Tomb Raiders: After the Nine Gates Ancestor, they let loose and did whatever they wanted!

"Let me see, is this our little Yu Chen?"

A voice tinged with laughter came from under the eaves, and Jin Yan, dressed in a scarlet dress, seemed to float closer as if carrying a ray of rosy light.

She leaned down and gently touched Jie Yuchen's soft cheek with her slender finger. Her fingertips were warm, and her movements were as gentle as if she were afraid of crushing the morning dew.

With her eyes crinkled into crescents and her voice so soft it could melt water, she was nothing like the decisive and efficient person she always was. Boss Yan exclaimed, "Oh my, this little face is even more tender than a freshly steamed jade dew dumpling! It makes me want to take a bite!"

As she spoke, Jin Yan turned around and waved to Ling Wu, "Xiao Wu, hurry up, take a picture of me and Xiao Chenchen, and send it to A Ling right away—tell her to be drooling!"

?(? ? ??)

The adorable little doll, dressed in a delicate pink brocade jacket, showed no fear of strangers. Her bright, dark eyes followed the shimmering light of the hairpin adorning her beautiful face.

"Huh~ Ah...bubu~" she murmured softly.

Her lotus-root-like arms waved in the air, the hundred-life lock on her chest jingling softly, as if echoing the joyful sounds filling the courtyard.

"Little darling, come here, give your martial uncle a smile." Feng Che, dressed in a blue robe, leaned closer, fanning himself with a folding fan, and deliberately winked.

"I will teach you the most wonderful pleasures in heaven and earth from now on. I guarantee you will be able to charm thousands of girls in the future. How about it?"

"Ah—" The last sentence changed tone after being hit on the head.

_(′?`」 ∠)__

"Go away, go away!" Ling Wu quickly raised his hand to stop him, glaring at him with a smile. "Fengfeng, you'd better tone it down. Kui Xing has arranged everything, and I'm watching you from behind. Be careful, or Little Star might drag you to spar with the 'Tranquility' sword technique!"

Perhaps it was fate that sword cultivators and sound cultivators were always locked in a love-hate relationship, like Feng Che and Kui Xing. It's unclear when exactly, but they began to play a game of left-right suppression.

.?.???

This little world was unusually lively, and naturally, the aloof and youthful Zhang Qiling couldn't be left out.

I remember wanting to hug Jie Gang on the first day we met, but I didn't. Later, I stood quietly a few steps away under the crabapple blossoms, my gaze occasionally falling on that small figure.

Seeing the little one open his arms to him, he paused slightly, then stepped forward and, somewhat stiffly but very carefully, took the child into his arms.

As for the seemingly unfamiliar yet skillful techniques, they can naturally be attributed to Lingwu's practice in asking for hugs.

>3<

After all, it was common knowledge that the little one was different from everyone else, so Zhang Qiling wasn't that nervous.

But the gentle touch of a child made those hands, accustomed to unleashing magical feats, breaking mechanisms, and wielding weapons, seem somewhat lost at this moment.

The minor official, transformed into a sloth: Something feels off; I can't afford to pay for the damage if I break it.

? _?

He slightly adjusted his posture, his arms steadily and gently supporting the soft swaddling clothes, as if afraid of applying the slightest improper force.

Taking advantage of the moment, the man with the black glasses leaned closer and flicked the little bell on the Hundred Life Lock with his fingertip. The crisp sound made the child giggle.

He raised an eyebrow at Zhang Qiling with a smug look, and the latter only glanced at him indifferently. Hearing that clear laughter, he relaxed a little.

Her tranquil eyes held no sharpness whatsoever; instead, they were like dissolved ink, containing an imperceptible gentleness.

? ?

Faced with this pure life, these two people, who have weathered a century of storms, both instinctively softened their sharp edges and weathered faces, revealing an almost instinctive tenderness.

The group's darling was scared to tears; that's going to get you in trouble!

The adorable little Yu Chen was held and teased in turn by this group of elegantly dressed and charming martial arts masters and mistresses. Far from crying, she laughed even more happily, her little face rosy, like a snowball with rouge on it.

This lively scene plays out almost every day—it's rare for the Ghost Spirit Sect to welcome such a young child; several fellow disciples who have been busy outside have returned.

I always make a special detour to this quiet little courtyard to see my future junior apprentice, and also to spend time with his gentle and quiet mother, to build a closer relationship and put their minds at ease.

The concentration of immortal beings in the Ghost Spirit Sect results in a perpetual absence of the warmth and affection that should belong to elders.

No matter how you try to patch it up, it's still like a gaping hole, letting in cold air. There's always an unconscious urge to fill it in a little more.

This is utterly absurd; the idea that having a good relationship with someone makes you want to be their father is ridiculous.

After a casual exchange about "who's whose father, who's whose son," the topic escalated and was subsequently retaliated against by a group of girls who found it annoying and noisy.

(?w?)hiahiahia ~

……

The harsh winter passed amidst laughter and cheerful conversation. During the spring drowsiness, Jieyin often leaned quietly against the veranda pillar, gazing at everything before her in a daze.

The warm afternoon sun of spring bathed the courtyard, pear petals occasionally swirling and falling in the breeze, while the wind chimes under the eaves tinkled softly.

Her child was carefully passed from hand to hand, some long and strong, others delicate and fair, sleeping peacefully or laughing heartily in the arms of his fellow disciples, who were of the same generation as his future master Wei Wuxian and would often accompany him as he grew up.

The intricate embroidery on the quilt shimmered with a warm glow in the light, and the golden lock, reflecting the sunlight, seemed to be filled with unspoken welcomes and blessings in its tinkling sounds.

A warm, comforting current slowly washed over my heart, intertwined with a touch of wistful emotion.

Recalling those years in the Xie family mansion as if from another world, her special and awkward status after marriage made her exceptionally cautious, every step feeling like walking on icy blades.

A bunch of foolish, oblivious, yet pretentiously clever, scheming people who beat around the bush with every word and whose every glance is filled with calculation.

Here, Wei Wuxian had specially arranged this secluded courtyard for the mother and son to get used to their surroundings. The laughter was hearty, the care was tender, and the kindness was direct and open.

Her Yu Chen didn't have to become a pawn dropped early in the family's power struggles.

He was simply Xie Yuchen, a child who could slowly become familiar with and grow up safely in this new world.

Jieyun was finally able to slowly shed the heavy burden of ice that had weighed on her for half her life during this transitional period.

Living in this mysterious, hidden place, she was first and foremost a mother, only concerned with whether her child was adjusting well that day and whether he was sleeping soundly.

His gaze occasionally drifted to a spot not far away—where Baima was gently straightening Zhang Qiling's slightly disheveled collar as he practiced his sword daily, without fail; her movements were delicate and natural.

That maternal love, transcending life and death and time, flows silently like a mountain spring, gently permeating every little detail. Jie Yun felt a slight stirring in her heart, as if she had touched another kind of solid strength.

The bonds between people can be so profound and gentle, quietly paving a warm path for newcomers...

( *￣▽￣)((≧︶≦*)

The sunlight moved silently, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow on the corridor.

The children's laughter, the crisp ringing of bells, and the gentle teasing whispers of the nuns mingled with the breeze and the fragrance of flowers, weaving together a peaceful and vivid picture.

This child will take root and grow here, awaiting the solemn decision of his destined mentor.

At this moment, he was enveloped by this premature and abundant kindness and affection, as warm as being wrapped in a blanket of blessings, as secure as wearing a longevity lock.

Jie Yun knew that this period of adaptation and waiting was not only about Yu Chen's future, but also about comforting herself.

In this world filled with kindness and expectation, every life is allowed to quietly await its moment to bloom, in its most graceful form.

Believe that human will can overcome nature, that everything is predestined, and pursue the natural way...