Chapter 85: Chen Ankang

“How about naming the child Ankang? Healthy and safe, what a wonderful wish!” The Fallen One gently stroked her stomach, her face full of longing.

Fang Tang gazed at her calmly, opened his mouth as if to speak, but held his tongue.

With her hands on her hips, the Fallen One walked over to Fang Tang, took his hand, and pressed it against her belly. “See how lively the little one is? Just now, he even kicked me. He’s bound to be a mischievous child.”

“Mm…” Fang Tang responded with a single sound from his nose, slowly withdrawing his hand. He smiled and said, “I think the name suits the child well. Let’s go with that.”

“You agree?” The Fallen One’s face lit up with delight. She lowered her head to her belly and spoke tenderly, “Child, you have a name now—Chen Ankang!”

No sooner had the words left her lips than her expression changed. She clutched her abdomen in agony.

Fang Tang’s brow furrowed; he had no idea what was happening.

The Fallen One sank to the ground in pain, gripping Fang Tang’s hand, her face ashen. “I… I’m about to give birth. Please, take me to a hospital…”

Fang Tang: “??”

“What’s going on?”

Clearly, this was not a question for the Fallen One.

[She’s been pregnant for years—did you really think she was carrying a child? At first, without a name, it couldn’t be born. Now that it has one, whatever’s inside is ready to come out. Tsk tsk, you really are lucky, witnessing the birth of a Fallen One’s offspring. Who knows what kind of creature will emerge.]

Fang Tang stared blankly, baffled by the monologue of the Eye.

There was no time to argue; the urgent matter was helping with the delivery.

But he had no idea how to deliver a baby!

Fortunately, the Fallen One had experience and, even in her pain, kept her wits about her, instructing Fang Tang on what to do.

After a long, frantic struggle, Fang Tang finally wrapped the newborn—still slick with amniotic fluid—in a clean cloth. The Fallen One, though pallid, could not hide her joy.

“Let me see the child,” she said weakly.

Fang Tang quickly placed the baby beside her.

“So beautiful. The child looks just like you.”

Fang Tang: ?

Come on, lady, don’t insult me!

I’m still a model socialist bachelor, a shining example of the Four Virtues—you can’t pin this on me!

After playing with the infant for a moment, the Fallen One’s head drooped and she drifted into a deep sleep.

Fang Tang couldn’t help but gape. She was a fourth-tier Fallen One, her body far stronger than an ordinary human, yet she still fainted from exhaustion?

Luckily, her unconsciousness didn’t last long. Two hours later, she slowly came to.

“You really went through a lot for me. I don’t know how to thank you for all you’ve done.” The Fallen One was clearly more lucid now, fully aware that Fang Tang was not her husband.

Fang Tang waved it off indifferently. How many people ever got to deliver a child for a Fallen One?

“The little one is quite sturdy,” he remarked with a smile, handing her a pack of milk.

As he glanced down at the sleeping child, the subtitles unfurled before his eyes.

[Such a rare sight—a pure-blooded Rule Creature, a fusion of pure desire and a pure twisted rule. If he grows up, he’ll become a terrifying existence. I’m rather looking forward to it. Let’s hope, after this Twisted Rule invasion ends, he won’t be erased by the Abyssal Rules. Fallen One—no rank. Perfect mutation: Symbiosis. ??? Mutation: ???]

Fang Tang: …

What was this thing? So powerful that even the Eye couldn’t determine its rank.

[I can’t tell you right now, you know… rules suppression and all that. Still, when your power reaches a certain level—say, tier twelve—I’ll be able to share a little. Keep at it, my boy!]

“…Grass. A kind of plant.” Fang Tang muttered helplessly. So basically, you’re just looking down on me for being weak?

Fine, Eye, after all I’ve done for you, this is how you treat me? Some friend you are!

“Thank you. You’re a good person.” The Fallen One downed the milk, regained a bit of strength, and bowed slightly to Fang Tang.

Good Person Card ×1.

Fang Tang waved his hand. “It was nothing. To witness the birth of such a little one was my good fortune.”

“Woof?” Suddenly, Yueyue leapt out from within Fang Tang, sniffed at the baby, then gazed intently at him.

“What’s the matter?” Fang Tang asked, puzzled.

Now that Yueyue had grown strong enough, he could be stored inside Fang Tang’s body. It was energy-consuming for both of them, but made travel much easier. Influenced by Fang Tang, Yueyue had grown increasingly lazy and now rarely left his host’s body, spending a good eight hours a day inside unless something required his attention.

So for Yueyue to emerge now, he must have been drawn by Chen Ankang.

Both were Rule Creatures—could there be some connection between Yueyue and Chen Ankang?

Yueyue circled Chen Ankang twice, then squatted beside him, meeting Fang Tang’s gaze.

[Yueyue is connected to this child—well, to the rules, to be precise. He’s attracted by the rules, so it’s only natural. No need to worry.]

With the Eye’s explanation, Fang Tang understood at once.

He rubbed Yueyue’s head. “Do you like the little one?”

“Woof!” Yueyue nodded, then lay protectively beside Chen Ankang, the picture of a loyal guardian.

Fang Tang laughed. “You’re never this affectionate with me.”

He tapped Yueyue’s head in mock reproach and turned to the Fallen One.

“Don’t worry. Yueyue is my pet—he’s no threat.”

The Fallen One smiled, nodding. “I can tell. He’s very fond of Ankang.”

A man, a woman, a baby, and a wolf spent two hours together in the depths of the Abyss. When Fang Tang finally accumulated his first negative status effect, he stood up and beckoned to Yueyue.

“It’s time for us to move on.”

“Woof~” Yueyue gently nuzzled the sleeping Chen Ankang, then turned into a streak of white light and disappeared back into Fang Tang.

“You’re leaving so soon?” The Fallen One rose to see them off.

“I’ve already picked up a negative status. If I stay any longer, more will accumulate, and, well, I have to survive too.”

The Fallen One understood. Cradling Chen Ankang, she said, “Ankang hasn’t really seen you yet. Who knows if we’ll ever meet again?”

“We surely will.” Fang Tang smiled, touched Chen Ankang’s tiny face, hefted his pickaxe, and turned to the wall.

“Mr. Fang, may your journey be safe!” the Fallen One called sincerely as Fang Tang stepped into the black mist.

“Thank you!” Fang Tang nodded and strode into the darkness.

Abyss No. 161.

On the ground lay a massive centipede, over fifty meters long.

On its head was a human face, worn and ancient.

[Oh ho~ Now this is a Fallen One worth noting. I’ve never seen a centipede this huge. Want to turn into a giant rooster? Rooster versus centipede, the classic matchup! Just kidding. This one’s a disabled old man—he was so lecherous he got caught harassing a young nurse in his retirement home. Because he couldn’t get away, he was severely beaten. As he lay dying, he wished for more legs so he could run faster. When the Twisted Rule descended, he became like this. Tier five Fallen One. Rare mutation: Lightning Movement. Perfect mutation: Ultra-Hard Shell.]

“Hey, isn’t this the old Centipede Elder?”