Chapter 2489 - 2487: A Pearl Cast in Darkness
In the Qi and Lu Region, bordered by Taihang in the west and the sea in the east.
It is a land nurtured by the teachings of Saints, a place of poetry, books, rites, and music.
In this place, one of the most renowned families is the Song lineage.
It is indeed the Duke of Qi, Song Gongming.
The family lineage has reached his generation, the third already.
He has a darker complexion and ranks third in the family, known as "Filial Piety Black Third Son"!
Because he usually helps and aids others, he is also called "Timely Rain."
He was pacing back and forth outside a house, while the maids were busying themselves with washing items, coming and going in a flurry.
His eldest son, Song Shiwen, comforted him, saying, "Father, you’ve been standing here all night. Why don’t you go and rest in the side room for a while?"
Song Gongming shook his head and replied, "Your mother is facing life and death inside, how can I rest alone? If you are tired, you can retreat first."
Song Shiwen hurriedly said, "If father is not tired, how dare I be tired? I will wait here with you."
"How sensible you are!"
Song Gongming nodded, satisfied with his eldest son.
Under him, he had four sons, born of the same mother, named after virtues of literature, martial arts, loyalty, and courage.
Song Gongming, who usually liked Yin Yang and the Eight Trigrams for divination, was not interested in women, having only married one Lady in the household.
Idly, he asked his son to bring him his divining equipment.
Using a turtle shell, he placed six copper coins inside, shook them in his hand, and let them fall.
This is the Six Yao Hexagrams passed down by King Wen of Zhou, comprising sixty-four hexagrams to predict fortunes and calamities.
The copper coins fell, presenting various directions and sides.
His son Song Shiwen curiously asked, "Father, what does the hexagram indicate?"
Song Gongming furrowed his brows and replied, "Strange indeed, this is the sixty-third hexagram, the ’Water Heaven Thunder Hexagram.’
The hexagram reads: The bright pearl buried deep for days and years, no light or brilliance till now appears. Suddenly a great wind blows away the earth, and naturally, it reveals its worth."
Song Shiwen recited it to himself, joyously remarking, "It’s a good hexagram! The bright pearl buried in earth, today it reveals its light!"
Song Gongming shook his head, "You do not understand, I’ve always divined boys for your mother. Today, this hexagram clearly indicates a girl. The bright pearl cast in shadows, today it shines. But where does this light come from?"
As he spoke, a golden light suddenly streaked down from the sky like a meteor.
Song Shiwen noticed it sharply and pointed up at the star, shouting, "Father, look quickly, isn’t this that light?"
Song Gongming laughed slightly, "Silly child, this light clearly heads south, how would it fall upon our home?"
"Who cares where it comes from, as long as there’s light!"
Song Shiwen patted his head and laughed.
Song Gongming extended his Divine Sense, observing more closely.
He saw this light heading in the direction of Luoyang City, and in his heart admired, "It seems the Royal Family will gain a noble offspring again."
Outside the city of Luoyang, at this moment, a large hand suddenly held onto this light.
Inside this light, the Primordial Spirit exclaimed with surprise, "Who are you? Dare to obstruct a Saint’s creation?"
The person laughed subtly, "The Saint deceived you, this is not creation, but opportunity. I shall help you defy fate, survive the disaster, and it shall become your creation."
The Primordial Spirit disbelieved, "You are so bold, aren’t you afraid the Saint will find out?"
The Daoist laughed, "I waited for you a whole day here, missed many events. The fate of this place has been concealed by me, even a Saint cannot calculate it. I grant you a Magical Treasure for protection; you may proceed at ease to reincarnate. We shall meet again in the future."
He pulled out a green lotus seed, engulfed the golden Primordial Spirit within, then headed north with it.
Back at the Duke of Qi’s Residence, the midwife emerged, hurriedly calling to Song Gongming, "Your Grace, Lady Song is not doing well; the childbirth is difficult, we must decide to save either."
Song Gongming rarely panicked and anxiously asked, "Can’t both be saved?"
The midwife shook her head, kneeling and crying out, "Spare me, Your Grace, forgive my incompetence!"
Inside the birthing room, Lady Song cried out in pain.
Song Shiwen urgently shouted, "Father, you must decide quickly!"
Song Gongming steadied his mind and instructed the midwife, "I already have four sons. Although the hexagram shows no more sons in the future, these four are enough. You hurry inside and save my wife."
"Yes, yes!"
The midwife got the order, quickly turned around to return.
Song Gongming’s legs weakened, sitting down on the ground, he said, "Destined not to force."
Song Shiwen knelt before him, bumping his head in gratitude, "Thank you, Father, for saving my mother’s life!"
"Silly child, your mother and I are one; how could I forsake her!"
Song Gongming patted his head, when suddenly, in the sky, a golden light shot into the house.
He started in surprise, jumping up suddenly.
Inside the birthing room, a child’s loud cry echoed.
Song Shiwen rolled on the ground, anxiously shouting, "How is it the young one? Didn’t we agree to save my mother?"
Upset, he stood and rushed over.
The door opened, and the midwife excitedly cried out from inside, "Born, born, congratulations to Your Grace on having a daughter, both mother and child are safe."
Song Gongming sweated profusely, exhaled deeply in relief, and knelt repeatedly towards the heavens, "Thank heaven for fulfillment; thank heaven for fulfillment!"
He brought his son, after handling the trivial matters inside, hurriedly entering.
Lady Song lay weakly on the bed, embracing a chubby baby girl, happily greeted Song Gongming, "It’s a daughter, you are not unhappy, are you?"
Song Gongming sat down, reached out to stroke his daughter’s cheek, happily saying, "How can I be unhappy, having both son and daughter? It’s a great joy."
He examined closely, discovering an olive-sized green birthmark on his daughter’s brow.
Lady Song informed him, "She was born with it; I thought it was a bean!"
Song Gongming laughed, "It looks like a bean; why not nickname her Qingdou!"
Lady Song chuckled, nodding, "You are her father, call her whatever you like."
Song Gongming happily picking up his daughter, muttered, "Song Qingdou, Song Douzi, Song Doudou, which do you like?"
The little girl blinked her big eyes at him, cried out loudly, then cracked a smile, revealing two shallow dimples.
Song Gongming delightedly said, "Look, she understood. This little girl is spirited; she will surely be loved when she grows."
Above Luoyang City, the previous Daoist withdrew a Spirit Stone, speaking to it, "Your chance for revenge is before you; whether to go or not is entirely up to you. If you go, you’ll be entangled in disaster, and this life is still doomed to end. If you don’t go, I’ll send you back to Skull Mountain. After cultivating for several lifetimes, you will also achieve the Dao."
The Spirit Stone said, "Daoist, let me go down; I will not be human until I annihilate those Exposition Sect Traitors!"
The Daoist sighed, "Then suit yourself!"
He pulled out a lotus seed, embedding it into the Spirit Stone, throwing it down towards the Royal Palace in Luoyang City.
This Spirit Stone has quite a history, being the master of Skull Mountain, White Bone Cave, Lady Shi Ji.
Originally emerged during the early stages of the world’s formation, naturally nurtured into a Spirit Stone.
Later, it gained the creation of the Sect of Severance, cultivated into form, titled "Lady Shi Ji!"
During the Divine Enthronement disaster, she hadn’t descended the mountain nor committed evil.
Nevertheless, two disciples were killed by Nezha, and she herself died at the hands of Nezha’s master, Taiyi Daoist.
The deep hatred has been etched into her bones.
Now seeing the chance for revenge, there’s no way she would pass it by.