The Nine Cauldrons

Waiting in Patience

The 10th of July was a day of sadness and joy. Many of the kids left unhappily, but the surprisingly happy thing was that during the last practice of fist art led by Teng Qingshan, two more boys managed to generate inner strength. Fang Xin was one of the two. These two boys only realized that they possessed inner strength after the practice, and both of them burst out in tears of excitement.

Since then, the third generation of the Internal Martial Arts became a total of 98 people.

The remaining 816 kids were escorted back to the Gui Yuan Sect by the troop Zhuge Yuanhong had dispatched. The kids would be given the chance to learn the other cultivation methods of inner strength in the Gui Yuan Sect. If they managed to generate inner strength, they would be able to become the disciples of the Gui Yuan Sect. However, if they failed, the would have to leave the sect.

During the afternoon of that day, gloomy clouds covered the sky, and the weather was stifling hot. The cries of the cicada rang out occasionally.

In the inner court:

“Teacher.” “Teacher.”

Teng Shou and Xue Xin, who were both extremely muscular, stood before Teng Qingshan respectfully.

“Xue Xin, during this period of time, how have you and your Second Martial Brother developed the Xiong Shou Gang in the Tai Ah Mountain Range?” Teng Qingshan asked.

Xue Xin replied respectfully, “Teacher, the Xiong Shou Gang is very organized. Currently, there are a total of 8,000 courageous men in the gang. According to what Second Martial Brother said, it is unlikely for the Xiong Shou Gang to expand for now. We will maintain at a number of 8,000 men. With 8,000 men and the Whole Gale Eagle, there is no need to fear any other gang in the Tai Ah Mountain Range.”

Nowadays, the Whole Gale Eagle would travel back and forth, residing occasionally in Yi City or the Tai Ah Mountain Range.

With Yang Dong’s lead, the 8,000 bandits of the Xiong Shou Gang treated the Whole Gale Eagle with courtesy. The Whole Gale Eagle was given different kinds of roasted meat. In fact, the Xiong Shou Gang even specially hired a chef to prepare delicious food for the Whole Gale Eagle. It was living very comfortably in the Xiong Shou Gang.

“Eh.”

Teng Qingshan nodded slightly. “Xue Xin, starting from today, you will stay here with me and teach those kids with your Eldest Martial Brother. There are a total of 98 kids. Your Eldest Martial Brother will be the teacher of half of them, while you will be the teacher of the other half. The teaching of these kids should be your highest priority. You must teach them carefully.” As Teng Qingshan spoke, his eyes narrowed sharply.

“Yes, Teacher,” Xue Xin responded hastily.

“Your fist art is not as good as your Eldest Martial Brother’s, but it is good enough to teach these kids. Each of you will accept 49 disciples… In ten years, these kids will all be grown-ups. By that time, I will evaluate your disciples and see who has the best disciple. The better teacher will receive a precious reward from me.”

Due to Teng Qingshan’s words, Teng Shou and Xue Xin felt eager to compete with each other.

The thing that their teacher called “precious treasure” would definitely not be anything ordinary.

“Eldest Martial Brother, although I am not as strong as you, I am able to teach as well as you can. So, you better watch out,” Xue Xin cupped his hands together and joked.

Teng Shou only cupped his hands together as well but responded with silence.

……

With the two disciples in charge of teaching the boys, Teng Qingshan felt at ease. The next day morning, Teng Qingshan and Zhuge Yuanhong went on a walk at the pathway in the outer court.

“Teacher, has the Gui Yuan Sect arranged for someone in the Heavenly Cloud Mountain in Qingzhou?” Teng Qingshan hastily asked.

“Don’t worry,” Zhuge Yuanhong said with a smile, “I have specially dispatched ten people to live at the foot of the Heavenly Cloud Mountain, instructing them to keep a close watch on the Heavenly Cloud Mountain. If a great fire burns on the Heavenly Cloud Mountain… the Gui Yuan Sect will be the first to receive the news. Moreover… I have ordered that a message be sent to Yi City as soon as possible.”

Teng Qingshan nodded.

Today was the 11th of July. Logically, the Undying Phoenix ‘Little Blue’ might come to the Land of the Nine Prefectures at any time.

“Qingshan, when the Undying Phoenix arrives, the Gui Yuan Sect…” Zhuge Yuanhong said while laughing.

“Yes, when the Undying Phoenix arrives, it will be the time to make our move,” Teng Qingshan replied, with a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. “It would be very difficult for me to conquer and guard all of Yangzhou alone.”

Even Pei San of the Heavenly God Palace was able to be so invincible because he was assisted by many Emptiness Realm Experts.

The strength of one person was never enough.

“The Gui Yuan Sect has endured for too long,” Zhuge Yuanhong said and took in a deep breath. “Qingshan, pay close attention to the Heavenly Cloud Mountain. I will do the same as well, so don’t worry.”

On that very same day, Zhuge Yuanhong returned to Jiangning County-City.

It was a hot summer afternoon, and the sun was scorching.

Teng Qingshan wore an azure robe and began practicing his spear art in the inner court repeatedly. For a moment, the shadows of the people and the spears merged, and his spear was barely visible.The surrounding air swayed and quivered. Drawn in by Teng Qingshan’s spear, the Power of the Heavens and the Earth enveloped around it. Then at this moment, colorful radiances converged.

“Qingshan, Qingshan,” Li Jun called out with a frown as she walked out of the room.

“Eh?” Teng Qingshan stopped and ran over hastily while asking, “Little Jun, what’s wrong?”

“My stomach doesn’t feel good. Something isn’t right,” Li Jun said.

When Teng Qingshan heard this, he was struck by a thought. Little Jun had already attained the Innate Realm, and it was almost impossible for an Innate Expert to get a stomach ache. So, this meant that…

Could it be…

That she’s pregnant?

However, he didn’t sense any living aura in Li Jun’s stomach with the use of his domain.

“Maybe it’s just the beginning, so I still can’t sense any living aura?” Teng Qingshan thought.

Li Jun had already attained the Innate Realm. Innate Experts are much more sensitive with their own body than ordinary people, so if she really was pregnant, Li Jun would be able to sense something strange even if it’s just the beginning.

“Pregnant?”

“Having a child?”

Teng Qingshan was at a loss. He didn’t have any experience of this in his previous life. Even some of the conjectures made him anxious.

TLN: LOL. Sorry, I just find this funny.

“Little Jun, come here.” Teng Qingshan hastily took hold of Li Jun’s hand and headed toward the pavilion.

“There’s no need to support me. I can walk,” Li Jun said bemusedly.

“No, it’s better to be careful,” Teng Qingshan said, appearing very cautious.

TLN: LOL. Sorry, I still find this funny.

“Qingshan, what is wrong with you?” Li Jun didn’t associate any of this to pregnancy. Thus, she was slightly confused.

TLN: DUH SHE A KID.

Teng Qingshan didn’t answer. He first asked Li Jun to sit down. Then he checked Li Jun’s pulse. He didn’t sense the fine pulse of an infant. However, Teng Qingshan didn’t mind that… He continued touching Li Jun’s stomach softly and sent a gentle Earth Elemental Power of the Heavens and the Earth into Li Jun’s body. The hint of the Power of the Heavens and the Earth was beneficial to every living creature. Teng Qingshan didn’t dare to check with the use of the Supreme Force.

With his control of the Power of the Heavens and the Earth, Teng Qingshan could sense that there was indeed something weird going on inside Li Jun’s stomach.

“Qingshan, what’s wrong?” Li Jun asked puzzledly.

“Eh?”

Teng Qingshan knew the internal structure of the human body well. As he touched the internals with the Power of the Heavens and the Earth, every part inside Li Jun’s body appeared in his mind.

“This—”

Teng Qingshan could sense a very tiny thing inside her stomach. That thing was much smaller than a fingertip.

“Qingshan, what’s wrong?” Li Jun asked, slightly scared.

Teng Qingshan looked up at Li Jun and smiled helplessly. “Little Jun, I don’t know for sure… but I suspect that you are pregnant. However, I didn’t sense any pulse aside from yours. However, I felt something inside your body…” Teng Qingshan couldn’t even explain well at this very moment. “How’s this? Wait for another seven days and we will know for sure.”

“Qingshan, did you say I am pregnant?” Li Jun asked with her eyes wide open.

“I am not sure. Let’s wait another seven days. By that time, I think we will certainly know,” Teng Qingshan replied.

“I..I…” Li Jun was baffled.

“Don’t worry. We will know in just a few days,” Teng Qingshan assured hastily.

The couple had no experience at all. Even though one was the Substitute High Priestess of the Snowy Lotus Cult while the other was an Emptiness Realm Expert, both of them were at a loss. They were happy, excited, scared, and worried. They were worried that Teng Qingshan had checked wrongly, and this was simply a joke.

As days passed by, Teng Qingshan checked Li Jun’s body almost every single day.

“Eh, it became slightly bigger.” Teng Qingshan was marveled by this discovery.

According to Teng Qingshan’s understanding of the human body, that thing inside Li Jun’s uterus was a really tiny thing. It was much smaller than a fingertip, but its growing speed was very fast.

“It has only been six days. It was just a tiny dot six days ago, and now it is twice as big as before.” Teng Qingshan was now certain of his conjecture.

……

Ever since Teng Qingshan realized that Li Jun was probably pregnant, he spent most of his time on Li Jun, aside from what he spent on comprehending and cultivating Dao.

On the eighth day:

Li Jun sat in the pavilion nervously. At this moment, Teng Qingshan was checking Li Jun’s pulse, observing it very carefully.

“How is it? Did you sense it?” Li Jun asked hastily.

How sensitive were Teng Qingshan’s senses? Gradually, Teng Qingshan was able to sense a very weak pulse accompanied by Li Jun’s powerful pulse. However, this weak-sounding pulse made Teng Qingshan so excited that his face turned completely red. Beside him, Li Jun was so nervous that it shocked her to see the redness on Teng Qingshan’s face.

“Qingshan, how is it? What’s going on?” Li Jun asked hastily.

“There’s a pulse!” Teng Qingshan nodded repeatedly. The expression on his face was really strange. He looked as though he was grinning and crying at the same time.

She was with child?

He was going to be a father?

Scenes of his previous life flashed through his mind. Teng Qingshan had always been used to being alone. He had never thought of becoming a father. However, now that he knew he was going to be a father, he felt it was something magical. He felt like the world was spinning, and he had no idea what was going on in his mind.

However, at this moment, rumbles of thunder rang out amidst the gloomy clouds in the sky. Soon, there was a loud boom, and Teng Qingshan quickly pulled Li Jun gently. He said hastily, “It’s going to rain soon. Let’s go inside.”

“Yes.” Li Jun was still in shock. This was her first time experiencing such shockness.

In the room:

Teng Qingshan carried Li Jun onto the bed and covered her with a blanket.

“Little Jun, from today onwards, don’t practice the Whip Art anymore. Just focus on keeping your body healthy,” Teng Qingshan said with a seriousness that he had never shown before.

“Yes.” Li Jun nodded with blushed cheeks.

Suddenly, Teng Qingshan stood up and mumbled, “What should we beware of during a pregnancy? I must go ask about this.”

“Little Jun, you should rest first,” Teng Qingshan said softly. Then he opened the door and dashed out of the house.

“Rumble~”

“Walla~~~” At this moment, it was pouring rain. Yet Teng Qingshan felt an excitement he had never felt before in this rainstorm.

“Haha….” Suddenly, he raised his head and looked at the sky, laughing out loud as he raised his hands up high. “Oh heavens, you have finally given me a child in this life. Haha… Now, I will have kid too. Haha…” At this moment, Teng Qingshan felt even more happy than back when he attained the Emptiness Realm.

The weak pulse he sensed earlier was even more shocking than if a thunderbolt had struck him.

“Ah, right. It’s best to ask a doctor about this.” Teng Qingshan transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into the inner court.