Chapter 561

Chapter 561: The Nemesis Returns

“Bring the young master out,” Deng Zhi whispered.

The wet nurse carefully lifted the infant, presenting him before them. Lu Chao Chao cast a brief glance. From where she sat, her view of her younger brother was obstructed.

Yet, a heavy aura of resentment coiled around the child, tinged with the faint scent of blood hanging in the air.

Lu Chao Chao frowned slightly.

Only those who had taken lives would be tainted with such lingering grievance. But her brother was merely eight months old, still unable to walk—where could such a presence come from?

Examining him more closely, she discerned that the resentment was mostly from small creatures.

Her mind flickered to the unusual sights at the base of the walls when she entered. Her small face tightened.

Physician Li, the direct disciple of the Academy’s head, entered with great deference, bowing deeply. “Your servant greets Princess Sunshine.”

Lu Chao Chao idly waved her hand from where she sat. “Examine my brother.”

Rong Che politely added, “We trouble you, Physician Li.”

“The child is still young…” Rong Che hesitated momentarily.

Physician Li shook his head. “Your servant understands. No matter the child’s condition, I shall keep my lips sealed. Besides, he is not yet a year old; many ailments remain uncertain at this stage.”

What was the most important quality in an imperial physician? Discretion.

The offspring of noble families faced far too many trials before they even had the chance to grow. Premature exposure of any peculiarity could be perilous.

“How is his milk intake? His sleep? Has there been any unusual behavior?” asked Physician Li, an expert in pediatrics, as he pulled a small rattle drum from his medicine box.

Shaking it above the child, a rhythmic dong-dong-dong echoed through the air.

The infant, seated on the bed, did not respond in the slightest.

Xu Shi Yun’s eyes reddened. “Even when we play with him, he never makes a sound, never turns his head to listen, nor does he even turn his face to look.”

She had raised children before and knew well the expected developmental milestones.

At this age, a child should already be babbling, albeit in an incoherent manner, forming the first simple syllables.

“Even when we present him with intriguing toys, he remains indifferent.”

The physician carefully lifted the infant’s eyelids and inspected him thoroughly.

“That’s strange. His eyes are bright, not dull or vacant. He does not seem to be deaf or mute.”

Physician Li had seen his share of mentally impaired children—there was always a vacant dullness in their gaze. This boy was different.

Even those born deaf and mute behaved differently.

So why was this child utterly silent?

Puzzled, the physician found no answer, and the others surrounding him grew increasingly concerned.

Lu Chao Chao climbed onto the bed and lifted her head to study the swaddled infant.

Despite his mere eight months, his face had already taken shape—plump cheeks glistening with drool. Lu Chao Chao leaned in, sniffing lightly.

The fragrance of milk was there, but beneath it lingered a faint, concealed scent of blood.

She poked his cheek gently, watching as a tiny dimple formed. The boy’s brows knit together slightly.

“Are you a fool?”

“Are you deaf?”

“Are you mute?”

Lu Chao Chao shook her head firmly. “I don’t believe it.”

After all the spiritual energy he had consumed from her, could this much accumulated energy produce a dullard? Who was he trying to fool?

Even before he was born, he had already influenced their mother’s mind. And now he was supposed to be simple?

“Call me sister,” she commanded, pinching his soft little cheeks.

The baby gurgled, forming a bubble with his drool.

His dark eyes turned to meet hers, and Lu Chao Chao felt a chill run down her spine.

For an infant, his gaze was devoid of warmth, utterly detached, as if he had been born with an icy heart.

Even when he looked at their mother, there was not the slightest tenderness.

“Hmm, you have quite a store of spiritual energy…” she mused. It was speckled and tainted with impure energy. Just how much had he absorbed?

No wonder his gaze carried traces of crimson.

“If you don’t speak, I’ll take it all back!” Lu Chao Chao declared. She had always been a little tyrant—unreasonable and domineering.

Without hesitation, her chubby hand seized her brother’s tiny palm.

A chaotic force immediately surged into her body.

The baby’s dark eyes widened into large, round saucers, blazing with fury.

“What’s the use of getting mad? You can’t talk, you can’t curse, you can’t even walk…” She clicked her tongue.

He was only eight months old—at best, he could sit and crawl.

Even if he were a dragon, he would still have to lie at her feet.

Yet, her little brother was stubborn. He refused to yield, staring at her fiercely, his eyes growing redder with each passing moment.

Spiritual energy poured from his small frame, as if his very essence resisted her.

“Waaaahhh!” A wail of utter despair shattered the room.

Lu Chao Chao instantly retracted her hand, clasping them innocently behind her back. Feigning confusion, she blinked and asked, “What happened to my brother?”

“Brother, why are you crying? Speak up!” She peered over their mother’s shoulder, even making a silly face at him.

The baby’s cries intensified, his tiny face flushed with furious crimson.

For the first time, the child—who had never reacted to anything—slowly raised his tiny hand and pointed straight at Lu Chao Chao.

“Ji-ji…”

“Ji-ji…” He sobbed between hiccups, his gaze filled with grievance.

Rong Che nearly leapt in joy. “He responded! He responded!”

“The ancestors bless us! He is reacting to Chao Chao!” Shi Yun wept with happiness.

“He is even trying to call her sister!”

“Such a moving display of sibling love! Blood truly runs thicker than water!” Rong Che sighed, his heart a mix of sourness and relief. “No wonder this boy remained silent. Was he waiting for his sister to return?”

The infant on the bed was utterly shattered, clutching his tiny head as he sobbed in utter despair.

Deng Zhi, overwhelmed by emotion, wiped at her tears. “Even though he is small, the young master understands everything.”

Shi Yun pulled Chao Chao forward, placing her hands over her sobbing son’s.

“You two share a deep sibling bond. As a mother, I am deeply comforted. Good, good… now I can rest easy in the future.” She failed to notice how her youngest cried even harder.

Xie Yu Zhou raised a brow. “So, the boy wasn’t deaf or mute. He simply couldn’t be bothered with anyone.”

Rong Che and Shi Yun fell silent.

You are right. But please, do not say it again.

In the Celestial Realm

Han Chuan gazed at the floating bloodstone before him, laughing wildly.

This stone, formed from the impure energy of the Seven Sins, reflected its current state.

At this moment, the entire stone was dyed deep red.

A sign that the Seven Sins was utterly furious, losing all control.

“Good, good! Let him seethe! Let him grow!”

At this exact moment, the enraged Seven Sins…

Was clutching his tiny foot, biting down with all his might.

Lu Chao Chao giggled heartlessly.

Her little brother? Wailed in pure devastation.