The Birth of the Triplets
A month after they returned to Shanghai.
The day dawned as storm clouds shattered, revealing brilliant sunlight that cast a golden hue over Peonies Castle. Ling Li’s cries echoed throughout, a testament to her strength amidst vulnerability. Nearby, Four Eyes paced with his brush in hand, his shield faintly shimmering as if it might shield her spirit from afar. Shi Min stood close, his jaw tense, eyebrows furrowed, almost knitted together as he shared in their collective anticipation.
When the doctors emerged, their voices carried astonishment.
"Three girls!!! Triplets!!!
Congratulations, Master Chu Yan!!!"
Four Eyes froze, his eyes wide. Shi Min blinked, stunned. Both had expected three little boys and were genuinely excited for additional heirs to carry the clan’s martial legacy. Instead, fate had given them three girls. As the realization sank in, a swell of pride and a flicker of anxiety danced within Four Eyes’ heart. What would this mean for the future of their clan, to have daughters instead of sons? Yet amidst this uncertainty, he felt an overwhelming love blooming inside him, a vow forming wordlessly to nurture and stand by these unexpected blessings.
Four Eyes pressed a hand to his forehead, torn between laughter and tears. "Five girls... I am a father to five girls. Oh, no, seven!"
Shi Min groaned, stunned, his voice thick with disbelief. "Seven sisters. I am the only son with seven sisters."
Butler James and Mushu simultaneously chuckled. "Young Master, you need to work harder!" Mushu teased Shi Min.
"Heh, I know, right. No need to remind me!" Shi Min said with a playful snort.
They all followed Four Eyes into the room.
The twins were static, "Yes! We have three more sisters!" Kim Kim cheerfully said.
"I’m a big sister now!" Chin Chin chimed. "Yes! Yes! I’m a big sister now!"
For a heartbeat, silence hung heavy. Their anticipation, a mix of joy and trepidation, filled the room. Ling Li, pale but radiant, cradled the three infants as her gaze softened and her voice remained steady despite exhaustion. It was then that laughter broke through, raw and joyous, a release of the tension that had tightly gripped their hearts. In that moment, they didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but their hearts swelled with love.
"They are blessings. Not curses. Our clan will be stronger for them," Ling Li proclaimed, firmly rooted in the knowledge that history had taught them well.
Four Eyes knelt beside her, tears glistening in his eyes. "I never said they are a curse. Dear, thank you, they are beautiful. I will love and protect them."
Shi Min bowed his head, resolve hardening. "I will protect them all. Every sister. No blade will touch them while I breathe."
Ling Li felt warm as she looked at her husband and only son.
The Triplets’ Celebration at Peonies Castle
The news of Ling Li giving birth to triplets spread like wildfire.
At the Li Mansion in Hidden Valley. Within hours, lanterns blazed across Peonies Castle, casting their golden glow against the night sky. Petals rained down from balconies, carried by disciples with reverence. The thunderous drums echoed through the courtyards, each beat a celebration of immense joy. Elders raised cups of wine, their faces flushed with pride at the legacy being honored. The air seemed to shimmer with a distinct energy, as though the heavens themselves were celebrating the auspicious occasion.
Arrival of Shun and Ren
From Shanghai, Shun and Ren descended like omens of flame and gold. Shun’s arrival was marked by banners of fire unfurling across the sky, his Phoenix Command Sutra blazing in radiant arcs. He clasped Four Eyes’ shoulder, his voice warm yet edged with awe:
"Five girls, Uncle. The Phoenix Command Sutra burns brighter with them."
Ren’s golden needles glowed faintly, her smile tender yet resolute.
"Sacrifice is not always pain—it is love."
Her words carried across the courtyard, disciples bowing their heads as if the truth itself had been spoken.
Ling Li’s parents arrived soon after. Her mother wept openly, clutching the infants, whispering lullabies of old that carried the weight of generations. Her father stood tall, his voice trembling with reverence:
"The covenant promised unity. These girls are proof of it."
Mr. and Mrs. Xu, the parents of Four Eyes, returned from their travels around the world. Their robes carried dust from distant lands, yet their eyes shone with joy. Mrs. Xu clasped her son’s hand, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Five granddaughters. The heavens have blessed us beyond measure."