Even with Yunkui Summit's open-minded traditions, premarital pregnancy was still something hard to accept.
Therefore, after learning that Ju Fufu was pregnant, Arden immediately began preparing the wedding, and the entire Yunkui Summit became busy along with him.
There was only one groom—Arden Xu—but there were four brides.
Ju Fufu, Yixuan, Yiji, and Sweety, using a traditional eastern-style wedding ceremony.
After hearing the news that the Grandmaster of Yunkui Summit was marrying his disciples, all major factions in New Eridu sent representatives to offer congratulations, including the usually unfriendly TOPS Alliance, as well as Damian, the newly appointed head of Porcelumex.
Even Mayor Mayflower took time out of her packed schedule and personally came with members of Victoria Housekeeping Co to offer congratulations.
This level of prestige was something rarely seen in all of New Eridu.
"Sure enough, that perverted uncle—marrying four at once, wow!"
"Ellen, mind your manners!"
"Ara ara, Daoist Arden really has a strong body, hehehe."
"So many people… scary!"
"..."
Of course, Arden's friends were not few either.
At the Hollow Special Operations Section 6 side.
"So, getting married is such a festive thing!"
"Section Chief, haven't you heard of the two greatest joys in life? Passing the imperial exam and the wedding night—marriage is one of them."
"Whoa, so much delicious food!"
"Ahem… I suddenly want to take a leave… it's too dazzling."
"..."
At the New Eridu Public Security side.
"Zhu Yuan, aren't you already at the age to get married?"
"I think that guy from the bureau is pretty good. Though he can't compare to Daoist Arden, he's still strong and sturdy."
"Senior Qingyi, Inspector Huang, what are you talking about? I'm still young—there's plenty of time."
...
Only the Cunning Hares, still busy with the research institute and safe commission work, did not come. However, Nicole also sent a message to express her congratulations.
"Congratulations, congratulations! Hand over the wedding gifts!"
...
One day after the wedding, Yunkui Summit, Yixuan's courtyard.
Now, this place had become the residence of Arden and his harem. As for Pan Yinhu and Ye Shiyuan, after the grand wedding, they tactfully moved to the courtyard that Yi Jing originally lived in.
If they insisted on continuing to live together, not only would it be inconvenient for Arden and the others, but the two men themselves wouldn't be able to bear it either.
At the bedroom.
"Come on, let Daddy listen!"
Arden pressed his ear against Ju Fufu's belly and listened carefully.
Dong dong~!
Two sounds came from inside.
"It moved! Fufu, my son moved!!"
Arden instantly became excited as if injected with chicken blood.
"Yes, it moved. Heh… hehe."
Ju Fufu smiled, looking slightly helpless.
This somewhat awkward behavior of Arden had already continued for several days ever since he learned about her pregnancy.
Sigh~~ I'll let Yixuan Shifu enlighten him later.
"Come on! Let Daddy feel it again."
"Beep! You have a new message. Please check it."
At this moment, the phone rang.
"Seriously, a message at this time—who is it?"
Although slightly dissatisfied, Arden still took out his phone to check. After all, messages with notifications usually came from relatively important people, such as another wife or business partners.
"!!!"
Looking at the content of the message, Arden frowned.
"Who sent the message?"
Seeing Arden's expression, Ju Fufu asked.
"It's Nicole… she ran into trouble."
It was a brief distress message, along with a Hollow coordinate.
"Nicole, huh? If it were ordinary trouble, she definitely wouldn't come to us."
Based on Ju Fufu's understanding of Nicole, she wouldn't easily ask for help—not because she couldn't swallow her pride, but because she didn't want to owe favors that would give others leverage to lower commission prices, or even directly demand assistance.
"Ju Fufu, get some good rest. Yiji and I going there will be enough."
Arden pressed Ju Fufu, who was about to get up, back onto the bed.
It was only a rescue operation, far from a crisis that required a pregnant woman to participate. And since the location was inside a Hollow, Arden planned to bring Yiji along.
"Alright."
Ju Fufu also understood priorities. Her most important task now was to safely give birth to the child and contribute to the tiger-watcher clan.
"Be extra careful."
"Mm."
...
Somewhere inside Cretan Hollow.
"Roar~~ I've been corroded by the Hollow and turned into a monster, roar~~ roar~~"
"Hey, Anby, don't bite my hand… aren't you tired of this?"
Billy looked helplessly at Anby, who was pretending she had turned into an Ethereal and was gnawing on his hand.
"Sorry! I wanted to make a joke to cheer Nicole up… confirming once again that I'm not good at this."
Anby still had her usual expressionless, emotionless look, but there was a hint of disappointment in her eyes.
She really wasn't good at adjusting the atmosphere.
"Sigh~!"
Listening to her employees' conversation, Nicole sighed. "This really isn't something I would normally do. The Cunning Hares that values money above all else—ignoring others and only caring about ourselves—that's supposed to be my creed!"
After losing contact with Phaethon, Nicole and the other two, carrying the unresponsive Eous, became lost inside the Hollow.
And not long ago, the Cunning Hares encountered a squad of Hollow Investigative Association agents.
This should have been a perfect chance to be rescued, but their identity as Hollow Raiders would instead bring imprisonment.
Billy proposed using the method of reporting the sibling proxies to atone for their crimes—that is, becoming informants—to exchange it for safe evacuation from the Hollow and acquittal.
It was a good plan, but it would mean betraying companions. Therefore, Anby and Billy handed the choice to Nicole.
The two fully trusted Nicole and unconditionally supported her decision.
In the end, the result was exactly like the current situation: Nicole gave up the chance to escape safely and instead led everyone to continue wandering inside the Hollow.
What Nicole called selfishness and money-grubbing looked completely different in Anby and Billy's eyes. It was precisely this kind of Nicole that made the two stay with the Cunning Hares with unwavering loyalty.
Of course, Nicole was still very confident about being rescued.
First, she believed that Phaethon would be able to reconnect and lead them out of the Hollow.
Second, as Arden's partner, Nicole naturally carried the talismans he refined. Just now, she used the talisman as a medium to send the phone message out of the Hollow. If Arden still remembered old ties, then judging by Yunkui Summit's usual style, he wouldn't abandon the Cunning Hares to their fate.
Judging by the time, that guy Arden should already be on his way. It's just unclear whether he'll make it in time.
Nicole expected Arden to rush over after receiving the message, but she didn't expect him to arrive this fast.
"Captain!!"
Yiji stared at Anby in shock, her heart stirred into huge waves.
That just now was… Captain Anby? That's way too… too cute!
Now Yiji finally understood what "surprise" Arden had mentioned before setting out.
In fact, Yiji had already arrived nearby for some time, but the moment she arrived, she saw Anby acting cute in her fake Ethereal role and her brain froze for several seconds.
If Arden hadn't supported her, she probably would have already collapsed onto the ground with a foolish grin.
===BREAK===
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