My baby girl can call daddy!

Time flowed like water.

Two months passed in a flash.

During this period, Luo Shuiyan rested peacefully, watching the green mountains and white clouds outside the building….

Hu Xiao would occasionally bring millennia-old ginseng, deer antler, and various delicacies to nourish her body, and she quickly recovered to her pre-delivery state.

Moreover, under the nourishment of these potent spiritual medicines,

the current Luo Shuiyan was even more radiant than before.

On this day.

Inside the cave dwelling, hollow wind chimes hung, tinkling softly….

“Ya ya ya—”

In the sandalwood cradle, little Hu Ruyan lay on a silk velvet blanket, giggling with a wide grin, her tender little hands waving, delicate fingers lightly twirling, as if trying to grasp the wind chimes above.

“Little Hu Ruyan, do you like this?”

Hu Xiao stood by the cradle, his eyes slightly narrowed, his golden-threaded yellow robe fluttering, and reached out to unhook the wind chime, gently placing it in the cradle.

Ding—

With the sound of the bell, little Hu Ruyan rolled over, clutching the wind chime, shaking it, her eyes blinking, curiously staring at the toy in her hand, babbling in her mouth.

She shook it a few more times.

The clear ringing sound resonated, like flowing spring water.

“It sounds good!”

Hu Xiao exclaimed in surprise, turning to Luo Shuiyan, who was lying on the bed, and shouted, “Come quickly and see, Luo Shuiyan, our daughter is actually skilled in music!”

“Tsk, what a character… My King.”

Hearing the call, Luo Shuiyan put down the ancient parenting book in her hand, got up from the bed, tied up her hair, draped a robe, and gracefully walked to the cradle, chiding softly:

“In these past few days, My King, you don’t know how many times you’ve praised little Hu Ruyan… It was fine when you praised her during meals, but now she’s just playing with a wind chime, and you say she’s skilled in music.

Then next time she walks… will you also say she’s skilled in movement techniques?”

“Tsk, you don’t understand this.”

“A tiger father has no dog daughter; my daughter’s talent is extraordinary!”

Hu Xiao said proudly, leaning down and reaching into the cradle to tickle little Hu Ruyan’s chin, feeling a touch of emotion in his heart.

Ever since he had a daughter, he truly felt different.

She was indeed his little cotton-padded jacket!

He held her in his palm, afraid she would melt, wishing to bestow all the good things in this world upon her.

“My King, you’ve become gentler…”

Luo Shuiyan looked at Hu Xiao, covering her mouth and teasing, “Now you’re like a different tiger…”

Saying that, she bent down and gently embraced little Hu Ruyan. “Come, Mother will hold you.”

In the cradle, little Hu Ruyan lifted her small head, supported by Water Smoke’s hands. She quietly nestled in her mother’s arms, her delicate body warm like jade, warming the heart.

“Good, good, she’s getting cuter and cuter.”

Hu Xiao stepped forward, pinching little Hu Ruyan’s chubby cheeks.

This little cub…

She was truly adorable!

Just then.

Creak—

The door opened.

The family of three looked over at the sound and immediately saw Qingxue entering, holding a silver plate of fruit, all of which were fire-attribute spiritual fruits.

“My King, Luo Shuiyan Sister, please rest for a bit. I brought some spiritual fruits.”

Qingxue came to the table, put down the plate, and then slowly walked towards Luo Shuiyan, saying, “Let me hold little Hu Ruyan too.”

As her voice fell.

Little Hu Ruyan giggled, reaching out her hands towards her.

“Come, say hello to your Aunt Qingxue.”

Luo Shuiyan held Hu Ruyan’s hand, gently swaying it, then walked to Qingxue’s side and handed over her precious daughter.

“So cute!”

Qingxue took little Hu Ruyan, cradling her, and softly hummed a lullaby of the Half-demon tribe.

The gentle melody descended,

soothing the heart.

In just a moment.

Little Hu Ruyan rested her head on Qingxue’s chest, yawned, her eyelids drooping, sleepiness washing over her, her eyes heavy with sleep.

“Time to sleep, dear,”

Qingxue gently patted her back, soothing her in a low voice, feeling a touch of envy, “I wonder if I’ll have a son or a daughter in the future…”

As her voice fell.

“Sister, don’t be impatient, there’s still more than a year left…”

Water Smoke came before Qingxue, gently stroking her lower abdomen, “Such a short time will pass quickly.”

“But… I feel it’s still very long, Water Smoke Sister.”

Qingxue frowned, feeling a strange irritation in her heart.

Ever since she became pregnant,

she truly couldn’t do anything!

Even drinking water and eating were attended to by personal maids; she couldn’t make any big movements, let alone cultivate.

She had always been active, but now, with a bulging belly, she was trapped in place.

She had woven her own cocoon.

“It’s alright, Qingxue Sister, waiting is always good.”

Luo Shuiyan gently placed her hand on Qingxue’s shoulder, her gentle gaze falling on little Hu Ruyan, and she smiled sweetly, “Beautiful things are always worth waiting for.”

“Shhh,”

Hu Xiao raised his index finger, interrupting them both, “Keep your voices down, Hu Ruyan seems to be asleep…”

Hoo—

A soft, even snore sounded.

Little Hu Ruyan lay in Qingxue’s embrace, her arms around her neck, her mouth slightly open, peacefully asleep… Time passed slowly…

…

In the following days,

Hu Xiao made time to cultivate, and the rest of his time was focused on little Hu Ruyan.

Once he had a child, he naturally had to give her a happy childhood.

So.

Hu Xiao carved bamboo dragonflies, made hobby horses, and also found some skillful Half-demons to create many children’s toys based on his memories.

Kites, dolls, clay figures, shadow puppets…

“My King, what are these square little blocks?”

“Building blocks.”

“My King, and this one?”

“Playing with an iron hoop.”

…

Time slipped away, half a year passed.

On this day.

Winter had passed, thin snow melted, and the garden outside the cave dwelling was taking shape, with many flowers already blooming. After his cultivation, Hu Xiao walked towards the Imperial Garden.

These days.

Qingxue and Luo Shuiyan, with little Hu Ruyan, usually sat in the pavilion in the courtyard, draped in mink fur, gazing at the distant mountains, with the scent of flowers lingering in the air.

As Hu Xiao entered the garden, he saw their figures.

“My King, you’ve come just in time!”

Upon seeing Hu Xiao approach, Qingxue held little Hu Ruyan, shaking her small hand and saying, “Come, say hello to Papa.”

“Little Hu Ruyan can’t speak yet, can she?”

Hu Xiao nodded with a smile, slowly walking to little Hu Ruyan, just about to pick her up.

However, as his voice fell.

Little Hu Ruyan extended her small fist, holding a tiny bamboo dragonfly, babbling as she tried to speak, watching Hu Xiao approach, puffing out her cheeks, as if preparing for some action.

Immediately after.

The next moment!

“Pa… Papa…”

A tender voice sounded.

Like the first cry of an oriole, melodious and moving…

“Huh!?”

Hearing this, Hu Xiao’s eyes instantly widened, and he froze for a moment, not quite reacting.

But in that brief moment ofStunned, little Hu Ruyan opened her arms, threw herself into his embrace, and repeated again…

“Papa… hug…”

“!!”

Hu Xiao stopped in his tracks at the sound, his eyes meeting little Hu Ruyan’s, big eyes staring at small eyes.

Good heavens!

How much time had passed?

My precious daughter… can actually speak now?!