Victor Wu's eyes widened as he watched. Quinn Jones, the baby girl, seemed to be in great pain, struggling desperately against a force trying to merge her with the baby boy, Quentin Henderson. She raised her hand, her mouth moving constantly, making soft, incoherent sounds.
Despite being struck by resistance, Victor Wu did not give up. His trembling hands continued to manipulate yin and yang, trying to harmonize them completely.
Quinn Jones kept fighting back, refusing to relax for even a moment.
"Stop struggling. You're not human. It's the ghostly energy that's corrupted you—this is why you are like this. You two are originally one and the same. If you keep resisting, neither you nor him will survive..."
Victor Wu spoke, his golden aura intensifying. He increased his power slightly, but could go no further—any more force would harm the two infants.
"It's the same—you are him, and he is you. There is no separation. Listen to me, don't resist anymore."
After Victor Wu finished speaking, nothing changed. He calmed himself, and suddenly, a Bagua—Eight Trigrams—flew from his chest. Golden light radiated from above, and a golden Taiji—Yin-Yang—appeared in the air, beginning to merge the two infants' bodies.
"There's no point struggling now. Let it go."
Victor Wu moved his hands closer together. Suddenly, Quentin Henderson, the baby boy, opened his eyes wide. His right hand slowly lifted, his body turning unconsciously, and his soft, weak little hand pushed to the side.
Victor Wu stared in astonishment at what was happening, hesitating. Then Quinn Jones, the baby girl, began to wail loudly. At that moment, the baby boy's mouth moved, his eyes wide, staring at Victor Wu as if trying to say something. Victor Wu watched in silence.
Exist here—these four words.
What is this? What exactly is happening?
Suddenly, a streak of blood-red light appeared in the baby boy's body. Gradually, that light began to separate the baby girl who had merged with him. Victor Wu realized that his power was ineffective before the two infants.
Is it obsession—the obsession to live?
Victor Wu stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed at the incredible scene. Gradually, the golden Bagua in the air faded away with a crackling sound.
You'll die if you do this.
Victor Wu shouted, but gradually, the two infants’ bodies separated completely. Suddenly, a surge of blood-red light filled the room. With a loud bang, Victor Wu spat blood and was thrown back.
This...
The scene before them was baffling. The baby boy stood protectively in front of the baby girl. At that moment, both infants stared wide-eyed at each other.
Everything returned to calm. The two infants were palm-sized. Victor Wu rushed over to check their condition. The cold, evil aura in the baby girl’s body had vanished, and the black teeth in her mouth were gone. She now looked like an ordinary infant.
But Victor Wu sensed that the two children's auras were still linked. The baby girl was quietly drawing strength from the boy—slowly, but steadily. It was his yang life force. The girl was absorbing his vitality.
The ordeal was over. Victor Wu accepted this new reality. In that crucial instant, the words the baby boy had murmured—“exist here”—finally made sense to him.
No matter if one is human, ghost, or something else, to exist here is proof of life. He had no right to strip away another being’s right to exist.
Everyone in the Henderson Family breathed a sigh of relief. The boy’s pulse grew stronger, and he began to nurse from his mother’s breast.
That night, Victor Wu and Fan Li entered Yagu’s room, handing the other baby girl to her care. Seeing the two children together brought an indescribable joy to Yagu’s face.
Yet Victor Wu warned Yagu: these two children must not be kept together. If they are, one will eventually die because of the other. They were once one—both soul and flesh are incomplete. If they aren’t separated, disaster will follow.
Yagu, the girl must leave the Henderson Family. I hope you understand. Tonight is your last night with her.
After hearing everything, Yagu nodded, tears streaming silently down her face as she watched the two children sleeping in her arms. Victor Wu and Fan Li stepped outside.
Fan Li, I’m entrusting the girl to you. Find a family in some remote place to adopt her. Don’t let the two children meet again. I don’t know what the future holds, but since they were born together and exist in this world, they both deserve a chance to live—no matter what comes.
A month later, in Qi State, Fan Li found an old client—an exceptionally kind couple who, though past childbearing age, had never had children. Their surname was Yi. Fan Li soon placed the girl in their care.
After Victor Wu’s investigation, the link between the siblings was completely severed. In just a month, the boy had doubled in size and was now indistinguishable from any normal child.
Yi Xuehan?
I watched everything quietly, murmuring those three words. I never imagined that Yin Choujian and Yi Xuehan were siblings.
Hope filled every corner of the Henderson Family. News arrived from Eugene Henderson—everything was going smoothly, and soon, chaos would erupt in Cao State.
Meanwhile, Yin Choujian was thriving. He was the embodiment of the Henderson Family’s hopes, born for their sake.
Originally, I planned to leave, but I’ll wait until the child turns one.
Victor Wu gazed at the distant sky. Fan Li sat quietly beside him.
The world was on the verge of upheaval. Deep down, Fan Li felt uneasy. Zhuang Xian and Eugene Henderson were both in Cao Capital, and he worried about his two disciples. The situation seemed clear now—not only in Cao Capital, but even in Dingtown, rumors of change were spreading. Chaos was coming to Cao State.
The old and incompetent Lord Cao cared only for pleasure and comfort, imposing heavy taxes and making life unbearable for the people. His attitude angered both Jing State and Yan State. Qi and Lu had already abandoned this dangerous pawn.
In Henderson Village, the family mansion was brightly decorated and filled with guests. Today was Yin Choujian’s first birthday. Henry Henderson hosted a grand banquet, while Eugene Henderson was already leading the army to victory in the rebellion.
But just as the banquet began, Zhuang Xian returned to the Henderson home, pale and distraught. The moment he entered, all conversation ceased. Everyone stared at him, sensing the heavy air.
Xian’er, what’s happened?
Victor Fan asked quietly.
Choking back sobs, Zhuang Xian shook his head. Faced with the entire Henderson Family and the children in Yagu’s arms, he broke down in tears.
It was a disaster. Eugene Henderson’s army had been ambushed. After his capture, he was beheaded and his head hung at the gates of Cao Capital. No one had foreseen this.
Lord Cao was dead too—murdered by his own nephew.
A few days later, messengers from Cao Capital arrived, restoring the Henderson Family’s title, lands, and granting them new honors and rewards—personally bestowed by Lord Cao Jing.
Eugene Henderson’s body was returned, and the family held a grand funeral that day. Victor Fan was speechless; perhaps this was the best ending possible for Eugene Henderson.
To the public, Lord Cao Jing declared Eugene Henderson a loyal subordinate who died in battle. His uncle, Lord Cao, was called incompetent and blamed for the people’s suffering. Lord Cao Jing claimed to act on Heaven’s behalf—abolishing taxes, sending envoys to negotiate with Jin and Yan, and swiftly restoring peace to Cao State.
Eugene Henderson’s death was no accident—it was orchestrated. That night, Zhuang Xian told the Henderson Family that the Johnson Family had betrayed Eugene, leaking everything to Jian Hai.
While Lord Cao’s army went to kill Eugene Henderson, Lord Cao Jing seized the opportunity to take his uncle’s head, gaining control of Cao State.
Why are you here?
Henry Henderson, his hair white as snow, watched as Zhuang Neng arrived with many people, intending to pay respects. The entire Henderson Family stepped forward, surrounding the Johnson Family.
A wise bird chooses a good tree to nest in. Old Henderson, the death of your third son was not in vain—it made all this possible. Please, come in and let’s talk.
Zhuang Neng spoke, but Victor Fan stepped forward, smiling.
Mr. Zhuang, it’s too late. You know perfectly well what comes next.
The matter between the Henderson and Johnson families was left unresolved. But months later, the Johnsons were struck by cholera—everyone, young and old, died at home.
It was all Lord Cao Jing’s doing. He knew both the Johnson and Henderson families supported King Chu—but in the end, the Johnsons betrayed them. No ruler would keep traitors close.
Lord Cao Jing immediately sent envoys, using the Henderson Family to contact King Zhao of Chu and secure Chu State’s support. After peace was restored, Chu’s army entered Cao State as protectors.
The Henderson Family gained fame, status, and power in both Cao and Chu States.
Xian’er, you’ve already paid your respects to the Johnsons, haven’t you?
At the village entrance, Victor Fan watched Zhuang Xian return slowly. He nodded.
What now, Xian’er? What’s next?
It’s decided. I’ll honor Eugene’s final wish and protect the Henderson Family—as a friend.