Chapter 870: Xiao Yun's Son (Part 1)

"What's wrong with Seventh?"

"She... she seems to be..." Xiao Yun panted, "She seems to be going into labor!"

"Ah!!" Mu Yu Rou exclaimed, pushing Xiao Yun aside and rushing out like the wind.

Xiao Yun quickly followed, not even having time to greet Yun Che and Cang Yue.

"Husband, let's go take a look too," Cang Yue said softly. She had helped Yun Che calm his grief and change into new clothes. Although he appeared to have returned to normal on the surface, she could still clearly feel the immense suppression in Yun Che's heart. All of them had been eagerly anticipating the birth of Xiao Yun and Tian Xia Qi's child, and she hoped the arrival of this new life could somewhat dispel the heavy gloom in Yun Che's heart.

The Yun family, already bustling, suddenly became even more chaotic. Yun Qing Hong, who was out, rushed back, and Tian Xia Xiong Tu, who was about to go to the city's north to oversee the reorganization of the city's protective formation, immediately dashed towards the Yun family like his backside was on fire, leaving everyone else behind, upon receiving the news.

When Yun Che, Cang Yue, and Feng Xue'er arrived together, the courtyard where Xiao Yun and Tian Xia Qi lived was abuzz with hurried figures. From behind the tightly shut door, a nervous clamor could be heard, along with Tian Xia Qi's occasional painful groans.

"Big Brother!" Seeing Yun Che arrive, Xiao Yun, who was waiting outside, quickly came forward to greet him. His face was flushed, and he was flustered with nervousness.

"Xiao Yun, congratulations, you're about to be a father," Cang Yue said with a smile.

"Hehe, I wonder if it'll be a boy or a girl," Feng Xue'er said with full anticipation.

"Heh... hehe," Xiao Yun was both excited and nervous.

At the courtyard entrance, Xiao Ling Xi and Xiao Lie hurried in. Seeing Yun Che, Xiao Ling Xi gasped and quickly rushed over: "Little Che, are you... are you alright?"

"Of course, I'm fine. Do I look like something's wrong with me now?" Yun Che said with a relaxed smile. He went to Xiao Lie's side and asked with concern, "Grandpa, your grandson hasn't had a chance to greet you since returning. Are you accustomed to living here?"

"Yes, I'm doing very well here," Xiao Lie nodded slightly. Seeing Yun Che looking as usual, seemingly fine, a heavy stone in his heart was lifted, and his expression relaxed considerably. He sighed with emotion, "On the Profound Sky Continent, I heard rumors about the Illusory Demon Realm several times. The rumors spoke of the Illusory Demon Realm being full of demons who had lost their humanity and were viciously cruel. Alas, it seems that in this world, seeing is truly believing. Far too many people are forced to live their entire lives within deceptions created by those with ulterior motives."

"Ahhhhhh—"

The sound from the room suddenly changed from painful groans to sharp screams, and the physicians' voices inside became more hurried.

"It sounds... really painful," Xiao Ling Xi said, trembling nervously.

"Seventh Sister. You must be alright..." Xiao Yun's face was filled with heartache, and he stood restlessly, his eyes fixed on the door, muttering incessantly.

"Grandpa, you're only just over sixty this year, but you're about to become a great-grandfather," Cang Yue said with a smile. As soon as she finished speaking, Yun Che suddenly said playfully, "And congratulations to Little Aunt, who's about to become a grandmother."

"!!#$..." Xiao Ling Xi's lips parted, and then she became frantic: "I... I... I don't want to be a grandmother! I'm still an unmarried young girl... I don't want to be a grandmother... I don't!"

"Hahahahaha!" Xiao Lie burst into hearty laughter. He looked deeply at Xiao Ling Xi and said meaningfully, "Ling Xi, you're not young anymore. It's indeed time to consider marriage."

"I..." Xiao Ling Xi's heart flustered, and her gaze secretly darted to Yun Che: "I don't want to."

Rumble...

With a thunderous sound like a storm, Tian Xia Xiong Tu rushed down in a desperate hurry. Yun Qing Hong arrived with him, followed by the six sweating Tian Xia brothers.

The moment Tian Xia Xiong Tu landed, he roared impatiently, "Little Seventh... how is Little Seventh doing now?"

Yun Qing Hong patted his shoulder: "Brother Tian Xia, there's no need to worry. Seventh is not an ordinary girl; it's sure to go smoothly. You should start thinking about what gift to prepare for your grandson or granddaughter."

"Yes, that's right, that's right," Tian Xia Xiong Tu nodded like a pecking chicken, rubbing his hands together agitatedly. Then he yelled towards the tightly shut door, "Little Seventh, be a good girl. Your father is right outside. Give your father a big grandson! Whatever you ask for, your father will agree!"

"Ah!!!!"

His answer was Tian Xia Qi's long, piercing shriek, which made everyone who heard it clench their hearts.

"Senior Tian Xia, please don't speak to her for now; it might distract her," Yun Che interjected.

"Ah... alright," Tian Xia Xiong Tu immediately quieted down, then didn't forget to carefully warn his six sons: "Did you hear that? All of you, shut your mouths. No one is allowed to make a loud sound."

"..." Yun Che's eyebrows twitched. He looked towards the door, his expression slightly grave.

"Husband, what's wrong?" Noticing his change in expression, Cang Yue asked softly.

Yun Che shook his head slightly: "It's nothing... I'm probably overthinking it. Seventh Sister is a princess of the Elf Clan, protected by the power of nature. It's bound to go incredibly smoothly."

As the group waited, excited and anxious, time slowly passed. The commotion in the room grew increasingly intense, and Tian Xia Qi's cries of pain rang out continuously, each one seemingly more piercing than the last.

"Seventh. Don't be nervous, relax your body... push carefully." This was Mu Yu Rou's voice.

"Mother... I... I feel so unwell... so much pain..." Tian Xia Qi's voice carried deep suffering. This elf princess, who had grown up pampered, had never endured such immense torment.

"It'll be alright, it'll be over soon..." Mu Yu Rou kept comforting her, but her voice had already begun to tremble.

Half an hour passed...

A full hour passed!

Tian Xia Qi's screams continued, her voice completely hoarse. The heavy breathing of the imperial physicians could be clearly heard from the room... and these breaths carried clear panic.

The initial anticipation, excitement, and joy had long since been eroded into tension and anxiety during this hour-plus wait. Xiao Yun paced back and forth, sometimes clutching his scalp, sometimes tearing at his chest, his entire body drenched in sweat, muttering in a confused whisper: "Nothing will happen... nothing will happen..."

Yun Qing Hong and Tian Xia Xiong Tu's expressions also became rather grim... They tried their best to suppress ominous thoughts in their hearts, but a sense of unease had already spread through their chests, making their hearts clench tightly.

"Husband?" Seeing Yun Che's extremely grave expression, Cang Yue called out softly with concern.

"..." Yun Che took a deep breath: "Something's wrong... very wrong." For an ordinary woman, an hour, or even several hours, from labor to birth would be normal. But Tian Xia Qi was definitely not an ordinary woman. She possessed the cultivation of the Overlord Profound Realm, and the profound energy she cultivated was the purest and most immaculate natural force. She had a physique far beyond the scope of ordinary people; her labor process should have been extremely simple and smooth, and if she wished, she might not even have to endure any pain.

Yet, a full hour had passed, and she had been continuously screaming in agony. Towards the end, her screams were even more piercing than those of an ordinary woman.

Yun Che had wanted to personally check on Tian Xia Qi's condition several times but had held back each time. Now, he could no longer endure it. He grabbed Xiao Yun: "Xiao Yun! Go in immediately and cover Seventh Sister with the bedclothes. Her condition seems abnormal, I must go in and see for myself!"

Xiao Yun, in his frantic helplessness, jolted all over. Without time to think, he quickly nodded and stumbled forward... But just as he ran a few steps, Tian Xia Qi let out a shriek from the room, followed by Mu Yu Rou's joyous voice: "It's out... it's out!"

Xiao Yun stopped in his tracks, and everyone immersed in tension felt as if they had heard celestial music. Especially Xiao Lie and Tian Xia Xiong Tu, who were so emotional that tears welled up in their eyes instantly, unconsciously stepping forward.

But their joy didn't last long; their expressions all froze on their faces. Because there was no baby's cry from the room. In fact, the entire room had become utterly silent; not a single joyous cheer could be heard.

"My baby... let me see my baby..." Tian Xia Qi cried out eagerly.

"Madam Yun, Young Madam..." This was an imperial physician's voice, trembling: "This is a... it's... a stillbirth."

The trembling voice, like a bolt from the clear sky, mercilessly exploded in everyone's ears.

Xiao Yun instantly froze, his pupils dilating. His body swayed, then he suddenly let out a yell and rushed forward like a madman, violently ramming the door open: "Impossible... impossible!!"

The sound of the door splintering startled the already terrified physicians inside. Xiao Yun, rushing in, immediately saw the tiny infant held in Mu Yu Rou's arms, its long, uncut umbilical cord still attached to its body... and Mu Yu Rou's face was streaked with tears.

Xiao Yun stumbled over and roughly snatched the baby into his embrace. As the baby's soft body settled in his arms, his movements instantly became gentle... The infant in his arms made no movement, no cry, no breath, and even lacked warm body temperature. What it had was a chilling sensation that plunged Xiao Yun into an icy abyss of despair.

Thump...

Xiao Yun suddenly collapsed to his knees, his entire body trembling in agony.

Tian Xia Qi lay on the bed, her face as pale as if she had just recovered from a severe illness. Her eyes were terrifyingly hollow, as if her soul had been pulled out. The sound of Xiao Yun kneeling startled her awake from her nightmare. She lunged up from the bed, letting out a heart-wrenching wail: "This isn't real... it's not real... My baby... give my baby back to me... give him back..."

"Little Seventh!" Tian Xia Xiong Tu rushed over and held her tightly, his heart aching as if cut by a knife: "It's alright... it's alright... You and Xiao Yun are still so young. You can have another one... As long as you want, you can have many, many more..."

"No... you're all lying to me..." Tian Xia Qi's voice tore, crying like a cuckoo shedding blood. This elf maiden, usually incredibly strong and optimistic, who had chosen to be with Xiao Yun even against her family's opposition and the world's ridicule, was now completely broken: "My baby... you're all lying to me... Give my baby back to me... Give him back... Ah..."

Mu Yu Rou turned her face away, collapsing onto Yun Qing Hong's shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. Yun Qing Hong looked up, letting out a heavy sigh, his hands clenched tightly together.

"..." Xiao Lie's body swayed violently; if Xiao Ling Xi hadn't been supporting him, he would have collapsed long ago.

"How could it be... like this..." Feng Xue'er covered her lips tightly, weeping softly. Cang Yue leaned on Yun Che's chest, her shoulders shaking constantly.

The joy and new life everyone had eagerly awaited were met with a bleak nightmare. Xiao Yun knelt on the ground, as if his soul had been lost. Tian Xia Qi cried heartbreakingly. Everyone's hearts felt pierced by a thousand arrows, suffering to the point of suffocation.

Yun Che's face was dark, but his eyes remained sharp and clear. He went to Xiao Yun's side and extended his hand towards the silent, cold infant in his arms. Even for a stillbirth, Tian Xia Qi shouldn't have endured such a long and painful labor... He had to find out what exactly went wrong.

Yun Che's fingers gently pressed on the baby's soft, cold wrist... In just an instant, his entire arm recoiled as if from an electric shock.

This is...

Demonic energy!!

Why is there demonic energy?!