After taking a bath and enjoying the dinner Shui Lanyue had lovingly prepared, Han Xuan wiped his mouth with a satisfied sigh.
"Lanyue, I have something to discuss with you and Qixing."
"With Qixing as well?" Shui Lanyue blinked in mild surprise. Her expression held a trace of confusion.
Normally, when Han Xuan wanted to discuss family matters, it was either just between the two of them, or between him and Shui Huoyan. Meanwhile, Han Qixing always be excluded.
"Emm… it's about…" Han Xuan hesitated for only a breath before explaining everything about the upcoming Hundred Sects Recruitment.
As Qixing's mother, Shui Lanyue naturally had the right to know—and more importantly, he needed her opinion. Sending their son into something so important was not a decision he could make alone.
Upon hearing his explanation, Shui Lanyue's eyes widened slightly. Then, slowly, worry formed between her brows.
"Husband… although the idea itself is good, Qixing is still too young. And too weak." Her hands tightened around her lap, "Besides, with his Rank 3 spiritual root… can he really enter a sect?"
Han Xuan had been expecting that reaction.
According to the information Gu Jiuye provided, the Hundred Sects Recruitment accepted participants under twenty. Han Qixing was far from the age limit. Even if he didn't go now, he still had two more chances later.
Han Xuan smiled wryly, "Lanyue, I think you underestimate Qixing too much."
She looked up, startled.
"His spiritual root may only be Rank 3," Han Xuan continued, "but don't forget, he has a special physique. The Seven Star Sword Body isn't something ordinary. Even if he can't enter a provincial-level sect, entering a mid-tier sect like Clearwind Sect shouldn't be a problem at all. And even if he fails… this event will still be a valuable experience for him."
Shui Lanyue slowly lowered her gaze, thinking.
Her husband had a point. Even she, who has limit knowlegde, understood how precious special physiques were. And Qixing, despite his gentle nature, worked harder than many adults. He spent hours each day practicing sword arts.
Still… what mother didn't worry?
What if he was bullied?
What if the tests were dangerous?
What if…
Seeing the lingering anxiety in her eyes, Han Xuan gently reassured her.
"Don't worry. I will protect Qixing during the event. And Brother Gu is coming with us. With our combined strength, as long as no Foundation Establishment cultivator attacks us without reason, we'll be safe."
That eased her tension somewhat, but the worry didn't vanish completely. How could it? Qixing was her precious child.
Han Xuan walked toward her, slipped behind her, and wrapped his arms around her waist in a gentle embrace. He murmured softly, "Of course, we will ask Qixing first. If he doesn't want to participate, I won't force him. Anyway, we're yet become so poor that we need to shove our son into a random sect just to survive."
Shui Lanyue lightly slapped his hands, "Then why are you so eager to send our son to a sect?"
Han Xuan leaned closer, lowering his voice to a mischievous whisper beside her ear, "I've long wanted to get rid of that brat so we can do a lot of fun things… more freely~"
"You—!" Shui Lanyue's entire face flushed pink, heat spreading all the way to her ears. She spun around, mortified, "I-I will go talk to Qixing!"
Then she practically fled the room in flustered embarrassment.
Han Xuan chuckled softly, unable to hide his amusement.
After teasing Shui Lanyue to the point her cheeks burned like sunset clouds, Han Xuan made his way toward another part of the house.
The corridor was dim, lit only by soft lamp-glow and a few drifting fireflies. The air carried a faint scent of spiritual herbs—Shui Huoyan's work lingering even after she slept.
Her door creaked open with a familiar sound.
Inside, the room had a gentle warmth to it, enhanced by the soft amber light of a single spirit stone lamp. Under its glow, a beautiful woman slept quietly on the bed. Unlike Shui Lanyue's serene blue attire, she wore a thin red gown that loosely wrapped around her graceful figure, emphasizing her fiery temperament even in slumber.
This woman was none other than Shui Huoyan.
Han Xuan felt his heart soften.
He climbed onto the bed with practiced familiarity and drew her into his arms from behind.
Shui Huoyan let out a soft, sleepy moan at the sudden warmth. Her long eyelashes trembled before she slowly opened her eyes, "…Husband?"
"Mmn." Han Xuan pulled her closer, inhaling her faint fragrance.
"Did you just come home?" Shui Huoyan murmured, her voice thick with drowsiness.
"Hmm."
A quiet stretch of silence followed. No words—just the warmth of two people who had fought through life side by side for over a decade.
Eventually, Han Xuan broke the stillness.
"Huoyan, I have two news for you. A good one… and a super good one. Which one do you want to hear first?"
Shui Huoyan frowned slightly, her consciousness hanging by a thread, "Husband, I'm sleepy. Can you save your jokes for tomorrow…?"
"I'm not joking." Han Xuan shook her gently, "Come on, pick one."
"It's all good news. What's the difference…" Shui Huoyan muttered, "Fine, the good one first."
Han Xuan chuckled, "The good news is… You don't need to work so hard anymore. Leave the financial pressure to me."
That woke her up.
Her eyes opened fully, and she turned around to face him, expression serious, "Why? Alchemy is indeed tiring, but it's not without benefits. Not only I improve my skill, but I also earn spirit coins. Husband, I'm not doing this because I'm forced to."
She bit her lip, voice firm.
"But Qixing is already ten. His talent is far better than ours. He needs resources—more than before. Pills, spiritual herbs, spiritual weapons… everything becomes more expensive the higher he climbs. If I don't work hard now, how will he reach Foundation Establishment one day?"
Shui Huoyan had always been direct—completely unlike Shui Lanyue's gentle softness. She never hesitated when speaking her mind.
Han Xuan knew this well. It was one of the reasons he admired her.
When she finished, he smiled, "Are you done?"
Shui Huoyan's expression softened. She gripped his chest lightly, "…I'm sorry, husband. I got carried away."
"Why apologize?" Han Xuan teased, "You're cute when you're worked up."
Shui Huoyan pinched him in retaliation.
"That's enough. I know you're doing this for Qixing," Han Xuan continued, brushing her cheek: "But you also need to look after yourself. You can't overwork anymore."
"Why not?" Shui Huoyan asked.
"Because," Han Xuan pinched her soft cheek, "You're pregnant now. That's the super good news by the way."
Shui Huoyan froze.
She stared at him blankly, "…Pregnant? Who is pregnant?"
"It's you, obviously." Han Xuan grinned, "Remember yesterday? We went a little crazy and—"
Before he could finish, Shui Huoyan slapped her hand over his mouth, her face burning, "Enough!"
But her heart pounded furiously.
She immediately channeled her spiritual energy toward her abdomen. For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—her eyes widened.
The faintest, gentlest fluctuation greeted her senses.
A life.
Two, in fact.
Her breath caught.
"…I'm pregnant?" Shui Huoyan whispered.
Her gaze trembled, disbelief warring with joy.
"It's twins~" Han Xuan grinned from ear to ear.
Shui Huoyan's breath hitched. Joy overtook shock, and her eyes suddenly reddened as tears welled up uncontrollably.
"Hey, hey, why are you crying?" Han Xuan gently brushed away the glistening drops sliding down her cheeks, "This is something to be happy about, Huoyan."
"I am happy…" Shui Huoyan choked out, voice trembling.
How could she not be?
They had been married for more than ten years. They had waited just as long, hoped just as fiercely, and endured disappointment after disappointment. Now, after all that time… she was finally pregnant.
Not with one child, but two.
Her heart felt full to the point of bursting.
Han Xuan cupped her face lightly.
"So, are you going to listen to me now?" He spoke softly, affectionately: "Working hard is fine, but not when you're pregnant. It won't do if you strain yourself and affect the babies."
"Mmn…" Shui Huoyan nodded obediently, finally giving in: "I'll listen to my husband. But… what about Qixing?"
Even as joy filled her, worry still lingered in her eyes.
Although she was not the one who gave birth to Han Qixing, she had raised him with her own hands. To her, he was no different from her own flesh and blood. Even now, with her own children on the way, her concern for him hadn't weakened in the slightest.
Han Xuan smiled, "Don't worry about Qixing. I already have a plan for him."
He briefly explained the Hundred Sects Recruitment and his intention to let Han Qixing participate.
"You want to send him into a sect?" Shui Huoyan blinked in surprise.
"It's just a plan," Han Xuan shrugged, "Who knows whether that brat can get in? But if he does, then we will not only get a backer, but his cultivation resources also won't be a problem anymore."
Then he waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, forget about that brat for now. Let's celebrate your pregnancy~"
Shui Huoyan looked puzzled, "Celebrate? How?"
Han Xuan's voice grew solemn—deep, serious, dignified.
"Sex, of course~"
The world fell silent.
Two seconds later—
BANG!
The door swung open, and Han Xuan was forcefully ejected from the room. He tumbled across the floor in an undignified roll before coming to a stop.
"Tch…" He rubbed his sore backside, "At least don't use that much force. I'm still your husband…"
The door slammed shut.