Chapter 353: Bound to the Child-Bearing System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 354: Passersby Strive to Live (22)

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

Rocks flew and tiles shattered as the entire environment exploded with a boom.

The quiet place was destroyed in an instant, with crowds of injured people lying everywhere.

Liu Jingsheng gritted his teeth; he could not help Liu Xiuwen deal with the Strange Phenomenon, and could only struggle to maintain the array.

Those who fell were constantly replaced, and Liu Jingsheng reminded everyone that they must protect the array: "If this array is broken, it will endanger all of Yingchuan."

No one wanted their family to be harmed, and they all brought out their trump card skills.

Liu Xiuwen in midair no longer cared about holding back, but instead deliberately lured the Strange Phenomenon into the array.

Cold silver blades danced across the sky, illuminating half the city as bright as day.

Flesh and blood fell from the Strange Phenomenon's body, instantly turning into blood mist that obscured the view.

"Bold Strange Phenomenon, die!"

Liu Xiuwen's voice boomed beside their ears, timely waking those who had fallen into the blood mist.

Liu Jingsheng's complexion was so terrible it made people retreat, while he himself suddenly took out a palm-sized jade seal from his bosom and tossed it into the thick blood mist.

…………

"Master, what's wrong?"

Waking in shock at midnight, Shen Yao raised a hand to cover her thumping chest, gazing coldly out the window.

Qing Shui heard the noise and rose from the couch to check, her expression full of worry.

Shen Yao waved her hand, "Help me to the window to look."

"This" Qing Shui wanted to speak but stopped, and in the end resigned herself to helping her mistress up.

"The doctor said that during postpartum confinement one should not be exposed to wind too much; the night air is cool, Master should pay more attention to your health."

To ensure the mistress's sleep, the newborn Eldest Miss was taken to the wet nurse at night, staying only in the small wooden bed in the room during the day.

Shen Yao smiled and said only that her health was fine, and occasionally being exposed to wind was no great problem.

The originally tightly closed window was pushed open a crack, Shen Yao rested her hand by the window, gazing at the sky above where not a single star flickered.

"Qing Shui, do you feel that tonight is too quiet?"

Qing Shui's gaze was blank; wasn't every night quiet? Why did her mistress single out tonight?

She nodded hesitantly and agreed, "Tonight the sky grew dark earlier."

Usually there was still some dusk sunset, but today it fell into night in an instant.

But this counted for nothing; every year there were always a few days like this.

Shen Yao smiled helplessly, her back to Qing Shui, her hand waving lightly twice; only a streak of flowing light danced, then vanished into the vast night.

Closing the open window, Shen Yao lowered her head and drank half a cup of warm water, then went to bed to rest.

Qing Shui:...

Qing Shui scratched her head, her own drowsiness surging, so she had no mind to ponder Shen Yao's intent, only turned over and slept soundly.

And that streak of flowing light Shen Yao had sent out was actually a piece of Demon-Suppressing Talisman Paper.

Sensing that something had happened in the city, and with the system speaking vaguely, Shen Yao had no choice but to act and help out.

She only hoped the Demon-Suppressing Talisman Paper would have some effect, allowing Liu Xiuwen and the others to return safely.

Night faded, day arrived

Upon waking, Shen Yao did not forget to ask the system about the battle in the city.

"Host need not worry; Liu Xiuwen has the upper hand, and the outcome will soon be decided."

Watching the exciting fight with boiling blood, the system wished there were a few more battles.

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. You also said the Demon Race has breached Bian Guan; who knows if there might be Demon Race lurking here, taking the opportunity to ambush?"

This was also Shen Yao's purpose in sending out the Demon-Suppressing Talisman Paper—afraid of having the fruit snatched at the last moment.

"There are indeed Demon Race in Yingchuan; Host did not use Demon-Suppressing Talisman Paper?" It was personally refined by a Great Power of the Cultivation World, quality guaranteed.

"Demon-Suppressing Talisman Paper is just a dead object; if few Demon Race come, all is well; if many come, it is a drop in the bucket."

The system fell silent, then after a while spoke again: "Host need not worry; Yingchuan's greatest crisis this time is that Strange Phenomenon; as for other cities, there will be demon calamities."

Shen Yao retorted: "Did you just personally go investigate?"

The system made an affirmative sound: "So Host can rest assured; Yingchuan is very safe."

Dangerous are those several cities near Bian Guan; the Demon Race's methods are ruthless and leave no survivors, often killing people and slaughtering cities.

The Emperor of Wei provoked a circle of debts and fled back to the Imperial Palace to hide; only the lower-class commoners suffer.

Shen Yao rubbed her eyebrows and eyes: "System, is there a way to probe the will of Heaven?"

The system was vigilant: "Host, what do you want to do?"

"Fortune is sought in danger; since Heaven can trade with us to bear a Buddha Son, it shows it still favors the Human Race more; could we borrow Heaven's hand to provide this world with more profound cultivation methods and advancement paths? Both the Martial Artist and cultivator paths have obvious defects."

The system once again closed its mouth and said nothing, perhaps going to ponder how great the probability of success was.

Sometimes, stepping out of basic missions and approaching from other aspects helps them obtain more precious rewards.

Shen Yao and the system naturally wanted to gain more benefits; this had no harm for them.

Calling out loudly for Qing Shui, Shen Yao asked how the three children were doing.

Learning that Liu Mingxuan and Liu Mingfei were being taken by Liu Jingyan to cultivate, and the Youngest Son had finished drinking milk and was playing, Shen Yao had Qing Shui bring the Youngest Son over.

Although Shen Yao rarely nursed personally, she fed system pills every day without cease, to ensure the Youngest Son's body developed smoothly and did not fall too far behind his two older brothers and sisters.

The child, stripped of its red skin, was fair and tender, slowly revealing how it differed from others.

Its fetal hair fell away, leaving a bald little head; even though it could not yet control an infant's bodily instincts, the Buddha nature it displayed was clear—just looking at it, one would think it a disciple of the Buddhist Gate lost to the outside world.

For this reason, everyone in the small courtyard, high and low, was forbidden by Liu Jingyan from speaking of it. Not only was discussion of the youngest son's peculiarity strictly banned, but they could not speak too many words about the matter.

The two of them intended to wait until Liu Xiuwen returned before deciding how to handle it.

"Master, it is time to dine."

Qing Shui brought the soup and water prepared early that morning, all focused on nourishment and recuperation; childbirth greatly drains a woman's vital energy, and the prescriptions the doctor wrote were mainly for replenishing qi.

Shen Yao placed the child in her arms onto the wooden bed, gently patting it to sleep, then rose and went to dine.

Unlike ordinary people who must stay abed for everything, Shen Yao preferred to move about more to recover.

The morning meal was not large in quantity, just enough for Shen Yao to eat until eighty percent full.

"No news from the city yet?" she asked casually in the course of the day, tending to herself before the tall dressing mirror.

Qing Shui shook her head, removed the hairpin securing Shen Yao's hair, and presented the freshly brought clothes with both hands.

The greenish-blue long skirt was flowing and gentle, fitting her figure; Shen Yao loved these colors and would usually wear them when going out.

Even though she could only stay in her room these days, dressing up each day was still indispensable.

"Go down, and bring the unread books," Shen Yao said, removing her shoes and socks, curling up on the couch, propped on a thick soft pillow.

Qing Shui assented, turned, and brought back a stack of books.

The books with blue covers and black characters looked ordinary enough, but their contents were excellent for passing the time.

Shen Yao had been very fond of reading lately, and would occasionally discuss truth and falsehood with the system.

As written today: a woman betrothed but not yet wed who must guard her widowhood bears deep resentment, transforming into strange words that claim lives.

Rustle—

The pages in her hand were turned, making a sound; Shen Yao read the contents on and off, asking the system whether it had investigated this strange phenomenon.

The system was speechless: "... Host is very idle? There are so many strange phenomena in the world; some are formed from obsession, some are born of pollution."

Although the book's contents contained many exaggerations, the general situation was accurate; even an ordinary person with no strength to truss a chicken in life, if their obsession ran deep enough, could become a strange phenomenon and slaughter their former relatives and kin.

"I am indeed very idle," Shen Yao said. Postpartum confinement forbade going out, and the city was in trouble; there were only so many things a capable person like her could do.

Learning of the outside world through reading, then confirming truth from falsehood through the system—this was Shen Yao's best way to pass the time while saving resources.

"The woman guarding her widowhood thinks of nothing, is often bullied, and has no avenue for redress..." Shen Yao read softly, then said such a vulgar custom was common in ancient times, its purpose merely to fulfill certain people's private desires.

"Strange phenomena all had a tragic past in life, and now they feed on the Human Race—truly ironic."

Thud. The finished book was closed and set aside; Shen Yao lowered her head and smoothed her sleeve. "What about my previous proposal? Have you considered it?"

"We accomplish it through the Hand of Heaven; though we will lose part of the reward, these can all count as extra income."

Extra income is not included within the mission; it is the optional sort.

It was just that Shen Yao was greedy, feeling that having come to a mission world with such difficulty, not gathering a bit more would be letting herself down.

A world lasts at least several decades at minimum; Shen Yao would not waste time for nothing.

The system was reminded by Shen Yao, and thought of what had been said before.

Its tone paused, its mechanical sound somewhat wronged: "Heaven is often in chaos; I can only wait for an opportunity."

Just like the mission to bear a Buddha Son—it was only because Heaven suddenly sobered up and it happened to encounter it that there was such a good thing.

"Heaven has been polluted by this world for too long; I think we should first cultivate the Buddha Son." As long as enough strange phenomena were destroyed, Heaven would sober up sooner or later.

One's gain is another's loss; energy is conserved.

The system intended for Shen Yao to take a roundabout approach, after all, making it wait for Heaven to sober up was harder than not letting it watch the spectacle.

The system refused this inhumane method and advised the Host to temporarily give up.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao increasingly felt the system had a childish temperament; perhaps it had truly been affected by the mission, and maybe one day the system would take form, becoming an intelligent life possessing the Seven Emotions and Six Desires.

Laughing softly, Shen Yao no longer spoke to the system; she seriously examined a new book, striving to absorb its contents.

Three days later, Liu Jingyan suddenly received news that Liu Xiuwen and the others would return within a few days.

This was the first definite news Liu Jingyan had received since Liu Xiuwen and the others entered Yingchuan city; he ran excitedly to find Shen Yao and share it.

Perhaps wanting to vent the suppression in his heart, Liu Jingyan pulled Shen Yao and talked for a long while; had the youngest son not been uncooperative and fussy, he might have talked until nightfall.

"As for Chen'er's matter, once Grandfather returns, there will surely be a solution."

The youngest son had no formal name; the couple had only given him the nickname Chen'er.

Looking down at his youngest son with a bald head, Liu Jingyan felt a turmoil of emotions.

"A Yan, as long as you treat Chen'er well, I have no resentment," Shen Yao said softly, holding the swaddled child in her arms.

Just as a mother holds the simplest hopes for her child: to grow up safe and sound, free from worry for a lifetime.

No matter what, the three children Shen Yao bore were connected to her by bloodline.

Even if the child in her arms was destined to walk a rugged and difficult road, all Shen Yao could do was use pills to as much as possible raise the child's own potential, so as to gain the upper hand in future battles.

Liu Jingyan stretched out his arms to embrace mother and child, feeling ashamed of himself in his heart.

He was still too inadequate; if he could not protect his wife and children, what could he accomplish?

Intending to find a way to improve his own strength, Liu Jingyan, now a young man, began to strive diligently.

Shen Yao expressed understanding and support; Liu Jingyan did it all for his wife and children—if he grew stronger by a point, Shen Yao could lie flat by a point.

Two days later, Liu Jingsheng returned first with Lady Liu.

Liu Xiuwen temporarily remained in the city to handle matters and would be delayed several days.

Liu Jingyan went out to welcome them, and by the way told Lady Liu the good news of Shen Yao's childbirth.

Lady Liu's spirits lifted, especially upon hearing that Shen Yao had given birth to a boy; she was so happy she could not stop smiling.

It was not a preference for sons over daughters; because she had only borne Liu Jingsheng and Liu Jingyan, with Liu Jingsheng's marriage still pending and Liu Jingyan now adding a son to the family, it greatly comforted Lady Liu's heart.

Without returning to her room to rest, Lady Liu took a detour and went straight to Shen Yao's small courtyard, conveniently visiting the newborn child.

As a result, a bright, shining bald head left Lady Liu speechless.

Shen Yao spoke in a soft and innocent tone, "A Yan said everything should wait until Grandfather returns."

Lady Liu nodded, "Correct, this matter still requires Grandfather to step forward."

Liu Xiuwen is well-read and knowledgeable; he should know why his own grandson is losing hair and turning into a boiled egg.

Lady Liu:...

Feeling her description was a bit excessive, but her own grandson really was fair and tender, Lady Liu could only think of certain pastries she usually ate.

Without disturbing Shen Yao too much, Lady Liu had been weary from staying in Cheng these days; she rubbed her slightly tired eyebrows and eyes, then stood up and left.

After another two quarters of an hour, Shen Yao received a gift from Lady Liu.

All were fine products; whether ornaments or medicinal ingredients, Shen Yao could use them all.

Satisfied to accept these gifts, Shen Yao had Qing Shui store them in Ku Fang, and conveniently prepared a valuable return gift, "Mother has been anxious staying in Cheng, so what is sent should focus on calming the spirit and nourishing the body."

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had no conflict, and Shen Yao did not mind being a thoughtful daughter-in-law.

The persona still had to be established; even though she was in postpartum confinement and could not handle household affairs, with servants helping, she could still help share Lady Liu's pressure, allowing people to have time to rest more.

After Liu Jingsheng and Lady Liu returned, the pressure on Liu Jingyan suddenly decreased.

However, Liu Jingyan did not forget to strive for self-improvement, training hard every day, fearing neither bitterness nor fatigue, which truly surprised Liu Jingsheng.

It was Liu Jingsheng who reminded him to balance work and rest; unlike children who could unlock potential, their own potential was basically fixed, and no matter how hard they tried, it was of little use.

Liu Jingyan was helpless and could only change methods, relying on the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures in Ku Fang to assist in his cultivation.

This time Liu Jingsheng did not persuade him, but chose to join him; the two brothers seemed to have returned to their childhood, doing nothing but cultivating every day.

After a few more days, Liu Xiuwen returned home, and the Yingchuan crisis was completely resolved.