This time, the child born by the lazy Qu Xiaoxiao was not as remarkable as Li Yunlin, with mixed spiritual roots of the five elements. His strongest fire spirit root measured only 48 points.
However, what caught Li Wei's attention was the game screen.
Li Yunbing had just been born. In the room, Li Yaozu held the newborn, paying no attention to Qu Xiaoxiao, nor did the rest of the Li family. Their occasional glances at her carried amusement and even a hint of disgust.
"Yaozu, let me hold the child." Qu Xiaoxiao's eyes turned red.
After a brief pause, Li Yaozu handed the baby to Qu Xiaoxiao and spoke coldly, "Qu Xiaoxiao, I've treated you well all these years. Yet, you've repeatedly benefited at the expense of my Li family, even stealing elixirs from our treasure house, like the Beast Blood Fruits meant for your brother and father."
"After Yunbing's birth, we are no longer husband and wife, and you are no longer part of our Li family."
"In consideration of our past, you can live in Green Valley Village, under my protection, and see Yunlin and Yunbing. I don't want them to grow up without their mother. But remember, sparing your life is a great kindness. I hope you and the Qu family stay safe."
"Yaozu, please give me a chance to change. I promise I won't do it again," Qu Xiaoxiao lamented.
"My brother has given you many chances," said Li Yaowen impassively, rubbing the wheelchair's armrest. "Did you really think the Qu family's actions could escape my notice? You've crossed a line. While our Li family can tolerate mediocrity, we cannot tolerate betrayal and deceit."
She turned to Li Yunlin, who kept his head bowed, and added gently, "Nephew, when you're older, you'll understand."
"Yes," choked Li Yunlin tearfully, still avoiding eye contact, his face flushed with emotion.
...
Li Wei sighed deeply as Li Yaozu spoke these in front of his ancestor's memorial tablet. He blamed himself for his blindness in marrying such a woman, regretting his youthful naivety in judging character.
But every family harbors untold stories, and the future remains uncertain for those cherished.
The game interface Late into the night.
Li Yunlin, who had been holding back tears during the day, held the infant Li Yunbing in his arms and cried bitterly towards Li Wei's ancestral tablet against the backdrop of candlelight.
"Ancestor, my mother... she betrayed us! From now on, everyone in our family and Green Valley Village will know that my brother and I are the offspring of a traitor. I am a traitor's child..."
The weight of a failed mother's actions can cast a profound psychological shadow upon her children. What Qu Xiaoxiao and the Qu family did may become a lasting mark of shame engraved upon Li Yunlin and Li Yunbing.
[Overwhelmed by heartache, Li Yunlin acquires the trait: Self-Certification of Humiliation.]
[He will feel inferior, reducing his mood by 10%. To overcome this humiliation, he will work harder than anyone else, using it as his inner motivation, increasing his cultivation speed by 20%.]
Observing Li Yunlin's characteristics, Li Wei shook his head. He didn't know how to comfort Li Yunlin.
Then he could only use the 'love from the ancestors' to send down warm light to comfort Li Yunlin.
The Violet Tempest Python seemed to be able to sense Li Wei's thoughts at this moment, sticking out its tongue from the darkness and licking the tears from Li Yunlin's face.
"Thank you, ancestor."
In the quiet of the night, the fragile soul found solace nestled beside the Violet Tempest Python, drifting off to sleep.
In the days that followed, Li Wei urged the Li family members to provide extra care for Li Yaozu's two children.
This year passed quickly.
[In the 31st year, the severe drought finally ended. Heaven was kind and rained heavily, and the whole earth was reborn!]
"Has the twenty-year drought finally come to an end?"
Li Wei sighed with relief.
He couldn't fathom why there had been such a prolonged drought for twenty years. Having lived on earth all his life, he had never witnessed such a disaster, only hearing about it from the survivors of Green Valley Village.
Meanwhile, on the game screen,
Following the heavy rain, villagers streamed out of their homes, drenched in the dew of a drought's end, seeming to thank Heaven for finally pardoning their sins.
It was as if they were celebrating the blessing of this heavy rain.