Chapter 623

The crowd burst into cheers.

Everyone present was delighted for Yu Nian and Wang Fuchen.

I originally wanted to rush over right away and give Yu Nian a big hug, but as soon as I moved, Liu Junyan pulled me back.

He shook his head at me.

I was puzzled and about to ask him why he wasn't letting me pass, when on the opposite bank, the two generals Jinjia and Yinsuo had already commanded the yin constables to start clearing the area.

The entire riverbank was surrounded by troops of yin soldiers.

After that, we couldn't see what happened in that area.

But we could guess a little.

Wang Fuchen returned, and new challenges in the Nether Realm followed.

The first matter is that General Jinjia Yinsuo must guarantee his safety.

Next, does he need to recuperate? Enter secluded cultivation?

How will Wang Fuchen secure his position as the City God, and how will he explain the matter of Junzhu Mountain to his superior?

Should he accept judgment? Punishment?

All that and more—a heap of messy affairs needs him to handle.

These… are also things we can't help with.

But after this calamity, Wang Fuchen's abilities, as well as his standing in the City God Temple and even the Nether Realm, can be glimpsed.

Had his abilities or status been even slightly lacking, the City God Temple would have been overturned during those few days of his disappearance.

Over the next few days, Hui Moqiong would occasionally bring back some rumors about the Nether Realm.

The most discussed topic turned out not to be Wang Fuchen.

Perhaps it's related to the City God Temple's information blockade.

On the contrary, Yu Nian was suddenly pushed into the spotlight.

Regarding Yu Nian's identity, every detail about her parents was dug up.

There were supportive voices, as well as skeptical ones.

But they were soon suppressed.

In the end, the two points most often mentioned were:

One was her stunning appearance as she piloted the ferry on the Heishui River that day,

That was truly a breathtaking sight.

Many years later, whenever I recall that scene, I feel proud of Yu Nian.

The other was Yu Nian's unwavering love for the City God over the past several hundred years.

As for that, the more it's retold, the more outrageous it becomes.

I don't know if someone behind the scenes is subtly guiding it, but they've practically beautified this love story into a model couple template for the Nether Realm.

During that time Yu Nian didn't appear, and the Seven Halls Yama reassured us, saying she was safe inside the City God Temple and nothing would happen.

The ferry bobbed aimlessly on the Wangchuan River for many days, then suddenly one day Yu Nian reappeared on it.

Thereafter for many years, this ferry shuttled between the Wangshui River, Wangchuan River, and Heishui River; no one knows how many souls it has ferried across, nor how many people it has saved.

Of course, it has also helped me a great deal.

The first favor I asked Yu Nian to do for me was to ferry Fu Wan and Zhao Zixun across the Wangchuan River.

This matter still needs to be set aside for later discussion.

After we returned from the Nether Realm, everyone felt as if they had set down a heavy burden, lying down and not wanting to get up.

After resting for two days, everyone became lively and vigorous again.

Only I was different.

Perhaps I was too tense beforehand, overexerting myself; I slept groggily for three days, feeling listless all over and unable to muster any energy.

Moreover, I kept having strange, bizarre dreams.

The thing I dreamed of most was still the sound of children giggling.

Until just before dawn on the fourth day, I suddenly dreamed of a tree.

A small tree sprouted from the ground, growing and growing until it became a towering wutong tree reaching into the clouds.

Countless birds of all kinds flitted and circled among the wutong trees.

On the thickest branch of the wutong tree stood a small, multicolored phoenix, tilting its head to look at me, as if smiling…

I jolted awake from the dream, sitting there dazed, my mind blank for a moment.

Liu Junyan turned on the light, reached out and pulled me close, asking, "Did you dream again?"

"Mm." I replied, saying, "Āyàn, I dreamed of a wutong tree."

I told Liu Junyan about the dream I just had.

After listening, Liu Junyan pondered and said, "Xiao Jiu, why not have Bai Shulan come over to take your pulse?"

I shook my head: "It's not even dawn yet; it's just a lot of dreaming, no need to make a fuss."

But Liu Junyan said, "Still, let her come over to have a look."

Then he got dressed, got out of bed, and went out.

Watching Liu Junyan's hurriedly retreating back, I felt somewhat puzzled.

Then I realized he also knows some basic pulse-taking and can spot ailments, so I started wondering wildly whether he had discovered I had some serious illness.

Otherwise, why would he insist on summoning Bai Shulan before dawn?

Bai Shulan arrived quickly; on the way, Liu Junyan must have told her something, because as soon as she arrived she went straight to taking my pulse.

She felt left and right, seeming uncertain, then turned her head and glanced at Liu Junyan again.

Then her finger suddenly pressed down hard, making me feel a bit sore, and Bai Shulan said: "Ah, don't move, it seems there is."

Yes, indeed there is; I just got pregnant not long ago, the pregnancy pulse is a bit weak, I'll come back in a few days to check the pulse again.

Me:??

Already pregnant?

Bai Shulan turned to Liu Junyan and said: "When Xiao Jiu was pregnant with Xingchen, she followed you around, running here and there, worried and frightened, and you couldn't even stay at home peacefully to take care of her for a few days; this time you must stay by her side properly, instead of being clueless all day, acting like no husband or father."

Liu Junyan was a bit excited, smiling with narrowed eyes as he nodded: "I know, this time I'll do well."

Bai Shulan then said to me: "Men should take responsibility; don't burden yourself with everything, properly nurturing the pregnancy is the proper thing."

I readily agreed.

Bai Shulan then relaxed, yawned, and said: "Then I'll go back to sleep, congratulations to you two."

Liu Junyan saw her to the door, then returned, sat beside the bed, took my hand, and smiled foolishly.

After a moment, he reached out and placed his hand on my belly, rubbing it.

"Don't touch it, the pregnancy pulse isn't easy to feel; what could you feel from my belly?" I asked curiously, "Āyàn, how did you guess I'm pregnant? Just because I keep dreaming?"

"Yes, I believe you're having a fetal dream." Liu Junyan said solemnly, "The little girl who keeps smiling at you in the dream should be our daughter; she must be a spiritually perceptive little one, giving you advance notice that she's coming."

He spoke as if it were true.

Liu Junyan continued: "Tonight's fetal dream is even clearer; your daughter follows you, a small, multicolored phoenix."

This time, I also unconsciously rubbed my belly, wondering if it would really be a little girl like me.

Then I'd have both a son and a daughter, how wonderful!

Then I wondered, will this be a live birth or an egg-laying?

How long will the pregnancy last?

After a while, should I go to the hospital for an ultrasound?

Just then, the phone on the bedside table rang; I picked it up and saw it was Tang Xun calling.

It was just past five; my aunt calling this early must mean something urgent has happened.

I hurriedly caught it, and before I could speak, Tang Xun bombarded me with questions: "Xiao Jiu, how have you been feeling lately? Do you feel excessively sleepy? Do you often feel like vomiting? Do you suddenly crave spicy or sour foods..."