Chapter 680

I never expected that Jiao Ning would notice my pregnancy at a glance, and I never expected her to think that way.

I hurriedly hugged her tight and explained, "Mom doesn't not want Jiaoning; Mom loves Jiaoning the most, but Mom is useless and can't protect Jiaoning. However, your godfather and godmother can. Once Jiaoning cultivates enough to become strong enough to drive away all bad people, Mom will come get you and bring you home."

I kept talking and talking, and tears actually streamed down.

Children are a mother's heart flesh; who could bear to dig that piece out with their own hands?

Jiaoning stretched out her chubby little hand to wipe my tears, speaking in a childish voice: "Jiaoning understands, bad people want my pearl tears; they'll tie me up, beat me, make me cry nonstop until I can't cry anymore, die, then they'll cut open my body and dig out the mermaid pearl..."

Zhong Susu's face changed dramatically: "Jiaoning, tell godmother, who told you all this?"

"It was Shan Shan sister who told me." Jiaoning said seriously, "Shan Shan sister is the strongest; she said her dad and mom are already helping me beat bad people. I will definitely cultivate well and in the future also go beat bad people!"

She said this while also waving her chubby little fists.

I held Jiaoning and cried even harder.

Zhong Susu soothed: "Shi Rou, it's fine; everyone is paying attention to and protecting Jiaoning, we will surely keep her safe. You're pregnant, don't let your emotions get too agitated, be careful of the baby in your belly."

Jiaoning, like a little adult, touched my belly and said: "Mom, the little brother is timid; we originally agreed to be Mom's little treasures together; he came to find me, I won't be jealous of him."

I held Jiaoning, really couldn't kiss enough nor love enough.

Only when the sky was about to darken did we leave Linghai Dragon Palace and then go to Wufu Town, first delivering those two pearls to Bai Shulan, and incidentally asking her to take my pulse.

Bai Shulan indeed treasured those two pearls greatly, constantly saying she had two prescriptions that needed mermaid pearls as medicinal guides, but since she couldn't buy them, they'd been left aside.

She took my pulse, said this pregnancy is very stable, no need to worry, and also gave me several warming medicinal herbs to help regulate my body.

Finally, she added: "I said earlier that someone in the ghost market secretly offering a bounty for mermaid pearls—turns out it's aimed at Jiaoning. Next time I run into them, watch how I deal with that lot!"

I once again felt the warmth that Wufu Town brought me.

They are all truly very good.

They secretly helped us with many things, some of which they never even mention; the most correct thing I've done in my life was to lure away Jin Wuya, thereby establishing good relations with him and the whole of Wufu Town through him.

Leaving the Bai Family clinic, Jin Wuya and I went to the pawnshop.

As soon as we entered, we heard Li Qingying's furious voice: "Gray Old Five, is your skin itching again?! Eight fish aren't enough to keep you busy? Where do you get the nerve to want another litter?!"

"Raising one litter is still raising, raising two litters is still raising." Gray Fifth Lord's pitiful voice sounded: "Besides, you're always busy with City God Temple affairs, who looks after the kids? Isn't it all me? Qingying, my good Qingying, please, can we have another litter? The key is that none of the eight in the first litter resemble me; you know how the brothers tease me? They say my genes are no good, I can't beat your genes, I just want to prove to them that I can!"

Li Qingying sneered: "You still afraid they'll tease you? Back then, who was everywhere proclaiming they were childless, unable to have kids? At that time I didn't see your skin this thin!"

"Back then there really were no kids." Gray Fifth Lord continued to explain: "When there were none, I could still use reproductive isolation as a shield; now I have them, yet none resemble me—this is clearly a slap in my face."

Li Qingying sneered: "Or maybe I just gave birth wrong?"

"No! I absolutely don't mean that." Gray Fifth Lord immediately declared: "Qingying, you don't know how grateful I am from the bottom of my heart; if it weren't for you leaping the Dragon Gate, ascending and transforming into a flood dragon, I could never have become a father in this lifetime—you made me."

Li Qingying said arrogantly: "Since you understand, the matter of having children is up to me to decide; stop nagging me all day. Also, the hole at the southeast corner of the City God Temple has been sealed; don't, when I'm busy and not coming back, go digging in the temple—is that a place where you can just dig holes at will? Gray Old Five, you're getting more and more muddle-headed."

After that came Gray Fifth Lord's soft, cooing, appeasing voice.

Jin Wuya and I couldn't go in, nor could we retreat.

Coincidentally, it was getting late, so we first returned to Jin Wuya's small pavilion, planning to visit again another day.

That night, Jin Wuya and I lay in bed, and I remarked: "I never expected Gray Fifth Lord to be like this in private."

"He's always been like that." Jin Wuya said, "The key is that Qingying really goes for this."

I joked: "So back then you lost to Gray Fifth Lord exactly like this?"

Jin Wuya was momentarily at a loss: "I... I was in that situation back then, you know, Shi Rou; we're an old married couple, we shouldn't bring up old scores."

I burst out laughing: "Just teasing you! Look how nervous you are."

Jin Wuya let out a long breath: "But I'm serious, Shi Rou; in this lifetime I have you, Jiaoning, and the baby in your belly—that's enough."

Yeah, our current life has already surpassed our imagination; what else could I be dissatisfied with?

But I am greedy; I wish Jiaoning to be safe and sound, free of misfortune for her whole life.

"Wuya, I suddenly feel some regret."

Jin Wuya asked doubtfully: "Regret what?"

"Regret not having rebuilt the Xiejing Lishi lineage." I said, "Actually, if a few years ago I had invested more effort in selecting and training those warriors, four years would have been enough to form a Red Armor Army, leave them to Jiaoning, and I could rest easier."

Jin Wuya did not rebut me.

It's obvious he also thinks that makes sense.

I continued: "Now we have another baby; Jiaoning says he's a timid little brother. You remember, the merfolk clan is naturally timid, yet he came running to his sister. What if it's another little merperson? We need to prepare in advance."

"The Shi Family's holdings are so vast, we earn so much money—what for? We could completely use money to forge an elite force; you say, isn't that the reasoning?"

"Jiaoning belongs to the deep sea; even if the brother isn't a little merperson, someday he must guard the Shi Family's holdings, right? We also need to cultivate trusted aides for him. No matter how you say it, we can't stay so laid-back."

Only then did Jin Wuya confide in me: "Actually, today Xiaoye also talked to me about this; he also suggested I early make plans for the children, and he said he could help me find reliable people. Tomorrow I'll go talk to Seventh Lord and hear his opinion."