"What on earth is going on?"

Seeing Liu Xiaolin speak, Liu Zijian and his mother were overjoyed. Mother Liu even pulled the boy into a tight hug.

"Oh, my poor grandson!" she cried.

Liu Zijian took a large gulp of wine and sighed heavily before he began to explain.

It turned out that Liu Xiaolin had been born prematurely. To make matters worse, his wife had left him before their son was even a year old, which led to Liu Xiaolin being malnourished from a young age. When he was just a few months old, Mother Liu had told him not to worry, saying that many children are naturally slow to start talking. But when he turned two and still couldn't say a single word or even walk, Liu Zijian grew both heartbroken and anxious.

Other children his age could speak fluently, run, and jump by the time they were three, and some had even started kindergarten. His son, however, who seemed so smart and well-behaved, couldn't talk or walk. He couldn't even utter the most basic of syllables. Every time Liu Zijian thought about it, he felt a heart-wrenching pain.

He had taken Liu Xiaolin to various hospitals for examinations, but the diagnosis was always the same: Liu Xiaolin had been affected while still in the womb, which caused his condition. The hospitals had no effective cure and could only suggest conservative treatments, which were incredibly expensive.

In the last two years, things had gotten even worse. Liu Zijian's father passed away, and his wife took all their money when she left. When Mother Liu fell ill, Liu Zijian had no choice but to sell their house to pay for her care. They were forced to move to a place like this, with no extra money left for his son's medical needs. This was why Mother Liu wanted to take her grandson back to the countryside as soon as she recovered.

Over the years, Liu Zijian had never given up hope, but now he had truly run out of options. Now, seeing his son speak the first word of his life, how could he not be thrilled?

After finishing his story, Liu Zijian covered his face and wept once more, his sorrow profound and piercing. This time, Lin Mu didn't comfort him. He knew his brother had shouldered too much and endured too much over the years.

Instead, he patted Liu Zijian lightly on the shoulder and said, "Let me have a look."

Lin Mu stood up and walked towards Liu Xiaolin. The child was very well-behaved, with bright, spirited eyes—not at all like children with congenital defects, who often have vacant stares and cry or fuss constantly. However, the boy was now squirming restlessly in his grandmother's arms, stretching out his hands as if he wanted Lin Mu to hold him.

"Hold... hold me..."

Although Liu Xiaolin's speech wasn't perfectly clear, it was already much better than his first word.

Because he was born prematurely and his mother had left soon after, the child was sallow-skinned and gaunt, giving him a malnourished appearance despite the good care from his father and grandmother. Nevertheless, Lin Mu could see that the boy's eyes were clear and full of life.

Lin Mu approached but didn't pick him up, instead looking at him intently. When Liu Xiaolin saw that Lin Mu wouldn't hold him, his lips began to pout. He looked as if he was about to cry but was trying his best to hold it in.

Lin Mu smiled faintly, then suddenly reached out and patted Liu Xiaolin's head.

"GIGGLES..."

Liu Xiaolin burst out laughing, clearly enjoying the attention.

Mother Liu and Liu Zijian watched this unfold, completely stunned.

This is the first time Xiao Lin has ever met Lin Mu, so why is he acting so familiar with him? We know he's usually shy around strangers. He'll either cry or ignore them completely. He's never been so forward before!

This was a scene neither of them could ever have imagined.

"Little one, would you like Uncle to hold you?" Lin Mu asked. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, but he didn't let it show.

This time, Liu Xiaolin didn't seem so eager. He just looked at Lin Mu and bit his finger as if he were deep in thought. Lin Mu simply watched him, waiting.

"Uncle, hug!"

The next moment, Liu Xiaolin grabbed Lin Mu's hand, gave a little kick with his legs, and launched himself into Lin Mu's embrace.

Lin Mu burst into hearty laughter.

Mother Liu and Liu Zijian could only watch in shock.

Xiao Lin… he actually called him 'Uncle'? And he jumped into Lin Mu's arms all by himself?

A glimmer of hope ignited in both of their eyes.

"Elder Brother Mu, what's going on?" Liu Zijian's voice still trembled with shock.

"It's nothing. This child and I are simply fated," Lin Mu replied with a faint smile, gently caressing Liu Xiaolin as his own smile grew wider.

The Innate Infinite Sword Body... It's an incredibly rare and powerful constitution, one in millions, with a natural affinity for the Sword Dao. It's the perfect physique for cultivation. With the guidance of a good master, a boy like this is certain to become a grandmaster of the Sword Dao within a century. Back when I traveled the Ten Thousand Realms, I fought a man who possessed the Innate Infinite Sword Body. His swordsmanship and Divine Skills were sublime, and he could even summon the Sword Dao of heaven and earth to slay his enemies. I almost lost that battle. At the time, I was only a hair's breadth away from the Quasi-Emperor realm, but that man hadn't even touched the bottleneck. That just shows how incredibly rare this constitution is. I wanted to take him as my disciple, but he was too proud, even claiming that in all the Ten Thousand Realms, no one was worthy of being his master. So, I left. A hundred years later, he successfully became a Quasi-Emperor, a peerless Sword Emperor! I never imagined I'd encounter another one of these extraordinary constitutions in this lifetime.

After quickly examining Liu Xiaolin all over, Lin Mu let a faint wisp of mana flow from his hand. Nestled in Lin Mu's arms, the boy soon fell into a sweet sleep, a little drool trickling from the corner of his mouth. Seeing his son's peaceful smile, Liu Zijian's heart filled with contentment.

"Let him have a good sleep," Lin Mu said. "I'll come visit him when I have time."

"Xiao Mu, I know you're a capable man. Do you think... is there any hope for my Xiao Lin...?" Mother Liu asked hesitantly. It wasn't in her nature to ask for such things, but when it came to her only grandson, she couldn't worry about losing face.

"Don't worry. The boy doesn't have an innate illness or a congenital disorder. On the contrary, he's much smarter than you imagine," Lin Mu said, choosing not to elaborate. He didn't want anyone else knowing the truth, not even Liu Xiaolin's own father. "As for his current problems, you don't need to worry anymore," Lin Mu declared confidently. "I will give him some elixirs. As long as he takes them as prescribed, it won't be long before he makes a full recovery."

I've finally found a treasure. I can't let this one slip away.

"Elder Brother Mu, thank you so much!" Liu Zijian exclaimed, his heart overflowing with gratitude.

"We're brothers. There's no need for thanks," Lin Mu replied. "Besides, I like the kid too."

"Alright, it's getting late, so I'll be going now. Remember to call me if you need anything," Lin Mu said before leaving the Liu family's home.

He never expected that just moments after his departure, disaster would strike the Liu Family.

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