"But he's here," Little Zi pointed at Long Jinhan, who was channeling spiritual energy, "the little brat is absolutely fine."
Vermilion Bird nodded and began to deal with the surrounding corpses with White Tiger and the others. As for Dongfang Wuji, he was beaten so badly by Jing Feng that his head was covered in bruises.
He was even tied up with the same knots and hung from a tree in front of the city gate, swaying back and forth.
Little Zi sat cross-legged, staring intently at Long Jinhan, "What is the identity of that clone?"
Long Jinhan raised his eyes, glanced at him, and then his gaze returned to Bai Ran.
"The next Divine Emperor."
Little Zi was stunned. He looked at Bai Ran, his expression becoming grave.
The next Divine Emperor, wasn't that Mo Huai'an's only son, the little brat's own brother, Bai Ze?
No, he should be called Mo Ze now.
Bai was a surname that Huan Yan personally gave to their two children. It did not follow the father's surname, nor the mother's. It originated from a legend.
Legend had it that the first life in the world was a man with the surname Bai.
In the beginning of Hong Meng, before heaven and earth were formed, he divided the world into four great planes with just three swords.
Huan Yan hoped her children could be like him, fearless of heaven and earth, unbound by worldly constraints, and create their own worlds.
Therefore, from the moment they were born, the two children were given the surname Bai, as bright as daylight, and as dazzling as the warm sun.
But after Huan Yan's death, Mo Huai'an changed Bai Ze's surname, saying that any trace of the demonic woman was a great disgrace.
Mo Huai'an was debauched and sought pleasure every night. Yet, for some reason, the women taken into the palace all died inexplicably before even conceiving a child.
He had only Mo Ze to his name, and Mo Huai'an also attached great importance to him.
Little Zi's expression was complex as he looked at Bai Ran, her eyes filled with confusion.
Mo Ze wanted to harm Bai Ran, but why?
Bai Ran's features were contorted, sweat beads formed by pain dripped one by one, splattering onto her fiery red dress.
"Do you wish to break the fourth seal—"
A familiar, ancient voice. Bai Ran faced the fourth tombstone.
Bai Ran's expression was firm: "Yes."
...
A wave of dizziness washed over her. When she opened her eyes again, she was in a sea of flowers.
Above the boundless sea of flowers, petals danced in the wind, brilliant and beautiful.
"Sister!"
"You run so slow! If you're any slower, Ze'er will leave you behind!"
Amidst the sea of flowers, a little boy smiled, radiant and cheerful. His features were delicate, and there was a very prominent tear mole under his right eye.
He wore a simple white robe, without any luxurious or expensive decorations.
Bai Ze ran freely in the sea of flowers, his laughter carried by the breeze, filling the air with joy.
"Ze'er! Don't run too far! Mother will worry!"
Bai Ran followed closely, parting the flower bushes with her small hands, chasing after him on the soil where no flowers grew.
"No one has ever come to this garden before, we won't meet any bad people."
Bai Ze stopped, plucked a blooming flower, and brought it to his nose to smell.
After Bai Ran caught up to the little boy, she gasped for breath and leaned on her knees, raising her hand to punch Bai Ze.
"Mother told us not to come here, why don't you listen!"
This sea of flowers was the closest place to the Divine Realm. If anything happened to them, their mother wouldn't have time to save them.
Bai Ze covered his head, his lips pouting. "Sister, Ze'er wanted to come..."
As he spoke, he looked wronged and handed the flower in his hand to Bai Ran. "For Sister..."
Bai Ran glared at him, but her heart softened, and she took the flower.
"Alright, you can play for a little while."
But just as Bai Ze was beaming, Huan Yan's call sounded.
"Ze'er—Ranran—"
Bai Ze was startled and quickly grabbed Bai Ran, running back. "Quick, let's go, don't let Mother find out!"
Bai Ran looked at the nervous boy and chuckled, "You're scared now? Weren't you scared when you came?"
Bai Ze puffed out his cheeks indignantly, but he held Bai Ran's hand tightly, afraid she would fall behind.
However, unnoticed by the two children, a figure stood behind a tree in the distance, watching them.
The two children, hand in hand, burst out of the flower bushes, their bodies covered in petals and pollen.
"Mother! We're here!"
Huan Yan found them by their voices and sighed helplessly at the things stuck to the children.
"Did you go to the sea of flowers next to the Divine Realm?"
Bai Ze tensed, his chubby little hands nervously rubbing together. "No... no..."
"Still lying? Who started it?" Huan Yan pretended to be angry and questioned them, her gaze sweeping over their faces.
Bai Ran lowered her head, secretly glancing at the frightened Bai Ze.
She hesitated for a moment, then mustered her courage and stepped forward. "Mother... I wanted to come..."
"It was me! Not Sister!"
Bai Ran was somewhat surprised. She turned to look. Bai Ze was looking at Huan Yan, his hands trembling with fear, yet he did not back down.
"Today's lunch is your favorite spirit rabbit meat, Ze'er—"
"Since Ze'er started it, you won't have any."
Huan Yan deliberately raised her voice to startle him, but her gaze towards Bai Ze was full of admiration.
"Spirit rabbit meat!"
Bai Ze's chubby cheeks were full of conflict. Bai Ran saw him swallow his saliva, his mouth watering.
"But it was Ze'er who started it..."
Bai Ze pouted, clenching his small fists. "I can't wrong Sister..."
Huan Yan smiled, crouched down in front of the children, and affectionately ruffled both their heads.
"Ze'er, you are a man. Mother doesn't know who is telling the truth."
"But a man who dares to act is someone Mother respects the most."
Huan Yan's palms were warm, and her voice was gentle. In an instant, Bai Ze's hesitation disappeared.
"Yes!" He nodded heavily. "Ze'er dares to act!"
Huan Yan smiled and nodded, holding one child by each hand, leading them home.
"Covered in petals and pollen, did you go to that sea of flowers?"
Mo Huai'an smiled, his eyes crinkling, and crouched down, affectionately removing the debris from Bai Ran and Bai Ze's bodies.
"Yes!" Bai Ran smiled charmingly. Father doted on them so much that even when they misbehaved, he couldn't bear to punish them.
So the two children were always more honest in front of Mo Huai'an.
"Huai'an, you'll spoil them like this," Huan Yan sighed lightly, watching the three of them from the side.
Mo Huai'an agreed with a smile, "Yes, I will strictly follow my wife's teachings. I will definitely change."
Bai Ran looked at her father and felt happy. Father always said he would change, but he never did.
During dinner, Bai Ze's eyes were fixed on the fragrant spirit rabbit meat, his mouth watering.
"Ze'er, why aren't you eating?" Mo Huai'an picked up a piece of meat and put it into Bai Ze's bowl.
"Ze'er won't eat! Ze'er dares to act!"
Bai Ze resisted his craving and moved the meat from his bowl to Bai Ran's bowl. "Give it to Sister, Sister loves it too."
Mo Huai'an looked at Bai Ze's self-restraint and chuckled softly. "So that's how it is. Mother punished you."