7: The firewood has been delivered! Madam... is your pregnancy stable?

Pine Listening Residence was completely different from the noisy, smoky atmosphere of the Utility Section's "Firewood Courtyard." It was a tranquil area nestled against a steep cliff, surrounded by a vast expanse of millennium-old pines with twisted, vigorous postures.

The sound of the wind through the pines came in waves, carrying a unique, refreshing, and bitter fragrance.

The residence itself was not large; a few refined dwellings built of bamboo and wood were half-hidden among the cliff walls and pine shadows, appearing rustic and elegant.

The Spiritual Qi permeating the air was several times denser than in the Utility Section, seeping into the skin and bones, instantly invigorating one's spirit.

When Jiang Linfeng arrived at the small courtyard in front of the refined dwelling with the mountain-like stack of firewood on his back, he immediately spotted the figure standing in the courtyard with his back to him.

He wore a simple, faded green robe. His figure was lean, yet his posture was like a javelin, exuding a sense of aloofness and sharpness.

Even from a distance, Jiang Linfeng's keen spiritual perception, enhanced by his Source Spirit Body, could still capture the Sword Qi on the other person—restrained to the extreme, yet seemingly capable of slicing through the air at any moment!

However, this Sword Qi seemed to be entangled with a faint, almost imperceptible sense of irritation and impatience.

This must be the foul-tempered and stubborn Elder Situ.

Jiang Linfeng was debating whether to honestly unload the firewood at the shed in the corner of the courtyard and leave, or to play dumb and "politely" disturb him to show that he was just an "honest Menial Worker delivering firewood," when the green-robed figure suddenly turned around.

Hiss!

Jiang Linfeng felt a slight chill in his heart. It was a face that looked like it had been carved by a knife and axe; it could not be called handsome, but the lines were tough, his eyebrows slanted into his temples, and his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's!

At this moment, those eyes were nailed to Jiang Linfeng and the mountain of firewood on his back like ice picks, and his face was undisguisedly gloomy!

"Are you the new Menial Worker?" Elder Situ's voice was as cold and hard as his person, sounding like metal grating against stone, devoid of any emotion. "The firewood is a full two quarters of an hour late! My Spirit Spring water has already boiled dry three times!" The emerald teacup in his hand was squeezed until it creaked; he was clearly seething with rage. "That bunch of trash in the Firewood Courtyard can't even handle a simple task like delivering firewood! And they sent over this pile of... garbage?!"

His gaze swept over the stack of firewood on Jiang Linfeng's back, which was bundled as sturdily as a fortress but seemed to contain a chaotic mixture of wood types. The disgust at the corners of his mouth became even more pronounced.

"Do you have a brain or not?! Green Sandalwood needs to be shade-dried, and pine branches must be kept away from moisture! You mixed them all together! The spiritual power is chaotic and unbearable! How am I supposed to ignite a pure furnace fire with this?! Using this kind of firewood to boil water for tea is simply ruining my 'Jade Marrow Pine Needles'! Get out! Throw all these filthy things away! Tell that idiot Zhang Quan to personally deliver fifty loads of shade-dried Green Sandalwood to me! If even a piece of bark is missing, I will peel his skin off!"

A terrifying pressure, like a tangible mountain, crashed down upon Jiang Linfeng!

It was a fierce might far exceeding the Innate Realm! If it had been any other true Menial Worker, they would likely have collapsed on the ground, losing control of their bladder and bowels by now.

Jiang Linfeng inwardly cursed Steward Zhang and Qian Wanguan for messing things up, but his face immediately adopted an expression of extreme trepidation and misery. He bent his waist until it was almost touching the ground:

"E-Elder, please calm your anger! This lowly one deserves to die! This lowly one deserves to die! It is all my stupidity! It... it was on the road... the road was too slippery... I fell... and then... I ran into a pack of mad dogs blocking the way... which delayed the time! This lowly one will certainly do as you command! I will go back right now and have Steward Zhang send new firewood! This... this bundle of broken firewood, I will carry it away immediately! I would never dare to soil the Elder's courtyard!"

His voice carried a sobbing tone, and his body trembled slightly, yet his movements were extremely nimble!

With a bend and a straighten of his waist, the bundle of firewood weighing nearly two thousand jin on his back was unloaded using a clever force. It was placed steadily and almost silently in an inconspicuous corner of the dirt ground outside the courtyard, not kicking up a single speck of dust!

His movements were as fast as if he had practiced them a thousand times. Unloading the firewood and turning around happened in one fluid motion, giving Elder Situ no chance to flare up again. He took off running, repeating as he ran while bowing and scraping: "Elder, please calm your anger! This lowly one is going right now! Immediately! Immediately!"

Elder Situ: "..."

He had been preparing to use this as an excuse to vent the evil fire accumulated from his unsatisfactory morning tea on this Menial Worker who had walked right into his trap.

He had even prepared to "punish him as a warning" with a strand of Sword Qi, crippling one of his legs to establish his authority and simultaneously intimidate that bunch of trash in the Firewood Courtyard!

The result... This kid admitted his mistake as quickly as if he had memorized a script! His reaction was as fast as a frightened rabbit! And he slipped away... even more nimbly than a loach in the mud! And looking at how light as a swallow and effortless his movements were when he unloaded the firewood just now... is this the kind of strength a "stupid" Menial Worker should have?! And that bundle of firewood... it looked messy, but when he unloaded it... it was so steady that not even a blade of grass floated up! His control over his strength... was simply meticulously outrageous!

Elder Situ's eyes narrowed, and like a knife, he swept them once more over Jiang Linfeng's fleeing back—which appeared disheveled as he scrambled away, but in reality, every step landed on the most energy-efficient and time-saving spot. In his sharp, hawk-like eyes flashed a trace of imperceptible suspicion and... disbelief.

【Ding! Detected intense emotional fluctuation from Situ Wufeng (Elder Situ) (Anger → Confusion)! Target Identity: Zhaoshen Realm Ninth Level Peak Sword Cultivator!】

【Hint: The target's spiritual perception is extremely keen and has already noticed the host's abnormal control over strength! Please be cautious!】

Jiang Linfeng, while sprinting away from Pine Listening Residence, inwardly cheered his luck!

Damn it! A Zhaoshen Realm Peak old monster! It's a good thing he didn't actually attack! This tactic of playing the coward and running away really worked! It seems I should continue to be a "flexible little coward" in the future!

【Ding! Congratulations to the host! Successfully delivered the firewood (even though it was rejected)! Main Quest (Survive and Develop) prerequisite task completed!】

【Obtained stage reward: Minor increase in cultivation insight (Bottleneck loosening: 30% → 35%)! Understanding of Basic Pill Refining Art (Introductory Chapter) deepened!】

A warm current merged into his Sea of Consciousness, and the Bottleneck barrier leading to the Zhaoshen Realm seemed to have thinned by another tiny bit. Jiang Linfeng's spirit was invigorated!

Slipping back to the Firewood Courtyard, he threw Elder Situ's words, "deliver fifty loads of shade-dried Green Sandalwood," word-for-word at Steward Zhang, who was as pale as a sheet and already trembling with fear because of the Qian Wanguan incident. Disregarding the man's miserable gaze, Jiang Linfeng dusted off his rear and accepted his new task—cleaning up the medicinal dregs in the Medicinal Dregs Field!

The Medicinal Dregs Field was located in a deeper dead-end valley behind the Firewood Courtyard. It stank to high heaven, with a mixed, pungent medicinal odor. Piles of medicinal dregs looked like rotting hills; it was one of the bitterest and dirtiest jobs in the Utility Section.

The ones responsible for this place were a few even older Menial Workers with numb and hollow eyes.

Jiang Linfeng pinched his nose, picked up a rusty, broken iron shovel, and lazily poked at the black medicinal dregs that were emitting a strange odor.

This harsh environment had no effect on him; his Source Spirit Body naturally filtered and purified all impure Qi. His mind was not on the medicinal dregs at all, but rather...

【Ding! Bloodline connection is continuously linking...】

【Maternal status: Stable. Life Origin vitality: High. Fetus status: Growing stably, Ice Wood Spirit Root natural affinity phenomenon is strengthening, absorbing Cloud Mountain Spiritual Qi and weak Origin Spirit Power...】

【Offspring potential feedback: Grade B High Grade → Stabilized, small probability of ascending to Grade A...】

Clear messages flowed through his heart.

Jiang Linfeng couldn't help but let his lips curl into a gentle arc, and even the stinking piles of medicinal dregs in front of him became a little more pleasing to the eye. Yaner was in the Cold Plum Courtyard, and the fetus was safe—this was the best news!

"Yaner..." he murmured in his heart, "Don't be afraid. Your husband will soon be able to stand before you openly and protect you and our child completely!"

A strong desire to become stronger rose from the bottom of his heart! Pill Refining Art! Heaven Rank medicinal herb seeds! Breaking through the Zhaoshen Realm Bottleneck!

I must find a quiet place!

Just at this moment—

"Ugh... cough cough... ugh—"

A sound of retching, suppressed to the utmost but still incredibly clear, accompanied by the sound of light footsteps, came from the entrance of the valley.

Jiang Linfeng turned his head abruptly! His heart suddenly tightened!

He saw Luo Yan covering her mouth, her face so pale it was almost devoid of color. The rosy glow that had just appeared between her brows due to her Physique optimization was completely gone, leaving only a sickly weakness.

She was supporting herself against the cliff wall at the valley entrance, her beautiful and petite body curled up as if enduring immense pain. Bursts of retching leaked out from between her fingers, and her delicate body trembled uncontrollably.

Her watery eyes had also lost their usual clarity, veiled by a layer of moisture and pain. She looked pitiful, making one's heart ache.

Standing beside her was Senior Sister Yun Shuang, who had been responsible for leading her here. Yun Shuang's expression was somewhat unpleasant; looking at Luo Yan's painful appearance, her eyes were complex.

She was responsible for managing the Cold Plum Courtyard, but since a Disciple was showing abnormal reactions, she could not ignore it.

"What's going on?" A slightly mean voice rang out. Pockmarked Wang, the old steward of the Medicinal Dregs Field, walked over with a frown. He pinched his nose and stood far away, looking with disgust at Luo Yan, who was retching while holding the wall.

He had been in charge of this place for over ten years and had seen many Menial Workers vomit because they couldn't stand the smell, but they were all newcomers. An Outer Sect Disciple? And from the Cold Plum Courtyard?

"Reporting to Steward Wang," Yun Shuang's voice remained cold and aloof, carrying a trace of imperceptible helplessness, "This is Junior Sister Luo Yan, who recently joined the Cold Plum Courtyard. She was inexplicably retching and feeling unwell in the courtyard earlier, and just happened to... smell the odor from the Medicinal Dregs Field, causing a severe reaction. I brought her here to follow the rules and ask the duty steward of the Medicinal Dregs Field to register the abnormal situation. Later, there might be a deacon from the Pill Room coming to diagnose her..."

The implication was that this was just following procedure. She clearly did not believe that Luo Yan's reaction was purely due to smelling the medicinal dregs.

Pockmarked Wang's small eyes swept over Luo Yan's slender waist, which looked as if it would collapse with a gust of wind and was now pale as paper. He then swept over her still-flat lower abdomen, which was visibly rising and convulsing from the retching. A flash of realization and even more blatant contempt appeared on his face.

"Hmph!" He sneered. His voice wasn't loud, but it echoed through the valley, full of malice. "Outer Sect Disciple? Cold Plum Courtyard? Pfft! What are you acting so precious for?! I've seen plenty of this in the Firewood Courtyard! You can't even see anything in that small belly, yet you're retching like this just from smelling some medicinal dregs?! Who are you trying to fool? Isn't it just that you relied on your looks, got knocked up by some Inner Sect Disciple, and have nowhere to put the kid? Trying to pin it on the Sect to get a way out, right?! Pfft! You've dirtied my territory!"

This vicious speculation and abuse were extremely sharp! Luo Yan's already uncomfortable body trembled violently!

The color drained from her pale cheeks instantly, and tears welled up in her clear eyes immediately, filled with endless grievance and terror!

She subconsciously protected her lower abdomen with her hands, her body trembling even more violently!

A woman in early pregnancy is naturally sensitive and fragile; how could she have ever endured such slander?! She felt the world spinning and was almost about to faint!

"Shut your mouth!" Yun Shuang's expression also sank instantly! Pockmarked Wang's baseless, filthy language was not only an insult to Luo Yan, but also a slap in her own face! Just as she was about to flare up—

Thump!

A heavy figure had already pounced in front of Pockmarked Wang like a fierce tiger descending from the mountain!

It was Jiang Linfeng!

His face, which usually wore an "honest," "simple," and "even a bit cowardly" expression, was now so gloomy that water could drip from it! There was no longer a hint of feigned smile in his eyes; there remained only cold, Soul-freezing Killing Intent!

"You motherf— you're looking for death!"

A roar suppressed to the extreme, like the low growl of an injured Vicious Beast!

Slap—!!!! A slap so crisp it echoed endlessly throughout the entire Pill Residue Yard rang out!

Pockmarked Wang didn't even see how Jiang Linfeng had rushed over! He only felt an irresistible, tremendous force slam violently against the side of his face!

His head buzzed, and his neck emitted a cracking sound of being unable to bear the weight! His entire body was spun three hundred and sixty degrees in mid-air like a broken sack from the force of the slap!

With a "boom", he smashed heavily into the black-brown pile of Pill Residue that was over a person's height nearby!

His entire face instantly swelled up like a pig's head, and teeth mixed with blood foam sprayed out wildly! He couldn't even let out a scream, only the wheezing sound of air escaping his throat remained!

The entire Pill Residue Yard fell into instant silence!

All the Menial Workers who were working numbly stopped in terror, looking at this scene in disbelief!

They looked at Pockmarked Wang, usually so arrogant and domineering, now stuck in the foul-smelling pile of Pill Residue like a dead dog!

They also watched that young man, dressed in the same grey Menial Worker uniform as them, who now resembled a volcano about to erupt, radiating a suffocating and terrifying Evil Qi!

His sinister gaze swept over Pockmarked Wang in the Pill Residue pile, then swept over the other Menial Workers—who were so terrified they dared not speak—with a heart-palpitating warning that felt like ice from the Nine Heavens, and finally—

When that gaze fell upon Luo Yan—who was leaning against the mountain wall, pale-faced, teary-eyed, and as helpless as a small injured beast—the ice and snow instantly melted, transforming into endless heartache and self-reproach!

He stepped forward, ignored the bewildered Yun Shuang nearby, walked straight past her, and pulled the trembling Luo Yan tightly into his embrace!

Using his own chest and arms, he shielded her and the little life in her womb from the filth and harm of the outside world!

"Yaner... don't be afraid... don't be afraid! Husband is here! It's alright! It's alright!"

He whispered into Luo Yan's ear, his voice low and hurried, filled with immense heartache and comfort, completely unlike the violent appearance he had just moments ago, "I'm sorry... Husband came late..."

He could clearly feel the violent trembling and panic of the delicate body in his arms, and his heart was breaking!

His Source Spirit Body operated spontaneously, and an extremely gentle and pure energy flowed through his arms, continuously pouring into Luo Yan's body, nourishing her painfully cramping organs and soothing her frightened Soul.

Under the powerful soothing and nourishment of the Source Spirit Body, Luo Yan's heart-wrenching dry heaving miraculously and rapidly subsided!

Her cramping lower abdomen was enveloped by the warm current, and her panicked heart was filled with the familiar embrace and scent. She clutched Jiang Linfeng's lapels tightly, burying her tear-stained face deep into his chest, and all her grievances and helplessness erupted at this moment!

"Wuwuwu... Husband... he... they are spouting nonsense... Yaner... Yaner didn't..." She choked, her voice intermittent.

"I know! Yaner is the cleanest! The best! It is Husband's fault! It is Husband's fault for not protecting you well!"

Jiang Linfeng stroked her back with heartache, the Killing Intent in his eyes rising again, but he forcefully suppressed it. Now, comforting Yaner was the most important thing!

Yun Shuang, standing nearby, watched the two embracing, her eyes becoming extremely complex.

First, there was disgust and anger at Pockmarked Wang's vicious speculation, and now, seeing this youth with the status of a Menial Worker showing such unmasked heartache and possessiveness toward Luo Yan, along with the intense contrast of his violent demeanor instantly switching to gentleness... she seemed to understand something.

"So that's how it is."

Yun Shuang spoke indifferently, her voice devoid of emotion.

She looked at Luo Yan, who was still crying while buried in Jiang Linfeng's arms; her eyes held less detachment and a trace of imperceptible pity. An Outer Sect Disciple and a Menial Worker... this path would not be easy to walk.

Just then—[Ding! Detected that partner Luo Yan's intense emotional fluctuations have triggered a disturbance in her Qi and blood! Pregnancy symptoms worsened! The fetus is temporarily stable! Needs quiet rest!]

[Warning: Intense emotional stimulation has a potential negative impact on the early development of the fetus! Please, Host, calm her down and stabilize the environment as soon as possible!]

Alarm bells rang in Jiang Linfeng's heart!

"This... Jiang Linfeng, right?"

Yun Shuang looked at Jiang Linfeng's guarded and pained eyes and said calmly, "Junior Sister Luo needs quiet rest. The matter of Pockmarked Wang will be handled according to Sect rules; I will report it. You two... take care of yourselves."

After saying this, she gave them both a meaningful look, lingering for a moment on that flat abdomen, then turned and floated away. She didn't say anything more, nor did she stop them, which was equivalent to tacitly allowing Luo Yan to remain here.

Jiang Linfeng cast a grateful glance at Yun Shuang's retreating figure, then picked up Luo Yan, who was still immersed in grievances and sobbing intermittently, and strode toward a relatively clean, sheltered spot behind a large rock in the corner of the Pill Residue Yard.

He carefully set her down, letting her lean against the relatively level ground beside the rock wall.

"Be good, Yaner, it's alright, look at Husband."

Jiang Linfeng crouched in front of Luo Yan, cupping her cold little face in his hands, his thumbs gently wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, his voice so gentle it could melt hearts, "That old bastard is spouting nonsense! In Husband's heart, there is only Yaner! Yaner is the cleanest and most beautiful girl in this world! Our child is Husband's flesh and blood! The most precious flesh and blood! No one is allowed to say a single word against him! Do you hear me?"

Luo Yan looked into her Husband's eyes, which were filled with heartache and determination, and listening to his warm words, her frightened heart finally calmed down bit by bit.

The tears of grievance were still flowing, but she nodded forcefully: "Mm! Yaner knows..."

[Ding! Host has successfully comforted partner! Luo Yan's emotions are stabilizing!]

[Host has acknowledged the existence of offspring for the first time! Paternal Source nourishment effect activated! Offspring Bloodline connection strength +10%!]

[Offspring potential B-Grade High Grade → Completely stabilized! Probability of promotion to A-Grade slightly increased! Please maintain!]

[Host's Breakthrough Bottleneck looseness: 35% → 40%!]

The reward notification invigorated Jiang Linfeng! He took a deep breath and pulled the bottle of "Physique Optimization Potion · Partner Edition" (System reward) from his bosom (System space).

"Come, Yaner, open your mouth." He pulled out the jade bottle stopper, and the rich aura of life essence instantly wafted out, seemingly dissipating some of the foul odor from the Pill Residue pile nearby. The bottle touched Luo Yan's slightly chapped lips.

Smelling that familiar and incredibly reassuring pure medicinal fragrance, Luo Yan obediently opened her little mouth.

The slightly cool liquid slid down her throat, immediately transforming into a massive yet incredibly gentle warm current of life that instantly permeated her entire body!

The fatigue from the previous dry heaving, the churning of her organs, the emotional instability caused by the fright, and even the deficiency of blood and Qi caused by early pregnancy... were all quickly smoothed over and replenished by this powerful medicinal force!

Her cheeks quickly regained a healthy flush, her skin seemed to shimmer with a faint glow under the thin sunlight, and even her teary eyes became clear and bright again, filled with a moist, moving radiance.

"Husband... this medicine... feels so good..." Luo Yan rubbed against Jiang Linfeng's palm dependently, like a healed kitten. The faint, dragging, bloated sensation in her lower abdomen had also completely disappeared, leaving only a sense of peace and happiness as if wrapped in warmth.

She couldn't help but place her hand on her lower abdomen again, her face revealing the gentle radiance of a new mother.

Jiang Linfeng breathed a sigh of relief and gently flicked the tip of her nose: "Silly girl, no more wild thoughts from now on! Rest well and take care of your body, and give Husband a big, healthy boy... or, a pretty daughter!"

Luo Yan blushed even more from shyness, but her smile was incredibly radiant.

She leaned on her Husband's broad shoulders, listening to the heartbeat beside her ear, feeling the stability in her womb, and for the first time, she clearly felt the true happiness of nurturing a life together with her Husband.

However, just as this tranquility and warmth were spreading—

"Bastard! Lawless! You've turned the world upside down! Jiang Linfeng!!!"

A roar of extreme rage, like a thunderclap, boomed from the entrance of the Pill Residue Yard!

Immediately after, a tall, lightning-fast figure, carrying monstrous fury, rushed violently into the valley!

Luo Zheng!

He had clearly just finished some mandatory mission or returned from being reprimanded; he carried the aura of being travel-worn, and his face was gloomy.

He had just received a subtle notification from Senior Sister Yun Shuang and had immediately dropped everything to rush over!

As a result, the first scene that met his eyes as he rushed into the valley was—his younger sister, Luo Yan, sitting pale-faced by a large rock, leaning in the arms of that Brother-in-law who looked "sinister" no matter how one viewed him!

That Brother-in-law's hand was even cupping his sister's face?!

More importantly... how sharp was Luo Zheng's gaze! He clearly captured his sister's hand... which was subconsciously placed on her lower abdomen!

That expression on her face... that shyness mixed with joy! And that Brother-in-law's gaze, which was so doting it was dripping with honey?!

Boom! Luo Zheng's brain felt as if it had been struck hard by a divine thunderbolt from the Nine Heavens!

All the mental shock brought about by the strange and sinister "coincidences" involving his Brother-in-law over the past few days was detonated at this moment by the scene before him!

"Jiang Linfeng!!! You bastard!!! What have you done to Yaner?!!!"

Luo Zheng's eyes instantly turned bloodshot and red! A massive Killing Intent, mixed with grief, indignation, and unbelievable rage, erupted violently!

He was like a completely enraged mad tiger, rushing recklessly toward Jiang Linfeng!

"Brother! Don't!" Luo Yan was so scared her face turned pale again! She wanted to stand up to stop him.

"Brother-in-law, listen to my explanation!" Jiang Linfeng's scalp was tingling too! He hurriedly shielded Luo Yan more tightly, preparing to face Luo Zheng's storm of fury! Explanation? How to explain?! Should he say, "Brother-in-law, congratulations on becoming an uncle"? Wouldn't that be adding fuel to the fire?!

Seeing that a family drama of a Brother-in-law beating up his Brother-in-law was about to be staged in the Pill Residue Yard—

Boom!!! A muffled, extreme sound, as if coming from the depths of the earth, exploded without warning in the depths of the entire back mountain valley!

This vibration was so intense that even the firewood piles in the distant Menial Worker section collapsed quite a bit! The people in the Pill Residue Yard were shaken until they stumbled and swayed!

At the same time—Pfft! A pillar of gas, dense to the extreme, rolling endlessly like ink, and emitting a nauseating, cold Devilish Qi, erupted violently from the depths of an abandoned mine tunnel less than a hundred meters from the rock where Jiang Linfeng and the others were located!

The ink-black Devilish Qi condensed like a living creature, instantly transforming into a ferocious, roaring demonic shadow in the air! The demonic shadow had no fixed form, only a pair of evil, scarlet eyes filled with madness and the desire for destruction!

This sudden change happened too fast! Without any warning! The appearance of the Devilish Qi made everyone present feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar!

In the chaos, there seemed to be faint, terrified, and desperate screams coming from Steward Zhang Quan of the Firewood Courtyard in the distance: "Devilish... Devilish Qi eruption?! The Seal is loose?! It's over! Elder Situ just went down to inspect the Seal!!!"