The four people responded in unison, their expressions exceedingly solemn.
Watching the four leave, Hou Yuxiao's gaze slightly hardened as he turned and walked to the rear of the main hall, opening a hidden door and slowly stepping inside.
The space behind the hidden door was deep, and Hou Yuxiao walked downward for more than thirty breaths before he saw a glimmer of light.
The moment the light appeared, a burst of furious cursing reached his ears.
"Bastard, release me, I am the Prince of Dayu. You dare to imprison me? Once I get out, I will obliterate your entire Hou Clan!"
"Do you think imprisoning me will resolve this? The academy has a Great Confucian skilled in Su Shu; once they ascertain my whereabouts, they'll come immediately to rescue me. At that moment, I will surely exterminate your entire Hou Clan!"
"Vermin, release me! I will kill you, kill you, kill you!"
New Yu Era 1325, early October
In the extreme north of Shenzhou, Yuntian Town.
Being in the far north, the small town was almost entirely covered in ice and snow. The houses, where dozens of families lived, appeared very sturdy; even if the cold wind was strong, they still stood tall. The chimneys on the roofs continuously emitted thick smoke, showing that the temperature inside the houses was not low.
Outside one inconspicuous house, a man in a black robe stood at the doorway, shaking his head and sighing continuously.
There were flickering lights inside the house, reflecting on the windows where the silhouettes of three women could be vaguely seen. They were gathered around a bed, attending to a woman with a swollen belly, from where intermittent sounds of pain emerged.
Clearly, the three women were helping the woman on the couch give birth.
A loud cry of a baby came from inside, causing the man in the black robe to tremble. Although his expression was not visible, a heavy sigh escaped his lips.
Even amidst the icy snow, this sigh was still clear.
"It's born, it's born, a big chubby boy! Come and see, sir!"
The three women quickly and efficiently tidied everything up. One of them opened the door, and although she was somewhat afraid upon seeing the man in the black robe, she couldn't help but congratulate him and invited him inside.
The man in the black robe did not move, but merely tossed a bag to the woman. She opened it to find gold inside, immediately breaking into a joyful smile and bowing repeatedly, expressing her congratulations.
"Big brother, come inside!"
The man in the black robe hesitated for a moment and then slowly walked in.
On the couch, Zhan Taiqing cradled a baby. Despite her pallid complexion, her expression was filled with tenderness and affection as she looked at the baby.
Although the baby hadn't opened its eyes, it seemed to sense Zhan Taiqing's love, nuzzling into her embrace and occasionally letting out a couple of clear laughs, clearly extraordinary.
"Miss, the foundation of our sect is at a life-and-death juncture. The brothers in Yongdu are waiting for you. You've given birth to this child, but you can't take him with you. What do you plan to do, ah..."
Upon hearing Duanmu Hong's words, the smile on Zhan Taiqing's face suddenly stopped, and her gaze at the baby gradually became sorrowful.
"Isn't it simple? If Aunt Qing renounces the position of Sect Hierarch and leaves the child in my care, the foundation of Holy Church will be secure, and the loyal followers left by her grandfather can also be employed by me. Isn't this killing two birds with one stone, achieving both aims perfectly!"
A crisp voice came from outside the door, causing Duanmu Hong's expression to change. Zhan Taiqing, on the couch, turned her head towards the door where a figure in blue slowly walked in, her eyes showing a trace of panic for the first time, and her hands holding the baby tightened unconsciously.
"Did Aunt Qing think that hiding here would mean Yue'er couldn't find you?"