Chapter 65
Wuming stared at him blankly.
"That creature," he added, "is exactly the type to stab someone emotionally first and physically later."
The infant gasped soundlessly in fake offense.
Wei Zhi, meanwhile, remained completely unconvinced.
She looked toward the tiny red creature now making exaggerated watery puppy eyes made entirely from flickering fire qi.
Then she turned toward Wuming sharply.
"I believe this little guy."
The infant instantly pointed at her excitedly.
"At least he wants to talk to me unlike you."
"Hmph."
The demon infant nodded aggressively in agreement while crossing his tiny arms smugly.
Wuming watched both of them in silence for a few seconds before closing his eyes again.
"…Idiots attract each other naturally," he muttered.
The infant immediately started celebrating soundlessly in the air as though he had just won a war.
Wei Zhi said quietly, "Then what exactly is he?"
Wuming's golden eyes shifted toward her lazily from where he sat beside the window. Moonlight spilled across the side of his face while the room remained silent except for the faint crackling of distant fire outside.
Then he spoke.
"Wei Zhi… do you truly believe you're still in any position to threaten me or negotiate with me?"
Wei Zhi folded her arms immediately.
"Maybe."
Wuming stared at her for a second before exhaling softly through his nose.
"I don't want to be bothered." He paused. "So I'll explain it once."
The little crimson creature floating beside Wei Zhi instantly straightened proudly in the air.
"The Demon Infant…" Wuming said calmly, "…is also known as the Crimson Heir of Demons."
Wei Zhi's expression slowly shifted.
"The Crimson Heir is the pure essence of a cultivator's existence. A second consciousness. A second soul. A second life."
The little creature grinned wider proudly while floating upside down in the air.
"It is cultivated only by high-level demon cultivators with monstrous internal force and perfect balance between their qi and soul."
Wei Zhi listened silently.
Wuming continued.
"It can pass through dimensions. Ignore barriers. Travel independently from its owner. Think on its own. Feel on its own." His eyes lowered slightly. "It is practically another version of oneself."
The crimson infant puffed its chest proudly hearing the explanation.
"The highest and most difficult thing for a demon cultivator to achieve…" Wuming said quietly, "…is the Crimson Heir."
Silence settled afterward.
Then Wei Zhi looked at the floating creature again.
"So… what's his name?"
Wuming replied instantly.
"He doesn't have one."
Wei Zhi frowned.
"Why?"
A brief silence followed.
"I didn't have time to give him one."
The room became slightly quieter after that answer.
Even the crimson infant blinked slowly.
Wei Zhi looked at the creature for a moment before speaking again.
"Then… can I give him one?"
Wuming closed his eyes again.
"Your choice."
The moment those words left his mouth, the crimson infant exploded with happiness.
It flew directly toward Wei Zhi and hugged her face tightly while kicking its little legs excitedly in the air.
Wei Zhi laughed softly despite herself.
"Alright, alright…" she said while trying to pry the creature off her cheek. "I'll think of one tomorrow."
Then after a second—
"No. I'll discuss it with Yinghua first."
The crimson infant nodded rapidly in agreement like an excited child.
Wuming watched silently from the bed.
The less you know about the Crimson Heir… the better.
The creature suddenly flew upward before diving directly back into Wuming's chest like crimson smoke disappearing into water.
Wei Zhi was just about to speak again—
When Yin Fu's weak voice suddenly came from the inner bed chambers.
"…Is someone there…?"
Both of them looked over.
"I'm thirsty…"
Wei Zhi immediately walked toward her while helping her sit upright carefully before handing her water.
Yin Fu drank slowly.
Meanwhile Wuming remained standing beside the bed silently.
His golden eyes observed everything calmly.
So he'll finally receive a name, Wuming thought quietly. Even though I originally intended to call him Ying Tao.
Still… perhaps it's better if those two choose instead.
Yin Fu finally looked toward him after drinking.
Then surprisingly—
She smiled gently.
"Were you worried, Wuming?"
He stood beside Wei Zhi quietly beneath the lantern light before answering without hesitation.
"Yes."
"The fire was… unexpected while I was outside."
Yin Fu frowned slightly.
"Outside?" she repeated. "Why were you outside?"
Wuming looked at her blankly.
"Aren't children under twelve forbidden from entering the parents' pavilion?"
Silence.
Wei Zhi froze.
Yin Fu blinked once.
Then both women slowly looked at each other.
And suddenly—
Wei Zhi turned around covering her mouth while her shoulders started shaking violently.
She was laughing.
Wuming narrowed his eyes slowly.
His mind connected the pieces instantly.
The strange greeting from Xuan Ming.
The stopping at the entrance.
The absurd explanation about rules.
The way Ming himself tried entering after the fire broke out.
…
"That bastard lied to me."
Wei Zhi completely lost control laughing quietly in the corner.
Even Yin Fu covered part of her mouth smiling tiredly.
"It was Ming?" she asked softly.
"Yes."
"And Mei and Hua too?"
He nodded once.
Yin Fu sighed helplessly.
"What about Kai and Ning?"
Wuming answered calmly, "When I entered the estate, they attempted to kill me. So they're either still unconscious in the bushes… or currently being treated somewhere."
Yin Fu closed her eyes briefly.
"…What a drag."
Wuming looked at her again.
"So there's no rule?"
Yin Fu smiled weakly.
"No. There isn't."
Then after a pause—
"It seems those three simply wanted an excuse to talk to you."
Wei Zhi immediately nodded while still trying not to laugh again.
Wuming slowly turned his gaze toward her.
She avoided eye contact instantly.
"…Well," Wei Zhi coughed lightly while composing herself, "it seems Young Master Wuming has important family matters to discuss."
Then she bowed slightly.
"I'll take my leave for now. Call me once you need me."
She hurried out before he could say anything else.
The room finally quieted afterward.
Only lantern light flickered softly now.
Yin Fu looked toward him carefully.
"You came despite your busy schedule…" she said gently. "So I assume you wished to speak about something important?"
He sat down beside her calmly, the wooden chair creaking softly beneath his weight. Moonlight entered through the carved windows of the pavilion, falling across the floor in pale silver patterns while the distant sound of guards extinguishing the remaining fire echoed faintly outside.
Yin Fu held a warm cup of water between both hands.
Steam curled upward slowly.
Wuming's golden eyes rested on her quietly for a moment before he finally spoke.
"I came regarding something."
Yin Fu looked at him patiently.
"What is it?"
Wuming leaned slightly back into the chair.
"The time you stayed in the palace after giving birth to me."
A pause.
"And Meihua tending to me."
Another pause.
"Breastfeeding me."
He spoke the words without even the slightest embarrassment or hesitation as though discussing military strategy instead of something so personal.
Yin Fu blinked once.
Then suddenly smiled.
Softly.
"So…" she murmured, bringing the cup closer to her lips, "Zhe told you."
Wuming watched her carefully.
"She mentioned fragments."
Yin Fu gave a quiet hum.
"That woman really cannot keep secrets."
Wuming ignored the joke.
"Why?"
The question came immediately.
Direct.
"Why did Meihua raise me alongside you?"
Yin Fu lowered the cup slowly into her lap.
For the first time since waking up, her expression became quieter.
More distant.
The firelight outside reflected faintly in her dark eyes.
"Because," she said softly, "you almost died after birth."
The room became silent.
Even the night wind outside seemed to lessen.
Wuming's eyes narrowed slightly.
Yin Fu continued calmly.
"You were born too early. Your body was weak. Your meridians were damaged from birth and your internal qi was almost nonexistent." Her fingers tightened slightly around the cup. "The palace physicians said you would not survive longer than a few weeks."
Wuming listened silently.
No emotion crossed his face.
But Yin Fu noticed the way his gaze sharpened slightly.
"They wanted to isolate you immediately," she continued. "The royal family feared weakness more than death. A child born fragile inside the imperial bloodline becomes a political target before he even learns to speak."
A faint bitter smile appeared on her lips.
"Your father especially hated the idea."
Wuming's eyes dimmed faintly.
"Of course he did."
Yin Fu sighed softly.
"I was injured after giving birth. I could barely stand properly during those months." She looked toward the cup quietly. "And my milk alone wasn't enough to keep you alive."
Wuming said nothing.
Then—
"Meihua volunteered."
A long silence followed those words.
"She had already given birth before," Yin Fu murmured. "Her qi was gentler than mine. Stable. Warm." A faint smile touched her lips again. "And strangely… whenever she held you, you stopped crying."
Wuming's fingers tapped once against the wooden armrest.
Softly.
Barely audible.
"She protected you constantly," Yin Fu continued. "Fed you beside her own child. Slept beside your cradle. Refused to let palace servants touch you carelessly."
Her eyes softened further.
"That woman treated you as though you were hers too."
Wuming lowered his gaze slightly.
The room remained quiet.
Yin Fu suddenly smiled again, this time amused.
"You know," she said lightly, "Meihua used to argue with me because you preferred sleeping beside her instead."
Wuming immediately looked up.
Yin Fu laughed softly seeing the rare flicker in his eyes.
"It's true."
"She said you only stopped making noise whenever she carried you around the palace gardens."
A brief pause.
"Very troublesome child."
Wuming leaned back again silently.
His expression remained cold.
Unreadable.
Yet Yin Fu noticed something small.
Something almost invisible.
His fingers had stopped tapping.
Wuming suddenly spoke before Yin Fu could continue further.
"Wait."
Yin Fu stopped mid sentence and looked at him quietly.
Wuming's golden eyes rested on her calmly, though there was now the faintest crease between his brows.
"I came here for information regarding the palace."
His fingers tapped once against the wooden armrest.
"Political matters. Court movements. Your situation with Meihua during that period."
A pause.
"Not…"
He seemed to search briefly for the correct word before speaking again.
"…this."
Yin Fu watched him silently now.
Wuming leaned slightly back into the chair, gaze shifting toward the moonlight outside the window instead of her.
"Why are you telling me emotional stories?"
His tone remained indifferent.
Almost dismissive.
"I'm getting bored."
Silence filled the room afterward.
Then—
Yin Fu smiled.
Not because she believed him.
But because she understood immediately.
Wuming noticed the smile instantly and narrowed his eyes slightly.
"What?"
Yin Fu took another slow sip of water before answering.
"You really are still a child."
Wuming's expression flattened immediately.
"How insulting."
"You say you're bored," Yin Fu continued softly, "yet you interrupted me the moment the conversation stopped being political."
Wuming said nothing.
His fingers stopped tapping against the chair completely.
Yin Fu's smile deepened faintly.
"If you truly didn't care," she murmured, "you would've simply let me continue speaking."
Wuming's eyes shifted back toward her slowly.
Cold.
Unreadable.
But Yin Fu noticed it again—
That small flicker beneath the surface.
The resistance.
The irritation.
Not toward her.
Toward himself.
Wuming looked at her for a few seconds longer before exhaling softly through his nose.
Wuming looked at her silently for a few moments before speaking.
"You insist on speaking unnecessarily." Yin Fu smiled faintly instead of reacting.
"And yet you're still listening." Yin Fu chuckled quietly at that. The room fell silent again for a brief moment before Wuming finally spoke once more.
"Fine."
His golden eyes narrowed faintly.
"Then answer properly this time." Yin Fu rested the warm cup against her lap. "What do you want to know?"
Wuming's gaze sharpened instantly.
"Meihua."
The atmosphere shifted slightly.
"How much influence did she possess in the palace back then?"
Yin Fu's smile faded a little.
"A lot."
"How much is a lot?"
"She could walk into court discussions despite not holding an official title."
Wuming's eyes dimmed thoughtfully.
"That much…"
Yin Fu nodded slowly.
"The emperor trusted her judgment more than most ministers."
"And father?"
A brief silence.
"…Katsuro trusted her enough to place military authority in her hands."
Wuming's fingers tapped once against the armrest again.
Interesting.
That meant Meihua's influence was not merely political—
It extended into military power too.
End of 65