Chapter 116: The Feeling of Death

Chen Tianming could no longer hold back; the tension he had been carrying suddenly broke, and tears stung his eyes as he began to sob uncontrollably.

“This is wonderful, truly wonderful! Aunt is safe, Aunt is safe...”

His cries echoed across the sky, drawing the attention of Chen Daliu and the others, who turned to look at him, though none paid him any heed.

“Keep beating him,” Old Lady Zhang commanded, refusing to let anyone stop.

Not long after Bai Xi had gone inside, thunder and lightning roared across the sky, refusing to relent. The longer it took to strike Chen Tianming, the darker the sky grew, and the more relentless the storm became.

Everyone in the courtyard felt a tingling numbness creep over their scalps.

It was clear to all that Chen Tianming had angered Heaven through his disrespect and unfilial behavior toward his grandaunt. As Chen Daliu waited, his eyes caught sight of a shoulder pole in the corner. A glint flashed in his gaze as he called someone over to fetch a long wooden bench, upon which Chen Tianming was placed to be beaten with a board.

A carefree and irresponsible rogue—if it weren’t for the grandaunt, how could Niuluo Village ever enjoy peaceful days?

Having just tasted a few days of good fortune, he had already forgotten his roots. He deserved to be struck by thunder.

After all, Chen Tianming was a son of Niuluo Village. He had erred and had to be punished. Once punished, if Heaven still refused to calm its wrath, then let the lightning strike as it wished.

“Beat him, beat him hard,” Chen Daliu said, casting a cold, sharp glance at the younger generation, including Xiaoshanzi, and sternly warning, “You all watch carefully. Disrespecting your elders will lead to this very fate.”

“Not only the board, but also the wrath of Heaven’s thunder and lightning!”

The children present nodded solemnly. Though silent, their faces betrayed a reverence and understanding: we will surely abide by the rules.

Chen Tianming endured the blows without crying or shouting, teeth clenched tightly, his gaze fixed steadfastly on the direction of the delivery room.

After about a dozen strikes, everyone noticed the sky above gradually brightening, and the thunder and lightning no longer seemed as fierce.

No one needed to say a word; those delivering the punishment continued without pause, one blow following another.

Better to suffer the board than be struck by lightning—no one took the celestial wrath lightly; a single strike could be fatal.

By the time Bai Xi emerged, Chen Tianming had suffered nearly a hundred strikes. The day was considerably brighter, though the thunder still grumbled, reluctant to fade away. Dressed thickly for winter and holding his breath to endure, Chen Tianming might have passed out otherwise.

Though he did not cry during the beating, upon hearing the infant’s cries from within, he broke down uncontrollably, weeping with joy.

Seeing the scene in the courtyard, Bai Xi was momentarily stunned. Here she was, giving birth inside, while they were outside beating her nephew. Was this not bullying an orphaned mother?

“Enough, stop beating him.”

Chen Tianming’s disrespect had angered Bai Xi as well, but after entering the delivery room, half her anger dissipated. Seeing how much punishment he had endured, the rest of her wrath faded too.

With her words, the dark clouds parted, the sky brightened visibly, and the thunder rumbled a few times as if complaining, yet under Bai Xi’s watchful gaze, it obediently receded.

The executioners saw this and ceased their blows.

Little Black snorted and padded over to Bai Xi, whining, “Master, only one hundred and twelve strikes.”

If it were up to him, he’d say even death wouldn’t be too much.

Bai Xi glanced at Little Black and smiled helplessly.

After all, some of her clothes had been made from fabric Chen Hongbing had brought back for her.

Even disregarding Chen Hongbing’s favor, she couldn’t allow any more beating for the sake of that cloth.

“Grandaunt, you’ve worked hard. Is everything alright inside?” Old Lady Zhang approached gently.

“The child has been born, mother and child are safe,” Bai Xi replied.

As she spoke, Chen Zhaodi emerged from within, carrying a basin and other items.

Seeing the number of people gathered, she respectfully greeted Bai Xi before reassuring everyone, “Don’t worry, mother and child are safe.”

“We know, Grandaunt just said so.”

“Exactly, Grandaunt told us herself.”

Welcoming a newborn on the very first day of the new year amid such peril yet safe and sound—how could anyone not rejoice?

Just as everyone relaxed and exchanged a few lighthearted words, suddenly, the overlooked Chen Tianming rolled off the bench and fell to the ground. He tried several times to stand but was too pained to rise, so he crawled toward Bai Xi on his elbows, inch by inch.

No one moved to help him; they watched with irritation from the sidelines.

Chen Zhaodi wanted to step forward but was pulled back by someone who whispered in her ear, so she too refrained, watching coldly like the others.

Grandaunt was such a good person—even forgetting the superstition that children shouldn’t enter the delivery room to avoid bad luck—yet he was so disrespectful and unfilial to her.

He had committed a grave offense. That he wasn’t immediately banished from the village was already mercy.

Bai Xi: “...” Wasn’t that a bit too harsh?

She almost felt embarrassed to wear her blue gown now.

Chen Tianming crawled to Bai Xi’s side, looked up at her with a face full of remorse, and repeatedly knocked his head against the ground with loud thuds.

“Grandaunt, grandaunt, I was wrong, I was wrong...” he stammered, unsure what else to say.

Bai Xi glanced at him, then at the people in the courtyard, sighed softly, but said nothing, turning to leave.

Chen Rui hurried to follow.

Little Black looked toward Bai Xi’s departing figure, then back at Chen Tianming, growling lowly and baring sharp teeth against his neck.

Chen Tianming froze—once again, that terrifying sensation returned. In just one day, he had faced death multiple times. The feeling lingered, impossible to forget.

He dared not move, stiffening in place. Fortunately, Little Black only meant to intimidate, not to bite.

Watching Chen Tianming tremble, Little Black snorted disdainfully. Were it not for the Master’s magnanimity, he would have torn this man to pieces.

Though spirit beasts possess intelligence and understand human emotions, that very nature makes them fiercer and more ruthless than ordinary beasts.

Little Black’s friendly attitude toward Niuluo Village’s people was solely because of Bai Xi. Should anything happen to her, Little Black would undoubtedly slaughter the villagers.

While everyone in the courtyard held their breath, Little Black howled twice, his fierce eyes coldly fixed on Chen Tianming. He raised a paw but did not strike, instead stepping over him and bounding toward the gate.

Those who saw this felt a bit awkward.

At this moment, Chen Rui walked alongside Bai Xi, cautiously asking, “Grandaunt, are you still angry?”

“I’m not angry, but I am hungry,” Bai Xi said pitifully, glancing at Chen Rui.

Upon hearing this, Chen Rui hurriedly took candy from her pocket. “Grandaunt, here, eat this.” She had been saving it, unwilling to consume the treat herself.