Cradled in Li Yuan’s arms, Sheng’er smelled sweet and fresh, not even a hint of the corpse-like stench that seemed to follow the crows everywhere. The comforting warmth of her soft body pressed against his cheek, and as he hugged her, he felt his heart melt.0

In that moment, every shred of anxiety and pressure, every little care and trace of bloodshed seemed to vanish. Holding his daughter brought him a quiet peace unlike anything else.0

Not far away, Yan Yu was chatting and laughing with Xue Ning. 0

In Xue Ning’s arms, little Ping’an clung stubbornly to his mother, refusing to walk on his own. When the two women spotted Li Yuan spinning around with Sheng'er in his arms, they both broke into smiles.0

Xue Ning teased the boy, joking, “Look at your older sister. You can walk just fine now, can’t you?” 0

Ping’an, only a year old, didn’t really understand what she was saying, but promptly burst into tears, prompting Xue Ning to hastily soothe him. 1

A bitter wind hissed, and the cold of falling snow weighed upon the courtyard. Icicles clung to the eaves in jagged lengths like crystal shards. Occasionally,...0