveloped him, yet his thoughts remained cold and heavy, anchored by the reality he was steeped in.

After drying off, he sank into the tub, the water embracing him like a long-lost friend. Instantly, the scent enveloped him — rich, earthy, and ancient — a tapestry of his mother's love woven into each drop.

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