Liu Erlong's eyes dimmed, a shadow of defeat clouding her features. The weight in her chest pressed harder than she cared to admit.
Nothing wounded a mother more deeply than realizing she didn't have the strength to protect her own children. The helplessness… was almost enough to make her cry.
She forced the sourness back down and crouched so she could look directly into Subei's face. Her voice softened, trembling with concern.
"Xiaobei, how have you been these past two days in the Martial Soul Hall? Did they… did they bully you? Did anyone embarrass you?"
Her worry was real, maternal, aching.
Subei, ever the sunshine of her universe, smiled with his handsome face shining brightly. "I'm fine. Everything's been good. I just… miss Godmother and Xiaowu a little."
Xiaowu clung tighter at those words, her eyes glittering with satisfaction.
Liu Erlong's heart ached even more hearing his gentleness. "Then… why don't we go back to the Fairy Tale House?"
But Subei only shook his head slowly, calm and pragmatic. "Godmother… if we return now, those two old monsters won't let me go so easily. Sooner or later, they'll still drag me into the Blue Tyrant Dragon Clan."
His eyes lit up with a sudden spark of mischief. "Instead, how about this? I'll ask Teacher to allocate some land in the Martial Soul Hall's suburban gardens. Then… we can build ourselves a new Fairy Tale House there!"
Xiaowu's ears practically perked up like a real rabbit. She jumped at the idea immediately. "Yes, yes! That way Xiaowu can stay with Brother every day. And no sly woman can sneak into Brother's quilt again in the middle of the night!"
Her declaration was shameless, absolute, and filled with pride.
If I hold him night and day, twenty-four hours without letting go… who else could even dream of stealing him away?!
But Liu Erlong shook her head firmly. "No. Mom doesn't want to settle down inside the Martial Soul Hall."
Her words hit her all of a sudden, and she froze, realization dawning. She held onto Subei's thin shoulders with urgency. "Wait—did you just say… you've accepted Bibi Dong as your teacher?"
Subei nodded innocently. "Mm. What's wrong with that, Godmother?"
Her temples began to throb. So fast! In just a couple of days, that woman's offensive was already this overwhelming?
Now she was left with only two options.
Option one: Return to Lanba Academy. That would mean far fewer chances to even see Subei.
Option two: Take his advice. Settle nearby—even if not inside Martial Soul Hall, at least close enough to keep watch.
It wasn't even a choice. For someone like Liu Erlong, the answer was obvious.
Especially when she thought of Bibi Dong. Rival mother or not, Liu Erlong was the closest to her in terms of age. That meant she knew better than anyone—women at their stage were dangerous. At that age, women became like wolves and tigers. If Bibi Dong ever failed to restrain her impulses, what would stop her from… from sinking her claws into cute, defenseless Xiaobei?
And worse—Subei was already seven! In another five, six years, when he reached full maturity… with his beauty and talent, he would be like a dry log meeting wildfire. Who could guarantee what tragedies—or scandals—might happen behind closed doors?
No. Absolutely not. She couldn't let her guard down.
"The Godmother will take Xiaowu and buy a little courtyard near Martial Soul Hall," Liu Erlong said at last, resolutely. "I'll come see you every day. If you want, Xiaobei, you can come stay with us anytime."
Xiaowu's pretty lips pursed into a sly smile. "Hehe, then I can come sleep with Brother again, right?"
Subei was speechless.
Can you be a little more reserved, Xiaowu?! Every day you just want to sleep beside me, glue yourself to me, cuddle and kiss me—don't you feel ashamed? Even if you're a soul beast unbothered by such things… I'M embarrassed!
"Xiaowu," he sighed, rubbing her silky hair. "Your proper path is still cultivation. Strive to reach Soul Saint as quickly as possible. There will be plenty of nights for us to sleep together in the future."
Her pout deepened, ears drooping, but she listened with obedient stubbornness.
Subei's mind turned analytical.
There were two paths for Xiaowu and soul beasts like her.
One: Transformation stage—at a hundred thousand years, they could take human form. But even then, they still carried beastly traces. To powerful experts, they'd always be recognized and hunted.
Two: True maturity—when such beasts pushed their cultivation past the Soul Saint realm, their very essence would fuse perfectly with their martial soul, until no difference remained between them and humans. Only then would Xiaowu have the strength and safety to protect herself.
Until that time, she remained vulnerable.
Xiaowu understood this logic deep down. Still, she whined like an unhappy child. "Alright… Xiaowu will work hard. But you'd better keep your promise."
"That's better."
But then Liu Erlong, perhaps overthinking the situation, added in her patient, teaching tone, "Xiaowu, you and Xiaobei… eventually, you won't be able to keep sleeping side by side once you grow older."
"Why not?"
Her question was so honest that Subei nearly choked.
"Because…" Liu Erlong's cheeks flushed faintly. "Once you grow, if a boy and girl… sleep together too much, you could get pregnant."
"Pregnant?" Xiaowu tilted her head curiously, ears flopping.
"That's… when certain things happen between a man and a woman. And then a baby grows in the woman's stomach."
Xiaowu's eyes lit up instantly, sparkling like stars. "That sounds amazing! Xiaowu wants to have Brother's baby! If our child is as beautiful as him, it'll definitely be perfect!"
Liu Erlong was struck dumb. Her heart lurched in silence.
Do you think I don't want that too?
But she forced herself to reply gently, "No, not that simple. Having a baby means responsibility. It's not something you should fantasize about so lightly yet."
Xiaowu puffed up her cheeks, but nodded gravely, as though making a vow. "Then Xiaowu will be a good mother!"
Subei wanted to fall through the floor. Godmother, don't feed her weird ideas!
Tang San, standing at the side like an outsider, could only watch in awe. His heart trembled.
So this was the mindset of women in this world? So young, and yet their thoughts already reached so far… planning for children and futures while he, an old soul in comparison, still lived like a clueless bachelor…
Then Xiaowu suddenly swung around, voice sharp as she asked, "Hey, Xiao Sanzi! Don't you agree? My brother's and my child will definitely be adorable, right?"
Tang San clenched his right hand behind his back cautiously, hiding it as always, before nodding. "What Shiniang said… is right."
His motion was small, but carried deep meaning. Months ago, Xiaowu had once teased that his right hand smelled bad, and from that moment on, Tang San never dared show it to her again. It was the hand his martial soul grew from. The hand he both hated and needed most.
…
Meanwhile, outside the towering Pope's Palace, another storm was brewing.
The noble Pope Bibi Dong was leading a young orange-haired girl when she crossed paths with Qian Renxue, who was just leaving, face still stormy.
The air immediately grew thick.
Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed, golden light glinting sharply. "So—you were looking for him?"
Qian Renxue responded without flinching, her voice icy. "Of course. Who else in your Pope's Palace could be worth my time?"
Both women knew what hung between the words. Both knew the truth: that Subei had become the new center of their games.
Bibi Dong's lips curved in a scornful sneer, her scepter slamming into the marble floor, releasing a gust of cold, demonic wind. "Qian Renxue. Remember yourself. This is MY palace. I won't tolerate you approaching Subei again. Otherwise—"
Her aura surged, majestic and evil in one, filling the corridor. "Your grandfather is already dissatisfied with your recent moves. At a critical time like this, you should be consolidating Imperial power as Prince Xue Qinghe, not shamelessly hanging around here."
Her power pressed down heavy as mountains. Qian Renxue staggered, biting her lip white. Yet she still glared back, refusing to bow.
"What are you so proud of…? Sooner or later, I'll surpass you!"
Her words were sharp and bitter as she turned, gritting her teeth, and stormed away under that suffocating pressure.
Behind Bibi Dong, Hu Liena, her disciple, blinked in confusion. She had never seen her teacher so ruffled before. "Teacher… Senior Sister, she…?"
"Don't worry about her," Bibi Dong snapped coldly. "I'll make sure she's barred from entering the Pope's Palace again."
But Hu Liena was still unsettled. A curious spark lingered in her golden eyes. "Teacher, who is he…? Who is this man that makes even Senior Sister and you clash this way?"
Bibi Dong's lips curved. The smile was cold, yet tinged with something strange. "That… is your junior brother."
"…Junior brother?" Hu Liena froze.
Her heart skipped a beat.