Jiayin happily went to cook. The rice they had stored was not much. The vegetables she picked were only enough for two people. To be a good and beloved daughter-in-law, she stated that she was not hungry. The old emperor persuaded her a few words and then silently raised his bowl to start eating. He hadn't eaten all day, and he would never even look at these foods before.
But now, he was truly so hungry that he felt even the bitter wild vegetables had a different flavor. He ate two large bowls with tears in his eyes. After finishing, he sat back on the bed to rest with an air of self-satisfaction.
Jiayin busied herself washing dishes and cleaning up. Seeing the old emperor's approving gaze, she felt that everything was worth it, and her efforts were recognized.
The old emperor was old and frail, and Zhao Lingheng was seriously injured. Jiayin generously let them sleep on the bed, and she slept on the ground with her fur, which would not be cold and the ground was not hard.
The next day, the old emperor followed Jiayin out. He walked directly down the path towards the mountain.
Jiayin didn't know what he was going to do, but she quietly followed. She didn't want this kind old man to be harmed. With Jiayin as a bodyguard, the old emperor was much more at ease.
He bravely took another step forward, and with a bang, he was repelled. He immediately cried out in pain, holding his waist as if he could no longer stand.
Jiayin immediately went forward to show concern. The emperor couldn't understand her gestures and gestures. He only kept crying out in pain. Jiayin had no choice but to start healing him.
The little strength he had managed to accumulate was thus depleted. The old emperor felt it was truly magical, staring at Jiayin as if she were a rare treasure.
"Jiayin, you are truly amazing."
Upon receiving the praise, Jiayin immediately smiled.
"I want to go out. I don't want to be confined to this place forever. Without me, I don't know what state Zhao has fallen into. I am so worried about my people."
After speaking, she lowered her head and showed a melancholy expression. When she looked up at the outside of the mountain again, her eyes were full of hope.
Seeing the light hidden in his eyes, Jiayin made up her mind to help the father and son get out. They both cared about the world and should not waste their lives in the deep mountains and old forests.
She also tried to rush out. After being repelled, she bravely rushed forward again. She tried dozens of times with no effect, and she coughed up blood and fainted.
She didn't get to see the old emperor's look of disdain, "What a useless thing."
After saying that, he picked up Jiayin, who was lying on the ground, and walked back. It was getting dark, and it would be bad if there were any accidents.
It was this embrace that made him discover the problem. Jiayin hadn't eaten anything last night. Why was her stomach still bulging? Could she be pregnant? httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
After returning, he questioned Zhao Lingheng extensively, which further confirmed his guess. Jiayin's pregnancy would delay their escape. If that monster came looking for them again, they would have no chance.
"Get rid of it. While she's still unconscious. If she finds out, it won't be up to us father and son."
Zhao Lingheng's face was a mix of surprise and joy. Upon hearing his old father's words, he was doused with a basin of cold water.
"Why? Absolutely not. This is my and Jiayin's child. Father, don't try any crooked ideas. Jiayin and I will not agree."
The old emperor was so angry that he poked Zhao Lingheng's head with his finger.
"How did I give birth to such a foolish son like you? When we get out, you can find any beauty you want. You can have as many children as you want then. This one is not lacking."
"If we keep this child, who knows how long it will delay. Will her abilities be greatly reduced after childbirth? We don't know any of this. We can't take this risk. Do you want to be killed by that monster from yesterday?"
"Your actions are too selfish. I will never agree."
Zhao Lingheng's mind had never been so clear. He was truly overjoyed at the arrival of this child.
Even if he became emperor after they got out, he would be more distressed without an heir. He could find women later, but this was the only pregnancy.
Even if he had to take risks for this child, he was willing to wait. He had already suffered so much; at worst, he would die.
"You... you're being foolish!" The old emperor was so angry that he fell backward.
Seeing his son's stubbornness, he directly picked up Jiayin and was about to throw her to the ground.
"Useless, if you don't dare to act, then I will do it for you."
"No!"
Zhao Lingheng lunged forward, catching Jiayin with his body. He then immediately protected Jiayin in his arms and glared at the old emperor, saying fiercely.
"You are not allowed to touch them, mother and child, or else get out. Without us, how will you survive in this forest?"
"Very, very good. For a beast, you dare to disobey me? Yesterday you looked disgusted, but today you treat her like a treasure. Could it be that you will be infertile from now on?"
Zhao Lingheng was struck in a sore spot. He roared with a flushed face, "Get out, get out of here."
Although the old emperor had a bad temper, he knew the consequences. He immediately softened his tone and promised not to make trouble again.
During Jiayin's pregnancy, he was responsible for some chores. Thus, a major conflict was quelled before Jiayin woke up.
Afterward, Jiayin was ordered to rest at home. Zhao Lingheng and his father took turns going out to find edible items and firewood. There were large wild animals in the forest, and they had to be on guard every day.
Anything nutritious they found was to supplement Jiayin's health. When Zhao Lingheng privately kept one or two small animals, he was met with a glare from his son. Thus, eight months passed, and both the old emperor and Zhao Lingheng were reduced to skin and bones.
Seeing Jiayin on the verge of death after childbirth, the old emperor had evil thoughts. Zhao Lingheng was constantly worried about the two half-human, half-demon little things and didn't look this way at all.
The evil thoughts in his heart grew like a snowball. He tightly gripped a rusted dagger.
Jiayin watched as the old emperor walked closer and closer. Her body couldn't move, and her throat couldn't make a sound. Looking at the sharp dagger, her panic reached its peak in an instant.
With a "plop," it was plunged into Jiayin's abdomen. The blood splashed into the old emperor's eyes, and only then did he react. His body trembled uncontrollably, and he let out a burst of laughter.
When Zhao Lingheng looked over upon hearing the commotion, it was already too late. He didn't know what he was thinking or how he should react.
Seeing his son's increasingly frenzied state, the old emperor forcefully cut open Jiayin's belly. After taking out her inner core, he threw his head back and laughed. Seeing that he was about to swallow it,
Zhao Lingheng immediately stepped forward to fight for it. Although he was young, he was still a step too slow, a hair's breadth away. After swallowing the inner core, the old emperor felt power surge through his entire body.
Looking at the unfilial son before him, he decided to use him as the first whetstone. Zhao Lingheng was powerless against the old emperor. His frail body was gone in a short while.
The old emperor, braving the wind and snow, stumbled to the foot of the mountain, wanting to cross the barrier back to Zhao. He crashed against it again and again, only to be repelled each time. He seemed to finally accept reality and returned to the small wooden house.
Seeing the two little fire foxes crying heartbrokenly, he simply tossed them aside and ignored them. His eyes gleamed as he looked at the dead fire fox. Eating its inner core would grant him power.
Then, would its flesh and skin have the same effect? He acted immediately. He brought out firewood, boiled water, and placed the fire fox in the basin. After a hot water rinse, the fur came off with a gentle pull.
He chopped the fox into small pieces, not sparing any part. He then put them in the pot to boil. After adding some salt, he ate them once they were cooked.
After eating, he sat cross-legged in meditation as if from a book, wondering if he could absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and ascend to immortality. He sat like this for three days and three nights.
The two little fire foxes were starved to the point of near death. The old emperor found them very annoying and immediately stewed them together. After eating, he continued to cultivate.
Jun Jiuli also made him experience the pain of being skinned and dismembered. The rotting corpse attracted large animals from the mountains. Before long, both father and son were devoured. The family departed together in perfect order.