Chapter 231

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Zhang Xiaohua noticed the heavy atmosphere in the room and naturally understood that something significant had happened at home. However, he knew such matters were beyond his ability to intervene.

Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he released his divine sense, sweeping it over Liu Qian. Since his divine sense could penetrate objects, could it perhaps perceive what was within his sister-in-law’s body?

The result left Zhang Xiaohua puzzled and uncertain about how to explain it. Liu Qian’s entire body exuded an extremely faint aura of Yuan Qi, but within her body, there was a small spot that contained a slightly stronger aura of Yuan Qi.

Zhang Xiaohua then extended his divine sense to scan everyone in the room. Except for Zhang Xiaohu, he discovered that each person emitted a faint trace of Yuan Qi. Gradually, he understood that this must be due to the spring water his family drank daily. The Yuan Qi in the spring water had entered their bodies, explaining why their spirits and physical conditions remained robust without signs of aging. As for the small spot of Yuan Qi within his sister-in-law, it was most likely the future little nephew!

With this thought, Zhang Xiaohua coughed lightly and said: “Mother, there’s no need to worry too much. Second Brother is in the Piaomiao Sect as a direct disciple. Many of his affairs are beyond his control. It’s better to let go of some things for now. Besides, isn’t Big Brother and Sister-in-law still here?”

Hearing this, Guo Sufei glanced at Liu Qian, opened her mouth to speak, but ultimately said nothing.

Zhang Xiaohua continued: “Is Sister-in-law feeling unwell? She used to focus on reading at home, but now she’s working in the fields all the time in Guo Village. Is it too tiring?”

At Zhang Xiaohua’s question, Zhang Xiaolong responded: “Your sister-in-law’s health is quite good. She has worked hard before, and we’ve even had the doctor from the medical hall examine her. They all said there’s nothing wrong. However… it’s just that her monthly flow hasn’t come for half a year. That’s why Mother is so worried.”

Hearing this, Liu Qian’s face turned even redder.

Zhang Xiaohua didn’t understand the meaning of “monthly flow”, but seeing his sister-in-law so embarrassed, he realized it was a matter specific to women and naturally refrained from asking further. Instead, he smiled and offered reassurance: “Sister-in-law, if you’re comfortable with it, let me take a look. The internal energy I’ve been cultivating includes techniques for examining a person’s meridians. My training in this has reached a minor level of mastery, so I might be able to discern something. What do you think?”

When Zhang Xiaohua said this, most of the people in the hall believed him. After all, anyone who had seen him undergo nine days and nine nights of secluded cultivation knew he was highly skilled. However, Zhang Xiaohu was not entirely convinced. Martial arts were martial arts, and medicine was medicine; the two were fundamentally unrelated. Even if someone had profound internal energy, it only allowed for the examination of meridians. He had never heard of meridians being connected to pregnancy.

Zhang Xiaohu opened his mouth to speak but, seeing Zhang Xiaohua’s confident demeanor, held his tongue. His younger brother had always been mysterious. Even with a cobbled-together set of fist techniques, he had earned the admiration of Ou Peng, the great leader of the sect. Perhaps Zhang Xiaohua did know a thing or two. Besides, saying a few pleasant words to comfort their mother wasn’t a bad idea.

Liu Qian also looked at him expectantly and asked: “Of course, Xiaohua. What do I need to do?”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled and replied: “Just give me your hand, like when a doctor takes your pulse.”

Hearing this, Liu Qian quickly walked to the table and placed her hand in front of Zhang Xiaohua. He extended two fingers and pretended to feel her pulse at her wrist. At the same time, he released his divine sense once more. Although he had already examined her earlier, this was to confirm his findings. When his divine sense reached the small spot filled with Yuan Qi, Zhang Xiaohua could distinctly sense the vitality within it—a boundless, surging into-the-sky vitality.

At that moment, Zhang Xiaohua became even more certain of his speculation. He closed his eyes like a doctor deep in thought. After a while, when he felt the timing was right, he let go of Liu Qian’s hand. Seeing the expectant gazes of everyone in the room, he smiled and said: “Congratulations, Sister-in-law.”

Liu Qian said nothing, but Zhang Xiaolong asked: “Xiaohua, are you serious? This doesn’t sound reliable.”

Guo Sufei scolded him: “Xiaolong, don’t interrupt! Let Xiaohua finish.”

Encouraged by his mother’s support, Zhang Xiaohua straightened his posture and said: “Here’s the thing, Big Brother and Sister-in-law. Our well water is tasty, right? But it’s far more than that—it’s a precious treasure! I won’t go into too much detail, but haven’t you noticed that Father and Mother have hardly aged over the years? Even Mr. Liu looks more spirited than ever. Sister-in-law has also been drinking this well water, which has had some positive effects on her. These effects are very beneficial. I’ve used a secret method from the internal energy techniques I’ve been cultivating to examine Sister-in-law’s body. Not only is there absolutely nothing wrong, but I must formally announce—Sister-in-law is indeed pregnant!”

“Really!?” Guo Sufei was stunned.

“Impossible, right?” Zhang Xiaolong also found it hard to believe.

Zhang Xiaohu, on the other hand, curled his lips skeptically and thought to himself: “If he were talking about meridians, I might believe him, but jumping straight to such a conclusion? No way.”

Seeing the varied expressions on his family members’ faces, Zhang Xiaohua clapped his hands and said: “I swear on my honor, what I’m saying is absolutely true. It’s just that this little thing is still very, very small and is working hard to absorb the essence from the well water. Perhaps when he has absorbed enough, he will grow bigger. By then, you’ll all see for yourselves.”

“Then… should I still drink the well water?” Liu Qian asked, still half-believing, half-doubting.

“Of course, you must drink it—and drink more of it! If you don’t, who knows when my little nephew or niece will be ready to come out?” Zhang Xiaohua said firmly.

“Is that so?” Liu Qian hesitated. She couldn’t just keep drinking water all day, could she?

Noticing his sister-in-law’s uncertainty, Zhang Xiaohua seemed to understand what she meant. The Yuan Qi in the well water was indeed very faint. If the fetus really required this Qi, it was hard to say how much water would suffice. Suddenly, an idea struck him—didn’t the field on the southern slope still contain that incredible Yuan Stone? If he chipped off a piece for his sister-in-law to carry with her, wouldn’t that solve the problem?

However, the Yuan Stone’s energy was tightly sealed within it, and it didn’t release much Qi outwardly. Unsure whether it would work, Zhang Xiaohua asked everyone to wait for a moment while he went out to the southern slope.

The Yuan Stone was still lying in the middle of the field, untouched. Zhang Xiaohua circled it for a long time and tried smashing it with stones, but no fragments broke off. Frustrated, he thought of his small sword. Taking it out from his robe, he stabbed at one corner of the stone with all his might. Warm energy flowed from his left arm into the sword, but this usually unstoppable weapon seemed to struggle. Undeterred, Zhang Xiaohua focused on one spot and struck dozens of times in a row before finally chipping off a piece of the Yuan Stone about the size of a fingertip.

When he returned to the main hall, the others were growing impatient from waiting. Zhang Xiaohua glanced around and saw his coin pouch on the table. He reached for it, and as his divine sense swept over it casually, he was suddenly taken aback—the pouch emitted a faint aura of Yuan Qi. Could it be that this coin pouch was a treasure as well?

However, this was not the time to examine the coin pouch further. Since it wasn’t useful for now, Zhang Xiaohua asked: “Sister-in-law, do you have any coin pouches or silk sachets?”

Liu Qian was puzzled but replied: “Yes, I do.”

She went to the west room and returned with a small silk sachet. Zhang Xiaohua took it, placed the fragment of the Yuan Stone inside, and said: “Sister-in-law, wear this silk sachet close to your body. It might be beneficial for the child.”

Liu Qian carefully accepted it, went back into the west room to secure it close to her body, and then returned.

Zhang Xiaohua swept his divine sense over her and confirmed that the Yuan Stone inside the silk sachet had established a connection with the small energetic point within Liu Qian’s body. A faint strand of Yuan Qi was now flowing through her to nourish the tiny being.

Feigning a doctor’s manner, Zhang Xiaohua pretended to take her pulse again and said: “Sister-in-law, this is indeed effective for the fetus. Make sure to keep the sachet on you at all times.”

Liu Qian nodded earnestly.

Initially, Zhang Xiaohu had been watching the proceedings with amusement. But as Zhang Xiaohua grew more serious and convincing, Zhang Xiaohu began to feel confused. Could his little brother really possess such extraordinary abilities?

After giving his instructions to Liu Qian, Zhang Xiaohua picked up his coin pouch from the table and casually slipped it into his robe.

His hand brushed against something else in his robe, sparking a thought. He pulled it out and handed it to Zhang Xiaolong, saying: “Elder Brother, I don’t have anything particularly special to give my little nephew whom I haven’t met yet, so I’ll gift him this martial arts manual as his first present in this world.”

With that, he offered the manual of the Big Dipper Divine Fist to Zhang Xiaolong.

Zhang Xiaolong couldn’t help but laugh and said: “Xiaohua, are you joking? He hasn’t even fully formed yet, and you’re already giving him gifts?”

Zhang Xiaohua grinned. “Exactly! That shows how much I care. This is his first gift upon entering this world, and I’m sure he’ll remember me, his uncle, for a lifetime.”

Without giving his elder brother a chance to refuse, Zhang Xiaohua shoved the manual into Zhang Xiaolong’s hands.

Guo Sufei laughed. “Xiaohua is so thoughtful. I, as a grandmother, will fall behind.”

Zhang Cai added: “Xiaolong, this is Xiaohua’s heartfelt gesture. Just accept it. When the child grows up, Xiaohu and Xiaohua can teach him martial arts.”

Mr. Liu also chimed in. “Yes, take it. After I provide him with an initial education, he can study this martial arts manual.”

The only one left frowning was Zhang Xiaohu, who said through gritted teeth: “Xiaohua, you’re getting away with this. You give a martial arts manual and call it a day—what am I supposed to give him?”

Zhang Xiaolong saw that everyone had expressed their support, so he had no choice but to hand the martial arts manual over to Liu Qian. Liu Qian, being perceptive and intelligent, knew that Zhang Xiaohua wouldn’t deceive her. Considering that Zhang Xiaohua had identified things even the clinic doctors couldn’t detect, and had solemnly placed an item in the silk sachet for her to keep close, she trusted his intentions. What’s more, there was that inexplicable seventh sense unique to women—she could feel the unusual nature of this manual. Thus, Liu Qian took the manual, went into the inner room, carefully stored it away, and only then returned to join the conversation.

Zhang Xiaohua, seeing his sister-in-law treat the manual with such care, was delighted. He thought to himself: “This manual serves no purpose just sitting with me. If it can be passed down, it could become a family heirloom for the Zhang family. Who knows, maybe decades later, there could even be a “Big Dipper Sect” flourishing. Haha, just the thought of it is thrilling.”

Author’s Note: By now, you might understand why this book is called a “side story,” right?

The earlier plot involving Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian wasn’t written for nothing!