210 He Zhuoyan (1/2)

He had been laying this trap for the beast kings all this time and they had finally taken the bait. He was sure that the black bees would make their way back to one of the beast kings, most likely the praying mantis. It would also allow Chen Mo to find that beast's lair which had so far been elusive.

He Xingping traveled back to his mansion cheerfully and bought many gifts for his wife and newborn baby girl that was just over a week old. Qiu Jingyi was confined to bed, recovering from the birth. She required a lot of care and time to recover, especially because of her age. His gifts would help with that and included hundred-year-old ginseng, lion's mane mushroom, liver and other organs from an elder bristle bear, and pig trotters from a twelve horned babirusa.

He eventually returned to his mansion with his horse laden with goods. The pair of guards at the gate bowed as he arrived and helped unload everything once they were inside. While that was happening, a middle aged and slightly round woman walked up and gave a bow.

”Master, welcome back. The mistress is awake as is the baby princess.” The head servant said.

”Good, I'm lucky then. Take the bear liver and have it made for dinner. Put the rest away. I'll go see them now.” He said.

”Yes, master.”

He Xingping nodded and walked quickly through the courtyard and the garden, towards the master suites.

Now that Qiu Jingyi was on bed rest after giving birth, she needed to be taken care of around the clock. Several extra servants were hired while her most trusted servants attended to her every need.

He arrived at the room to see one servant girl feeding his wife from a bowl of steaming soup and another rocking a cradle with his daughter lying inside.

”Xiao Yi, I'm back.” He called as he entered.

”Husband!”

”Master!”

”Mmm, let me see her.” He said as he walked over to the cradle and peered in.

A pair of bright eyes peer back into his. The baby was awake and waving her hands. She was drooling a bit so he wiped her mouth before rubbing her round head. Strands of jet-black hair were starting to grow. She was a bit chubby but energetic and her hands reached up to try and grab his.

”Hello… baby girl… Zhuoyan…” He muttered.

Chen Wentian, as He Xingping, felt a strange feeling of contentment laying eyes on his daughter. Even though he had no blood relation to her, she was just as much his as she was He Xingping's. It was a strange side effect of the Anatta Soul Nirvana Art, one that he always knew but had put away in the back of his mind.

Now it was front and center and it was not as bad as he had expected. His soul was filled with warmth and a closeness with another human being that was impossible except for parent and child. It was an unbreakable, unshakable bond.

”She loves that name. And she instantly recognized her daddy.” Qiu Jingyi said with a smile.

She had finished her soup and the servant with it withdrew. He signaled to the other servant beside the baby who also left.

He picked He Zhouyan out of the cradle gently and gave her to Qiu Jingyi who hugged her to her chest. He watched as the baby instinctively tried to grab at her breasts.

”Ah… husband, I'm sorry, looks like she wants to feed.”

”Don't worry. Let her. There's no need to apologize.” He said and sad on the bed beside her. ”I love seeing you feed her.”

She blushed pink and did say anything. She unfastened her robe and freed her swollen breast. The baby instantly buried her face into her mother and latched on to the nipple, sucking and biting.

”Good, good. Yan'er…” She cooed as the baby drank hungrily.

Chen Wentian watched for a while; his heart filled with a strange thrill.

”Xiao Yi, how are you feeling?”

”Good… although a bit bored of lying on this bed all day. I want to go out!”

”You know its customary… Your body needs to recover its nutrients and spiritual energy that the baby sucked out. The greedy little monster, look at it go.”

She slapped his arm lightly, ”Don't call your daughter that!”

”Fine, fine… plus it's hard for me too. The doctors say you're not allowed to have sex, think about how that makes me feel…”

She slapped his arm much harder this time.

”Ouch, come on! I'm just joking.” Chen Wentian laughed, ”But if you really want to get out of here, I have a proposition. I've recently been in contact with some people who run a resort in a province towards the northwest. It will be you, the baby, and anybody else you want in a private mansion in a pristine mountain valley. It's filled with wild and farmed flowers of all varieties and absolutely beautiful. I can arrange for you to stay there for a month or two.”

”That sound's amazing… but will you be there?”

He scratched his head awkwardly, ”You know I can't. With the things they are now, I can't leave the lord's side under any condition.”

”Then I don't want to go.” Qiu Jingyi said firmly, ”I want us to stay here, together.”

”Even if it's going to get very dangerous?” He asked.