Chapter 7: THE EMERGENCE OF CORRUPTED EYES
Luo Xin took a deep breath and revealed everything to Zi Xia.
Zi Xia's expression immediately turned serious. "What?" she said, her brows furrowing slightly. She looked at Luo Xin with a steady gaze. "Xin'er… sometimes it's better to remain uninvolved than to invite trouble."
Luo Xin lowered her head, her voice soft and tinged with guilt. "I'm sorry, Sister…"
Zi Xia's stern expression softened into a gentle smile. "Let me see the baby. May I hold him?"
Luo Xin and the others smiled.
"Of course," Qi Ningyi replied, carefully handing the baby over.
Zi Xia cradled the child in her arms, her movements gentle and natural. She stared at his tiny face, her eyes softening. "He's adorable," she said quietly.
"Yes, he really is," Qi Ningyi agreed.
"What is the baby?" Zi Xia asked.
"He's a boy," Ningyi answered.
"Ah…" Zi Xia nodded.
Her gaze lingered on the child, and her expression changed slightly. "Poor baby… so many scars."
Luo Xin sighed softly. "That's why we gathered so many herbs."
"And you know, Older Sister, we even found a rare herb."
"Oh?" Zi Xia raised a brow. "What herb?"
"An Emerald Herb."
Zi Xia's eyes widened slightly. "That's a great gain. Good work, sisters."
Jieya smiled and nudged Luo Xin lightly. "That's because of Luo Xin. She really insisted on taking it."
Luo Xin laughed awkwardly. "I just thought it was worth it…"
Zi Xia shook her head gently. "Just don't force things if it's too dangerous, alright? Thank goodness you're all safe."
"Yes, Sister," Luo Xin replied.
Ai Jieya stepped closer, peering curiously at the child beside Qi Ningyi while Zi Xia continued holding him.
"Has he had any milk yet?" Zi Xia asked.
Luo Xin shook her head. "No, Sister. He hasn't even opened his eyes since I found him."
Zi Xia frowned slightly. "Why is that?"
Zhao Xue, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. "Maybe he needs milk."
The others turned to her.
"Milk?" Jieya repeated, confused.
Zhao Xue nodded seriously. "Not the kind we drink… but Sister Zi Xia's milk."
For a brief moment, silence filled the room.
Zi Xia's face flushed red. "You child—stop talking nonsense!" she said, clearly flustered.
Zhao Xue grinned mischievously. "I'm just joking, Sister."
Soft laughter spread through the room, easing the tension.
After a moment, Zi Xia gently handed the baby to Jieya, who brought him into Luo Xin's room to rest.
Zi Xia then walked over and sat down on a nearby chair, still feeling a faint unease she could not explain.
---
A short while later, the baby suddenly cried.
"Ah! The baby is crying!" Zi Xia stood up immediately.
"I'll check him!" Luo Xin rushed into the room.
Moments later, her surprised voice echoed out. "Wow… so cute!"
She returned quickly, holding the baby.
"Sisters, look! He finally opened his eyes!"
The group hurried over.
Zhao Xue leaned in. "Wow… so cute…"
Then she froze.
"Wait… his eyes…"
"They're… pure dark?" Jieya whispered.
A strange silence filled the air.
Zi Xia's expression turned solemn again. "Poor baby…"
She stepped forward. "Let me hold him."
Luo Xin gently handed the baby back.
Zi Xia looked into his eyes. "This child… is strange. Why do his eyes feel like this?"
Ningyi smiled softly. "Even if they're dark, they suit him. He's still cute."
The others nodded in agreement.
Zi Xia remained silent for a long moment, sensing something deeper she could not explain.
Then she spoke calmly. "I'll start refining the herbs again. Let's go to the backyard."
---
In the backyard, Zi Xia summoned her alchemy furnace. A heavy cauldron appeared, humming with spiritual energy.
She placed the herbs inside while the others watched. Ningyi held the baby carefully.
Zi Xia raised her hands, and spiritual flames ignited beneath the furnace. A strong herbal fragrance spread through the air.
"Wow… it smells so good," Zhao Xue said.
Ningyi smiled at the baby. "Sister Zi Xia is making medicine for you."
The baby stared quietly, his dark eyes reflecting the firelight.
Then suddenly—
A brilliant emerald light erupted from the furnace.
"It's done," Zi Xia said calmly.
"So fast!" Luo Xin exclaimed. "Sister, your alchemy is amazing!"
Zi Xia smiled faintly and opened the furnace. She retrieved the pills and stored most inside her spatial ring. One emerald pill remained in her hand.
She divided it into ten pieces.
"Bring milk," she said.
"I'll go!" Luo Xin rushed off.
She returned quickly with a jar and placed it down.
Zi Xia dropped a pill fragment into it. The milk turned faintly emerald.
"This will fully heal him," Zi Xia said. "It may even change something deeper."
Ningyi looked at the baby. "When you drink this, your scars will disappear."
But the baby did not respond.
Zi Xia frowned slightly. "Let's test something else."
Without hesitation, she guided a pill fragment into the baby's body.
It entered smoothly.
Everyone held their breath.
…
Nothing happened.
Silence.
Luo Xin swallowed. "Maybe… it needs time?"
Zi Xia's eyes narrowed. "No."
Her voice turned cold.
"That was a Healing Origin Pill. It heals everything below the laws of life."
She stared at the baby.
"But it didn't work."
A heavy pressure filled the air.
Zi Xia's thoughts darkened.
Who are your parents?
Why does your body reject even origin healing?
What are you?
She stood suddenly. "Wait here."
And in a flash, she disappeared.
---
Later—
She returned with someone beside her.
A calm elder stepped into the courtyard.
Elder ye ann.
Yin-Yang Condensation Perfection Stage cultivator.
The girls immediately greeted Zi Xia respectfully, then turned toward the elder and bowed.
ye ann nodded slightly.
Zi Xia placed a chair for her. "Please."
She sat, her gaze immediately locking onto the baby in Ningyi's arms.
A long silence followed.
"…So this is the Baby."