"Little An, do you recognize Mommy? I’m sorry, I haven’t been able to get away to co see you, but Mommy has been thinking about Little An all this ti. Seeing how well you’ve grown, Mommy is truly happy..."
Sang Luo’s eyes began to sting. ’This child has grown so big, yet this is the first ti he’s ever seen , his own mother.’ She couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.
"Mommy~"
Tears welled up in Little Blue Eucalyptus’s blue eyes. His chubby little hands wrapped around her neck like an octopus as he planted a big, wet kiss on her cheek. "An’an... missed Mommy too..."
Hearing him call her "Mommy" again, Sang Luo could no longer hold back her tears, and they stread down her face. "Mommy missed An’an so much too."
Blue Eucalyptus thought his mommy was sad and quickly wiped her face with his little hands. "Mommy, don’t cry, don’t cry..."
He didn’t even realize that his own little face was already soaked with tears until, losing control, he also burst out crying with a WAAH.
Sang Luo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She planted a big kiss on his sweet-slling, chubby little face. "Mommy is crying tears of joy! Why are you crying too?"
"Mommy... can Mommy stay with An’an a little longer?" he asked between sobs, letting out a small hiccup.
"Of course, of course. Mommy ca here this ti specifically to see you, so I’ll definitely stay with you for a few more days."
Blue Eucalyptus snuggled into her arms and whispered shyly, "An’an likes Mommy the most."
"Oh? You don’t like your father?"
"Him! He makes sleep all day!"
Sang Luo chuckled. "You have a delicate constitution. Your father is only doing it for your own good."
Standing to one side, Lou Xianyue watched the mother and son’s reunion, his gaze incredibly soft. He turned and gestured for the servants to withdraw quietly.
The more Sang Luo looked at her little rmaid baby, the more she adored him; she simply couldn’t get enough. She wanted to carry him around and explore, but unfortunately, Blue Eucalyptus couldn’t shapeshift and was unable to leave the Water for long. Noticing his scales were already becoming a little dry, she had no choice but to place him back in the Spiritual Spring.
Before letting him go, Sang Luo gave his soft, pale little face another firm kiss. "Little An! You’re truly Mommy’s most beautiful baby! When I get the chance, I’ll definitely take you to et your grandma, grandpa, and little uncle."
Lou Xianyue’s gaze flickered, the smile at the corners of his lips deepening. He walked over, scooped the child into his arms, and then took Sang Luo’s hand. "You should do as Little An asks. Stay in the Imperial Palace for a few more days."
"His first-year ceremony is in two days. On that day, I will hold the baptism ritual of the rfolk Clan for him so he may receive the blessing of our ancestor, the Sea God."
"This baptism is the most magnificent rite for any rfolk, second only to their coming-of-age ceremony. For him, having his Beast Mother by his side would be the greatest blessing of all."
With Lou Xianyue putting it that way, how could Sang Luo possibly bear to leave? She nodded again and again. "I already promised Little An I’d stay with him for a few more days. But for sothing as important as his first-year ceremony, why didn’t you tell sooner! I haven’t had ti to prepare a gift!"
Sang Luo vaguely rembered that Blue Eucalyptus was about a year old, but she really didn’t know the exact date.
’Sigh. With so many children, I’ll have to start keeping a little notebook for all this.’
Lou Xianyue smiled gently. "You being here with him is the greatest gift of all."
"That won’t do. I have to give him sothing. It’s for good luck!"
"Hm? What do you want to give him?" Lou Xianyue placed Little Blue Eucalyptus back in the Spirit Pool. The little one had just finished eating and was already getting drowsy, ready for sleep. Lou Xianyue ford a blue bubble in his palm, which enveloped the child and slowly sank to the bottom of the pool.
Sang Luo smiled, at a loss for words. ’This child is certainly easy to raise, sleeping for ten hours a day. And his father is just the sa. He can fall into a deep sleep for decades at a ti!’
"...Ahem. The rfolk Clan is just like that. We rely on sleep for our Cultivation," Lou Xianyue explained as he teleported her back to their chambers.
"I don’t believe you. You’re just being lazy about raising him." Sang Luo pulled her hand away and walked over to a table. "I’ve decided what to give Little An."
"I’m listening."
"I missed his one-month celebration, so I’ll just combine it with his first-year ceremony. I collected quite a few Heaven and Earth Spiritual Treasures back in the North Continent, and I even dug up a fist-sized piece of Thousand-year-old Spiritual Jade. It’s perfect for crafting a Peace Lock for him." Sang Luo looked at Lou Xianyue. "Let borrow your Artifact Refining Room for a bit."
"You know Artifact Refining, Sang’er?"
"Not really. I just read a few books and tinkered around on my own. I can manage to craft so small magic tools with spatial properties, but nothing more complex than that." ’Lou Xianyue was right,’ she thought. ’I know a little bit about everything, but I’m not a master of anything.’
Lou Xianyue accompanied Sang Luo, and they secluded themselves in the Artifact Refining Room for two days. He would offer her guidance from ti to ti, correcting the many errors in her self-taught Artifact Refining techniques.
Sang Luo had originally thought the three silver locks she’d made were quite beautiful, but this new Jade Lock was far more exquisite and intricate by comparison. She felt a little guilty. ’When the three little Wolf Pups have their first-year ceremonies, I’ll make three more Jade Locks to make it up to them.’
Lou Xianyue was sitting cross-legged before a low, curved-corner table. He rested his chin in one hand, while his other slender, elegant hand held the Jade Lock, gently caressing the swimming fish pattern on its surface. He chuckled softly. "Sang’er, you really do have a talent for Artifact Refining."
"What, you want to take on as your disciple?" Sang Luo stretched, rolling her sore shoulders.
Lou Xianyue set down the Jade Lock, rose, and walked behind her. He began to gently massage her shoulders. "There’s no need to take a disciple. It’s enough for this family to have one person who knows Artifact Refining. I’d much rather have you as the Female Master of this Sea Palace."
Sang Luo replied, "You’re just trying to sweet-talk !"
Lou Xianyue glanced back at the tabletop. "This Jade Lock is so beautiful. Forget our son—even I want one."
"You’re such an old fish. What would you need a Peace Lock for?"
"Sang’er... you think I’m old!" Lou Xianyue bent down, his soft pink lips brushing against her ear. "This old, decrepit Male Beast... my performance in bed can’t possibly compare to how those younger Male Beasts could pleasure you and win your favor..."
"Ahem! You’re in your pri, strong and powerful. I know that better than anyone!" Sang Luo’s face flushed red. She gave his chest a light tap, which only earned another soft chuckle from him. She stamred, "I... I ant I wanted to give you a different gift. A bracelet, a hairpin, a necklace, a jade crown, a forehead ribbon, earrings... Which would you like?"
Lou Xianyue considered this seriously for a mont. He raised a hand and, with a slender fingertip, lightly toyed with the Jade Pendant hanging from his ear... It was as if he were toying with her heart. Sang Luo swallowed hard, once again finding herself srized.
"Sang’er, give a new pair of earrings. Make them for with your own hands."
...
「Two days later.」
In the South Sea, within Moon Ruins City, Lou Xianyue held the baptism for Blue Eucalyptus in the God-Bestowed Land, witnessed by millions of his Sea Beast subjects.
He placed the child in a hollow on the sacrificial altar, which was filled with shimring Divine Water. The stone altar itself was engraved on all sides with intricate patterns, so complex that they were dizzying and difficult to gaze upon directly.
Lou Xianyue began to recite an ancient ode. His voice was not its usual gentle tone but was instead the vast, echoing song of a rfolk in its true beast form.
Instantly, all the beasts bowed low, transforming into their true forms and crying out in a harmonious chorus.
The spectacle was vast and absolutely stunning.
As Sang Luo listened to the ancient chant, she felt as if her very soul were being cleansed.
Then, Lou Xianyue stood upon the high platform, sliced open his palm, and let his pale red blood drip into the Divine Water on the altar. A vast, soul-shaking phantasm materialized in the sky.
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