"Calm down, Bai. Xie is completely healthy" Chen Xin said "You shouldn't let your feeling take control of you." Xin advised Bai.
"Sorry, but what happened to mother?" Bai said calming himself. It was strange for the battle junkie of her mother to not stand in the first line, something must have occurred while he was out.
"You see, Xie is-" Just as Xin was about to say it, a black hole appeared at his side. From it, Bone Douluo Gu Rong's head popped out "It's time" he announced.
Gu Rong looked around the room and saw Bai "Oh, it's not little Bai? You came at the perfect time. We will have time later to tell stories, now come here. Xie would be glad seeing you." He said not waiting for an answer before disappearing inside the black hole, completely ignoring everyone at the tent and letting the black hole there.
"It's an important time for your family, we understand your absence" Xue Beng said permitting him to leave.
"Go. I'll stay here as a link for Bone" Chen Xin said.
Bai was really confused, not really knowing what was the situation. He sensed clutching his arm, turning to see Chenxiang "I'll follow you, so don't worry. They said that all is fine."
Bai nodded as he stepped forward. Bai turned around "You can continue the meeting. Let me be informed about it later" Bai and Chenxiang crossed the black hole that disappeared behind them.
Bai and Chenxiang found themselves inside a long corridor. Bai recognizing it as his family's mansion at the clan. Specifically, they were in the west wing of the mansion, where the infirmary was located.
Outside the infirmary, it could be seen Ning Fengzhi skipping over the door, again and again, he had an impatient, worry, and looking forward to, face.
Fengzhi turned towards Bai, his face showing surprise "When did you come, son? Did you find out the good news?"
"I finished my business outside, just now arriving here thanks to uncle Bone. What are you referring to good news?"
"You didn't know? Xie'Er is about to-" "Ngggg!" Painful cries left the infirmary, Bai recognized her mother's voice.
Just as Bai was about to worry "Buaaaaaahhh!" Xiangxie cries were replaced by a baby's cry. (Of course) Bai realized what it was all about. His mother wasn't in a state to battle, but she was fine and it was good news. His mother was pregnant and just now his little brother had born.
A woman dressed as a healer left the infirmary "It's a boy. Both, lady Ning and the baby, are healthy." She informed, the people outside sighed in relieve, showing joy in their faces "You can already come inside, but it would be better to come one on one, to not alter the lady and the baby"
Fengzhi nodded stepping forward "Wait here for a little while. We will talk later, son" He said entering the infirmary.
Bai turned to Gu Rong "What didn't you tell me that mother was pregnant?"
"We all decided it was better to not tell it to you or Rongrong." Gu Rong stated "You are doing extremely important things, we didn't want to distract you. Moreover, I don't know where you were but it was incredibly unstable, not even I being able to detect your position."
Bai knew that they were right. It would be putting more weight over them and he had been very busy, very close to the death. For Rongrong, she should be at Seagod Island, busy with the trials "A lot of things happened." Bai started telling to Gu Rong an overall of his adventures, excluding his constant never death experiences.
The infirmary's doors opened again. From it left 4 healers and Fengzhi. Fengzhi approached Bai and hugged. He didn't say anything else, but the paternal love feelings were transmitted "You can enter, son." Fengzhi turned to Chenxiang and smiled at her "Xie also requested your presence. If you desire, you can also enter."
Both nodded and entered the infirmary. Inside, Bai found, laying on a bed, his mother who carefully and warmly hugged a just born baby. Xiangxie seemed a little tired, with sweet running across her forehead, but she had a warm, beautiful, and radiant smile that flowers seemed to bloom around her.
"Bai" Xiangxie said smiling at her son "Let me present you your little brother, Ning Hui" She said patting the baby. The baby was already completely cleaned and wrapped around a white towel. His half-open were black like his father and on his head, a little of pink hair could be seen like his mother.
"You can hold him" Xiangxie said.
Bai approached taking the baby in his arms, carefully holding him. This was his little brother, someone who following canon should never exist due to his mother's death. Seeing his little brother, he couldn't help to smile, especially when Hui took Bai's finger. Another person to love, to protect, and another reason to be strong. Bai reassured himself to protect his brother, if he had a say, he would never have the need to fight like him and his family.
Xiangxie stood up of her bed and carefully took little Hui, carefully resting him on a cradle next to the bed.
"Mum! You should move to carelessly. You must be tired after little brother's birth" Bai said worriedly.
Xiangxie leaned over Bai, enclosing him over her arms "I'm happy that you are here, Bai. I really, really missed you, my little Bai"
Bai could feel warm inside her mother's embrace. Even if his 1,9 meters tall overtowered Xiangxie 1,75 meters, he sensed little with her. He would be always her mother's little son. Bai could feel the love from her.
Xiangxie separated and smirked, lifting her arms "Who do you think your mum is? I won't be tired for a birth, especially my third one" She looked at Bai from up to down smiling warmly "You have grown. Everything of you, not only your height and power. I'm proud."
Xiangxie turner towards Chenxiang "You also became even more charming, little Xiang"
Chenxiang smiled "Thanks, madam"
"Oh, please! Never call me that. It makes me feel old. You can call me mum" Xiangxie said alternating her gaze from Bai and Chenxiang "For what I sense, you already went beyond that. What about the other girl?"
Chenxiang made a forced expression "Bai fell for her."
"I told you to be more forceful, not letting flies approach this little charmer" Xiangxie reprimanded pointing at her son "If I wasn't, someone might have taken over Zhi'Er."
"She's not a fly, her feelings were real and she is like my sister" Chenxiang explained "Bai loves us dearly" she turned towards Bai and smiled "and he would continue, even risking his life. I don't mind sharing him with her."
Xiangxie looked at Chenxiang and sighed "If it's your decision." Xiangxie turned to his son "I don't want to find out making her cry, or there would be a punishment" she said even leaking killing intent, Bai nodding at her "Great!" she clapped her hands, her killing intent instantly replaced by a warm smile.
Xiangxie came towards Chenxiang "Little Xiang, could you leave Bai and me alone. I have something to discuss with him in private".
"Of course" Chenxiang nodded turning away, but she was stopped by Xiangxie who held his left arm. Xiangxie leaned over Chenxiang's ears and whispered "Always fight for the first position. Never let another take it."
Chenxiang opened her eyes widely, but quickly nodded decisively. Then, she left the infirmary leaving Bai and Xiangxie alone.
Xiangxie went towards Hui and started playing with his little hands "You have a good girl, treasure her."
"Always!" Bai answered "Mum, what did you want to tell me alone?"
Xiangxie patted Hui one last time, the little baby falling asleep, Xiangxie warmly kissed his forehead. Xiangxie turned towards Bai and held his arms. She dragged him towards a shelf at the wall. She touched some books at a high speed.
The shelf started soundlessly moving, revealing behind it some stairs going down. "Maya created secret passages everywhere. It was like her hobby, always secretly appear" Xiangxie said with a sad and longing smile "Come. I already called someone to look after Hui."
Bai followed his mother. They went down the stairs silently, Bai could sense a strange air around her mother.
After some turns from different hallways, they finally left the secret passage arriving outside, at an open field that Bai recognized it as the mansion's training ground.
Xiangxie walked towards the middle of the ground and turned towards Bai. She lifted her right hand, over it her Fire Volcano Sword appeared, pointing at Bai "There won't be spirit energy or skills. Only a clash between swords"
"Mum?!" Bai shouted surprised.
The air twisted around them, even space seemed to bend over. Xiangxie's sword shined with a gray luster, countless swords surging from the ground, transforming the exterior.
"Shing!" after a flash, Bai and Xiangxie stood alone over an infinity space only formed by swords, completely isolated from the exterior.
"Don't doubt and use your full strength, Bai" Xiangxie said swinging her swords, a burning blade of air, shooting towards Bai, grazing his right cheek, leaving a little wound over it "Because this is your trial" All emotions left Xiangxie's face, turning expressionless and cold. Opposing her face, strong flames burst all around "Let's fight, Bai"