Zhao Village was a small, desolate mountain village located in the southeast of the Eastern Swamp Wilderness.
From a tile - roofed house came one shrill cry after another from a woman. The sounds were so heart - wrenching that they echoed through the daytime.
Outside the house, Zhao Zheng heard his wife's agonized cries. He couldn't help but want to rush in, but an old man stopped him.
"Women always suffer like this during childbirth. There's no need for you to worry," the old man said.
"Father, Min'er was already in poor health. This childbirth is a life - and - death matter for her. With her status, she shouldn't have married me. Otherwise, she wouldn't have to endure such pain," Zhao Zheng said.
Hearing this, the old man frowned tightly and scolded sharply, "Zheng'er, you're the legitimate son of our Zhao family. Back then, you were the only second - rank elixir master in Qinghui Town. At that time, how many official ladies wanted to—"
"Father!"
The man interrupted the old man in a low voice, his face twisted in pain. "As you said, that was in the past. Now, I'm just a useless man."
Another scream came from inside the house. Zhao Zheng grew even more irritable.
If he hadn't met Min'er on Dazhou Mountain and brought her back to the Zhao family, Min'er would still be the beloved granddaughter of the Lin family. The Lin family was a family with overwhelming power in the Eastern Swamp Wilderness.
"Something's wrong! The lady is hemorrhaging heavily, and the baby's life is in danger. Master, you have to think of a way quickly, or it might be a case of two lives lost!" the midwife shouted.
Zhao Zheng immediately panicked. "I'll go find the Blood Ganoderma."
"Zheng'er, are you crazy? The Blood Ganoderma is guarded by spirit beasts. You're just an ordinary person now. If you go, it's just like throwing your life away!"
"Even if it means death, I'm willing to do it."
If Min'er died, Zhao Zheng didn't want to live on.
"You! I won't care about you anymore!"
With these words, the old man, Zhao Lao, flung his sleeves and left.
Zhao Lao was a third - rank elixir master, the highest - ranked one in Qinghui Town. He had three sons.
The legitimate son was Zhao Zheng. He was once the most promising heir of the Zhao family, but because of Lin Min'er, he was beaten nearly to death by the disciples of the Lin family, and all his cultivation was ruined.
The other two sons were rather mediocre. After all these years, they had only reached the second - rank realm. The old man felt sorry for his son, but there was nothing he could do.
Everyone had their own destiny.
When Zhao Zheng was about to leave Zhao Village, he bumped into Zhao Huai, who was covered in blood. Zhao Huai was an orphan picked up from the mountains and adopted by Zhao Zheng. His appearance was rather mysterious.
"Father, I've already picked the Blood Ganoderma," the young boy said, raising his head and carefully taking out a small, bloody piece of ganoderma from his bosom.
Zhao Zheng stood still in shock.
It was well - known that the Blood Ganoderma was guarded by divine beasts and grew on the cliffs. Zhao Huai was only six years old. How could he pick the Blood Ganoderma in such a dangerous place?
However, at this critical moment, Zhao Zheng didn't have time to ask in detail. He took the Blood Ganoderma, carried Zhao Huai on his back, and rushed back home.
With the Blood Ganoderma, Min'er would be able to give birth to the child safely.
At this moment, Ye Ling suddenly regained consciousness.
She felt as if she was about to suffocate. Every time she tried to take a big breath, her throat was blocked by some liquid.
Her body seemed to be imprisoned by something. She struggled desperately to break free from the shackles and crawled towards the light.
She wanted to live. She still had a great feud to avenge!
When Zhao Zheng rushed back, the midwife said, "The lady is too weak. The baby has stopped moving. Most likely, it has already suffocated to death."
Suffocated to death? No!
Ye Ling summoned up her last bit of strength and struggled towards the light.
Finally, she regained her breath and was reborn.
"Waaaaa—"
A loud cry echoed through the small house of the Zhao family.
Zhao Zheng was stunned. Zhao Huai was stunned. Even the midwife, who had just declared the baby dead from suffocation, was stunned.
"The baby came out on its own?"
"I have a little sister?"