Shen Tanqi took a deep breath, but Yu Ce’s words managed to provoke a smile out of him. He couldn’t help but think of Yu Ce’s serious expression just now when he mentioned wanting to have a child with him. It was absurd to hear such nonsense from a dignified protagonist like Yu Ce, and the more Shen Tanqi thought about it, the more amusing it became. In the end, he laughed so hard that the entire coffin couldn’t stop trembling.
The lingering resentment of not having the child also dissipated amidst this laughter.
“What are you thinking, Yu Ce? Aren’t two children enough for you to raise?” Shen Tanqi asked, pressing his hand against Yu Ce’s chest and wiping away the tears of laughter from his eyes. “Could it be that you like me?”
A sliver of moonlight seeped through a gap in the coffin, illuminating the corners of Shen Tanqi’s lips, which were twitching with suppressed laughter. Yu Ce looked at him solemnly and replied in a low voice, “I don’t know what it means to like someone.”
Having grown up among the dragon clan, all Yu Ce knew was the desire to leave that place. As he grew older, he embarked on a journey seeking immortality, apprenticing under masters, and finally arriving at the Rongyun Sect after years of rigorous cultivation, finally establishing his lifelong motivation—to rid evil and uphold justice.
Beyond that, he had never entertained thoughts of romantic love in his life.
Even if he were to have a child with Shen Tanqi, the concept of liking someone had never crossed his mind.
Shen Tanqi was momentarily taken aback by his response, recalling the original storyline in his mind. He hadn’t read much of that book, but every time he did, it was all about the male lead leveling up and fighting monsters—a pure power fantasy.
As for romance, it seemed to be absent, or perhaps he just hadn’t noticed it.
Could it be that Yu Ce really had never considered the idea of liking someone?
After a brief pause, Shen Tanqi reached out and lightly tapped Yu Ce’s chest with his fingertip, asking, “When you see me, does your heart beat fast?”
At his words, Yu Ce closed his eyes, carefully feeling his own heartbeat.
He soon opened his eyes again, his gaze still fixed on Shen Tanqi’s face, and slowly shook his head.
“No.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Tanqi felt somewhat reassured and casually patted Yu Ce on the shoulder, saying, “Well, if your heart doesn’t race, then you don’t like me. Liking someone makes your heart beat faster.”
Yu Ce struggled to grasp the meaning behind his words and continued, “But why does not having a fast heartbeat mean I don’t like you?”
“There’s no why,” Shen Tanqi replied. Having never been in love himself and spending his days working for others, he didn’t really understand what a racing heartbeat felt like. However, from his internet browsing and drama watching, he had picked up some essentials about love. “Just remember, if you see someone and your heart can’t help but beat faster, if you feel a bit dizzy and captivated, always wanting to be close to them subconsciously—that’s what liking someone feels like.”
Yu Ce pondered this for a moment before shaking his head again. “I’ve never felt that way.”
At this, Shen Tanqi couldn’t help but laugh again, meeting Yu Ce’s resigned gaze and explaining, “I’m not laughing at you. I just thought of something amusing.”
With Yu Ce’s way of thinking and talking, he might remain single for life.
The thought of possibly being the first to find a partner compared to Yu Ce… Wait, they both had children now. Was he still considered single?
Seeing Shen Tanqi lost in thought, Yu Ce’s expression suddenly turned anxious. He knew Shen Tanqi must be up to something, so he sighed and said, “Senior brother, let’s focus on the task at hand.”
Shen Tanqi cleared his throat and quickly replied, “Yes, yes, let’s focus. While they’re busy setting up the array, let’s quickly return to the clinic and use the sound-transmitting silver mirror to contact Taro Ball and find out where they are.”
Taro Ball and Xiao Qingyu were still missing. Although Taro Ball was stronger than him, he was still just a kid.
Yu Ce nodded and manipulated the coffin to head back to the clinic following the same path.
The wind was biting cold tonight, even in Shuoxia City known for its year-round mild weather.
Having traveled this route before, they soon arrived back at the clinic. They knocked on the back door, and the beggar quickly led them inside, then shut the door tightly.
“Has Chen Gui visited during this time?” Shen Tanqi brushed off the dust from his clothes and gently took the sleeping Goldfish from the beggar’s arms.
The beggar shook his head. “Everything’s been fine. Don’t worry. Is everything taken care of?”
“Everything’s taken care of.”
As soon as the words left his lips, the little Goldfish in Shen Tanqi’s arms seemed to hear his voice, blinked sleepily, and gently grabbed onto Shen Tanqi’s clothes. His voice was soft and sweet, “Daddy, you’re back.”
Upon hearing his child’s hoarse voice, Shen Tanqi’s heart ached. He couldn’t resist kissing the little one’s forehead repeatedly and whispered softly, “Daddy’s back. Is Goldfish feeling better now? Still uncomfortable?”
Goldfish smiled innocently and patted Shen Tanqi’s chest, “Daddy, I’m okay now. I’m not uncomfortable. Can you hug Dandan?”
He had a long dream where Daddy and Father went to a big house with many people staring at them. He even dreamed of an old man holding a green stick, his beard bristling with anger, saying he wanted to beat Daddy to death.
In his dream, he was so scared and wanted to hold Daddy, hoping the old man wouldn’t hurt Daddy, but no one could hear him.
Upon hearing this, Shen Tanqi’s heart melted. He held the little one tightly in his arms, repeatedly kissing him, “It’s my fault. I didn’t realize you were sick. Daddy will be a better daddy next time.”
“Don’t blame Daddy,” Goldfish snuggled against him affectionately, whispering softly, “Dandan knows Daddy loves me the most.”
Though the child was clueless in cultivation, he unexpectedly possessed extreme sensitivity in emotions. He could sense the love and tenderness in Shen Tanqi’s eyes towards him, not a bit less than that of Yu Ce.
Yu Ce, on the side, dampened the mood with a hint of mischief in his tone, “See, as I said, he still likes being called ‘Dandan.'”
Shen Tanqi rolled his eyes at him, ignoring his comment. He reached into the layers of clothing wrapped around the child and retrieved the sound-transmitting silver mirror, lightly tracing his fingertip over it.
The silver mirror emitted a cold dragon breath, connecting to a distant place.
“Taro Ball?” Shen Tanqi hesitated for a moment, choosing to call Taro Ball’s name first.
However, it was still Xiao Qingyu who responded,
“Senior brother, Taro Ball seems to be on the verge of a breakthrough, but his forehead is covered in sweat. I don’t know what’s wrong with him. He kept calling you using this sound-transmitting silver mirror, but there was no response…”
Oh no.
Could the other child be in trouble too?
Just as Shen Tanqi was despairing, Yu Ce swiftly reached for the silver mirror, his voice calm. “Place the mirror next to his ear.”
Upon hearing Yu Ce’s voice, Xiao Qingyu seemed to find his anchor. Without pausing for a moment, he handed the sound-transmitting silver mirror to Taro Ball’s ear.
Through the silver mirror came Taro Ball’s shallow breathing, somewhat labored, as if he was enduring some pain.
Shen Tanqi’s heart felt like it was being torn apart as he looked anxiously at Yu Ce.
Yu Ce pursed his lips and whispered softly, “Adjust your breathing, Taro Ball. Clear your mind.”
The familiar voice was like a refreshing oasis in the desert. Taro Ball subconsciously licked his dry lips, his eyes tinged with red, and he forced out, “Father, I…”
He feared he wouldn’t be able to break through. Forcing a breakthrough was already defying the heavens, and he was terrified.
Before he could finish, Shen Tanqi was desperate to rush to Taro Ball’s side, but he knew being anxious now wouldn’t help. So, he held his breath, trying to calm down and listen to Yu Ce guide him.
As if reading his thoughts, Yu Ce continued calmly, “Don’t be afraid. Father is here.”
Although no substantial advice was given, Shen Tanqi could hear that Taro Ball’s breathing seemed to genuinely stabilize.
The child truly admired his father. This showed that Yu Ce’s usual teachings deeply resonated with Taro Ball, the young prodigy.
Glancing at Yu Ce’s profile, Shen Tanqi was surprised to see sweat forming on his forehead. Of course, how could he be the only one nervous at a time like this? Yu Ce naturally couldn’t show any signs of anxiety; otherwise, Taro Ball might break down completely.
Shen Tanqi reached out, picked up a piece of yellow paper from the nearby table, and gently fanned Yu Ce to help him calm down.
Yu Ce glanced up at him briefly before returning his gaze to the silver mirror, whispering to Taro Ball, “Regulate your breathing, feel the flow of spiritual energy in your spiritual field, and guide it into your organs and lungs…”
Following his instructions, Taro Ball began to comply, repeatedly absorbing and internalizing spiritual energy, his breathing becoming even more steady. Refining the spirit was about cultivating the mind and soul, repeatedly tearing and merging, ultimately achieving perfection. The primordial spirit could extend thousands of miles, harmonizing with all living things.
He tightly closed his eyes, enduring the excruciating training process akin to dancing on a hot pan, with nothing but endless darkness beneath his eyelids.
Suddenly, he seemed to glimpse a glimmer of light before him.
Taro Ball’s eyelashes trembled slightly. He dared not stop but chased after that glimmer of light as if possessed. He ran and ran, and just as suddenly as the sky lit up, it plunged into darkness again.
He could see countless days and nights, the alternating cycles of dawn and dusk, smell the fragrance of flowers and grass thousands of miles away, and leap into the distant clouds.
Looking down, he realized he had long departed from his body; now, he was just a strand of primordial spirit.
He had successfully broken through to the Nascent Soul stage!
The sound-transmitting silver mirror fell silent for a while. Shen Tanqi and Yu Ce stared at the mirror anxiously, like parents waiting eagerly for their child’s college entrance exam results.
Until a crisp voice filled with excitement finally came through—
“Daddy, Father, I’ve reached the Nascent Soul stage now!”
Shen Tanqi excitedly hugged Yu Ce beside him, repeatedly exclaiming, “What an achievement! My son is so talented! Did you hear that? Nascent Soul at three years old! Who can compare? My son achieved Nascent Soul at three!”
Startled by the sudden tight embrace, Yu Ce stiffened momentarily, unsure of how to respond. However, he was soon infected by Shen Tanqi’s joyful gaze and smiled helplessly, gently patting his back and murmuring, “Our son, our son.”
The little Goldfish also extended his tiny hand, trying to struggle out of their excited embrace. “Daddy… can’t breathe, I can’t breathe.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Tanqi quickly released Yu Ce and helped the little Goldfish regulate his breathing, unable to resist planting a kiss on his cheek. “Isn’t your little brother amazing?”
Goldfish giggled and shook his small hand, grabbing the silver mirror. “Little brother is awesome!”
Upon hearing his brother’s voice, Taro Ball’s initially happy expression turned serious. “Brother, didn’t I tell you not to come?”
Goldfish whimpered, pleading, “Sleepy, fell asleep in the little car.”
“You…” Taro Ball clutched his chest, clearly annoyed.
Shen Tanqi fell silent for a moment, gently poking Yu Ce next to him twice, “Do you ever think they’re a lot like us?”
Yu Ce glanced at him and denied, “Senior brother has never been as well-behaved as Little Goldfish.”
If he were as assertive as Taro Ball, Shen Tanqi might have ignored him long ago.
At this thought, Yu Ce secretly made up his mind. One day, he would surely have a say in this family.
Starting with being able to talk back when scolded by Shen Tanqi!
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
