Many Fate Masters had said that Deceit itself was not a "thing." It was composed of pure, intangible "principles" or "strange laws," and even Great Fate Masters could not see the specific form of Deceit.
The "Deceit" seen by human eyes, such as the Deceitful Mother’s two arms, was not the true body of Deceit. It was merely an evolution, an overlap of Deceit’s power with the real world—something that seemed both material and immaterial.
Currently, only Great Fate Masters and Qi Fortune Treasures could completely kill Deceit.
The Life Artifact currently recognized as the most effective against Deceit is the Great Inheritance of the Celestial Fate Sect, the Great Cutting Sword. This is also one of the reasons the Celestial Fate Sect sits firmly as the number one Fate Sect in the world.
This was a rather generous gift.
The Sunshine Boy ultimately couldn’t resist. With his eyes still closed, he turned his head to "look" at Hao Yunsheng and broke into a wide grin.
Two streaks of dried blood were smeared across his face. The sight of the chubby, pale infant grinning so widely terrified Hao Yunsheng so much that his legs went soft, leaving him with no strength to stand up and run.
Upon seeing the sunshine infant’s smile, all the Night Guards shuddered in unison.
The Sunshine Boy’s eyes were closed. He couldn’t see specific "people," but he could perceive gray-yellow humanoid silhouettes before him, like wisps of yellow smoke flowing upward from below.
"My dear son, your smile is so endearing. Do you see the benefits of the Life-Saving Needle now? Look, you’ve sucked the Life-Saving Needle dry. Such a fine Treasure is gone now."
In the Deceitful Mother’s hand, the three-inch-long silver needle suddenly shattered, segment by segment. It turned to ash upon hitting the ground and scattered with a gust of wind.
"Come, Mother will heal your eyes." As the Deceitful Mother spoke, she wiped her right hand across the Sunshine Boy’s eyes, and the bloodstains on his face vanished.
The Sunshine Boy only felt a cool, refreshing sensation in his eyes, the pain completely gone.
He opened his eyes, and everything was as it should be.
The onlookers only saw a gray-yellow ring appear around the edge of each of the Sunshine Boy’s eyes. An instant later, the rings faded into his eyes and disappeared.
Hao Yunsheng knelt outside the threshold, staring at the Sunshine Boy’s even brighter eyes. He was completely bewildered. ’How could he be fine?’
The Sunshine Boy looked at Hao Yunsheng and suddenly smiled faintly. "Mother, I have just been born. Shouldn’t they be giving me some gifts?"
Nanny Xiang clapped her hands and said with a laugh, "The Young Master is right. Other villages have such a custom, called asking for lucky money. You lot, hurry up and take out what you have on you so the Young Master can choose a lucky gift. What are you standing around for? Take it all out! Come, Young Master, I’ll carry you over to make your choice."
Nanny Xiang took the swaddled Sunshine Boy from the Deceitful Mother’s arms and carried the child to the threshold.
Everyone took out their copper coins, silver, and other valuables.
Looking at the Night Guard on the far left, the Sunshine Boy pointed to a large ten-cent coin and said, "I choose this."
The man hurriedly offered up the copper coin, and Nanny Xiang placed it in a hidden layer of the swaddling clothes.
Before the second Night Guard, the Sunshine Boy once again pointed to a copper coin. "I choose this."
Following that, the Sunshine Boy went down the line, choosing only copper coins. He didn’t even pick the silver.
Even when he came to the Captain, he only chose a copper coin.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally, the Sunshine Boy was brought before Hao Yunsheng.
The Sunshine Boy stretched out his small, pale and tender hand, pointed to Hao Yunsheng’s waist, and said with a wide grin, "I want all of your Mugwort."
Hao Yunsheng froze on the spot.
The other Night Guards were stunned for a moment.
Even the well-traveled Book Listener had to give a thumbs-up in admiration.
"You..."
Nanny Xiang impatiently cut Hao Yunsheng off. "I was the one who gave you that Mugwort. The Young Master wants it. How can you refuse?"
As she spoke, she reached out her hand, and the three stalks of Mugwort flew into her grasp. She placed them in the swaddling clothes as well.
Hao Yunsheng stared at the Sunshine Boy, so frustrated he wanted to cry but couldn’t shed a tear.
The Night Guards gloated at his misfortune, a few even cheering silently.
The wrinkle-faced Nanny Xiang carried the Sunshine Boy back into the room and placed the child into the Deceitful Mother’s large, white hands.
Nanny Xiang lowered her head. "Reporting to you, my Lady, the ritual for the Lady of Protection for Birth is complete. Next is the ritual for the Lady of Celebration for Birth. Do you have any other instructions?"
The Deceitful Mother’s voice suddenly turned cold. "I have given birth to a fine son. Others may not be told the good news, but a red message must be sent to my mother. Arrange for a messenger."
Nanny Xiang smiled. "Rest assured, my Lady. I will choose a reliable person to deliver the good news to the grandmother."
It was clearly just ordinary family chatter, but after all the Night Guards had been through, they sensed something was wrong. That familiar feeling of powerlessness swept over them.
Dark clouds seemed to gather over everyone’s heart.
They looked at each other and silently counted their numbers.
Thirteen Night Guards.
The Sunshine Boy suddenly pulled a stalk of Mugwort from the swaddling clothes. "Nanny Xiang, this is for you."
Nanny Xiang’s wrinkled face bloomed like a chrysanthemum as she waved her hands repeatedly. "This old servant is unworthy of such a grand gift from the Young Master."
As she spoke, she secretly glanced toward the black cloth.
From within came the Deceitful Mother’s gentle and pleasant voice: "You’ve been so busy these past few days. It is your good fortune that my son has rewarded you."
"Thank you, my Lady. Thank you, Young Master." Nanny Xiang actually knelt on the ground and accepted the Mugwort from the Sunshine Boy with both hands. As if it were a priceless family heirloom, she carefully tucked it into her robes.
Hao Yunsheng was stunned for a moment, then looked suspiciously at the Sunshine Boy.
The Sunshine Boy smiled. "No need to be so polite, Nanny Xiang. By the way, of everyone here, Hao Yunsheng is the swiftest of foot. I think you should choose him to deliver the red message."
A chill ran through Hao Yunsheng’s entire body. He stood frozen in place.
Nanny Xiang was all smiles. "The Young Master is right. We shall choose Hao Yunsheng to be the messenger."
Nanny Xiang got up, smiled as she patted the Mugwort inside her clothes, puffed out her chest, and looked at Hao Yunsheng as she slowly walked toward the door.
All eyes were on Hao Yunsheng.
Hao Yunsheng gave the Sunshine Boy a deep look and sighed heavily. He swiped his right hand over the Qiankun Ring on his left finger, and a bizarre arrow appeared in his hand—it had blood-red fletching, a serpentine body, and the head of a pigeon.
’The Snake Pigeon Arrow...’ The Sunshine Boy hadn’t expected Hao Yunsheng to possess such a rare Magical Artifact, one that was perfect in both Fate and Dao. ’It must have been crafted by a Great Fate Master.’
"Sunshine Boy, you forced my hand."
Hao Yunsheng gave a cold smile and released his grip.
The Snake Pigeon Arrow shot straight toward the Book Listener.
"Watch out!" the Sunshine Boy cried out.
The moment the Book Listener saw the Snake Pigeon Arrow, he let out a soft sigh. It seemed to be of helplessness, yet also of relief.
Just as the Snake Pigeon Arrow was about to hit the Book Listener, the sound of wooden slats splintering suddenly came from his chest.
Then, the Snake Pigeon Arrow swerved and plunged into the abdomen of a young Night Guard standing nearby.
Everyone watched in horror as, under the young Night Guard’s clothes, it looked as if a swarm of snakes had suddenly appeared, writhing beneath his skin.
The young Night Guard let out a bloodcurdling scream, fell to his knees before Hao Yunsheng, and reached out to grab him. Hao Yunsheng stumbled backward again and again.
The young Night Guard wailed and pleaded, "Hao Yunsheng, we have no grievance between us! Why did you harm me? I beg you, spare me! My daughter just turned one month old! My family has elders to support and children to raise! If I die, my family is done for! My whole family will be ruined! Hao Yunsheng, please, I beg you! Your Fate Grid is strong, you won’t die, I..."
Amidst the young Night Guard’s piercing screams, Nanny Xiang made a gentle grasping motion toward him and smiled. "You’re the one."
The man was lifted into the air by Nanny Xiang, his arms flailing and legs kicking wildly, unable to utter a sound besides muffled sobs.