The news of the Heavenly Demon's newborn children spread throughout the Inner Palace in one day and the Outer Palace in two.
After the news was disseminated by the First Steward, the sect's servants spread it throughout the city of Tai'an. To inform the world of this news, they went to Mount Tai and announced it among the Taoist followers—an act more meant to humiliate the sect's enemies and its leader than to announce a birth.
The Taoist followers and monks of the Murim Alliance sects gritted their teeth.
"Is news of the birth of demons being proclaimed in a Taoist temple?"
"How long must this humiliation continue?"
A warrior from the Hua Mountain Sect was watching this scene.
"They're behaving well as the victors of the war."
"We are worshipping near the sect's headquarters."
"You should be able to tolerate this much."
These words angered some of the temple's worshippers, but a warrior in Hua Mountain Sect robes—the most powerful sword sect in the central plains—spoke.
"Are you defending demons?"
"Has the Hua Mountain Sect strayed this far from Taoist values?"
"Hey, old man."
"Perhaps you came here to incite people, not to worship."
"They just announced some news."
"As weak people, getting angry at the stronger is far from wise."
"Why should a Hua Mountain warrior say this?"
"I told you this."
"Now you're angry at me, who is stronger than you?"
The tension was quelled by this young man. The worshippers didn't understand what had happened, but the Heavenly Demon Sect members who were seeking to escalate conflict in the temple understood that he had silenced the protesters with his presence.
The First Lady waited in her villa, gazing at the spring scenery. In her villa—the largest in the Inner Palace, even larger than the Heavenly Demon's villa and the Jade Palace—there was a huge pond, so large that a boat was cleaning it and tending to the water lilies.
The servants were doing their utmost to ensure everything was perfect for the First Lady.
"My Lady."
"The Third Lady has come to visit."
"Do you permit her entry?"
It seemed her waiting had borne results.
"Prepare the pavilion."
"But the Third Lady is waiting!"
"She can wait a little longer."
"If she wants something from me, this is the least she can do."
The First Lady sat in the pavilion as a beautiful but dissatisfied woman approached her from beside the pond.
"I greet the First Lady."
The First Lady smiled in response but did not rise from her seat.
"Greetings."
"You've come to see me after a long time."
"Sit."
The Third Lady was dissatisfied with her behavior but needed to gain the First Lady's attention.
"The palace was in turmoil today."
"News of children born from a woman from a clan outside the sect..."
The First Lady still wore a smile.
"The Crescent Blade Clan is among our sect's allies, and we share a faith."
"They have repeatedly proven their skills and are as renowned as the internal clans of the sect."
The Third Lady continued her reasoning.
"But she didn't just give birth to a daughter—she had twin sons."
"If we do nothing, her influence and her clan's influence in the sect will rise."
"For the sake of our clan, we must do something."
The First Lady looked toward the boat in the middle of the pond.
"You have a four-year-old son."
"What are you worried about?"
"Are you afraid he'll be overthrown by two ten-year-olds when he's fourteen?"
The Third Lady gritted her teeth.
"Why are you so confident?"
"If you side with my son, after the succession position is secured, I will support you and your clan and daughters."
The First Lady pointed toward the boat.
"Come here."
A young girl jumped from the boat and, stepping on water lily leaves, reached the pavilion—a skill expected only from first or second-stage warriors.
So all this confidence came from here. Even now, in terms of position within the sect and martial arts, her child was ahead of the other heirs.
The First Lady told her daughter to escort the Third Lady to the exit.
In the Fourth Lady's villa, Midwife Choi was dressing Zhan and Lan while singing.
Zhan covered his ears.
"Shut up, woman..."
"Huh... Why is this guy laughing?"
Lan was happy after two days of realizing he was a boy...