"What you eat and use, all are gifts from your father."
Kong Dongyan stroked the little girl's head, gently saying:
"Baby, Daddy is uncovering the great secret of the heart."
The little girl nodded blankly, kneeling on the ground, earnestly uttering:
"Willing to perform filial duty for Father."
She grabbed the dagger, sliced open her chest, and presented her heart.
Other children stepped forward, took the still beating heart, and sadly glanced at the lifeless body on the ground.
"For Father to make medicine."
Four or five children placed the fresh heart into a stone bowl and pounded it repeatedly with a wooden mallet.
Jiang Shutong whispered softly:
"Senior Brother, is this the sixtieth heart? Is it enough?"
"Even if it's not enough, there's nothing to be done."
Kong Dongyan said compassionately:
"From a city, I only take the filial tribute from one child; the rest will be left for the future... You should also have children, plan for the future."
