Heffis had been obediently lying in Duotu's arms, but suddenly, it looked up in one direction, its beast eyes instantly overflowing with tears, unable to contain its excitement as it called out, "Mother..."
This child had always been relatively quiet, and even Duotu rarely saw it lose control like this, but when he saw the figure walking gracefully towards them, his whole body stiffened, his breathing trembling, even more out of control than his son.
The little lion didn't notice his father's reaction, only that his father's arm loosened, and it jumped to the ground, staring straight at Sang Luo, who was smiling and crouching down, as if trying to discern whether it was a dream or reality.
It had always thought it was dreaming of its mother, but it never expected that its mother was really still alive.
It should have rushed into its mother's arms, but it hesitated, not daring to move forward.
Royal beast cubs grow slowly. Heffis still looks very young on the outside, but it is almost seven years old, and it understands many things—it worries that its mother might not like it.
Sang Luo felt even more sorry for the little lion seeing it like this. She knew how much it yearned for maternal love and to see her, given that the little wooden figure she had casually carved back then had been kept by the child for so many years.
"Luo Luo..." Duotu stared at her blankly, his eyes slowly reddening, not daring to take a step forward.
Sang Luo didn't look at him, but opened her arms to the little lion, "Good son, come to your mother."
The little lion immediately pounced into her arms, nuzzling against her, choking with sobs, "Mother, I miss you so much. This time it's really mother, right?"
"Yes, really, it can't be more real. Mother will be by your side from now on." Sang Luo kissed its furry face.
Duotu watched the interaction between mother and son, his breathing slowly relaxing, not daring to step forward and disturb them.
Sang Luo picked up her son, "There are also many fun places in the temple. How about mother takes you to play?"
"Okay!" The childish voice was clear and crisp. The child forgot his father as soon as he turned his head.
"I'll take the child out to play for a while. You two can talk if you have something to say," Sang Luo said to Minos.
Minos nodded, "Go ahead, don't come back too late."
Duotu didn't say a word, his gaze fixed on her face, unwilling to move it even half an inch.
Sang Luo didn't care what he thought, and walked away with the child in her arms.
Duotu's heart tightened. He wanted to chase after her, but he stopped abruptly, feeling lost and helpless, "She, she wants the child back?"
"If she wanted to take him away, she would have done so long ago." Minos looked at the distracted Duotu and invited him into the hall for a chat, "Your Majesty Alans can have some tea and wait a while."
Duotu looked at the refined and gentle handsome young man in front of him, knowing that he was the legendary Holy Son who would soon inherit the throne to become the Holy Ruler, and forced a smile, "Your Majesty the Holy Ruler is too polite. Last time, I was rude."
"It's alright." Minos chuckled, "Speaking of which, you and I can be considered to have a layer of blood relationship. I should call you cousin."
"...I dare not."
Duotu was not an angel clan member. He knew very well that the proud pure-blooded angels looked down on his kind of existence. He knew he was unworthy of being on brotherly terms with the Holy Son.
Minos didn't say anything more.
The two entered the hall and discussed some matters. Minos handed Duotu a book, a parenting manual that he had personally compiled in the past few days. It recorded the precautions for raising angel clan cubs and listed the natural treasures that were useful for the growth and development of angel clan cubs. Most of the ingredients could be found in the Holy Domain and the Beast World Continent, making it easier for Duotu to raise the child.
Duotu solemnly took it, "Thank you, Holy Ruler."
Minos, "It's nothing. I'm just preparing in advance for my future offspring."
Duotu was speechless, feeling sour in his heart. He realized that he had missed too much... too much...
Minos talked to him about some other things. Duotu was sometimes absent-minded, frequently looking outside the door, worried that Sang Luo would take the child away and never return.
Fortunately, he didn't panic for too long. After more than an hour, Sang Luo came back with the child in her arms.
The little lion had a lot of fun playing outside, getting a lot of mud on its body, and accidentally bumped into a tree while flying. Sang Luo gave it a bath, which took a little time. Its fur was fluffy and soft, having just been dried, reflecting golden light under the sun, looking extremely beautiful.
Sang Luo put the little lion on the ground and told it to go find its father.
Heffis took a few steps towards the excited Duotu, then ran back to rub against Sang Luo's leg, feeling a little uneasy, "Mother, will I see you again in the future?"
Sang Luo squatted down, touched its head, and smiled gently, "You go back with your father first. Have you forgotten what mother promised you? I will visit you often. We shook hands on it."
Only then did Heffis feel relieved.
Sensing that complicated and scorching gaze was fixed on her, Sang Luo sighed and touched the little lion's head again, "Are you tired from playing? You must be hungry too. Why don't you go with Uncle Angel first and let him take you to eat something delicious."
Sang Luo turned her head and said to Minos, "Take the child somewhere else to wait for a while. I'll stay here. I have some things to say to Duotu."
Minos nodded and left with the little lion.
For a moment, only the two of them were left in the hall.
They looked at each other in silence, the air still.
"Luo Luo, long time no see." After a long while, Duotu spoke first, his voice low and dry, "It's been seven years."
He had lost her for almost seven years.
"Yes, it's been seven years." Sang Luo looked at Duotu indifferently. She didn't want to have any relationship with him, it would be best to treat him as a stranger, but after all, they had a child together.
As long as the child was still there, she and he would always have this relationship. There was no need to insist on never seeing each other again.
She also couldn't bear to let the little lion lose his mother's love for the rest of his life.
Duotu's mistakes should not be borne by his son.
Duotu's eyes were already red, tears streaming down his cheeks, his voice low, hoarse, and broken, "Still alive, why haven't you come back all these years?"
Sang Luo raised an eyebrow in sarcasm, and said unceremoniously, "I have so many excellent and powerful beast husbands, why would I think of you? To be honest, if it weren't for Heffis, I would have almost forgotten that there was someone like you."
Although Quan Jin survived a near-death experience and ultimately regained his life, his former body was also severely injured and destroyed. Now he can only linger on with a demonic body, and his eldest daughter's life and death are still unknown. All of this was caused by Duotu. She would not have any softness or affection for him.
"Yes, I really don't deserve you to remember me. I'm very happy that you are willing to see me now..."
Again, there was mutual silence.
Neither of them spoke, seemingly not knowing what to say.
Duotu took a deep breath, took two steps towards her, stretched out his hand, his fingers trembling slightly, "Luo Luo, I don't expect you to forgive me, but the child is innocent. He needs a childhood full of fatherly and motherly love. Can you... give me another chance to raise the child together."
"Let's forget everything that happened before and try to start over, okay? I will make up for the mistakes I made before..."
Duotu's storyline is coming to an end. No extra chapter today, darlings, sleep early!
