March 7th peeked out from behind Elysia and nodded vigorously in agreement:
"Exactly, exactly! Sister Robin, Brother Ming, please tone it down. Elysia and I haven't had dinner yet, and we feel like we've already been filled up by your sweetness."
Robin was slightly embarrassed by their teasing, burying her face into Lu Jingming's shoulder, her ears flushed.
Lu Jingming, however, was thick-skinned. He laughed and looked back at the two "protesters":
"Want cake? I'll make two extra portions later to plug your mouths."
"Yay!" March 7th immediately cheered.
Elysia blinked and smiled:
"Then I'll definitely be looking forward to it, won't I? But for now, let's leave the time to our expectant mother and father, shall we?"
Laughter echoed through the garden, warm and beautiful.
Since Lu Jingming returned to Deep Sea City with everyone, several months had flown by.
Outside this isolated paradise, the situation on the Douluo Continent was becoming increasingly tumultuous and bizarre.
For Ma Xiaotao, Han Ruoruo, Xu Sanshi, Ning Tian, and the others, these past months were undoubtedly a massive psychological shock.
When they reunited with Jiang Nannan, Wu Ming, and others who had arrived at Deep Sea City earlier, and heard the news that Shrek Academy and Shrek City had been reduced to ruins following the descent of the Overlord of Annihilation, Phantylia, their millennium-old foundation utterly destroyed, everyone was thunderstruck, falling into a prolonged state of shock and unspeakable grief.
That was not just the place where they studied and grew; it was their spiritual anchor and their home.
During their most disheartened moments, it was Lu Jingming who provided support.
He offered no empty comfort, but instead provided an area rich in resources at the edge of Deep Sea City, along with all the technical support needed for reconstruction.
"The glory of the past is gone, but the soul and legacy of Shrek have not been broken. Here, you can personally forge a new beginning, a new Shrek that belongs to you and the future."
With his encouragement and substantial help, Ma Xiaotao and the others finally recovered from their grief, channeling their boundless sorrow into the motivation for reconstruction, and began planning the blueprint for the new Shrek Academy in Deep Sea City.
Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao somehow managed to find a spacetime channel to return to this world.
He carried a heart full of hatred and the power of a Herrscher, launching an assault on the Duke of White Tiger's manor in the Star Luo Empire, seeking vengeance on the Duchess.
However, the news he received was that his enemy had long since died of illness, and the Duke of White Tiger, Dai Hao, was stationed on the frontline due to urgent military affairs and was not in the residence.
With his burning anger having nowhere to vent and his target of revenge suddenly gone, Huo Yuhao disappeared from everyone's sight once again in extreme frustration, his whereabouts unknown.
The situation on the continent was also growing more tense.
Secret reports came from Ju Zi, indicating that the Sun and Moon Empire had completed war mobilization, sharpening its blades, ready to march north at any moment.
Xu Jiujiu of the Star Luo Empire also sent a message, stating that Star Luo was prepared for war.
The Heaven Dou Empire and the Dou Spirit Empire were also actively preparing for battle. A calamity-level war that would sweep across the entire continent was imminent.
However, all the external turmoil and changes seemed insignificant to Lu Jingming at this moment.
His entire mind was focused on the figure in the Life Support Chamber of Deep Sea City.
Today was Robin's due date.
The light in the room was soft, pervading a serene and sacred atmosphere.
As a powerful Soul Master, and moreover, a traveler on the Path of "Harmony," Robin's birthing process was not filled with the heartbreaking agony of ordinary people.
She was surrounded by a faint, azure glow, like a harmonious movement of music. That was the power of Harmony gently soothing her body and spirit, guiding the process of the new life's arrival like a natural resonance.
Nevertheless, this was still a process that consumed a great deal of primal energy.
Fine beads of sweat beaded on her forehead, and her exquisitely beautiful face showed clear signs of fatigue and weakness, yet her emerald eyes shone with an incredibly firm and expectant light.
She tightly grasped Lu Jingming's hand, drawing strength from him.
Lu Jingming stayed by her side throughout, his expression focused and gentle, constantly using his own mild power to soothe her breathing, softly encouraging her.
Finally, after a ripple of even brighter Harmonious starlight spread, a clear, vibrant cry of life echoed through the room.
A tiny baby girl, wrapped in a soft halo of light, was gently placed into Robin's embrace.
All the anxiety and fatigue of waiting melted away, turning into endless joy and tenderness in this moment.
Robin's pale face blossomed with a weak but immensely happy smile, and tears silently streamed down her cheeks.
Lu Jingming also let out a long breath, leaning down to look at the mother and daughter with immense cherish.
The newborn girl's skin was fair, almost translucent, with the unique pinkness of a newborn.
She didn't seem as wrinkled as ordinary babies; the contours of her brows and eyes already faintly showed that she had inherited excellent genes from both parents.
Most striking was her hair color. It wasn't the silver-purple inherited from Robin, but a pure silver-white, like Lu Jingming's, lying softly on her forehead.
And atop her head, a small, exquisite white Halovya, carved like a crystalline jade, emitted a soft glow. This was the symbol of her mother's Halovya race bloodline.
As she breathed, extremely faint, stardust-like light spots flickered around her body, hinting that she had also inherited a portion of her parents' extraordinary traits.
"Mingyin... our daughter..."
Robin's voice was choked with joyous emotion as her fingertip gently brushed her daughter's tender cheek.
Lu Jingming held her hand and pressed a kiss on Robin's sweat-damp forehead. He gazed deeply at his newborn daughter, his eyes filled with the excitement of a new father.
"You worked hard, Robin. Look, she looks a lot like us."
Night covered the city, yet the core living area of Deep Sea City was brightly lit, filled with an unprecedented warmth and bustle.
Inside the spacious banquet hall, the long tables were laden with an array of delicious dishes. The air was filled with the aroma of food and wine, along with continuous laughter and cheer.
Tonight's banquet was a true "family" gathering; every person present was a core member absolutely trusted by Lu Jingming.
In the kitchen, Lu Jingming, wearing an apron, was working seamlessly with Raiden Mei.
Mei's knife skills were superb, handling ingredients with fluid grace, while Lu Jingming took charge of the wok, stir-frying with impeccable control over the heat. The two occasionally exchanged soft words, the atmosphere harmonious.
"I didn't realize you had such a skill, Brother Ming," Mei said, slightly surprised, watching Lu Jingming's practiced movements.
"I can't always rely on ready-made food. Occasionally, I have to show off my skills, especially for family," Lu Jingming laughed, plating a dish that was perfect in color, aroma, and flavor.
"Besides, with your help, Mei, the efficiency is much higher."
In the banquet hall, the most attention was undoubtedly on Robin, who sat on a soft sofa.
She held their daughter, Lu Mingyin, who was almost a month old. The little one wasn't crying or fussing, opening her clear, starry eyes to curiously observe the "aunts and uncles" around her, who all emitted different auras.
Elysia, March 7th, Firefly, Ganyu, and others gathered around her, their eyes sparkling with affection and tenderness.
"Oh my, little Mingyin is so adorable. Those eyes! She's definitely going to be as enchanting as Robin when she grows up~" Elysia gently tickled the baby's tiny hand.
"Let me take a picture, just one." March 7th held up her camera, searching for the perfect angle.
"This is definitely the most precious memory for the future," Firefly didn't speak, but her eyes were gentle, and she quietly placed a crystal emitting mild energy next to the baby's swaddling as a silent blessing.
The banquet naturally divided into several harmonious circles.
In one corner nearby, Dan Heng, Ji Juechen, Ye Wuqing, Lu Wu, and Xiao Hongchen sat together with clear wine on the table.
They spoke little, but the atmosphere was not awkward. Occasionally, they raised their glasses to drink, discussing their respective experiences and cultivation insights, sharing a quiet masculine camaraderie.
Yae Miko walked over to Yae Sakura, her alluring purple eyes full of playful amusement and scrutiny.
"Oh my, this is truly... a surprising encounter. Seeing you is like looking into an interesting mirror, wouldn't you say, Miss 'Yae'?"
Yae Sakura was somewhat cool, but she didn't reject this shrine maiden with the same surname and a slightly similar aura. The two began conversing in low voices.
Not far away, Raiden Mei, Acheron, and Raiden Makoto sat together after finishing their kitchen duties.
The gathering of three women with astonishingly similar appearances but from different worlds created a subtle and intriguing atmosphere.
Raiden Makoto and Raiden Mei were poised and gentle, while Acheron was aloof with a hint of curiosity.
They discussed their respective experiences and their curiosity and longing for each other's worlds.
Cerydra, Hysilens, Aglaea, and Castorice—the demigods from Omphalos—naturally formed their own small group.
The most subtle circle, and the one secretly observed by certain individuals, centered around Lu Jingming.
Zhang Lexuan, Meng Hongchen, and Robin, the women who already shared a marital relationship with him, behaved more intimately and naturally.
Zhang Lexuan was generous and proper, Meng Hongchen was delicate and charming, and Robin was completely immersed in the joy of being a new mother. Yae Miko occasionally cast a smiling glance at Lu Jingming.
On the other side, Keqing, Changli, Jinhsi, Castorice, Firefly, and Gu Yuena—the women whose relationship with him was ambiguous, just one step away from a conclusion—while chatting and laughing with others, their gaze would inadvertently sweep towards Lu Jingming's direction.
Keqing would occasionally look away, her ears flushed, when Lu Jingming's eyes met hers.
Changli wore a knowing smile, whispering to Jinhsi, causing Jinhsi's cheeks to flush red.
Castorice quietly tasted the pastries, but Firefly noticed her frequency of picking up snacks was higher than usual.
Gu Yuena appeared aloof and composed, but the frequency of her glass swirling betrayed her inner unrest.
Just then, a "terrifying" interlude occurred.
Herta seemed to have taken an interest in the kitchen and started walking towards it.
"Wait, Miss Herta, please stop!" March 7th was the first to notice, scared enough to nearly drop her camera, and darted over to intercept her.
"Miss Herta, the kitchen... the kitchen is already full today. Yes, it's full."
Zhang Lexuan also rushed over, a smile plastered on her face.
Ruan Mei gently put down her teacup, speaking calmly: "Herta, the kitchen is not a suitable place for you."
Even Mobius spoke up, a hint of teasing in her voice: "Oh, are you perhaps planning to set off some fireworks for us?"
Lu Jingming's mouth twitched. Herta was notoriously a kitchen destroyer. If she entered the kitchen, things would get chaotic.
Herta put her hands on her hips and huffed in displeasure: "And here I was thinking of showing off my skills. What's with all your reactions?"
This brief interlude made the atmosphere even more lively.
Lemuen and Songque were discussing a certain drink recipe, while the sisters Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo gathered around Snow Empress and Ice Empress, curiously asking about the far North.
Wang Qiu'er and Ye Guyi were chatting spiritedly with Nan Qiuqiu of the Earth Dragon Sect.
Sparkle and Vita, the two troublemakers, were restless but strictly watched by Durandal.
Hoshimi Miyabi was sitting quietly near Jingliu, the two occasionally exchanging insights on swordsmanship.
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata and Istaroth smiled as they observed the lively scene, as if admiring a vibrant painting.
Laughter and cheer, clinking glasses.
This banquet, which crossed the walls of worlds, tightly connected them—women from different times and spaces, with different stories.
For Lu Jingming, this was the meaning of his constant forward momentum and the reason for guarding all of this.
Tonight in Deep Sea City was filled with warmth, cheer, and the happiness that belonged to "home."
Outside the window, stars twinkled, as if shining for this special feast.
The grand banquet finally concluded in warmth and cheer. Everyone, slightly tipsy and full of joy, returned to their respective residences.
However, for Lu Jingming, a battle more "arduous" than facing a thousand troops was just beginning.
Perhaps the birth of Lu Mingyin provided some kind of invisible stimulation, or perhaps the complete happiness inspired longing, but Gu Yuena, Keqing, Castorice, Firefly, Changli, and Jinhsi—the women whose relationship with Lu Jingming was ambiguous and only needed one final step—seemed to have reached some kind of mutual understanding.
They cleverly excluded those who had gone through the "baptism" and were already "pioneers," such as Robin, Meng Hongchen, Zhang Lexuan, and Yae Miko, forming a temporary "alliance."
The night deepened, and Deep Sea City was hushed.
The first to act was the usually gentle and quiet Castorice.
She seemed to have summoned the greatest courage of her life, wearing a plain but subtly alluring nightgown, and quietly pushed open Lu Jingming's door.
In the faint moonlight, her cheeks were flushed crimson, and her eyes, which usually saw through life and death, now only held the sparkling shyness of the moment.
Without many words, she declared her intention with action, achieving a seemingly impossible reversal of roles.
However, Castorice's "exclusive time" did not last long.
The door was gently pushed open again, and Firefly, still in her tight suit but with eyes more fervent than usual, walked in.
She was always a woman of action; once her mind was made up, she wouldn't hesitate.