Dyrian could feel the corrosive effect of the poisonous amniotic fluid on his body. It was melting his flesh and irreversibly damaging his meridians.

  'I have managed to take over the body, but whether this fetus can survive or not, it's not certain.'

  He realised he would be at a severe disadvantage at birth. With how corrosive the poison was, the child would be malformed. There was no chance of advancing.

  'This is not good'

  He wanted to do something about it. But all he could do was to throw his arms around in dismay.

  "The child is active again?" Clara interjected as Grace's hand hovered over her belly.

  "Yes, ever since that incident, it would go into hibernation, then a period of hyperactivity."

  "It was all for good in the end," Clara remarked as she brought a plate of different fruits to Grace's service. There were fruits. Rare. Those of the outer courtyard couldn't dream of touching.

  They no longer stayed in the outer courtyard.

  After the news spread that Grace had been with the Viscount's child, they were promoted to the middle courtyard.

  "It's all good. My son will have a greater opportunity in the future." After the physician's visit, they learnt it was a son. Now that they were in the middle courtyard, they were closer to the Viscount's residence.

  It had been a month since they had shifted from their earlier lodgings. In just a few days, she would be four months along. The pregnancy had been going smoothly with frequent visits from the physician and adequate care from the Viscount. They would be delivered with enough food and charcoal to keep the room warm and cosy.

  Whilst they were engrossed in the careless heaven, in the inner courtyard, a black shadow emerged out of the window. A woman in her late thirties, adorned in luxurious silk and robes, far beyond Grace level, checked a parchment as she paced back and forth like a strict teacher.

  In front of her, there was a boy. Ten years old. He shared a remarkable resemblance to her.

  "You haven't been studying as well as expected of the heir of the Viscount." The woman put down the parchment and levelled the boy with a severe gaze.

  "Mother, I..."

  "How did I tell you to address me?"

  "My Lady," The boy quickly corrected himself. He stood alert, like a soldier on watch. "I'll do better next time. I won't let father be disappointed in me."

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  "That's how you should think." The woman closed the parchment with a snap and dismissed her son. After he disappeared, a look of concern appeared on her face. She sat down and brought a finger to massage her temple.

  "Viscountess Elinora," A shadow appeared from the window and went down on its knees in a formal gesture of respect.

  "Has the physician been paid off?" Elinoras asked without looking at the shadow.

  "Yes. We imprisoned his wife and child. He has backed off. As for other evidence of poisoning, they have been taken care of. No one can trace it back to us."

  "That won't do. You'd better link the evidence to someone else."

  "The scapegoat, My lady?"

  "Let me see. Lord Alaric has been having too good a time lately." Elinora's lip quirked up into a smile.

  "It will be done." The man with a face covered by a black mask replied and disappeared.

  "My lady, you are excessively worrying." A woman appeared on her side, handing her a cup of tea. She was an old lady who had once been Elinora's nanny. She had accompanied her throughout her childhood, Elinora most trustworthy aide. "Take it, it will ease your headache."

  "The threat has not been eliminated yet." Elinora accepted the cup and raised it to her lips. The steam rose and masked her beautiful green eyes. Beautiful but cold.

  "My lady, she is just a peasant. The child has not even been born yet. He might have survived, but he would be a cripple most likely."

  "If he can survive that lethal dosage, he can turn out to be an absolute genius, too." Those who possess remarkable talent would reveal it from the very beginning. Passing the trial of assassination only proved that the child possessed something more than mere luck. All the more reasons to not overlook him.

  "The new physician, Thomas, has been assigned. He is a man from our territory. He has eaten our food. He won't betray us"

  "That's great. For now, I want him to keep an eye on the fetus's condition."

  ...

  Having the knowledge of something slowly killing you and not being able to do anything about it is a worse feeling than being left in the dark.

  'Right now I have no idea what that green thing is.'

  'But the environment is not healthy for a fetus's growth.'

  The limitation of his third eye allowed him to sense his immediate surroundings. He could not sense anything beyond the amniotic cavity. But he didn't give up.

  He opened his mouth, exhaling a great amount of amniotic fluid while setting himself into a meditative posture. He could sense the reddish liquid along with greenish particles rushing into his lungs. He closed his eyes and focused. He could pinpoint each and every particle of the luminous green.

  He tried to influence them.

  He focused and focused.

  He could not liberate Qi. He could not even sense Qi.

  No matter what he did, he could not affect the luminous particles in any way. They continued to corrode his flesh and interfere with his meridian formation.

  'Fuck. At this rate, I will have to live a life of a cripple.'

  As time passed, his frustration peaked.

  'Was all the effort in vain? The Primordial Dao Sight is useless if I don't have the power to use it.'

  'If I had known about the conspiracy behind its refining, I would have never gone out to give up my life to refine it.'

  'The one who refines it must die.'

  'I managed to escape death temporarily, but it seems I'm gonna end up dead anyway.'

  His thoughts were jumbled before he dipped into unconsciousness. The next time he opened his eyes, he sensed a change.

  'What is this?'

  "Congratulations, my lady, you have already passed the four-month milestone."

  He heard a voice. When he closed his eyes and used his perception, he realised he could sense his mother. Another female figure was standing not far from her. He could sense everything within the range of the space inside the room.

  Not only that, he felt a connection to his mother through the placenta.

  He realised he could sense her mother's thoughts and emotions through the connection they shared.