188: Chapter 188 Mystic Crystal Iron

"Ma Lie, you've performed a great service this time."

Ma Lie scratched his head and gave a simple smile: "This subordinate general was just running an errand; there's no merit to speak of. The item was offered by Ma Liu. If General wants to reward someone, reward him."

Su Bai nodded and didn't say more.

He turned and walked toward the main hall, instructing as he went: "Go and call Old Man Zheng over."

"Yes!"

Ma Lie took the order and turned to run off.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Old Man Zheng ran into the City Lord's Manor, panting heavily.

"General... General called for this old man?"

Su Bai placed the Xuanjing Iron on the table and pushed it in front of him.

"Master Zheng, take a look at this."

Old Man Zheng stepped forward, looked down, and his entire body instantly froze.

His eyes bulged wide, his mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg, and his outstretched hands were trembling.

"This... this is... Xuanjing Iron?!"

Old Man Zheng's voice changed its pitch.

He grabbed the Ore and looked it over several times, his eyes turning red.

"This old man has been refining artifacts for thirty years and has only heard of Xuanjing Iron, but never seen the real thing! General, where... where did this come from?"

Su Bai smiled: "You don't need to worry about where it came from. Just tell me, with this, can you refine a second-grade spiritual artifact?"

Old Man Zheng held the Xuanjing Iron and remained silent for a long while before nodding heavily.

"I can!"

He looked up, his eyes filled with unprecedented determination.

"If the General gives this old man one month, I will definitely produce a second-grade spiritual artifact!"

Su Bai patted his shoulder: "Good. Just say what you need, and I'll have people prepare it for you."

Old Man Zheng gritted his teeth:

"I also need several auxiliary materials. This old man will list them for the General later.

Additionally... this old man would like to ask Madam Su for help. There are some parts of the Triple Quenching Method I haven't fully mastered yet. With Madam's guidance by my side, the success rate will be higher."

Su Bai nodded: "Fine. I'll have Su Mei coordinate with you."

"Thank you, General!"

Old Man Zheng walked away, clutching the Xuanjing Iron and expressing endless gratitude.

The days passed one by one.

Ze City became livelier by the day.

The farmland outside the city showed promising growth; the lush green crops stretched from the edge of the fields to the foot of the mountains, waving like green billows when the wind blew.

The congee sheds were still distributing food, but fewer and fewer people came to receive it.

Because the commoners now had their own land and could grow their own grain, they no longer needed to rely on congee distribution to survive.

Lin Weiwei and Ji Yingying also stopped running to the congee sheds every day and turned their attention to other matters.

Lin Weiwei established a school in the city to teach the nearby children how to read and write.

Ji Yingying led several skilled women to open an embroidery workshop next to the City Lord's Manor, specifically making military flags and battle robes for the army.

Fang Liu managed the internal affairs of the City Lord's Manor in an orderly fashion.

Li Qing followed Zhou Qingying in handling the paperwork, becoming increasingly proficient.

Ma Zhenhua spent all day in the military camp, drilling soldiers alongside Zhao Ding. When the soldiers saw her, they all called her "Instructor Ma," and no one dared to look down on her anymore.

Su Mei wasn't idle either.

While Old Man Zheng was in seclusion refining the artifact, she kept watch over the refining workshop, supervising Tie Niu and the others while researching the forging process for second-grade spiritual artifacts.

Zhou Qingying's belly grew larger day by day.

No matter how busy Su Bai was each day, he would find time to sit with her in the backyard for a while, talking to her and touching her belly.

Lin Weiwei also came over frequently. The two pregnant women would huddle together, their conversations revolving around either the children or Su Bai.

Sometimes when Su Bai came over, he would see the two of them sitting at the stone table in the courtyard, one stroking her belly while the other did the same.

They would say things like, "Who do you think this child will look like?" "He'll definitely look like the Young Master," or "I think he'll look like you."

Watching this scene, Su Bai felt an indescribable sense of comfort in his heart.

One morning, while Su Bai was watching the soldiers drill on the training grounds, a maid came running over, stumbling with a pale face, and said:

"General! General! The First Madam has given birth!"

Su Bai was startled, then immediately threw down the long saber in his hand and took off running.

He ran so fast that Ma Lie couldn't even call him back from behind.

When he reached the backyard, he heard the sound of a baby crying from inside the room.

Su Bai rushed to the door, his heart burning with anxiety, and reached out to push the door open.

A midwife hurried over and said to Su Bai with a fawning smile:

"General, you mustn't, you mustn't. It's full of blood inside, very unclean; you cannot enter. Wait until this old woman has cleaned up inside, then you can..."

Su Bai pushed her hand away and said irritably:

"That is my wife, why would I be repulsed?"

Then, ignoring the midwife's attempts to stop him, he pushed the door open and walked straight in.

In the room, several maids were busy tidying up in a flurry.

Zhou Qingying lay on the bed, her face somewhat pale and beads of sweat on her forehead, but her face was filled with a smile.

An old woman was holding a swaddled bundle, carefully wiping the blood and grime from the newborn.

Su Bai walked over and looked down at the little thing.

Reddish, wrinkled, and as ugly as a little old man.

But in his eyes, this little face was more beautiful than anything.

After all, this was Su Bai's first time being a father across two lifetimes.

"Let me see."

He reached out; the old woman was stunned for a moment before quickly handing over the swaddled bundle.

As Su Bai held his child, his hands were trembling.

Across his past and present lives, this was his first time being a father.

"Qingying, you've worked hard."

He leaned down and gently kissed Zhou Qingying's forehead.

Zhou Qingying smiled and asked weakly: "Husband, have you thought of a name?"

Su Bai looked at the little thing in his arms, remained silent for a while, and then spoke.

"Su Yi."

"Su Yi?"

Zhou Qingying repeated it.

"Yes, Su Yi."

Su Bai nodded, "The character 'Yi' carries the meaning of being transcendent and unconventional. I hope that in this life, he can live freely and without restraint."

Zhou Qingying smiled, a very gentle smile.

"Su Yi... it's a good name."

She looked at her son in the swaddling bundle, her eyes as soft as spring water in March.

Right then, a cold mechanical voice sounded in Su Bai's mind.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host. The primary wife has successfully given birth to an heir. Reward: Permanent 10% increase in army morale, 100% increase in cultivation speed.]

[Army Comprehension Ability +2.]

Su Bai was stunned for a moment, then grinned.

Permanent 10% increase in army morale, doubled cultivation speed, and two points added to everyone's Comprehension Ability.

This reward was even more generous than conquering a city.

Having children is good.

I should have more.

He looked down at Su Yi in his arms, then at Zhou Qingying on the bed, and then at Lin Weiwei, Su Mei, Ji Yingying, Fang Liu, Li Qing, and Ma Zhenhua, who had all rushed over upon hearing the news.

At this moment, they were all craning their necks to peer inside.

Su Bai felt delighted.

That evening, Su Xing came to the City Lord's Manor.

He was dressed in black and knelt on one knee before Su Bai.

"General, this subordinate has an important matter to report."

Su Bai was looking at a map in the study and didn't even look up: "Speak."

"The military affairs at Mu City have been scouted. General Li Tao has approximately two thousand troops under him, including eight hundred elites; the rest are old and weak. The city walls are about thirty feet high, the fortifications are average, and the grain reserves are enough for about three months."