Chapter 8:THE ORIGIN OF THE BABY
Zi Xia spoke in a calm, gentle voice.
"Yes… that's him."
Ye Ann smiled faintly as she stepped closer.
"What a cute little baby…"
Her gaze softened—but then deepened.
She began to carefully observe the child, her eyes focusing as she silently tried to probe his condition.
A moment passed.
Then suddenly—
Her body trembled.
Her expression froze.
And without warning—
She collapsed.
"Elder Ye Ann!" Zi Xia reacted instantly, catching her before she could fall from the chair.
The girls rushed forward in panic.
"What happened?!"
"Sister, is she okay?!"
Zi Xia's expression turned serious as she quickly supported Ye Ann's body. Without hesitation, she pressed both hands against her back, channeling her energy into her.
"Wake up…" Zi Xia whispered, her voice tense.
But Ye Ann did not respond.
Zi Xia's brows tightened.
"She's not waking up…"
The girls grew even more anxious.
"Sister, what are we going to do?" Zhao Xue asked, her voice trembling.
Zi Xia took a deep breath.
Then—
Her aura surged.
She began pouring more of her power into Ye Ann, her energy growing stronger, more intense. The air around them trembled slightly from the pressure.
Still—
No response.
Zi Xia gritted her teeth.
"Wake up!"
She pushed further, this time drawing on her soul power as well.
A sharp cough escaped her lips—
Blood.
Yet she didn't stop.
Again, she forced her power forward.
The others could only watch in shock and fear.
Moments later—
Ye Ann's fingers twitched.
Her eyes slowly opened.
A faint breath escaped her lips.
She was awake.
Zi Xia immediately withdrew her power, her face pale but filled with relief.
"Elder!"
The girls' faces lit up with hope and joy.
Ye Ann blinked weakly, regaining her consciousness. Her gaze slowly focused until it landed on Zi Xia.
"Xia'er…" she said softly, her voice faint but steady. "I'm fine now."
Zi Xia let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
Ye Ann gently raised her hand and touched Zi Xia's face.
"Thank you… so much, Xia'er."
Zi Xia nodded, her expression a mix of worry and relief, her eyes still filled with lingering concern.
Silence followed.
The girls stood still, their eyes fixed on Ye Ann—relieved she had awakened, yet unable to shake the fear lingering in their hearts.
Then—
Ye Ann slowly turned her gaze toward the baby.
At that moment, Qi Ningyi was gently holding the child in her arms, carefully supporting his small body.
The baby was quiet… too quiet.
Ye Ann's eyes narrowed slightly.
Her expression changed.
"…This child…"
The girls immediately noticed.
"What is it, Elder?" Luo Xin asked softly.
Ye Ann did not answer right away.
Instead, she stared deeper—her gaze trembling slightly.
"…Too much…"
Her voice dropped.
"Too much Yin… and Yang…"
"What?" Zhao Xue's eyes widened.
The others froze.
Luo Xin and Zhao Xue slowly looked at the baby again—but this time, their expressions changed.
Pity.
A deep, helpless pity filled their eyes.
Ai Jieya bit her lip, her voice soft and worried.
"Elder Ye Ann… is there… any way we can help him?"
A long silence followed.
Ye Ann closed her eyes.
"…No."
That single word fell heavily into the backyard.
"I don't know any way… Even the ancestors of my clan… would not know the answer."
The girls' hearts sank.
Their expressions grew even more somber.
Despair began to creep in.
Then—
Ye Ann slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes trembled as she looked toward Zi Xia.
Her voice… carried fear.
"…That baby…"
She paused.
"…has the existence of death."
BOOM.
The words struck like thunder.
"What?!" Zi Xia took a step back, her face filled with shock.
The others were completely stunned.
Qi Ningyi instinctively tightened her hold on the baby, her eyes filled with sorrow.
"…Poor baby…" she whispered.
Zi Xia stared at the child again—this time, no longer just shocked… but filled with pity.
Ai Jieya stepped forward again, her voice trembling.
"Elder… is there really no way?"
Ye Ann slowly shook her head.
"Impossible."
"Too much Yin and Yang is already a contradiction beyond balance… but to mix it with the existence of death…"
She lowered her gaze.
"…This child's fate is beyond 'worst'."
Silence.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
Then—
Ye Ann's voice softened.
"…But don't lose hope."
The girls lifted their heads slightly.
"We don't know yet… This is something beyond our understanding."
A small light returned to their eyes.
Hope.
Fragile—but present.
Ye Ann then took a slow breath.
"I will tell you everything I know… about the existence of death."
The girls immediately straightened, listening with full attention.
"With that kind of existence… the being grows faster than normal."
"Even if it has only been born for a few hours…"
"Its development… its awareness… everything surpasses natural laws."
Her eyes moved toward the baby again.
"…This child…"
Her voice softened.
"…might have been abandoned by his own family."
The girls froze.
Luo Xin covered her mouth.
Zhao Xue's eyes trembled.
"…No…" she whispered.
Qi Ningyi gently held the baby closer, her expression full of sorrow.
Ye Ann continued.
"This baby was likely born three… or four days ago."
She took a deep breath.
"…Thankfully…"
Her eyes turned to Zi Xia.
"I survived."
She gave a faint, grateful smile.
"Thank you… so much again, Xia'er."
Zi Xia nodded, her face filled with relief.
"…You don't have to thank me, Elder."
Ye Ann then grew serious again.
"When I was unconscious…"
Her voice lowered.
"…I experienced something beyond everything."
The backyard fell silent once more.
"It felt like… I did not belong there."
"Like I was a glitch… something that should not exist… forced into a place I could not comprehend."
Her breathing grew uneven.
"I can't even describe it fully…"
She gasped softly, her hand slightly trembling.
"If I try… my soul… my very existence… will be harmed."
Zi Xia immediately stepped forward.
"Don't force yourself, Elder Ye Ann."
Her voice was firm, yet gentle.
Ye Ann slowly nodded.
The silence deepened.
Then—
She spoke once more.
"…You should all be thankful… that you found him like this."
The girls looked at her in confusion.
"…What do you mean, Elder?" Luo Xin asked.
Ye Ann's gaze remained on the baby.
"He is not an early newborn…"
A pause.
"…Otherwise…"
Her eyes darkened.
"…that would have been your end."
The girls froze.
A chill ran down their spines.
"…Our end…?" Zhao Xue whispered.
Ai Jieya's voice trembled.
"Why… Elder?"
Ye Ann slowly turned to her.
"Because when that kind of existence is born…"
"…the 'existence of death' is fully active."
Her voice lowered.
"It becomes dangerous… even to immortals."
Fear gripped their hearts.
Tears gathered in Ye Ann's eyes.
"…I might die… later… or soon."
"Elder!" Zhao Xue cried.
"No!" Luo Xin shook her head desperately.
Ai Jieya covered her mouth, eyes trembling.
Qi Ningyi held the baby tighter, torn between fear and compassion.
Zi Xia stepped forward firmly.
"Don't say that. It won't happen."
Her voice was steady.
But her eyes showed worry.
Ye Ann smiled faintly.
"…I hope so…"
Then—
Zi Xia bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry, Elder…"
The others followed.
"We're sorry!"
"We didn't know…"
Ye Ann blinked—then laughed softly.
"You silly children…"
"It's alright."
"I'm fine. No need to apologize."
The girls slowly lifted their heads.
Relief softened their expressions.
Zhao Xue wiped her tears.
Luo Xin exhaled shakily.
Ai Jieya steadied herself.
Qi Ningyi looked at the baby again—this time more gently.
Meanwhile—
Ye Ann felt it.
Her organs… her very existence… being damaged.
Her vision flickered.
Glitching.
Unstable.
But she endured it.
"…But thankfully…"
She forced her voice steady.
"I was able to scan him."
"He is not an early newborn."
Relief flooded the group.
"…That's good…" Zhao Xue whispered.
They listened closely.
"The awakening of the existence of death…"
She paused.
"…is unpredictable."
"…That is the most terrifying part."
The girls stiffened again.
Fear returned.
"…Unpredictable…" Ai Jieya murmured.
Qi Ningyi looked down at the baby.
"…What kind of fate do you carry…" she whispered.
Then—
Ye Ann looked at Zi Xia.
"…What will all of you do?"
Silence.
They looked at each other.
Fear.
Uncertainty.
But also—
Resolve.
Zi Xia stepped forward.
"We won't abandon this child."
Her voice was firm.
"We will find a way to help him."
"So he can live… like a normal person."
The others froze.
Then—
Something changed.
Zhao Xue nodded.
"Yes!"
Luo Xin stepped forward.
"We won't leave him!"
Ai Jieya clenched her fists.
"We'll help him—no matter what!"
Qi Ningyi hugged the baby gently.
"You're not alone…"
Warmth filled the air.
Hope.
Real.
Strong.
Ye Ann watched them.
Then smiled.
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
"I knew it…"
"I already knew… this would be your answer."
And in that quiet backyard—
Amid fear, uncertainty, and something far beyond their understanding—
A fragile bond was formed.
Not by fate.
But by choice.