The moon was dark and the wind was high, the night deep and the world quiet.

When Chen Xuanbao led a group of Green-robed Cultists into the small courtyard where Xia Chan lived, she was nowhere to be seen.

"Archbishop, the Young Mistress has already... left," a Green-robed Cultist approached Chen Xuanbao, his face covered in cold sweat.

Chen Xuanbao's face darkened, but then the corners of his mouth suddenly lifted. "Well done, Chu Qingchan. You've really played me for a fool."

"But do you think you can escape from my Five Finger Mountain just like that?"

「Danlong Ancient Mountain.」

In a certain dense forest.

Xia Chan, holding an infant, suddenly stopped on a large tree, her eyes coldly fixed on the two black-robed figures that had appeared before her out of nowhere.

These two black-robed figures were two of the Upper Nine Deities.

Xia Chan didn't know the names of these two deities, but since they were part of the Upper Nine Deities, their power must be extraordinary.

Although Xia Chan had attained the power of the Earth Immortal Realm after receiving the cultivation passed on by Chu Yiguan before his death, fighting two of the Upper Nine Deities while protecting a child was undoubtedly a source of immense pressure.

But at this point, she had no other choice.

Her only option was to fight.

"The Young Mistress is truly cunning. But do you really think you can escape Danlong Ancient Mountain?"

Xia Chan's expression was emotionless. "If I can't escape, then I'll fight my way out."

"It doesn't have to be this way. As long as you hand over the child, you will still be the Young Mistress of the Holy Boi Religion."

Hearing this, Xia Chan let out a cold laugh. "Spare me the nonsense. If you want to touch my child... you'll have to step over my dead body."

...

「Five nights later.」

「Capital City.」

「Martial Alliance Training Base.」

"Master, please drink your medicine and get some rest. I can handle these matters." Lin Xiyue carried a bowl of medicine into the military tent.

Lin Jianlong, draped in a thick, warm military coat, was sitting at his desk, perusing documents.

Compared to four years ago, Lin Jianlong seemed like a different person. He was aged and gaunt, with deeply sunken eyes.

Except for his eyes, which remained as sharp and experienced as ever, his entire being had lost the air of supreme confidence he once possessed. He looked more like a gravely ill old man, a heart-wrenching sight to behold.

Years ago, he had been gravely injured in the battle at Danlong Ancient Mountain. He had only managed to hold on this long thanks to the White Skirt Medical Immortal, Lu Nianjiao.

Seeing Lin Jianlong so engrossed, as if in a trance, Lin Xiyue sighed helplessly and gently placed the bowl of medicine aside.

Four years ago, after being sent back to Earth by the mysterious power of the Tai'a Divine Bottle, Lin Xiyue had arrived in Capital City.

She executed various high-difficulty missions with the other four Valkyries while also learning all sorts of military knowledge from Lin Jianlong.

Everyone now knew she was Lin Jianlong's protégée, and they all understood... Lin Jianlong was intentionally grooming her to be the Chief Commander of the Three Armies.

She kept herself busy every day, allowing herself no spare time. She just wanted to become numb, numb enough to forget the pain of Luo Xiu and Xun Mi's deaths. But in the quiet of the night, she still felt immense pain, a pain that caused her to toss and turn, unable to sleep.

Not a day went by that she didn't live with regret.

If only I hadn't delved into the depths of the Divine Palace, if I hadn't comprehended the Ancient Starry Sky Sword, then I wouldn't have unleashed the Evil Ancient God. If the Evil Ancient God hadn't been released, Luo Xiu wouldn't have had to draw his sword...

But alas, there were no ifs.

And just like that, four whole years had passed.

...

"Chief Commander, Vice Marshal, an urgent matter to report!"

Suddenly, the voice of a messenger resonated from outside the tent.

"Enter!"

Shortly after, a messenger in battle gear entered the tent and said, "The heretic witch Chu Qingchan requests an audience..."

Hearing this, Lin Xiyue's gaze grew heavy.

The heretic witch Chu Qingchan... isn't that Xia Chan?

She couldn't understand why Xia Chan would suddenly come here.

A moment later, when Lin Xiyue found Xia Chan, she discovered that she was covered in blood, with numerous shocking wounds. She was on the brink of unconsciousness, seemingly clinging to life by sheer will alone.

Lin Xiyue couldn't imagine what she must have gone through.

In her arms, she was tightly holding a swaddled baby.

Lin Xiyue asked, "What happened?"

Xia Chan's hands trembled as she struggled to hand the swaddled infant to Lin Xiyue.

"This is... Luo Xiu's... child."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiyue's gaze sharpened. "Luo Xiu's child? You and he..."

Xia Chan's voice was weak, her delicate body swaying as if about to fall. "Lin Xiyue, I've defected from the cult... now I can only turn to you. It doesn't matter what happens to me, but please, take care of... the child..."

Her voice was intermittent, and before she could finish, Xia Chan passed out.

Lin Xiyue quickly reached out to catch the falling bundle and extended her other hand to support Xia Chan.

"Immediately take her for treatment! Notify the Medic Immortal to come over!"

"Yes!"

Afterwards, Lin Xiyue looked at the baby boy in the swaddling, who was staring up at her with wide eyes, and hummed softly.

"'The mouth and nose... they really do look like him.'"

At that moment, Lin Jianlong, leaning on a cane, came hobbling over. Observing the infant, he exclaimed, "Born an Earth Immortal. Truly worthy of his lineage."

Hearing this, Lin Xiyue couldn't help but think of Lin Shanshan and silently marvel at the strength of the Azure Emperor Bloodline.

She still remembered when Lin Shanshan was two years old, she had once disobeyed and crossed the road, causing a car accident. Remarkably, Lin Shanshan was unharmed. The small van that hit her, however, was wrecked, and its driver was seriously injured.

In the quiet that followed, Lin Jianlong asked, "What are you planning to do?"

Lin Xiyue replied, "Since he is his child, I will naturally treat him as my own."

Suddenly, a cell phone rang.

Pulling out her phone, Lin Xiyue saw it was a video call from her mother, Zhang Cui, who was far away in Sea City.

"Mom, it's so late. Is something the matter?"

"Mommy, it's me, it's me, your little fairy!"

A delicate little face, like that of a porcelain doll, suddenly popped up on the screen.

Seeing her beloved daughter, whom she missed dearly, Lin Xiyue's mood instantly lightened.

"Shan Shan, why aren't you asleep yet? Don't you have kindergarten tomorrow?"

"Do you need Mommy to tell you I don't have school tomorrow? Ugh, it's so much trouble being a girl. There are always a few days a month we don't feel like going to school."

Lin Xiyue wore a strange expression. "You're getting too clever for your own good. Just how old are you?"

"Hey... Mommy, is that Grandpa Long next to you?"

"Yes, it is."

Lin Xiyue turned the phone camera towards Lin Jianlong.

Seeing the cute little girl, Lin Jianlong's heart almost melted. Shan Shan would come to Capital City to play for a few days during her school holidays, but since Lin Xiyue was so busy, it was always Lin Jianlong who looked after her. To him, she was like his own granddaughter.

"Shan Shan, be good. Next time you come, Grandpa Long will take you to buy candied hawthorn sticks."

"Grandpa Long, Shan Shan wants a big bottle of cola!"

"Alright, Grandpa Long will buy it for you."

...

After chatting for a while, Zhang Cui suddenly took the phone.

"Um, Xiyue, actually, I have something to ask you."

"What is it?"

"Well, I found a piece of land in the provincial capital. You know how they're planning to develop that area, right? So your dad and I were thinking..."

"I understand," Lin Xiyue suddenly cut her off. "From now on, just decide for yourself when you need to spend money. You don't need to ask me."

"Okay then. I'll have your dad bring Shan Shan to the provincial capital to play for a few days."

"Make sure she's safe, and don't let her eat strange things."

Zhang Cui's expression was a bit odd. "I understand the part about not letting her eat just anything, but as for her safety... shouldn't other people be the ones who need to be careful around *her*?"

"The other day she was being naughty again, climbing onto the roof by herself to catch a cat. She ended up stepping on and breaking someone's air conditioning unit, and it almost fell on someone."

Lin Xiyue was instantly exasperated. "Tell her if she dares to be that naughty again, I'll deal with her when I'm home for the New Year!"

...

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