NOVPUBChapter 683: Chapter 681: Fear of the Thief, Fear of the Thief’s Desire
Chapter 683: Chapter 681: Fear of the Thief, Fear of the Thief’s Desire
While Little Shiwu played chess with Xiaoqi, she was listening attentively to the surroundings. “Uncle Pei really knows how to talk; my dad would never say something like that.”
Xiaoqi was curious, “Then what would Uncle Qing say?”
“Nothing.”
“…” Xiaoqi was stunned for a moment before lying on the chess table and laughing while holding her belly.
Little Dot, who was confused by the conversation, asked Xiao Tiantian, “What’s happened to Sister Xiaoqi?”
Xiao Tiantian looked at Xiaoba, “Do you know?”
Xiaoba shook her head, “I don’t know.”
“What about Sister Manman?” Xiao Tiantian continued to ask.
Manman hadn’t been listening to their conversation at all, “What are you talking about?”
Little Dot told Manman.
Manman was ruthlessly direct, “Of course he wouldn’t say anything; Uncle Qing is famously poor, he’s not even in the running. Right, Little Shiwu?”
“… Yes!” Little Shiwu replied through gritted teeth.
Wagging her tail, Xiao Tiantian said, “My dad isn’t poor, he is ‘clean as a whistle’!”
Xiaoqi couldn’t straighten her back from laughing…
Qing Linghuan was helping Zulu with questions about cultivation, but when he heard his name mentioned, he turned his head and asked, “Do you need me for something?”
“… No, we’re just playing chess,” Little Shiwu replied calmly.
…
After learning about the two children’s Innate Secret Technique, Zi Qi fell silent for a good while.
Then he took Xiao Mumu from Sally’s arms. The child had the same eyes as Sally, as well as white hair. “Can Welly take care of these two children alone?”
Sally replied, “It’s possible; thriftiness can sustain nurture.”
Playing with Xiao Mumu’s fingers with his slender, jade-like fingers, Zi Qi said, “I don’t believe it.”
Xiao Mumu grabbed his finger and giggled ‘giggle giggle’. Anyone who saw that toothless baby face couldn’t help but adore it.
Zi Qi’s deep purple eyes were filled with adoration, “Yanyan, give Xiao Mumu to me, will you?”
“That probably won’t work.” Sally knew he would want the child upon seeing them. “How about I bear you a daughter?”
“She won’t look as much like you,” Zi Qi assured confidently.
“Looking like you would also be quite nice. In your image, she would surely be extremely beautiful,” Sally replied.
Zi Qi shook his head, “I want Xiao Mumu; talk to Welly about it.”
“No need to talk; he definitely won’t agree,” Sally replied, being able to come here for the full moon celebration was already because of her influence; originally, the entire Asura King Palace had been sealed with multiple Barriers, and without permission, one simply couldn’t enter.
Even Little Miqi, who could enter the Asura King Palace, would be discovered by Welly.
Moreover, the entire Asura King City was guarded by Demon Generals.
Such strict surveillance was a privilege not even Little Fengning and Little Dot had, showing that he spared no effort in protecting these two daughters.
“Also, they can’t cultivate their Innate Secret Techniques in the Divine Realm.”
“Why can’t they? Little Mumu still has space, wind, and water abilities, right? I can teach those,” replied Zi Qi.
Welly knocked on the door, “Yanyan, Your Majesty, may I come in?”
Sally glanced at Zi Qi.
Zi Qi hugged Little Mumu a bit tighter, “You must have heard our conversation.”
Welly nodded, “It’s an honor for Little Mumu that Your Majesty is fond of her.”
Zi Qi responded, “A little daughter who looks like her human form, no one would dislike.”
Welly smiled, “Yes. If it’s safe, Xiao Zhaozhao and Little Mumu could study at the Divine Beast Academy. During their studies, they can stay at the Eastern Immortal Palace. What do you think, Your Majesty?”
Zi Qi looked at him, not expecting him to be so amenable, and reflected, “Are you about to advance your cultivation base?”
“Yes, but delaying it a few years is fine. When they are ready to go to school, I’ll trouble Your Majesty to look after them.”
“No problem! It’s settled then!” Zi Qi immediately imprinted an Offspring Mark on Little Mumu.
Sally watched the two of them, “You two? Didn’t Your Majesty want Little Mumu?”
Zi Qi glanced at her and, holding Little Mumu, went out to find Xiao Zhaozhao and to imprint an Offspring Mark on her as well.
Welly chuckled, “Your Majesty didn’t want Little Mumu.”
“…” Sally recalled what Zi Qi had said and his behavior, “Could I have misunderstood?”
Welly took a comb out of the Storage Bag, tidied up Sally’s slightly messy hair, and adorned her with a Divine Jade Hairpin, nodding as he assessed, “There you go. What His Majesty meant wasn’t that he wanted Little Mumu, but by starting off with that assertion, he created room for negotiation.”
Sally stared in disbelief, “…He’s playing mind games with me!”
Welly laughed, “He knew I was outside, so instead of speaking to you, it was more like he was speaking to me. What he desired was to see Little Mumu’s growth.”
“Wait, you’re saying he wanted to witness Little Mumu’s growth, not her custody?” Sally was still a bit slow to grasp the idea.
Welly chuckled, “Exactly. Despite Zhu Sanlang’s grave mistakes, you did not strip the three children of their custody rights, so even if you are partial to His Majesty, you would never hand over Little Mumu’s custody to him. After all, I am so loyal to my own husband.”
Sally playfully scolded him with a smile, “I understand now. His initial goal was just to spend more time with Little Mumu. But if I had flatly refused, there would have been no room for negotiation. If he appeared to want the child, and I refused, he could then, as a second-best option, seek more chances to see Little Mumu, or suggest staying at the Eastern Immortal Palace. I wouldn’t be able to refuse him then.”
“Yes,” Welly nodded, “I agreed to it because my breakthrough is imminent, and I also wish for the children to spend more time together to foster sibling affection. Especially since Little Mumu’s Innate Secret Techniques include space, wind, and water, she can certainly attend Divine Beast Academy. As for her Dark Element Law, I will seal it for now and wait until all her talents reach God Rank before helping her unlock it, or she might break the seal herself.”
“Little Fengning was sealed by me, and Little Mumu is sealed by you. Sigh, it’s hard when a child has such great talents—they’re both a blessing and a target of envy.”
“Indeed.”
“Anyway, it’s hard to nurture them when I only give birth,” Sally nestled into his embrace and snuggled, messing up her hair that had just been combed…
“Having you raise them is my inadequacy,” Welly held her tight.
If he had once felt that she was dispensable to him, now he truly couldn’t lose her.
He could tolerate her absence, but he couldn’t bear her indifference toward him.
He knew that he was being overly cautious now, but he really couldn’t afford to be careless anymore.
His journey to the Hewude Star System had made him see that Sally was more responsive to a soft approach than a hard one. A confrontational approach would be met with defiance, so severe that it could split you in two, symmetrical halves… But if you were compliant, you might be spoiled with affection.
Emotionally, Sally was somewhat dull and lazy, seemingly fond of everyone yet capable of withdrawing at any moment. Zulu had said that Sally’s affection was like the wind; how could you hold onto the wind? It’s better to just drift along with her. Forcing her to stay would only lead to the love dissipating when the wind stopped.
