Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

Time flows by like the stream in the Qiyun Peak mountain, neither fast nor slow. In the blink of an eye, another half a year has passed.

That day, Jiang Xiaochuan was taking a walk with Lu Xueqi in the bamboo forest.

The early spring wind still carried a chill, the bamboo leaves had just sprouted tender buds, and there was a fresh earthy smell in the air.

Lu Xueqi walked slowly, her hand held by him, her fingertips slightly cool.

"Xiao Chuan." Lu Xueqi suddenly stopped and called out to him.

"Hmm? Tired? Shall we go back?" Jiang Xiaochuan asked immediately.

Lately, Xueqi seems unusually prone to fatigue and has a poor appetite. He's been wondering if he should consult his senior uncle, Daoxuan...

Oh no, now you should call me Senior Brother Sect Leader. Go see Sect Leader Xiao Yicai, or go to Dazhu Peak and ask Master's wife to come and take a look.

Lu Xueqi shook her head without saying anything, but simply took his hand and gently placed it on her still flat stomach.

Then, she looked up at him, her cool eyes filled with a very gentle light, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly.

Jiang Xiaochuan was taken aback at first, then his fingers moved unconsciously. Through the fabric, he could feel the warmth and flatness of her abdomen.

His mind went blank for a moment, then he suddenly realized what was happening. His eyes widened, and his voice trembled slightly: "Xueqi, you...you mean..."

Lu Xueqi nodded, her voice soft yet clear: "Yes. I've got it."

Have it.

The two words, like a thunderclap and the sweetest honey, struck Jiang Xiaochuan's heart.

He stood there dumbfounded, not moving for a long time, just staring at Lu Xueqi, at her eyes, at the faint smile on her lips.

Then, a huge surge of emotions, a mixture of ecstasy, fear, helplessness, and an indescribable tenderness, rushed to my head.

"Really?" His throat tightened, and he asked again, his hand still on her lower abdomen, not daring to move, as if it were fragile glass.

"Yes. I checked her pulse myself, it can't be wrong." Lu Xueqi's tone was calm, but the tiny glint in her eyes betrayed her feelings.

Jiang Xiaochuan suddenly pulled her into his arms, very tightly, his body trembling slightly.

"Xueqi... Xueqi..." He kept repeating her name, his mind a jumble of thoughts, with countless things he wanted to say but not knowing where to begin.

Finally, he managed to squeeze out, "Are you... feeling unwell? Is anything bothering you? Do you feel nauseous? Are you very tired? Let's go back, let's go back and lie down right away! What do you want to eat? I'll have Ping'er make it for you, no, I'll make it myself! I'll go find Master, no, find the Sect Leader, find..."

He was rambling incoherently, panicking like a headless fly.

Lu Xueqi was a little breathless from his embrace, but she didn't push him away. She just listened quietly, the smile on her lips becoming more and more pronounced.

When he finally stopped, she gently patted his back, her voice tinged with a helpless smile: "I'm fine. With my cultivation, I'm not that delicate. I'm just a little sleepy and have a poor appetite, that's normal."

"That won't do either!"

Jiang Xiaochuan loosened his grip on her shoulders, his eyes flashing with an alarming intensity, filled with nervousness.

"From today onwards—no, from this moment on—you are forbidden from practicing swordsmanship, forbidden from using your true energy, and must rest properly! Tell me what you want to eat, and I'll go with you wherever you want to go. No, we should try to stay as close to each other as possible..."

He kept talking and talking, as if he wanted to hold Lu Xueqi in his hands and wrap her in cotton.

He couldn't think about children right now.

Seeing his panicked and helpless state, Lu Xueqi felt a great deal of relief and anxiety from her pregnancy.

She reached out and smoothed the furrow in his brow with her fingertips, her voice soft, carrying a tenderness and dependence she herself was unaware of: "Okay, whatever you say. Don't panic."

The news quickly spread throughout Qiyun Peak.

When Biyao and the others heard this, they reacted in different ways.

Biyao was wiping her Soul-Devouring Staff when she heard this, and her hand trembled, almost dropping the staff.

She stood there stunned for a while before pursing her lips, snorting, and muttering under her breath, "She got off easy..."

After muttering to himself, he put down the stick, turned around and walked out, "I'm going to see what nourishing herbs are left in the kitchen. I need to take good care of myself and not neglect my health."

Xiao Bai was leaning against the window, basking in the sun. Hearing this, he raised an eyebrow, his usual lazy smile fading slightly, his eyes becoming somewhat complicated. He stared out the window for a while, then got up, stretched, and muttered to himself, "Tsk, quick on the uptake. Well, this is going to be interesting."

She also went to the kitchen, but not to look for medicinal herbs. Instead, she took out her treasured sweet fruit wine, which was said to be excellent for preventing miscarriage, and planned to send it to Lu Xueqi.

Tian Ling'er reacted the most. She exclaimed "Ah!", her face turned bright red, her eyes widened, and she was speechless for a long time.

Then she suddenly jumped up, spun around the room twice, rushed out again, and returned a short while later carrying a pile of soft fabric and cotton, muttering, "I need to make little clothes, little blankets, and swaddling clothes... Sister Xueqi likes simple colors, hmm, use moon-white satin, embroider some elegant patterns..."

Linglong was the calmest, with only a hint of knowing tenderness flashing in her eyes.

She put down her needlework, sighed softly, smiled, got up and went to the back mountain to pick some calming herbs. She also carefully identified several spiritual fruits that were beneficial to pregnant women, which she planned to send to Lu Xueqi later.

She has some medical knowledge and knows what is most important at this time.

Jin Ping'er was stunned at first, then her eyes reddened with envy and a touch of sadness, but she quickly forced a smile and whispered, "Sister Lu's pregnancy is a joyous occasion. I... I'll go make some soup. I recently learned a new recipe for Lingzhi and pigeon soup, which is very nourishing..."

In the days that followed, Qiyun Peak's focus shifted entirely to Lu Xueqi.

Jiang Xiaochuan practically became her shadow, following her wherever she went, showing concern and care in every possible way.

During the day, he would accompany her for walks and talk to her, and at night he would stay by her side every step of the way, only closing his eyes when he was asleep.

At first, Lu Xueqi said he was making a mountain out of a molehill, but later she let him be. However, he slept restlessly at night, waking up at the slightest noise. He would ask her if he was feeling unwell and if she wanted some water, which made her feel sorry for him, so she comforted him instead.

Although Biyao and the others felt a little envious and sour, thinking that Jiang Xiaochuan only had eyes for Lu Xueqi, they couldn't bring themselves to be angry with the pregnant Lu Xueqi. Instead, they became very careful and caring.

Biyao restrained her temper and spoke softly.

Xiao Bai stopped deliberately teasing Jiang Xiaochuan and instead often sought out calming and soothing aromatherapy products.

Tian Ling'er spent all day making small clothes, her stitches meticulous.

Linglong uses various methods to prepare and regulate her diet with medicinal herbs.

Jin Ping'er took on all the cleaning and tidying work, making the bamboo house spotless inside and out.

Lu Xueqi accepted all of this calmly.

She was well aware of her physical condition. At her level of cultivation, pregnancy and childbirth, although depleting her vital energy, were far easier than for ordinary people.

She was also familiar with the process.

She knows when to eat what, when to rest, and when to do some light exercise.

She would even calmly reassure the overly nervous Jiang Xiaochuan, telling him in a calm tone what to do, which gradually calmed him down, and she took even more meticulous care of him.

Several months later, on a clear early summer morning, the loud cry of a baby came from the bamboo house.

One sound followed immediately by another, one after the other, both full of energy.

They are twins, a boy and a girl.

The midwife was Linglong; her technique was skillful, her movements gentle, and everything was done in an orderly manner.

Jiang Xiaochuan was stopped at the door and paced anxiously. Hearing the crying, he froze. It wasn't until Linglong came out carrying two swaddled babies and said to him with a smile, "Mother and children are safe. It's a boy and a girl," that he felt as if all his strength had been drained. He slid down against the door frame, crying and laughing at the same time.

Biyao, Xiaobai, Tian Ling'er, and Jin Ping'er all gathered around, their eyes softening as they looked at the two wrinkled, red-faced little ones.

Lu Xueqi was a little weak, but in good spirits. She sat leaning against the headboard, watching Jiang Xiaochuan carefully and tenderly hold the child as if he were holding a precious treasure as he approached her. Her eyes were filled with the most tender smile.

"The boy is the older brother, and the girl is the younger sister," Linglong said softly.

Lu Xueqi nodded, her gaze falling on the two children before turning to Jiang Xiaochuan. Her voice was slightly hoarse, yet carried an undeniable gentleness and certainty: "The older brother's name is Yunzhou, Jiang Yunzhou. The younger sister's name is Yueyao, Jiang Yueyao."

Jiang Yunzhou, Jiang Yueyao.

Biyao, Xiaobai, Tian Ling'er, and Linglong exchanged glances.

Sure enough. After all the twists and turns, we're back again.

Jiang Xiaochuan didn't care about anything else. He just nodded blankly, looking at the two little ones in his arms with their eyes closed and their little mouths moving. His heart melted completely, and he kept murmuring, "Yunzhou, Yueyao... nice, nice, Xueqi's names are so nice..."

The postpartum period passed amidst everyone's hectic yet meticulous care.

Lu Xueqi recovered extremely quickly, after all, she had profound cultivation.

Both children are healthy and are changing every day.

After the postpartum period, the responsibility of taking care of the baby somehow gradually fell on Biyao, Xiaobai, Tian Ling'er, Linglong, and Jin Ping'er.

Aside from breastfeeding, Lu Xueqi's biological mother mostly became a hands-off manager.

Jiang Xiaochuan was initially worried, but he soon discovered that Biyao and the others were surprisingly skilled at taking care of the children.

Biyao's posture in holding the baby was standard and steady. Her burping and diaper changing techniques were skillful. When she hummed a lullaby, although the tune was strange, it was surprisingly able to soothe the baby and stop him from crying.

Xiao Bai is very good at entertaining children and can always make the little ones giggle. Although she sometimes secretly lets the children taste some fruit wine, Linglong scolds her for it when she finds out.

Tian Ling'er is very skillful; the baby clothes she makes are both comfortable and beautiful, with lifelike little tigers and rabbits embroidered on them.

Linglong is the most experienced; she can spot even the slightest discomfort in a child and handle it properly.

Jin Ping'er was the most meticulous one. She repeatedly washed and dried every item the child used until it was soft and warm.

Jiang Xiaochuan was dumbfounded and privately asked Lu Xueqi, "How...how are they so skilled?"

Lu Xueqi was adjusting her breathing when she heard this. She opened her eyes, glanced at him, and said calmly, "It's probably... talent."

Jiang Xiaochuan was skeptical, but seeing that the children were well cared for and chubby, he felt relieved.

And so, he and Lu Xueqi resumed their life, almost like a world for two, only now with two little darlings beside them. At night, after the children were taken to the next room (Biyao and the others took turns watching over them), the bamboo house became quiet, sometimes even more... indescribable than before.

Long Nianchuan also came.

He looked at the two adorable little babies in the cradle, and curiously touched the younger sister Yueyao's face with his finger. Yueyao didn't cry, but instead grabbed his finger and grinned with her toothless little mouth.

Nianchuan's eyes lit up. He looked up at Linglong, then at Jiang Xiaochuan and Lu Xueqi, his eyes full of curiosity and affection: "Dad, Mom, younger brother and sister, they're so cute."

From then on, Nianchuan would run to Qiyun Peak every few days, bringing back some strange but harmless little trinkets from the southern border for his younger siblings, or he would just squat by the cradle and watch for half a day.

Jiang Yunzhou seemed to particularly like this older brother, reaching out to hug him as soon as he saw him.

As Biyao and the others watched this harmonious scene, the envy and sourness in their hearts gradually turned into a deeper longing.

They also wanted a child with Jiang Xiaochuan.

Once, taking advantage of Jiang Xiaochuan's good mood, Biyao snuggled up to him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and said, half-coquettishly and half-probingly, "Xiaochuan, look how cute Yunzhou and Yueyao are. I want one too, our child will definitely be beautiful."

Xiao Bai leaned against the side, lazily adding fuel to the fire: "That's right, we can't be too biased, little brother Xiao Chuan. Little sister Xue Qi already has one, what about us?"

Tian Ling'er blushed and didn't say anything, but her eyes were bright as she looked at him.

Linglong smiled gently.

Jin Ping'er lowered her head even further, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers, and the tips of her ears turned red.

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at them, his feelings complicated.

He put his arm around Biyao, then looked at the others, sighed, and said gently, "I know how you all feel. But... Xueqi just gave birth not long ago, and I... I'm not ready yet. Having a child is a big deal, let's... talk about it later, okay?"

"When is 'later'?" Biyao persisted.

"That's right, don't try to fool us." Xiaobai raised an eyebrow.

"I...I don't necessarily want to do it now..." Tian Ling'er said softly.

Linglong said softly, "Xiaochuan is right, there's no rush. The children are still young and need someone to take care of them."

Jin Ping'er also chimed in softly, "I'll listen to my senior brother."

Despite this, there was a hint of disappointment in the eyes of the women.

Jiang Xiaochuan felt sorry for them, but he could only coax them one by one, making countless empty promises of "I will definitely do it again" to barely get the matter over.

Does he know he's biased? Perhaps a little.

But he watched Xueqi's pregnancy and childbirth the whole time, and the tension, worry, joy, and lingering fear he felt were too profound.

One more time? He was afraid his heart couldn't take it.

At least, let's wait and see.

With the arrival of the child, a closer bond seemed to form between Jiang Xiaochuan and Lu Xueqi. They talked more, mostly Lu Xueqi doing the talking—about the baby's smiles, babbling, crawling, and what the baby picked up during the first birthday celebration… Her cool voice, speaking of these trivial matters, sounded exceptionally gentle and pleasant. Jiang Xiaochuan listened with a smile, occasionally interjecting, and the two could talk for ages about a single action of the child.