As the door swung closed behind him, the Third Manager chuckled bitterly to himself. Song Kiro was a reminder of what he was fighting for, what he wanted to protect in the Song Manor. But even so, the sacrifices he forced himself to make were not easy.
Rao Isana had gotten out of bed, and was staring vacantly at a mirror in the corner of the room. Through it, she saw her husband's figure slowly approaching.
Song Horo stopped when he was a couple steps away. Rao Isana's hair was messy and her clothing had bloodstains, but she still had a radiance that few women possessed. Despite his mood, he could not help but admire her beauty.
He closed the gap between them, and placed his hand over hers.
"I know it is difficult," he muttered.
"Is it a demonic practice?" she whispered back.
"I don't know." Song Horo was caught off guard by the change of subject, but he responded honestly. "Even if it is, there is no way of stopping the Mo Family, unless the Song Family grows strong enough to look at them from eye-level. And to get to that point…"
"Goldmoon…"
"Is impotent." He finished her sentence. "And so they only give respect to the ruling families, as everyone does. It is the way of the world."
His free hand slid up to her shoulder, and he leaned down, putting his head on her neck, as his body enveloped hers. His forehead touched her temple and his beard prickled her shoulder, while his other hand continued to cup hers.
"These days, with the family as it is, we need to do what we can to help the Song name rise in the world," Song Horo muttered. "If we can produce even one talented child, with all that we have contributed to the family, I would not be surprised if we could groom a family head."
Rao Isana nodded, but her expression was tight. He could see that she was on the verge of tears.
However hard it was for him to sacrifice his children as a father, it was far harder for her as a mother, who brought them into the world. He knew that he was blessed to have a wife who was so devoted to him.
She stopped when he stopped, and only moved when he did. There were never any complaints, only love and silent tolerance of his flaws.
To think that she was not a woman of low status or self-esteem, but someone with tremendous talent and beauty, and who came from a similar background…
It made him feel like he was living in a dream.
How was it that she was still willing to follow his lead in self-sacrifice. How had he been so lucky as to attract her eye?
And now, he had pushed her into the fire four times…it felt like he was abusing her miraculously good nature, damaging something precious.
Song Horo was forced to subdue his feelings of guilt.
I am not wrong. The sacrifices are necessary.
Out in the antechamber, Song Kiro was just leaving. He passed through the hallway door, prepared to return to the Medicine Hall. A remnant smile still lingered on his face.
Putting aside his disagreements about how they should interact with the Mo Family, like most of the upper echelon of the Song Family, Song Kiro deeply respected the Third Manager.
Anyone who rose past a certain status in the family was exempt from providing infants.
Even at the bottom, the requirement was only to provide one child per household.
Song Kiro had never been forced to give up one of his own, so he could only imagine the burden that was put on those who did. Every time he thought about it, forcing himself to imagine the heart-wrenching sadness of losing a newborn, he found it intolerable even as a figment of his imagination.
For such a loss to happen from circumstances outside of one's control was already a tragedy. And the Third Manager did it voluntarily, again and again.
Others might judge the Third Manager, thinking that he was cruel beyond belief, with a heart of iron, but Song Kiro saw the pain that the manager kept in his heart. Day in, and day out, Song Horo wrestled with himself and suppressed his self loathing.
So, why did he continue to sacrifice his children? The true reason was simple and terrifying.
The Third Manager was one of the few who were truly committed to the rise of the Song Manor. To further the goals of the family, he would employ any means he could. Even if it required his life, he would give it in an instant.
Since both he and his wife were Martial Warriors, their babies were far more valuable than those of an ordinary couple. Therefore they would bring in more benefits. This alone was enough for the Third Manager to sacrifice them.
If his baby was born with an immortal fate, then he would not give it up to the Mo Estate, but this would only be because it was more valuable within the family than as a tribute.
Otherwise, Song Kiro was certain that the Third Manager would continue to sacrifice.
No matter what path he chose, it was always for the good of the family.